LayarHijau – Chinese actor Xu Kai, known for his roles in Story of Yanxi Palace (延禧攻略), Best Choice Ever (承欢记), and As Beautiful As You (你比星光美丽), once captivated audiences with his gentle and romantic screen image. However, that image took a sharp downturn after he was accused of cheating with actress Zhao Qing and participating in illegal gambling, placing his career on the brink of collapse.
The controversy began when actress Xu Lisha — best known for New Life Begins (卿卿日常) — claimed that she had once been in a relationship with Xu Kai and accused him of cheating with Zhao Qing while both were still filming separate projects. She also alleged that she had experienced violence during their relationship. Shortly after, well-known paparazzo Baixiaosheng accused Xu Kai of frequently organizing gambling sessions with friends. He alleged that Xu had been involved in such activities since 2021 during the filming of Snow Eagle Lord (雪鹰领主) with Guli Nazha, and continued doing so in 2023 while shooting As Beautiful As You.
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The series of accusations immediately damaged Xu Kai’s public reputation. His then-airing drama Moonlit Reunion (子夜归) was heavily criticized in online discussions. Despite the media frenzy, Xu Kai chose to remain completely silent, refraining from any public interaction. All official responses were handled by his agency head and manager, Yu Zheng, who worked to reassure sponsors and production teams, WZ Gossip Boy wrote on Baijiahao Baidu.
Fortunately, Xu Kai already had several completed projects before the controversy broke out, including A Cup of Love (一瓯春), Fire Investigator (火场追凶), and 800 Meters (方圆八百米)。Since the gambling accusations have not been legally proven, and the alleged affair was considered a moral rather than criminal issue, his career avoided total collapse. Xu Kai adopted a “low profile” strategy, disappearing from public view to let the situation cool down.
After nearly two months of staying out of sight, Xu Kai has finally reappeared in public. On October 6, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, he was spotted at Shenzhen Airport dressed casually in all black. Appearing calm and composed, Xu Kai smiled and waved to fans who had gathered to greet him. According to reports, he was heading to Hengdian, Zhejiang, to prepare for his upcoming costume drama The Order of the Wind (听风令)。
Earlier rumors suggested that Xu Kai might be replaced by Lost You Forever (长相思) actor Deng Wei due to concerns about negative publicity. However, recent reports revealed that negotiations fell through since Deng Wei only accepts leading roles, while Xu Kai had already been contracted as the male lead.
Xu Kai’s appearance at the airport marks a new chapter in his career recovery. Industry insiders noted that his comeback was made possible through Yu Zheng’s active mediation between the agency, investors, and production teams. For now, Xu Kai seems to have weathered the storm, with The Order of the Wind signaling that the entertainment industry is once again ready to welcome him back.
