LayarHijau – Guo Yuxin’s latest short drama, Creeping Love (渐染), has delivered a strong performance despite the actress still facing backlash over a leaked private audio recording that sparked heated debate on Chinese social media earlier this month.
Premiering on July 18, Creeping Love had already attracted significant attention before its release, surpassing 2.6 million reservations across online platforms. The impressive figure reflected strong anticipation for Guo’s latest project even before the first episode aired.
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In the drama, Guo plays Cheng Ling, a career woman trying to rebuild her life after a failed marriage. The story centers on emotional healing and a second-chance romance, following two adults as they confront past trauma and rediscover love.
The series debuted shortly after Guo became embroiled in controversy over a leaked private audio conversation. In the recording, she was heard discussing her public dispute with actress Zhou Ye over wearing similar outfits at an event while also making remarks about Zhou and several other entertainers. Clips of the conversation quickly spread across Chinese social media, drawing criticism from some netizens.
According to Chinese media reports, the controversy has affected several of Guo’s commercial partnerships and acting projects. As of now, neither the actress nor her studio has issued an official response regarding the leaked recording.
Viewership Continues to Rise
Despite the controversy surrounding its lead actress, Creeping Love has continued to gain momentum.
By its fifth day of release, the drama reportedly recorded a sharp increase in daily views, bucking the trend of many short dramas that typically lose momentum shortly after their premiere. More than two million users had added the series to their favorites, while total views reached approximately 28 million within its first five days.
The impressive performance has earned Creeping Love a reputation as one of the latest dark horse hits in China’s short drama market. Positive word of mouth has helped the series maintain steady growth after its debut.
Storytelling and Performances Win Praise
Beyond its strong viewership, Creeping Love has also received positive reviews from audiences.
Viewers have praised its more mature storytelling, noting its emphasis on character development and emotional healing rather than relying solely on fast-paced romance. Guo Yuxin’s chemistry with her co-star has also drawn favorable reactions, while many viewers believe the production quality feels closer to that of a full-length television drama—or even a feature film—than a typical short-form series.
Online reactions in China remain divided. Some viewers have chosen to separate Guo’s personal controversy from her work, continuing to praise her performance in the drama. Others, however, argue that an artist’s public image should still influence whether audiences support their projects.
Even so, Creeping Love’s early success suggests that the controversy has not significantly dampened audience interest in the series. Whether the drama’s strong performance will ultimately help restore Guo Yuxin’s public image remains to be seen.
