Oolong Dispatch

on the menu: c-ent 🗞️, 🫖 and 🍉

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🗞️ #YangMi’s ex husband #HawickLau, 52, has confirmed his relationship with 32 y/o Hong Kong model and actress #LaiKeiKwan. The two reportedly met through tennis and have been dating for around two months, with their 20 year age gap drawing attention.

Hawick and Yang Mi once had what seemed like a fairytale romance, marrying in 2014 and welcoming a daughter before divorcing in 2018. Yang Mi later famously remarked ‘最后都那样’ (it all ends up the same anyway) when discussing relationships. Perhaps that’s why cnetz have become increasingly sceptical of picture-perfect celebrity romances.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🍉Is #HanAnran living her best life or has she mastered the art of turning relationships into content? The 27 y/o influencer has kept cnetz eating melons for years with her very public love life. 4 marriages (including twice to the same man), two daughters and a seemingly endless cycle of dating, breakups and reconciliations. There's always another episode.

And now an unexpected K-ent crossover... Han was spotted with lesser-known Korean actor #KwonDokyun at a comedy show in Shanghai. She insisted they were 'just friends', but he later appeared to suggest otherwise in his social media comments. All this just as she confirmed her split from her previous boyfriend on October 17. Some people spend years trying to keep their relationships private. Han Anran seems to have turned hers into an entire entertainment genre. Is she simply enjoying life on her own terms, or does the constant drama keep the attention coming?

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 #WhereTheMaskEnds starring #TianXiwei and #YanAn has premiered to plenty of buzz... but is it worth adding to your watchlist?

Why people are loving it: Fast pacing, gorgeous costumes and two scheming women with identical faces. The substitute marriage, ruthless female characters and constant twists have viewers hooked, with some calling it a long-form drama with the addictive pacing of a short drama.

Why some aren't convinced: Some cnetz feel TXW's portrayal of the villainous Jun Dai is a little over the top, particularly her expressions and delivery. Others have pointed to questionable plot logic and Yan An's relatively subdued presence.

The early verdict? A promising, fast moving watch for anyone who enjoys morally grey characters, identity swaps and plenty of scheming. Early reactions are encouraging overall, though the more theatrical acting style seems to be a matter of personal taste.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 Following all the discussion around #HuangZitao and #XuYiyang's baby announcement, XYY went live today to address the rumours. Here some things she clarified:

- Two children? Cnetz noticed the child appeared to be different heights her two photos, sparking rumours of an older child. XYY says they have just ONE child, born in 2024 and now over 2 years old.
- Surrogacy? XYY says she gave birth herself. A particularly serious and career ending allegation given China's prohibition on surrogacy.
- Baby announcement to prepare for selling products for Singles' Day sales? She says it had nothing to do with sales. They'd simply finished sorting through their Maldives photos.
- Lying to fans? She says old clips of her denying having a child were from before 2021, when they weren't dating yet. She admits they didn't reveal the news sooner but insists she never lied.
- Pregnant during Chuang? She says they weren't together then.
- Tao cheating? She says he actually turned down work to stay with her.
- Why keep the baby private? She says she wasn't physically or emotionally ready for public scrutiny after giving birth in 2024 and wanted to protect their child.

But some cnetz remain sceptical. After years of denials followed by surprise announcements, they feel they've heard 'just a rumour' one too many times. Others are asking why XYY is facing all these questions while Tao stays silent. She says she asked him not to respond because he's more emotional and she's better at handling criticism.

Then again... how much of their private lives did they really owe the public? And watching XYY handle all this herself, what do we all make of her response?

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 So #HuangZitao and #XuYiyang have finally confirmed they’re parents… and cnetz are digging up YEARS of receipts.

From earlier denials of dating rumours to Tao joking that he doesn’t look like someone with a child, cnetz are revisiting everything. They’re also bringing up alleged sightings from a Los Angeles hospital in 2024, Tao’s livestream slip about ‘spending time with the child’ and footage of a nanny carrying a baby into their home in 2025. One comment joked that the couple’s combined credibility isn’t even enough to unlock a shared bicycle.

Some longtime fans are FURIOUS. After spending years fighting off rumours on their behalf, they’re now questioning why they defended the couple so fiercely, with some even talking about leaving the fandom. Others argue that marriage and children are private matters and the couple never owed anyone an explanation… but the real argument among cnetz now seems to be about privacy versus repeatedly denying what eventually becomes public.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 At this point #LiYunrui and #MengZiyi probably deserve a bonus for how hard they're promoting #TigersSniffTheRose
Li Yunrui wasn't even scheduled to record Hi6 on October 15 but showed up to just... 'pick her up from work', greeted her with a big hug and stayed an extra 20 minutes to help finish her punishment task. Throw in some hand-holding, whispered conversations and the two leaving together under one umbrella... and you've got CP fans wondering whether they're watching drama promotion or the drama itself.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 So #HuangZitao and #XuYiyang have finally confirmed they’re parents… and cnetz are digging up YEARS of receipts.

