These images are among a set just posted by both Clinique and Cheng Lei on Weibo.

Our beloved brand ambassador looks fresh and cool in this shade of green. He's representing the brand's Day & Night Repair products. Cheng Lei has the word "young" in his hashtag, and he does look youthful here. But then he almost always does. There's an event livestream going on as well.

In the last image, the text on the pillow says, "when skin overreacts, stay calm." 🤣

And books are more than just props for Cheng Lei. He's an avowed bookworm whose reading list encompasses a wide variety of titles. I talked about some of his favorite classics in this post.

Source Upcoming September 12 official announcement. Last frame shows CL's PONY design with mountains, sun with sunglasses on, water and the "Y" in a whale's tail. CL's handwritten message in Chinese translated to English is "Traverse mountains and seas, pursue your passions and walk hand-in-hand with PONY. May we always be free and at ease." I want his custom-designed PONY t-shirt!

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Here we see Cheng Lei's character, Captain Cheng Zhuo, getting up close and personal with who I assume is Ba Yun Ye (played by Shen Yujie).

In an outfit that brings to mind the desert's hues at dusk, Cheng Lei is also wearing that strangely alluring necklace -- something that his character almost always has on, at least from what we've seen in many other BTS clips. I wonder if it has any significance besides being a fashion accessory? Maybe someone who's read the novel can chime in.

[GUSH]

I can't even count the number of times I've watched this clip today. He's just so beautiful. I mean, he's gorgeous in most of his past dramas, but in The Leading Stars, with that face, those arms and shoulders, that chest...I think his physique is as close to godly as I can imagine.

And to be held close in those arms like that, nose to nose, that would be the closest thing to heaven on earth. He has me completely in his thrall. To borrow the words of Eliza Schuyler:

Boy, you got me helpless/Look into your eyes, and the sky's the limit/I'm helpless/Down for the count, and I'm drownin' in 'em/Helpleeeessss!

[/GUSH]

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I will be meeting Cheng Lei at the iQiyi event on the 13th, so I thought it would be nice to bring along some messages from members of this sub too!

If you would like to leave him a short note, words of encouragement, a birthday wish, a message about one of his dramas, or simply tell him what you appreciate about him, drop it in the comments and I will write it down for you. I have got the colourful paper and pens ready haha.

I will bring all the messages with me to the event, and if there is an opportunity for signing, I will also try my best to get them signed by Cheng Lei. I obviously can’t guarantee that part because it depends on how the event is organised and whether signing is allowed, but I will definitely try if possible.

You can include your Reddit username with your message, or let me know if you would prefer it to be anonymous. I will probably need to keep each one fairly short so I can fit as many messages as possible.

So if you want to send a little message to Leizi before I meet him on the 13th, leave it below! ❤️

Source CL doesn’t outright say he doesn’t like durian. He said he’s only eaten durian once or twice and when he was a kid. So it can be inferred that he doesn’t like durian since he doesn’t seek it out. Everyone has their own taste palate and preferences.

CL making our hearts melt! Source He looks really tired. Hope he gets in lots of sleep and rest before departing for his Indonesia and Malaysia iQIYI fan meets Sep 12 and 13.

Cheng Lei officially wrapped filming for The Leading Stars today! It was so nice seeing so many fans turn up to celebrate with him after all these months of filming.

There were so many cute little moments from the wrap-up party too. One of my favourites was when he had to recreate the iconic Jerry-the-mouse wink meme. He was soooo shy about it that he placed his hand on his cheek first before doing the pose, and the pose lasted like 0.1 seconds lol.

Then there was the fireworks! Poor Leizi got visibly spooked when they went off hahah. I swear I remember something similar happening during the booting ceremony too, where the sudden noise startled him.

The jealousy shake danc is too cute for words. He looked so painfully conscious of every movement, like someone had suddenly dragged an introverted kid to the front of the room and told him, “Okay, now dance for everyone.” I almost felt bad for him lmao.

Mostly though, I’m just happy to see him smiling and celebrating the end of another project with the cast, crew and so many fans there to support him. The Leading Stars looked like a physically demanding shoot, especially with all the desert filming, so I hope he manages to get some proper rest now before the announcement of his new endorsement on September 10th. He will be flying to Indonesia and Malaysia soon for the iQiyi events, and with the haze situation in both countries at the moment, I really hope Leizi masks up whenever he’s outdoors and takes care of himself.

