According to AsiaOnethe 27-year-old actress was recognized by customers on Jan. 20.

Those who encountered Zhao said there was no production crew present, fueling speculation that the appearance was not commercially driven, The Star reported.

Videos shared online showed Zhao handling all aspects of the stall herself, from cooking and packaging the food to collecting payment. She was also seen chatting with customers, posing for photos with fans and handing out tanghulu to visitors at her stall.

Zhao later spoke about the experience during a livestream on the social media platform Xiaohongshu on Jan. 23.

“I spoke about opening a noodle business in my livestream last summer, because at the time I had the feeling that I might leave showbiz,” Zhao said. “It’s my desire to fulfill my wish [to operate a small business]so I went ahead and did it.”

She said the stall was set up quietly and that she was recognized only during the final two orders of the night.

“I felt blissful that day because the vendors around us took care of us very well and I am really happy,” she said. “I am just experiencing life in the most beautiful and warm-hearted way. I think it’s a boost for myself.”

Following Zhao’s livestream, netizens shared their encounters with the actress on social media.

“The egg pancake Lusi made for me was really delicious!” one user wrote. “I passed by a small stall and was wondering if I should try it, so I decided to buy one and realized that the person making it was Lusi!”

Another wrote: “I ate egg pancakes that Lusi made and spoke a lot with her. I also took a selfie with her and she is really very nice!”

The night market appearance was not Zhao’s first experience running a small business. In 2022, photos circulated on Weibo showing her selling wontons at MingDao University in Taiwan while she was an undergraduate student there. She reportedly bought pork from a nearby market each morning to prepare the wontons, which were popular among teachers and students.

Zhao rose to fame through a string of popular dramas, including “The Romance of Tiger and Rose,” “Dating in the Kitchen,” “Love Better Than Immortality,” “Love Like the Galaxy” and “Hidden Love.”

The actress has largely stayed out of the public eye over the past year following health issues she disclosed in early 2025. Speculation about her health arose in December 2024 after photos of her in a wheelchair at a hospital emergency department circulated online.

In January 2025, Zhao revealed that she had been suffering from depression since 2019 and initially avoided seeking treatment after being advised to be more “open-minded.” Her condition later worsened and was accompanied by physical symptoms including skin allergies, pneumonia and night sweats.

In addition to her health struggles, Zhao was involved in a public dispute with her former management agency, Galaxy Cool Entertainment. Zhao accused the company of mistreatment, while the agency said it had fulfilled its obligations regarding her work arrangements. She announced her departure from the company in August 2024.