LayarHijau – Liu Xueyi’s performance as Lin Jinqi in the Chinese costume drama Against the Current has become one of the show’s major talking points, with viewers praising the actor for conveying his character’s emotions through subtle looks and finely controlled facial expressions.
Since Against the Current premiered in mid-September 2026, discussion surrounding Liu Xueyi’s acting has continued to grow. The search term “Liu Xueyi acting” even appeared among trending searches on Weibo.
Across the first 26 episodes, Lin Jinqi has not been given many scenes built around explosive emotional outbursts. Instead, Liu relies on controlled acting, using his eyes, facial expressions, vocal delivery and body language to reveal what his character is feeling.
That approach allows viewers to see Lin Jinqi’s calculations, pressure, jealousy and vulnerability without requiring every emotion to be expressed through a dramatic confrontation.
Lin Jinqi Was Initially Unpopular With Chinese Viewers
Lin Jinqi is the eldest grandson of the Lin family and a complicated figure who has to navigate competing interests within his family while also dealing with political affairs and outside threats.
He is strong-willed, forceful and often determined to get his way. Those traits, combined with some of his actions early in the story, made Lin Jinqi a character who was not easy for viewers to like.
That was reflected in the early reactions from viewers in China. Lin Jinqi’s forceful behavior attracted criticism, and viewers even gave him the mocking nickname “二婚老登,” roughly referring to him as an older man who has been married twice.
But the audience’s perception of Lin Jinqi gradually began to change as the story progressed.
Rather than playing him with exaggerated emotions, Liu Xueyi takes a restrained approach. He uses subtle shifts in his expression and gaze to reveal the character’s calculations, pressure, affection, jealousy and vulnerability beneath his tough exterior.
As more of those layers emerged, some Chinese viewers began to better understand Lin Jinqi’s motivations. His mocking nickname eventually gave way to the more affectionate “Linda Ye,” reflecting the change in how the character was being received.
Lin Jinqi’s popularity also continued to rise. His Weibo index was reportedly above 50 million, while Chinese coverage described Liu Xueyi’s performance as having effectively “saved” the character’s image through his acting.
International Viewers Separate Liu Xueyi From Lin Jinqi
Meanwhile, discussions among international viewers show a more nuanced response to Lin Jinqi.
In several Reddit discussions, international viewers continue to criticize Lin Jinqi’s behavior, particularly when they feel he becomes overly possessive or acts as though he has the right to make decisions for Xu Lanxiang. At the same time, some viewers have made it clear that they like Liu Xueyi as an actor while still disliking Lin Jinqi as a character.
In other words, some international viewers are explicitly separating the actor from the role he plays.
They can view Lin Jinqi as a problematic character while still considering Liu Xueyi’s performance highly effective.
One Reddit discussion directly asked how much Liu Xueyi’s charisma affects the way viewers perceive Lin Jinqi. Several comments praised Liu’s performance and his use of subtle facial expressions and eye movements, while still criticizing Lin Jinqi’s actions. Other viewers similarly described being impressed by Liu Xueyi while remaining unconvinced by his character.
Another discussion specifically highlighted Liu Xueyi’s use of micro-expressions to communicate emotions. Viewers pointed to tiny changes in his gaze, mouth and facial expression as examples of how he can make Lin Jinqi’s emotional shifts clear without spelling everything out through dialogue.
As a result, while the changing reception of Lin Jinqi has become an important part of the conversation among Chinese viewers, international discussions show a particularly clear distinction between judging Lin Jinqi’s behavior and appreciating Liu Xueyi’s performance.
A Wordless Scene Becomes a Showcase for His Expressions
One of the clearest examples of Liu Xueyi’s approach comes in Episode 20.
Lin Jinqi arrives excited to see Xu Lanxiang, played by Tan Songyun, only to find her having an animated conversation with Han Xiucai.
Lin Jinqi does not say a single word.
Liu Xueyi also avoids using shouting or an exaggerated emotional outburst to convey his character’s jealousy. Instead, he relies almost entirely on his gaze and subtle changes in his facial expression.
Within the same sequence, Lin Jinqi’s expression shifts from happiness when he arrives to surprise after seeing Xu Lanxiang with someone else, followed by disappointment and finally restrained jealousy.
The audience can understand what Lin Jinqi is feeling without hearing a single line from him.
International viewers also singled out the scene for discussion. In a Reddit discussion covering Episodes 19 and 20, one viewer pointed to the change in Lin Jinqi’s expression after he sees Xu Lanxiang with Han Xiucai, noting how his initially cheerful expression gives way to a much darker look.
In China, the scene was likewise praised as an example of Liu Xueyi’s ability to use facial expressions and his gaze to carry an emotional shift without dialogue.
Liu Xueyi Makes Lin Jinqi’s Emotions Visible Without Overplaying Them
Liu Xueyi’s performance as Lin Jinqi is not only about facial expressions.
His delivery of the character’s dialogue in his own voice has also drawn praise. His pronunciation is clear, while changes in tone and emotional delivery help reinforce Lin Jinqi’s state of mind.
But his performance becomes particularly noticeable when he says nothing.
A slight change in his gaze can suggest jealousy. A small shift in his expression can reveal disappointment. A restrained smile can communicate happiness that the character is trying not to show too openly.
That ability has become one of the reasons discussions among international viewers frequently mention Liu Xueyi’s micro-expressions and eye acting when talking about his performance in Against the Current.
In China, those details have helped change the way some viewers perceive a character who was initially unpopular. In international discussions, the same acting skills have become a reason for viewers to praise Liu Xueyi even while continuing to criticize Lin Jinqi’s behavior.
The contrasting reactions highlight two different aspects of the character’s reception. Among Chinese viewers, the conversation has increasingly focused on Lin Jinqi’s changing image as the story develops and Liu Xueyi reveals more of the character’s emotional layers. In international discussions, viewers have more visibly separated their assessment of Lin Jinqi from their appreciation of Liu Xueyi as an actor.
Through it all, Liu Xueyi’s controlled use of his gaze, micro-expressions and subtle emotional shifts has become one of the most frequently discussed elements of his performance in Against the Current.