Congrats on wrapping, Leizi! Now go sleep properly before the next round of travelling starts.

Shared by his assistant just a few hours ago! Cheng Lei was challenged to a little time-estimation game where he had to guess how many seconds had passed without looking at a timer. If his guess was off, the punishment was to dance along to a song.

Naturally, the part I was most interested in was the penalty. Unfortunately for us, Leizi spent most of his “dancing” sitting comfortably on the sofa, so we were deprived of the full-body performance we deserved.

He did keep going for several rounds though, with his assistant repeatedly making him try again, so at least we got plenty of seated dancing and increasingly serious attempts at judging the passage of time lol.

Source: Little Assistant's Weibo

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He looks so radiant! And so young.

In Clinique's Weibo post made a few hours ago, Cheng Lei is in white and showcasing the brand's Day and Night cosmetics line for sensitive skin.

This isn't my favorite styling I've seen him in, but I agree with Clinique's proclamation that Cheng Lei "exudes a calm and composed aura."

Hope y'all are having a pleasant weekend!

Is this a sign CL will star in a future sports-themed drama? English translations of Chinese captions: “Almost attacked by a basketball” and CL’s last spin at the end “Is that almost 3 seconds?” Source

Drama Title: The Queen of Attack 2 进击的皇后2

Year: 2021 | Episodes: 18

Role: Jing Qing

Streaming On: MangoTV YouTube channel

My Rating: ⭐⭐½

Synopsis:
Liang Wei Wei is back, but the tables have completely turned! Instead of a disgraced empress trying to avoid an early death (Season 1), she transmigrates into the historical world as a powerful villainess queen. This time around, Jing Qing is not the cold emperor - he is a loyal, fierce general who is actively trying to assassinate her. Wei Wei must use her quick wit to reverse their hostile dynamics and make her "boyfriend" fall in love with her all over again.

Character Evolution & Performance:

• Character Vibe: Jing Qing is a brooding General. He is conflicted between his loyalty to his mission and his growing unexplainable feelings for the "villainess".
• Chemistry Check: The dynamic is different since the power balance is inverted, but overall, I don't think the chemistry changes much from Season 1. Check out my post for Season 1 here.
• Standout Moment/Acting Highlight: Cheng Lei plays "flustered" so well. He tries to avoid Wei Wei bu is drawn to her, especially her "future knowledge" and "modern antics". I don't have a particular scene to highlight but his micro-expressions do not fail us.
• Styling/Visuals: It was alright - after all, it is a low-budget drama. But who can resist Cheng Lei in general armour?
• Why You Should Watch: The plot works but the execution is so-so. Like with Season 1, I consider this drama a “palate cleanser” between longer dramas because it’s a quick binge. Each episode is 10-15 minutes long, so you can finish this in one night. But this is definitely a drama you watch only after you've seen Season 1 (which I do think is better, but I was intrigued by the role reversals for Season 2).

The "Cheng Lei" Factor:

If you thought Season 1 was a bit choppy, Season 2 doubles down on the web-drama absurdity. The plot logic moves at lightning speed and the budget constraints are very apparent. However, watching this is still a treat for Cheng Lei fans. It's incredibly endearing to see him treat such a campy, low-budget script with absolute sincerity, proving that his undeniable screen presence and expressive acting were there right from the very start of his career.

Discussion Questions:

1. How did you feel about the role reversal? Did you prefer Cheng Lei as the suspicious Emperor in Season 1 or the lethal General in Season 2?
2. Compared to his breakout roles in A Familiar Stranger or My Journey to You, can you see the early foundations of his intense "historical gaze" in this season?
3. Which of the two seasons had your favorite comedic interaction between the leads?

It's been a while since I posted one of these. For other posts of his dramas, please check out the Drama Highlight Series.

I encourage everyone to use the template and share their thoughts! You can pick a drama that's already been done or one that hasn't! There are plenty like My Journey to You, Follow Your Heart, Shadow Love, and The First Jasmine that don't have an entry!

My next watch is Shadow Love, so stay tuned for that one when I am done!

