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THE9 – Yu Shuxin: There’s No Standard Answer to Youth | COVER STORY

by SoFigaro
2021-01-14 20:00

She’s a dedicated and professional actress.
and a dazzling idol on stage.

She’s a carefree optimist.
yet also the clear-headed and self-aware “Xinxinzi.”

This time, as the cover star of So Figaro,
THE9’s Yu Shuxin sat down with us
to talk about her life as a “female celeb, Xin.”

PASSIONATE AS ALWAYS
THE9 – Yu SHuxin: There’s No One Right Way to Live Youth

Yu Shuxin is full of variables—
You never know what she’s going to say or do next.
It’s the beginning of “chaos.”
but also the spark of surprise,
and above all, a testament to her wholehearted authenticity.
Don’t expect to make sense of her through logic.
especially when it comes to the beautiful “chaos”
that even she can’t explain—
yet is undeniably real.

The Essentials of Being “Celeb Xin”

“Do you think beauty is a basic requirement for female celebrities? ” “Of course,” Yu Shuxin replies without hesitation. “Would you want to get photographed looking ugly? ”As a full-fledged ‘Celeb Xin,’ Yu Shuxin has been flying from one gig to the next, her year-end and New Year schedule packed to the brim…

The New Normal: Constant Hustle

Since joining the cast of Moonlight Variations last October, Yu Shuxin’s “normal” has been nonstop twelve-hour workdays—at a minimum. Once filming wraps each day, there’s the preparation for THE9’s new album, personal promo shoots to complete, and a wave of events, variety shows, and magazine features all vying for her already limited downtime.

 ◉ Acting
 ◉ Preparing THE9’s new album
 ◉ Shooting personal promotional content
 ◉ Events
 ◉ Variety shows
 ◉ Magazine shoots

“Well, that’s the life of a female celebrity.”

Yu Shuxin and her team choose to laugh it off, using a bit of playful sarcasm to soften the helplessness that comes with being too busy.

But somehow, she always manages to find small joys amid the chaos. “I haven’t celebrated my birthday in three years—it’s always been on set, always working. So this year, I’m really looking forward to it! ” What she didn’t mention, though, is that right after her birthday, she’s heading straight back to the set to continue filming.

Back to Set Life

It had been a long time since Yu Shuxin was last on set. Over a year had passed since she wrapped her previous drama. Back then, she experienced a moment of clarity—a sense of breakthrough. She realized she had developed a deeper understanding of what it meant to truly listen, truly watch, and truly feel. In the past, when a fellow actor delivered a line, she would often just respond to the words in the script. But gradually, as filming progressed, she began reacting to the emotions within the words.

“It was like—suddenly, at a certain moment, I could feel the spark from my scene partner.” Those long-awaited “aha” moments finally found their place in Moonlight Variations. This is Yu Shuxin’s first drama project since debuting with THE9. Even after more than a year away from set life, filming went surprisingly smoothly—she even describes it as “freeing.” “Some of the improvised parts, the ones that weren’t overly planned or rehearsed, ended up coming across more naturally,” she says.

Still, she’s not one to overstate things: “Let’s wait until it airs and let the audience and fans decide. Whether I’ve improved, grown, or just gotten worse—that’s for them to judge.” True to form, Yu Shuxin has never been one for grand or overly polished soundbites.

Moonlight Variations
Role: Chu Li

In the drama, Yu Shuxin plays Chu Li, a rookie editor—straightforward, bubbly, and fearlessly bold. In her own words, Chu Li is like a “modern-day Wei Yingluo”: when faced with unfair treatment in the workplace, she never swallows her anger or stays silent—she speaks up and fires back.

But despite Chu Li’s daring, outspoken, and larger-than-life personality, Yu Shuxin says the character reflects less than 50% of her true self. In fact, she had to tone it down while performing.

“She’s only half as outspoken as I am! Not just in the workplace—even in daily life, if I see something unjust,I’ll speak up and push back right away.”

Yu Shuxin has always had a habit of bringing her own wardrobe to set—and this time was no exception. For her role as Chu Li, she thoughtfully curated each look based on the character’s background: As a young editor working in publishing, Chu Li’s color palette leans toward earthy tones—white, beige, and camel. And since she’s just stepped into the professional world, her outfits couldn’t be too fashionable or overly modern. Throughout the drama, every look stays within what Esther calls a “safe-but-stylish” zone—subtle, polished, and character-appropriate.

“So yeah, Chu Li’s a bit more plain than I am. I like to dress with a bit more style.” A moment later, Yu Shuxin casually adds the jab—light, but unmistakably sharp.

Clarity Beneath the Playful Charm

Lately, with preparations underway for THE9’s new album and performances, Yu Shuxin has been spending her rare downtime diving into ideas for “stage looks that are bold, sparkly, and totally unique.” She often teases herself for being too quick to speak, admitting she has a habit of blurting things out without thinking—things her teammates didn’t see coming, the team didn’t expect, and even she didn’t anticipate herself.

Oh, Whatever

Her team has told her afterward, “Some things are better left unsaid.” She takes the advice to heart and tells herself to hold back a little. But when the moment comes and her mind starts racing, she can’t help it—it just slips out. “I really can’t control myself sometimes—but luckily, my management team is great. They don’t try to micromanage me.” Over time, she simply let go. “Oh, whatever.”

“What other people think has nothing to do with me.”

“What other people think has nothing to do with me.” Clearly, that’s not something that weighs on her. Yu Shuxin doesn’t exhibit the kind of guarded caution often seen in female celebrities.
When it comes to outside noise and idle gossip, she simply doesn’t care that much. It’s not her burden to carry, and she moves through it all with surprising ease.

