5 Chinese drama couples who fell in love on set: From $3.2M weddings to baby buzz, the wildest stories off-screen

Who needs screenwriters when real life delivers this kind of drama? These five Chinese drama couples took their on-screen chemistry and turned it into a romance, complete with weddings, surprise babies, and one jaw-dropping $3.2 million ceremony that could outshine any drama finale. From reel to real, their love stories packed more plot twists than the shows that brought them together — and fans were living or every second. Ready to binge the real thing?

It all started on the set of Sweet Combat, but Lu Han and Guan Xiao Tong’s chemistry wasn’t just for the cameras. Before the drama even aired in 2018, Lu Han took fans by surprise with a now-iconic Weibo post on October 8, 2017, announcing Guan Xiao Tong as his girlfriend. The reveal was so explosive, it literally crashed Weibo within 30 minutes.

As usual, there was backlash from some fans, but millions flooded in with love and well wishes for the couple. Since then, Lu Han and Guan Xiao Tong have kept their relationship mostly low-key, but they've maintained a sweet annual tradition: Birthday posts for each other that fans eagerly look forward to.

Still, they haven’t escaped the rumor mill. Every year, breakup whispers swirl, was no different. When Guan Xiao Tong didn’t post her usual midnight birthday message in 2021. for Lu Han on April 20, the internet went into full speculation mode. But she cleared it all up just in time, posting at 11:31pm. with a heartfelt birthday wish and a photo of the two celebrating together. Crisis averted. Love intact.

However, in 2025, the rumours are gaining more momentum as there was actually no birthday post, this year, and they haven't been seen together for a while.

Liu Shishi and Nicky Wu first crossed paths in 2011 as leads in the time-travel drama Scarlet Heart — a series that tugged at viewers’ emotions with its bittersweet romance and layered storytelling. But while their on-screen love faced the trials of dynasty politics and fate, real life brought something far sweeter: the two fell for each other off-camera too.

Despite a 17-year age gap, Liu and Wu’s connection was undeniable. After filming wrapped, they made their relationship public, much to fans’ delight. In 2016, the couple tied the knot in a spectacular wedding in Bali, reportedly costing over US$3.2 million. It was one of the most lavish celebrations in Chinese showbiz, complete with dreamy beach views and star-studded glamour, as reported by South Morning China Post.

In 2019, the pair welcomed their first child, a baby boy, and since then, Nicky Wu has often spoken with pride about becoming a father. From reel to real, Liu Shishi and Nicky Wu’s love story has truly stood the test of time.

Turns out, actor Ma Ke can keep a secret, a big one. Best known for his breakout role in the 2015 hit historical-fantasy drama The Journey of Flower, Ma Ke stunned fans earlier when he casually dropped a Weibo post in 2021, revealing he'd actually been married to actress Wang Dan Ni for two years.

In an industry where even a coffee date can set the internet ablaze, Ma Ke somehow managed to keep his marriage completely under wraps. That is, until he was photographed dining with a pregnant woman — who turned out to be Wang Dan Ni. With rumours swirling, he decided to tell the truth and clear the air.

The couple’s story goes way back, they met on the set of the 2011 drama Sweet New Business, and dating rumours began as early as 2016. Fast forward to April 19 this year, and Ma Ke had one more reveal: their baby had arrived! Affectionately nicknamed “Little Pineapple,” the birth announcement on Weibo was met with a flood of warm wishes from fans and celeb pals like Ren Jia Lun and Ying Er.

From secret wedding vows to surprise baby news, Ma Ke and Wang Dan Ni just proved you can keep love low-key in showbiz — if you really want to.

Sometimes, the chemistry is just too good to stay on screen, and that was exactly the case with Wu Qian and Zhang Yu Jian. The duo starred together in the 2018 fantasy drama An Oriental Odyssey and reunited for the 2019 romance Le Coup de Foudre, leaving fans swooning and shipping them hard.

Sparks seemed to fly off-screen too, as the pair were frequently spotted on cosy dates — caught by both fans and paparazzi — yet neither confirmed the romance. That is, until March, when photos of Wu Qian out and about with a baby girl set the internet buzzing. Rumours swirled fast, and fans started piecing it all together.

Not long after, Zhang Yu Jian took to Weibo with a surprise post: confirming he and Wu Qian were not only married but also parents. Cue the collective joy of Le Coup de Foudre stans everywhere — the on-screen OTP had officially become a real-life love story. Quiet, sweet, and worth the wait.

In Caught in the Web (2012), directed by the legendary Chen Kaige, Gao Yuanyuan played Ye Lanqiu, a terminally ill woman navigating heartbreak and hardship, finding solace in the quiet support of Yang Shoucheng, played by Mark Chao. Their on-screen story was anything but cheerful, ending in sorrow and emotional weight.

But off-screen: A much happier plot twist. Despite their characters’ tragic fate, Gao Yuanyuan and Mark Chao found real-life love through the film. Just two years later, in 2014, the two exchanged vows in a stunning wedding. A romance that defied fiction — and gave us the ending we all wanted.