LayarHijau.com – The drama Light Beyond the Reed (餘生有涯), starring Zhang Binbin and Mao Xiaotong, has officially wrapped.
In the series, Mao Xiaotong plays Ye Sibei, a woman who has long endured emotional abuse from her family, workplace bullying, and self-doubt. Her struggles intensify when she unexpectedly becomes a victim of harassment by her superior. Amid the pain, Ye Sibei gradually finds her strength and, together with her husband Qin Nan (played by Zhang Binbin) and her family, refuses to give up and fights to reclaim her life. Mao Xiaotong hopes that Light Beyond the Reed delivers a clear message: even when facing injustice and pressure, it’s important to stand strong and not give up.
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In an exclusive interview with The Paper, Mao Xiaotong said, “Ye Sibei was born into a typical East Asian family: a biased mother, a quiet father, and a younger brother who pretends not to notice. As she was growing up and forming her sense of self, she had hopes for the future, yet she was repeatedly dragged back into the family’s hardships. That’s a part of her story I deeply sympathize with.”
Mao Xiaotong added that many viewers “just want to see her win.” She explained, “Ye Sibei learns to say no to what’s wrong, gradually finds the courage to fight back, and discovers her own inner strength.”
Regarding the mutual redemption between Ye Sibei and Qin Nan, Mao Xiaotong cited a line from the original novel: “The decisions are always made by Ye Sibei, and anyone can be Qin Nan.” She explained that this perfectly captures the idea of mutual redemption. For Mao Xiaotong, the light in the story doesn’t only come from a romantic partner but can also come from family, friends, or even the kindness of a stranger.
The drama features numerous emotional crying scenes. Mao Xiaotong said, “I don’t plan my expressions; I fully immerse myself in the character. Sometimes, as I speak through a scene, my eyes just start to tear up.”
She also described silent crying scenes, portraying the suffocating feeling of being betrayed by family and feeling powerless: “When performing these scenes, it felt like a breath was trapped in my chest and I couldn’t catch it. I’ve never approached it this way in any other project.”
When asked about the biggest challenge in the drama, Mao Xiaotong replied, “The hardest part was capturing Ye Sibei’s emotional ups and downs at every stage of her life—her doubts, her inner conflicts, and her desire to truly live for herself. This depth shows that she is just an ordinary person fighting to survive.”
Some viewers noted that during filming, Zhang Binbin and Mao Xiaotong appeared full of energy, but by the time shooting ended, both looked exhausted from the emotional intensity. Some found the story too heavy and painful to watch, but those who stuck with it could “witness the awakening of the heroine’s sense of resistance.” Mao Xiaotong concluded her final post by quoting the original novel: “The world may be absurd and unjust, but light and love remain in the sky.”
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