A Chan Starring Lin Yi and Ai Mi Has Time Loops, Soul-Swaps and Age Controversy

Chinese fantasy drama A Chan (阿禅) brings together Lin Yi and Ai Mi in another adaptation of a novel by renowned author Ding Mo. Lin Yi stars as Zhang Jingchan, the once-privileged heir of a collapsing company who shoulders ten billion in debt. He becomes determined to rewrite his family’s downfall through a series of time-travel loops. Opposite him, young actress Ai Mi plays Li Weiyi, an office employee who is pulled into the same time loop while trying to prevent her older sister’s suicide.

Lin Yi and Ai Mi’s New Fantasy Romance

A Chan uniquely blends time loops, soul-swapping, and mystery, an unusually loaded mix of tropes attempted all at once. Triggered by an antique pocket watch, Zhang Jingchan and Li Weiyi repeatedly travel back to 2017, swapping souls as they attempt to stop the tragedies in their lives.

Acting-wise, both leads are capable of their roles: Ai Mi would portray her character’s resilient, optimistic personality, balancing Lin Yi’s brooding resolve. Early previews also earned Lin Yi praise for shifting “from youthful charm to CEO” with his slicked-back hair and glasses, while Ai Mi’s makeup and styling has shown off a more mature look despite her age.

Controversy Over Age and Education

Speaking of age, some viewers have once again expressed concern over the 17-year-old actress being cast opposite an actor much older than her. The age gap between Ai Mi and Lin Yi, who’s 26 years old, is nine years. Clearly, with the time-loop storyline, fixing things in the past, and even a soul-swap on top of that, the drama already has plenty going on beyond romance, but it doesn’t change the fact that the characters remain each other’s love interests.

Also related to her age, Ai Mi and her agency recently faced scrutiny as her packed December schedule and back-to-back filming appear to leave no room for college entrance exams. This has fueled online debate about education versus career for the rising young actress.