LayarHijau – Chinese actress Yang Zi recently shared her experience ahead of filming her upcoming drama, The Way You Come Back (玉兰花开君再来). In a recent livestream, Yang Zi revealed that this project is one of the biggest challenges of her career, as it marks her first time taking on a biographical drama of a real-life figure, with a story spanning multiple decades.
Yang Zi will portray Dong Zhujun, a significant female figure in Chinese history. She admitted that the emotional and mental pressure has been immense. To better understand the role, Yang Zi even visited Dong Zhujun’s grave.
“I saw her photo and immediately felt like crying. It felt like receiving tremendous strength from her. At that moment, I felt as if Dong Zhujun was telling me, ‘I entrust my life to you. I chose you to encourage you. You have to keep going,’” Yang Zi said.
The production team revealed that Dong Zhujun’s character spans more than 40 years of life, requiring Yang Zi to portray changes in character, emotions, and psychological state across different stages.
The Way You Come Back was officially announced on October 27, 2025. The male lead has not yet been announced. The drama is directed by Yang Yang, known for works such as Ever Night, A Dream of Splendor, and The Immortal Ascension.
Full Synopsis
The story begins in Dong Zhujun’s youth, when she was called A Yuan. To support her family, A Yuan was sold to the third floor of a high-end entertainment house as a servant. There she met A Lan, a tomboyish girl who would later play an important role in her life. The management told them that as long as they learned to please men, their lives would be free of hardship.
One day, a revolutionary named Xia Zhi Shi had to hide there to avoid being hunted down. A Yuan developed feelings for him but refused to accept rescue easily. With A Lan’s help, she staged a daring and elaborate escape, marking the end of her past as “Xiao Yang Lanchun.”
After marrying Xia Zhi Shi, A Yuan went to Japan to study and adopted a new name, Dong Zhujun. Their married life was initially harmonious and full of love. In Japan, Dong Zhujun also became close friends with Zhang Hanjun, an overseas student who was straightforward, free-spirited, and romantic.
Four years later, Dong Zhujun and Xia Zhi Shi returned to Sichuan. Dong Zhujun became the governor’s wife, living a life of apparent luxury. Behind this facade, however, she faced family rejection, oppressive rules, the burdens of life, and her husband’s indifference. Eventually, she decided to bring her four daughters back to Shanghai to start a new life.
In Shanghai, A Lan—the little girl from the third floor—had grown into a feared gang leader known as “Mrs. Lan.” Dong Zhujun, with her courage and determination, founded the Jinjiang Sichuan Restaurant and Jinjiang Tea House, which would become legendary.
Meanwhile, Zhang Hanjun, who seemed to live a carefree and romantic life, was actually an underground member of the Chinese Communist Party. These three women, each with different backgrounds, embarked on a vibrant adventure amidst Shanghai’s social undercurrents.
With a story spanning decades, full of complex struggles and historical depth, The Way You Come Back is expected to become one of the most ambitious dramas in Yang Zi’s career and a major test of her acting skills.
