 |
| Cheng Xiao Opens Up on Family Struggles and Her Sacrifices for K-pop Dream |
Cheng Xiao's got a shiny idol past, a growing acting career, and loads of fans – but even she’s not without regrets. The 26-year-old Chinese actress and former WJSN (Cosmic Girls) member recently made an honest confession on the Chinese reality show Daughters and Mothers, revealing that one of her deepest regrets is not being able to attend university.
Back when she was just 14, Cheng Xiao packed her bags and flew to South Korea to chase the K-pop dream. Under Yuehua Entertainment, she spent her teenage years as a trainee, eventually debuting as one of the standout visuals and performers in girl group WJSN. Her rise was quick and impressive – but it came at a cost.
On the show, her mum shared that they'd struck a deal with the agency: if Cheng didn't debut within two years, she’d return to China and continue her education as an international student. But life had other plans. Cheng debuted and quickly gained popularity, leaving school behind for centre stage.
 |
Though they both now look back with pride, the actress admitted that skipping higher education is something she still thinks about. “If you don't let me go, I'll regret it for the rest of my life,” she once wrote in a letter to her mum during those uncertain trainee years.
Her mum, torn between concern and support, decided to back her daughter all the way – even if it meant their relationship got rocky for a while.
“You just worried too much,” Cheng said to her mum with a gentle smile during the episode, reflecting on those early years of tension and distance.
Since leaving WJSN and returning to China, Cheng Xiao has built up a solid CV in entertainment. At 19, she became one of the youngest mentors on Idol Producer, and has appeared in various survival shows since. Her acting credits include The World of Fantasy, Falling Into Your Smile, and the recent fantasy drama Fangs of Fortune.
She might not have a university degree, but Cheng’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Still, her honesty on Daughters and Mothers showed a side we rarely get to see – a star who’s still learning, growing, and thinking about the ‘what ifs’.