The historical drama Zhu Yu is currently gaining huge attention online as its plot enters a dramatic phase. The series has garnered more than 90 million daily views, thanks to its intense plot developments, visually arresting cinematography and diverse character arcs, Tencent’s QQ news platform reported.
The drama stars emerging actors Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, along with supporting cast members such as Kong Xueer and Deng Kai. To promote the series, the main cast actively participated in press events and promotional campaigns. Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei even filmed wedding-themed videos together, presenting themselves as a romantic couple to attract viewers’ attention.
Visually, the couple has often been praised for their looks. Both actors belong to the generation of artists born after 1995 and are often recognized for their striking appearance. With Zhang Linghe being around 1.9 meters tall and Tian Xiwei being 1.68 meters tall, their height difference and pictures have led many fans to describe them as characters that look like them. “It’s straight out of a comic book.”
However, despite these promotional efforts, many viewers did not respond positively. The main reason stems from the previous dispute over billing order, a sensitive issue in China’s entertainment industry that determines how actors’ names are credited in a project.
Before filming began, Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei were reportedly involved in a dispute over their billing positions that lasted for months. During the show’s opening ceremony, both actors even kept their masks on and avoided taking photos together. At the end of filming, the two had reportedly still not shared any official photos as co-stars.
Because of this history, some viewers believe that the couple’s current friendly interactions are simply part of the drama’s promotional campaign rather than a reflection of a genuine relationship. On social media, many netizens commented that the actors seem to be “Acting close only for work.”
The drama itself faced criticism even beyond the cast’s relationship. Some viewers accused the production team of creating artificial buzz and exaggerated results to boost the drama’s popularity. According to online critics, some promotional topics would be comparable Zhu Yu with other series like The knockout AND Sun by my sideclaiming superior results despite insufficient evidence.
These claims have led to accusations that the show’s viewership or advertising metrics may have been inflated, although no official confirmation has been provided.
Adding to the controversy, Zhang Linghe recently faced criticism for a comment that many viewers deemed inappropriate. During a promotional activity where actors were asked to draw portraits of each other, Tian Xiwei drew a picture of himself. Reacting to the drawing, Zhang Linghe jokingly said that it looked as if it had been “born in Southeast Asia”. Although he likely meant that the drawing made him look different from himself, many viewers felt that the remark implied that Southeast Asian features were unattractive. The comment quickly triggered a backlash online, prompting the actor to apologize.
Meanwhile, Tian Xiwei has also seen past controversies resurface. Some netizens revisited an old rumor that he once tried to replace Li Landi in the drama Love when the stars fall. According to the story circulating, Tian Xiwei approached the producers while Li Landi temporarily left the set for an event. The accusation damaged his public image at the time, particularly after critics claimed did not acknowledge the wrongdoing.
With multiple controversies surrounding both stars, many observers believe the leading couple is Zhu Yu has become one of the most debated on-screen couples in recent Chinese entertainment discussions. While the drama continues to attract high viewership, ongoing debates on social media show that its popularity is accompanied by an equally strong wave of criticism.
