In a recent news report on November 28, 2025, mainland Chinese actor Chen Xiao’s costume drama “The Great Businessman”, which he stars in, has been extremely popular since its premiere on November 25. Prior to the debut of the new drama, Chen Xiao made a significant gesture by changing his Weibo background image that he had used for 11 years, sparking widespread attention.
“The Great Businessman” tells the story of Gu Pingyuan, a late Qing dynasty scholar who is framed and exiled to Ningguta. He then turns the tables and rises as a “business king” in a thrilling tale of bloodshed. The drama opens with a showdown of a thousand people in the snowy plains, with sword fights on the icy river, where Gu Pingyuan bursts into the chaotic scene. Currently airing four episodes, Chen Xiao’s portrayal of Gu Pingyuan in the daring “Escape from Ningguta” scene has stirred passionate discussions among viewers.
Playing the scholar Gu Pingyuan, Chen Xiao’s character is entangled in exile, conspiracies, and business battles. His character undergoes a significant transformation from being refined and scholarly to becoming resolute and strategic, from enduring humiliation to bravely facing challenges, showcasing a great character arc. In order to embody the role, Chen Xiao even shed 15 pounds, sharpening his cheekbones and hollowing his cheeks.
The drastic weight loss of Chen Xiao initially led the public to link it with his recent divorce from Chen Yanxi, speculating that he was in a “declining state” and deeply affected post-divorce. However, the truth is that this extreme physical transformation was solely for the demands of the character.
The director of the drama, Zhang Ting, praised Chen Xiao as the “only choice” to play Gu Pingyuan, believing that Chen Xiao balances the scholarly aura and business acumen of his character perfectly. Chen Xiao explained in an interview, “The character of Gu Pingyuan requires a sense of sharpness, and sharpness starts with being lean. The change in appearance is to quickly immerse myself into the role.”
Chen Xiao once revealed, “Upon reading the script for the first time, I felt that this character belonged to me, it was a kind of calling.” Director Zhang Ting also confirmed, “When the script was completed, I only had Chen Xiao in mind, I didn’t even look for anyone else.”
As his character navigates through the ordeals of Ningguta, life and death pursuits, and the twists and turns of the business world, Chen Xiao reflects, “If Gu Pingyuan hadn’t experienced these hardships, he would have thought of himself only as a scholar. Now he realizes that his abilities surpass his own imagination.”
In a scenario with almost zero pre-hype, the drama “The Great Businessman” made a surprising debut on television on November 25 and within just 27 minutes of airing, the viewership rate exceeded 3%, peaking at 3.2%.
Apart from the soaring viewership and rave reviews, “The Great Businessman” has garnered strong support from Chen Xiao’s circle of friends in the industry. Producer Yu Zheng, who previously promoted Chen Xiao and adapted multiple plays including “The Romance of the Condor Heroes”, took the lead in recommending the drama on Weibo, saying, “If I like the story, the actors, and the producers of a drama, then it must be worth a try!” and expressed anticipation for “The Great Businessman” to soar high.
Actress Sun Li, who previously worked with Chen Xiao in “Nothing Gold Can Stay”, posted a trailer on Weibo on November 24, shouting out, “Support Prince Xiao’s ‘The Great Businessman’!” This nickname “Prince Xiao” hides a fun story that spans 8 years.
While shooting “Nothing Gold Can Stay” in 2017, Chen Xiao and Sun Li had a scene that required a continuous shot of them running. After running for a bit, Chen Xiao suddenly sat down on the ground, clutching his chest and gasping for breath, to which Sun Li teasingly remarked, “Isn’t this just the warm-up?” Later, during a dance scene, Chen Xiao spun around and promptly fainted. These incidents led Sun Li to jokingly refer to Chen Xiao as “Prince Xiao”. This nickname not only teased Chen Xiao’s physical stamina at the time but also became a testament to the friendship between the two.
Of note, prior to the debut of the new drama, Chen Xiao made a poignant gesture by changing his Weibo background image that he had used for 11 years. He replaced it with a picture of Gu Pingyuan, his character in “The Great Businessman”, riding a horse at full speed. The previous Weibo background image was a hand-drawn portrait of Yang Guo from “The Romance of the Condor Heroes”, a classic role played by Chen Xiao and also a witness to his love story with Chen Yanxi.
Some netizens pointed out that when rumors of their divorce were swirling, Chen Xiao did not change this Weibo background image. Even when their 9-year marriage officially ended, Chen Xiao did not remove it. The recent change indicates his firm decision to cut ties with the past.