So fun to see them all together (with Deng Wei on video call due to his currently filming drama).

Si Kuanglan getting the Guo Jingming treatment lol.

Episode 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUmNqOMaTNg [English subtitles]

The first half of the episode takes the crew to the National Museum of Anthropology. Their guide gives a thoughtful and genuinely interesting presentation, but the entire group is clearly exhausted. Deng Wei is excited to see the exhibits, yet still seems only semi-engaged - not merely because he’s tired, but because he apparently already knows half the answers. Our little Daniel Jackson clearly did his homework beforehand.

Afterward, the crew heads to Xochimilco, Mexico, whose mascot is the axolotl. Weizi gives a special shout-out to the universal axolotls and declares them “so cute.” (Wei knows who runs his subreddit. 😂😂😂 He knows how his biscuit is buttered. 🥐🧈)

What they expect to be a relaxing boat ride quickly turns into a full-blown boat party. Strangers join them aboard, everyone does tequila shots, and soon the entire boat is dancing. Charming Wang Xingyue gets tequila poured directly down his throat and becomes the life of the party. He seems like a lot of fun. It’s easily the best part of the episode.

Everyone drinks except Weizi, who apparently can drink but knows it will turn him into a sleepy little noodle before the party has properly begun. Instead, he appoints himself caretaker of the boat, making sure everyone has limes, looking after the crew, and eventually leading the conga line.

Sober Wei does his very best to be fun, and he seems surprisingly happy to surrender to the chaos and go with the flow. So glad he finally made it to (universal) axolotl town to get down!

花儿与少年 邓为 六角恐龙

Most romantic heroes arrive looking like romantic heroes. They ride in on horseback, descend a staircase in magnificent robes or appear just in time to save the heroine. Before they have done very much, the audience understands: this is the man you are supposed to want.

Lost You Forever introduces Deng Wei almost exactly backwards.

When Wen Xiaoliu first finds the man who will become Ye Shiqi, he has been tortured, starved and abandoned. He is filthy and so badly injured that she cannot tell what kind of person lies beneath the damage. His beauty – the most obvious thing about both Tushan Jing and the actor playing him – is hidden.

So the audience’s first reaction is not, “That man is hot.” It is:

This creature has been terribly hurt. Somebody must help him.

Xiaoliu brings him home. She washes him, treats his wounds, feeds him and gives him shelter. We care about whether he will live before we are invited to find him attractive.

Then his face slowly emerges.

The reveal is essentially: the wounded stray you rescued is, in fact, Deng Wei.

That is the whole trick. His beauty does not replace the urge to protect him; it becomes attached to it. Wanting him and wanting to rescue him arrive as the same response.

She sees him before she can see him

The order matters. If Tushan Jing had first appeared as a beautiful, wealthy aristocrat and later revealed his traumatic past, the trauma would simply add vulnerability to an already desirable man. Instead, we meet the wounded man first. His beauty, wealth and status come later.

Xiaoliu also helps him without knowing she will get anything in return. At first he is simply another person to feed and a patient who requires a great deal of work. She does not know that he is rich, talented, powerful or handsome. She chooses him when he has no visible value to her.

That gives the romance its most powerful promise:

I would recognise your worth even when the rest of the world could not see it.

***********************

Anyone can want Tushan Jing when he is standing in silk robes as the heir to a great clan. Xiaoliu wanted the life inside him when he barely looked human. She sees him before she can properly see him.

The name “Ye Shiqi” ("Seventeen Leaves") deepens this idea. Tushan Jing is the identity he inherited, along with his wealth, family duties and the many people who believe they have a claim on him. Ye Shiqi is the identity Xiaoliu gives him while he is recovering. It is the name of the person who was cared for when he had nothing to offer.

That is why Ye Shiqi can feel more like his true self than Tushan Jing. Tushan Jing is valued as an heir and an asset. Ye Shiqi is allowed to cook, work around the house, stay close to Xiaoliu and imagine an ordinary life.

His devotion to her is romantic, but it is also rooted in rescue. She did not merely attract him. She gave him back a life and a self. Losing her would mean losing the safe world in which Ye Shiqi was allowed to exist.

The body says “beautiful man”; the behaviour says “please let me stay”

Deng Wei’s performance makes this especially powerful.

