Yu Shuxin (, born December 18, 1995), also known as Esther Yu, is a Chinese actress and singer. She is a former member of The9, the project girl group from iQIYI's survival show Youth With You 2. Yu is known for her roles in the television series Find Yourself (2020), Moonlight (2021), Love Between Fairy and Devil (2022), My Journey to You (2023), Love Game in Eastern Fantasy (2024),"Ski into Love (2025)", Speed and Love (2025) and "Road to Success (2026)" .
Early life Yu was born in Shanghai, China and is the only child in her family. Her grandfather was chairman of Xinyu Iron and Steel Group and her parents are business moguls who own several real estate, construction and steel companies. Yu herself is also a shareholder and owner of many businesses. For post-secondary education, she attended Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore and graduated with a degree in Fashion Media and Industries. Yu also attended and was recognized as a key sponsor of the Opening Ceremony for the President's Charity Art Exhibition 2016 which was held on 11 November 2016 in the Fullerton Hotel, by President of the Republic of Singapore, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam.
Career 2015–2019: Career beginnings In 2015, Yu made her acting debut in the wuxia drama Border Town Prodigal, which premiered in 2016. She then subsequently gained recognition for her appearance in the variety program Grade One Freshman. In 2017, Yu continued to play supporting roles in the historical drama The Advisors Alliance, and romance family drama Ordinary Years.
In 2018, Yu played her first leading role in the coming-of-age drama Youth, adapted from the 2016 South Korean drama Hello, My Twenties. In 2019, she starred as a happy-go-lucky actress in the romantic comedy drama My Amazing Boyfriend 2.
2020–present: Rising popularity
In 2020, Yu participated in the variety program Youth With You 2 and became one of the most popular trainees on the show. She successfully debuted as a member of temporary girl group The9 on May 30, 2020.
That same year, Yu gained popularity and recognition with her role as a lovable university student in the hit romance drama Find Yourself, and was nominated for the Audience's Choice award at the 30th China TV Golden Eagle Award. She later portrayed a quirky female investigator in the well-received historical romance I've Fallen For You, and appeared as a recurring guest role in the drama A Love So Romantic. In the 2020 Forbes China Under 30 Elite list, she was included as a notable actress for the Entertainment and Sports industry.
In 2021, Yu starred as a newcomer editor in the romantic comedy drama Moonlight, opposite Ding Yuxi. On December 5, 2021, The9 officially disbanded.
In 2022, Yu starred as a lively and innocent immortal in the widely popular fantasy romance drama Love Between Fairy and Devil, and as a fashion blogger with an Ornithology PhD in the environmental romance drama A Romance of the Little Forest.
In 2023, Yu starred in Sword and Fairy, adapted from the popular Chinese RPG game of the same name, and the historical wuxia drama My Journey to You. She made an appearance in Feng Xiaogang's new film If You Are the One 3. In 2024, she was the female lead for another fantasy historical drama titled Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, reuniting with Ding Yuxi, aired on November 1, 2024.
In 2025, she was the female lead in the romantic sports drama Ski into Love, aired on March 11, 2025. She also was the female lead in the romantic drama Speed and Love, aired on December 12, 2025.
