Moral Of The Story – Episode Summary

Podcast: Moral Of The Story
Host: Stephanie Soo
Episode Title: Influencer Takes "Socialite Training Class" & Gets Pregnant W/ Top Actor BUT Internet Exposes Her
Date: November 10, 2025

Episode Overview

Stephanie Soo unpacks one of the wildest, most meme-worthy scandals in the Chinese celebrity sphere, detailing how a minor influencer’s bizarre cake-eating livestream led to her getting famously involved with A-list actor Huang Xiaoming. What unfolds is a saga of viral internet trends, questionable social climbing, clout-chasing, and public meltdowns, all woven together by Stephanie’s signature comedic storytelling as she explains the entire spiral to her husband (and, by extension, the listener).

Main Discussion Points

1. Stephanie’s Social Anxiety & The “Exposure Therapy” Eye Doctor Visit (00:38–05:30)

• Stephanie narrates a recent incident where she tried to overcome her social anxiety by going to the eye doctor alone.
  • She overthinks her own friendly behavior towards the doctor after he mentions his wife, convinced he thinks she’s hitting on him.
  • Quote: “This is why I have social anxiety, because I overthink every interaction.” — Stephanie (04:15)
  • The story sets the episode's confessional, humorous tone.

2. The “Cake Eating Science” Meme (05:30–11:00)

• Introduction to Ya Ke, a live-stream influencer whose awkward and overly poetic cake-eating video went viral.
  • Ya Ke describes eating cake as if it’s a wine tasting, with lines about “the milky aroma…filling your nasal cavities.”
  • Stephanie re-enacts the trend that mimicked her bizarre food description style, noting the unsatisfying, meme–worthy delivery.
  • Quote: “[She described] the taste only lingers on your tongue coating…for this one, the milky aroma fills your entire mouth and even your nasal cavities with the rich and creamy aroma taste.” — Stephanie, quoting Ya Ke (09:07)
  • The trend evolves into a widely spoofed meme, both on Chinese social media and TikTok.

3. Who is Ya Ke? The Influencer’s Rapid Ascent (11:01–13:10)

• Audience learns that Ya Ke is not just a live-streamer—she is also Huang Xiaoming’s new girlfriend.
• Huang Xiaoming: Once the quintessential “CEO bad boy” of Chinese dramas and ex-husband to superstar Angelababy.
• Stephanie contextualizes Huang’s declining public opinion and the cringe factor attached to his persona.

4. Angelababy and Huang Xiaoming’s Relationship & Divorce (13:10–19:44)

• Stephanie provides a deep dive into Huang Xiaoming and Angelababy’s relationship:
  • Over-the-top “CEO” energy that wore thin over time.
  • Notorious moments: Cringe wedding vows (“I’m going to ruin you. I’ll spoil you so much.” — 14:22), public arguments about his age, and career declines.
  • After years of shifting public favor, their 2022 divorce becomes a huge gossip event.
  • Quote: “People start loving Angelababy. She becomes the breadwinner... You can tell that’s not gonna work.” — Stephanie (17:14)

5. Rumors and Internet Sleuthing: The Exposed Relationship Timeline (22:14–27:10)

• Internet sleuths begin connecting Huang Xiaoming and Ya Ke via matching posts, identical vacation locations, and even similar profile pictures with hidden clues.
• Speculation grows that the two were seeing each other before their respective divorces.
• “Netizens found…her divorce time was around the same as Huang Xiaoming’s…” — Stephanie (24:37)
  • Example: Users discover both have profile pictures featuring cartoon cats from the same art piece.
  • Public PR statements by Ya Ke fuel intrigue instead of quelling rumors, appearing self-promotional.

