Liu Shishi's Dream (醉梦) Confirms October 16 Premiere on Tencent Video
醉梦 · Zui Meng
Liu Shishi's upcoming Chinese crime-mystery drama Dream (醉梦), also referred to as Zui Meng, has officially confirmed its premiere for October 16, 2026, on Tencent Video's X Theater.
The production announced the release date on October 12 alongside a new scheduling trailer and promotional posters. The series features an ensemble cast led by Liu Shishi, Li Naiwen, Hu Xianxu, and Huang Xiaolei, with a special appearance by Li Qin.
Set against the changing industrial landscape of northeastern China, Dream follows a journalist whose recordings of an old brewery become connected to a mysterious death and a series of crimes years later.
Rather than focusing on a traditional romance, the drama brings together murder investigations, buried secrets, personal betrayals, and the lasting consequences of decisions made long ago.
When Does Dream (醉梦) Premiere?
Dream will premiere on Friday, October 16, 2026, exclusively on Tencent Video's X Theater in China.
The official drama account confirmed the date through its October 12 announcement, which included a new trailer and promotional artwork.
X Theater is Tencent Video's programming label associated with suspense-driven and crime-related dramas.
The October 16 premiere date is confirmed, but the complete episode-release schedule and international distribution details have not yet been independently verified.
What Is Dream (醉梦) About?
The story centers on Shen Leshui, a journalist who once used her camera to document the lives of workers at an old brewery in northeastern China.
At the time, the brewery was more than a workplace. It represented the livelihoods, friendships, and personal struggles of the people who depended on it.
Among those workers was Liu Xuemei, a woman whose mysterious death would leave questions unanswered for years.
As China's industrial economy changed and the brewery declined, the people connected to it followed different paths. However, the circumstances surrounding Liu Xuemei's death were never completely resolved.
Years later, the abandoned brewery becomes connected to another series of disturbing crimes.
Shen Leshui's old recordings may now hold information that investigators need to understand what happened.
Working alongside police officer Gao Xuelin, she begins uncovering connections between the past and present.
What initially appears to be an investigation into an old death gradually exposes complicated relationships, competing interests, and secrets that some people would prefer to remain buried.
The drama explores how an unresolved crime can continue affecting an entire community long after the original events have faded from public attention.
Who Stars in Dream?
The principal cast includes:
- Liu Shishi (刘诗诗) as Shen Leshui (沈乐水), a journalist whose earlier documentary footage becomes important to the investigation.
- Hu Xianxu (胡先煦) as Gao Xuelin (高雪林), a police officer involved in uncovering the truth.
- Li Naiwen (李乃文) as Zhao Haipeng (赵海鹏), a character connected to the drama's wider story.
- Huang Xiaolei (黄小蕾) as Tu Chunyan (屠春艳), another important figure in the ensemble.
- Li Qin (李沁) as Liu Xuemei (刘雪梅), the brewery worker whose mysterious death lies at the center of the investigation.
The production also features Chen Yongsheng, Lin Jiachuan, Liu Xiaohai, and other supporting performers.
The official billing lists Liu Shishi, Li Naiwen, Hu Xianxu, and Huang Xiaolei among its principal stars, with Li Qin credited as a special appearance.
A Mystery Connecting Two Different Periods
One of the most interesting elements of Dream is its approach to telling a mystery across different periods.
Instead of beginning with a crime and following a single investigation, the story connects events from the brewery's past with crimes occurring years later.
Shen Leshui's documentary footage serves as a link between those periods.
The recordings preserve moments from a community that has since changed, but they may also contain details whose importance was not understood when they were originally filmed.
That creates an unusual challenge for the investigators.
They must establish not only what happened, but also how the people involved may have changed over time.
The brewery's decline and the economic changes surrounding it provide a larger social context for the mystery.
Rather than treating the industrial setting as simple background scenery, the story appears interested in how financial pressure, ambition, and personal relationships can influence the choices people make.
New Trailer and Posters Released October 12
Alongside the premiere announcement, the production released a new scheduling trailer and promotional posters.
The latest materials feature snowy streets, industrial buildings, and characters whose relationships appear tied to the brewery's troubled history.
The trailer emphasizes multiple deaths, conflicting accounts of past events, and the possibility that people connected to the original case have been concealing information.
Liu Shishi's character is shown across different stages of her life, reinforcing the drama's focus on how past experiences continue influencing the present.
