Chinese romance drama Be Passionately in Love ignited discussion over what some netizens believe are staged kiss scenes between Liu Haocun and Wang Anyu. Viewers noticed a lack of real lip contact—just when the leads are about to kiss, the camera either zooms out to show the background or seemingly uses blocking technique to avoid any actual kissing. Fans of the original novel aren’t pleased. The heroine is known to be bold and kisses a lot in the book, so the toned-down on-screen romance feels off to them.
Incidentally, Liu Haocun’s previous drama Derailment also sparked speculation that her kiss scenes with co-star Lin Yi were faked. Since her debut in Zhang Yimou’s 2020 film One Second, the now 25-year-old actress has rarely filmed kiss scenes. Some speculate she has a “no kissing” clause in her contract.
She’s already getting criticism from some who feel that if she’s not willing to kiss, she shouldn’t take on romance dramas. They argue that it takes away the emotional payoff when the audience doesn’t get a proper kiss. Others disagree, saying the tension of “almost-kisses” can be just as romantic—if not more.
Whether Liu Haocun’s reason is about protecting her image or just personal preference, she’s drawing both criticism and support. Whatever the case, some believe the blame shouldn’t fall on her as it’s a creative choice made by the show.
HL
If she has that clause and producers are still keen to use her…then it is their choice and responsibility.
But viewers criticism will still be directed at her…that cannot be good for her future.
foulthings
Do not try to act in romance dramas and then have a no kiss clause. Like, these actors who take these roles but then refuse to kiss are so unprofessional. They want the fame and money that romance dramas bring, but they refuse to put their all into their acting. I’m sorry, but kissing matters in most straight up romance dramas. If they don’t want to kiss, they need to take the difficult route and act in other projects that aren’t romance centered. There’s literally no reason for a 25 year old woman to be acting in a romance drama and then refuse to do a kiss scene. If they’re going to dumb zoom out/fake kisses, just have them not kiss at all. “Passionately” in love my ass.
Chloe purr
Thank you. You said it all how it needed to be said 🫶🏽
Dee
The funniest thing I ever hard a no kids clause and you decide to pick a drama called passionate love !!!! Why no just do thrillers or historical ! Or none romance
Applefish
Hey, if Ren Jia Lun can have the no kissing clause, so can she. And I agree, if she has the clause, n the director and investors still want to use her, she and they should learn to deal with the criticisms, as the audiences also have the right to complain!
The issue of kissing is uh, cnetz is a terrible grp: actress doesnt kiss – complain, actress who cant act and kiss like a dead fish – she’s the best 🙄🤦♀️, actress who kiss well: she’s only famous because she’s with every actors 😒
keiru
Oh really? Just curious—do you know since when Ren Jialun has that clause in his contract? In The Blue Whisper he had quite a few kissing scenes, and in The Demon Hunter’s Romance (which aired in 2025), there was also a light kissing scene—though maybe that was filmed back in 2023. So I’m wondering, did the no-kiss clause start sometime after 2023 or 2024?
Applefish
The no kissing scene for RJL started much earlier, like 2020. Initially, no one suspected it, as there were kissing scenes in his dramas, however, they were all very weird, no one was able to put a finger on it. Later on, there was a whistleblower/leak that his contract has a no kissing clause, n netizens then figured out why his kissing scenes always have a lot of cuts and angles, there were even rumour of body double. I think he got really bad publicity either just a bit before FnE with BL, or during that time. Considering BL is a good kisser, n they had 1 kiss n that was very light. What more important was their night together was shadow kiss 😒 n how they completely change the ML’s personality from the book, while there was absolutely no need to. The book ML was socially cold, and a OCD and a nerd, but he was very much passionately love his wife/FL to the point they did it in the ancestral library, while everyone is downstairs partying! He doesn’t display affections when they are outside, but the second that door closes, he was pouncing on his wife lol (after a lifetime of no wife, dude is making up for it lol 🤣). But the drama ML was like just awkward in n out, like initially, ok, but after sleeping together still not kissing/display affections is just odd lol. Like it felt they rewrite the ML’s character completely to avoid doing intimate scenes lo, n keep it bare minimums! It works great for OnO because it’s ancient time, but lord, awkward in modern time lol.
Anyway, after the backlashes, it appears that he has more kissing scenes, but they are still very light, lots of angles/edits/cut/lights and short lol. Basically if you watch RJL, be prepared for 1-2 kiss max, n they will be light or shadow/blinding light blinding your eyes.
Coralie
I am kind of ambivalent about this. Kissing is a biohazard if you think about it. If people sign up to be involved in biohazardous environments, they have PPE. But actors don’t get that kind of safety protocol.
I don’t believe EVERYTHING on screen has to be done by the actor/actress even if the occasion calls for it, e.g. $ex on screen doesn’t mean they gotta have actual intercourse (that’s what intimacy coordinators do.) Or jumping off a building has to be done by the performer. It’s definitely laudable if they do (not the $ex part.) But their job is to act. And if they can be convincing without having to actually do the deed, all the more power to them.
Also, if there is that clause already, and they still chose to use her, that means she has worthwhile acting skills that surpasses the need for kissing. It’s a professional decision and should be respected