In a recent development, Lin Gengxin, the mainland Chinese actor who starred in the drama series “Legend of Chuyao” seven years ago, has seen a resurgence in popularity with his second collaboration with the queen of Chinese dramas, Zhao Liying, in the drama “Walking with Phoenix”, which has been receiving high viewership ratings. It has been six months since he last appeared in any production, but he recently surfaced on the list of Ph.D. candidates for the Shanghai Theatre Academy’s 2024 doctoral program, causing a stir online.
The academic pursuits of these two Chinese celebrities have drawn widespread attention. Firstly, there’s actress Zhang Jingchu, who is live-streaming her studies in the directing department at an American film school, followed by Lin Gengxin’s appearance on the list of Ph.D. candidates for the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Many netizens have expressed surprise, questioning whether even celebrities are now focusing on academic achievements.
Of particular interest is Lin Gengxin’s recent rise to fame through his second collaboration with Zhao Liying in “Walking with Phoenix”. Despite being 36 years old, he is listed as a Ph.D. candidate at his alma mater, the Shanghai Theatre Academy, for the year 2024. Initially believed to be a mere coincidence, the school administration confirmed that it is indeed the actor Lin Gengxin himself, causing a sensation across the web.
Earlier this month, Sina Weibo released the “2024 First Quarter Chinese TV Drama Report”. The top 10 rankings revealed that the historical drama “Walking with Phoenix”, starring Zhao Liying and Lin Gengxin, claimed the top spot, with “Blooming Flowers” featuring Hu Ge and Tang Yan following closely behind.
“Walking with Phoenix” tells the story of the spirit realm’s Azure Blue King, Shen Li, who falls to the human world after fleeing her wedding in injury. By chance, she encounters the last ancient divine walker experiencing human life and their fates become intertwined, overcoming various internal conflicts and tribulations before finding happiness together. The drama began production on June 14, 2022, wrapped in November of the same year, and premiered on March 18, 2024, on Hunan TV’s prime time slot, also available for online streaming on Tencent Video and Mango TV simultaneously.
The report highlights that “Walking with Phoenix” has continuously broken viewership records, holding the top spot not only in viewership ratings but also securing a market share of over 32.2%, meaning that out of every 10 people watching Chinese dramas on television or online, approximately 3.2 individuals are tuned in to “Walking with Phoenix”. This has been described as a “new viewership ceiling for fairy fantasy costume dramas”, topping the charts with a comprehensive heat index of 98.82 on Weibo and claiming the crown for the first quarter of 2024.
In fact, back in 2018, when Lin Gengxin was a regular guest on the variety show “Three Courtyards”, he had mentioned, “I have to study at night; my graduate thesis isn’t finished yet!” Many netizens had initially thought that the usually jocular Lin Gengxin was joking or exaggerating. However, with the news of his Ph.D. candidacy now public, netizens can’t help but marvel at his silent dedication to academic pursuits.
It has been reported that Lin Gengxin’s Ph.D. interview will take place in June. Officials from the Shanghai Theatre Academy have stated that all candidates will be treated equally without any special treatment for anyone. Additionally, there is a note next to Lin Gengxin’s name on the list stating that he will need to undergo an additional examination for equivalent qualifications. Netizens speculate that Lin Gengxin may have previously pursued a professional master’s degree, possessing a degree certificate but lacking a graduation certificate, hence the need for an extra examination as he now aims for a Ph.D.