LayarHijau – The upcoming urban drama Love Slowly (愛情慢慢), a literal translation of its Chinese title and adapted from a classic novel by Yi Shu, officially began filming in mid-March. What was initially expected to be one of the most highly anticipated dramas has instead been hit by controversy from day one, centered around the billing order of its lead actors.
The drama stars Zhong Chuxi, William Chan, Xiang Hanzhi, Niu Junfeng, and Wang Zixuan. It follows Zhu Lizi (Zhong Chuxi), a journalist who enters a relationship with the seemingly “perfect” doctor Wang Zhicheng (William Chan). As the relationship deepens, she gradually uncovers his darker side—an excessive need for control and emotional manipulation—pulling her into a psychologically abusive relationship before ultimately fighting to reclaim herself.
This project also marks a reunion between Zhong Chuxi and William Chan after their previous collaboration in Adoring.
The controversy erupted on the very first day of filming, when William Chan’s fans accused the production team of breaching trust. The issue quickly trended online, sparking widespread debate across social media.
Fans claim the production used the reasoning that “antagonist roles cannot take first billing” to demote William Chan from his originally agreed first position to second. However, they argue this justification is inconsistent, pointing out that there are existing dramas where antagonistic characters still receive top billing.
They also raised concerns about what they see as a unilateral change to prior agreements under the guise of “policy.” Fans cited the latest 2026 regulations from the National Radio and Television Administration, which state that billing order should follow the stroke count of actors’ real surnames. In this case, “Chen” (陳) has fewer strokes than “Zhong” (鍾), which, they argue, should place William Chan ahead in the credits.
The backlash is further fueled by the belief that William Chan took on significant risk by portraying a complex, multi-layered antagonist to raise awareness about psychological abuse in relationships. Yet, fans feel that both the actor and his supporters are being treated unfairly by the production.
Yi Shu’s works are widely known for their sharp and insightful female perspectives. As such, Love Slowly was expected to follow the success of previous adaptations like The First Half of My Life and My Best Friend’s Story. However, instead of a smooth start, the drama has found itself mired in controversy before production has even progressed far.
Further developments surrounding this issue continue to draw public attention.
