Chinese actress Zhao Lusi appeared in public for the first time on Monday after suffering from a serious illness that made her lose weight, which caused quite a stir on the Internet.

The "Hidden Love" actress said her rapid decline to 37 kilograms (her thinnest) was connected to Dissociative Conversion Disorder, which presents neurological symptoms with psychological causes.

Speaking candidly at a media event, Zhao, 25, who currently weighs 41 kg, shared that she initially attributed her weight loss to an egg allergy.

"I wasn't trying to lose weight," she said. "After losing weight drastically, I didn't pay much attention because I thought it was due to my allergy to eggs."

Even though Zhao was eating normally, her weight was dropping alarmingly until Zhao felt unwell and went to the hospital.

"Then I ate a lot every day, but still couldn't gain weight," Zhao recalled.

"For me, I only realized there was a problem when there was discomfort in my body."

The actress's health issues first came to light in December when images of her in a wheelchair made rounds among fans.

Her management said, "She has been overworked and needs a break," confirming that she was hospitalized.

Zhao took to Weibo on January 1 and wrote about her battle with depression and other ailments since 2019, revealing her worsening condition had prevented her from fully recovering earlier, although it took time for her to seek help.

Zhao said in an interview that the diagnosis and recovery process was a "wake-up call."

She stressed the importance of setting her personal well-being as one of the firsts, both for her emotional and physical health.

"I have re-established Zhao Lusi's boundaries, setting up a protective barrier for myself to better protect my emotions," she said.

It was well-received by fans who praised Zhao's openness about her experience with health and her experience within the fandom and the industry.

Fans have warmly received Zhao Lusi's return into the spotlight, with many praising her for being brave enough to face her battles in the public eye.