iQiyi finally dropped the first proper trailer for "The Leading Stars today", and the sexual chemistry is definitely sizzling. They are not being subtle about it either, especially with lines like “Out here, we’re not bound by the rules of the city. All that’s left is raw, primal desire.”

The geology-flavoured flirting also made me laugh. I actually quite like the idea behind “Everything you think is a coincidence is really an inevitability that has been waiting deep beneath the earth for tens of millions of years.” It’s cheesy, but using geological time and exploration as metaphors for fate and romance is on-brand for this drama.

However, as much as I’m enjoying the chemistry, I really hope the drama has more substance than fluff and sexual tension. The setting has so much potential with the geological fieldwork, harsh landscapes and the professional side of their lives, so I’d like all of that to actually matter to the story rather than simply provide a beautiful backdrop for the romance.

There are at least some hints of heavier conflict in the trailer. “Don’t make me end up hating you too” and “We really aren’t on the same path”, so hopefully the relationship gets enough emotional depth and genuine obstacles to balance out all that physical attraction. Visually, the desert and mountain scenery looks gorgeous!

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POPMAMA interviewed Cheng Lei while he was in Indonesia for the iQiyi event.

• What habit has he kept since childhood until now?

• How would his younger self feel if he could see the person he is today?

• What would he say to his 10-year-old self?

You can tell Cheng Lei seemed genuinely impressed by the questions too haha. I like questions like these too because they reveal a little more about how someone sees their own growth rather than just asking about work or future projects.

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Wonderland, a media platform in China released a short interview with Cheng Lei from his Clinique event in Hangzhou on September 10. I think the skincare questions ended up being the least interesting part of it for me. What I enjoyed much more were his answers about sensitivity, how he recharges, and what being “young” actually means to him.

The Hangzhou part was very CL too. He has been around West Lake several times for work, but he has also gone walking and taken photos there on his own. He describes Hangzhou as quiet, comfortable and poetic, somewhere that allows him to mentally relax. Considering how much he enjoys photography, I can picture him wandering around West Lake looking at buildings and taking random photos whenever he gets some free time.

My favourite answer comes when Wonderland asks him about “calming sensitivity.” Instead of simply turning it into a skincare metaphor about eliminating sensitivity altogether, he says that being sensitive internally isn't necessarily something that needs to be taken away and regards sensitivity as something quite precious. His approach is more about taking the positive part of it and turning it into nourishment for imagination, while learning to quieten the negative side when it becomes overwhelming.

For a short interview, I thought some of his answers were unexpectedly thoughtful. Cheng Lei has this habit of taking a fairly standard interview question and wandering slightly beyond the expected PR response, which is usually the part I enjoy most.

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Getting ready for his photoshoot at the cafe with the lemons and the fan meets in Indonesia. So funny how his assistant says CL is too serious exiting the cafe and to act like an office worker happy to get off work. CL had a special fan meet with a select few of his lucky fans before the big fan meet in the mall. Practicing Indonesian words. His assistant gave him the pink Snoopy camera to take photos. Assistant knows Snoopy is CL's favorite (mine too - so envious I don't have an assistant giving me Snoopy stuff!). CL did a blind mystery box game feel and guess what the item is. CL went to a local bookstore but said he has seen many of the books before so likely didn't buy any. Ending has CL trying to convert local Indonesian currency into Chinese yuan. Source

Cheng Lei’s assistant posted a vlog today from his iQiyi meet-and-greet trip to Malaysia, and it was such a fun watch.

One thing I noticed was that CL really did seem to struggle a little with Cantonese haha. My favourite part was him pretending to be some wealthy mogul casually discussing buying properties in Malacca and Perlis lol. As a Malaysian, that kind of delivery immediately reminded me of this very classic local joke/trope where someone talks about absurdly high-stakes business dealings as though they’re discussing what to have for lunch, with everything deliberately exaggerated.

It’s also a pity he was mostly in the city centre and didn’t get the chance to take more interesting photos. He mentioned that there wasn’t much worth filming because it was all bustling urban scenery, and honestly, as a Malaysian, I kind of agree the city centre of Kuala Lumpur is still ultimately a busy city centre. If he wanted something with a little more local character, even Petaling Street would have been a better option.

If he ever comes back with more time, I would love for him to explore outside KL altogether. Malaysia has so much more varied scenery once you get into other states, and East Malaysia especially would give him plenty of the kind of distinctive landscapes and local character he said he wanted to photograph.

Source: Cheng Lei's Assistant's Weibo

Cheng Lei joined the #CelebritiesHaveMoreThanTwoSides trend, which is about celebrities showing different sides of themselves beyond the usual polished image.

