LayarHijau— The Chinese drama industry recently celebrated the massive success of the wuxia-romance series Pursuit of Jade (逐玉). Starring Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, the drama has become one of the most prominent shows of the year, achieving record-breaking ratings across multiple platforms.
To commemorate this brilliant achievement, the entire production team and cast held a festive celebration banquet. Held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beijing on the night of the 13th, the gratitude event was held privately but was filled with warmth.
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The venue was decorated with the message “Welcome back to Xigu Lane,” a reference to the iconic location that serves as the home of Fan Changyu, the character played by Tian Xiwei. This lane is where the drama’s story begins, marking the moment Fan Changyu cared for Xie Zheng, Zhang Linghe’s character, after he was seriously injured. These memories evoked sweet emotions for fans who followed the lead characters’ journey of love and struggle.
During his onstage speech, Zhang Linghe expressed profound gratitude for the team’s hard work throughout the 400-day filming process. He admitted to facing numerous physical challenges, particularly during action sequences in extreme outdoor conditions. However, he specifically highlighted the warm moments shared with Tian Xiwei during production. “Filming the romantic scenes in Xigu Lane felt very warm and memorable to me,” he said emotionally.
He also addressed the current industry downturn, stating that the success of this project restored confidence for investors and platforms in the long-form drama market. Zhang Linghe even became choked up while delivering his final thanks to the behind-the-scenes staff.
Tian Xiwei delivered an equally inspiring speech regarding the drama’s global impact. She recounted the moment popularity indices on dual platforms surpassed the 10,000 mark, which didn’t feel real until she saw fan enthusiasm online. “I realized how big the impact was when I saw viewers creating memes and creative content during the broadcast hiatus,” Tian Xiwei shared.
She expressed pride in the fact that Pursuit of Jade performed exceptionally well in international markets like Netflix, Taiwan, and Singapore. She emphasized, “I feel an obligation to carry out cultural export. My future goal is to create high-quality cultural content so the world can see China’s excellence.”
The most surprising aspect of the event was not just the speeches but the presence of two behind-the-scenes figures known for their long-standing feud. Zhang Linghe’s manager, Xu Yiruo, and Tian Xiwei’s manager, Gong Yuhan, were seen toasting together. Their conflict dates back to 2017 over a billing order dispute for the drama Begonia Rouge.
For years, rumors suggested that Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei had to keep their distance off-camera and that a second collaboration was impossible due to the deep-seated tension between their respective managers. This moment, dubbed the “reconciliation of the century,” has given new hope to fans wishing for a second collaboration between Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei.
With the apparent thawing of relations between Xu Yiruo and Gong Yuhan, industry insiders believe the door is now open for the two actors to star in future projects together. The sight of these two influential managers toasting signifies the removal of professional barriers that previously hindered their cooperation. This development has sparked positive speculation about potential new scripts being considered for the popular on-screen duo under more harmonious management coordination.
The celebration banquet held extra significance as it took place exactly one year after the filming of the grand wedding scene in Pursuit of Jade. The cast and crew appeared to enjoy their reunion after the long struggle of producing a series that has now become a cultural phenomenon. Photos of Tian Xiwei leaving the venue circulated widely on social media, showing the actress with a bright smile reflecting satisfaction with their hard work.
