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| Netizens Fall for Song Zuer’s “Hot Gran” Tree Spirit Look in Fantasy Drama Cameo (WeTV) |
Looks like Song Zuer’s back in full force – and this time, she’s ageing like fine wine… literally. The actress, who’s been steadily rebuilding her career since that 2023 tax scandal, has gone viral once again, this time for her jaw-dropping cameo in the new drama Liao Zhai. Playing a thousand-year-old tree spirit in the Nie Xiaoqian arc, Zuer’s been dubbed by fans as “the most beautiful grandmother in history” – and honestly? We see it.
It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role, but her presence? Unforgettable. Even before the episode aired, stills of her character were making the rounds online – and netizens were shook. “If my grandma looked like this, I’d be scared to go to sleep,” one user joked. Another said, “Forget Nie Xiaoqian, I’d follow her into the ghost realm any day.”
A Comeback with Layers – Literally
Song Zuer’s character is no one-note ghost. As the ancient tree demon from Pu Songling’s Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, she goes through five dramatic costume transformations, each one showing a different side of her powers – from gentle and tragic to eerie and all-out terrifying. In the early scenes, she’s seen floating ethereally in flowing white robes, exuding that classic, soft spiritual beauty. But once her darker side kicks in? It’s smoky eyes, sharp red lips, and fierce black attire with an aura that says “don’t mess with me.”
It’s a clever twist on the usual “old spirit” trope. Instead of going full wrinkly prosthetics, the production leans into her ageless beauty while letting the visual effects and costuming do the work. Netizens were quick to praise the choice. “She’s haunting and hot,” wrote one fan. “She didn’t age, she upgraded.”
#LiaoZhai released a poster and new special video of #SongZuer 🌸🤍
— cip🍋🦢 (@jkfairys) June 21, 2025
our demon so prettyyyy~ pic.twitter.com/WbpdC5LEmb
Classic Tale, Modern Shine
If the name Nie Xiaoqian rings a bell, it should. The ghostly love story between a kind-hearted scholar and a beautiful spirit has been adapted into countless films and dramas over the years. This latest version stars up-and-comer He Shiyu (from She and Her Girls) as the titular Nie Xiaoqian, while Gao Han – who you might remember from Falling Into Your Smile – plays Ning Caichen.
In this twist, though, all eyes were on Song Zuer’s tree spirit, who plays the original “master” of Nie Xiaoqian and is meant to be a fearsome older figure. Instead, she stole the scene by being too stunning. “If this was the villain, I wouldn’t want her defeated,” one comment read. “I’d let her drain my life force, and say thank you.”
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From Ghostly to Grounded: Song Zuer’s Busy Season
Song Zuer’s brief dip into the supernatural isn’t the only thing keeping her in the spotlight. Her modern drama Created in China – co-starring Zhang Xincheng – has also been gaining traction. She plays Cui Bingbing, a no-nonsense bank loan officer who butts heads (and maybe something more?) with hot-headed entrepreneur Liu Jun.
It’s a totally different vibe from Liao Zhai, but it shows just how versatile she is – whether she’s scaring you silly or chasing overdue loan payments.
Reputation Reset? Looks Like It
With The Demon Hunter’s Romance, The Prisoner of Beauty, and now Liao Zhai under her belt post-scandal, Song Zuer’s comeback arc is looking better by the day. From “cancelled” to commanding the screen again, she’s proving she’s not just back – she’s levelling up.
And if playing a thousand-year-old tree demon has the internet calling her the prettiest granny of all time? Then maybe age really is just a number – especially in the world of Chinese fantasy dramas.