Few celebrity scandals in Chinese entertainment have been as shocking as Li Xiaolu’s affair with younger rapper PGone, a controversy that not only ended her marriage to Jia Nailiang but also brought her once-thriving career to a standstill.

The affair, which erupted at the end of 2017, destroyed Li Xiaolu’s carefully built public image. She faced intense criticism from the public, lost endorsement deals, disappeared from mainstream acting projects, and has since relied primarily on livestream shopping and online content creation.

During a recent livestream, Li Xiaolu unexpectedly reflected on the events that changed her life. She admitted that her career had been so successful from a young age that she eventually convinced herself love was more important than anything else. According to the actress, her rapid rise in the entertainment industry led her to place relationships above her career, a mindset she now believes contributed to the mistakes she made in her marriage.

Today, Li Xiaolu says she fully understands the price she has paid. She no longer receives acting offers or major commercial endorsements and spends most of her time dancing or livestreaming online. She admitted that remaining in this situation for so long has gradually eroded her confidence. If she unexpectedly meets former colleagues who are still active stars, she often feels embarrassed and tries to leave as quickly as possible.

The actress also appeared to hint at one of the men from her past. “Although he was very sensitive and suspicious, I believed he truly loved me. That’s just how I was when I was consumed by love,” she said. She did not clarify whether she was referring to her ex-husband Jia Nailiang or former lover PGone.

Born in 1982, Li Xiaolu enjoyed remarkable success from an early age. Blessed with striking looks, natural acting talent, and a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry, she began acting at just three years old. At 17, she became the youngest actress ever to win the Golden Horse Award for Best Actress, a record that stood for many years.

Li Xiaolu met Jia Nailiang through mutual friends in 2011. According to reports, Jia fell in love with her at first sight and pursued her wholeheartedly. He reportedly went to great lengths to win her affection, constantly trying to become the ideal partner she wanted. He was not only devoted to Li Xiaolu but also respectful toward her parents, eventually earning her acceptance and leading to their engagement.

However, Li Xiaolu’s mother, Zhang Weixin, reportedly had reservations about the relationship from the beginning. She believed the emotional balance between the couple was uneven, with Jia Nailiang investing far more into the relationship than her daughter. Zhang reportedly warned that such an imbalance could eventually create problems in marriage.

Li Xiaolu herself also recognized that she and Jia Nailiang came from different backgrounds and had contrasting personalities and life philosophies. Despite those concerns, she chose to marry him, ignoring her mother’s advice. Years later, reports claimed Zhang regretted supporting the marriage after seeing how events unfolded.

After their wedding, the couple welcomed their daughter and quickly became one of Chinese entertainment’s most admired celebrity families. Jia Nailiang’s popularity also grew thanks to his image as a devoted husband and father, leaving him increasingly busy with work commitments. Meanwhile, Li Xiaolu gradually stepped back from acting to focus on family life.

According to Chinese media outlet Sohu, differences in lifestyle, conflicting values, and spending less time together gradually weakened their relationship. Everything ultimately came to an end when Li Xiaolu’s affair scandal exploded in late 2017, bringing an abrupt conclusion to what had once been considered one of the industry’s fairy-tale marriages.

In late 2019, Li Xiaolu and Jia Nailiang officially announced their divorce, with Li Xiaolu receiving custody of their daughter. While their marriage ended legally, the affair scandal continued to cast a long shadow over Li Xiaolu’s career, permanently changing her place in the Chinese entertainment industry.

Sources: K14