Liang Yongqi (梁永棋)

Liang Yongqi is the embodiment of "a lookalike who outlasts the hype." First noticed for his striking resemblance to top star Zhu Yilong — which earned him the nickname "Little Zhu Yilong" — and even drawing comparisons to Tony Leung, he was signed to Yu Zheng’s Huanyu Entertainment after being selected from over 600 candidates. What could have been a gimmick was completely turned on its head the moment audiences saw him act. A master of the controversial yet strangely captivating "deadpan acting," he became a certified breakout star for his unforgettable portrayal of a tortured, "dangerously calm" villain. Off-screen, his sharp wit and hilarious refusal to take himself seriously — famously embracing online jokes about his "type-C" mouth and handing out phone chargers to fans — have branded him a rare "living meme" in an industry obsessed with maintaining perfect images. Breakthrough Role: A Villain You Can’t Hate Liang’s breakthrough came with his role as Shen Yurong, the traumatic ex-husband of the female protagonist in the 2024 hit costume drama The Tale of the Lost Land (《墨雨云间》). As a restrained, psychologically conflicted villain torn between his love for his ex-wife and his own political ambitions under the coercion of a powerful princess, Shen demanded an extremely layered and subtle performance. Liang delivered this tension masterfully, using understated expressions, restrained anger, and a hallmark "barely-alive" demeanor that critics compared to a "pressure cooker slowly leaking air". A Central Academy of Drama graduate who spent years struggling as an extra — even being publicly humiliated on set at one point — Liang's portrayal of a man slowly crushed by an impossible situation resonated deeply and felt incredibly authentic. Public Perception: The Unlikely Anti-Hero Currently, Liang Yongqi has built a distinctive reputation as a "reliable actor who works wonders with restrained, non-flashy performances". His ability to use subtle eye movements and micro-expressions to flesh out complex, anti-hero characters in The Tale of the Lost Land, Lie Zui Tu Jian 2 (《猎罪图鉴2》), and Lin Jiang Xian (《临江仙》) has earned him a strong foothold within Huanyu Entertainment and established him as a promising force in the industry. Off-screen, Liang enjoys widespread goodwill. Instead of getting mad, he got funny — famously managing to "dodge online hate" through his spontaneous, self-deprecating humor and his reputation as an "industry wildcard" for joking about his own casting controversies. This combination of strong character work and refreshingly authentic personality has allowed him to transform a "lookalike label" into a respected reputation of his own making.