Liar, Liar, Love is on Fire

Plot Core: A Follower Crisis Sparks a Contractual Love Storm

Zheng Hehuizi plays Xu Xiaoli, an influencer who, along with Zuo Lingfeng’s character Hao Zha, attracts millions of followers with their carefully curated romantic moments. However, when their follower count plummets and pressure from investors mounts, Xu Xiaoli decides to stage a "fake marriage" for publicity. Unexpectedly, Hao Zha flees the night before the wedding, forcing Xu Xiaoli to transition from "image creator" to "desperate romantic." The relationship between the two evolves from a collaborative venture into an emotional tug-of-war. The film's memorable line, "Is our love a counterfeit in the livestream, or a unique edition off-camera?" directly addresses the commodification of modern romance.

Character Highlights: Contrasting Personas and Acting Sparks

Zheng Hehuizi breaks away from her "sweet girl" image, portraying a complex transformation from manipulating traffic to questioning her own identity, showcasing both madness and vulnerability in her "pursuit of love" scenes.
Zuo Lingfeng embodies the "wage slave" awakening as the "hired boyfriend," with his character transitioning from compliance to questioning the value of his own sincerity, generating considerable anticipation.
Jia Bing makes a special appearance as a representative of the investors, using exaggerated acting to satirize the absurdity of "traffic puppeteers," including a hilarious scene where he forces Xu Xiaoli to "perform a girl group dance at a funeral."

Production and Thematic Depth

Social Critique: Director Wu Yawen uses the "contractual love" setting to reflect the emotional exploitation of the livestream era. Xu Xiaoli's line, "My tears are sponsored content," reveals the plight of creators held captive by data.
Comedic Rhythm: The film blends classic "fake it till you make it" tropes with popular internet memes, like the "shared bike series of falls" during Hao Zha's wedding escape and fans engaging in "archaeological-style gossip," enhancing resonance with younger audiences.

(This article is based on information from the film's press release and has not been confirmed by the production team; please refer to the actual released version for details.)

Note:

The "hired boyfriend" concept references a 2023 social news story on "renting a girlfriend for emergencies," reflecting a new service model emerging from the single economy.
Xu Xiaoli's "image collapse" storyline echoes several real-life influencer scandals, such as a 2024 controversy involving a relationship blogger that led to a wave of unfollows.