Xu Kai (许凯)

Xu Kai, also known as Kevin Xu or Soso, is a Chinese actor and model born on March 5, 1995, in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. He began his career as a model, winning first place in the print ads category at the 2013 China International Model Contest. In 2016, he transitioned to acting after signing with Huanyu Film, a production company. Xu Kai gained widespread recognition for his role as Fuca Fuheng in the hit historical drama Story of Yanxi Palace (2018). His other notable works include The Legends (2019), where he played the lead role of Li Chenlan, and Arsenal Military Academy (2019), where he portrayed Gu Yanzhen. He has also starred in popular dramas like Falling Into Your Smile (2021) and Royal Feast (2022). Xu Kai rocketed to fame in 2018 with his portrayal of the tragic and devoted Fucha Fuheng in the blockbuster historical drama Story of Yanxi Palace. He was born on March 5, 1995, in Shenzhen, Guangdong, and launched his entertainment career after winning first place in the print ads/graphic category at the China (Guangzhou) International Model Contest in 2013. After signing with Huanyu Film in 2016, Xu rapidly ascended to the forefront of a new generation of leading men, establishing himself as both a darling of the industry and one of the most recognizable faces in Chinese drama. Breakthrough Role While Xu made his acting debut in the 2016 drama Zhao Ge (also known as Dreaming Back to the Shang Dynasty), his defining breakthrough came with the 2018 smash hit Story of Yanxi Palace. Portraying Fucha Fuheng, the noble and kind-hearted imperial guard hopelessly in love with the female lead, Xu captivated audiences across Asia. His performance as the gentle and loyal Fuheng became a cultural phenomenon, earning him the 2019 iQIYI Scream Night Annual Drama Potential Artist Award. This period of rapid success was sustained by starring roles in The Legends, Arsenal Military Academy, and Falling into Your Smile, for which he received numerous accolades including the Best Actor award at the 6th Wenrong Awards. Public Perception Xu Kai has earned widespread recognition in the Chinese entertainment industry for his versatility and commanding on-screen presence. However, his journey has also been marked by significant challenges. In 2026, his crime drama Fangyuan 800 Meters initially struggled in the ratings, yet it ultimately garnered positive reviews for its fresh narrative, fast pacing, and committed performances, with Xu earning praise for his deliberate efforts to break away from his “cool and handsome” image. With several highly anticipated projects in the pipeline, including the suspense drama Tian Du Yi Wen Lu and the costume drama Yi Ou Chun, industry observers view his career as a dual narrative: one of resilience and growth. He is acknowledged as a top-tier actor, but one whose public reputation is never far from intense scrutiny. For audiences, he remains a figure whose every release is scrutinized for whether it will be the hit that cements his legacy or the project that prompts a career rethink.