From earlier denials of dating rumours to Tao joking that he doesn’t look like someone with a child, cnetz are revisiting everything. They’re also bringing up alleged sightings from a Los Angeles hospital in 2024, Tao’s livestream slip about ‘spending time with the child’ and footage of a nanny carrying a baby into their home in 2025. One comment joked that the couple’s combined credibility isn’t even enough to unlock a shared bicycle.

Some longtime fans are FURIOUS. After spending years fighting off rumours on their behalf, they’re now questioning why they defended the couple so fiercely, with some even talking about leaving the fandom. Others argue that marriage and children are private matters and the couple never owed anyone an explanation… but the real argument among cnetz now seems to be about privacy versus repeatedly denying what eventually becomes public.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 A rather extraordinary story is unfolding around Hong Kong entertainment legend #JordanChan. Jordan has previously revealed that his family was so poor that his youngest brother was given away for HK$3000 as a child. He never saw him again and has spoken about how much this has weighed on him over the years.

Now a laser cutting factory worker named Chen Xianglu in Fujian has gone viral for looking remarkably like him. And the coincidences are quite something... the man is reportedly in his 50s, shares Jordan's surname, speaks with a Guangdong accent and even has a similar indentation on his earlobe. Cnetz also noticed that his name sounds remarkably close to Chen Xiaolu, reportedly the name of Jordan's missing brother.

Of course, none of this proves they're related. There's been no DNA test or confirmation from Jordan's side. But after all these decades, imagine if this really did turn out to be his brother... it would be quite a remarkable reunion.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 #ChenXiaoyun’s latest appearance at Shanghai Fashion Week has cnetz saying she looks almost unrecognisable... and her past cosmetic procedures are back in the spotlight.

You might remember her as Hao Jia in New Life Begins, Suoxin in Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace or Tilan in Novoland: Pearl Eclipse. Chen previously spoke about undergoing nearly 10 facial contouring treatments to make her face slimmer and just how painful the process was.

But there's something quite sad about all this. East Asian beauty standards can be incredibly unforgiving towards women, especially in an entertainment industry where having the 'right' face can make a real difference to your opportunities. Women who don't naturally fit that ideal can feel pressured to change themselves just to get a foot in the door.

And then when their appearance changes, the same public that rewards those beauty standards criticises them for no longer looking natural. It's hard not to feel a little sympathy for women caught in that cycle... where you're expected to look perfect, but also like you were born that way.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 If you enjoy costume dramas where everyone has their own agenda and the FL isn't afraid to play dirty, #WhereTheMaskEnds might be one to keep an eye on.

Starring #TianXiwei and #YanAn, the drama follows a street smart girl who gets caught up in a substitute marriage after being mistaken for a noblewoman who looks exactly like her. Tian Xiwei plays both women and neither is exactly innocent.

Think switched identities, a marriage built on suspicion, revenge and a household full of women trying to outsmart each other. Early screening reactions have praised the fast pacing and constant twists.

It's arriving October 16 on Youku, CCTV-8 and reportedly Netflix. Now we just have to see if it lives up to all that hype... Pursuit of Jade was a pretty big act to follow after all 👀

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

A deeply upsetting development involving the late Hong Kong music legend Anita Mui. Her family has revealed that the urn containing her ashes has been missing from Po Lin Monastery since July 18, after a visiting fan discovered it was gone. Nearly three months later, the police investigation has reportedly made no breakthrough. On October 10, what would have been her 63rd birthday, her family issued a public appeal for witnesses, information and dashcam footage that might help locate her remains. Anyone with information can contact Hong Kong Police at [phone] or WhatsApp [phone].

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 The 2027 Grammy submissions are making the rounds... and #ZhaoLusi’s name is reportedly in the mix alongside artists like Jennie and Jay Chou. Her English single Black Veil Bride has reportedly been submitted for three categories... Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.

Cnetz reactions are pretty mixed... supporters are celebrating her collaboration with Grammy-winning producer Brian Lee and her move into international music, while others are questioning the song’s actual reach on platforms like Spotify and pointing out that submitting a song isn't the same as earning a nomination. With official nominations still to come in November... what do we think of this crossover into music? 👀

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🗓️ Save the date - #ChengLei and #XuRuohan’s Republican-era romance #TheLamentOfAutumn (玉簟秋) premieres October 12.

A young student desperate to pay her mother’s medical bills gets caught up in an assassination plot against a powerful warlord… and so a steamy complicated romance begins.…👀

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 A trailer for short drama 'Sonder: I am not an NPC', produced by Zhao Lusi, has drawn attention after cnetz noticed its audio track closely resembles the original Pursuit of Jade trailer.

And it’s apparently not just the BGM... comparisons point to the same music and editing beats alongside individual sound effects appearing in the same places, including a kiss “pop” and the sound of firecrackers. After removing the dialogue and layering the two trailers together, cnetz say much of the remaining audio lines up almost exactly.

The Sonder trailer has since been deleted, but there’s been no official explanation... so while the overlap certainly looks substantial, whether the audio was taken from the Pursuit of Jade trailer itself or both used the same licensed/shared production resources remains unclear.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 After everything your parents sacrificed for you, how much room does that leave to talk about the ways they also hurt you? #DaiLuwa’s story on family variety show My Little One has cnetz debating exactly that.

