So, the girl who is shown in reuters with Xu Kai in red dress is Zhang Hui Wen, the love interest of Xu Kai?That's…
Thanks for identifying her. I looked her up on MDL. At 21, Zhang Hui Wen was discovered by renowned director Zhang Yimou, who cast her in the lead role of Coming Home, opposite the legendary Gong Li, which is very impressive.
Seems like a complex character I still can’t figure out what his character is like after all these interviews…
look below "Xu Kai says. For him, THE EXPERIENCE MATTERS MORE THAN WINNING OR LOSING. The character’s story arc is filled with dramatic turns, and when it came time to act, he found the process “mentally exhausting.” “It was truly, deeply heartbreaking,” he adds. Xu Kai described the experience as “IMMENSELY SATISFYING.” For him, it was a completely new challenge — a role for which none of his previous experience could offer any help. He watched a great number of documentaries, from those on psychology to criminal case files, to enrich the character."
Seems like a complex character I still can’t figure out what his character is like after all these interviews…
look below "Chen Hui — a young man... who once lived a joyful life with a happy family... he was forced onto a winding path... From the moment Chen Hui stepped into crime, it was one step after another down into the abyss.... he began to suffer from insomnia, nightmares, panic, helplessness, trembling, and avoidance in his gaze whenever he saw his father or anyone else… then came the anxiety, and finally, a calm and clear-headed approach to dealing with everything.... The film posed a major psychological challenge for Xu Kai — how to portray a mental breakdown during the act of wrongdoing, and a sense of helpless confusion upon returning to a clear-headed state."
Douban recent popular mainland drama list and scores (10/18/25) #1 This Thriving Land 7.2 (8/13-8/23) user ratings 218k #2 Moonlit Reunion 6.6 (8/18-9/2) 44k #3 The Immortal Ascension 7.5 (7/27-8/12) 122k #4 Sword Rose 6.9 (7/28-8/9) 266k #5 The Narcotic Operation 7.5 (7/12-7/25) 120k #6 Legend of Zang Hai 7.1 (5/18-6/3) 543k
The director is Gary Sing who was the main director for Word of Honor. He was one of directors for 'Beauties of the Emperor," a Yu Zheng script in 2012.
It sounds like stories from people's childhood memories. That can be good or bad when adapted. It's like growing up reading Marvel comics and then they make a movie and it's either going to make you happy or mad.
Other dramas have similar or even worse currently watching and completed and verified during its' first week yet they get 8.6 but Moonlit Reunion got 7.6, but it's so typical for Xu Kai dramas
Ever since Moonlit Reunion, I noticed unusual user activity on MDL for Xu Kai. I don't recall like this before. There were always few haters coming around, but it just feels different to me since Moonlit Reunion. It feels like a paid trolling campaign, and I can't help but think it's an extension of whatever started back in August.
I saw the most venomous YT video on Xu Kai yesterday — full of unjust and blatant lies, so cruel.Thanks for…
I just clicked on one from that same channel VTV and it is negative in my opinion. It contains negative undertones saying good things, but underneath is not, painting him as an actor who "relies on Yu Zheng for security,' makes it sound like Yu Zheng is his security blanket, that he was an actor playing supporting roles (not true), "not an overnight sensation," blah blah blah and all while, it's saying good things but people watching it who don't' know Xu Kai will come away with wrong impression even if the video says obvious good things. I am not going to waste my time, as soon as I see the negative undertone, I don't watch it. It's really a video to glorify Yu Zheng. I actually stopped clicking on them over a year ago once I caught on. Other actors don't have this kind of negative undertones. Theirs are their own paid promotional even calling them a "national treasure," and defending the slightest possible negative thing on them; not sure who is paying for these on Xu Kai, they're not genuine enough for me.
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i was hoping this drama would not have any love interest
"Xu Kai says. For him, THE EXPERIENCE MATTERS MORE THAN WINNING OR LOSING. The character’s story arc is filled with dramatic turns, and when it came time to act, he found the process “mentally exhausting.” “It was truly, deeply heartbreaking,” he adds. Xu Kai described the experience as “IMMENSELY SATISFYING.” For him, it was a completely new challenge — a role for which none of his previous experience could offer any help. He watched a great number of documentaries, from those on psychology to criminal case files, to enrich the character."
https://mydramanovel.com/a-cup-of-love/
"Chen Hui — a young man... who once lived a joyful life with a happy family... he was forced onto a winding path... From the moment Chen Hui stepped into crime, it was one step after another down into the abyss.... he began to suffer from insomnia, nightmares, panic, helplessness, trembling, and avoidance in his gaze whenever he saw his father or anyone else… then came the anxiety, and finally, a calm and clear-headed approach to dealing with everything.... The film posed a major psychological challenge for Xu Kai — how to portray a mental breakdown during the act of wrongdoing, and a sense of helpless confusion upon returning to a clear-headed state."
#1 This Thriving Land 7.2 (8/13-8/23) user ratings 218k
#2 Moonlit Reunion 6.6 (8/18-9/2) 44k
#3 The Immortal Ascension 7.5 (7/27-8/12) 122k
#4 Sword Rose 6.9 (7/28-8/9) 266k
#5 The Narcotic Operation 7.5 (7/12-7/25) 120k
#6 Legend of Zang Hai 7.1 (5/18-6/3) 543k