The upcoming drama Yuting Yao (御廷瑶) has been mired in a messy “billing order” fight between leads Wu Jinyan and Chen Zheyuan, and online fan wars have only amplified the tension. What really pushed the drama into the spotlight was producer-screenwriter Yu Zheng personally jumping into the fray. To defend Wu Jinyan, he publicly implied that Chen Zheyuan “bought his way into the cast,” claimed the production was forced to add him even after Wu passed review solo, and posted fan-style comparison screenshots to argue Chen wasn’t qualified to share equal billing. With all that noise, many are asking: Is signing with Yu Zheng’s company a blessing or a liability?
The Upside: Resources, Protection, Loyalty
Yu Zheng has deep roots in period dramas, backed by full in-house teams—from scripts to costuming to post-production—so signed artists rarely lack roles. Even when times are slow, supporting parts still circulate, and outside projects aren’t strictly blocked. He’s also known for “taking the bullet” for his artists: when controversy hits, Yu often steps out front, absorbing criticism and redirecting heat away from talent. On top of that, he tends to be long-term in his artist relationships; people like Yang Rong and Wu Jinyan have benefited from his continued support even when their popularity dipped.
The Downside: Controversy Follows Him
Yu Zheng’s very public, highly reactive style is a double-edged sword. His statements can flip, his showmanship invites scrutiny, and his own mixed reputation sometimes splashes back onto artists who didn’t ask for drama. When he speaks, fans and onlookers second-guess everything—reducing credibility and occasionally creating new black marks for the people he’s trying to shield.
So—Who Should Sign?
If you’re a newcomer without name recognition, Yu Zheng’s “red-or-black, just get noticed” playbook can be a fast track to visibility and jobs. But if you’re already gaining traction and want steady image control and lower controversy risk, joining (or staying with) his camp deserves careful thought.
