LayarHijau – The popularity of actor Hou Minghao has soared once again after his costume drama with Lu Yuxiao, Love in the Clouds (入青雲), reached its story climax and continued to see steady growth in viewership. Within just one week, Hou Minghao’s official Weibo account gained over 250,000 new followers.
Hou Minghao and Lu Yuxiao, who play the lead couple, have been showered with praise from netizens. Many described their on-screen chemistry as “intense and refreshing,” calling the series a pleasant surprise amid the current “winter” period of China’s television industry.
Hou Minghao has long honed his acting skills through fantasy and wuxia dramas such as I Am Nobody and Dashing Youth. In Love in the Clouds, he takes on the role of Ji Bozai, a cold and calculating man who hides a gentle side beneath his stoic exterior.
His co-star, Lu Yuxiao, portrays Ming Yi — a fierce female general known as the “Goddess of War.” The drama begins with Ming Yi losing a duel after being poisoned, forcing her to disguise herself as a palace dancer in Ji Bozai’s residence to uncover the conspiracy behind it. During her mission, she gradually falls in love with him. Ming Yi’s heartfelt confession scene has been described by viewers as “too sweet to resist.”
Interestingly, Love in the Clouds has managed to capture public attention even while competing with Yummy Yummy Yummy, a drama written by the same screenwriting team. While Yummy Yummy Yummy leans toward a lighthearted romantic tone, Love in the Clouds explores deeper emotional layers and symbolism.
One of the most talked-about moments is when Ming Yi discovers that the person who poisoned her was none other than her own sister, Ming Xin (played by Ke Bolun). Out of jealousy, Ming Xin laced Ming Yi’s favorite scallion bun with poison. Ironically, Ji Bozai saves Ming Yi in the same way — by hiding the antidote inside a scallion bun and feeding it to her. The clever plot twist amused viewers, with one commenting, “Moral of the story: never get too obsessed with one kind of food — it might be used against you!”
But the scene that truly set the internet ablaze was a passionate kiss sequence that went viral on Weibo. In the scene, Ming Yi points her sword at Ji Bozai. Instead of retreating, he steps forward slowly, brushes the sword aside, and kisses her with raw emotion.
It was later revealed that the kiss was not part of the director’s original plan but rather a spontaneous idea from Hou Minghao himself. Initially, the director intended to choreograph a more complex sequence involving a spin before the kiss, but Hou suggested a simpler, more natural version that began with the sword movement. The result proved far more powerful — earning widespread praise and leaving viewers mesmerized by the depth of their chemistry.
Beyond that iconic scene, Hou Minghao’s performance has also drawn positive attention. His portrayal of Ji Bozai — cold on the surface yet warm within — displayed remarkable emotional precision. Many netizens praised his commanding presence in traditional costume, even dubbing him “an actor born for historical dramas.” In just one week, his name once again topped the ranks of the most-searched young actors across multiple social platforms.
Following the tremendous success of Love in the Clouds, Hou Minghao is now gearing up for his next fantasy-romance project, The Unclouded Soul (Xiaoyao), alongside actress Tan Songyun. The series is currently in post-production and is expected to become one of next year’s most anticipated releases.