Growing up, she says she was seen as the 'useless one' compared with her high achieving cousin and often felt invisible at home. In her final year of high school, her father slapped her during an argument and she left home for a month... without her parents contacting or coming to find her. She eventually returned for her ID and exam documents, and the family simply never spoke about it again. During those years, she says much of the warmth and security she needed came from her first boyfriend of seven years and his family.

But her parents sacrificed enormously too... after the family went broke, her mother worked as a confinement nanny to keep supporting her schooling and arts training, while her father was reportedly prepared to sell their home for her to study overseas. Dai Luwa herself acknowledges everything they gave her.

And that’s where cnetz are divided... some think sharing these memories publicly is unfair to parents who sacrificed so much, while others say gratitude doesn’t erase emotional hurt. Sometimes both can be true... your parents can give you everything they know how to give and still leave you wishing they had loved you a little differently.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 Something clearly went down on the #Citang set last night. #ZhangLinghe was spotted leaving filming at around 4am still in costume... with lipstick marks all over his face and neck. Naturally, everyone and their pets would now very much like to know what exactly Ye Tingyan has been up to...

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖What you might’ve missed on the #Citang set... because cnetz have already found A LOT to talk about.
#ZhangLinghe and #LuYuxiao’s rain scenes are probably getting the most attention... from him pulling her closer under an umbrella and everyone noticing the height/size difference, to ZLH kneeling in the rain and appearing to struggle a little getting back up with his old knee injury. LYX’s emotional rain scene has also sparked pretty mixed reactions over how the performance might come across in the final cut.
Annnnnd because cnetz apparently can’t put two actresses in the same frame without comparing them... #LiangJie and LYX’s cute behind the scenes together somehow turned into a whole visual comparison debate. Meanwhile ZLH and #HeLandou, who play siblings in the drama, getting scared by a dragonfly in the middle of an emotional scene might be the least controversial thing to come off this set so far.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 #BaiLu showing some love for #Yuqi’s new song I Like You through her latest Weibo and XHS posts is a nice little answer to some of those “they’re not close anymore” rumours...
The 923 sisters seem to be doing just fine... despite what some corners of their c-fandoms might suggest.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖 Things are getting messy between sections of #Yuqi and #BaiLu’s Chinese fandoms after Yuqi’s side revealed it has collected evidence against 12 accounts accused of insulting her, spreading false information and fabricating rumours.

Cnetz have since identified some of the accounts as Bai Lu fans, bringing their long-running fandom friction back into the spotlight. The two fandoms have previously clashed over everything from #KeepRunning screen time and treatment to seating choices and interactions between the two stars.

Importantly, Yuqi’s statement itself never mentions Bai Lu or any fandom, and there’s no confirmed personal feud between the actresses themselves.

But between years of fan arguments and now lawyers getting involved… this particular corner of c-ent fandom clearly isn’t getting any quieter.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🫖What you might’ve missed on the #Citang set... because cnetz have already found A LOT to talk about.
#ZhangLinghe and #LuYuxiao’s rain scenes are probably getting the most attention... from him pulling her closer under an umbrella and everyone noticing the height/size difference, to ZLH kneeling in the rain and appearing to struggle a little getting back up with his old knee injury. LYX’s emotional rain scene has also sparked pretty mixed reactions over how the performance might come across in the final cut.
Annnnnd because cnetz apparently can’t put two actresses in the same frame without comparing them... #LiangJie and LYX’s cute behind the scenes together somehow turned into a whole visual comparison debate. Meanwhile ZLH and #HeLandou, who play siblings in the drama, getting scared by a dragonfly in the middle of an emotional scene might be the least controversial thing to come off this set so far.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🗞️ #Citang has officially started filming and the first concept video with #ZhangLinghe and #LuYuxiao is already out.

The #MyJourneyToYou reunion has been surrounded by plenty of tea since casting rumours first started… from fans debating the pairing to billing and novel adaptation concerns.

But alas here we are after months of speculation, we finally get our first proper look at the drama itself.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🗞️ #AgainstTheCurrent has opened with a 7.5 on Douban… securing the highest opening score among 2026 costume romance dramas so far. Another strong result for the drama after it also recently became Tencent’s highest heat scoring drama of the year at over 33,000 heat.

[Oolong Dispatch @oolongdispatch]

🗞️#AgainstTheCurrent starring #TanSongyun and #LiuXueyi has reached 31,513 heat on Tencent, surpassing Pursuit of Jade’s previous 2026 high of 31,248.

The tropes themselves aren’t exactly new... but cnetz think it’s the execution that’s making this one stand out. The FL is smart without feeling like she has a cheat sheet, side characters have their own motives rather than existing just to help or hurt her, and the romance is unusually restrained... the leads don’t even properly speak until episode 7. Add some gorgeous practical sets and a story willing to take its time with the little details, and that’s probably where a lot of the appeal is coming from.