This past week, the divorce of “Yang Guo” Chen Xiao and “Xiao Long Nu” Michelle Chen has dominated Asian media. However, looking back at their profiles and relationship timelines, there are striking similarities between this couple and the famous divorced couple Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo, from how they fell in love to their marriage and ultimately their divorce.
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When in love: an “older sister” romance from drama to real life
The similarities between these two love stories are fascinating. Both couples share a surname with their partner, fell in love while filming the same project, and had an age gap of four years, with the woman being older.
Chen Xiao first gained admiration for Michelle Chen in 2011, when the actress gained widespread fame across Asia with “You Are the Apple of My Eye”. In 2013, “The Romance of the Condor Heroes” brought the two together, and they eventually grew from just friends to dating. Although Michelle was four years older than Chen Xiao, he always presented himself as a mature and responsible partner.
Meanwhile, Song Joong-ki first “fell” for Song Hye-kyo when the latter starred in “That Winter, the Wind Blows” alongside Jo In-sung. Song Hye-kyo, also 4 years older than Song Joong-ki, was introduced to him through their mutual friend. Their connection deepened when they starred together in the mega-hit drama “Descendants of the Sun”.
On set, they showed great care for each other and undeniable chemistry, but their relationship was not revealed to the public until a year later. It was only after Dispatch released photos of them together, just before their engagement, that they confirmed their romance. Despite being younger, Song Joong-ki was always attentive to his girlfriend, openly escorting her and watching over her at major events and award ceremonies.
When getting married: abroad proposal, fairytale wedding
After just a few months of dating, Chen Xiao proposed to his girlfriend during a trip to Paris, France. In July 2016, the couple tied the knot in a grand wedding, but everything from the design to the details of the ceremony was so beautiful that it was compared to a scene from a movie. The most iconic moment was when the groom lifted the bride’s veil and kissed her, a legendary scene that remains one of the most memorable wedding moments in C-entertainment history. In December of the same year, Michelle Chen gave birth to their first son.
The wedding kiss of the Chen couple went viral across the internet and is still regarded as one of the most legendary moments in C-entertainment history.
Coincidentally, Song Joong-ki prepared a surprise proposal for Song Hye-kyo in the winter of 2016 at a restaurant in Japan. Restaurant staff revealed that the couple had dinner there with about 30 other people, after which Song Joong-ki got down on one knee, presenting Song Hye-kyo with a diamond ring and a large bouquet, bringing her to tears of happiness.
In October 2017, the Song-Song couple held their wedding, dubbed the “wedding of the century,” with blessings from a star-studded guest list, including Zhang Ziyi, Park Bo-gum, Kim Ji-won, Lee Kwang-soo, and more. Their wedding set a new standard for K-entertainment weddings due to its grandeur and overwhelming influence across Asia.
Song Joong-ki proposed to Song Hye-kyo in Japan, which was their favorite destination throughout their dating phase, and even after their marriage.
The Song-Song wedding became a “legend” among Asian celebrity weddings.
When divorcing: numerous cheating allegations
It can be said that the divorces of both the Chen and Song couples were complicated, filled with shocking twists. Initially, rumors of their marital troubles surfaced, supported by numerous pieces of evidence that many dismissed as mere speculation. Eventually, both couples officially announced their divorces amicably in front of the media, but behind the scenes, silent accusations followed. During the legal proceedings, both husbands and wives were rumored to have had affairs with co-stars, friends, and even close acquaintances.
Song Joong-ki – Song Hye-kyo
In 2019, Chinese news outlets Sina and QQ shocked the entire Asian entertainment industry by releasing “evidence” of the Song-Song couple’s deteriorating relationship, leading to their divorce. At the end of June that year, Song Joong-ki suddenly filed for divorce from Song Hye-kyo without prior discussion with her. For days following the announcement, he continued to express his stance whenever rumors about their marriage surfaced. Even his family subtly criticized his ex-wife, while Song Hye-kyo remained silent. As a result, speculation that she was the one at fault in the relationship became widespread.
Song Hye-kyo was later accused of having an affair with Park Bo-gum, a close friend of Song Joong-ki, but only Park Bo-gum’s side denied the rumors, while Song Joong-ki’s indifferent and cold attitude towards his friend at the time and even afterward raised public suspicion. As a result, Song Hye-kyo faced harsh criticism from the public, which was fueled further by rumors spread by Song Joong-ki’s family.
During the divorce process, Song Joong-ki himself was also rumored to have had affairs, first with one of Song Hye-kyo’s close friends and later with his “Arthdal Chronicles” co-star Kim Ok-vin. However, all these claims remained mere speculation.
Chen Xiao – Michelle Chen
After their breakup, the Chen couple was accused by Chinese media, specifically the media outlet 163, of buying trending search keywords on Weibo to undermine each other. Previously, there were conflicting reports about Chen Xiao’s role in the divorce, particularly regarding his cold and ruthless attitude when deciding to part ways with his wife. Meanwhile, Michelle Chen faced criticism over her relationships with male colleagues. As a result, both stars were caught in various rumors of extramarital affairs, which were believed to have led to their marriage falling apart.
In particular, Chen Xiao was suspected of developing feelings and secretly being involved with co-star Mao Xiaotong behind his wife’s back. Notably, all three—Chen Xiao, Michelle Chen, and Mao Xiaotong—had starred together in “The Romance of the Condor Heroes,” and Chen Xiao was also a close friend of Mao Xiaotong’s ex-boyfriend, Chen Xiang. His ambiguous interactions with Mao Xiaotong and his noticeably different behavior towards her at promotional events were considered strong evidence of his alleged affair.
The two later starred in multiple projects together, further fueling speculation that their relationship continued beyond professional work. However, some audiences argued that these claims were not convincing, as “shipping” on-screen couples is a common practice in Chinese entertainment when promoting new works.
Meanwhile, Michelle Chen was also rumored to have been involved with Taiwanese actor Bryan Chang since 2019. At the time, Sohu shocked the public by suggesting that Michelle Chen was the first to betray Chen Xiao. The media outlet claimed that in October 2019, Michelle and Bryan were seen dining together, even spending a “special night” together and the latter referring to Michelle as “wife.”
However, later investigations revealed that Bryan Chang had actually proposed to actress Ouyang Nini, the older sister of Taiwanese cello prodigy Ouyang Nana, married her, and welcomed their child in early 2025. As a result, the rumors spread by Sohu were deemed unreliable.