LayarHijau –Zhang Linghe’s popularity is rising once again following the broadcast of his latest drama Pursuit of Jade (逐玉). Starring alongside Tian Xiwei, the actor has captured widespread attention from viewers, gaining around 300,000 new followers on Weibo within just one week.
Before this, Zhang Linghe had already established strong recognition through several popular dramas. He drew major attention with Story of Kunning Palace (宁安如梦) alongside Bai Lu, followed by My Journey to You (云之羽) with Yu Shuxin. He also starred in the romance drama The Best Thing (爱你) with Xu Ruohan. As his popularity continues to climb, each of his new projects quickly becomes a topic of discussion among fans and viewers.
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In Pursuit of Jade, Zhang Linghe plays the male lead Xie Zheng. The character is seriously injured before being rescued by the female lead Fan Changyu, portrayed by Tian Xiwei. After recovering, Xie Zheng hides his true identity as the Marquis of Wu’an and adopts the alias Yan Zheng while secretly planning revenge for the massacre of his family.
Around the two sisters who save him, Xie Zheng appears gentle and considerate. Yet in moments of danger, his ruthless side quickly surfaces. Even while severely wounded and suffering from a crippled leg, he is still portrayed as possessing extraordinary combat skills, including scenes where he single-handedly defeats assassins. The compelling character setup, combined with Zhang Linghe’s striking visuals in historical costume—widely praised by viewers—has further boosted his popularity.
The drama’s storyline is expected to become even more intense as Xie Zheng’s real identity gradually comes to light. Political conflicts involving his powerful uncle Wei Yan, played by Yan Kuan, will also become a central element of the plot moving forward.
Amid his surging popularity, Zhang Linghe is reportedly set to take on another historical drama titled Citan (刺棠) after completing filming for the costume drama The Road to Glory (归鸾). However, the casting of the female lead remains uncertain and has sparked ongoing speculation.
Zhang Jingyi was initially rumored to be the top candidate. The two previously collaborated on a Lancôme advertising campaign that received positive feedback from the public. However, reports suggested that the collaboration did not move forward due to disagreements over billing order.
Li Landi was later said to be in talks for the role. The actress has gained strong momentum recently after starring in the hit dramas Filter (滤镜) and Coroner’s Diary (朝雪录) last year. However, Li Landi is also known for being firm about billing positions. Her previously planned collaboration with Ding Yuxi in the historical drama Moonlit Flowers Fall (月都花落) reportedly fell through because the two sides could not reach an agreement on billing.
The latest rumors now suggest that the female lead role in Citan may go to Wang Yuwen. The actress recently drew renewed attention after starring opposite Chen Xingxu in the romance drama My Page in the 90s (突然的喜欢), which gained notable popularity.
Although Wang Yuwen previously worked with Zhang Linghe in the costume drama Tiger and Crane (虎鹤妖师录), the possibility of their reunion has triggered mixed reactions online. Some viewers believe Wang Yuwen’s historical drama styling is not as striking as her performances in modern dramas.
In addition, some discussions have pointed out a perceived gap in popularity between the two actors. Wang Yuwen, who debuted in 2016, is often noted as not yet having a widely recognized breakout hit drama, leading some observers to question whether her current industry standing matches Zhang Linghe’s rapidly rising fame.
Because of this, rumors about Zhang Linghe and Wang Yuwen potentially pairing up in Citan have led some fans to doubt whether the two could create strong on-screen chemistry. For now, however, the production team has not officially confirmed the drama’s final cast lineup.
