Actress Jing Tian has made a confident public appearance at a promotional event for her upcoming drama Long Gu Fen Xiang, marking her return to the spotlight after being caught in a storm of allegations involving a wealthy ex-boyfriend and surrogacy.

According to Sina, Jing Tian attended Tencent Video’s annual content showcase to introduce her new television drama Long Gu Fen Xiang. The series reunites her with Zhang Binbin, with whom she previously shared successful on-screen chemistry.

Dressed in an elegant black gown, Jing Tian appeared cheerful and composed throughout the event, showing no visible signs of being affected by the controversy that dominated headlines just weeks earlier. Chinese media suggested that her appearance indicates she has successfully resolved issues behind the scenes and is unlikely to face any industry restrictions over the scandal.

In late May, Chinese social media erupted after an English-language surrogacy agreement from the United States surfaced online. The document reportedly contained the signature “Tian Jing,” leading many to speculate that it belonged to Jing Tian. According to the leaked paperwork, the actress allegedly requested an initial deposit of US$100,000 from her boyfriend. However, he was said to have transferred her as much as 30 million yuan (approximately US$4.1 million) instead.

According to 163, Jing Tian and her then-boyfriend allegedly traveled to the United States to arrange a surrogate pregnancy, avoiding China’s strict ban on commercial surrogacy. Reports claimed the businessman reserved an entire floor of a luxury hotel in Los Angeles exclusively for the actress during the process.

The report further alleged that Jing Tian later demanded hundreds of millions of yuan more before agreeing to provide her eggs. When her request was reportedly rejected, she returned to China, cut off all communication, and refused to return the 50 million yuan she had allegedly received in advance. The businessman is said to have subsequently filed a lawsuit against her.

Although Jing Tian denied that she was the person mentioned in the viral posts, internet users claimed to have found several details that appeared to match her circumstances. Critics also argued that her official statement focused on diverting attention rather than directly denying the surrogacy allegations.

According to 163, surrogacy is illegal under Chinese law, making it necessary for Jing Tian’s team to issue an immediate denial. However, after the statement was released, the actress largely disappeared from public view while reports emerged that she had urgently listed a luxury apartment near Shanghai’s Huangpu River for sale. The property was reportedly worth more than US$22 million, fueling speculation that she was attempting to raise funds to settle financial obligations.

Long Gu Fen Xiang is adapted from a novel by acclaimed author Wei Yu, whose previous works have inspired successful television dramas.

The drama will be directed by Li Muge, the filmmaker behind the acclaimed series Good Bye, My Princess (2019) and Rattan (2021). The story follows Meng Qian Zi, portrayed by Jing Tian, the heir to the title of “Throne” within the mysterious Mountain Ghost clan, as she embarks on a dangerous adventure alongside Jiang Lian, played by Zhang Binbin.

Zhang Binbin remains one of Jing Tian’s most popular screen partners. Their chemistry in Rattan earned widespread praise, making their reunion in Long Gu Fen Xiang one of the most anticipated collaborations among Chinese drama fans.

Sources: K14