LayarHijau.com – On May 29, the short drama adaptation of the classic IP My Fair Princess (Huan Zhu Ge Ge) officially began filming in Hengdian. The drama, now officially titled Returning Pearl, stars Hu Lianxin and Luo Yizhou, who both appeared at the launch ceremony.
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According to Sohu reports, the series will have 30 episodes, each about 15 minutes long. With a core concept of “time travel + fixing the original plot,” the story mixes light comedy and fantasy elements. Hu Lianxin plays Lin Suisui, a woman who accidentally travels into the world of the original My Fair Princess, where the plot has already gone off track, and she must work to set things right.
What’s grabbing attention is that this marks Hu Lianxin’s first comeback since last year’s leaked private video scandal. Choosing to return through a short-form drama seems to follow a trend among celebrities whose reputations have taken a hit in recent years.
Why are so many artists making their comebacks through short dramas?
First, the short drama market is currently hungry for traffic and big names. Well-known actors usually don’t face major barriers joining these projects. What’s different here is that Returning Pearl is a major platform-led production, so landing a role may be tougher — but ultimately, it still depends on whether the artist is willing to take on a short drama.
Second, the short drama space is still considered more flexible and less strictly regulated compared to traditional film or TV industries. As long as the participating artists don’t cross certain red lines, the social risk they bring is relatively low, making it easier for them to get back in.
On the flip side, short dramas still belong to the broader entertainment industry. For artists looking to rebuild their careers, a successful short drama can send a positive signal to the industry.
It’s important to note that while Hu Lianxin’s reputation suffered, she wasn’t found guilty of any crimes or causing severe social harm in her scandal. Her comeback has mostly been delayed due to companies in the industry trying to avoid risk — which makes the short drama path a feasible option.
However, for artists involved in major scandals or classified as “tainted celebrities”, short dramas remain off-limits. For example, earlier this February, actress Zheng Shuang — who has been banned from the industry for nearly four years — suddenly announced a planned comeback through the short drama Fu Chen, said to be 90% based on her real-life disputes with ex-husband Zhang Heng. But once the news broke, it sparked a public outcry, and to this day, no further updates on the project have surfaced.
According to the revised 2024 Performing Artist Code of Conduct, artists with serious misconduct are strictly banned from returning in any form. In March, regulators also issued a special risk notice reminding short drama producers to reject actors with criminal or major ethical violations.
That said, some artists with milder reputational damage are still testing the waters through short dramas. But it’s clear that beyond just securing a comeback opportunity, they also need to win over public sentiment. And as experience has shown, “the internet never forgets.”
[…] Lianxin returned to the screen in a new short-form remake of Princess Returning Pearl (还珠), playing a reimagined version of the beloved character “Lin Suisui” in a […]