Once hailed as a pure and promising “muse” of prime-time Chinese television, Gen Z actress Xu Zijun has become one of the most controversial figures in C-entertainment after explosive allegations revealed her involvement in an affair with veteran actor Gao Yalin, a married man with a child. The scandal not only shattered her carefully crafted image but also ignited widespread public fury due to her subsequent statements and demands.

The controversy erupted in 2024 when Xu Zijun, born in 1998, was accused of being a “third party” who broke up the family of Gao Yalin and his wife, actress Wei Jia. Gao, long regarded as a “national dad” figure thanks to his wholesome on-screen image, saw his reputation collapse almost overnight. Xu, meanwhile, had been rising quickly as a fresh-faced actress frequently cast in prime-time dramas.

Photos surfaced in May 2024 showing Xu and Gao behaving suspiciously close on set, exchanging furtive glances and interacting intimately. Soon after, Wei Jia publicly named Xu Zijun as her husband’s mistress, confirming long-standing rumors. According to Wei, the affair began as early as 2020, when Xu was just starting out in the industry and fully aware that Gao was married.

Wei revealed that she discovered the affair in 2021 while she was two months pregnant. At the time, Gao allegedly left his pregnant wife at home to dine with Xu at an upscale restaurant, spending over 4,000 yuan. Although Gao claimed the relationship was “just for fun” and promised to cut ties, he reportedly continued seeing Xu in secret, even renaming her contact in his phone to hide the affair and financially supporting her for years.

The situation escalated further when Wei accused Gao of domestic violence, claiming he physically assaulted her while she was pregnant in order to protect Xu. Despite enduring years of betrayal for the sake of maintaining a complete family, Wei finally went public in early 2024 after Gao allegedly stopped providing financial support for their child. She stated that exposing the affair was her last resort after repeated attempts to resolve matters privately failed.

According to Wei, Xu Zijun received monthly financial support from Gao, totaling around 70,000 yuan over two years, along with luxury gifts. She also alleged that Xu benefited professionally from Gao’s influence, landing roles and even appearing on a television show where Gao served as a judge and openly favored her.

Following the scandal, Xu Zijun’s career collapsed almost instantly. Facing intense backlash, she released a lengthy statement denying that she intentionally became a mistress. She claimed Gao never disclosed his marriage or child when they first met, portraying herself as a young actress misled by a powerful senior. Xu admitted to going out to dinner with Gao and accepting money but insisted she never loved him and was not his mistress—a statement that further enraged the public.

In a move that shocked many, Xu demanded that Gao publicly apologize to her, arguing that his silence had turned her into a scapegoat and destroyed her career. “Accepting money does not mean I agreed to have my dignity trampled,” she wrote, asserting that she was the true victim.

Public opinion, however, remained overwhelmingly negative. Many netizens criticized her defense as shameless, arguing that accepting financial support from a married man for years while denying an emotional relationship reflected moral bankruptcy rather than innocence. Under mounting pressure, Xu shut down all her social media accounts and has since disappeared from the entertainment scene.

Industry insiders claim she has effectively been blacklisted, with no opportunities for acting roles, events, or media appearances. Once considered one of the most beautiful students at the Beijing Film Academy and a classmate of actress Guan Xiaotong, Xu Zijun’s rapid fall from grace now stands as one of the most infamous scandals involving a young actress in recent Chinese showbiz history.

Sources: K14