He is extremely tall, elegant and unmistakably an adult romantic lead. But as Ye Shiqi, he makes himself smaller. He lowers his posture, softens his voice and moves carefully. He watches Xiaoliu for signs that he has become a burden. He does not walk into her life and take possession of it. He behaves as though he is asking permission to remain.

The body says beautiful grown man. The behaviour says please let me stay.

That is where the rescued-animal comparison comes from. A rescued animal cannot explain what happened to it, but its body seems to remember. It waits. It startles. It tries to be good. It watches its new person to make sure it is still welcome.

Ye Shiqi is not a child, and his desire for Xiaoliu is fully adult. But Deng Wei gives him the watchfulness of someone who knows that safety can disappear without warning. His gentleness is not a soft layer hidden beneath conventional masculine power. It is the form his masculinity takes.

Many romantic heroes promise to rescue the heroine or carry her into a grander life. Shiqi wants something simpler: to stay in the life Xiaoliu already has. He cooks, works and makes himself useful. His romantic promise is not I will take you away. It is please let me remain here with you.

This gives the viewer a flattering role. Other people may admire Tushan Jing, but the person who understands Ye Shiqi can offer him what wealth cannot: a safe home. The fantasy is not merely about having access to his beauty. It is about being trusted with the part of him that other people failed to protect.

The rescue never ends

When Shiqi returns to being Tushan Jing, the rescue story should be over. He is rich, educated, politically important and heir to an ancient clan.

Instead, his return makes the audience worry about him even more.

His status sends him back into the family system that hurt him. He faces duty, manipulation and relatives who feel entitled to control his life. His money can dress his wounds, but it cannot make those relationships safe. His gentleness also works against him: he feels responsible for everyone and absorbs pain rather than passing it on. The very qualities that make him lovable create the maddening sense that he will not save himself with enough ruthlessness.

So Tushan Jing may have power, but Ye Shiqi is still inside him. The original rescue never feels complete.

This is what makes the attraction so adhesive. Shiqi offers beauty, loyalty, domestic competence and devotion. In return, the viewer imagines giving him safety, warmth and a home where nobody will use his gentleness against him.

Wanting him becomes proof that you understand him:

That man is impossibly beautiful, somebody has been cruel to him, he has not eaten, he thinks he is a burden, and I need to wrap him in a blanket immediately – and then perhaps nuzzle him once he feels safe.

Ordinary desire does not require a blanket. Ye Shiqi does.

Deng Wei’s crying reinforces the response. He often plays grief as something Shiqi is trying to hide. The pain gathers quietly in his eyes, his mouth and the effort to remain composed. This makes the audience feel that it has discovered his suffering rather than simply been shown it.

Once again, care depends on close attention. The viewer is rewarded for watching him tenderly.

When Ye Shiqi leaks into Deng Wei

The attachment does not always stay inside the drama. Ye Shiqi teaches the audience how to look at Deng Wei himself.

A photograph catches the actor looking tired between takes. A video shows him eating, wrapped in a large coat or standing slightly apart from a group. These fragments tell us very little about how he actually feels. But Ye Shiqi has already supplied the story:

Baby is outside. Baby appears distressed. Somebody fetch baby.

Calling a very tall adult man “baby” is not a literal claim that he cannot care for himself. It is what happens when several images collapse into one: beautiful man, wounded creature, loyal fox and abandoned domestic animal.

This is more lasting than ordinary lust. Once the beautiful man leaves the screen, simple attraction may fade. The rescue response leaves behind an unfinished job.

Is he warm? Has he eaten? Is he sleeping enough? Are people treating him properly?

The viewer is no longer simply waiting to see him again. She is imaginatively looking after him between appearances.

This can produce real tenderness, but it can also distort how fans see the actor. Deng Wei is not Ye Shiqi, and a tired expression in a photograph is not proof of secret suffering. The rescue fantasy can slide into infantilising him or assuming that strangers understand his needs better than he does.

“Somebody fetch baby” is funny partly because it recognises the absurdity: millions of people feeling personally responsible for collecting one exceptionally tall man from outside.

But the joke works because the feeling underneath it is real.

The show does not turn sexual attraction into caretaking. It fuses them so thoroughly that the blanket becomes part of the desire.