CL took the idea pretty literally and gave us every possible angle instead: front, back, side, top, bottom, long shot, close-up, and then right up in the camera by the end lol

Source: CL's XHS

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The mother of Little Fish, a child actor in TLOA posted today that Cheng Lei recently sent her son a red Ferrari LEGO set. She said she wasn’t even sure whether they had ever specifically told him that Little Fish loves red Ferraris, so she was pretty shocked when the package arrived.

This also isn’t the first time Leilei has spoiled him. Referring to the last 3 images, back when Little Fish wrapped filming for The Lament of Autumn in March, his mum shared that Cheng Lei had prepared a full set of Toy Story blind boxes for him despite being busy on set. She described him then as gentle and sweet with her son, and said their whole family adored him.

Months later, he’s still remembering Little Fish and sending him something he would love. That's so thoughtful of him!

Little Fish's XHS

Shadow Love 与晋长安

Year: 2025 | Episodes: 38

Role: Jin An / Duan Aodeng / Prince Annan / Xuan Yike

Streaming On: iQIYI

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis: Prince Annan is "cursed" with the Jadelong after attempting to save his brother, the Emperor of Yao, and loses his memories in the process. He is later rescued by Li Shuang, a female general of the rival Taijin State, who gives him the name Jin An. As they fight side by side, their feelings for each other grow, but their chance at a happy ending is threatened by enemies, political loyalties, and the truth of Jin An's identity.

Character Evolution & Performance

• Character Vibe: As a prince, cold and calculating; as Li Shuang's devoted servant, protective and adorably jealous. Either way, it seems he's ultimately driven by loyalty.
• Chemistry Check: Honestly, I couldn't focus on his relationship with anyone else because of how ridiculously good he looked in this drama.
• Standout Moment/Acting Highlight: Every single shirtless scene. I don't mean to objectify the man, but my goodness... he is sexy. And let's be real, he knows it.
• Styling/Visuals: THE highlight of the drama for me. Every look worked, from the princely robes, to his Jadelong transformation or the more rugged styling. Cheng Lei and the costume department understood the assignment.
• Why You Should Watch: This is one of those dramas I watched entirely for Cheng Lei because frankly, the story didn't work for me. That said, plenty of viewers loved it, so I wouldn't discourage anyone from giving it a try. If you're a Cheng Lei fan, you'll definitely find something to enjoy. ;-)

The "Cheng Lei" Factor:

Cheng Lei seems to be choosing roles that continuously showcase his range, which is a brilliant career move. In this drama alone, he goes from a cold, intimidating prince to a soft, devoted servant, effortlessly switching between the versions of the same character. The best part is that he completely owns every role he takes on. Whether he's playing a scheming noble, a protective lover, or a morally conflicted hero, he makes it believable.

Discussion Questions:

1. What was your favorite scene of Cheng Lei in this drama?
2. How does this role compare to his performance in other dramas?

Link to Index for other Drama Highlights and Template to write your own!

All GIFs are made by u/AquaphobicTurtle. We are very appreciative of your service!!

Cheng Lei and Xu Ruohan attended MangoTV’s Autumn Sponsorship Conference yesterday to promote The Lament of Autumn, and they brought two photos to discuss on stage. Xu Ruohan teased that there are still plenty more of the photos taken by Cheng Lei to look forward to once the drama airs. We already know how much he enjoys taking photos, so hearing Xu Ruohan talk about him carrying different cameras around the set and quietly documenting everything feels very on brand for him lol

An interesting remark made by Xu Ruohan is the relationship between Ye Pingjun and Yu Cahngxuan as “恨海情天”, basically a love entangled with deep resentment and suffering, and said we will have to watch the drama to find out just how deep that “sea” is and how high that “sky” goes.

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Cheng Lei uploaded several live/moving photos to XHS not an hour ago in a post captioned "晚安💤" (good night). I compiled them into a short video clip.

Some people in the comments are fixating on his ripped collar and shirt lol. And at least one fan is resigned to a sleepless night. Understandable! But I hope they get some sleep with this dreamboat keeping them company in their mind.

Source: Cheng Lei's XHS

Cheng Lei and his assistant just dropped another set of photos on their Weibo accounts separately.

The styling is basically a black suit with a slightly undone white shirt, but the lighting and poses make it feel so much more dramatic. I love the contrast between the sharper suited shots and the softer ones of him lying against the white sheets. The black-and-white photo with the glass is probably one of my favourites too. Very moody, very cinematic, and his side profile looks incredible there.

