Liu Meihan and Zhang Yuan’s Mutual Unfollow on Weibo Fuels Breakup Rumors After 15 Years of Friendship

Liu Meihan, a well‑known figure on Chinese variety shows and a frequent collaborator with Zhang Yuan, posted a cryptic message on Qixi, the Chinese Valentine's Day, that read “15 years, 3.5 months, 10 characters, 52 minutes” followed by a waving emoji. The numbers, fans quickly surmised, refer to the duration of her connection with Zhang and a string of letters that seem to allude to a particular lyric. “15 years” is especially striking, as it underscores the length of their friendship—a relationship that, according to public statements over the years, has been as much professional as personal.

Almost simultaneously, both accounts removed each other from their follower lists. In China’s hyper‑connected entertainment landscape, such a digital snub is rare and highly symbolic; it often signals a serious rift, ranging from personal disagreements to the end of a romantic liaison. For Liu and Zhang, whose chemistry has been a fan‑favorite on several variety programs, the act has been taken as a possible “breakup” or at the very least, a “cutting of ties” (the Chinese phrase “绝交了吧”).

The reaction on Weibo has been swift and emotional. Fans who had previously “shipped” the duo expressed disappointment, sarcasm, and a palpable sense of loss. Some users pointed to the lyrics of Zhang Yuan’s song “换季” (Season Change) as an inadvertent clue, suggesting that the track’s themes of transition and departure might have been a subtle prelude to the split. Others focused on the timing of Liu’s Qixi post, interpreting the “10 characters” and “52 minutes” as an encoded farewell.

Despite the outpouring of commentary, the exact cause of the mutual unfollow remains murky. Neither Liu nor Zhang has issued a formal statement, and entertainment news outlets have yet to furnish concrete details beyond the social‑media flare. Some observers speculate that the two may be moving on to separate projects, while others fear a deeper personal disagreement. The lack of clarification only fuels further conjecture, underscoring how tightly fans cling to the narratives constructed around celebrity relationships.

What is clear, however, is the power of a single online gesture to captivate a nation’s attention. In an age where a few clicks can convey as much emotional weight as a public interview, the unfollowing of Liu Meihan and Zhang Yuan serves as a reminder of how digital interactions now function as a public ledger of personal connections. Whether the two have truly “ended” their fifteen‑year friendship or are simply reconfiguring their online personas, the episode will remain a talking point among Chinese netizens for weeks to come, offering a glimpse into how modern celebrity culture is both built and deconstructed on the scrolling screens of everyday users.