LayarHijau – The historical romance and power-struggle drama Fated Hearts (一笑隨歌), starring Li Qin and Chen Zheyuan, recently aired its finale. The intense chemistry and emotional tension between the two leads captivated viewers, driving the series to surpass 800 million views in China and claim the top spot on iQIYI International’s rankings across 12 countries and regions.
In the drama’s most talked-about climax, Chen Zheyuan’s character, who had lost his memory after being gravely injured, points a blade at Li Qin. Instead of resisting, Li Qin’s character takes his hand and drives the knife into herself, using her blood to awaken his long-buried emotions. When Chen’s character regains his memories and embraces her in tears, audiences were deeply moved—making the scene one of the most emotional moments of the series.
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Adapted from the novel Smile by Chi Yi Qian Yu, Fated Hearts tells the story of Fu Yixiao (played by Li Qin), the most skilled archer of the Jin Xiu kingdom, who accidentally injures Prince Feng Suige (played by Chen Zheyuan) during the Battle of Pingling. After being betrayed and falling off a cliff, Fu Yixiao’s fate becomes intertwined with the prince’s once again. Amidst political schemes and revenge, their feelings for each other slowly begin to grow.
Chen Zheyuan, who has long been known for his youthful and gentle image, takes on a more mature and commanding role this time as the royal prince of Sushang. “The joy of acting lies in being able to portray the kind of person you admire,” he said. “Through this character, I found strength I didn’t know I had.”
Earlier this year, Chen underwent collarbone surgery after an injury but returned to filming Fated Hearts before he fully recovered. Despite the pain, he insisted on performing his own action scenes, including a whipping sequence that showcased his dedication. “My muscle trembling in that scene wasn’t acting—it was real pain,” he admitted, adding that the experience gave the performance more authenticity.
The actor, who hails from Shenzhen, also shared his struggle with correcting his native accent. He chose to perform using his original voice instead of dubbing. “The dubbing process was exhausting; there were moments I felt like breaking down. But when the audience praised the final result, it made all the effort worthwhile,” he said.
Meanwhile, Li Qin was dubbed by Chen Zheyuan as the “destined Fu Yixiao.” Her portrayal of a composed yet powerful female general stood out among the recent wave of strong female leads in Chinese historical dramas. “The hardest scene for me was filming on a ship under 40-degree heat,” she recalled with a laugh. “It was hot, dusty, and the explosions made it even harder to breathe. I felt like I was melting.”
When asked about their kiss scenes, Chen Zheyuan revealed, “Our first kiss happened during a heated argument. It was late at night, and we were both tired. Our lips were so dry that we accidentally got each other’s foundation on them.” Li Qin jokingly added that Chen was always self-conscious about his jawline during romantic scenes. “In one take, I tried to touch his face to make the moment softer,” she said, “but he immediately pulled back because he didn’t want his perfect jawline covered.”
Her playful remark made Chen blush on set, and the story quickly went viral online, with fans laughing at their behind-the-scenes chemistry. All episodes of Fated Hearts are now available on iQIYI International.