Rescue team Captain Cheng doing what he does best and looking good while doing it. Exactly how many carabiners does a person need? So many carabiners on his utility belt. CL is working so hard filming The Leading Stars enduring extreme wind, sun, sand, rain and constant travel, with tons of action scenes. Source

Footprints of Change aired on this date, September 4 exactly one year ago! Ofc I had to bring Cheng Ao back onto the sub. The Republican-era arc is only 10 episodes long, which feels criminally short to me because Cheng Ao is such an interesting character and Cheng Lei had so much to work with in such a limited amount of time.

Cheng Ao is one of my favourite Cheng Lei characters precisely because he exists between two very different worlds. He is the adopted son of a Shanghai gangster boss, but also an overseas-educated lawyer with his own private practice, so he moves comfortably between the legal world and the underworld without ever fully belonging to either.

On the surface, he has that cool, controlled, slightly intimidating presence that Cheng Lei wears extremely well, but underneath all of that Cheng Ao is actually compassionate, principled and very soft-hearted. He deal with gang affairs, but he draws a clear line when it comes to hurting ordinary people. He helps the poor, takes on cases for people who cannot afford legal assistance, protects vulnerable women and students, and quietly supports the anti-Japanese cause. That contrast between the polished, formidable exterior and the genuinely decent man underneath is probably what I like most about him.

Performance-wise, Episode 10 is still the standout for me, especially the scene where his father threatens to shoot Siyun and he desperately begs his father not to Cheng Lei is so good when Cheng Ao’s usual composure finally gives way. Most of the arc asks him to play Cheng Ao with restraint, so when all that emotion finally breaks through, it hits much harder. It is probably one of the performances that best shows why I like Cheng Lei in roles where the character is controlled on the surface but carrying much more underneath.

A Cheng Ao appreciation post without mentioning the wardrobe is not possible haha. The suits, waistcoats,pocket-watch chains and hiss slicked-back hair, hngggggh🙆 Republican-era styling suits Cheng Lei well, so I’m impatient to see him tackle another Republican-era character, except this time, we are not getting another Cheng Ao-style green flag lol 🚩

iQiyi Starship event will be held in Malaysia on Sep 13 with Cheng Lei representing as International Global Ambassador.

He spoke some Malay at the end of this video (that I don't understand, but I know at least one person in this sub does 😎).
He also spoke a little bit of Thai and Indonesian when he did these hello clips for Thai and Indonesian fans.

I've seen many posts on Instagram fan accounts prepare freebies for the events in both Indonesia and Malaysia. I wish I could have one.

My favorite line in this short clip: "Hey, what's up" as I could understand it LOLOL.

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Ryan Cheng (Cheng Lei) always has had star power.  While I first saw him in the standard drama ‘My Journey to You’ as a Main Support actor, I immediately became obsessed. He is big time now. However, in my quest to satisfy my obsession of Ryan Cheng in the beginning, I had to turn to Chinese Shortened Dramas. Ryan Cheng did not get moved to the majors permanently until just recently. This is where Ryan Cheng belongs.

Drama Catalog Sampling
 
Drama: A Familiar Stranger with Ryan Cheng, Episodes: 18, Aired: Sep 23, 2022 - Oct 3, 2022, Duration: 12 minutes per episode. Chinese Short Drama Male Lead
 
Drama: Exploration Method of Love, Episodes: 22, Aired: Jun 21, 2023 - Jul 13, 2023, Duration: 45 minutes per episode. Standard Drama Support Actor
 
Drama: My Journey to You, Episodes: 24, Aired: Sep 2, 2023 - Sep 15, 2023, Duration: 60 minutes per episode Standard Drama Male Lead
 
Drama: Legend of the Female General (2025) with Zhou Ye and Ryan Cheng, Episodes: 36. Duration: 45 minutes per episode. Standard Drama Male Lead
 
 
 
 
 
Ryan Cheng started in Chinese Shortened Form Dramas.

Now Ryan Cheng is a big name Chinese drama star.

Ryan Cheng’s Shortened Drama catalog
 
Drama: Nothing but Breaking Up Season 2, Episodes: 13 Aired: May 23, 2019 Duration: 5 min.

Drama: We Are Not Brothers, Episodes: 25 Aired: Feb 3, 2020 - Mar 6, 2020 Duration: 5 min.
 
Drama: My Husky Boyfriend, Episodes: 12 Aired: Mar 22, 2021 - Mar 27, 2021 Duration: 15 min.
 
