Kim and Xian first felt that *romantic spark* for each other in 2011.
Together, Kim Chiu and Xian Lim are one of the longest-lasting reel-to-real-life couples in the past decade. We have witnessed their love for each other grow from an extremely private dating stage to them becoming one of the best Instagram couples up to date.
Now in their thirties, netizens have constantly been speculating if marriage is on the cards for them. However, in April 2022 Xian shared that he personally doesn’t feel pressured to marry Kim just yet. “Basta ang kasunduan namin, as long as nagmamahalan kami nang lubos, that’s all that matters,” he revealed.
This 2023, breakup rumors surfaced concerning their over a decade-long romance. As of writing, the couple have remained silent on the issue. As Kim once told reporters, “Sa amin na lang po muna ‘yun,” in a bid to not answer breakup questions anymore.
Setting aside the persistent separation rumors between Kim and Xian, let’s look at how they strengthened their relationship through the years.
Here is Kim Chiu and Xian Lim’s relationship timeline:
August 2011: KimXi debuted in My Binondo Girl.
Kim and Xian were first paired as a love team in the rom-com teleserye My Binondo Girl. Dubbed “KimXi,” their pairing gained popularity thanks to their undeniable chemistry and charm. The drama, which touched on the life of a Filipina-Chinese (Kim’s character), was a huge success—which automatically translated to KimXi’s first breakthrough project together.
Fun fact: My Binondo Girl may have been KimXi’s first project together as lead stars, but it was not the first time that Kim and Xian have worked together. In some of Kim’s previous dramas, like My Girl (together with her former love team partner and ex-boyfriend Gerald Anderson), Xian was already playing a cameo/supporting role.
October 2012: KimXi soar high in Ina, Kapatid, Anak
After their first successful rom-com stint as a love team, the two hit the small screen with the melodrama Ina, Kapatid, Anak together with Enchong Dee and Maja Salvador.
December 2012: Kim expressed her receptiveness to a new relationship.
Kim had one of the most controversial breakups in 2010. That was when she called it quits with Gerald, whom she revealed to have cheated on her. After her painful breakup, fans wondered when she would be ready to love again.
Kim admitted that she was open to having a new lover, but she preferred to do it slowly. “Open naman, dahan-dahan lang, isa-isa lang, huwag agad-agad pumasok,” she told PEP.ph. At the time, Kim was already being romantically linked to her then-onscreen partner, Xian.
2013: KimXi top-bill their first movie together called Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo?
Because of the success of their love team, it wasn’t long after their debut that they were given their first big-screen project together. In 2013, Kim and Xian headlined the rom-com film, Bakit Hindi Ka Crush Ng Crush Mo? together with Kean Cipriano.
2014-2017: KimXi starred in several back-to-back projects together.
A year after their first movie together, Kim and Xian worked on a film called Bride for Rent. In 2015 they acted alongside the Philippines’ Queen of Comedy Ai Ai delas Alas in the film Past Tense.
Come 2016, the two starred in an online TV series called Must Date The Playboy together with Jessy Mendiola. Another romance series followed for KimXi entitled The Story of Us.
Around this time, the two had been persistently rumored to be a couple already. In October 2015, Kim admitted to not labeling her relationship with Xian just yet. At the time, Kim settled with the fact that they were both happy.
“Hindi naman kailangan ng label. As long as dalawang tao masaya and kumportable sila and mutual yung pagkakaintindihan nila, so okay na,” adding, “Pero masaya kami, kumportable kami sa isa’t isa and he brings out the best in me.”
January 1, 2018: Kim and Xian travel together.
Xian posted *sweet* photos of an overseas trip with Kim. The two were seen cozily posing in the snow and happily enjoying a rollercoaster ride. One photo indicated that it was taken in the year 2017. Perhaps the two went on a December 2017 holiday break!
January 2018: Xian comments about the real score between him and Kim.
By 2018, Kim and Xian had already been seen posing sweetly together online, and fans continued to believe that it was not just about being a love team anymore. In January 2018, Xian admitted his real love for Kim. However, he said that they’re still not officially dating.
“Kasi, hindi talaga namin pinag-uusapan yun—yung score between her and me. We’re just posting, we’re just sharing whatever we do,” he declared in a 2018 interview.
November 2018: Kim admitted the real score between her and Xian.
Because of the multiple projects they worked together on during the past five years, the two had been spotted spending various occasions together. But since the birth of their love team in 2011, Kim and Xian hadn’t defined their relationship status—until the year 2018.
In an interview with TV personality, Boy Abunda in November 2018, Kim officially confirmed that they were together. Kim put an end to questions about their relationship with the words, “Oo naman, oo naman. Oo, Tito Boy.”
