LayarHijau — The on-screen and off-screen dynamic between Wang Churan and Cheng Lei has become one of the highlights of the currently airing historical romantic comedy How Dare You!? (成何体统). In an in-depth interview with Sohu Entertainment News, Wang Churan opened up about character development, emotional turning points, and her natural chemistry with Cheng Lei both on and off set.
The drama follows Wang Cui Hua, a workplace rookie who unexpectedly finds herself transported into the world of a novel. Inside that fictional world, she becomes Yu Wanyin, a noblewoman who initially only wants to survive. There, she meets Zhang San—another modern-day individual who has also entered the novel. In the story, he assumes the identity of Xia Houdan, a powerful figure who has concealed his true strength and ambitions for years. As political schemes unfold and alliances shift, the two join forces to navigate palace intrigue while facing a cruel prophecy that one of them may not live to see the prosperous future they are striving to build together.
In the series, Wang Churan portrays two layers of identity: Wang Cui Hua in the modern world and Yu Wanyin within the novel. When asked to define the characters in percentage terms, she explained, “Xia Houdan is 50 percent great love, 25 percent bravery, and 25 percent gentleness.”
As for the role she plays, she described Yu Wanyin as “50 percent great love, 25 percent clarity, and 25 percent intelligence.”
She pointed to the major fire scene in the drama as a crucial turning point for Yu Wanyin. “That was her first real growth,” Wang Churan said. “At the beginning, she just wanted to survive. But later on, she no longer sees the people in that world as ‘paper characters.’ She realizes they have their own ambitions and shining qualities. They truly fight side by side, and it’s a gradual process of mutual understanding and being moved by each other.”
Although the early episodes are filled with lighthearted comedy, Wang Churan admitted that the story will take a more emotional turn later. “I don’t think we’re tricking the audience. There will definitely be some heartbreaking moments, but they won’t last too long,” she said.
Her relationship with Cheng Lei was another major focus of the interview. Responding to comments that the two seemed to be “having so much fun acting” and appeared to be playing versions of themselves, Wang Churan agreed. “Yes, I do think it’s quite similar to our real-life personalities,” she said.
She revealed that many comedic moments came from on-set improvisation. “When we were rehearsing scenes, sometimes new ideas would suddenly come up, and we would just add them in. There were many moments like that between Lei and me,” she explained. According to her, their interactions feel natural because their personal energies align.
When asked how they would recognize each other in real life if they were both wearing masks—referencing a scene in the drama where they confirm each other’s modern identities—Wang Churan gave a playful answer that quickly caught attention. “Because we usually like to imitate pig sounds. With that alone, we could recognize each other,” she said with a laugh.
She also shared an unexpected airport encounter. “We didn’t know we were on the same flight. It was the last flight of the day, and we ran into each other in the lounge,” she recalled. Even without cameras rolling, their interaction remained lively and playful.
Wang Churan did not hesitate to describe Cheng Lei as the “King of Absurdity” and the “King of Memes.” “He’s 100 percent a match for that. He’s very abstract. He’s truly a meme king,” she said. Among her friends, she even ranked him as number one in terms of being “abstract.” “Honestly, he has never done anything that isn’t abstract,” she added jokingly.
Beyond humor, she also praised his other talents. Speaking about his reputation as a motorcycle enthusiast, she said, “He really loves riding motorcycles. I think everyone in Hengdian knows that.” On his artistic side, she commented, “I do think he’s talented at drawing. He looks like an art student—someone with a slightly artistic vibe.”
During breaks on set, the two would often draw intentionally unflattering portraits of each other. As for photography, Wang Churan said Cheng Lei is good at providing emotional encouragement. “He’ll say, ‘This looks so good, don’t move, it’s beautiful.’ We might not see the final result right away, but the emotional support is definitely there first,” she said. She added that some of the photos he has taken of her actually turned out very well.
Addressing the label of being on the “favored concubine track,” which has followed her since she played a pampered imperial consort at 19, Wang Churan responded modestly. “First of all, I’m very grateful for everyone’s recognition.” When asked if she would continue exploring similar roles, she answered openly, “If in the future there are more roles that I like and want to try, then of course it’s possible.”
Through this interview, it becomes clear that the relationship between Wang Churan and Cheng Lei in How Dare You!? is built not only on their dual identities as Wang Cui Hua/Yu Wanyin and Zhang San/Xia Houdan within the story, but also on the natural alignment of their real-life personalities. Their spontaneity, humor, and mutual comfort ultimately strengthen the chemistry that audiences see on screen.
