This Love’s Ambition review highlights intense emotional conflict, redemption, and a classic chase-after-divorce storyline with strong chemistry and high production value. Love’s Ambition is a Chinese romance drama about a calculating news anchor and a cold-hearted CEO trapped in a marriage built on lies.
Zhao Lusi and William Chan team up in the Chinese drama Love’s Ambition, a story centered on the love–hate relationship between a calculating female anchor and a cold, powerful CEO. This love’s ambition review explores how the drama skillfully blends popular tropes such as “chasing the wife after divorce,” “broken mirror reunion,” and intense emotional conflicts.
This time, Zhao Lusi completely sheds her sweet-girl image and transforms into a sharp, ambitious career woman, delivering a powerful performance as the female lead Xu Yan. Her fashion looks in Love’s Ambition have gone viral, frequently trending on social media even before the drama aired.
Adapted from Zhang Yueran’s Novel Big Qiao, Little Qiao
Love’s Ambition is adapted from the popular novel Big Qiao, Little Qiao by author Zhang Yueran. The original novel uses dual timelines to depict the vastly different lives of the Qiao sisters, focusing more on emotional wounds and personal growth than romance.
The drama adaptation shifts away from the novel’s tragic tone, presenting a more romantic and emotionally engaging storyline. The two leads, Xu Yan and Shen Haoming, are layered, morally complex characters whose love–hate dynamic is one of the drama’s strongest attractions.
Main Characters
Xu Yan (Zhao Lusi)
Xu Yan is a resilient woman burdened by childhood trauma and distant relationships with her parents. Her grandmother is the only source of warmth in her life. After nearly a decade of struggle, she becomes a glamorous and successful news anchor.
To secure marriage into a wealthy family, Xu Yan carefully constructs lies using her keen understanding of human nature. As those lies begin to unravel, she is forced to confront her true desires—leading to self-awareness, growth, and redemption. Her journey is a central focus of this love’s ambition review.
Shen Haoming (William Chan)
Shen Haoming is a reserved, calculating business elite with a complicated past. Though emotionally guarded, he genuinely falls in love with Xu Yan. The pairing of a scheming female anchor and a morally ambiguous CEO creates intense dramatic tension throughout Love’s Ambition.
Drama vs. Film Adaptation
The original novel was also adapted into the 2024 film The Unspoken Secrets of Qiao Yan, starring Zhao Liying and Xin Zhilei. While the film leans heavily into suspense and mystery, Love’s Ambition focuses more on emotional development, romance, and relationship dynamics.
Drama Information
- Episodes: 32
- Genre: Urban Romance
- Original Novel: Big Qiao, Little Qiao by Zhang Yueran
- Director: Chen Chang
- Cast: Zhao Lusi, William Chan, Wan Peng, Tang Xiaotian
- Premiere Date: September 26, 2025
- Streaming Platforms: Tencent Video, LINE TV
Synopsis:
Xu Yan and Shen Haoming appear to be a perfect couple admired by everyone. Behind the flawless image, however, are secrets rooted in class differences, personal insecurities, and emotional manipulation. When their marriage collapses, Xu Yan walks away without hesitation. Only then does Shen Haoming realize the depth of his love and begin his painful journey to win her back. This emotional arc defines the core of Love’s Ambition.
Key Plot Highlights
1. Love–Hate Relationship & Broken Mirror Reunion
The drama revolves around betrayal, emotional distance, and eventual reconciliation. The “chasing the wife” storyline is handled with emotional depth rather than clichés.
2. Zhao Lusi’s 70 Iconic Outfits
Zhao Lusi showcases nearly 70 different fashion looks, turning Love’s Ambition into a style reference for modern urban dramas.
3. Innocent Student-Era Transformation
Her student-era appearance surprised viewers with its realism and emotional contrast to her later, more calculated persona.
4. Short-Drama Intensity with Cinematic Quality
Fast pacing, cinematic transitions, and high production value give the drama both excitement and polish.
5. Strong Lead Chemistry
Despite a 13-year age gap, Zhao Lusi and William Chan display convincing and emotionally charged chemistry, making their push-and-pull relationship believable and compelling.
Supporting Characters
- Qiao Lin (Wan Peng): Xu Yan’s older sister and emotional anchor
- Yu Yiming (Tang Xiaotian): A gentle orthopedic doctor and emotional support figure
- Fang Lei (Zhong Yating): A possessive rival whose obsession fuels major conflicts
Ending Review
This love’s ambition review concludes that the drama delivers a satisfying and emotionally complete ending. After numerous misunderstandings and hardships, the main couple reunites both emotionally and professionally. The drama has been praised as one of the rare Chinese romance series that maintains quality from beginning to end.
Audience Reactions
While the majority of viewers praised the mature romance and strong performances, some criticized the forced reconciliation between Xu Yan and her parents in the finale. Despite this minor flaw, Love’s Ambition remains a highly recommended modern romance drama.
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