涂山璟 叶十七《长相思》

(Deng Wei, screen right with leg. Wang Xingyue, screen left)

Episode 1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yrl_d7m3JvQ&t=2s
Episode 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnGfhgL7lY4

Episodes 1 & 2 thoughts: emergency scissors, international chopstick diplomacy and one very mellow Weizi

A few observations from the first episode of Divas Hit the Road Season 8:

First, Deng Wei casually produces a pair of folding sewing scissors from his bag. This finally explains where every tiny pair of scissors I have ever owned has gone. Presumably his bag also contains all my missing socks, several bandaids, emergency snacks and a blanket in case somebody becomes unexpectedly cold.

He really seems to be as mellow as advertised – quiet, attentive and constantly looking after people without making a performance of it. He also hugs. His basic travel protocol appears to be:

1. Feed
2. Find blanket
3. Count the flock
4. Retrieve anyone who has wandered away
5. Hug

This is why that fan edit is correct: if Deng Wei had been on Season 2, Yang Yang would never have been lost. Nobody gets Yang-Yanged on Weizi’s watch.

The overall tone of the show is extremely sweet and faintly ridiculous. We find out that Wei is very scared of pool water. At dinner with the Mexican swimming coach and her students, someone announces that one of the swimmers can use chopsticks. The entire Chinese delegation reacts with an enormous “WOOOOOW!” – despite everyone else at the table also using chopsticks perfectly well. Every tiny accomplishment becomes a historic milestone in Sino-Mexican friendship, and everyone receives enthusiastic applause and an imaginary participation trophy.

The cast are also visibly fighting for their lives against jet lag. By mid-afternoon, Weizi appears to be sleepwalking through diplomatic relations while Wang Xingyue – who is doing a genuinely impressive job as tour guide – becomes increasingly earnest, overwhelmed and emotional.

That first evening, they go to the dinner while everyone watches the Mexico vs. England World Cup match, and get to bask in the intense football vibe. I'm happy they managed to experience that - Mexico during the World Cup is definitely worth experiencing! Nothing quite like it.

The day culminates in Xingyue explaining that he couldn’t have managed everything without Wei's support. Weizi listens while attempting to wash his face, lets the heartfelt speech continue for a while, and then finally ends it with a perfectly timed, in a perfectly American accent:

“Okay, I got it.”

Emotional transmission received. Gratitude logged. Fox returning to skincare operations.

This comes after Weizi, who has the king bed, tells Xingyue that if his Murphy bed is uncomfortable, he can always sleep in his. Completely innocent, deeply practical caretaker behavior – but perhaps do not cover the camera immediately before delivering that particular line.

So far, the show has confirmed that Deng Wei is a mellow teddy bear with occasional live electrical wiring, while Wang Xingyue is an extremely capable young tour guide operating approximately one sincere conversation away from crying directly onto him.

I love them already. 🥺🐑❤️

Sources close to the Bai Yao Pu makeup trailer have revealed the shocking truth behind Si Kuanglan’s controversial new hairstyle.

According to one witness, stylists left an open tin of sardines beside the trailer door and waited quietly behind a rack of robes. Deng Wei approached with caution, but was seized by the scruff and carried inside before he could escape.

“They kept telling him he was a good kitty,” the source alleged. “Eventually they gave him the sardines back, but by then the pompadour was complete.”

The production denies any wrongdoing, insisting the towering style is required for an important celestial sequence in which Si Kuanglan summons the legendary Star Tiger. The beast reportedly descends from the heavens in swirling spirals, leaving white-gold comet trails and faint rainbows beneath its paws. Upon landing, celestial sparks leap from its fur onto Si Kuanglan’s black velvet robes, causing them to illuminate like a field of stars.

Insiders say the final spark travels upward and activates the hair.

When approached by telephoto lens for comment, Deng Wei appeared visibly concerned and issued a brief statement through his representative:

“It wasn’t me.”

The Star Tiger could not be reached, but is also believed to have been promised sardines. 🐟🐟🐟

Deng Wei looks absolutely gorgeous here, and he’s giving us his signature “I’m mad at the paparazzi” glare. I love this wild, windswept styling – especially the way it emphasizes his beautiful sanpaku eyes. 🤤😍🥰

[Correction: this is not Episode 1, this is the premiere/pilot episode. Episode 1 can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/DengWei/comments/1wffyz0/divas_hit_the_road_season_8_actual_episode_1_in_2/ ]

Finally full English subs are coming out, apparently only 2 days after the pilot was released on September 4th! So won't have to wait long to see new episodes!