“Everyone keeps complimenting my looks—how is that harsh criticism? ” “You all keep asking if the controversy affected me, but honestly, things have turned out pretty well, haven’t they? What exactly is so bad about it?”

She turned the question right back. To her, the media often throws out what she sees as “non-issues disguised as questions.” In a recent episode of Send 100 Girls Home, Yu Shuxin caught interviewer Ding Ding Zhang completely off guard—leaving him momentarily stumped.

When asked, “What’s been bothering you lately? ”
She replied, “I’ve been gaining weight easily these days. I look a bit puffy when shooting commercials.”

When the conversation turned to the anxiety of “not being popular anymore,” Yu Shuxin showed a calm, clear-eyed perspective—delivering a few quietly powerful one-liners:

“There will always come a day when you fall. When that happens, just work hard and climb back up.”

“It’s normal not to last forever. There will always be people rising—and others falling.”

Throughout the interview, her tone remained light andbreezy.,
punctuated by animated gestures and playful expressions.

This upbeat, quick-on-her-feet way of answering—like parrying each question with a smile—
even left the interviewer momentarily unsure: “Is she really beingsincere? ?”

The Atypical “Celeb Xin”

Someone oncesaid, Thee more genuinely sincere a person is, the harder they are to figure out. There’s no need to overanalyze Yu Shuxin. She’s not your typical East Asian girl—and certainly not your typical female celebrity. That’s exactly where her brilliance lies. She doesn’t play by the usual rules. She isn’t bound by conventional expectations. And while that might bring a bit of unexpected “chaos,” it’s the kind that’s beautiful, vibrant, and undeniably alive.

Yu Shuxin’s brand of optimism feels less like a mindset and more like a natural gift. In her view, if today doesn’t go well, “Then let the bad luck wait until tomorrow.” Because she firmly believes:
“No one can be unlucky every single day.” That’s exactly how she got through the days before fame—one hopeful thought at a time.

She once said on a show:

“I’m honestly doing really well! And when you think about it, all those worries are pretty trivial in comparison.”

Right now, the things she worries about are still those “small problems” close at hand—
like the year-end event season piling up, with cameras everywhere and no time to work out.
So if she can’t move her legs, she has to control her mouth. On one hand, she genuinely looks forward to dressing up—wearing beautiful gowns and showing up polished and poised in public. But on the other, she secretly feels relieved to be stuck on set: “Thank god I don’t have time to go to events—all the other actresses are so skinny! The pressure is real!”

CREDITS:

Executive Producer / Romy Zeng
Photographer / 姜南
Styling & Fashion Editor / 胡玥 Esther HU
Copy Editor / 王琳璐
New Media Editor / Rita Hu
Makeup / 子熙（NAN BEAUTY）
Hair / 延松（NAN BEAUTY）
Talent Coordinator / 王懿佳
Writer & Interviewer / 蘑菇
Design / 冯梦伊
Producer / Fufumi
Nails / 爱时期美甲美睫沙龙
Styling Assistants / DAITO, Nico
Editorial Assistant / 田瑞
Location / YY RENTAL

SoFigaro中文版 20-12-31 15:00

#CoverStory
She—THE9’s Yu Shuxin—can be mischievous and whimsical, playful and sweet, but also clear-headed and self-aware. The sincerity and passion she holds for the stage and screen are quietly reflected in her eyes. As for more delightful moments from #YuShuxin’sTotoroPlayground, stay tuned—we’ll reveal them next week~

SoFigaro中文版 21-1-4 15:00

#CoverStory #YuShuxin’sTotoroPlayground
As time gently winds on, another year passes. On a winter afternoon bathed in warm sunlight, THE9-Yu Shuxin joined So Figaro for a joyful “Totoro” party—her way of ushering in a brand new 2021 with her very first cover of the year.

SoFigaro中文版 21-1-6 12:18

#CoverStory
The joyful party is about to begin—are you ready to hop on the train and journey with us into #YuShuxin’sTotoroPlayground?

SoFigaro中文版 21-1-14 13:00

#CoverStory #YuShuxin’sPhotoShootPoseGuide
THE9-Yu Shuxin is full of unpredictability—you’ll never know what she’s going to say or do next. It’s the start of “chaos,” but also the beginning of delightful surprises—and above all, a testament to her unfiltered authenticity. Don’t try to dissect her with logic, especially when it comes to that beautiful kind of “chaos”—the kind even she can’t quite explain, yet is undeniably real. #YuShuxin’sTotoroPlayground

SoFigaro中文版 21-1-14 15:00

#CoverStory #YuShuxin’sPhotoShootPoseGuide
THE9—Yu Shuxin is an atypical East Asian girl—and an even more unconventional female celebrity. That’s exactly what makes her shine. She doesn’t play by the rules, nor is she bound by conventional thinking. What she brings may be a touch of unexpected “chaos,” but it’s the kind that’s beautiful, vibrant, and full of life.

1. THE9 – Yu Shuxin: There’s No Standard Answer to Youth | COVER STORY: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/h-C-XLuQvtEedE5KnJeY3Q
2. SoFigaro中文版 Weibo – https://weibo.com/SoFigaro
3. SoFigaro中文版 20-12-31 15:00 – https://weibo.com/5738363424/JB0KprtgB
4. SoFigaro中文版 21-1-4 15:00 – https://weibo.com/5738363424/JBCspvgry
5. SoFigaro中文版 21-1-6 12:18 – https://weibo.com/5738363424/JBUfD78CF
6. SoFigaro中文版 21-1-14 13:00 – https://weibo.com/5738363424/JD7WEk8ET
7. SoFigaro中文版 21-1-14 15:00 – https://weibo.com/5738363424/JD8JmucLM