On August 3, Zhao Lusi’s livestream shot to the top of trending searches. Over 30 million people flooded in, just to hear her say: “I’m not crazy, thank you.”
Four simple words, yet they carried a heavy weight. The same girl who once laughed so freely on screen now had to prove her sanity with a single sentence.
Her story isn’t unfamiliar. In 2019, she signed with Galaxy Cool Entertainment, then on the verge of collapse. With The Romance of Tiger and Rose, she became an overnight sensation, reviving the company and earning the title “Queen of Sweet Romance.” But her freedom slipped away—she couldn’t choose her roles, couldn’t decide endorsements, even her studio was taken over. An eight-year contract became a noose around her neck.
In a long post, she accused the company of withholding pay, blocking termination, and even threatening to blacklist her. Her final words—“I quit”—looked light, but felt like pushing her entire career onto the gambling table. Industry insiders say the penalty could reach 400 million yuan, essentially trading her future for freedom.
Some call her “crazy.” To me, she seems painfully clear-eyed. Stripping away the façade, refusing silence—this so-called lack of “dignity” is perhaps her bravest moment.
Maybe only the people involved know the full truth. But in this gamble, Zhao Lusi isn’t betting on more fame—she’s betting on living as herself.
