On December 31, Hunan Television hosted its 2026 New Year’s Eve Gala, where the most talked-about performance was a romantic duet by Zhang Linghe and Zhang Ruonan.
The two actors performed the emotional ballad “I Cry My Emotions Are in Pieces,” captivating viewers with their natural chemistry and cinematic stage presence. Many viewers commented that the performance felt like a scene from a romance drama, with calls growing louder for the pair to star together in a future love story.
Thanks to their seamless collaboration, the duet recorded an impressive 2.56% nationwide rating, ranking No. 1 among all satellite TV stations in the same time slot and dominating the night’s viewership charts.
Audience reactions flooded social media, praising how effortlessly the two actors complemented each other. Standing side by side, Zhang Linghe and Zhang Ruonan were described as “visually perfect,” with their eye contact and emotional delivery sparking widespread discussion.
According to Chinese media outlet QQ, Zhang Ruonan is often referred to as the nation’s “first-love icon.” A popular saying online compares her appeal to that of Taiwanese actor Greg Hsu, noting, “Men like watching Zhang Ruonan the way women like watching Greg Hsu.” Her gentle, youthful image and expressive emotional acting have earned her tens of millions of fans. A short video of Zhang Ruonan previously surpassed 10 million likes, further cementing her reputation.
Despite being in her late 20s, Zhang Ruonan continues to convincingly portray high school and college students, thanks to her fresh visuals and warm smile. At the gala, she wore a crystal-embellished emerald gown that balanced elegance with innocence, drawing praise for her refined yet approachable look.
Zhang Linghe, standing at 1.88 meters, appeared like a modern-day prince in a tailored suit. His striking height, sharp features, and confident aura allowed him to command the stage, particularly during his solo runway-style performance segment, which heightened audience excitement.
The appearance also marked a shift in public perception after Zhang Linghe previously faced criticism for appearing distant toward a former co-star at a past award event. This time, viewers praised his professionalism and emotional engagement during the duet with Zhang Ruonan.
Currently backed strongly by streaming platform iQIYI, Zhang Linghe is regarded as one of the leading “next-generation costume drama heartthrobs.” Since debuting as a lead actor in Maiden Holmes (2019), he has consistently secured major roles in popular historical dramas such as My Journey to You, Story of Kunning Palace, Love You, and Till the End of the Moon. His role as Chang Heng in Love Between Fairy and Devil (2022) further boosted his popularity.
With their New Year’s Eve performance, Zhang Linghe and Zhang Ruonan have proven themselves to be a pairing audiences didn’t know they needed but now can’t stop talking about.
Sources: TP