After starring in hit dramas such as "Till the End of the Moon," "Only for Love," and "Story of Kunning Palace," Bai Lu has claimed the throne of Chinese drama goddess. This year she consecutively released "Tang Palace Crime" and "Mo Li," showcasing her superb acting skills. She soon announced that her 10-year contract with her agency “Huan Yu Film & TV” had expired. Reportedly, her contract termination deal with boss Yu Zheng is to film a “farewell drama.” There were outside rumors that Bai Lu’s farewell drama might be the historical series “Xing Zhi Wan,” in which she teams up with Wang Xingyue for the fifth time. However, the latest news reveals it is actually another original historical drama called “Chao Yu Jie,” with the male lead being Li Hongyi. However, the public believes Li Hongyi’s status is not a match for Bai Lu. Moreover, he was recently criticized for giving a cold attitude and pulling a long face while promoting the new drama “Princess Zhaoyang” with co-star Kong Xueer, severely damaging his reputation. His collaboration with Bai Lu is widely viewed unfavorably.
Recently, a source in the entertainment industry revealed that Bai Lu’s farewell drama is not “Xing Zhi Wan,” but another costume drama, “Chao Yu Jie,” with Li Hongyi as the male lead. The second male and female leads are Yu Cheng’en from “Ru Qing Yun” and Cheng Xiao from “Yu Ming Cha Gu,” respectively. "Chao Yu Jie" was originally thought to be adapted from the novel of the same name by Ti Jiu, but was immediately denied by Yu Zheng himself. He emphasized that “Chao Yu Jie” is an original script with no relation to the rumored novel. The screenwriter is Ren Yanan, known for "For the Dark Fragrance" and "Misty Rain and Cloudy Sky." The production team comprises all women, and the script has already been completed. Yu Zheng only denied the script was adapted from a novel, and did not deny the casting rumors, which is being seen as tacit confirmation.
However, after starring in “Youth Song Xing” in 2022, Li Hongyi has had no other notable works, and is considered not on par with Bai Lu’s status. On top of that, he has recently attracted widespread criticism for his unfriendly attitude and lack of enthusiasm while promoting the new drama “Princess Zhaoyang” alongside Kong Xueer. As a result, his public reputation is poor, and his collaboration with Bai Lu is widely viewed to have little promise.
Source: Shangbao Fashion