I do think this surrogate story is fabricated 100% by someone using the story of Chinese billionaire Xu Bo and his ex-girlfriend, Tian Jing. Here is a link to a Dec 2025 NY Post story:
Everything fits in this article...except for Jing Tian of course. Bo's ex-girlfriend spells her name in the reverse, explaining that odd signature. I get so mad at these opportunistic slanderers, who seem bent on tanking the careers of stars who they've never even met.
Jing Tian: stay strong, your fans have your back. And I hope someone, maybe from MDL, sends your lawyers this link.
Just finished TIO and she was amazing! What a marvelous actress...she can go from sweet and playful to deadly fighter in a split second, with ease. S2 of TIO is coming soon looks like, so that's awesome.
Although, I'm not sure my heart can take the suspense and stress of another round of 36 episodes of Yun doing what he does best. Okay, yes it can. 😉
You might get a kick out of this YT video clip of "Mao Xiao Tong's laugh is contagious":
I just watched one Chinese drama, Love between Lines, but it enlightened me, C-drama is good! And because of this…
I first saw her in a support role in 'Blossoms in Adversity', which imo was a very good series (scored a high 8.7 here on MDL, which often rates a bit on the, um, frugal side). Her performance in that was incredible to me, and I immediately began looking for her other roles. Zhang Jing Yi is the FL in that, and her character is powerful and amazing in this as well.
Soon after, I saw LYX again in 'My Journey to You,' which was also very well done. (MJTY is my favorite performance by Esther Yu). Those are my two recommendations for that genre for LYX.
I started watching C-Dramas several years ago, and have become more and more addicted as time went on. So, I hope you continue to enjoy the ride going forward!
Saw a YT vid on this manufactured "controversy" and watched the very scenes the nattering nabobs were pointing fingers and screeching about. That nonsense prompted me (once I cooled down) to send her more flowers here on MDL. Meanwhile, I imagined or envisioned these and any future attacks backfiring completely, ultimately resulting in a huge wave of support and love for the rest of her career and life. Yeah. That's pretty much it from this corner.
Love you and your work, Lu Yu Xiao! You always draw me fully into your characters. Happily looking forward to more! 😊💯
i would NEVERRRR i'd jst go for an anime if i didnt wanna see people like oml
Great point. I was checking out movie trailers on YT earlier, and opened up a 40 minute monster-in-the-wilderness something or other. You could instantly tell they were AI 'actors,' though they tried hard to make it look real. I watched about 2 minutes of it then got irritated and quickly moved on.
If every other C or K-Drama starts looking and feeling like a video game cut scene, I'm definitely not indulging any of those with views. Only ones with real-life people; with real lives and dreams, real talent and personalities, bills to pay, families to take care of. And an audience that gives real feedback. How does a AI 'actor' receive praise? With fake, programmed emotion? How does it go onstage and receive an award? This is so ridiculous on its face! Peace (except to AI) and out.
I imagine the executives of these companies/agencies are giddy at the thought of no-hassle dramas all produced, written, directed and acted by AI. Oh boy! Only one name on nearly all credits.
No pushback from actors, no salaries to pay them, no contract negotiations; well, no more actors needed, period. Only thing is, I suspect there will soon be no more audiences, either. The newness will wear off very quickly, and people will want their flesh and blood faves back.
I know I won't be in the audience. Time to go fishing if that happens.
Reacting to a few comments below: It's ironic that Teresa Li's portrayal is probably the most talked about aspect of SSS in comment sections everywhere. Folks either loved her performance or totally disliked it. I am firmly in the 'loved it' category, and have said elsewhere numerous times that I can't think of any actress who can adequately fill Teresa's shoes as Jiang Ni, now that I've seen her play the Princess. TL nailed the pouty, proud, often miffed and somewhat childish young Royal; but one who's also fearless in the face of the power...and death.
As for the plot for the next season; which was green lighted last Fall I think it was, some have asked where could this possibly go now. It's easy. Just have some rival in another kingdom rise up and challenge Feng Nian. That's only one of many concepts they could use. I haven't head anything for a couple months now, so am wondering if production may have stalled. Hope not. We'll see....
My favorite 'Dynamic Trio' (top 3) rising young actresses: Xia Meng, Shen Yu Jie, and Bai Bing Ke. Incredibly talented and beautiful.
Xia, I've been following you since 'Parallel World". I'm on Ep. 9 of 'Rebirth' right now, and you're playing the character perfectly in that. Here's hoping for more great things to come your way in 2026! 🥂❤️
I'm on Ep. 5 and at the moment, the most burning question on my mind is why Hu Yi Xuan (playing Zhong Yu in person in Ep. 3 & 4; not the voiceover actor shown at the end of the credits above) is not credited here on MDL or anywhere else online.
A great actress, she deserves at least a nod somewhere. How strange this happened. Just for that sleight, I sent her a bunch more flowers a moment ago. I hope you land three new FL roles soon as recompense, Yi Xuan! 🌺❤️
As far as this series itself: I'm keeping my memory blinders on and pretending I never heard of (or saw) PA years ago, lol...this is just a brand new drama with all new plot points, characters and actors in my mind.
On the other hand...if Crystal Tian Ai is not brought back for S2 of Sword, Snow, Stride, I'll be so upset I may have to start taking high blood pressure medicine... 😠 Only she can forever be Nangong Pu She in my eyes...(yes, I'm very biased indeed). Over and out. 😉
Like the dispute Rosy had with her former agency, Jing Yi's seems just as legally messy. It's like trying to climb out of quicksand, only to have someone push you back in at every opportunity.
