Dating News: New Loves and Old Flames in C-Entertainment

Love is in the air because who isn't dating or married?! Let's play a round of connect the stars.

Netizens still reeling from news of the Feng Shao Feng (born 1978) and Ni Ni (born 1988) breakup last year can rest assured since they each have found a significant other in the past month (bet they coordinated the release of the news).

Feng Shao Feng is one of China's eligible bachelors, a fuerdai 富二代 aka second-generation rich, good looking and successful in his own right while Ni Ni is supposedly pretty amazing herself. I say supposedly because I haven't actually seen her in anything except for Wonderful Friends (a celebrity reality show taking place in a zoo). Nevertheless, the couple of 3 years seemed like a match made in heaven so their separation was much to fans dismay.

Anyone speculating that the relationship turned south due to the 10-year age gap would have to renege on those words because here's a shocker with 37-year-old Feng Shao Feng (Ice Fantasy) currently dating 19-year-old Jelly Lin Yun (born 1996). The whopping 18-year difference doesn't strike me as weird, the fact that she's a teenager does.

Not to fret as Ni Ni (born 1988) subsequently announced her relationship with Jing Boran (born 1989) and both were coincidentally(?) bridesmaid and groomsmen in 2015's wedding of the year wherein high-profile couple Huang Xiao Ming and Angelababy finally tied the knot.

Jing Boran was in Love Weaves Through a Millennium opposite Zheng Shuang (born 1991) who used to date Zhang Han. She has since moved on to better things, becoming a face to be reckoned with because she's practically everywhere - dramas, movies, you name it.

Zhang Han (born 1984) didn't sit idly either, dating co-star Gu Li Na Zha (born 1992) from their collaboration on The Classic of Mountain and Seas. Gu Li Na Zha is the Uighur girl that literally went from unknown to starring role in Rift of the Sky, which also starred Liu Shi Shi. 

Having been a fan of Liu Shi Shi (born 1987), I am super happy to share her wedding shoot with real-life sweetheart Nicky Wu (born 1970). Yes, shippers' wildest dreams do come true even though it's technically Nicky Wu's second marriage after divorcing co-star Ma Yashu from his Xiao Shi Yi Lang days.

Nicky Wu and Liu Shi Shi officially wed last year, the photos came out this month and the ceremony is said to be held March 20 at Ayana Resort in beautiful Bali. Her 'sister' Annie Liu from Scarlet Heart will be the bridesmaid and the motif will take inspiration from the magnolia flower (wink wink). They definitely look adorkably blissful (more pics below).

Nicky Wu was recently with Zhao Li Ying (born 1987) in Legend of Zu and rumors say that she is dating a non-showbiz boyfriend. Am I hearing hundreds of broken hearts?  

Zhao Li Ying was almost always linked to Chen Xiao after the pair rose to fame because of Female Prime Minister Lu Zhen and their OTP so popular that it warranted a cameo for Zhao Li Ying as Yang Kang's wife in Romance of the Condor Heroes ROCH. 

Their onscreen chemistry might be sizzling yet in reality, I am quite happy for Chen Xiao (born 1987) and Michelle Chen (born 1983), both of which played the leads in ROCH. They have been dating since ROCH in 2015 and netizens are anticipating wedding bells by the end of the year, Jul 2016 to be exact.

Are you still following? Yang Rong has a supporting role in too many dramas (ROCH, Lu Zhen included) and I'm glad that she is breaking out of the mold to play the lead. Expect to see her in Legend of Flying Daggers opposite Hawick Lau and the love line continues since Hawick Lau (born 1974) is basically Yang Mi's (born 1986) hubby. 

Yang Mi is cast opposite Mark Zhao (born 1984) in upcoming c-drama Three Lives Three Worlds and doh, of course he's married too, to gorgeous Gao Yuan Yuan (born 1979) nonetheless.

There's no way to connect the dots with a non-showbiz person joining the fray as Zhang Tian Ai's rich boyfriend but my creative juices are flowing so here goes. Zhang Tian Ai's co-star Yu Meng Long, the 9th prince in Go Princess Go, is also going to be in Three Lives, so whaddayaknow, we've come full circle.

Source: GB.Cri.cn, YCWB, QQ, Tuxi, Baidu

First Look: Legend of Qin

Started Legend of Qin 秦時明月 last Christmas break and I couldn't put it down long enough to write my first impressions. It has been such a fun ride thus far, and I'm finally down to the last 10 episodes so it's now or never.

Episode 1 begins with Jing Ke attempting to kill the Qin Emperor. I say attempt because we know he ultimately fails and in this version, Jing Ke dies in the hands of his friend Ge Nie (Lu Yi).

