Some coming-of-age shows feel like comfort; almost as innocent as the time in life they depict. In 2023, the popular Chinese high school drama When I Fly Towards You burst onto the scene, garnering fans from all over the world following its international addition to streaming giant Netflix. Heartfelt, nostalgic and tethered to sweet, youthful romance, it centred around the budding relationship between the genius and aloof student Zhang Lu Rang, played by Zhou Yiran, and wide-eyed Su Zai Zai played by Zhang Miao Yi.
“I didn’t think much about it while filming and couldn’t have imagined that it would gain the success it did,” reflects Zhou on his breakout role. “After the show aired, I received support from many fans both domestically and internationally. I feel very lucky to have encountered the role of Zhang Lu Rang,” says the 25-year-old actor and singer. Cut to the present and Zhou, our digital cover star, has taken on a slew of acting roles that see him explore even deeper, more complex characters.
In his latest work Twelve Letters, Zhou plays the role of a younger Tang Yi Xun (A’Xun), a character whose love story spans two timelines, one in 1991 and the other in 2026. He stars opposite fellow actress Wang Ying Lu, who takes on the female lead role of Ye Hai Tang (A’Tang), his high school classmate who suffers from abuse at the hand of her dead beat father at home. When the two first meet in 1991, misunderstandings are rife due to his work as a loan shark runner. Yet the two find themselves constantly tangled with each other due to mysterious love letters that arrive in a makeshift postbox—which they later discover are addressed to them from their future selves.
“I was immediately drawn to it when I first received the script,” Zhou recalls. “What moved me most was the pure love between A’Xun and A’Tang that transcended time and how they were fiercely protective of each other. This was a role I had never really played before.” Unlike his previous roles, Twelve Letters sees him start off as a high schooler who is eventually aged by years of hardship and sacrifice, even going through prison at one point in time. “The depth of life experience that time had etched onto Tang Yi Xun made me want to experience his life.” The biggest challenge, Zhou adds, was portraying a character from his youth to middle age. “It wasn’t just about changing his appearance, but also conveying the gravity of his decisions and the changes in Yi Xun’s mindset after going through all those various hardships.”
Unlike a typical romance, tragic circumstances tear the two apart, and Zhou’s raw, heart-wrenching performance marks a notable step away from the coming-of-age shows his fans might have gotten accustomed to. It showed an actor with a zeal for his craft, who is ready for grown-up roles.
As Zhou shares his perspective on preparing for these characters, I’m reminded of a similar zeal that he brought to the set of this digital cover shoot. In November last year, the actor made his first visit to Singapore, venturing to Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle in the far western reaches of the island. He may have been operating on a tight schedule, but the young actor was assiduous in ensuring each shot was delivered with precision.
“It allowed me to experience a part of Singapore’s culture,” he recalls of the unorthodox location of the shoot and the many local handcrafted artefacts he was surrounded by. The jewellery he wore was one of the highlights. “I liked the looks I wore for this shoot. The way the jewellery was paired to minimal outfits felt very clever, like thoughtful details being added to complete a look.”
Zhou was in town then to represent one of his other roles: an Asia-Pacific brand ambassador for the jewellery brand APM Monaco. The actor speaks fondly of the brand’s approach to craft and collaboration, having explored new cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou and as far away as Belgium, in his capacity as an ambassador. “I’ve always liked APM Monaco’s style and was already a collector of the brand’s jewellery before my partnership with them. I’m honoured to be their brand ambassador.”
On set, Zhou brought a buoyant, curious energy. Between takes, he carved out moments to wander, drawn to small details that caught his eye—like the carved intricacies of the pottery pieces around him. What he appreciates most about APM’s aesthetic, he shares, is its sense of romance and freedom. “The jewellery feels versatile and easy to adapt to my different moods or occasions.”
This curiosity and zest for life reveals another side of Zhou. Aside from his on-screen chops, the actor is known to be an avid racer—a passion that happens to slot right into the DNA of the Monegasque jewellery brand he reps—Monaco is, after all, the crown jewel of the Formula 1 Grand Prix. Zhou became fast friends on the track with fellow racer and APM Monaco general manager Louis Prette and the two have raced alongside each other on multiple circuits, including the recent Shanghai 8 Hours endurance race.
Zhou may have taken racing up by chance, but it is now something he evidently makes time for. Last year, some of the races he drove in include the Michelin 6H Abu Dhabi and the FIA F4 Chinese Championship in Chengdu. I had to wonder about how he balances it all. “It’s about managing my time well. When I’m filming, I devote myself entirely to it, and I schedule my time for driving during my breaks in between,” he explains, unfazed by the juggling act of being one of China’s most in-demand young actors, a jet-setting ambassador for APM Monaco as well as the first Chinese global ambassador for Ami Paris, and a race car driver to boot.
Racing might not be the most obvious choice of hobby for an actor, but it holds a particular appeal for Zhou. Not least, the efficiency and discipline the sport demands. “I may have come to racing by chance, but I enjoy the focus it requires,” Zhou says of his unconventional pursuit. “I love the challenge and thrill of pushing past—or overtaking—someone else on the track.”
In 2026, we are set to witness the actor transform again as he works towards the release of two historical costume drama series in which he plays leading roles. In Generation to Generation, an adaptation of a high fantasy wuxia web novel, Zhou will play the withdrawn, mysterious survivor of a family massacre who is drawn into a world of demonic factions and opposing martial arts sects; and in Qiao Chu, Zhou will step into the role of a warrior who overcomes his circumstances to aid the daughter of a general, Chu Zhao, as they rise through political struggles and war in ancient China together. “I hope that everyone can see a different side of the ‘actor Zhou Yiran’ through these roles,” he proclaims.
So, we ask, what else will Zhou be challenging himself with in the year to come? “I’m planning to release an album, which is currently in the works,” he says casually, adding one more potential notch to his belt. Although he has previously worked on original songs such as a collaborative duet with Chinese A-lister Bai Lu, this album, which the actor is keeping under wraps for the moment, will be his first proper foray into music as a soloist. “But,” he adds, “I won’t set any specific goals for now. All I hope is to have more opportunities to work on good projects, with new characters that everyone will like.” We’re certain there will be plenty.
Editor-in-chief Desmond Lim
Photography Zantz Han
Creative direction and styling Nicholas See
Make-up Si Hui
Producer David Bay
Photographer’s assistants Chen Wei, Michelle Yap and SinYean Yam
Styling assistants Wyona Pang and Nadia Ferdy
