“She still exudes a youthful energy, like a young woman,” he said in an interview with Ifeng. “During our work together, I could feel that youthful vibe in her tone and subtle expressions.”

The series, which premiered on Feb. 28, consists of 57 episodes, each lasting under three minutes, and is aimed at middle-aged audiences. It garnered tens of thousands of viewers on its debut day.

While some praised the series for its dramatic appeal, others found the content formulaic, adhering to the popular trope of “a wealthy man falling in love with a poor woman.” This theme has become widely popular in the Chinese short film industry over the past year.

Liu is a celebrated icon in Chinese cinema, known for her iconic roles in “Wu Zetian,” “Huoshao Efang Gong,” “Huo Fenghuang,” “Hibiscus Town,” and “A Dream of Red Mansions.”

In a video posted to her social media last year, Liu shared that her 70s marked a time for new ventures, and she is open to exploring fresh opportunities. She believes she can still portray any character, except for male roles, adding: “Whether young or old, thin or fat, as long as it’s a role I haven’t done before, I can bring it to life.”

With 50 years in the industry, Liu’s primary criterion when selecting scripts is the uniqueness of the character, regardless of age or whether the role is positive or antagonistic.