It is not easy to maintain a relationship in the turbulent showbiz, and yet Luhan and Guan Xiaotong boasts an admirable love story
Once drown in criticisms after public announcement
Former EXO member Luhan and Guan Xiaotong became an item after becoming co-stars in an acting project, before announcing their relationship back in October 2017. At the time, Luhan shook up the entire internet, writing on the Chinese SNS Weibo a simple post: “I would like to introduce to you guys my girlfriend, Guan Xiaotong.”
Luhan and Guan Xiaotong started dating publicly in October 2017
At the time, the news was so big that Weibo crashed for 4 whole hours. “Luhan” and “Guan Xiaotong” also became top keywords on all sorts of forums, and their relationship stood on the top of Weibo’s hot search. However, the initial reaction was not at all positive, with Guan Xiaotong at the end of all ire.
In particular, fans of the former EXO members believed that Guan Xiaotong wasn’t “good enough” for their idol, and was probably an attention seeker who wanted to milk Luhan’s popularity. It did not help that Guan Xiaotong was not too popular at the time, and people claimed that Luhan’s career would only suffer if he continued to date.
Soon, SNS became filled with protesting hashtags, with various people demanding for Luhan to break up. Some even threatened to commit suicide if the relationship continued.
Nevertheless, the couple decided to stay together, ignoring the scathing words directed their way
Luhan was shipped with another co-worker
In May, some netizens were spreading rumors that Luhan cheated on Guan Xiaotong with fellow star Dilraba Dilmurat, even going to a hotel with her in Japan. However, both sides quickly refuted the news, saying that they were only co-workers.
Back in the first half of 2017, the couple were also shipped as a couple after appearing together on the Chinese variety show “Keep Running” (also known as “Running Man China”). On the show, the two often boasted close interactions, leading to suspicions that they were in a relationship.
However, Luhan later announced his girlfriend Guan Xiaotong, leading to many shippers feeling disappointed. They also accused Luhan and Dilraba Dilmurat of “faking” their moments to gain attention on “Keep Running”.
From a hated couple to “the staple of true love”
Due to intense public criticisms, Luhan and Guan Xiaotong mostly kept their relationship private, and avoided mentioning each other in public. However, many people utilized this lack of interaction to spur malicious rumors about the two breaking up, or even that Guan Xiaotong rejected Luhan’s marriage proposal.
At first, Luhan and Guan Xiaotong would speak up against these wrong rumors. However, they then decided to just ignore them as the situation went on.
Throughout the span of their relationship, Luhan and Guan Xiaotong never fail to support each other. The two would often visit their lover’s filming sets, travel together when they have a break, and Luhan was even spotted driving his girlfriend to his schedules or hiring bodyguards for her.
Now that it has been years, the couple can freely mention their relationship in various events and interviews. They have also become a prime example for the ideal relationship, and earned public support for their earnest and private love life.
Luhan himself also expressed that he had never regretted revealing his girlfriend, saying: “I believe that it is a responsible thing to admit I’m in a relationship and let my loved one be known. Instead of having my love life leaked, I want to announce it myself.”