In the same interview, Kim was asked if she already sees Xian as “The One” for her which she responded with, “Hindi ko alam, Tito Boy…Wala sa isip ko ‘yon ngayon.”
January 2019: Xian talked about their decision to keep it private for a while.
Two months after Kim’s revelation, it was Xian’s turn to talk about their relationship in an interview with Tito Boy.
The veteran TV personality asked the actor if there was any difficulty in admitting their relationship to the public. The question came from the fact that the couple had been dating since 2012 but had only confirmed it in 2018.
According to Xian, they want their relationship to be as authentic as it can be despite being celebrities. “Ayaw naming umamin habang magkatrabaho kami. I don’t want people thinking, e kasi gusto lang nilang i-promote ang team-up nila e. Years later, we’re still together and we’re not promoting anything,” he told Tito Boy.
April 2019: KimXi goes to Taiwan!
The two lovebirds proudly shared snaps of their Taiwan trip in April 2019. Kim called Xian her “favorite travel buddy.” A month later, Kim shared their experience in a vlog.
August 2019: Kim does not shy away from being a proud GF!
Since they confirmed their relationship to the public, Kim has been expressive about her love for Xian. In August 2019, Kim wrote a sweet appreciation post for her BF, “Xi” as she fondly calls him. Back then, Xian just directed his first Cinemalaya project called Tabon.
“I just want to say congratulations to this man right here. He really pushed himself to the limit! Your sleepless nights, random writing alone early in the morning, editing, prod meeting, and so on—I saw how you worked hard for this! Congrats, Direk Xi! This is another feather on your cap! A directorial debut!” the chinita princess wrote.
September 2019: Xian and Kim made an unforgettable entrance at the ABS-CBN Ball 2019.
During the ABS-CBN Ball 2019, Kim found it hard to walk in her mermaid gown. So Xian effortlessly carried Kim *bridal style* down the stairs of the venue!
October 2019: A throwback to their first date.
Xian posted a *cute* throwback photo of the two of them on their ~*very first date*~ in 2012! The photo showed Kim and Xian both in their scuba diving gear, shyly smiling at the camera.
December 2019: KimXi went on a winter European adventure.
The lovely couple traveled to Europe for their 2019 holiday season. Kim and Xian ended up visiting Prague and Switzerland!
February 2020: KimXi’s first teleserye after going official.
Kim and Xian starred in their first teleserye after making their relationship public. In February 2020, they headlined Love Thy Woman together with Yam Concepcion, Eula Valdez, and Christopher De Leon.
March 2020: Kim was involved in a shooting incident.
On March 4, 2020 at around 6 a.m., two unidentified gunmen fired eight bullets at Kim’s van while she was on her way to a taping of Love Thy Woman. Fortunately, Kim, her personal assistant, and her driver were left unscathed after the deadly incident.
Xian expressed his feelings on Instagram, saying, “Thank you to everyone who expressed their prayers and concern. We can never explain why these horrible things happen. Thankfully there are no casualties. Thank you God for always being by our side.”
May 2021: Kimxi took their first motorcycle ride together!
Xian is a proud motorcycle lover, and when he had the chance to ride somewhere together with the love of his life, it automatically became a surreal experience for the actor. In May 2021, Xian shared this wonderful experience with his girlfriend. They both crossed out another adventure from their couple’s bucket list.
“I told coach @samtamayo na someday, I’ll be able to ride a motorcycle and have Kim in the backseat and we’ll be able to travel to places we’ve never set foot in. Through hard work and patience, grabe I never thought this day would come,” Xian wrote on Instagram.
Xian also thanked Kim for being the coolest girlfriend who trusted him during their sweet escapade. “Thank you for this @chinitaprincess. Nakakahappy that this is our first time to explore on a big bike. It is such a different experience. I love you for trusting me. Thank you!” he said.
August 2021: Xian moved to GMA Network.
Xian took a big leap in his career in August 2021. Breaking loose from his decade-long love team with Kim, the actor transferred to GMA in a bid to continue his acting career. The actor found it difficult to thrive in his former network, ABS-CBN, which faced a lot of crises due to its non-franchise renewal and the lockdowns.
November 2021: KimXi opens up about the beginning of their love.
In a November 2021 YouTube vlog, Xian and Kim answered some fan questions about their relationship. In fact, they revealed that it was in 2011 that they first felt the *spark* during the filming of their first project as a love team, My Binondo Girl. Following that spark was a year-long courting stage between the two lovebirds. Kim also shared that Xian courted her for a year and a half before she said yes.
December 2021: Kim supports Xian’s decision to switch networks.
Despite being in competing networks, Kim has been very supportive of her beau. “Suportahan po kami ni Xian,” she told PEP.ph in December 2021.
