Latest news with #MoonlightMystique
The Star
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
C-drama "A Dream Within A Dream" captivates global audiences especially in South-East Asia region with unique narrative style
Since its premiere on iQIYI Heartbeat Theater, the new C-Drama "A Dream Within A Dream" has become an instant global sensation, captivating audiences worldwide with its innovative "forced romance within a drama script" plot and engaging "fictional character awakening" storyline. On its first day, the drama swiftly rose to the top of trending topics on social platform X in Thailand and Indonesia, subsequently achieving No. 1 status on the iQIYI International platform across 12 markets, including Thailand, the US, Canada, Vietnam, and the Philippines. It also ranked first in the same period, Google searches for Chinese dramas in eight markets: Thailand, Taiwan(China), the US, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong(China), South Korea, and Singapore. "A Dream Within A Dream" tells the story of Song Xiaoyu (played by Li Yitong), an aspiring actress who unexpectedly finds herself transported into the world of a fictional drama script. Becoming the protagonist Song Yimeng, she encounters Nan Heng (played by Liu Yuning), a seemingly ruthless and cold-hearted male lead. The plot follows their journey to resist predetermined destinies. Incorporating contemporary humour with a fast-paced "infinite loop" narrative style, the drama offers cross-cultural appeal and resonant storytelling. Thanks to its fresh narrative approach, "A Dream Within A Dream" successfully breaks away from genre cliches, appealing strongly to global viewers. The series earned an impressive rating of 8.6 on the international drama community MyDramaList, with related TikTok hashtags surpassing 300 million views. Global audiences praised the compelling performances and comedic elements of the series. iQIYI further boosted international engagement through interactive livestreams on iQIYI International, extensive offline promotions worldwide, and large-screen advertising campaigns, significantly enhancing global viewer enthusiasm. Since 2025, iQIYI Heartbeat Theater has continuously launched popular dramas including "Moonlight Mystique," "The White Olive Tree," "Love of the Divine Tree," "The Best Thing," and "Love in Pavilion," garnering widespread acclaim from global audiences. "A Dream Within A Dream" continues this successful trend, delivering a uniquely engaging Eastern narrative to viewers worldwide. Additionally, iQIYI has followed up its success with the new drama "Coroner's Diary," which premiered on July 13, featuring a compelling dual-narrative structure that unravels eight intriguing mysteries. Moving forward, iQIYI remains committed to delivering more premium C-Dramas that artfully blend romance, realism, tradition, and fantasy for global audiences.
The Star
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
iQIYI's C-dramas score big as eight of its series are in Enlightent's Top 20 cumulative effective plays in the first half of 2025
Recently, third-party data platforms Maoyan and Enlightent released their drama market data rankings for the first half of 2025. iQIYI's dramas 'Drifting Away' and 'Moonlight Mystique' topped multiple rankings, with several other productions entering Enlightent's Top 20 cumulative effective plays chart, showcasing the comprehensive strength of iQIYI's high-quality and diverse content. iQIYI Suspense Theater drama 'Drifting Away' topped four major lists, including Maoyan's average effective plays per episode, Enlighten's average plays during its peak airing period, average V7, and average V30. According to Maoyan, 'Drifting Away' reached an impressive 93.361 million average effective plays per episode. Enlightent data further indicates the drama surpassed 30 million average plays for V7 and exceeded 50 million for V30 during its peak period. Centered around police persistently pursuing justice and tracking a criminal over a decade, the drama gained enormous attention, becoming the first iQIYI Suspense Theater production to surpass a popularity index of 10,000. 'Moonlight Mystique,' a costume fantasy drama from iQIYI Heartbeat Theater, secured the Maoyan total effective plays championship with 1.968 billion cumulative effective plays. Praised for its distinctive character designs, innovative visuals, and unconventional storyline, it represents a significant breakthrough for costume dramas in the first half of the year. Enlightent data also shows iQIYI has eight dramas in the Top 20 cumulative effective plays chart:'Moonlight Mystique,''The Demon Hunter's Romance,''Northward,''Drifting Away,''FEUD,''Unbreakable Ⅱ,''Love in Pavilion,' and 'Love of the Divine Tree.' Furthermore, Enlightent rated ten of iQIYI's dramas as S+ level, including 'The Best Thing,''Watch Your Back,''Breaking the Shadows,''A Life For A Life,' and 'A Dream Within A Dream,' positioning iQIYI as the platform with the most listed dramas. This collective effort solidifies iQIYI's strong content matrix. Meanwhile, numerous classic iQIYI dramas continue demonstrating significant long-tail effects. Enlightent's effective play club listed influential dramas since 2017, and iQIYI led with the most productions. Among the 12 dramas exceeding 10 billion effective plays, seven were from iQIYI, including 'The Knockout' and 'Go Go Squid!' In the 34 dramas surpassing 5 billion effective plays,14were iQIYI's, such as 'A Lifelong Journey,''My Heroic Husband,''iPartment 5,' and 'The Thunder.' Additionally, out of 53 dramas averaging over 100 million effective plays per episode,24were iQIYI hits, including 'New Life Begins,''Love Between Fairy and Devil,''Forever and Ever,' and 'If There is No Tomorrow.' This illustrates the lasting appeal and enduring value of iQIYI's high-quality content. Upcoming iQIYI dramas include 'Justifiable Defense,''Coroner's Diary'and 'The Journey of Legend,' covering judicial cases, ancient detective mysteries, and youthful martial arts themes, further catering to audience demand for the summer viewing season.'
Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Wish comes true: Teen in S'pore with lupus stars in her dream music video
This is because being out in the sun makes her break out in a painful rash, and catching a respiratory infection can lay her low for two weeks. Yue Rou's father Er Wee Loon shielding his daughter from the sun with an umbrella, as direct sunlight can trigger a painful rash owing to her lupus. Yue Rou has systemic lupus erythematosus, which causes her immune system to attack her own body's tissues. In her case, the autoimmune disease has also developed into lupus nephritis, potentially severe inflammation of the kidneys. The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 15 per cent to 20 per cent of people with lupus nephritis will require either a kidney transplant or long-term dialysis to stay healthy. Ninety per cent of those with lupus are women. The eight pills Yue Rou takes each day keep her condition under control, but lower her immunity as they suppress her overactive immune system. Yue Rou sorting her daily medication at home on May 27. Some of her life-saving medication like prednisolone, a steroid which reduces inflammation, can also affect her vision over the long term. She has blood and urine tests every six weeks, on top of yearly eye and heart scans. For a time, if her parents or 10-year-old brother fell sick, they would stay with relatives to avoid infecting her. For the same reason, the family avoids crowded indoor places, preferring parks instead. Yue Rou and her father standing at a distance from her mother Goh Siang Poh, who was not feeling well, on May 27. Yue Rou also has to steer clear of her favourite sashimi and many other kinds of raw food. Yue Rou eating fruits at home on May 27. And while she wanted to have braces fitted, her parents held off after her doctor said the procedure comes with the risk of infection. Lupus reared its ugly head during her PSLE year in 2024. A healthy child up till then, she complained for two months of her shoes being too tight, but her parents thought she had simply outgrown them. When she woke up one day in May 2024 with bad joint pain and swollen eyes, face and body, her family rushed her to the National University Hospital (NUH). As she lay in hospital for 10 days, receiving intravenous medication, her doctor told her parents about Make-A-Wish Singapore. GRANTING WISHES The children's charity fulfils life-changing wishes for children aged three to 18 who have critical illnesses – including chronic conditions with extreme long-term complications – to enhance their quality of life. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH The organisation, which works with hospitals, focuses on children assessed by a doctor to be in a critical state. A team of volunteer 'wish granters' works with each child to design and fulfil the wish. This gives children an enjoyable distraction from their treatment, and helps them feel empowered by actively helping in the creation of their wish. Yue Rou's wish was to sing the theme song of Moonlight Mystique, a 2025 romance drama about a governor's daughter who encounters a demon king on her quest to seek immortality. Yue Rou enjoying a Chinese period drama at home. She also loves wushu, and some of her competition trophies are displayed above the television in the living room. Dates were pinned down for an audio recording in March, as well as a music video production in May, and volunteers got to work, hunting for venues, costumes and production crew. A star for a day May 17 – the day of Yue Rou's much-anticipated music video shoot had finally come. Her first stop was Dressed Up Dreams Photo Studio, which specialises in hanfu portraits – stylised shoots featuring traditional Han Chinese outfits. In the studio tucked away in an industrial park, she took her pick from an array of flowy floor-length gowns, settling on one in pink and purple. Yue Rou emerging from the changing room clad in her chosen gown as stylist Sharon Ling looks on, on May 17. Her hair was woven into two braids, enhanced by a thick wig of long, black hair. With her eyelids and white cheeks dusted a rosy pink, she could channel her idol, Bai Lu, the Chinese actress, model and singer who starred in the Moonlight Mystique series. Yue Rou's hair being braided. A make-up artist glamming Yue Rou up. Yue Rou trying on a hanfu outfit. Stylist Sharon Ling giving Yue Rou tips on how to pose while wearing hanfu. Yue Rou's mother helping her put on a pair of shoes before they leave the studio. Yue Rou and her mother sharing a quiet moment before making their way to the shoot location. Yue Rou's mother then drove her to the Peranakan Mansion in Joo Chiat for the shoot. Yue Rou drinking water en route to the Peranakan Mansion on May 17. Yue Rou heading to the restroom with her mother for a touch-up after arriving at the Peranakan Mansion on May 17. Yue Rou checking that her hair is in place before the start of her shoot at the Peranakan Mansion on May 17. When her recording was first played over the speakers, however, she blushed. 'Some parts are out of tune,' said the teen, who loves singing and will compete in the National Schools Xinyao Singing and Songwriting Competition semi-finals in July. Yue Rou taking instructions from the videographer (right) during the music video filming on May 17. Filming the music video proved nerve-racking. She had to lip-sync and perform, but froze under the gaze of the three-person crew. Yue Rou seen through the production crew's camera screen. Yue Rou singing during the filming process. Yue Rou waiting as the production crew sets up to film. 