Reflections from Ziyu: Shaving His Head, Acting Through Fire, and What Played on His Mind

A Shaved Head, A Bright Sun, and A Strange New Feeling

On September 16, Ziyu posted on Weibo about his time playing the character “BianJi.” He shared how odd but powerful it felt when, after shaving his head, sunlight fell on his bare scalp during an execution scene. The rain had just stopped. The air was cold and damp. The location looked ancient—like something out of the Spring and Autumn or Warring States era. Seeing the sun hit his head made him realize he never expected to feel his scalp exposed like that. It was strange … but filled with a kind of raw beauty.

The Temple, the Princess, the Quiet Heartache

There was another scene in a temple that left a deep impression. Before filming, the setting was still. Ziyu played with candles as he waited. When his character sees Princess Gaoyang coming for him, he imagined how BianJi would feel: happy to see her, but also fearful. Because BianJi knows his place. When she tells him she must marry, there’s a wrench in his heart—one he hides. He controls what he shows. The only true tremor is in his hand, hidden under his robes. Then when she gives him the chāngpú grass wreath, he is moved, but must stay composed. Only once she walks away does he allow himself a quiet moment to hold it gently, to understand what’s inside him.

Fire, Smoke, Ash—Acting Through the Chaos

One night they filmed a rescue scene amid smoke and flames. The air was thick with burning wood and black soot. Every take meant stepping outside, inhaling smoke until it stung. Ziyu remembers washing off layers of ash afterward—his face, his clothes, even his nose full of soot. In another scene, they dragged charcoal ashes across his face until he looked like “a little dirty mess.” It was uncomfortable. It was cold. It was intense. But he says these moments also felt strangely alive.

After the Cut—What Stayed With Him

When filming ended, his hair began growing back. He remembers skipping shampoo, simplifying washing. Even drying his hair felt like a novelty. Every small detail stayed vivid: the sun, the rain, the sweat, the ash. These weren’t just scenes—they were parts of him discovering what it means to become a role.

He ends by saying thank you—to the character BianJi, for letting him walk in that life, and to the audience, for being part of this journey. He hopes that in some other timeline, BianJi can be happy.

Source: Weibo original post by Ziyu