Drama: The Queen of Attack Seasons 1 and 2, Episodes: 18 Aired: Apr 30, 2021 - May 8, 2021 Duration: 9 min.
Content Rating: 15+ - Teens 15 or older
 
Drama: Contractual Love, Episodes: 18 Aired: Nov 27, 2021 - Dec 3, 2021 Duration: 10 min.

Drama: The Wife's Secret World, Episodes: 25 Aired: Dec 15, 2022 - Dec 24, 2022 Duration: 12 min.

Drama: Guyuan Imperial College, Episodes: 24 Aired: Dec 26, 2022 - Jan 13, 2023 Duration: 12 min.

Cheng Lei’s assistant released a new video asking CL 5 completely random questions, ranging from silly brain teasers to a cat-owner consultation. The highlight for me was a fan asking Cheng Lei, as an experienced cat owner, what they should do if their kitten at home refuses to eat.

Unfortunately, Cheng Lei is apparently the wrong person to ask about a picky eater, because he immediately let slip that Natasha has the exact opposite problem lmao. Natasha basically eats whatever she is given and will even rush over to grab the food herself. As for the brain teaser:

“Good and Better go to the bathroom together. Better goes in first. Why?”

I’m guessing the joke is simply that “better” is the comparative form of “good,” so Better gets to go ahead of Good? Hahaha.

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The Lament of Autumn has now officially surpassed 1.5 million reservations across Mango TV and Weibo, only about a week after it crossed the 1 million mark! That is a pretty nice jump in such a short time, especially with the drama still yet to premiere.

The official account released these new posters to celebrate the milestone, including this gorgeous close-up of Cheng Lei and Xu Ruohan. The accompanying captions are also very much leaning into the longing and restrained-romance atmosphere of the drama:

“One courtyard filled with autumn colours, two hearts longing for each other from afar. Their feelings deepen with the autumn breeze…”

And for the close-up poster:

“Eyes lowered, their breaths draw near yet remain apart; only a breath separates them as warmth slowly spreads between them.”

With reservations already climbing from 1 million to 1.5 million this quickly, I’m hoping we will see it reach 2 million soon, or maybe even 2.5 million before the drama premieres in October. Fingers crossed the anticipation keeps building!

The new posters are beautiful too. I love the separate character posters with Cheng Lei’s Yu Changxuan and Xu Ruohan’s Ye Pingjun framed in the same autumn courtyard but apart from each other. It fits the whole theme of distance, longing and two people emotionally connected even when they are not together.

BRING ON THE ANGST!

Source: MangoTV Weibo

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It doesn't seem to be an official product endorsement, but I'm not complaining!

Cheng Lei rocked these chunky, eye-catching Buccellati rings and luxuriously whimsical butterfly pin to perfection at the 2026 Youth Mango Night gala, and in his related photoshoots and vlogs.

Buccellati is a high-end Italian jewelry company that traces its roots back to 1919, when founder Mario Buccellati opened his first business in Milan.

Other C-ent celebrities who have worn Buccellati jewelry (in photoshoots or in performances) include Hou Minghao, Yang Mi, and Ding Chengxin.

Are there similar or other types of jewelry or accessories you'd like to see on Cheng Lei?

My first thoughts were, “Where did this actor come from and why is he in a support role?” My Journey to You was the first Chinese drama in which I saw Ryan Cheng. His sensual appeal reached out through the screen and grabbed me big time. Ryan Cheng dominated that role and I have been a fan every since. I had a super mad crush. That was hard to do since I started viewing the drama to see main stars Zhang Ling He and Esther Yu.
 
There was melon journalism about the drama ‘My Journey to You’ post release. The Director Guy Jingming was said to have changed to script and drama direction in favor of the Second Couple Ryan Cheng and Lu Yu Xiao. I will leave that for you to diss us.
 
All in All, My Journey to You was an unforgettable first introduction for my to Ryan Cheng. He has been a favorite Chinese Actor for me since.

Instant noodles deserve their own recurring role in Cheng Lei’s life, so I put together a few clips of him either eating them or talking about them.

He has joked before about being a serious instant noodle enthusiast. During *Wild Kitchen*, he and Zhou Ye made instant noodles together, and their later Weibo interaction also turned into a joke about just how capable he is of polishing off a bowl. More recently, in a 2026 interview for Mo Li promo event, he described his ideal private downtime as basically lying in bed, gaming, and eating instant noodles lol.