'What do I do?' she asked volunteer Xie Shangyi, who came up with a sequence for her: slowly stroke her long hair, arrange her sleeves, and look into the distance. Volunteer Xie Shangyi calming Yue Rou's nerves and teaching her how to pose on May 17. 'Why not we press 'Record' and then go hide?' joked one of the video crew members. But Yue Rou relaxed over the course of the four-hour shoot. Instead of attempting to dance, she later adapted her practised taiji movements to the song. Yue Rou performing for the camera during the filming of the music video in Peranakan Mansion in Joo Chiat. Her wish was to sing the theme song of Chinese romance drama Moonlight Mystique. On occasion, she flapped her airy sleeves like wings, hugged her mother, and joked with her father and restless brother. Yue Rou embracing her mother during a break in filming. Yue Rou bantering with her brother as the crew sets up. Yue Rou sharing a joke with her father during a pause in the shoot. 'She takes time to warm up, but she's actually very san ba (crazy),' her dad Er Wee Loon said with a laugh. The reveal When the final cut was ready, Yue Rou's parents surprised her with a watch party for her music video at Trehaus @ Funan on June 21, attended by her friends and teachers from Bukit View Primary School, relatives from Kuala Lumpur and her doctor. Yue Rou's parents surprised her with a watch party for her music video at Trehaus @ Funan on June 21. She was also persuaded to take the stage, together with her best friends from primary school, for an impromptu performance of Big Fish by Zhou Shen, with her parents looking on proudly. (From left) Yue Rou and her friends Ng Ling Yue and Chow Wen Zheng, both 13 years old, putting up an impromptu singing performance. The event's emcee was one of Yue Rou's wish granters, Ms Stefanie Loh – herself a beneficiary of Make-A-Wish after she was diagnosed with nasal cancer in Secondary 3. Not only did Ms Loh get the laptop she asked for, she also got to meet one of her favourite musicians, local singer and Singapore Idol runner-up Sylvester Sim. Emcee Stefanie Loh chatting with Yue Rou during the music video watch party on June 21. Now 33 and a music teacher, Ms Loh said Yue Rou reminded her of her younger self. 'She's shy but she dares to dream big. She can seize opportunities and rise up to sing, play the piano, and share her talents. She taught me to live fearlessly.' Ms Loh, who started volunteering with Make-A-Wish when she turned 21, also hopes to address the misconception that Make-A-Wish fulfils 'last wishes'. 'It can be a push for a kid, so they can actually see through an illness and find hope and light in it.' Yue Rou, the star of the day, signing autographs for friends and family after the screening of her music video. Yue Rou signing autographs on a piece of paper with the QR code link to her music video, following the screening. Yue Rou's parents watching the screening of her music video at Trehaus @ Funan. Yue Rou posing for a photo with her extended family after the screening of her music video on June 21. Also at the party was Dr Pauline Chan, Yue Rou's doctor and a consultant in paediatric allergy, immunology and rheumatology at NUH, who had referred Yue Rou to Make-A-Wish. Yue Rou and her father greeting her doctor Pauline Chan, at the screening of the teen's music video on June 21. Dr Chan said: 'Having a chronic illness is really not easy to deal with, and I feel that having the opportunity to find spark and delight in the journey is really important in the recovery. LOVED 'I wanted her to also feel that she could do things that other children could do, and to remind her that she's loved by everyone.' – Dr Pauline Chan ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH Dr Chan said she always saw Yue Rou studying for her Primary School Leaving Examination while she was in hospital. 'I thought that showed resilience, and it was really inspirational for me. It reminds me why we do this for the patient.' Mr Er said he has seen his daughter grow in confidence since recording the song, for which Yue Rou practised for weeks. Volunteer Xie Shangyi (left) and Yue Rou's mother Goh Siang Poh helping the teen out of her costume after filming the music video, while Yue Rou chats with her father Er Wee Loon (right) and brother Er Yue Heng. 'I hope she continues to work hard, and knows that with the help of her parents and others, she'll be able to make more and more wishes come true,' he said.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bai Lu wants a break from fantasy drama
16 Jun - Although she is praised for her performance in the latest fantasy drama, "Feud", Bai Lu recently admitted that she would like to step back from the xianxia (fantasy) genre for the time being. The actress recently spoke candidly in a media interview that she feels a lot of pressure and fatigue from starring in multiple fantasy dramas like "Moonlight Mystique", "Mo Li", to "Till the End of the Moon", and that she is worried that the audience will feel fatigued as well. "My last project was also a xianxia drama, so I was especially worried about it feeling repetitive," she said. The actress said that she does realise that the production team put great care into everything and that she is thankful for their hard work. However, after an extended period of filming, Bai Lu said that what she needs most right now is "a break to recharge." Meanwhile, the actress will also be seen next in "Unveil: Jadewind", adapted from the web novel "Tang Gong Qi An Zhi Xue Yu She", as well as "The Monkey King 3". (Photo Source: Bai Lu IG, SOHU)
