In 2015, Xiao Yan made her acting debut in the television series A Detective Housewife.
In 2016, Xiao played her first leading role in the web film Princess & Her 49 Servants.
[1][2] In 2017, Xiao gained recognition for her performance in the youth campus drama Hot Blooded Goddess.
[8] The same year, she starred in the Chinese remake of the Singapore period drama The Little Nyonya, playing dual roles as the female lead and the female lead's mother.
[9] Xiao also starred in historical romance web drama Marry Me alongside Xing Zhaolin;[citation needed] and featured in romance drama Love is Sweet.