LayarHijau – Zhao Jinmai has once again captured public attention through her latest drama, Shine On Me (驕陽似我), where she stars opposite Song Weilong. Thanks to her string of well-received romantic roles—ranging from Amidst a Snowstorm of Love with Wu Lei to Our Generation alongside Zhang Linghe—Zhao Jinmai is often referred to as a “first love goddess,” an image that has only grown stronger with this new series.
During a recent promotional interview, Zhao Jinmai and Song Weilong were asked about the most memorable scene from the drama. Zhao Jinmai pointed to their characters’ first meeting as the moment that left the deepest impression. She revealed that Song Weilong even laughed so hard during filming that he nearly broke character.
Interestingly, before collaborating on Shine On Me, Zhao Jinmai and Song Weilong were not particularly close. Even by the middle of filming, they had yet to exchange personal contact details. The awkward situation was finally resolved during a ski resort shoot, when Kong Lingmei, who plays Nie Xiguang’s aunt, casually asked whether the two had added each other on WeChat.
The simple question left both actors momentarily silent before they finally exchanged contacts. The moment quickly became a talking point among fans, with many jokingly calling Kong Lingmei a “real-life wingwoman,” as her character also plays a key role in supporting the romance between the two leads in the drama.
Shine On Me is adapted from the popular novel of the same title by bestselling author Gu Man, which already enjoyed a strong fan base before the drama adaptation. Zhao Jinmai shared that she had read the novel prior to filming and was therefore very familiar with many of its iconic scenes. One of the funniest moments for her was the first encounter between Nie Xiguang and Lin Yusen in the office.
In that scene, Nie Xiguang is crouching under a desk when Lin Yusen enters the room. As she tries to stand up, tangled cables wrap around her, creating an awkward yet comical situation. Zhao Jinmai explained that the cable mishap was not originally written into the script. When it happened naturally during filming, the director found it charming and decided to keep the scene in the final cut.
Song Weilong admitted that the moment left a strong impression on him as well, adding that he couldn’t help laughing while the cameras were still rolling. Zhao Jinmai also noted that although the scene depicts the characters’ first meeting, it was actually filmed during the later stages of production, when the two actors were already quite familiar with each other—making it a challenge to convincingly portray strangers.
Beyond memorable scenes, the interview also revealed a small detail that delighted fans. When asked how Zhao Jinmai is saved in his phone, Song Weilong answered without hesitation: “Dark Night Rose,” which translates to “Mawar Malam Gelap.” Zhao Jinmai immediately burst into laughter upon hearing the nickname. She explained that during filming, the cast often ordered a drink called Dark Night Rose, known for being low in calories and rich in vitamins, which was frequently shared on set.
Unexpectedly, the name of the drink became Zhao Jinmai’s nickname in Song Weilong’s contact list. Netizens were quick to comment that his attention to such small details mirrors his character Lin Yusen—someone who remembers even the simplest things about the person he cares for. Many agreed that the chemistry between Zhao Jinmai and Song Weilong feels sweet not only on screen, but off screen as well.
