LayarHijau – After Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼) aired its final episode on Saturday, October 11, Zhao Lusi once again found herself in the public spotlight. Her success as the female lead brought her back to the peak of popularity. However, attention has now shifted to another unfinished project: the drama Lovers (恋人), which she stars in alongside Peng Guanying from The Tale of Rose.
The drama was initially known as Almost Lover before its title was changed to Lovers. Production came to a halt late last year due to multiple issues—from Zhao Lusi’s health condition to changes in the production team.
According to information circulating on Baidu as of August 28, Lovers reportedly resumed filming in 2025 with a new team in charge. The production replaced the original director Deng Ke and the previous screenwriting team, while Zhao Lusi and Peng Guanying were said to have returned to set. Although reports claimed the episode count had been cut from 24 to 14 to pass censorship, Upmedia also noted that about one-third of the story—mainly the middle section focusing on the main couple’s relationship—had yet to be filmed. In other words, the beginning and ending parts were completed, but the emotional core of the drama remains unfinished.
This has made fans anxious that Lovers might end up feeling incomplete. Many worry that the romantic development between Zhao Lusi and Peng Guanying could be heavily reduced or even removed, as the unfinished sections reportedly contained most of their key emotional moments. “If the middle part disappears, how can viewers feel the depth of their relationship?” wrote one Weibo user.
Earlier, Zhao Lusi had publicly expressed frustration toward her agency, Galaxy Cool Entertainment, in a viral Weibo post. She wrote in a disappointed tone: “Eight months waiting for one result. This is it? The crew disbanded? Everyone left? And I’m the one who has to pay the penalty?” The post suggested that internal conflicts had worsened the production’s situation, eventually leading to a full suspension.
However, while rumors continue to claim filming has resumed, Zhao Lusi’s latest statement tells a different story. In a recent livestreaming, the 25-year-old actress revealed that she is still focusing on recovery and not yet ready to return to work.
Previously, Zhao Lusi was involved in a contract dispute with her agency, Galaxy Cool Entertainment. During that time, she suffered from chronic depression accompanied by severe symptoms such as aphasia (loss of speech ability) and difficulty walking. “Every time I do a livestream or attend an event, I need a long rest afterward. It feels completely draining,” she admitted.
She also shared her latest medical examination results, which showed “a deep blue pattern” in her brainwave scan—an indication of low brain activity. Although her mood is now more stable than before, Zhao Lusi emphasized that health remains her top priority. “Right now, my health is the most important thing. I want to stabilize my body and emotions first,” she said.
In addition to the resumption rumors, speculation also emerged that the production team planned to rename the series from Lovers to Flowing Fish (流鱼) to help it pass censorship and distance itself from previous controversies. However, netizens criticized the idea, calling it an attempt to cover up unresolved issues rather than improve the storytelling quality.
On a brighter note, Zhao Lusi’s physical health has reportedly improved since reducing her workload. She mentioned that her skin condition has stabilized—rashes and allergic reactions that frequently appeared in the past have almost completely disappeared this year.
Fans have flooded social media with messages of encouragement, expressing hope that the actress will fully recover before returning to the screen. “You’re already radiant just as you are,” one fan wrote, while another added, “Health is far more important than anything else.”
For now, the future of Lovers remains uncertain. Some sources claim filming is back on track with a new team, while Zhao Lusi’s own statement suggests otherwise. The public can only wait for an official confirmation from the production side to learn the true fate of this long-anticipated drama.