In any event, all the best to you in 2026 and beyond, Jing Yi! I'm loving your performance in "Veil of Shadows" right now, you are an amazing young woman in every respect. May you obtain full resolution (and victory) over your former agency. 😇🌺
Maybe I'm a bit dense here when it comes to cosmetics worn by actors in C-Dramas; but to me, ZLH looks no more makeup-bedecked than 60-70% of other ML actors when they are in character. I keep asking myself what all the hullabaloo is about. If any of you are watching 'Veil of Shadows' right now, check out the ML guys in that (pretty good btw) series. They're a couple steps beyond Xie Zheng with both makeup and accessories; and though they aren't Generals, they're badass martial artists who are tough enough.
I mean, to believe the critics' over-hyped nagging on this, the oft-lamented 'foundation' sounds like it must have been so thick the crew applied it with putty knives. No such thing. No more mascara than usual for such a character. This is like a proverbial mountain out of a mole hill attack, imo. The Emperor truly has no clothes here.
Then again, there may very well be other, 'hidden' reasons for their displeasure that have nothing to do with the officially stated complaint (or excuse). You know, the things they're NOT saying.
And isn't the timing of the criticism odd considering that massive, very financially damaging "leak" a couple weeks ago? Wonder who had the means to pull that off? Has anyone been arrested or any names dropped of suspects yet? Not that I know of.
Anyway, I loved the drama, and still hope for a sequel some day. Over and out.
https://nypost.com/2025/12/14/us-news/xu-bo-chinese-billionaire-reportedly-sires-more-than-100-kids/
Everything fits in this article...except for Jing Tian of course. Bo's ex-girlfriend spells her name in the reverse, explaining that odd signature. I get so mad at these opportunistic slanderers, who seem bent on tanking the careers of stars who they've never even met.
Jing Tian: stay strong, your fans have your back. And I hope someone, maybe from MDL, sends your lawyers this link.
Although, I'm not sure my heart can take the suspense and stress of another round of 36 episodes of Yun doing what he does best. Okay, yes it can. 😉
You might get a kick out of this YT video clip of "Mao Xiao Tong's laugh is contagious":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuplzUWbD8A&list=PLRwehmXB9Qezix-no3QXp1H-o-M76VL_g&index=8
Soon after, I saw LYX again in 'My Journey to You,' which was also very well done. (MJTY is my favorite performance by Esther Yu). Those are my two recommendations for that genre for LYX.
I started watching C-Dramas several years ago, and have become more and more addicted as time went on. So, I hope you continue to enjoy the ride going forward!
Love you and your work, Lu Yu Xiao! You always draw me fully into your characters. Happily looking forward to more! 😊💯
If every other C or K-Drama starts looking and feeling like a video game cut scene, I'm definitely not indulging any of those with views. Only ones with real-life people; with real lives and dreams, real talent and personalities, bills to pay, families to take care of. And an audience that gives real feedback. How does a AI 'actor' receive praise? With fake, programmed emotion? How does it go onstage and receive an award? This is so ridiculous on its face! Peace (except to AI) and out.
No pushback from actors, no salaries to pay them, no contract negotiations; well, no more actors needed, period. Only thing is, I suspect there will soon be no more audiences, either. The newness will wear off very quickly, and people will want their flesh and blood faves back.
I know I won't be in the audience. Time to go fishing if that happens.
As for the plot for the next season; which was green lighted last Fall I think it was, some have asked where could this possibly go now. It's easy. Just have some rival in another kingdom rise up and challenge Feng Nian. That's only one of many concepts they could use. I haven't head anything for a couple months now, so am wondering if production may have stalled. Hope not. We'll see....
Xia, I've been following you since 'Parallel World". I'm on Ep. 9 of 'Rebirth' right now, and you're playing the character perfectly in that. Here's hoping for more great things to come your way in 2026! 🥂❤️
A great actress, she deserves at least a nod somewhere. How strange this happened. Just for that sleight, I sent her a bunch more flowers a moment ago. I hope you land three new FL roles soon as recompense, Yi Xuan! 🌺❤️
As far as this series itself: I'm keeping my memory blinders on and pretending I never heard of (or saw) PA years ago, lol...this is just a brand new drama with all new plot points, characters and actors in my mind.
On the other hand...if Crystal Tian Ai is not brought back for S2 of Sword, Snow, Stride, I'll be so upset I may have to start taking high blood pressure medicine... 😠 Only she can forever be Nangong Pu She in my eyes...(yes, I'm very biased indeed). Over and out. 😉
In any event, all the best to you in 2026 and beyond, Jing Yi! I'm loving your performance in "Veil of Shadows" right now, you are an amazing young woman in every respect. May you obtain full resolution (and victory) over your former agency. 😇🌺
I mean, to believe the critics' over-hyped nagging on this, the oft-lamented 'foundation' sounds like it must have been so thick the crew applied it with putty knives. No such thing. No more mascara than usual for such a character. This is like a proverbial mountain out of a mole hill attack, imo. The Emperor truly has no clothes here.
Then again, there may very well be other, 'hidden' reasons for their displeasure that have nothing to do with the officially stated complaint (or excuse). You know, the things they're NOT saying.
And isn't the timing of the criticism odd considering that massive, very financially damaging "leak" a couple weeks ago? Wonder who had the means to pull that off? Has anyone been arrested or any names dropped of suspects yet? Not that I know of.
Anyway, I loved the drama, and still hope for a sequel some day. Over and out.
https://www.chinaentertainmentnews.com/2026/03/meng-ziyi-at-media-event.html?view=snapshot