Tang Jiuzhou (唐九洲)

Tang Jiuzhou first won audiences over not with acting, but with his brain. A Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications graduate who never trained as a performer, he made his name as the "IQ担当" on puzzle-solving variety shows like Who‘s the Murderer and Detective Academy — where his sharp logic and quiet charm turned him into a fan favorite. His breakout came on Youth With You Season 3, where he secured a spot in the debuting boy band IXFORM. But what truly sets him apart is the delightful contradiction he brings to every variety appearance: a sharp, quick-thinking intellectual who often comes across as delightfully awkward in physical challenges — clumsy, earnest, and endlessly endearing. This rare "smart yet adorably slow" persona has made him one of the most naturally loved variety stars of his generation. Breakthrough Role While Tang’s acting journey began with the fantasy short-form drama Tiger and Crane in 2024, his true breakthrough role came in 2025 with the hit romance drama Love You. Playing Li Jie — a sweet, well-meaning college student and the younger "brother figure" to Zhang Linghe's male lead — Tang delivered a performance that felt remarkably natural for a first-time long-form actor. Landing the role because he shared "over 75% of Li Jie's personality," he approached the character with refreshing honesty. One memorable drunk scene required him to actually drink beer to capture the right drowsy feel — a rookie move that won over his co-stars and director alike, who praised him for becoming "Li Jie himself." Though still early in his acting career, the role proved that his on-screen charm extends well beyond reality TV. Public Perception Tang Jiuzhou has carefully built a career that spans music, variety, and now acting — earning him the label of a true "all-rounder" and the 2024 TMEA腾讯音乐娱乐盛典 Annual New Force All-Round Artist award. But it’s his variety persona that has cemented his popularity. On shows like Keep Running, he consistently steals episodes through pure, unintentional comedy — struggling through painful foot massagers with clumsy determination, accidentally kicking teammates while testing poses, and staying on set practicing long after everyone else has wrapped. Viewers describe him as a "natural variety god": authentically goofy when he should be, brilliantly sharp when he needs to be, never forcing laughs or hogging the spotlight, and maintaining an easygoing attitude win or lose. Off-screen, his fanbase — known as "Bubbles" — adores him not just for his talents but for his grounded, unpretentious personality. As he continues to expand into acting, Tang remains one of those rare young artists whose rising fame has done nothing to diminish the genuine warmth audiences feel toward him.