LayarHijau– The drama Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼), starring Zhao Lusi and William Chan, immediately became a sensation upon its premiere. The series topped ratings and trended across multiple platforms thanks to strong performances, a gripping storyline, and the undeniable chemistry between the two leads. However, its popularity sparked debate: some viewers claim Love’s Ambition bears striking similarities to the 2022 Korean drama Anna, starring Bae Suzy, particularly because both feature female leads who lie and fabricate their backgrounds.
This accusation briefly trended on Weibo on Thursday, October 9, where several netizens in China not only accused Love’s Ambition of being similar to Anna, but also to other dramas such as Reply 1988 and The World Between Us. You can read the full story here.
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Despite the comparisons, many netizens argue that Love’s Ambition tells a story distinctly its own. Here are six major differences highlighted by viewers online, as quoted from Beauty123.com:
The motives behind the lies
In Love’s Ambition, the protagonist Xu Yan (赵露思) lies to prove herself in a competitive workplace and for love. After her three-year project plan is stolen by a senior, Xu Yan realizes that skill alone isn’t enough without social status or power. She fabricates her family background to break through social barriers and win the heart of Shen Haoming (陈伟霆). Her motives stem from a desire to challenge class inequality.
In Anna, however, the main character Lee Yumi (이유미) lies purely out of ambition and vanity. She falsifies her academic credentials and assumes the identity of “Anna,” a wealthy young woman. Her deception is driven by ego and the desire for recognition, not love or personal struggle.
Family backgrounds
Xu Yan grows up in a family that does not truly care for her. Born with a congenital heart condition, she was nearly abandoned by her parents and raised by her grandmother. Upon returning home, she discovers her parents favor her older sister, Qiao Lin. Xu Yan grows up neglected, always the one sacrificed.
By contrast, Lee Yumi in Anna is deeply loved by her family, despite their financial struggles. Her parents almost always grant her requests, even when they themselves are in hardship. Yumi experiences unwavering parental love, something Xu Yan never received.
Is there any truth behind the lies?
Xu Yan’s deception in Love’s Ambition conceals only her family background. Her education, work ability, and resilience are all genuine. When her lies are exposed, she still has a solid foundation and is able to maintain her position through her own skills.
In Anna, however, Lee Yumi’s life is built entirely on falsehoods—her background, education, and social status are all fabricated. She wraps herself in layers of deception, and when one layer collapses, her entire life unravels.
Genuine love vs. interest-based relationships
Xu Yan yearns for love and validation. When Shen Haoming shows care and consistently chooses her, she gradually becomes emotionally invested, feeling recognized and protected. Her lies, though morally gray, are rooted in love and emotional need.
In Anna, the relationship between Lee Yumi and Ji-hoon (Kim Jun Han) is purely transactional. They use each other for personal gain, and there is no true affection. When all lies are revealed, Yumi awakens amidst the chaos, realizing the cost of her vanity.
Real rebirth vs. false destruction
While Love’s Ambition has not yet concluded, official synopses suggest Xu Yan will find resolution. After her identity is exposed and she realizes Shen Haoming does not truly love her, she chooses divorce and states, “Everything about me is false, but my love is real.” Xu Yan emerges stronger, with the exposure of her lies acting as a form of true rebirth.
Lee Yumi in Anna, on the other hand, loses her sense of self entirely. Her carefully constructed layers of deception ultimately destroy her life, leaving her with a hollow, tragic ending.
The male leads are completely different
Shen Haoming in Love’s Ambition is a vice president of a major corporation—ambitious and calculating, but not cruel. He has a human side, especially in his relationship with Xu Yan. Their connection is complex, intertwining love, power, and deception, but it is not rooted in malice.
Ji-hoon in Anna is manipulative and dangerous. He exploits Lee Yumi for his own gain and even plots against her once she is no longer useful. There is no real love—only control and obsession.
Given these differences, netizens argue that Love’s Ambition is not simply a Chinese version of Anna, but a story with its own unique perspective: exploring a woman’s struggle to find herself within an unfair social system, and how deception can sometimes be the only path to discovering deeper truths.
