Chinese singer-actor Xiao Zhan (also known as Sean Xiao) has been keeping a low profile ever since he was unwittingly involved in a massive controversy — which, by the way, was caused by his own fans — that threatened to end his burgeoning career.

It all started with a piece of fan fiction on American fanwork-hosting webpage Archive of Our Own, or AO3, which depicts the 28-year-old star as a cross-dressing prostitute who falls in love with Wang Yibo, Xiao Zhan’s co-star in popular fantasy drama The Untamed.