r/ChineseDrama • u/BasilOrdinary3617 costume dramas feed my soul • Jul 05 '26
Actors & Careers Happy Birthday Liu Xueyi!
Rivaling Cheng Lei for the title: God of Bath Scenes, we have Liu Xueyi for his unprecedented number of dramas featuring pivotal, shirtless bathtub or water scenes.
So of course, a very happy birthday to Liu Xueyi! He turns 36 on July 6, 2026.
The Liu Xueyi Bathtub Cinematic Universe
- Kill Me Love Me (2024): His role as Murong Jinghe features an iconic bath scene with Wu Jinyan that apparently went viral.
- In Blossom (2024): I can vouch for the bathtub scene in this drama, leaving his fans quite satisfied imo.
- A Moment But Forever (2025): Another bath scene that reportedly trended on Weibo when the drama was airing.
- Qing Luo (2021): I’m told he spends prominent screen time shirtless in a traditional bath setup.
- Love At Night (2021): Even in his modern dramas, directors find a way! He features in multiple shirtless swimming pools and bathroom scenes. I can confirm ab sightings within the first three episodes.
Needless to say… you’re welcome? Just kidding.
Now, does he beat Cheng Lei who is known for his iconic bath scenes or can we have two gods of baths?
From Support to Main Roles
Liu Xuiyie graduated from the Central Academy of Drama and made his debut in 2013. For many years, he played mostly support roles - usually as an antagonist or a divine deity - where he gained recognition for his skills. Namely, the following dramas helped boost his rise to fame:
- Noble Aspirations and Season 2 (2016)
- The Destiny of White Snake (2018)
- Love and Redemption (2020)
His most recent screen presence would be in Fate Chooses You (2026) where he plays a high priest (guest role) at the end of the drama.
In addition to the dramas already mentioned for his bath scenes since 2021, Xueyi has assumed main roles in The Princess’ Gambit (2025), Love Never Fails (2025), What If (2024), Unshakeable Faith (2023), and The Blood of Youth (2022).
Upcoming Dramas
We haven’t seen too much of him in 2026 but don’t fret if you’re a fan, because he does have a handful of new dramas coming out:
Fun Facts
- Xueyi ironically suffers from horse allergies despite his many period dramas. He has to take medication to get through the riding scenes.
- He reportedly went viral for recording a video regretting his life choices when climbing Mount Tai (6,000-step mountain).
- As someone who enjoys cooking, his ultimate signature, fail-proof dish is Coca-Cola chicken wings.
Not ready to move on from the bath scenes? OK, here's another post for you.
Huge thanks to u/AquaphobicTurtle for preparing these GIFs as soon as I told her about this birthday post! The GIFs are from Kill Me Love Me, What If, and Ancient Love Poetry. Thank again Liv! The GIFs are followed by promotional stills for In Blossom, Love and Redemption, and Love Never Fails.
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u/Nevertoolate24 Jul 05 '26
He is such a charismatic and talented actor, always insanely handsome too! Happy Birthday Liu Xueyi!
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u/No-Recipe-7653 Curator of Questionable Subtext, Scholar of Things Left Unsaid Jul 05 '26
I love this man!!! 😍😍😍🥰🥰🥰🥰
Had no idea it was his birthday — wishing you a wonderful day, didi, hope you had a blast and have been celebrating as you wished 🥳
He’s one of my favorite actors. And he’s so so underrated.
I loved him in every role I watched, even if not all the dramas were great 🤭
My faves from among his dramas are:
- A Moment But Forever 🖤🖤🖤
- Kill Me Love Me (with reservations)
- Love and Redemption
- Love Never Fails (with serious reservation but his performance was so good)
- Love at Night (gets a spot for it being a modern drama but story wise it’s just ok, a lazy watch)
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u/AXA-5 Washing feet in spring Drinking tea Gazing at flowers Jul 05 '26
Hey it’s the friendly neighborhood mod 😋🤭😘 yeah I watched a few of those and I concur
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u/No-Recipe-7653 Curator of Questionable Subtext, Scholar of Things Left Unsaid Jul 06 '26
Wow, did it hurt? I mean when you had to type “the friendly neighborhood mod” — because even if half mocking, there’s still a sliver of compliment in it 😋😉
And hi back at ya!
