2017–2018: Produce 101 and Wanna One Lai was recruited by
Cube Entertainment during the Cube Star World Audition in Taiwan in 2016. In 2017, Lai participated in the second season of
Produce 101, representing Cube Entertainment. He ranked seventh during the final episode with 905,875 votes, securing him a place in the show's project boy group
Wanna One under
YMC Entertainment. In November 2017, Lai appeared in labelmate
Jeon So-yeon's music video for her single "Jelly". As well as being active as a Wanna One member in South Korea, Lai is also active in China, receiving an offer from skincare brand Dr. Jart to be their brand ambassador, resulting in a great success for the company with over
₩900 million (
US$800,000) of the endorsed product being sold in 56 minutes.
2019–2024: Acting debut, departure from Cube Entertainment and retirement After Wanna One's disbandment on 31 December 2018, Cube Entertainment announced that Lai would focus on solo activities in China and that he would debut in a new boy group later in the year. He was confirmed to be the guest on variety show
Happy Camp. In January 2019, Lai was confirmed as male lead in Chinese drama
A Little Thing Called First Love. Lai, alongside
Yoo Seon-ho and Ha Neul, were chosen as new models for TBJ clothing brand in February 2019. On 20 February 2019, Cube Entertainment announced that Lai would participate in a new group project alongside
Pentagon's
Wooseok titled
Wooseok x Kuanlin. The unit released their debut extended play,
9801, on 11 March, with the title song, "I'm a Star". Lai held his first fanmeeting 'Good Feeling' on 6 April at
Olympic Hall in
Seoul. Followed by
Bangkok (20 April),
Singapore (30 April),
Taipei (4 and 20 May) and
Hong Kong (11 May). In July 2019, Lai requested to terminate his contract with Cube Entertainment. One of the claims Lai made was that Cube Entertainment had sold his artist management rights in China to a third party without notifying him. After the legal dispute, Lai moved his career to China. On 17 June 2021, the Seoul Central District Court ruled in Lai's favour and ended his contract with Cube Entertainment. In June 2020, Lai was cast in youth drama ''Don't Think About Interrupting My Studies'' as the main lead, Lin Xiao Ran, alongside
Li Landi as Nan Xiangwan. In 2021, Lai debuted as film director for the short film
Em Chu Em Nie Zi Bo (Winter & Spring Are Fighting). The film won for the month of June 2021 in the Rome Prisma Independent Film Awards. Lai won best director while the short film won Best of Fest, Best Cinematography, Best Leading Actress and Best Costume Design. In June 2024, Lai was photographed with a female companion, sparking rumors of a romantic relationship. Two days after the photos surfaced, he announced his decision to "switch career paths" and retire from the entertainment industry. In October 2024, Lai appeared in
CCTV news footage attending a meeting between
Song Tao, head of PRC's
Taiwan Affairs Office, and figures from Taiwan's cultural sector. In June 2025, Lai joined the film and television company Wanhe Tianyi as a director. In September 2025, Lai was an invited guest at the
2025 China Victory Day Parade in
Tiananmen Square. ==Endorsements==