On December 31, Hunan Television hosted the 2026 New Year Gala, where the most talked about show was a romantic duet by Zhang Linghe and Zhang Ruonan.
The two actors performed the emotional ballad “I Cry My Emotions Are in Pieces,” captivating viewers with their natural chemistry and cinematic stage presence. Many viewers commented that the performance felt like a scene from a romantic drama, with calls growing louder for the pair to star together in a future romance.
Thanks to their perfect collaboration, the duet recorded an impressive 2.56% rating nationwide, ranking first among all satellite TV stations in the same time slot and dominating the evening’s ratings charts.
Public reactions flooded social media, praising how effortlessly the two actors complemented each other. Standing side by side, Zhang Linghe and Zhang Ruonan were described as “visually perfect,” with their eye contact and emotional conveyance sparking widespread discussion.
According to Chinese media QQ, Zhang Ruonan is often referred to as the nation’s “first love icon”. A popular saying online compares her charm to that of Taiwanese actor Greg Hsu, noting, “Men like to look at Zhang Ruonan the same way women like to look at Greg Hsu.” Her gentle, youthful image and expressive, emotional acting have earned her tens of millions of fans. A short video by Zhang Ruonan previously surpassed 10 million likes, further cementing his reputation.
Despite being in his late thirties, Zhang Ruonan continues to convincingly portray high school and college students with his fresh images and warm smile. At the gala, she wore a crystal-embellished emerald gown that balanced elegance and innocence, drawing praise for her refined yet approachable look.
Zhang Linghe, 1.88 meters tall, looked like a modern prince in a tailored suit. His striking height, sharp features and confident aura allowed him to command the stage, particularly during his catwalk-style solo performance segment, which heightened the audience’s excitement.
The appearance also marked a shift in public perception after Zhang Linghe had already faced criticism for appearing distant towards a former co-star at a past awards event. This time, viewers praised his professionalism and emotional involvement during the duet with Zhang Ruonan.
Currently heavily supported by streaming platform iQIYI, Zhang Linghe is considered one of the leading “next-generation costume drama heartthrobs”. Since making his lead acting debut in Maiden Holmes (2019), he has consistently secured major roles in popular historical dramas such as My Journey to You, Story of Kunning Palace, Love You and Till the End of the Moon. His role as Chang Heng in Love Between Fairy and Devil (2022) further increased his popularity.
With their New Year’s Eve performance, Zhang Linghe and Zhang Ruonan proved that they are a couple that audiences didn’t know they needed but now can’t stop talking about.
Sources: TP