Jing Ke fathers the main protagonist Jing Tian Ming (Jiang Jin Fu) who grows up years later to be your average kid, oblivious to his true identity. However, all is not what it seems as an unfortunate incident occurs where Tian Ming wakes drenched in blood after what should have been a scuffle with the Qin soldiers turned into a slaughter.

The Qin Emperor catches wind of the massacre and sends men to capture Tian Ming while Ge Nie simultaneously leaves the palace walls to rescue his friend's son. Although Tian Ming tries to escape initially from Ge Nie then from the Qin soldiers, an epic fight ensues and Ge Nie single-handedly defeats 300 soldiers incurring fatal injuries in the process.

Gratefully indebted to Ge Nie, Tian Ming begs the famous doctor Duan Mu Rong (Michelle Chen) to save Ge Nie. Duan Mu Rong feels nothing but disdain for Ge Nie whom she deems a traitor, but she reluctantly agrees to treat him when she realizes that Tian Ming is indeed Jing Ke's son and that there might actually be more than meets the eye.

First Impressions: I love how the drama artfully combines a graphic novel and a historical wuxia, then sprinkles it with fantasy elements, which works for the most part.

Legend of Qin starts with a bang, recounting the monumental assassination attempt directed at the Emperor of Qin. It is a well-known story in history books and widespread in pop culture thanks to a blockbuster movie called Hero. Yet it touches just the tip of the iceberg since the main event follows the adventures of Jing Tian Ming, a young and inexperienced boy endowed with hidden powers that will surely put him in a position to accomplish great things. 

The supporting characters and their storyline are equally if not more intriguing and I was most curious to learn about Ge Nie's motivations and his courage to move forward despite being shunned by everyone he holds dear. Rightfully so as Lu Yi and Michelle Chen starring in supporting roles was odd enough to begin with, and it only made sense upon realizing that they are pivotal to the story and their OTP not any less compared to the main leads. 

Even if you don't like the Ge Nie and Duan Mu Rong tandem, romance is abound with a handful of other couples to root for. I see potential for something epic given such a large cast portraying people that are both fictional and real. We are introduced to various factions such as the Mohists, Xi Shi Tribe, Seven Killing Sect, Ju San Liu Sha aka Quicksand and the historical figures from the Qin Dynasty, each fighting for their own cause.

On another note, I have read bad reviews from those who have seen the original animated version so opinions might vary greatly if you're one of the former. 

For synopsis, cast and ratings, see 2016 popular cdramas.

Dating News: Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen

Chen Xiao and Michelle Chen's relationship has been out in the open since August 2015. I'm going to find a rock and crawl under it because how could I have missed this?

Various media outlets are speculating that the two are planning to get married and netizens even claim that Chen Xiao bought a diamond ring whereas Michelle Chen was spotted wearing one. Neither party confirmed nor denied the rumors so to see is to believe.

Despite doing very well ratings-wise, Romance of the Condor Heroes which starred the couple as leads has received non-stop criticism. I'm probably in the minority when I say that I still liked this version regardless of its many shortcomings and I'm glad their love story continues on.

It's interesting to note that not one but two couples who played the titular roles of Xiao Long Nv (Little Dragon Lady) and Yang Guo got together in real life. In case you didn't know, it is none other than Singaporean/Malaysian power couple Christopher Lee and Fann Wong who gave birth to a baby boy not too long ago. 

Sources: CZTV, ENT163 

Qin's Moon (Stills & OST)

Qin's Moon (秦時明月) is a 2015 fantasy wuxia based on a novel and an animated series adaptation of the same name. Set after the turbulent times of the warring states, it depicts the recent unification of the Qin empire and follows Jing Tian Ming, a young lad destined to become a hero.

Translated to English, the title literally means Bright Moon of the Qin Era where bright is the english word for Ming in Jing Tian Ming (Jiang Jin Fu) and moon is english word for Yue, which is the name of his counterpart Gao Yue (Hu Bing Qing).

Tangren entertainment is really good at making dramas that appeal to the mainstream. If I were to describe it using one word, we can be sure that Tangren dramas always have style. Too bad Lu Yi has now been relegated to uncle status. His character as swordsman Ge Nie may be older but he is actually one of the coolest whereas Jiang Jin Fu's character Jing Tian Ming is one that needs a lot of growing up even though I'm already on episode 31.

Since, I'm a bit obsessed with the songs, here are some links to Qin's Moon original soundtrack, just click download mp3.
Tian Ming Jiang 天將明 / The Dawn (opening song) by Yoga Lin
Dang Gui / 当归 (ending song) by Zhou Hui
Du Huo 独活 / Solitary by Aaron Yan 炎亞綸
Kui Jia 盔甲 / Shield by Janice Yan
Yi Shuang Ren 一双人 by Lin Kai Lun.

Please check out my 2016 Chinese drama recommendations.