Before winning praise for her recent projects, including Dazzling, Guan Xiaotong was already one of China's most recognizable young actresses. However, many international fans may not know that she was once part of one of the biggest celebrity relationships in Asian entertainment.
Her boyfriend was none other than former EXO member Luhan.
For years, the couple remained one of China's most talked-about celebrity pairs. Their relationship survived constant rumors, intense public attention, and the pressure that comes with being two of the biggest stars in the industry.
When China's Biggest Idol Fell in Love
In 2017, Luhan was arguably at the absolute peak of his career.
After leaving EXO and returning to China, he quickly became one of the country's most influential celebrities. His popularity was so massive that fans would flock to places he visited, and anything he posted online instantly became headline news.
Meanwhile, Guan Xiaotong was already an elite actress. Coming from a respected Beijing entertainment family, she had spent most of her life in the spotlight. Having started acting as a child, she built an impressive resume and earned recognition as one of China's brightest young stars.
The pair first met while filming the youth sports romance drama Sweet Combat in early 2017.
As they spent more time together, their friendship gradually developed into a romantic relationship.
The Weibo Post That Broke the Internet
On October 8, 2017, Luhan made a decision that shocked millions.Rather than hiding the relationship, he personally announced it on Weibo.
His message was simple.
"Hello everyone, let me introduce my girlfriend @GuanXiaoTong."
Within minutes, social media exploded.
The overwhelming traffic reportedly caused Weibo's servers to struggle under the sudden surge of users.
Soon afterward, Guan Xiaotong replied with a heart emoji, confirming the relationship herself.
The announcement instantly became one of the biggest entertainment stories of the year.
The Backlash Guan Xiaotong Faced
Not everyone welcomed the news.
At the time, Guan Xiaotong was only 20 years old.
Many fans struggled to accept that one of Asia's biggest idols was in a public relationship.
Reports claimed that some fans tore down posters and flooded social media with emotional reactions. Others directed criticism toward Guan Xiaotong despite her successful acting career.
The backlash was intense.
Yet many people also praised Luhan's decision.
Fans admired how openly he acknowledged the relationship instead of keeping it secret.
Many believed he was being honest with fans while also protecting his girlfriend from unnecessary speculation.
Announcing a relationship at the height of an idol career was considered extremely risky, making Luhan's decision even more surprising.
Choosing Privacy Over Publicity
Despite their fame, Guan Xiaotong and Luhan rarely put their relationship on display.
They almost never appeared together on variety shows.
They rarely discussed each other during interviews.
Instead of constantly sharing their personal lives, they chose to keep their relationship private.
The couple also faced ongoing scrutiny because of their seven-year age gap and their different career paths.
Every few months, new breakup rumors would emerge online.
However, they developed a simple way to reassure fans.
Every year, they would publicly wish each other happy birthday at midnight.
The tradition became famous among fans.
As long as the annual birthday posts appeared, supporters knew the relationship was still going strong.
From 2018 through 2023, the tradition never failed.
Marriage and Pregnancy Rumors
As the years passed, rumors surrounding the couple only grew bigger.
One of the most talked-about rumors began when Luhan was reportedly spotted inside a jewelry store.
Many people immediately assumed he was shopping for an engagement ring.
Soon afterward, an old statement from Luhan resurfaced online.
In the interview, he revealed that his parents hoped he would settle down at a relatively young age.
"My parents said they want me to get married early at 27 or 28 and take a year or two off from promotions for a baby if possible."
Because Luhan was around that age at the time, speculation quickly spread across Chinese social media.
Many netizens began wondering whether he and Guan Xiaotong were preparing for marriage.
The rumors intensified when some online reports claimed the couple was planning a wedding because Guan Xiaotong was allegedly pregnant.
The story spread rapidly.
Guan Xiaotong soon became one of the most searched names on Chinese websites.
As the rumors continued to gain attention, Guan Xiaotong appeared to address the speculation in her own way.
She uploaded photos of herself climbing a high mountain and included a short caption that read, "The world is big and innocence is beautiful."
Many fans interpreted the post as a subtle response to the pregnancy rumors, arguing that she would not be hiking up steep mountains if she were pregnant.
Around the same time, reports stated that Guan Xiaotong's agency had also denied the rumors.
While neither Guan Xiaotong nor Luhan directly addressed the claims in detail, the mountain-climbing photos and the agency's response convinced many fans that the pregnancy rumors were false.
Marriage Registration Rumors Continue
The speculation did not stop there.
In November 2022, reports surfaced claiming that Guan Xiaotong and Luhan had secretly registered their marriage.
The rumors quickly attracted widespread attention.
However, Guan Xiaotong's father, actor Guan Shaozeng, publicly denied the claims and dismissed the reports.
Despite the denial, fans continued to speculate about the couple's future together.
Their Last Public Sighting Together
In January 2023, Guan Xiaotong and Luhan were reportedly spotted vacationing together in Japan.At the time, fans were relieved to see them together.
Many believed the sighting proved that the relationship remained strong.
Few realized it would become their final known public appearance as a couple.
The Quiet End of an Eight-Year Love Story
Toward the end of 2024, reports began emerging that the couple had decided to separate.
Unlike many celebrity breakups, there were no dramatic public statements.
According to industry insiders, the breakup was reportedly mutual.
Reports suggested that the former couple resolved and divided assets related to a jointly held company in December 2024.
The relationship quietly came to an end after nearly eight years together.
The Missing Birthday Post That Confirmed Everything
The biggest clue arrived in April 2025.
For the first time since they started dating, Guan Xiaotong did not post a midnight birthday message for Luhan.
Fans immediately noticed the absence.The missing birthday post sparked widespread discussion online.
Soon afterward, reports claimed that Guan Xiaotong had removed previous references to Luhan from her social media accounts.
For many observers, this was the clearest sign that the relationship had officially ended.
Reunion Rumors in 2026
Even after the breakup reports, fans remained interested in the former couple.In early 2026, reports suggested that Guan Xiaotong and Luhan crossed paths at a public industry event.
Witnesses reportedly described the interaction as friendly and respectful. The encounter quickly sparked fresh rumors online. Some fans wondered whether the former couple might reconcile. Others even speculated about possible wedding plans.
However, neither star nor their agencies has confirmed any reunion.
As of now, those rumors remain unverified.
A Relationship Fans Still Remember
Whether together or apart, Guan Xiaotong and Luhan remain one of the most memorable celebrity couples in modern Chinese entertainment.
