Luci

Rumors are circulating that Meng Ziyi may play the female lead in “Jian Ge Wen Ling.” With Li Yunrui already confirmed as the male lead, fans are wondering if this could mark a fourth collaboration between the two. They have previously worked together in “Westward Out of the High Gate,” “Ninefold Purple,” and “The Princess Weiyoung.” Since the script is said to have a xianxia-style setting, fans are already excited to see what comes next.

Because of this whole rumor, I learned something new—Meng Ziyi’s fans are called “Little Lemons,” or Xiao Ningmeng. 🍋 They’ve been protecting her from the hate, clarifying the rumors, and defending her against the criticism.

But thanks to Meng Ziyi’s Chinese fans, the Xiao Ningmeng, for clarifying the rumors and defending her against the criticism.

Meng Ziyi was accused of frequently laughing while filming her new drama Love in Endless Summer. However, the original video blogger and people who were present on set have publicly clarified that the so-called “laughing” was actually her happy smile after the director said “cut” and the work on the scene was finished. The accusations being made online are completely out of context.

Since these false claims have been circulating for so long, shouldn’t the production team have issued a clarification by now? Fans were crowding the filming location, which meant the team had to repeatedly retake the scenes. Yet haters are still using this to accuse Meng Ziyi of being an inexperienced actress and claiming that she cannot act properly because she smiled or laughed during filming. They are deliberately taking the situation out of context and spreading negativity about her.
Don't pay attention to or believe any rumors."

Have there been any new casting rumors recently?

The rumored cast for this drama has changed so many times, but the cast still hasn’t been officially confirmed.

Rumored Cast List:

- Li Yunrui & Meng Ziyi
- Ding Yuxi & Wang Churan
- Song Weilong & Song Zuer
- Lin Muran & Huangyang Tiantian
- Deng Wei & Meng Ziyi
- Ding Yuxi & Meng Ziyi
- Li Yunrui & Meng Ziyi
- Zhou Keyu & Kong Xueer
- Deng Kai & Kong Xueer
- Gong Jun & Meng Ziyi
- Zhang Linghe & Meng Ziyi
- Ao Ruipeng & Wang Churan
- Gong Jun & Song Zuer
- Ao Ruipeng & Liu Haocun
- Ao Ruipeng & Meng Ziyi
- Wang Tianchen & He Ruixian
- Yang Yang & Chen Duling
-Dong Sicheng (Winwin) × Cheng Xiao

The casting rumors for this drama have been all over the place, with the rumored cast changing again and again. Yet, even after all these rumors, the official cast has still not been confirmed.

Meng Ziyi was the one who offered this drama to Heyu, and Heyu accepted it after reading the script. Without her, maybe Heyu wouldn’t have acted in this drama. Is that true?

"100% facts sis! It’s like haters expect celebrities to be frozen in time. People grow, weight shifts, and styling changes over the years, but anti-fans will attribute literally every single change to surgery. She’s been consistent and open, people just want an excuse to drag her."

Spot on! Shen Xihe is a character who has lived her life on thin ice, so wearing her emotions on her sleeve would completely ruin her strategic nature. Meng Ziyi’s performance relies heavily on micro-expressions—her quiet gaze, calm posture, and subtle eye shifts tell you everything she’s thinking without being dramatic. People often confuse restrained, controlled acting with "flat" expressions, but it takes real skill to project that level of composure. Both leads bring such a balanced contrast to the table!

"If you’re already liking He Yu’s performance and the direction, definitely stick around! What makes the high rating earned is the dynamic between the leads. It’s a rare 'dual mastermind' drama—Meng Ziyi’s character (Shen Xihe) is a cold, calculating strategist, matching He Yu’s charmingly sly Crown Prince step-for-step without annoying misunderstandings. Once their political alliance kicks into gear, the plot moves fast and the payoff is super satisfying."

Meng Ziyi was approximately 20-21 years old when she filmed The Legend of the Condor Heroes (in which she played Mu Nianci). At that age, she had natural baby fat on her cheeks and jawline, which made her face appear rounder and fuller.

