A medical staff wears a protective suit with a drawing on the back made by nurse Zhao Kaixuan from Zhejiang province.[Photo provided to China Daily]

A die-hard fan of actor Eddie Peng, Zhao once asked a colleague to write the characters "wife of Eddie Peng" onto her protective suit, a joke to express her fondness for the unmarried A-list actor and to lift her spirits while working long, exhausting shifts.

Usually, doctors and nurses in isolated wards write their names on the suits to identify one another, as their faces are unrecognizable through their goggles and masks.

On the show, Zhao got a big surprise when she received a video call from Peng, one of the top box-office draws in China.

Known for action blockbusters such as Operation Mekong, Peng has played many tough characters on the big screen. But the actor says Zhao－who faces the risk of contracting a highly infectious disease to take care of patients－has given him real strength.

"You are so brave, optimistic and lovely. Our world needs people like you who work very hard but ask for no reward. Please take care of yourself and protect yourself… I expect you to return home safely," Peng told her on the call.

Peng also promised her a hug and movie tickets after the battle against the epidemic is concluded.