Li Zekai & Lin Dan: Scandals & Affairs – Literature City

In November 2016, a secretly filmed video went viral. Badminton king Lin Dan intimately hugged a woman in the hotel corridor. The two were moving ambiguously in the picture. At that time, Lin Dan’s wife Xie Xingfang had just given birth to a child less than two weeks ago. The heroine in the video was quickly recognized – she was the former beauty pageant champion Zhao Yaqi. What is even more surprising is that the media uncovered her early scandal with Hong Kong tycoon Richard Li. Why is this woman able to fascinate top men one after another? Behind her charm lies a series of controversies and choices.

Zhao Yaqi was born in an ordinary family in Liaoning. She showed her dancing talent since she was a child and achieved excellent results. She once aspired to become a lawyer and was admitted to the Law Department of Sun Yat-sen University through hard work. She was already the center of attention on campus, with her tall figure and delicate facial features attracting countless eyes, but at that time she was still focused on her studies.

In 2005, a friend said to her, “You are so outstanding, it would be a shame not to try beauty pageants.” She signed up for the Miss Intercontinental Universe contest with a playful attitude. With no modeling experience, she made it all the way through and eventually won the third runner-up in China, and also won the “Miss Best Temperament” award. This competition completely changed the trajectory of her life.

After her success in the beauty pageant, Zhao Yaqi gave up her legal career and entered the acting department of the Central Academy of Drama. She has participated in many modeling competitions and won the Miss Tourism Universe China title in 2009, gradually emerging in the fashion industry. In 2011, the movie “Lily” starring in her won the Huabiao Award, and her career entered the fast lane. Paris Fashion Week invited her, and French television produced a feature film for her, calling her the “Star of China.”

At the end of 2009, Zhao Yaqi met Hong Kong tycoon Li Zekai at a business event. At that time, Li Zekai was dating actress Liang Luoshi, and the two already had children. The media repeatedly photographed Li Zekai and Zhao Yaqi traveling together, having dinner together in Central, walking along Victoria Harbor, and even visiting private clubs. The scandal intensified. Li Zekai quickly clarified that he was “just a friend” and Zhao Yaqi also denied involvement, but the public did not buy it.

This relationship lasted for nearly two years and finally ended when Li Zekai announced their breakup after Liang Luoshi gave birth to twins. Zhao Yaqi did not marry into a wealthy family, but because of the “mistress” label, her image in the Hong Kong entertainment industry was damaged, and she was forced to shift her career focus back to the mainland.

In 2012, Zhao Yaqi met actor Gao Hu through an industry gathering. Gao Hu was attracted by her intellectual temperament and took the initiative to find resources for her to help her participate in works such as “I Don’t Want to Marry”. The two have lived together for many years and once discussed marriage. But when Gao Hu was arrested for drug-related charges in 2014, Zhao Yaqi immediately drew a clear line and was criticized as “ruthless and unjust”. The end of this relationship caused her reputation in the industry to further decline.

On November 17, 2016, paparazzi exposed a video of Lin Dan and Zhao Yaqi cuddling in a hotel. Surveillance showed that Zhao Yaqi opened the door wearing a bathrobe, and Lin Dan then entered the room. At this time, Lin Dan’s wife Xie Xingfang was still pregnant, and the incident triggered nationwide condemnation. Lin Dan apologized on Weibo that day: “As a man, I will not defend myself.” Xie Xingfang chose to forgive, while Zhao Yaqi became the target of public criticism.

On November 22, Zhao Yaqi held a press conference and cried and apologized, saying that she “did not take the initiative to destroy the marriage.” However, netizens accused her of knowing the truth. All her endorsements and drama contracts were terminated, she faded out of the entertainment industry, and her social accounts were filled with abuse. When Lin Dan retired in 2020, Zhao Yaqi once again caused controversy by posting a post about “paying for your youth.”

Since 2019, Zhao Yaqi has tried to transform into self-media. The initial video barrages were full of malice. She shared skin care and travel routines, and the content was bland. In recent years, her update frequency has become less frequent, and she only occasionally posts photos of cooking or travel. Her former aura is no longer there. There were rumors that she was trying to return to the legal profession, but this was not confirmed.

A producer who has worked with Zhao Yaqi revealed: “She always said that beauty is a shortcut, but in the end she found that it was a trap.” Today, Lin Dan and Xie Xingfang’s families seem to be harmonious, Li Zekai continues to expand business, and Zhao Yaqi’s name has become a negative case. When public figures are tried for their personal ethics, are women the only ones who have to bear the main price? Her story leaves readers with a controversy: at the boundary between emotion and ambition, how should people measure temptation and bottom line?