Chinese star Zhao Lusi, who has broken free from the constraints of her former employer, did not participate in any New Year’s Eve performances this year. Dealing with illness and still on medication, she revealed her fear of recalling the low point of last year when she fell ill. Uncertain of her emotions, she decided not to take on any activities or large-scale performances.
Last year, while filming the new drama “Lover,” Zhao Lusi fell ill and had to be rushed to the hospital. In a video from that time, she was seen sitting in a wheelchair at the hospital, leaning weakly against her shoulder, curled up with a pale face and a tube in her nose, a sight that shocked many. Her struggles with aphasia and depression were also exposed as a result of this incident.
Subsequently, Zhao Lusi did not complete filming for “Lover” as the production team announced its dissolution prematurely, leaving fans waiting anxiously for the resumption of filming. It was only after recovering from her illness that Zhao Lusi revealed her former company, “Galaxy Cool Entertainment,” demanded compensation for all losses, leading to a formal falling out between the two parties.
In a surprising turn of events, Zhao Lusi, at her wit’s end, clinched the 2025 Drama King title with “Shine for Me,” a project that had zero pre-promotion or publicity. Not only did this success skyrocket her career once again, but it also allowed her to break free from the constraints of her former employer, “Galaxy Cool Entertainment,” without having to pay exorbitant breach-of-contract fees, as she signed with a new company.
After going an entire year without filming, fans closely monitored Zhao Lusi’s next steps. Recently, she chose not to participate in any New Year’s Eve performances, opting instead to go live on social media platforms to chat with fans about her current situation.
When asked why she didn’t take on any New Year’s Eve activities, Zhao Lusi reminisced during the livestream, citing the serious physical and emotional toll she experienced from 2024 to 2025. She expressed sensitivity during these days and hesitated to take on work in fear of the impact her emotions might have on her physical well-being. She candidly stated, “When I stand on stage, I can feel many disapproving glances, making it difficult to say ‘thank you’ to those eyes.”
“For me, spending this time (end of the year and start of the year) at home in a more stable manner feels better,” Zhao Lusi shared, considering it a way to protect herself. She also hopes to gradually reduce her medication intake in 2026 to improve her overall health.
Regarding her work plans for the new year, Zhao Lusi revealed she has received several scripts and is currently evaluating and selecting them. She anticipates starting production as early as spring. Zhao Lusi assured fans that she will make sure to adjust herself to the best condition before filming to avoid delaying production schedules. In addition to filming, she will release multiple new songs and participate in music video shoots. During the livestream, Zhao Lusi also sought fans’ opinions, expressing her desire to record variety shows. She believes that if the outside world can understand her true self better, it would be a seamless endeavor for her.
The livestream enabled Zhao Lusi to gain an additional 200,000 fans, hinting at her plans for 2026, including new songs, direct involvement in music video filming, endorsements, and invitations to variety shows. She will continue to consider fans’ opinions and venture into various different fields. These upcoming projects have left fans pleasantly surprised and eagerly awaiting her full return.