Along with his career, he lost a significant amount of weight through a strict diet and routine. The reduction in facial fat allowed his natural bone structure to become prominent, transforming his face into a slimmer, sharper V-line.

Makeup and lighting techniques in historical C-dramas have changed significantly over the past few years. Heavy contouring, nose shaping, and lighter skin styling have made facial features appear more distinct and sculpted than before

While rumors of jaw contouring or facial fillers have been circulating on social media, Meng Ziyi has denied any cosmetic plastic surgery. She has attributed her transformed look to major weight loss, natural aging, and professional styling

“The rumor that Tian Xiwei was the female lead came out on June 30, and the rumored pairing was Tian Xiwei × Cheng Lei. Then in July, there was a rumor that the production team had sent the script to both Tian Xiwei and Meng Ziyi, but that was still only a social-media rumor and there was no official casting announcement. Has that rumor changed now? I’m seeing that the newest pairing rumor is Esther Yu × Ao Ruipeng.” and Also, the male-lead rumor has been changing very quickly: Ding Yuxi, Chen Feiyu, Zhou Yiran and others were mentioned, and Ao Ruipeng is the newest version I found in the August 14 reports.

and an important correction: Ao Ruipeng's name is specifically circulating quite strongly in current rumors of I Want to Ride the Wind, and a recent discussion even mentioned a Yu Shuxin + Ao Ruipeng pairing. But the casting hasn't been officially confirmed

casting is especially interesting because reports on August 13 named Zhang Linghe as the male lead and Sun Qian as the female-lead candidate, but the production side has not yet officially announced the cast

**Esther Yu + male lead TBD; Ding Yuxi, Ao Ruipeng, Hou Minghao, Zhang Linghe, Chen Feiyu, and Zhou Yiran have all been rumored as candidates.**

I also really want Meng Ziyi to act as the female lead in a Xianxia drama. I remember there was once a rumor that Meng Ziyi and Ao Ruipeng would be the leads in Thriving After the Moon Falls. The drama is basically not a proper Xianxia; it is officially listed as Xuanhuan + Romance. But hearing that rumor made me really happy. Unfortunately, as time passed, the rumors changed, and now it’s either Ao Ruipeng + Song Zuer or Ao Ruipeng + Wang Churan.
I still wish Meng Ziyi would act in a proper Xianxia drama with a powerful immortal character, beautiful costumes, magic, sword fights, and an epic love story. I think her elegant visuals would suit Xianxia so perfectly. I really hope she gets a big-budget Xianxia drama as the female lead soon.🤞

Please calm down and let's not start a fan war. Both Meng Ziyi and Ao Ruipeng have their own strengths. Just like you feel Meng Ziyi’s acting isn't that great, someone else might feel Ao Ruipeng isn't exactly an acting prodigy either, often playing the same character who is constantly trying to be funny. Everyone has their own opinion.
Having an opinion is fine, but passing your personal preference off as the absolute 'truth' is where the issue lies. Acting is subjective, and drama co-stars are meant to complement each other, not compete. Meng Ziyi has proven her range across multiple successful projects, and both actors bring their own unique strengths to the screen.
Acting in a drama is about teamwork and chemistry, not a contest where one actor has to 'earn' the right to work with another. Both Meng Ziyi and Ao Ruipeng have their own distinct charm and talents, and judging who is 'worthy' misses the point of acting entirely. Besides, the casting isn't even officially confirmed yet! If they are cast together, both will bring their best and their chemistry will be great.

Meng Ziyi plays Hao Nian, an experienced media professional/journalist – a strong, warm and emotionally mature character.

The outfits Meng Ziyi wears in Endless Summer are so cool and attractive! She looks absolutely beautiful in these outfits. I really love her outfits! ❤️✨

Exactly! When the co-star's fanbase is peaceful and supportive, there are no online fan wars, unwarranted hate for the female lead, and social media drama. This keeps the focus squarely on the show's quality and performances. But Li Yunrui multiple times, so I’d rather see her paired with a new male lead or a talented newcomer this time. Trying different actors and different pairings could be better for Meng Ziyi’s acting career and growth. I just hope the new male lead has a healthy and supportive fanbase.