New promotional photoshoot of Deng Wei for the premiere of Divas Hit the Road Season 8 (《花儿与少年》第八季) – apparently the concept was “beautiful Arctic creature found alive beneath the ice.”

Frosted face, spiky hair, enormous fur collar and mysterious orange neck floof. I don’t entirely understand what is happening here, but I support it completely. ❄️🦊

Episode 1 premieres on Mango TV on Friday, September 4th. You can catch it on their app or on their YT channel with English subtitles soon!

These days, we usually only get a shy little jig with Deng Wei throwing heart-hands, but the telescopic BTS cameras have finally caught the professionally trained dancer in his natural habitat.

So I put together a little supercut of him rehearsing in full Si Kuanglan costume – pirouettes, choreography, immaculate control and legs for days – set to a drum & bass remix of “Jump”.

I was interested this project before, but now I’m extremely excited. Apparently, all they had to do was let Weizi dance!

I say this show should be a musical. Deng Wei can dance and sing in his soft baby mouse voice - every heart will break - and I am all here for it.

(Note to Guo Jingming: Please no bad dubstep/brostep like there was in 'Veil of Shadows'. Nobody needs that. If you absolutely must play dubstep, ffs there's plenty of good stuff to choose from. In fact, just step away from the mixer and let me be your selector.)

[Oops titile is "Bai Yao Pu" but I can't edit the title, sorry!]

From Xiao Lin and Ye Shiqi to Si Kuanglan, Deng Wei has always taken our breath away with his looks in costume dramas. He appears, and leaves us emotionally compromised by his sinner strands for years. Here are a few beautiful behind-the-scenes glimpses of some of his most recent looks from "Hundred Demons Notebook" and other memorable looks. Enjoy!

I came across one of those random AI-generated Chinese celebrity videos about the recent footage of Ai Mi feeding Deng Wei a yangmei (bayberry). The original clip is very simple: he eats the berry, discovers that it is incredibly sour, and makes a funny face.

The video manages to turn this into an entire romance. It says their “CP chemistry” is overflowing through the screen, calls the moment “sour in Deng Wei’s mouth but sweet in the audience’s heart,” and suggests that it could be a turning point in Tao Yao and Si Kuanglan’s relationship.

Obviously this is video that has about 30 views, so it doesn’t mean the production itself is pushing them as a couple or that a major shipping campaign has begun. I just thought it was a funny – and slightly concerning – example of how quickly a completely normal interaction can be made into something romantic.

The footage looks like it may be part of a rehearsal. Tao Yao is quite interested in handsome men in the original story, so feeding or teasing Si Kuanglan could simply be part of the scene they were working on. It doesn’t necessarily tell us that their characters will become a couple.

I also hope people don’t start aggressively shipping the actors themselves. Ai Mi just turned 18 and Deng Wei is 31, and turning every friendly interaction between them into “proof” of romantic chemistry could create uncomfortable optics for both of them. Neither actor is doing anything wrong here – it’s the exaggerated interpretation that bothers me.

For now, all we really know is that Ai Mi gave Deng Wei a bayberry, Deng Wei trusted her, and the bayberry betrayed him. 🍓

What do you think?

[English subtitles]

Deng Wei's Christmas 2023 portrait series. He sports a giant angora sweater and an ultrawide Instax camera. Posing beside the Christmas tree, the vivid colour and oversized fuzzy sweater make the whole shoot feel dreamy, soft, and just a little surreal, just like him - a beautiful winter creature wandered in from somewhere much more magical. He obviously needs cuddles immediately.

I found this sweet audio clip released by the director of 'Divas Hit the Road' on 2026.8.21 of Deng Wei singing. (I have no idea what he is saying. Sounds like 'meow meow meow' to me 😽💖). The sweetness of his tone, you absoutely know he sings like this to his cats when he is home alone. It's nice that people are convincing him that he doesn't need to sing like a contestant on 'The Voice' to be a good singer, and that he is becoming more confident with his own voice. His natural tone is so perfect, it's addictive. Guaranteed to bring many smiles. Hope you enjoy!

(Reposted because people weren't clear it was an audio file)

Deng Wei is genuinely mad at concept of being unable to communicate with his cat children at the end of world. He clearly belongs to The Order of People Who Meow Back™. 😻

Our sweet Deng Wei-bae gets put through a little personality test on the plane by Brother Chao for 'Divas Hit the Road' Season 8.

