LayarHijau.com – Although the historical costume drama The Prisoner of Beauty, starring Liu Yuning and Song Zuer, has ended, its popularity continues to resonate. Liu Yuning has now been dubbed the “chosen Wei Shao” by netizens, especially after gaining 550,000 new Weibo followers in just 19 days.
His latest drama, A Dream Within a Dream, is set to premiere soon. In the recently released trailer, actor Wang Chengsi—who previously portrayed General Wei Liang in The Prisoner of Beauty—can be seen reuniting with Liu Yuning on screen, once again as his loyal companion. According to World Journal, news of their second collaboration quickly set the internet abuzz.
In The Prisoner of Beauty, Wei Liang and Xiao Tao (played by Li Xueqin) were known as the most entertaining pair amid the intense storyline. Viewers loved their hilarious arguments and quirky chemistry. Sadly, Wei Liang died on the battlefield and was never able to reunite with Xiao Tao. The scene of him holding an orchid meant for her as he took his final breath left a deep emotional impact on the audience.
Now, seeing Wang Chengsi reappear as Liu Yuning’s steadfast follower in A Dream Within a Dream has brought a wave of emotion and hope among fans. Comments like, “Please don’t die this time,” “So A Dream Within a Dream has its own CP too,” and “I almost cried seeing Wei Liang again,” flooded social media. Many fans call it a “dream connection” between two beloved characters reunited in a different world.
A Dream Within a Dream is adapted from the novel The Rebirth of the Legitimate Daughter and the Concubine by Qianshan Chake. The original story of revenge and reincarnation has been reimagined into a fantasy about a down-and-out actor named Song Xiaoyu (played by Li Yitong) who accidentally enters a script world and becomes the female lead, Song Yimeng. While faced with various melodramatic love plotlines, she tries her best to resist the original storyline. However, no matter what she does, fate keeps leading her back to the male lead, Nan Heng (Liu Yuning).
Some netizens initially worried that Liu Yuning would be dragged down by Li Yitong, who’s often labeled as someone with a “can’t-go-viral aura.” But the latest stats prove otherwise—pre-release reservations for A Dream Within a Dream have surpassed 1.5 million, far exceeding the production team's expectations. The two-minute trailer released days ago also went viral, gaining over 3 million views in less than 24 hours.
With the emotional reunion between Liu Yuning and Wang Chengsi and a fresh, genre-bending story, this drama has become one of the most highly anticipated titles of the season.