Filmography
Film Year English title Chinese title RoleNotes 2021A Writer's Odyssey刺杀小说家NurseGuest role2022My Little Pony: A New Generation小马宝莉：新世代Izzy Chinese dubbing2023Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse蜘蛛侠：纵横宇宙Gwen StacyChinese dubbingIf You Are the One 3非诚勿扰3JudyHua Luo Liu Nian花落流年Li Yifan
Television series Year English title Chinese title Role Network Notes 2016Border Town Prodigal新边城浪子Qing SheBeijing TVSupport role2017The Advisors Alliance大军师司马懿之军师联盟Consort LiuAnhui TVSupport roleOrdinary Years平凡岁月Li XiaoyaBeijing TVSupport role2018Youth最亲爱的你Chen ChenchenYouku2019 My Amazing Boyfriend 2我的奇妙男友2之恋恋不忘Tian JingzhiHunan TV, Tencent2020Find Yourself下一站是幸福 Cai MinminHunan TV, Mango TVI've Fallen For You少主且慢行Tian SanqiiQIYIA Love So Romantic少爷与我的罗曼史Cheng QianyuTencentCameo2021Moonlight月光变奏曲Chu LiiQIYI2022Love Between Fairy and Devil苍兰诀Orchid / Xiao Lanhua / Xi YunA Romance of the Little Forest两个人的小森林Yu MeirenYouku2023My Journey to You云之羽Yun WeishaniQIYI2024Sword and Fairy祈今朝Yue QiTencentLove Game in Eastern Fantasy永夜星河Ling Miaomiao / Lin Yu / Mu Qingshi2025Ski into Love嘘，国王在冬眠Wei ZhiYoukuSpeed and Love双轨Jiang MuiQIYI2026Road to Success灿如繁星Lin WanxingTBAYunchu's Vengeance云初令Yunchu
Variety shows Year English title Chinese title Role 2016Grade One Graduation一年级·毕业季Cast member 2019The Sound: Season 3声临其境第三季Member of New Voice Class2020Youth With You 2青春有你第二季ContestantLet's Party非日常派对Cast memberDimension Nova跨次元新星Expansion mentor2021Youth With You 3青春有你第三季Youth tutor2022Let's Go Skiing超有趣滑雪大会Cast member2024Chinese Restaurant 8中餐厅第八季
Discography
Title Year Peak chart positions Album CHNThe Tencent Music Uni chart was launched in September 2018. "Stars" (星辰) 2016 —Grade One Freshman OST"Finally One Day" (终有一天) —"Love Problem" (恋爱练习题) 2019 —My Amazing Boyfriend 2 OST"Ever Since I Met You" (自从遇见你) 2020 —I've Fallen For You OST"Gwalla" (乖啦) —MatriX"Here's Chu Li" (初礼来了) 2021 71Moonlight OST"Loss of Memory" (失忆)2022 56Love Between Fairy and Devil OST"Wish to be with You" (想和你) 59Promotional song for Love Between Fairy and Devil"All Seems The Same" (好像都一样) 71A Romance of the Little Forest OST"Sunny Day After The Rain" (雨过天晴) —"Oh My"2023 —1st mini album Esther"Unfinished to be Continued" (未完待续) 83"Bestow Dreams" (赐梦) 61My Journey to You OST"Try Everything" (尝试一切) —Promotional song for Shanghai Disney Resort"Hope" (盼)2024 —Sword and Fairy 6 OST"Pray" (祈) —"Surge" (澎湃) 22Love Game in Eastern Fantasy OST"Moonlight Thoughts" (寄明月) 7Promotional song for Love Game in Eastern Fantasy"Spicy Honey" 91st studio album Spicy Honey"Laffy Taffy" 77"How Not To Be" 99"Girls Night Out" —"Last One Standing" —"Spicy Honey" 51"Laffy Taffy" (在干嘛呀) 76"True Love" 98
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 202030th China TV Golden Eagle AwardAudience's Choice for Actress Find Yourself 7th The Actors of China Award CeremonyBest Actress (Web series)I've Fallen For You 5th Golden Blossom Internet Film and Television AwardsActress of the YearFind Yourself; I've Fallen For You 2020 TV Series AwardsTop 10 Popular Female CharactersFind Yourself 202235th Huading AwardsBest Actress in Chinese Ancient TV SeriesLove Between Fairy and Devil20232022 iQIYI Scream NightScream Goddess 3rd New Era International TV Festival Ammolite AwardsBest Costume Actress in the New Era2022 Weibo AwardsNotable Actress of the Year 2023 iQIYI Scream NightMost Influential Actress of the YearMy Journey to You 2023 Asian Pop Music AwardsPeople's Choice Award"Esther"20242023 Weibo AwardsHot Actress of the Year 2024 Weibo TV & Internet Video SummitExpressive Actress of the Year2024 iQIYI Scream NightAsia Pacific All-Round Artist of the Year 20252024 Tencent Video All Star NightMost Overseas Influential Artist of the YearLove Game in Eastern Fantasy; "Spicy Honey" Most Popular TV Actress of the YearLove Game in Eastern Fantasy VIP Star of the Year 2024 Weibo AwardsAppealing Actress of the Year
Notes
References
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