LayarHijau – Chinese superstar Chen Xiao has finally made his first public appearance since his divorce from Michelle Chen Yanxi was announced in February this year. Chen Xiao’s debut at the promotional event for his latest series, Legend of Magnate (大生意人), immediately drew sharp scrutiny, as he appeared dramatically thinner with noticeably sunken cheeks.
Since the separation, Chen Xiao chose to keep a distance from the public spotlight, unlike Michelle Chen who has actively posted on social media. When he appeared in a black suit with shoulder-length hair, the drastic change in his physique instantly became the talk of the town.
The Striking Physical Change
Chen Xiao’s face looked hollow, his eyes appearing dim and listless, a stark contrast to his normally handsome and energetic image. Many netizens found it difficult to recognize him, and this appearance triggered viral comments on social media:
“He is so incredibly thin!” “It looks like his vitality has been completely absorbed.” “Why does he look so haggard and aged?” “He’s 38, but he looks like 48.”
This topic quickly became a trending sensation.
Clarification: Full Dedication to His On-Screen Role
Seeing his drastic condition, speculation about emotional stress from the divorce or an “unhealed love wound” circulated among netizens.
However, his management studio swiftly issued a clarification, stating that the weight loss was part of Chen Xiao’s dedication and professional demands for his new role.
Chen Xiao intentionally shed weight to portray the character “Gu Pingyuan” in Legend of Magnate, which required a figure that looked sharp, restrained, and reflected suffering after a period of exile.
Extreme Weight Loss
To achieve the physique required for a character who had just returned from exile in Ningguta, Chen Xiao underwent a strict diet of only steamed vegetables combined with high-intensity training every day, successfully losing 8.5 kilograms (15 kati).
Not only that, Chen Xiao’s acting commitment was also proven by his efforts to deeply study the character’s details, including practicing secret treasurer codes, reviewing historical archives of banks in Shanxi, and even taking a tea appraisal certification exam.
Currently, Chen Xiao is still filming the historical series Qin Mi (秦謎), where he plays Qin Shi Huang (The First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty) from youth to old age. His current physical change and long hair are also adjusted to meet the needs of his role as the emperor.
