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| The Demon Hunter's Romance |
After nearly two years flying under the radar, Chinese actress Song Zuer is finally back—and she’s not doing it quietly.
The long-awaited fantasy drama The Demon Hunter's Romance dropped today, 12 April 2025, on iQIYI, marking her official return to showbiz.
Once seen as one of the brightest rising stars among the “post-95” generation of Chinese actresses, Song's career took a nosedive in 2023, when she got caught in a storm of tax evasion allegations.
It all kicked off in August 2023, when a whistleblower accused her of dodging taxes to the tune of 45 million yuan.
Within weeks, brands cut ties, dramas were yanked off schedules, and Song vanished from social media and public life altogether.
The silence lasted until August 2024, when her studio finally came forward. In a lengthy statement, they denied the tax evasion claims and clarified that no fines or penalties had been imposed.
They also mentioned that Song had already taken steps to double-check and resolve any financial inconsistencies under official guidance.
But now, at 26 years old, it looks like she’s ready to reclaim the spotlight—and The Demon Hunter's Romance is her first move.
The drama pairs her with actor Allen Ren (Ren Jialun) in a fantasy tale full of eerie encounters, forbidden powers and a romance that flirts with danger.
Song plays Ban Xia, a rich young woman cursed—or maybe blessed—with the ability to see demons hiding in plain sight. Treated like a freak, things get even worse when she realises her own sister-in-law is a demon.
On the run, Ban Xia crosses paths with Xuan Ye (Ren Jialun), a mysterious and handsome demon hunter. Together, they dive into a hidden world, but Xuan Ye has secrets of his own—turns out he might not be completely human either.
The drama boasts a solid supporting cast including Xuan Yan, Liu Ruogu, Liu Qiqi, He Lei, Wang Yiyao, Carlos Chan, and Hanikezi.
Fans are already buzzing about whether this means more of her “shelved” dramas will be released soon. Though she’s been quiet for a while, her return could signal a slow but solid comeback.
Whether audiences embrace her again or remain cautious, one thing's certain: Song Zuer is back on screen, and she's got demons to fight—both on and off set.