LayarHijau – Chinese actor Hu Yitian, best known for his breakout role as high schooler Jiang Chen in A Love So Beautiful, is once again trending online—not for an official comeback, but due to circulating rumors that he may star in a new drama titled Brilliant Girlfriend (also known as Genius Girlfriend). Despite the project not being confirmed by his agency, the mere rumor has already sparked fierce backlash from netizens.
The rumored series is said to be adapted from Su Guang’s novel and tells the story of a genius girl and her childhood sweetheart as they grow from internship to marriage. It’s positioned as a youthful romance drama with warm, healing vibes. Rumors claim Hu Yitian will take on the male lead role opposite Tian Xiwei and Hani Kezi.
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While some fans welcomed the idea of Hu “finally getting back to work,” many others voiced concern—or outright rejection. Several netizens criticized the pairing, questioning why Hu should play a second male lead to Tian Xiwei. Others argued that at age 30, he’s too old to convincingly portray a school-age character. “How long does he plan to stay stuck playing a teenage boy?” one comment said bluntly.
Earlier this year, Hu Yitian made headlines when he joked about “retiring,” noting that it had been 673 days since he last joined a filming project. His fans began to speculate whether he was stepping away from acting altogether. Since his last major works, including Unrequited Love and Dt. Appledog’s Time (the sequel to Go Go Squid!), Hu’s career has been relatively quiet.
To date, there has been no official confirmation from Hu Yitian or his agency regarding his involvement in Brilliant Girlfriend. Claims that he “announced it on social media” appear to be unfounded, as no such post exists on his official Weibo account. This strongly suggests that the casting remains a rumor and should not be treated as fact, World Journal wrote.
Beyond age concerns, netizens have also noted a drop in Hu’s popularity. “Even with over 20 million followers, he rarely trends anymore. That means his active fanbase is shrinking,” one user wrote. Others pointed fingers at his current management: “Ever since he switched agencies, nothing new has come out. Maybe it’s time to find a new team.”
Hu Yitian, who began his career as a model, is known for his tall frame (188 cm), strong brows, and soft features that made him the ultimate heartthrob in school romance dramas. His fame skyrocketed in 2017 with A Love So Beautiful, where he played the cold but brilliant Jiang Chen, winning the hearts of millions of viewers across Asia.
Now, his rumored return has ignited a different challenge—facing the skepticism of a public that once adored him. Whether Brilliant Girlfriend materializes or not, it’s clear that Hu’s next move will be closely watched.