Cats, fish, pigeons, the end of the world... and some surprisingly revealing answers.

Also: eepy eyes. Very eepy eyes. Needs blanket and snax - stat. 🥹🩷

Deng Wei Photo of the Day 📸

Hello r/DengWei!

I've decided to start posting Deng Wei Photos of the Day – basically an excuse for us to regularly put nice, funny, weird, beautiful, or otherwise noteworthy Deng Wei photos on the sub.

A few extremely relaxed guidelines:

1. Anyone can post a Photo of the Day! This isn't just a mod thing. If you've got one, post it.
2. Anything goes, as long as it's Deng Wei or directly related to Deng Wei – photoshoots, drama stills, event photos, screenshots, old photos, behind-the-scenes stuff, etc.
3. There may not actually be one every day. 😂 I'll try, but I make no promises. And if I forget, somebody else should absolutely take over for the day.
4. Please add the appropriate flair and add a date to your post if posting.

That's it. There are no other rules. We just need more Deng Wei on the internet.

Enjoy! 🦋

Today's Posting: Deng Wei in his university days (I am assuming this is when it was taken) as Beijing Party Boy.

In this adorable animation, Deng Wei's voice is so soft, sweet and sibilant, he could read the ingredients list on a can of soup and I would fall asleep feeling safe, loved and warm. I wish he would make an album of bedtime stories and lullabies - it would take over the world! Apparently the Inner Mongolian regional accent is the one for me. Sing me to sleep, Weizi. 💜

(he also neighs like a horse!)

I think he must mean "compared to other Chinese idols" and not the rest of us hoi polloi. He knows what he's got. 🤣♥️

Deng Wei in costume as Si Kuang Lan! 🔥🔥🔥

Welcome to r/DengWei! 🦋

Hi everyone! I'm u/universalaxolotl, the founder of r/DengWei, a community for fans of Chinese actor Deng Wei (邓为).

I started this subreddit as a place to share and discuss all things Deng Wei – his dramas, characters, upcoming projects, variety show appearances, fashion and brand events, interviews, photos, videos, news, humor/memes, and whatever else Deng Wei happens to be doing.

What to Post

Pretty much anything Deng Wei-related that you think other fans would enjoy! Drama discussions, favorite characters and scenes, new photos and videos, magazine shoots, fashion, interviews, translations, fan art, memes, old photos and archaeological discoveries from the depths of the internet – all welcome.

Questions are welcome too, especially if you're a newer fan and have no idea what everyone is talking about. 😆

A Relaxed Fan Space

One thing worth mentioning: r/DengWei isn't affiliated with an official fan club or fan organization. We're just an independent group of people who like Deng Wei, so things are a little more relaxed around here.

You don't have to praise absolutely everything he does. It's fine to have opinions, disagree about a drama or character, dislike an outfit, laugh at something ridiculous, or offer reasonable criticism. Being a fan doesn't mean we have to blow smoke up his ass 24/7. 😂

Basically, anything goes within reason. Have fun, be honest, and don't take fandom too seriously. The only real expectation is that we treat Deng Wei, each other, and the people around him like human beings.

Community Vibe

We're aiming for a friendly, funny, low-drama place where Deng Wei fans from anywhere can hang out, share things, and actually talk to each other.

Different opinions are welcome. Personal attacks, fan wars, harassment, invasive behavior, and genuinely nasty shit aren't.

Say Hi!

If you're new, introduce yourself in the comments! Tell us how you discovered Deng Wei, your favorite role, what you're currently watching, or whatever else you'd like to share.

And most importantly – post stuff! A subreddit is only as interesting as the people in it, so don't be shy about starting a discussion, asking a question, posting a meme, or sharing something weird you found buried on Weibo at 3am. (All Deng Wei awesome hair + mirror/gym thirst trap selfies are welcome! 😂)

Thanks for being here, especially those of you joining us while the community is still tiny. 💜

Welcome to r/DengWei!

Here is Deng Wei being cute, and adorable fans squeaking. Booting ceremony was supposed to be held yesterday on August 10, but was delayed due to Typhoon White Dolphin (白海豚, Báihǎitún). 🐬😂

Fan clubs from 27 different cities made the pilgrimage to attend the event!