It’s all happening at once for Jesse Ren Yunjie (任运杰), who’s finally put his name out on the map with his new drama Embrace in the Dark Night (我们在黑夜中相拥), drew backlash over his behavior with co-star Fang Jin (方瑾) and was recently also trending with his rumored girlfriend Tan Xiaofan (谭晓凡).
A Steamy Short Drama Gains Buzz
Jesse Ren Yunjie plays the male lead in the short-length drama Embrace in the Dark Night. It’s not even a full-length drama and the show clearly has limited budget, but it’s kind of entertaining. The actor’s entrance certainly heated up the screen as he came in a mercenary-like fighter and saves the female lead who’s captured and offered as a prize in an underground fighting ring. It’s not surprising why the show is gaining some buzz, especially with a steamy bed scene right at the beginning—leaving viewers wondering if they’re allowed to watch this! It’s a C-drama, so it’s fine, but the chemistry between the two leads is certainly there. He’s the super cool guy, and she’s feisty in her own right. That cliffhanger slap leaves you wanting more. It’s about time for both leads to finally draw some attention after years in the industry.
Rumors About Ren Yunjie’s Girlfriend Following Backlash
With the drama airing, it’s expected that the two stars would be doing promotions, and they have. However, the 28-year-old actor was criticized for his behavior towards co-star Fang Jin during their recent livestream for Embrace in the Dark Night. When Fang Jin tried to “act cute” with him, Ren Yunjie gave her a look and asked, “What are you doing?” When she explained she was trying to be cute, he mimicked her, saying, “Then why were you crying?” Ren Yunjie basically said he didn’t get what she was trying to do. There’s an awkward pause, and he even suggested she “act cute” with a plushie if she’s not comfortable with him.
Netizens felt he was intentionally being distant and got to digging his “alternate” social media account where he seemed a super sweet guy “in love.” It led to him trending with an actress named Tan Xiaofan, which netizens deduced to be his girlfriend. During the livestream where they had to draw each other, Ren Yunjie drew a pig nose for Fang Jin, which upset fans, especially since his past drawings show he knows how to draw well.
Some fans have defended him, saying he wasn’t half-heartedly doing promotions at all and was cooperative throughout the livestream, except for that awkward moment. They argue it’s not fair to pin the blame on him when it’s possible he really didn’t understand co-star Fang Jin at the time. Meanwhile, others believe the issue isn’t whether he has a girlfriend, but rather that it wasn’t right for him to treat his co-star that way while doing promos given he is “on the job” at the time.
Source: Ren Yun Jie, Fang Jin / Weibo
