LayarHijau– Following the death of Chinese actor Yu Menglong on September 11, numerous conspiracy theories have circulated online. Amid the ongoing speculation, Taiwanese actress Xu Qianjing — who once worked with the late actor in the web drama The World Is So Big (世界辣麼大) — opened up about her memories of him and her own experience in China’s entertainment industry while attending the opening ceremony of her new drama Doufu Mama (豆腐媽媽).
Xu recalled Yu Menglong as a warm and humble co-star. “He was never arrogant. Since we were about the same age, we quickly became close and often joked around on set,” she said as reported by Star EBC. “We hadn’t been in touch for a long time, so when I heard about his passing, I was truly shocked.”
However, what drew public attention was not only her recollection of Yu, but also her candid remarks about the so-called ‘hidden rules’ she witnessed while working in China.
According to Xu, some directors or assistant directors would sometimes invite actresses to their rooms under the pretext of “rehearsing scenes.” She shared that she would deliberately keep the door open and maintain a natural, calm demeanor to avoid any awkward situations. “I declined politely while keeping things friendly. Sometimes you just need to know how to refuse without embarrassing the other party,” she explained.
Xu emphasized that such practices are not exclusive to women. “Sometimes it even happens between men,” she revealed, adding that outright coercion is rare — most of the time, it’s something that happens by mutual consent.
Even so, Xu refused to label all professional interactions as forms of physical exchange. She cited an example from the early years of her career when she didn’t have a manager. “Back then, I handled my own negotiations. If the production treated me better than expected, after filming I would give them a small red envelope as a token of appreciation. That wasn’t an exchange — it was just workplace etiquette,” she clarified.
Xu Qianjing’s statements have reignited public discussion about the pressures and risks faced by entertainers in China, especially those working independently without agency protection. The death of Yu Menglong remains surrounded by questions, with many netizens speculating about the darker realities hidden behind the glamorous surface of the entertainment industry.
