LayarHijau — Liu Xueyi, who plays Lin Jinqi in Against the Current (兰香如故), has opened up about the grueling fitness routine and strict diet behind his impressive physical transformation for the role. To prepare for a shirtless scene, the actor revealed that he completely cut out carbohydrates and fried food for two full weeks, on top of following a rigorous weight training program under a professional trainer and limiting his daily diet to just two meals.
His portrayal of Lin Jinqi, husband to the female lead Lanxiang, has earned him massive spotlight and acclaim. The character undergoes a compelling arc—evolving from a cold, calculating figure early in the story to a warm, deeply affectionate husband toward the end. Discussions surrounding Lin Jinqi on the Tencent platform have officially surpassed 100 million views.
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Industry observers and fans alike have described this as a major breakout moment coming 15 years into his acting career. Prior to Against the Current, Liu Xueyi built a solid filmography and gained notable recognition through hit dramas like The Blood of Youth (少年歌行), Kill Me Love Me (春花焰), and Love and Redemption (琉璃).
Upper-Body Weight Training Focus
Liu Xueyi previously shared a gym workout vlog showing his intense training regimen. Wearing a black tank top, his defined arm and back muscles immediately caught fans’ attention, showcasing the results of his dedicated gym sessions.
His workout strategy was far from random. Working closely with a professional fitness trainer, he followed a tailored program that incorporated:
- Boxing
- Weight plate lifts
- Dumbbell chest flies
- Pull-ups
- Cable rows
- Deadlifts
The entire routine was crafted specifically to target his upper body, focusing heavily on building up his shoulders, arms, and back muscles.
A Two-Meal Daily Eating Plan
Standing at 183 cm (approx. 6 feet), Liu Xueyi previously worked hard to drop his weight from 80 kg down to around 65 kg to achieve a sharper, more camera-ready look on screen.
Sharing details of his daily eating habits, he explained: “I usually eat a very heavy breakfast. Once I’m full, I don’t eat anything else until around noon. Between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM, I eat a light meal consisting of simple vegetables and chicken breast. After 3:00 PM, I stop eating for the rest of the day and skip dinner altogether.”
Cutting Carbs for Two Weeks for a Shirtless Scene
During a promotional appearance on the variety show Mao Xue Wang (毛雪汪) alongside co-stars Tan Songyun and Li Meng, a clip featuring his character Lin Jinqi’s bathing scene was replayed on screen. Tan Songyun and Li Meng instinctively gasped and praised his physique, while the camera zoomed in closely on his defined abs, leaving Liu Xueyi visibly flustered and shy.
Addressing the behind-the-scenes effort, Liu Xueyi revealed that while he already had some visible abs, he took extreme steps for maximum visual impact: “I actually already had a bit of abs, but for that specific shot, I completely cut out carbs and avoided fried foods for half a month.”
He candidly admitted that going carb-free severely affected his mood during those two weeks. Hearing this, Tan Songyun chimed in with a laugh: “I could definitely tell you were in a terrible mood back then—so much so that I didn’t even dare get too close to you!”
Physical Agility and Uncompromising Commitment to Roles
Thanks to his background as a dancer starting at age 14, Liu Xueyi possesses exceptional body coordination, which proved invaluable during action sequences for Against the Current. In fact, a martial arts training program that his instructor originally scheduled for three days was mastered by Liu Xueyi in just two days. Outside of acting, he leads an active lifestyle—enjoying basketball, trying his hand at surfing and diving, and even traveling to the Arctic to film a charitable documentary.
This total dedication extends to how he approaches his characters. In 2022, before he was officially locked in as Wuxin in The Blood of Youth, Liu Xueyi shaved his head on his own initiative just to verify if a bald look suited him. When asked if he was worried about losing the part after shaving, he answered candidly: “I felt it was simply what I needed to do. If a role requires me to go bald, I’ll do it; even if a role requires me to shave off my eyebrows or eyelashes, I’m completely willing to.”
Despite his recent surge in popularity, Liu Xueyi refuses to adopt a high-pressure mindset, preferring to work quietly without complaining about hardships or dwelling on outside noise. Built over 15 years of steady work and dedication to his craft, his journey proves that consistency and commitment remain the ultimate key to his success.
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