For years, the relationship between EXO and Lay Zhang (Zhang Yixing) has been a subject of curiosity among fans.
After the shocking departure of the “pigeon trio” Kris Wu, Luhan, and Huang Zitao from SM Entertainment, Lay was the only Chinese member who remained active with EXO until 2017. Since then, he has focused on his solo career in China but has still been recognized as part of the group.
In early August, Lay launched his 2025 Grand Line: Rock the Heavenly Palace tour across mainland China. On September 6 in Nanjing, fans were stunned when EXO’s leader Suho was spotted quietly attending the concert to support his longtime bandmate.
When the camera captured him, Suho appeared on the big LED screen looking as handsome and youthful as ever, drawing screams from the crowd. The moment marked an emotional reunion for EXO fans, and Lay even dedicated warm words to his leader: “Please give a round of applause for our leader, Suho! He’s today’s special guest. We grew up together from trainees to who we are now. I hope to bring more surprises for you in the future. Suho, please look forward to a better version of me! Thank you so much for coming.”
After the concert, the two spent time together and shared a meal. Lay posted photos of their outing on Instagram, effectively dispelling long-standing rumors of conflict between him and the group.
Fans were moved to see two of their youth idols reconnecting, even if not performing together on stage. The moment reaffirmed that Lay’s bond with EXO remains strong despite years of speculation.
Lay’s relationship with EXO has always been a hot topic across Asia. Whenever he mentioned the group or appeared linked to them, debates would arise. On April 8, 2022, the group’s 10th debut anniversary, Lay shocked EXO-Ls by announcing his official departure from SM Entertainment in a bilingual letter.
Still, hope lingers. In a recent interview, Lay revealed he was open to a full nine-member EXO comeback around September or October, though nothing has been confirmed. His last appearance with EXO was via CGI in the 2021 MV Don’t Fight The Feeling.
Back in China, Lay has successfully transformed into an all-around artist. With roles in Crime Crackdown (2021) and No More Bets (2023), he gained recognition as a legitimate actor. His April release Mumu also performed well at the box office. Beyond acting and singing, he founded Chromosome Entertainment Group and debuted a girl group that even promoted in Korea.
Compared to his former Chinese bandmates, Lay is seen as the most stable and accomplished, maintaining A-list status in C-entertainment while still holding ties with EXO.
Sources: kenh14
You must be logged in to post a comment.