6. Manufactured Persona: PR, Socialite Credentials, and Exaggerations (27:57–35:41)

• A rash of inexplicable, positive articles start appearing online, lauding Ya Ke’s “beauty” and “perfect proportions.”
• Stephanie and Tiffany speculate (playfully but cynically) that these are paid puff pieces:
  • “That is my personal belief and opinion. You cannot change my mind.” — Stephanie (27:57)
• Claims of elite education and business success are called into question:
  • Alleged degree from Shenzhen University (debunked), claims to wealth, luxury lifestyle, and “self made” status all get investigated by the online community.
  • Stephanie: “She sounds like she has the resume written by a Chinese mom... It just sounds like a dream daughter, but not real.” (30:56)

7. The Socialite “Training School” Revelation & Exposing the Facade (51:59–55:45)

• Paparazzi and netizens uncover evidence that Ya Ke wasn’t born wealthy, but instead took socialite “training classes” where you can rent luxury items, pose in penthouses, and build an illusion of affluence.
• Many of her influencer photos were staged in the same rooms or outfits as dozens of other “students.”
• Secret behind her “manners” and presentation is exposed as artificial learning.
• “Her mannerisms are all taught by these online classes... how to become a socialite so you can marry a rich guy.” — Stephanie (52:20)

8. Downfall: Public Backlash, Breakup, and Lasting Memes (56:36–58:08)

• Public sentiment sours further after Ya Ke’s questionable and offensive comments about regional Chinese groups, musicians, and her constant “pick me” attitude.
• Huang Xiaoming’s next movie tanks, he issues a public apology, and they split.
• Then, paparazzi reveal that Ya Ke is pregnant with his child, adding another layer of chaos.
• “He has to apologize... They break up, but then turns out she’s pregnant.” — Stephanie (57:54)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

Stephanie’s Overthinking Spirals (04:15)

“This is why I have social anxiety, because I overthink every interaction. And I go, wait, I have just been over the top yapping for the past fifteen minutes... This man thinks I'm hitting on him.”

Ya Ke’s Viral Cake Review (09:07)

“Mainly, it has a light, milky aroma, and its creaminess level reaches the upper palate... for some desserts, the taste only lingers on your tongue coating.”

On Huang Xiaoming’s Decline (17:14)

“People start loving Angelababy. She becomes the breadwinner in their relationship. And you can tell that that’s not gonna work. Well. People are already hypothesizing that Huang Xiaoming needs a girl who is very… he needs to be the dominant CEO.”

The PR Manufacturing (27:57)

“That is my personal belief and opinion. And you cannot change my mind without some sort of official document that has been notarized. I’m being so for real. Like, there is no way. There’s no way.”

The “Just a Little” Meme (48:29)

“Fans are also making photo collages showing Yaka’s face changing from version one to version two to version three... There’s this one time she’s selling clothing... and she says, ‘It’s a really nice brown color. And I just think that this brown color just looks a little bit different from other brown colors.’”

Socialite “Training School” Exposé (52:14)

“Her mannerisms are all taught by these online classes or in-person classes of how to become a socialite so you can marry a rich guy.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|--------------------| | 00:38–05:30 | Stephanie’s eye doctor story & social anxiety overthinking spiral | | 05:30–11:00 | The viral “cake eating science” trend & meme origins | | 11:01–13:10 | Revealing Ya Ke as Huang Xiaoming’s new girlfriend | | 13:10–19:44 | Deep dive: Angelababy & Huang Xiaoming’s relationship and divorce | | 22:14–27:10 | Netizens piece together Ya Ke and Huang Xiaoming’s romance | | 27:57–35:41 | Manufactured influencer persona & PR absurdities | | 51:59–55:45 | Paparazzi expose socialite training classes & fake affluence | | 56:36–58:08 | Final revelations: breakup, pregnancy, and cultural backlash |

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, confessional; loaded with vivid, comedic commentary and playful banter with her husband (and sister-in-law Tiffany).
• Language: Candid, sometimes profane (“f cking cake”); full of sarcasm and performative exasperation.
• Stephanie revels in the absurdity: “She looks like she went to the doctor and said, can you make me look like Angelababy?”

Takeaway

This episode is equal parts internet culture critique, celebrity roast, and rapid-fire inside jokes. What begins as a simple cake-eating meme unravels into a full-scale drama of fake socialite life, PR manipulation, and the perils of dating in China’s hyper-surveilled influencer economy. Whether you’re into the celebrity gossip or just crave unhinged internet tales, Stephanie Soo’s recap delivers all the laughs, side-eye, and meme fodder you could hope for.

End Moral (if any):
As Stephanie says, “The moral of the story is—well, there is none.”