LayarHijau – The new romantic drama Speed and Love (雙軌), starring Esther Yu and He Yu, has quickly become a breakout hit. Just three days after its premiere, the series climbed to the No. 1 spot for both viewership and popularity on China’s Maoyan entertainment charts, surpassing Michelle Chen and Zhou Keyu’s Sniper Butterfly as well as Cheng Yi’s The Vendetta of An.
The strong performance marks a major rebound for Esther Yu, who had previously faced a dip in popularity following family-related controversies. With Speed and Love, she once again proves her appeal as a leading actress in emotionally driven romantic dramas.
Warning: spoilers ahead.
Episodes 9 and 10 push the story into a highly discussed turning point. Esther Yu plays Jiang Mu, a young woman who has long held feelings for her stepbrother Jin Chao, portrayed by He Yu. Wanting to understand him better, Jiang Mu frequently asks people around him about his life and even visits the auto repair shop where he works.
In a key scene, Jin Chao questions why Jiang Mu keeps trying to learn more about him. When she simply replies, “Because it’s you,” he is visibly shaken but quickly draws a line, emphasizing that they are not biologically related despite having lived together briefly as children. As he speaks, Jin Chao steps closer and pins her against the wall, confronting her with an emotionally charged and ambiguous question. Flustered and blushing, Jiang Mu panics and runs away.
That night, Jiang Mu has a dream that quickly became a talking point among viewers. In the dream, she and Jin Chao are at a hotel’s top-floor swimming pool at sunset, with golden light shimmering across the water. Jin Chao, bare-chested in the pool, holds Jiang Mu in his arms as if carrying a bride, while she wears a sweet, strapless swimsuit. Their eyes lock, and the moment escalates as he lifts her and the two share a passionate kiss in the water. Filled with tender touches, intimate gazes, and playful affection as Jiang Mu rests against his chest, the scene radiates intense romantic tension.
Jiang Mu later wakes up smiling to herself, murmuring that the dream was far too much and chiding herself for letting her imagination run wild.
Much of Speed and Love’s rise past Sniper Butterfly is attributed to its story setup and the chemistry between its leads. The drama centers on a step-sibling relationship with no blood ties, following a younger sister who travels to Thailand to find her older brother, only to discover he has become entangled in underground street racing, illegal boxing, and other shadowy businesses. Compared to the original novel by Shi Jiuyuan, the drama tones down the darker elements and instead highlights emotional ambiguity and romantic tension between the two main characters.
While Esther Yu’s acting style has sparked mixed reactions among viewers, the push-and-pull dynamic of a step-sibling romance continues to resonate with a dedicated audience. Coupled with the visual chemistry between Esther Yu and He Yu, Speed and Love has firmly established itself as one of the most talked-about romantic dramas in the current season.
