LayarHijau – The latest drama Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼), starring Zhao Lusi and William Chan, officially premiered on Thursday (Sept 26). Interestingly, the drama was released suddenly at 10 a.m. According to several media reports, the decision was allegedly made based on the advice of a feng shui master consulted by Tencent, although no official confirmation has been given. Whatever the reason, the strategy worked: the premiere episode immediately recorded a peak popularity index of over 27,000, surpassing this year’s record previously held by The Prisoner of Beauty (折腰) with 26,721 points. This achievement makes Love’s Ambition Tencent’s hottest drama premiere of 2025, even though the lead actors were not involved in any promotion.
The success drew even more attention as it came after a difficult period for Zhao Lusi. Last year, during the filming of Almost Lover (恋人), she fell ill and had to be rushed to the hospital. Afterwards, rumors spread that she was under heavy pressure from her agency, Yinhe Kuyu, sparking an open conflict between them. This dispute was said to be one of the reasons why the release of Love’s Ambition, which had long been completed, was delayed, as reported by Upmedia.
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Zhao Lusi herself admitted she had no idea the drama would premiere so suddenly. The news first surfaced through a post by her close friend, actress Wei Xiao, who uploaded a photo of the two of them together with a joking caption: “Nobody told me either.” This fueled speculation that the agency intentionally kept Zhao Lusi from participating in the promotion, so that if the drama underperformed, it could be used as a reason to further suppress her career.
The first four episodes focus on Xu Yan (Zhao Lusi), an ordinary young woman preparing to marry the son of a wealthy tycoon, Shen Haoming (William Chan). Tension arises when her future mother-in-law, Yu Lan (Wen Zhengrong), questions Xu Yan’s background. This family drama, filled with intrigue, quickly captivated viewers.
Beyond the present storyline, the drama also reveals Xu Yan’s troubled past. Since childhood, she suffered from congenital heart disease and never received her parents’ affection, as they favored her older sister, Qiao Lin (Wan Peng). Due to financial limitations, only her sister was allowed to attend university, while the talented Xu Yan was forced to give up her dreams. One of the most emotional scenes depicts a teenage Xu Yan crying in the pouring rain, questioning her parents’ favoritism before being slapped by her father. This marked the end of her relationship with them, and Zhao Lusi’s performance as a high school student won widespread praise.
Told through a mix of present and flashbacks, Love’s Ambition follows Xu Yan as she eventually cuts ties with her family and changes her surname. Her conflict with her spoiled sister adds another emotional layer to the story. Viewers say the drama delivers a powerful combination of family struggles, romance, and social conflict, making it a strong candidate for the year’s top idol drama.