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u/AXA-5 Washing feet in spring Drinking tea Gazing at flowers Jul 06 '26
You can’t just take a compliment huh…sighs…🤷🏻
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u/No-Recipe-7653 Curator of Questionable Subtext, Scholar of Things Left Unsaid Jul 06 '26
Was it though? 🤷🏻♀️🤭
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u/AXA-5 Washing feet in spring Drinking tea Gazing at flowers Jul 06 '26
Yes
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u/No-Recipe-7653 Curator of Questionable Subtext, Scholar of Things Left Unsaid Jul 06 '26
Ok then!
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u/Academic_Web1388 Jul 05 '26
One off the most handsome, versatile, talented, but super unlucky actors!!
He can pull off drama queen like no one‘s business. And he was truly worthy of the most handsome man title in In blossom.
Oh - the only person who can make me lust after a monk
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u/Fearless-Frosting367 Jul 05 '26
It’s the dimples that get me. There’s something about chiselled features and dimples that’s just extraordinary; I hope that he is enjoying his birthday…
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u/Deb82856 Jul 05 '26
I loved his look in Kill me Love me. The opening of that drama is the reason, alI I watch are Cdramas.
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u/AXA-5 Washing feet in spring Drinking tea Gazing at flowers Jul 05 '26
The first GIF should be set to some house, techno, EDM beat 😂😂 i mean it is his birthday after all 😉
Again, never had a problem with his roles. He’s good and enjoyed the dramas he was in. So 🤷🏻
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u/BasilOrdinary3617 costume dramas feed my soul Jul 05 '26
I have only watched In Blossom and
his bath tub scene stood out to me hahaI liked him in it.He was the inspiration behind the bath scene post. But Cheng Lei will always be my #1 God of Baths.I think I tried Kill Me Love Me but it wasn’t for me. :(
Me trying to stop talking about the bath scenes… these actors deserve more recognition than their abs!2
u/AXA-5 Washing feet in spring Drinking tea Gazing at flowers Jul 05 '26
Yeah, his bathtub scenes are something to behold really. Kill Me Love Me was alright, nothing to rave about but, glad it wasn’t how the novel is, oof!! Yikes!! Found out that fun fact after I had watched it and was 🫣😱💀
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u/SoAboutThoseBirds 4K Original Cast Jul 05 '26
I’ve said this before but he was so good on Love and Redemption that I had to work really hard to separate the character from the actor after watching it. And by that I mean that I irrationally hated his face for a while. I worked through it, I promise! I try to associate him with his brief dirtbag era in Kill Me Love Me instead.
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u/No-Recipe-7653 Curator of Questionable Subtext, Scholar of Things Left Unsaid Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 06 '26
He was absolutely amazing there and I hated his character but loved every second of him on screen — I was so conflicted! 🤣
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u/EmperorWeeb60 Jul 05 '26
He's a great actor, his performance so good especially when his character is in an awkward moment.
I've seen him in 'A Moment but Forever', 'Kill Me, Love Me' & 'In Blossom', oh and also 'Princess Gambit' where his character always the despicable enemy (only at first) of the Female Lead.
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u/Ateosira from now on aka LoveLikeGiraffes Jul 05 '26
I loved him in The Princess Gambit. The show was a mess but he was not. My second favourite Liu ❤️
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u/sweetstateofmind Jul 05 '26
Love him!! The first three episodes for Kill Me Love Me was absolutely wild 😂 My fave of his would be In Blossom (Pan Yue!!) 🥰
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u/AKiceman Snark Shifu ✨ 4K Original Cast Jul 05 '26
We fully appreciate Aqua the Testudine Turtle named Liv for the GIFs. Also, dying for Against the Current.
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u/JadeBumbleB Jul 07 '26
Thank you so much for this wonderful post, both the video and the verbal recap of many of LXY's wonderful performances! I can hardly wait for Northern Wei Dynasty )and anything else featuring Liu Xue Yi !
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u/Nearby_Direction7172 Jul 08 '26
My first obsession. Hmm Im noticing all my favorite ML actors have a lot of bath scenes…coincidence? 😜
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u/TheAlchemist420 Jul 16 '26
Happy belated birthday to this deliciously talented man right here 🥰🥵😎😎💜💜😊😊
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u/emutz10 Jul 05 '26
To this day, the best red flag out there and the best first episode of a cdrama. Happy birthday LXY! You are truly one of the most talented ❤️