LayarHijau – Actress Zhao Lusi once again captured the public’s attention through her latest drama Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼), co-starring William Chan. The series premiered in late September without major promotional campaigns, yet quickly became one of the most-watched shows. Its first episode reached a popularity index of 27,000 points and soon surpassed 30,000, breaking the record previously held by The Story of Rose starring Liu Yifei. On Netflix, the drama even topped the global viewing charts in the Asian category.
In Love’s Ambition, Zhao Lusi plays Xu Yan, a woman struggling to escape a broken marriage. She chooses to leave her home without taking any possessions, determined to reclaim her dignity and freedom. The intense divorce scene in the opening episode deeply moved audiences and marked one of the strongest performances of Zhao Lusi’s career to date.
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In an interview with the program Into the Role (入戏), Zhao shared her excitement upon learning that her co-star would be William Chan. The two had previously worked together on the reality show Fairy Tale (童话). “I used to call him ‘big brother’, but this time I had to call him ‘husband’. It was awkward at first,” Zhao said with a small laugh. She added that as filming progressed and their interactions grew more natural, the atmosphere on set became much more comfortable.
William Chan admitted that he was initially hesitant to accept the role. “I wasn’t very eager to play another cold or dominant boss-type character,” he explained. However, after extensive discussions with director Chen Chang and finding out that Zhao Lusi would be his co-star, he agreed to join. “I know she’s a hard worker. We had a long talk during Fairy Tale, and I was impressed by her experience. We share a similar way of handling work pressure,” he added as reported by Upmedia.
William also praised Zhao Lusi’s extraordinary work ethic. “Sometimes she would finish a full day of filming, then still attend promotional events at night, yet always stay cheerful. The entertainment industry is tough, and without her kind of mental strength, it’s hard to survive,” he said. He recalled a moment when he asked Zhao, “Are you sure you can handle this?” and she firmly replied, “If I’ve made a promise, I have to keep it.” According to William, that determination and sense of responsibility are what make Zhao Lusi truly admirable.
Interestingly, Zhao Lusi also played an active role in shaping her character’s wardrobe and makeup for Love’s Ambition. She explained that an actor should deeply understand their character’s emotions, including how they present themselves in each situation. “Sometimes my character doesn’t need to look pretty because she’s broken inside. But when she rises and finds herself again, that’s when she should truly shine,” she said. Her thoughtful approach earned praise from netizens who commended her dedication and attention to detail in building her character.
According to Chinese media reports, Zhao Lusi was previously offered a lead role in Shine on Me but turned it down to focus on Love’s Ambition. The decision reportedly caused some tension with her agency, Galaxy Entertainment, which eventually chose not to invest in the project. Nevertheless, the success of Love’s Ambition proved that Zhao Lusi’s choice was confident and wise.
Now, the drama’s triumph not only cements Zhao Lusi’s status as a top-tier actress who balances popularity with acting quality but also showcases her undeniable chemistry with William Chan. Fans are already expressing hope that the two will reunite in another project in the future.
