Actress Zhang Ruonan recently saw a new peak in popularity after starring with Bai Jingting in the buzzy Chinese drama ‘Hard to Please’. Her fresh aura and gentle gaze have deeply captured people’s hearts, with netizens hailing her as the new ‘First Love Goddess’. However, as her profile rises, netizens have dug into her background and personal life, pointing out that after many years in the industry, she still rents her home, with most of her earnings used to support her family.
Zhang Ruonan, whose original name is ‘Zhang Ruonan’, was born into a traditional family as the eldest child, with two younger sisters and a younger brother. From an early age, she was taught the value of sharing family responsibilities, taking care of siblings and helping with housework as everyday tasks – all of which made her take up the role as the family’s pillar early on. This upbringing has also been interpreted as one of the reasons for her gentle and enduring temperament.
Since her debut, Zhang Ruonan has appeared in works such as ‘Cry Me a Sad River’ and ‘Your Wedding’, steadily building her acting credentials. Her recent starring turn in ‘Hard to Please’ has elevated her to stardom. According to online sources, her fee for the series was about 5 million RMB (approximately 2.91 million Ringgit), with accumulated box office for her works surpassing 1.5 billion RMB (about 870 million Ringgit), qualifying her as a top-tier actress.
Yet, in contrast to her impressive career achievements is her relatively low-key and frugal lifestyle. Netizens pointed out that through the years, Zhang Ruonan has used most of her income to help her family pay off business debts, cover her siblings’ tuition and living expenses, and even make up for losses in the family business. During the pandemic, when the family had cash flow issues, she also came up with a considerable sum to help them through the crisis.
In her daily life, she has rented a home in Beijing for a long time, once living with roommates, commuting by subway, and dressing and living simply – a stark contrast to her refined on-screen image. Some netizens also revealed that when she was younger, she was set up on blind dates by her family, with many major life decisions seemingly always prioritizing her family. Regardless, Zhang Ruonan quietly devotes herself to charity work. Relevant information shows that she has sponsored education for several rural girls and made low-key donations during major disasters. She is thrifty for herself but willing to share her resources with those in greater need, making many netizens feel for her while also admiring her.
Source: 嘘!新闻