Honestly, if you’ve spent any time on C-drama TikTok or scrolled through iQIYI lately, you’ve seen her. The voice. The wide-eyed expressions. The "Tuwa" (dirt-cute) energy that has somehow conquered the Chinese entertainment industry. We're talking about Esther Yu, or Yu Shuxin, a girl who basically single-handedly made "baby voice" a debatable personality trait rather than just a vocal cord quirk.
But here’s the thing. People love to hate on her until they actually sit down and watch Love Between Fairy and Devil. Then, suddenly, they’re crying at 3:00 AM over an orchid plant and a demon lord. It's a pipeline. I've seen it happen to the most cynical viewers.
Whether you’re a die-hard "Xinxin" fan or someone who just wants to know what the fuss is about, the list of tv shows with esther yu is actually surprisingly diverse. She isn’t just playing herself, though it definitely feels like it sometimes.
The Breakthrough: Love Between Fairy and Devil (2022)
This is the big one. The "magnum opus." If you haven't seen this, you haven't really started your Esther Yu journey.
She plays Xiao Lanhua (Little Orchid), a low-ranking fairy who accidentally swaps bodies with the most terrifying man in the universe, Dongfang Qingcang (played by Dylan Wang). The chemistry? It’s electric. It’s the kind of show where the production value actually matches the hype. They spent over 800 days on the script alone. You can tell. The costumes aren't just silk; they incorporate actual Chinese intangible cultural heritage, like traditional embroidery and velvet flowers.
Most people think Esther just does "cutesy." But in this show, when she has to act as the Demon Lord trapped in a fairy’s body, her posture changes. Her gaze hardens. It’s subtle, but it’s there. She’s not just a one-trick pony.
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Flipping the Script in My Journey to You (2023)
If Fairy and Devil was bright and loud, My Journey to You is the complete opposite. It’s dark. It’s moody. It looks like a high-budget movie directed by someone obsessed with shadows (Edward Guo, looking at you).
Esther plays Yun Weishan, a cold, calculated assassin. No baby voice. No pouting. Just a woman trying to survive a suicide mission inside a mysterious mountain manor. A lot of fans were shocked. "Is that really her?" yeah, it is. She’s stiff, sure, but that’s the point—she’s playing a woman who has been trained since childhood to feel nothing.
- The Vibe: High-stakes espionage with a side of "will they, won't they."
- The Lead: Zhang Linghe. They have that "doomed lovers" energy that keeps you clicking "next episode" even when it's way past your bedtime.
- The Controversy: Some people hated the ending. I won't spoil it, but let's just say it's... open-ended.
Modern Esther: Moonlight and Little Forest
If you want something that doesn't involve people flying on swords or dying for the three realms, her modern dramas are surprisingly solid.
Moonlight (2021) is a personal favorite for many. She plays an entry-level editor, Chu Li, dealing with a prickly, ego-driven author (Ding Yuxi). It’s basically a love letter to the publishing industry. It’s cozy. It’s the kind of show you watch with a bowl of ramen on a rainy Tuesday.
Then there’s A Romance of the Little Forest (2022). She plays a fashion blogger with a secret doctorate in ornithology. She’s chasing a botany professor (Vin Zhang). It sounds ridiculous because it kind of is, but Esther’s comedic timing is actually top-tier. She knows how to be annoying in a way that’s charming, which is a very difficult needle to thread.
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The 2024-2025 Wave: Love Game in Eastern Fantasy
Fast forward to now. Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (also known as Yong Ye Xing He) just recently solidified her as the queen of the "system" subgenre.
She plays Ling Miaomiao, a girl who gets sucked into a novel and has to complete tasks to get out. It’s meta. It’s funny. It feels like a video game. The chemistry with Ding Yuxi (their second collaboration!) is even better than it was in Moonlight. They call them the "Yu-Ding" couple, and honestly, the internet is obsessed for a reason.
Why Do People Care So Much?
It’s not just the acting. Esther Yu is a "resource" queen. She comes from a wealthy background, which she never really hides. She’s been a "trainee" on Youth With You 2, where she became a meme for just saying "Wow" (the famous "Wa-oh!").
She’s a polarizing figure. You either find her personality endearing or you want to mute your TV. But you can't deny her work ethic. Whether it’s doing her own stunts in the mud for My Journey to You or recording her own OSTs (like "Loss of Memory"), she’s involved.
Where to Start?
Don't just jump into her early stuff like Border Town Prodigal. You'll get bored.
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- Watch Love Between Fairy and Devil first. It’s the gold standard.
- Move to Love Game in Eastern Fantasy if you want something fun and fast-paced.
- Check out My Journey to You only if you like "slow-burn" and "depressing but beautiful."
- Finish with Moonlight for a palate cleanser.
Most of these are on iQIYI, Tencent Video (WeTV), or Netflix. If you’re in the US, Viki is usually your best bet for high-quality subtitles that actually explain the cultural puns Esther loves to make.
If you’re looking for her newest 2025/2026 projects, keep an eye out for Ski into Love (also known as Shhh, the King is Hibernating) where she plays a manhwa artist. It’s expected to be another massive hit for Youku. Also, her drama Speed and Love (with He Yu) is making waves for those who like a bit more "grit" in their romance.
Basically, the era of Esther Yu isn't ending anytime soon. She's moved past being a "variety show meme" and into a legitimate ratings driver. Just embrace the squeaky voice—it grows on you, I promise.
Next Steps for You:
Check the regional availability of Love Game in Eastern Fantasy on Viki or WeTV, as the licensing often shifts depending on your location. If you've already finished her major hits, look up the "The9" concert footage on YouTube to see her idol era; it gives a lot of context to her stage presence and why she acts the way she does in variety shows like Chinese Restaurant 8.