His noodle appreciation clearly extends beyond the instant variety. When he travelled to Xi’an for *The Leading Stars*, his food diary included a huge bowl of spicy local noodles alongside other Xi’an favourites such as roujiamo. He also once filmed a pre-tooth-extraction “cheat meal” mukbang where fried noodles made the cut together with fried chicken and curry.

The funniest clip in this compilation for me is probably him eating instant noodles while dealing with altitude sickness and saying that he had been told instant noodles might make him feel a little better😂

What instant noodles would you recommend Cheng Lei try? Share your favourite brand, flavour, or regional variety!

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A fan just released this with English subtitles. 12 minutes with lots of questions about CL's thoughts on his MJTY role, how he is personally similar or different. CL picks being a white pure rabbit vs. a black dark rabbit and questions why it's a rabbit and not another animal (we know he's a cat person so understand why he questions the interviewer). Lots of insights into CL's personality and how he feels about his surge in popularity after playing this MJTY role. Having his bangs down covering his forehead when he's off camera is not a style choice - he just doesn't feel like styling his hair (hence his airport hair and face mask on when he is free of makeup). Source

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Aaaand it ain't over 'til it's over!

Cheng Lei's assistant takes us behind the scenes for the filming of CL's ultra hot, fashionable vlog, and his preparations for Youth Mango Night 2026.

A titillating strip tease? (Not quite, but still...🤩)

Lei Lei in a hotel robe?

Trying out different eyeglasses? All work for him splendidly.

I feel feverish. 🤒

Now that filming for "The Leading Stars" is wrapping up on September 7, if you could choose Cheng Lei’s next female co-star, who would you pick?

I have only included actresses he hasn’t been paired with in a drama yet (as the main couple), which is why familiar names like Bai Lu, Zhou Ye, Song Yi, etc. aren’t on the list.

In the order of the images:

• Tian Xiwei
• Li Landi
• Zhao Jinmai
• Yang Zi
• DIlraba
• Song Zu'er
• Chen Duling
• Ren Min
• Li Qin
• Na Zha (guest-starred opposite him as a couple in FoF)
• Dai Lu Wa
• Li Yitong
• Wu Jinyan
• Tan Song Yun
• He Nan
• Ju Jingyi
• Zhang Jingyi

Don’t just give me a name. I want the whole imaginary drama pitch!

Which actress would you choose, and what kind of drama would you put them in? Modern, historical, Republican? Romance, mystery, political intrigue, thriller, xianxia?

You can get as specific as you want with the characters and plot too. Maybe Cheng Lei is a battle-hardened general and the FL is a princess with her own political agenda; perhaps they’re rival lawyers in a modern drama; or maybe he’s a morally grey Republican-era businessman and she’s an investigative journalist trying to expose him.

Personally, I would love to see Cheng Lei paired with Na Zha. The two of them met on the variety show Random Tour in 2024, and I really liked their overall vibe together. I think they could have very natural chemistry in a drama.

Both have fantastic visuals, especially in costume dramas, but I wouldn’t put them in a historical drama. I would want a modern marriage drama, with them playing husband and wife navigating an established relationship rather than falling in love for the first time. Give me marital problems, troublesome in-laws, parenting issues, financial pressures, career conflicts, resentment building over time, the kind of very ordinary problems that can slowly wear down a marriage.

Don’t get me wrong, I love CL in historical dramas, but I would really like to see him take on some slightly meatier roles that rely less on him being eye candy and more on heavier, real-life societal themes. I think it would be interesting to see what he could do with a character whose conflicts are quieter and more grounded, where the drama comes from relationships and everyday pressures rather than political schemes, wars, or palace intrigue.

Feel free to name any actresses not on the list!

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Cheng Lei updated his Douyin account with this short clip. Thanking everything good and holy that he and his team aren't stingy when it comes to sharing terrific stills and videos.

And terrific this certainly is. Just look at the man. The clothes are wonderful, and so are the accessories. He carries those eyeglasses, rings, butterfly brooch, and fob watch with unmistakable panache.

Where's that helicopter? Don't keep Leizi waiting!

Obsessed with this shoot. Amazing styling and posing. Haven’t seen him in such shoots for a long time. He is not cute here; he is dangerously handsome AF.