 |
| Tian Xiwei Shares Funny Hu Yitian Behind-the-Scenes Story at Genius Girlfriend Event. (Photo: Sohu) |
Tian Xiwei has admitted she would happily become friends with Lin Zhixia, the brilliant but unusually direct character she plays in the Chinese drama Genius Girlfriend (天才，女友), while also revealing a hilariously unexpected detail from filming with co-star Hu Yitian.
The cast of Genius Girlfriend gathered for a Weibo Drama Club event in Hangzhou, with Tian Xiwei, Hu Yitian, Li Jiaqi, Wu Jiakai, Xia Haoran and Lai Weiming appearing together to talk about the drama and share some of their favourite memories from production. Naturally, the conversation became much more entertaining once the actors started discussing each other rather than simply promoting the show.
Genius Girlfriend follows Lin Zhixia, a gifted young woman whose journey begins during her school years and eventually leads into adulthood and marriage. Alongside her childhood friend and academic star Jiang Yubai, played by Hu Yitian, she faces the challenges of growing up while their long-standing relationship gradually develops through different stages of life.
When asked about the character she portrays, Tian Xiwei revealed that she would actually like to be friends with Lin Zhixia in real life. That may sound slightly awkward given that she has spent the drama playing her, but Tian's explanation made the choice rather easy to understand.
According to Tian Xiwei, Lin Zhixia can initially come across as somewhat robotic because of her extremely straightforward way of speaking and thinking. Beneath that seemingly detached exterior, however, the actress sees someone much warmer and more passionate.
For Tian Xiwei, that contrast is precisely what makes Lin interesting rather than simply making her the stereotypical genius character who has all the answers and none of the social skills.
The event then took an unexpectedly playful turn when Tian Xiwei and Hu Yitian recreated the familiar poses of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde from Zootopia. The pair's performance quickly became one of the lighter moments of the event, drawing laughter and cheers from the audience as they leaned into the playful dynamic that fans have come to associate with them.
But the funniest story came when the two actors revisited one of Genius Girlfriend's memorable scenes. While talking about what happened during filming, Tian Xiwei revealed that there was a moment when she saw the top of Hu Yitian's head for the first time while shooting a scene.
It sounds like a perfectly ordinary observation until she followed it up with a rather specific compliment about the actor's remarkably thick hair.
The comment immediately sent the venue into laughter, proving once again that entertainment events rarely need a carefully prepared punchline when co-stars are willing to expose each other's most random filming details. Hu Yitian may have arrived to discuss his character and the drama, but apparently his hair had its own supporting role.
The exchange also offered fans another glimpse into the comfortable relationship between Tian Xiwei and Hu Yitian away from the more polished side of the drama's promotion.
Their willingness to joke about filming mishaps and small details made the Hangzhou appearance feel considerably more relaxed than a standard promotional interview, while their chemistry gave the audience plenty to react to.
Fan reactions to the event have naturally varied. Some viewers were particularly amused by Tian Xiwei's description of Lin Zhixia, while others focused on the playful interaction between her and Hu Yitian. The Zootopia recreation also became a standout moment for fans who enjoy seeing the two actors step outside their more serious on-screen roles and simply have fun together.
For Tian Xiwei, however, her comments about Lin Zhixia may be the most revealing part of the appearance. Rather than describing her character purely through intelligence or academic ability, the actress highlighted the warmth and passion hidden beneath her blunt personality.
It suggests that the appeal of Lin Zhixia lies not only in being exceptionally clever, but in the more human qualities that gradually become clearer throughout Genius Girlfriend.
And while fans may continue debating the drama's characters, relationships and funniest moments, there is now one completely unnecessary but extremely important question hanging over Genius Girlfriend: just how impressive is Hu Yitian's hair in person? Was Tian Xiwei right to make it part of the event's unofficial highlights, or has the actor accidentally found himself with a new scene-stealing co-star? Fans can decide for themselves.