For a borderline boylove drama, I can’t believe we don’t even have a photo of the two male leads together yet. Huang Xiaoming looks at the top of his game , though.

Peking opera-themed Republican drama Winter Begonia 鬓边不是海棠红 released its first full set of still today while announcing the full cast.   The Yu Zheng-produced series stars Huang Xiaoming, Yin Zheng, Charmaine Sheh , Tan Jianci,  Merxat,  Ma Su,  Bai Bing, Du Chun, Huang Shengyi, Liu Min. Gao Yu’er, Chi Shuai, and Tang Zeng.

Yin Zheng continues his obsession with beiing Leslie Cheung 2.0

Set in the 1930’s, the series follows displaced Peking Opera performer Shang Xirui (Yin Zheng) as he moves to Beijing to remake his name.    In his quest to   make a name for himself and reinvent Peking Opera, he captures the eyes of Cheng Fengtai (Huang Xiaoming), a businessman who becomes enthralled by the world of opera.  With the help of Cheng Fengtai,  Shang Xirui is able to rebuild his old opera troupe and train a group of new talents.  When the Japanese army takes of Beijing in 1937, the two must struggle between preserving the art that they love and the city that they love.

Although we don’t know who he’s playing yet, his posture here makes it look like he’s going to be a Peking Opera singer aka my dream role for Tan Jianci.