Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi has returned to the public eye at a New Year's party for Chinese entertainment industry professionals in Beijing on January 31 after a a personal scandal last month.

Zhang cracked a smile when she was invited onstage at the party for a formal champagne toast alongside veteran actresses Yu Lan and Xu Fan. Most of the time, Zhang seemed in low spirits and spoke with emotional overtones, saying, "It is so not easy in the movie industry," according to a Beijing News report.

The party was jointly organized by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) and the movie channel of China Central Television. Other big stars included actors Yan Ni, Hao Lei, Zhang Yuqi and pop singers Alan Tam and Li Yuchun.

Zhang was involved in a scandal involding money, friendship and a love affair in January and was later questioned for allegedly not fulfilling donation promises to help those affected by the Sichuan earthquake in 2008.

The actress had quit her roles as the producer and lead actress of the upcoming film Snow Flower and the Secret Fan last week, which roused widespread speculation that her action could have resulted from her recent problems.