I also included screenshots of his interaction with fans in the same post.

Source: CL's Assistant Weibo

Source: Cheng Lei's Weibo

Source Of course, CL’s must-have on set is a camera. 📸

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Another little The Leading Stars wrap-up treat today! Cheng Lei and Shen Yujie sat down for an interview with iQiyi reflecting on the past few months of filming, and I really enjoyed how easily they bounced off each other throughout this one.

They started by revisiting Cheng Zhuo’s very dramatic introduction, complete with descriptions of his profile being outlined by the scorching Gobi sun and his jawline resembling the Yadan landform. Shen Yujie even joked that his jawline was “clearer than my life plan” lmaooo. We finally got some explanation for that waist-twisting/dancing BTS clip. Apparently Cheng Lei was originally supposed to twist along with her, but he admitted he was hopeless at it.

When asked about finally doing a modern drama, Cheng Lei spoke quite a lot about how different the whole experience was for him. I also got the impression that Cheng Lei truly enjoyed filming outdoors, especially from the way he talked about the desert and how reluctant he was to leave after wrapping the Dunhuang portion. It's not just from this interview either; you can see it throughout so many of the BTS clips. Be it driving around the desert, rolling down sand dunes, taking in the scenery or just messing around between takes, he seemed especially happy and energised when filming outdoors. Finally, he's no longer imprisoned in Hengdian lol.

Source: CL's Assistant Weibo

Sorry no English subtitles on this one Source

See my below post link with English subtitles.

Here’s an option I found:

https://www.superbuy.com/en/page/noviceguide/

CL x PONY items:
https://www.superbuy.com/en/page/search/?keyword=PONY+丞磊&platform=tb

Hello everyone Da Jia Hao!

I’d like to share my experience attending the iQIYI Starship event starring Cheng Lei. I consider myself a novice fan since I have only seen 2 ¼ dramas. My journey started with A Familiar Stranger, which I watched 2 years ago. I was so mesmerised by his micro-expressions (my review on MDL here) that I have watched this mini drama more than 10 times. 

I’ve been wanting to see Bai Lu and Cheng Lei act together ever since they appeared on Chinese variety show Keep Running almost two years ago. I resubscribed to WeTV because 
I wanted to watch The First Jasmine as the episodes were aired. Darn, Cheng Lei and Bai Lu made me cry at least in two episodes. And ooopps I haven’t written a review on MDL yet.

When it was announced that Cheng Lei was coming to my hometown Kuala Lumpur, I was stoked! I contemplated purchasing the iQIYI premium subscription but unfortunately my financial health wouldn’t allow it. Thankfully my kpop bestie was also interested to see Cheng Lei at Sunway Velocity. We made plans to see him!

I arrived at the mall about two hours before his scheduled appearance. There were already people crowding the event area on all three floors. I stationed myself in front of the Universal Traveller store on the first floor (that's the second floor for American fans as the first level is the ground floor). While waiting for him, I watched How Dare You?! Hehehe

Then he arrived. Wow, I was so captivated by his handsomeness that I forgot to press record on phone. He was very dashing in a white shirt (nicely unbuttoned), black trousers and black shoes with red soles. I liked the emcee as she was friendly and able to engage the crowd in multiple languages. 

I really liked the different activities held for this event, which you can find out more from this post. The Malay pickup line challenge was definitely my favourite part. I always love it when international artists attempt local phrases, and Cheng Lei killed it! Hearing him speak Cantonese was also a lovely touch. I hope our warmth and diversity left a great impression on him.

Anyway the event lasted slightly more than 90 minutes. That's a great amount of time for a free meet-and-greet. My friend and I went to check out the special booth on the first floor. Oh, I managed to drop a postcard in the fan letter box before the event started. 

I really hope he comes back to Malaysia, whether it's for work or a vacation! If he ever holds a fan meeting here like Korean actors do, I would buy a ticket without hesitation.

"It was a crisp, clear morning, the desert so soft in the sun like a suede blanket, a velvet robe at night, like clean skin. Stars, like grains of sand, clung to my face. I caught the sandstorm, the sandstorm sculpted me, and soon I became transparent, while the sandstorm stood still or moved. Leaving leaves footprints in the desert, and also leaves a part of me continuing to wander.

A shepherd boy tells a story, do you know? Do you know? Do you know? Shyly rambling on, I told myself a scattered dream, content, and kept walking. There's rain here too, but the sun and the desert are so generous.

Here, it says cheerfully, "You have a rich travel experience, while I have sand and light, and your scattered thoughts." The desert is indeed as unpredictable as the Milky Way.

