LayarHijau – The Chinese romantic drama Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼) has become one of the hottest shows in mainland China. Actor William Chan, who plays the male lead Shen Haoming (沈皓明), has captivated viewers with his calm demeanor and refined, elegant appearance. Yet behind the success, the actor revealed he once misunderstood a nickname fans gave him.
After the drama began airing, Chinese netizens affectionately called him “Haoming Ge” (皓明哥), meaning “Brother Haoming.” Because the pronunciation sounds similar to “好命哥” (hǎo mìng gē), which literally means “the lucky guy,” the nickname quickly caught on online. However, William initially thought the phrase was meant as a jab rather than a compliment.
In an interview with Chinese media, the Hong Kong-born star explained that in Cantonese, the word “好命” (hǎo mìng, lucky) can sometimes carry a sarcastic tone, used to tease someone for having life too easy. “I thought maybe they were joking because I got to act with Zhao Lusi,” he said with a laugh. Once he realized it was a term of endearment from fans, he felt relieved and joked, “Next time, please tell me first so I don’t panic!”
William also admitted he had hesitated to take on another wealthy-CEO role, as he feared the character type had become too formulaic. “Many of these roles end up looking too forced—slick hair, fake confidence, and exaggerated coolness. I didn’t want Shen Haoming to feel that way. I wanted him to be elegant but natural,” he explained as reported by World Journal.
Beyond William’s charm, Love’s Ambition has drawn praise for its emotional intensity and sharp plot twists. In the story, Shen Haoming discovers that his wife Xu Yan (许妍, played by Zhao Lusi/赵露思) is an ordinary woman pretending to be a socialite to infiltrate high society. Instead of confronting her, he decides to play along, turning their marriage into a psychological game filled with tension and manipulation.
The emotional tug-of-war between the couple has kept audiences on edge. Comment sections across Chinese streaming platforms overflow with reactions like “Just divorce already!” and “My heart can’t take it anymore!”—proof of how deeply viewers are invested in their story.
The show’s luxurious production has also become a talking point. Zhao Lusi’s sophisticated outfits have gone viral on social media, while veteran actress Wen Zhengrong (温峥嵘), who plays the wealthy socialite Yu Lan (于嵐), revealed during a livestream that all the jewelry and handbags used on set were real. According to her, one jade collection alone was sponsored for more than 300 million yuan.
With its combination of emotional depth, elegant visuals, and undeniable chemistry between William Chan and Zhao Lusi, Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼) has solidified its place as one of the most-watched Chinese dramas of the year.
