According to Sohu, Bai Lu is considered an unusual case in the Chinese entertainment industry. While many celebrities frequently change their teams after gaining fame, the turnover rate among Bai Lu’s staff is reportedly only one-fifth of the industry average.

Over the past 10 years, Bai Lu has gradually transformed her relationship with Hehe from a typical employer–employee dynamic into something closer to family. The friendship drew attention again in January 2026, when car brand Li Auto confirmed that Bai Lu had purchased a car as a gift for Hehe. The vehicle, valued at around 200,000–300,000 yuan, was not a standard year-end bonus but rather a gift celebrating their decade-long friendship.

Bai Lu reportedly used her personal account under her real name, Bai Mengyan, to place the order, and dealership staff initially did not realize the customer was a famous actress. Their friendship dates back to 2018, when Bai Lu was still relatively unknown. At the time, Hehe reportedly quit her job as a kindergarten teacher in Nanjing, earning about 3,000 yuan per month, after Bai Lu invited her to move in and work together.

The two once shared a small 10-square-meter basement room in Hengdian, where conditions were modest. They reportedly lived among damp walls and mice, with instant noodles often serving as their daily meals. During those early years, Hehe took on multiple roles, including assistant, photographer, video editor, and daily manager, earning the nickname among fans of being “one person equal to an entire studio.”

As Bai Lu’s career grew, the actress continued to show appreciation for her friend. When she learned that the company had booked economy-class tickets for Hehe, Bai Lu reportedly paid out of pocket to upgrade them to first class. Although the two sometimes argue, Bai Lu is known to make peace by sending “lucky money” (red envelopes) to Hehe. She has also reportedly opened an unlimited payment account for her assistant to use and remembers many of her personal preferences.

In 2025, when they celebrated 10 years of friendship, Bai Lu shared an old photo on Weibo showing the two of them sitting outside their basement room eating instant noodles. The caption read: “Those difficult years were not in vain.” The post quickly climbed to the top of trending topics.

According to Sohu, there is also an unwritten rule in the entertainment industry where some celebrities replace assistants frequently because they worry assistants may know too many personal secrets. However, Bai Lu reportedly rejected suggestions from management companies to hire more “professional” assistants, including candidates who spoke multiple languages and could negotiate contracts.

To mark their decade-long friendship, Hehe also wrote a heartfelt message online: “Sometimes I feel like having a friend like you is like winning the lottery. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without you.” Bai Lu responded in the comments, writing: “Psychologists say that if a friendship lasts more than seven years, it can last a lifetime.”

Sources: LD