At the time, even Kim understood the uncertainties of the ABS-CBN operations. “Kung saan po siya magkakaroon ng project… E, ngayon, hindi rin naman natin alam ang nangyayari sa ABS-CBN,” Kim remarked.
The actress mentioned how thankful Xian is to GMA for providing him with the opportunity to act and to explore other things, like hosting. “Tapos, wala rin pong naibibigay sa kanyang project. Napag-usapan namin na kung maghihintay siya, sabi niya, ‘Saan ako?’ So, parang thankful din siya sa GMA na binigyan siya ng maraming projects doon. So, kung saan may trabaho, doon siya,” she shared.
With the separation of their home networks, Kim was asked if it has been affecting their relationship. “Hiwalay lang naman ng network, hindi naman ng pagsasama!” Kim quickly responded.
December 2021: A beach getaway is the perfect date!
It’s summer all year round for Kim and Xian as they celebrated the holidays last December 2021 at the beach! “Best gift I received is to be with you every day!” Kim and Xian shared snaps of their cozy beach trip on Instagram.
April 2022: Xian feels no pressure to tie the knot with Kim.
After almost ten years together, Kim and Xian were still going strong. In April 2022, Xian was posed the question of whether there’s already pressure between them to settle down.
The actor answered, “Hindi ko naman po nararamdaman. Basta ang kasunduan namin, as long as nagmamahalan kami nang lubos, that’s all that matters.” Xian once explained that marriage requires tedious preparation.
“I strongly believe na dapat plantsado lahat ‘yan before pumasok at you take that leap of faith in having a baby or getting married,” Xian noted.
September 2022: KimXi made their big screen comeback!
Despite coming from two different networks, Kim and Xian led their big-screen comeback with the film Always.
October 2022: Kim says she’s *not* in a rush to settle down.
Months after Xian’s statements on marriage, Kim was also questioned about her thoughts on settling down with her longtime boyfriend. Although they’ve already talked about marriage, it’s not yet time, said the actress.
“Napag-uusapan naman namin iyan, basta abangan ninyo na lang. Ano pa lang naman kami, 30, 31 years old. Sa day and age sa ngayon masyado pang maaga yun,” she answered in an interview.
Kim sees Xian as her “Mr. Right.” She trusts her partner and praises him for his loyalty. “Mr. Right naman talaga siya. Di naman niya pinapasakit ang ulo ko. Xian is very loyal. Kahit iharap mo siya sa lahat ng mga girls, parang ako pa rin ang maganda,” she remarked.
December 2022: Kim and Xian spent another holiday together in France.
It appears to be a tradition for the couple to spend the holiday season together while traveling to another country. They always share moments of their trips on Instagram, making many jealous of their ~*sweetness*~! In December 2022, the couple enjoyed the winter season in Paris, France. They were very stylish and extremely romantic in the city of love!
July 2023: Kim greets Xian with a happy birthday.
“Happy Birthday to the person who holds my *heart*. Thank you for being you and always putting a smile on my face,” Kim posted on Instagram last July 2023. This was one of the last posts about Xian that Kim made this year.
November 3, 2023: Kim addressed persistent breakup rumors.
The year 2023 has been an eventful one for both Kim and Xian. They both had busy schedules and were rarely seen together as a couple. Rumors stating that the two have already broken up began circulating again this year.
In November 2023, Kim briefly addressed the rumors and said, “Baka nali-linlang lang kayo,” she said before directly responding. “Okay naman kami ni Xi…Mapanlinlang ang showbiz pero maayos naman [kami], masaya naman po.” Her statement came during her promotions for her hit Prime Video series Linlang, which she leads together with Paulo Avelino.
November 27, 2023: Kim asked for privacy concerning their relationship.
Less than a month after her first statement, Kim responded to another round of inquiries on their rumored breakup. This time, Kim asked for some privacy. “Grabe, sa amin na lang muna yon. We’ll just keep it to ourselves na muna,” she said in an interview.
December 12, 2023: Xian deleted his vlogs featuring Kim on his YouTube channel.
Eagle-eyed netizens noticed that Xian has removed all the vlogs featuring Kim on his YouTube channel. More speculations about their rumored breakup surfaced due to this action.
December 17, 2023: Kim described her love life as “naka-hang.”
Kim made a clear statement about the current status of her love life right now. In a vlog with Maricel Soriano, the Diamond Star asked her, “Kamusta daw ang love life mo? Tinatanong nila love life mo, e. Hindi naman ako makasagot, ‘Day, dahil hindi naman ako ikaw.”
Her response was, “Ang love life ko ay naka-hang ngayon.”