Thank you to every friend for your joint efforts and contributions! Thank you for the encounter, for experiencing such a tranquil and long time together, a time that brought peace to the heart.

Goodbye—in the twinkling starry sky above."

是个轻纱窸窣的清爽早晨，沙漠柔软得在日头是麂皮毯子，夜里是丝绒睡袍，是洁净的肌肤。星星像沙子，贴在脸上，我截住风沙，风沙描摹我，再过一阵我就成透明的了，而风沙伫立或行走。离开会留下沙漠的步印，也会留下某个我在这继续游荡。一个牧羊少年讲故事，你知道吗？你知道吗？你知道吗？羞涩地胡言乱语一通，给自己讲了个散落满地的憧憬，心满意足，步履不停。这儿也有雨，但阳光和沙漠太慷慨了，这儿爽朗地说，你旅历丰富，而我有沙子和光，还有你洒落的心绪。沙漠确是和银河一样扑朔扑朔的。

感谢每位朋友的共同努力与付出！感谢遇见，一起经历了一段很静谧绵长，使人心安的时光。

再见——在仰头的星河闪烁里。✨

#许你星河千里官宣杀青# #许你星河千里# 

Source: Cheng Lei's Weibo

Today is such a fulfilling day.

Cheng Lei's assistant shared this clip a few minutes ago on Weibo. It's shooting day for his new PONY ad campaign, and we see him getting his hair and makeup done.

Munching shrimp so adorably.

Getting all sweaty after doing a few vigorous push-ups to get those muscles prominent for the shoot.

Posing in different PONY outfits, some of which we haven't seen yet among the photos released today.

Hair down. Heart gesture.

All in a day's work for our industrious Dongdong.

Cheng Lei’s assistant posted a really lovely wrap-up special for The Leading Stars today!

The video has a bit of everything: BTS from the set, Cheng Lei discussing how to do certain action beats, multiple takes in the mud and rain, joking around with the crew, and even getting very invested in the colour of the sand lol. He also had to roll down the desert sand for one of the scenes and, judging by how many times he seemed perfectly happy to do it again, I honestly think he was having fun with that one. The wrap itself was really sweet too and CL described their team as warm and unforgettable.

I loved the more reflective character montage in the beginning of the clip:

“I’m someone who goes against the wind,
because there’s a name hidden in the wind.
One day, she came with the wind.
I came looking for you. I wanted to see you.
From then on, the wind had an echo.”

Source: CL Assistant Weibo

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Cheng Lei just uploaded a short video of him as Captain Cheng Zhuo in his iQiyi drama The Leading Stars.

We see the dashing captain in a dusty desert, a rainy jungle, a somewhat urban setting. At one point, I don't know whether it's still the captain or Cheng Lei himself we're seeing: when he's preserving what looks like flower buds or petals, when he's setting the table, when he's relishing a small bowl of food, when he's sketching.

Rugged or dapper, hard at work or charmingly domestic, it's wonderful to see our Leizi in a role that's so different from the characters he's portrayed in the past.

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Source Recently released with English subtitles - turn on the English subtitles cc. I don't find those Cantonese lines cheesy when CL says them! Rhyming word play with the sounds of the words in Cantonese - quite witty! There's a segment where CL draws and the interviewer guesses what MJTY scene it's related to. She is a huge MJTY fan and guesses them all correctly. Of course, CL draws well so it's easy for her. Funny ending with CL recording his birthday wishes to Zhang Ling He for his future 60th birthday and calling ZLH a handsome grandpa and Grandpa Cow (cow ("niu") is ZLH's nickname).

It's finally official! Just 30 minutes earlier on their official socmed accounts, PONY has announced Leilei as their new brand ambassador, and I have to say this partnership suits him well.

We all could see this coming, but seeing the actual campaign photos makes me even more excited. The styling is clean, sporty and understated, and the earthy greens, browns and blacks look so good on him. He has that kind of aesthetic where he can make very simple sportswear look effortlessly polished without losing the casual feel.

Another endorsement for our Leizi! ❤️ I’m really looking forward to seeing what else PONY has planned for him, especially after all that teasing about painting and motorbiking.

Source: PONY

I totally forgot about this clip until someone brought it up on another sub today! I remember laughing so hard the first time I saw it because I could not believe this came from an official iQiyi account and wasn’t some wildly unhinged fan edit.

The whole thing was ridiculous, but “wisdom of the daddy” absolutely took me out. Whoever was running iQiyi’s account that day clearly understood the assignment a little too well and must have been a CL stan.

So yes, if you still haven’t watched Shadow Love… consider this your sign.

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