Chen Xing Xu on 'Love between Lines'

Oriental New Entertainment sits down for an exclusive interview with Chen Xing Xu to get insights into Xiao Zhi Yu, a character from his latest drama, Love between Lines.

The drama tells the story of Hu Xi (Lu Yu Xiao), who falls into the lowest point of her life after her fiancé disappears and encounters Xiao Zhi Yu (Chen Xing Xu) in a murder mystery game. Amid the shadows of espionage in the virtual world, the two face a mystery of identities when they reunite in reality.

Xiao Zhi Yu, played by Chen Xing Xu — burdened with the mystery of his origins and the mission to uncover the truth behind his father's death — has become one of the most richly layered urban-drama characters.

Speaking about Xiao, Chen Xing Xu shared that the character is full of complexity and has a lot of struggles: "His background is the core [root of it all]. Because of his father, he has to seek revenge and uncover the truth."

Xiao Zhi Yu must not only tackle the long-unsolved case of the Xincheng Sports Stadium collapse but also face a final showdown with his stepfather — President Pei of Zhuling Group, played by Wang Zhi Fei. Chen Xingxu teased, "The confrontation with his stepfather — the 'big villain' — left a particularly deep impression on me. The plot after that is extremely intense!"

It's worth noting that although Chen Xing Xu is only 29, he is, in fact, a seasoned actor with 25 years of experience. At the age of four, he was discovered by a talent scout, which marked the beginning of his acting career. At fourteen, Chen Xingxu appeared in Zhang Yi Mou's Under the Hawthorn Tree.

Recalling that experience, he spoke with deep gratitude: "I only went to do a guest role for two days. Director Zhang would gather the actors together for meal. Even if I didn't perform well enough, he wouldn't force demands on me; instead, he would guide me slowly based on what I was able to understand. A good director can really influence an actor's entire life."

From the suave and refined Yang Kang in The Legend of the Condor Heroes to Gu Xiao Wu in Good Bye, My Princess, a character that left viewers heartbroken, Chen Xing Xu has continually pushed past his limits and reached new heights.

Speaking about Good Bye, My Princess, he admitted that he once became so deeply immersed in the role that he found it hard to pull himself out of it: "During that time, for about a month, I dreamed every night about scenes from the drama. I felt dazed, and even a bit depressed. What I dreamed about most was the scene of Gu Xiao Wu by the river. That sense of desolation is still unforgettable to this day."

Love between Lines is streaming on Apple TV, iQIYI, and Viki. 

Source: Oriental New Entertainment