The promotional campaign also highlights the larger ensemble, suggesting that the investigation will involve several interconnected characters rather than a single obvious suspect.
The footage offers a look at the series' suspenseful atmosphere without establishing the identity of the person responsible or revealing how the mystery ultimately ends.
Who Is Behind the Production?
Dream is directed by Yang Yang (杨阳).
The screenplay is credited to Jia Dongyan (贾东岩), Yang Yang, and Zhao Zibo (赵梓博).
The series is associated with Tencent Video, with additional production involvement attributed to Golden Media and Lingyuan Culture, as reported by The Beijing News on October 12.
Its creative team brings experience in Chinese television dramas, while the story's industrial setting gives the production room to explore subjects beyond a conventional murder investigation.
The combination of an ensemble cast, a decades-spanning mystery, and a setting shaped by economic change makes Dream a notable addition to Tencent Video's upcoming suspense lineup.
Will Dream Be Available in the United States?
As of October 12, 2026, Tencent Video is the confirmed Chinese streaming platform.
However, official U.S. streaming availability and English-subtitled playback have not been independently verified.
There is also no confirmed U.S. release announcement from Netflix, iQIYI, or another international distributor in the sources checked for this article.
Viewers outside China should wait for an official regional listing before assuming the series will be available on the same date.
Shen Zhiyi Writes Reviews will update this information when an authorized streaming platform confirms access for U.S. viewers.
Why Dream Is Worth Watching
For viewers who enjoy Chinese crime mysteries, Dream offers several potentially interesting elements.
Its central investigation involves more than identifying the person responsible for a death. The story also examines a community whose relationships have been shaped by industrial decline, financial interests, and unresolved conflicts.
The use of a journalist's old documentary recordings adds another dimension to the mystery, particularly because recorded evidence may reveal details that witnesses remember differently.
Liu Shishi's role as Shen Leshui is also a departure from the historical-romance characters many international viewers associate with her.
Meanwhile, Hu Xianxu's police officer character provides an investigative perspective on events that Shen Leshui experienced personally.
The real question will be whether the drama can balance its central mystery with the wider social and personal stories surrounding it.
For audiences who prefer tightly connected clues, layered characters, and suspense built around long-hidden secrets, Dream has a premise worth following.
Final Thoughts
With its October 16 premiere officially announced, Dream is preparing to introduce viewers to a crime story that connects an old industrial community with a series of unsettling events years later.
The combination of Liu Shishi, Hu Xianxu, Li Naiwen, Huang Xiaolei, and Li Qin gives the production a recognizable ensemble, while the brewery setting offers a distinctive backdrop for the investigation.
Its strongest potential lies in the relationship between past and present: how an overlooked detail, an old recording, or a concealed decision might finally explain events that remained unresolved for years.
Whether the completed drama delivers a satisfying mystery will become clearer after its premiere.
Shen Zhiyi Writes Reviews will continue following official release information, international streaming announcements, and the series' reception as more verified details become available.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Dream (醉梦) premiere?
Dream officially premieres October 16, 2026, on Tencent Video's X Theater in China.
What is the Chinese title?
The Chinese title is 醉梦, romanized as Zui Meng. Dream is a working English translation; an officially standardized international English title has not been independently established.
Who stars in Dream?
The cast includes Liu Shishi, Hu Xianxu, Li Naiwen, Huang Xiaolei, and Li Qin.
What is Dream about?
The drama follows a journalist whose recordings of an old brewery become connected to a mysterious death and a series of crimes years later.
Is Dream a romance drama?
It is primarily promoted as a crime mystery and ensemble drama involving revenge, personal relationships, and long-hidden secrets. A central romantic storyline has not been independently established.
Who directs Dream?
The drama is directed by Yang Yang.
Where can viewers watch Dream?
Tencent Video's X Theater is the confirmed Chinese streaming destination. U.S. streaming and English-subtitle availability remain unverified.
How many episodes does Dream have?
The final episode count has not been independently confirmed against a current official platform listing.
Does Dream have a happy ending?
The series has not premiered, so its final outcome remains unknown.
Sources and Verification
Release date, cast billing, director, screenwriters and promotional media were checked against the official drama account on October 12, 2026. Dream appears on the official poster; an international distribution listing remains unverified. No episode total, rating or completed-series outcome is asserted.
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