Why are titas so hot in pursuit of Zhang Linghe?
Why are so many women, especially titas, swooning over Zhang Linghe, the dreamy Chinese actor? Well, it is because of Pursuit of Jade, the globally successful C-drama that exploded into the lives of many ladies and, yes, even some men.
Fans who have long gatekept Chinese dramas and actors cannot do it anymore. The gates are open, the crowd is rushing in, and the titas are entering in comfortable shoes. Pursuit of Jade was my initiation into C-dramas. I am late to the game, I know. Now, I am hooked.
A few of my friends who watched Pursuit of Jade with me simultaneously were breathless and in awe. Was it because of the character of Xie Zheng, the Marquis of Wuhan, a long-haired war hero who falls in love with an ordinary girl of no status who is, unbelievably, a pig slaughterer named Fan Changyu? It sounds absurd on paper but irresistible on screen. The “jade” in the title refers to Changyu who represents “a person of rare worth.” She is a diamond in the rough who can knock out a pig with a single slap.
Of course, there are subplots and side romances that were equally entertaining. I was strangely invested in the toxic love story of kontrabida Qi Min and Yu Qian Qian. There are wars, palace intrigues, betrayals, longing glances, and lovely common folk trying to survive while the beautiful people suffer dramatically. It is a 40-episode drama that had many viewers marathon-watching while their daily lives were placed on hold. Talk about real life getting in the way of a fantasy one.
Speaking of long-haired loverboys, I remembered Fabio, who graced the covers of those Eighties’ romance novels. Very masculine, very sculpted, very committed to conditioner with his long and lustrous locks. The hairstyles of the men in this drama deserve a separate article. Long, thick, black hair, except for kontrabida Qi Min whose hair is gray-white. Strategic wisps frame Zhang Linghe’s handsome face. The hair of these leading men will put to shame women in shampoo ads. And yes, there is science to this madness. Some evolutionary psychology studies suggest that healthy, thick hair can signal youth and vitality, which may partly explain why long hair can be attractive when paired with strong facial features. Hello, Samson.
The ladies are in a Pursuit of Jade haze, a bubble they do not want popped. It is like a drug, except it is legal. My Instagram and TikTok reels are inundated with women obsessed with the dreamy Marquis of Wuhan. Their lives simply cannot go on. And after finishing the series, there is something similar to PCD, post-concert depression. Can I call it post-drama depression? I even know of someone who bought the English version of the novel because she wanted to remain in the Pursuit of Jade world. Forty episodes of sleepless nights were still not enough.
And many titas I know are agog over Zhang Linghe. He is 28 and has been acting for some time. From what I read, he studied electrical engineering and is known for being sharp in math and science. So he has beauty, brains, and talent. He was already famous, but his popularity surged with Pursuit of Jade. Fan-circulated rankings on Chinese social media have placed Zhang Linghe among the most talked-about male celebrities on WeChat, with engagement figures reportedly reaching more than 90 million. Industry trackers and entertainment reports say Pursuit of Jade has generated over two billion cumulative views across platforms, showing its massive popularity. Obviously, Zhang Linghe has multiple brand endorsements which includes luxury fashion house Gucci.
All over social media are memes that are genuinely funny: physical trainers wearing Zhang Linghe masks to encourage female clients to exercise; women digging in the snow looking for a man; cats dressed in battle gear with meter-long pheasant tail plumes on their heads; wives obsessed with replaying romantic clips. A popular catchphrase now is: “You don’t say, ‘I love you.’ You say, ‘I will slaughter pigs to raise you.’” Strangely enough, this is an endearing line by Fan Changyu.
Other memes include women pretending to ignore husbands while secretly watching Marquis edits under the dinner table; office workers claiming they are “busy” while actually rewatching episode 23; and titas declaring they are suddenly interested in Chinese history, though only the parts featuring Zhang Linghe. It also helps that the OST (original sound track) is distinct, emotional, and identifiable.
The craze is real. Videos have surfaced of large crowds of fans chasing and crushing Zhang Linghe and his co-stars in public spaces, even near bathrooms, airports and inside planes. One star reportedly looked overwhelmed and close to tears. No personal space at all. Hysteria, it seems, does not queue politely.
Chinese actors like Zhang Linghe are emerging as the new swoon-worthy Asian leading men. So does that mean Korean oppas are on their way out? Not yet. They still command enormous fandoms. But Chinese actors are undeniably catching the attention of many viewers. They are the new wave of heartthrobs, arriving with swords, silk robes, and cheekbones sharp enough to launch dynasties.
So what is it with titas who go crazy over these young actors and suddenly act like obsessed teenagers? Is it mere escape, or does it go deeper? Is life that tedious and boring? Is reality (war, corruption, escalating prices, I can go on and on) that bad? Or is beauty, the male variety, simply too entrancing to ignore?
Whatever it is, it is harmless fun. And for a moment, one can dream of a romance—we know can never happen.