LayarHijau— The extraordinary success of the historical romance drama Pursuit of Jade (逐玉) has not only brought fame to its leads, Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei, but also served as a stage for a historic moment in the Chinese entertainment industry. The drama, which tells a story of love amidst obstacles, managed to unite an incredible on-screen chemistry that was ironically performed while their management teams were in a state of real-life tension. At the drama’s victory celebration held on April 13, 2026, an unexpected sight finally occurred, marking a new chapter in professional relationships behind the scenes.
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During the event, Zhang Linghe’s manager, Xu Yiruo, was seen standing side-by-side and toasting with Tian Xiwei’s manager, Gong Yuhan. This interaction, dubbed by netizens as the “Reconciliation of the Century,” immediately exploded on social media and became a hot topic. Their natural smiles and synchronized movements as they raised their glasses seemed to erase the shadows of a long-standing feud that had been an open secret in the entertainment industry for nearly a decade, proving that business interests can soften even the toughest egos.
The feud dates back nine years to 2017 during the production of the drama Blossom in Heart (海棠经雨胭脂透). At that time, Li Yitong, under Xu Yiruo, lost her top billing position to Deng Lun, an artist managed by Gong Yuhan. Tensions escalated in 2018 when a role in the drama Dear Missy (了不起的女孩) that was supposed to be played by Li Qin was reportedly taken by Li Yitong. The conflict reached a boiling point in 2020 when screenwriter Yu Zheng publicly sided with Xu Yiruo and accused Gong Yuhan of suppressing certain artists.
For years, this animosity between managers forced Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei to keep their distance to avoid conflict. They were often seen avoiding eye contact on red carpets, sitting far apart at official events, and rarely taking photos together on set. Tian Xiwei once joked during a live stream, saying, “We and our managers indeed have a unique destiny,” which caught Zhang Linghe off guard as he asked, “What did you say?” revealing how sensitive their teams’ relationship was in the past.
However, the massive success of Pursuit of Jade became the key to breaking the ice. With popularity indices surpassing 40,000 on Tencent and iQIYI platforms, and total global views exceeding 3.3 billion on Netflix, market and capital pressure finally forced both teams to make peace. Zhang Linghe even struggled to contain his emotions during his speech at the celebration. Choking up, he stated, “In this difficult period for the industry, we need the confidence provided by the long-drama market,” while expressing deep gratitude to the entire crew and audience.
Now that the feuding first generation has reconciled, fans are calling for Zhang Linghe and Tian Xiwei to collaborate again in a new project. Although some doubt that this peace is merely a formality for commercial interests, many believe that the professionalism shown by both actors—including improvisational intimate scenes in the drama—is proof that they can transcend managerial conflicts. This moment serves as a reminder to the industry that behind fierce competition, successful collaboration remains the ultimate goal for all parties involved.
