The year opened on a strong note for Chinese drama fans as Love Between Lines quickly captured viewers’ attention. Starring Chen Xing Xu and Lu Yu Xiao, the 2026 romance drama blends urban storytelling with suspense through an inventive “story within a story” structure. Directed by Mao De Shu, known for When I Fly Towards You, the series moves between two worlds: the sleek professional environment of architecture and an immersive murder mystery game set in the Republican era.
In Love Between Lines, Lu Yu Xiao plays Hu Xiu, a woman recovering from heartbreak and professional setbacks. Searching for a new beginning, she joins an immersive script-kill game set during the Republic of China period. Within the game, she takes on the role of a sharp detective and meets Xiao Zhi Yu, portrayed by Chen Xing Xu, who embodies a powerful and composed warlord. What begins as calculated gameplay gradually evolves into a deeper emotional connection. Outside the game, Hu Xiu discovers that Xiao Zhi Yu is actually a successful architect in real life. As they begin working together professionally, their growing feelings blur the line between scripted romance and genuine emotion. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhi Yu quietly carries the burden of uncovering the truth behind his father’s mysterious death. Through its layered narrative and slow-burn romance, Love Between Lines explores the tension between the roles people perform and their authentic selves. For viewers who enjoyed the drama, several other works featuring Chen Xing Xu are equally worth exploring.
One such drama is My Page in the 90s, a 2026 romantic comedy that combines nostalgic elements with a playful fantasy premise. The story follows Lin Huan Er, played by Wang Yu Wen, a successful livestream host in 2025 who brands herself as a relationship expert despite secretly doubting the value of love. During a broadcast where she mocks a sentimental romance novel from 1999 titled Bye, Wild Weasel, she suddenly finds herself transported into the very story she criticized. Trapped in the late 1990s and surrounded by pagers, landlines, and old-fashioned office culture, she receives instructions from a mysterious system: she can only return to her own time if the novel’s emotionally distant male lead, Gao Hai Ming, played by Chen Xing Xu, falls in love with her and proposes. Armed with modern dating tactics, she tries to manipulate the narrative, only to realize that the story has its own rules. As familiar romance tropes unfold, her strategic approach gradually transforms into genuine feelings. My Page in the 90s combines retro charm with humor while exploring how sincerity often proves more powerful than calculated strategies.
Another notable project is Love on the Turquoise Land, inspired by the novel An Owl Rising from the Green Soil by Wei Yu. The drama stands out for its cinematic scale and the strong chemistry between Chen Xing Xu and Dilraba Dilmurat. The story draws from a legend connected to the Qin Dynasty, when Emperor Qin Shi Huang reportedly sent a secret army in search of an elixir of immortality. Although the soldiers disappeared, their bloodline endured. In the present day, that hidden history resurfaces, triggering a chain of mysterious events. Dilraba Dilmurat plays Nie Jiu Luo, a sculptor who appears ordinary but is secretly a descendant of that lost army and a skilled Nanshan Hunter trained to confront dangerous supernatural forces. Her path crosses with Yan Tuo, portrayed by Chen Xing Xu, a wealthy heir who pretends to be naive while secretly investigating the forces that destroyed his family. As they uncover the existence of terrifying beings known as Earth Fiends and the secrets of the enigmatic Turquoise Land, their partnership grows stronger amid a world where ancient myths collide with modern urban life.
The 2024 workplace romance Our Interpreter presents a different side of Chen Xing Xu. The story follows Lin Xi, played by Victoria Song, who ended her relationship with Xiao Yi Cheng years earlier to pursue a demanding career path. Her dedication eventually leads her to become the youngest Chief Interpreter at Huasheng. Years later, Xiao Yi Cheng, portrayed by Chen Xing Xu, returns to China as the Chief Technology Officer of a major communications company. His latest project is an advanced AI translation system designed to outperform human interpreters. Their professional reunion reignites unresolved emotions as rivalry develops between human expertise and technological innovation. As Lin Xi and Xiao Yi Cheng are forced to collaborate, resentment slowly transforms into understanding, offering the possibility of a renewed relationship.
For viewers who enjoy romantic comedies in professional settings, My Boss offers a lighter yet engaging story. The drama follows Cheng Yao, played by Zhang Ruo Nan, a hardworking law graduate who secures a position at the prestigious Junheng Law Firm. Hoping to reduce her commute, she moves into a new apartment only to discover it is already occupied by someone else—her demanding new boss, Qian Heng, played by Chen Xing Xu. Known for his strict personality and high standards, Qian Heng challenges Cheng Yao both at work and at home as they are forced to share living space while handling complex legal cases. Gradually, their constant conflicts evolve into mutual respect. As Cheng Yao proves her abilities in the courtroom, Qian Heng begins to recognize her as an equal, and their relationship slowly shifts from professional tension to heartfelt affection.
Another memorable drama starring Chen Xing Xu is Fall In Love, a historical romance set in the politically charged atmosphere of 1920s Shanghai. The story begins when Mu Wan Qing, played by Zhang Jing Yi, returns from Japan to bury her mother’s ashes and uncover the truth behind her family’s troubled past. Her investigation leads her into a complex network of power struggles. There she meets Tan Xuan Lin, portrayed by Chen Xing Xu, an ambitious military commander who has recently seized control of Shanghai’s army through a coup. Although he holds authority, his humble origins make his position unstable among the elite. To protect their interests, Wan Qing and Xuan Lin form a calculated alliance. As political tensions rise and hidden motives emerge, their partnership gradually deepens into a meaningful relationship built on mutual respect and shared strategy.
Together, these dramas highlight the versatility of Chen Xing Xu across genres ranging from modern romance and workplace drama to fantasy adventure and historical intrigue. For audiences who were drawn to his performance in Love Between Lines, these series offer compelling stories and memorable characters that further showcase the actor’s range and presence on screen.
