LayarHijau– Chinese drama Love’s Ambition (許我耀眼), starring Zhao Lusi and William Chan, has captured audience attention since its premiere, with ratings steadily climbing. Zhao Lusi, who is currently facing a contract dispute with her agency, has been nicknamed by netizens as “Xifu returns to the palace.” This nickname refers to her previous role as Xifu, a concubine, in the historical drama Untouchable Lovers (Liang Shi Bu Ke), where she was involved in palace intrigues. Netizens use this nickname to humorously highlight similarities in the dramatic presence they see between the two dramas.
Fans have also noted that the character Xu Yan (許妍) in Love’s Ambition corresponds to the main character in the film The Unseen Sister (喬妍的心事), portrayed by popular actress Zhao Liying. In the film, although the character’s name was changed to Qiao Yan (喬妍), both adaptations are based on the same novel, Big Qiao, Little Qiao (大喬小喬) by Zhang Yueran, with differences in story focus and perspective.
The novel follows two sisters, Xu Yan and Qiao Lin, known as “Big Qiao and Little Qiao.” Xu Yan, an unplanned child, lives with her grandmother, while Qiao Lin is favored by their parents. Their childhood is filled with envy and jealousy, and as adults, their fates take a 180-degree turn: Xu Yan becomes a television host in Beijing and enters a relationship with Shen Haoming, but the secrets of her childhood gradually come to light. Meanwhile, Qiao Lin faces school dropout, an unexpected pregnancy, and deteriorating health, ultimately leading to her suicide. The story explores themes of dependency, conflict, love, and resentment, ultimately transforming into understanding.
In the film The Unseen Sister, the focus is more on the rescue and emotional bond between the sisters. In contrast, Love’s Ambition emphasizes Xu Yan’s journey from dependency on a failed marriage to becoming an independent and radiant woman.
Zhao Lusi’s portrayal of the scheming character has been widely praised, particularly in a scene where Xu Yan cries after being forbidden to take the college entrance exam. This performance was even commended by senior actor Feng Hui, who plays her father, noting that the emotions conveyed were truly moving.
Source: World Journal
