LayarHijau– The latest drama starring Esther Yu and He Yu, Speed and Love, began airing on iQiyi on December 12, 2025, and immediately drew widespread attention. In the series, He Yu plays Jin Chao, a handsome, muscular man who works as a mechanic and is also a former underground boxer. The character is portrayed as cold and distant on the surface, yet warm on the inside, carrying the charm of a captivating bad boy.
He Yu is considered successful in portraying Jin Chao’s emotional development toward the female lead, Jiang Mu, played by Esther Yu. The two characters grow up together as brother and sister without any blood relation. At the beginning of the story, their relationship is limited to silent protection. As the plot progresses, Jin Chao’s feelings gradually shift into a more open and intense form of love.
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In the two most recent episodes, Speed and Love features eight kissing scenes between He Yu and Esther Yu that quickly sparked heated discussions among viewers. From a dazed kiss, milk kiss, green grape kiss, upside-down strawberry kiss, stolen kisses, a kiss on a yacht, a kiss in the car repair shop, to a kiss under a meteor shower, the couple’s explosive chemistry left audiences “addicted” to their sweetness.
This positive response is also linked to a shift in public perception of He Yu’s acting. Previously, he faced criticism for his performance in Duel on Mount Hua: Nine Yin True Sutra, where he starred opposite Meng Ziyi. In that drama, He Yu played Chen Xuanfeng, who is caught in a tragic love story with Mei Chao Feng (Meng Ziyi).
One particular scene drew heavy scrutiny when he smiled while saying, “My family and the Chen family have severed ties!” The expression was considered misguided, as it made what should have been a tragic line sound like good news, eventually going viral and being turned into a meme by viewers.
However, through Speed and Love, He Yu appears to show a significant improvement. He is now seen as better able to convey Jin Chao’s emotional transitions, from a quiet guardian watching from afar to a man who openly expresses his love. His athletic physique with lean muscle definition further strengthens the character’s masculine image and adds to the drama’s visual appeal.
The impact of this role is clearly reflected in He Yu’s rising popularity on social media. His newly opened Instagram account gained around 200,000 followers in just two days, while his Weibo following increased by approximately 130,000 within seven days. In total, He Yu gained about 330,000 new followers in a single week.
This momentum follows several notable projects he took part in over the past two years. In 2024, He Yu appeared as a supporting actor in popular dramas such as The Legend of Shen Li and Blossom. He also starred as the male lead in Sword and Fairy 1 and Dashing Youth, further boosting his profile.
Beyond his currently airing drama, He Yu is also reported to be preparing for a new project. He is scheduled to begin filming the historical drama Di Mou later this month. The series is directed by the same director behind In Blossom and has already attracted strong interest from fans.
In Di Mou, He Yu will star opposite Bao Shangen, who plays Ren Yaoqi, the legitimate daughter of a merchant family who is reborn to seek revenge. He Yu takes on the role of Xiao Jingxi, the seemingly weak and sickly son of the Prince of Yanbei, who is in fact intelligent and highly strategic. The drama also features Zheng Hehuizi as the second female lead and Zhao Yibo as a supporting male character.
Adapted from the novel of the same name by Mian Beimian Nan, Di Mou tells a story of wit and courage between its two leads, filled with family intrigue, internal power struggles, and a journey toward mutual salvation and redemption. Through Speed and Love, Jin Chao is now widely regarded as a turning point that has reshaped public perception of He Yu’s acting abilities.
