LayarHijau – Chinese drama Against the Current (蘭香如故), starring Liu Xueyi and Tan Songyun, has been drawing attention as its popularity continues to grow. Liu Xueyi plays Lin Jinqi, while Tan Songyun stars as Shen Jialan.
As the drama gains momentum, viewers are paying attention to more than Liu Xueyi’s performance. The actor’s views on life, career, fame, and the pressures of the entertainment industry have also become a topic of interest.
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Liu Xueyi has previously revealed that one of the reasons he worked so hard was to raise money for a kidney transplant for his seriously ill mother. This happened during a difficult period in his career, when he was also dealing with work-related pressure and negative comments online.
He only became more open about the experience after his mother’s condition improved following surgery. The story offered fans a glimpse into a side of Liu Xueyi that is rarely seen on screen.
In an entertainment industry heavily driven by popularity and public attention, Liu Xueyi has maintained a relatively calm attitude. He does not appear interested in constantly comparing his achievements with those of other actors, nor does he want popularity to determine his sense of self-worth.
Several of his comments about accepting his decisions, avoiding comparisons, refusing to feed anxiety, and making time to enjoy life outside work have further drawn attention to his outlook.
Here are six of Liu Xueyi’s life philosophies that have been winning fans.
1. Once You Make a Decision, Let It Go
Liu Xueyi does not seem interested in getting stuck on questions such as, “Why wasn’t I chosen for that opportunity?”
He has previously shared that once he makes a decision, he tries not to keep dwelling on it.
“Plans can’t always keep up with changes. Why overthink it?” Liu Xueyi said.
He has also said that as an actor, his job is to complete what the script asks of him and make sure he has no regrets about the work he does each day.
The approach reflects his tendency to accept changes and keep moving forward once a decision has been made. Rather than spending energy dwelling on what has already happened, he chooses to focus on what he can do in the present.
2. Don’t Compare Yourself With Others—Compare Yourself With Yourself
Competition is unavoidable in the entertainment industry, where actors are frequently compared with one another. Liu Xueyi, however, has said he prefers not to focus too much on other people’s achievements.
“I only compare myself with myself. As long as I have a drama to work on, I’m content. Whether I become popular or not is up to fate,” he said.
Liu Xueyi built his career through a series of supporting roles before taking on more leading parts. Rather than rushing to prove himself, he has focused on understanding his characters and making their emotions feel authentic.
He has even shown a willingness to dramatically change his appearance for a role.
“If the character needs me to shave my head, I’ll shave it. If I need to shave my eyebrows, I’ll shave them all off. As long as they can grow back, I don’t mind,” he said.
That attitude reflects his decision to focus on the work itself rather than constantly worrying about who is more popular or receiving more attention.
3. Don’t Let Popularity Become a Source of Anxiety
Popularity is often treated as one of the key measures of success in the entertainment industry. Liu Xueyi, however, takes a more measured view of fame and public attention.
He believes every production has its own life cycle. What an actor can really do is perform the role well and take care of the work at hand, rather than constantly monitoring popularity metrics or chasing online traffic.
Liu Xueyi has described popularity as a “double-edged sword.” In his view, a sudden burst of fame is not necessarily a good thing if it is not backed by professional skills capable of sustaining a long-term career.
That is why he would rather build his abilities step by step and avoid letting outside opinions dictate his pace.
“I’m someone who really doesn’t overthink things or wear myself down,” Liu Xueyi once said.
Rather than constantly chasing the latest trend or trying to maintain short-term attention, he places greater value on steadily developing his abilities for the long run.
4. Don’t Set Overly Ambitious Goals—Focus on What’s in Front of You
Liu Xueyi also tends not to make huge goals the sole focus of his career.
For an actor, filming a drama can take several months. The part he can truly control each day is how he approaches his work.
Instead of constantly thinking about how famous he might become in the future, he chooses to focus on the character he is playing and complete the work in front of him.
By taking things one project at a time and continuing to improve his skills, he can build his career without placing unnecessary pressure on himself to achieve a particular level of fame.
5. You Don’t Have to Make Everyone Like You
Public judgment is almost impossible to avoid as a celebrity. Liu Xueyi has also expressed the view that it is impossible to make everyone like you.
Rather than spending too much energy trying to please everyone, he chooses to accept that some people will like him while others will not.
For Liu Xueyi, accepting that reality can help reduce unnecessary pressure.
The idea also fits with his approach to comparison. Once someone stops chasing approval from everyone around them, they can redirect their attention toward their own work and life.
6. Keep Work and Life Separate and Make Time to Live
Beyond acting, Liu Xueyi also places importance on having time to enjoy life.
He has said that he does not want to make life unnecessarily exhausting and wants enough time to enjoy it.
“I think it’s enough. Don’t make yourself live such a tiring life. Give yourself enough time to enjoy life. If you take away childhood and old age, you really only have about 30 or 40 years to truly experience life,” Liu Xueyi said.
He believes that the time people have should be used to genuinely experience life and enrich their inner world.
The perspective shows that, for Liu Xueyi, life should not revolve entirely around work. Once the workday ends, returning to everyday life and giving yourself space to rest and enjoy ordinary moments is just as important.
Liu Xueyi’s Outlook Is Getting Attention Alongside Against the Current
The six philosophies share a common thread: Liu Xueyi tries not to let outside opinions dictate how he lives his life.
His belief in letting go after making a decision helps him avoid dwelling endlessly on the past. Meanwhile, comparing himself with his own progress keeps his attention on personal growth rather than other people’s achievements.
He also chooses not to treat popularity as the only measure of success and does not try to win everyone’s approval.
At a time when social media makes comparison and anxiety easier than ever, that mindset has attracted renewed attention alongside the growing popularity of Against the Current.
For viewers, Liu Xueyi’s appeal goes beyond his looks and his performance as Lin Jinqi. His calm approach to fame, work, and life has become another reason fans are taking notice.
