LayarHijau – While their latest dramas are currently competing in the same broadcast window, Chen Zheyuan and Joseph Zeng have surprised fans by supporting each other’s projects instead. The two actors recently released a pair of promotional videos and Weibo posts endorsing one another’s dramas, quickly sending the topic to Weibo’s trending list.
Joseph Zeng is currently starring alongside William Chan in the adventure drama Mystic Nine, which has remained at the top of several popularity rankings for days. Meanwhile, Chen Zheyuan is leading the historical romance Royal Betrothal with Wu Jinyan, a drama that has also generated significant online buzz since its premiere.
Rather than treating each other as rivals, the two actors collaborated on a pair of humorous short videos promoting each other’s series.
In Joseph Zeng’s video, he pretends to secretly film Chen Zheyuan from a distance. As Chen walks closer, Joseph realizes that his friend is actually watching Mystic Nine on his phone.
Chen Zheyuan uploaded a matching video with the roles reversed. He secretly records Joseph Zeng from afar, only to discover that Joseph is watching Royal Betrothal on his phone as he approaches. Their exaggerated facial expressions and intentionally over-the-top reactions made the videos especially entertaining, sparking widespread discussion on social media.
The support didn’t stop there. Both actors also promoted each other’s dramas through posts on Weibo.
Joseph Zeng wrote, “Still supporting true craftsmanship. Supporting Ying Gua,” referring to Chen Zheyuan’s character in Royal Betrothal. The post, which included a photo of the two actors together and the promotional video, generated around 157,000 engagements in less than a day.
Chen Zheyuan responded with, “Oh, so it’s Wu Laogou,” the name of Joseph Zeng’s character in Mystic Nine. His post also attracted around 60,000 interactions from Weibo users.
Many Chinese netizens praised the pair’s unique approach to promoting each other’s dramas, calling it both creative and sincere. Fans also appreciated that the actors specifically mentioned each other’s character names, making the cross-promotion feel even more thoughtful.
The viral interaction also drew attention to the actors’ real-life friendship. Chen Zheyuan and Joseph Zeng have reportedly been close friends for years. Both are natives of Guangdong Province and have spent years filming in Hengdian, China’s largest television and film production hub.
According to Chinese media reports, the two first became close after frequently running into each other at the gym while working in Hengdian, eventually becoming workout partners. Outside of filming, they often have meals together and regularly spend time with other actors who are also based in Hengdian.
Because they are so often seen together, fans have jokingly referred to their circle as the “Hengdian gang.” Their latest cross-promotion has once again put their longtime friendship in the spotlight, earning praise from Chinese netizens alongside growing attention for both ongoing dramas.
