Chinese dramas and films

Tencent Video and iQIYI have announced the premiere date for the Republican-era drama «Overdo» (这一秒过火, 如果这一秒，我没遇见你, If We Were Strangers).

The 36-episode project is based on the novel «If We Were Strangers» (如果这一秒，我没遇见你) by Fei Wo Si Cun.

The lead cast includes Zhang Ling He («Pursuit of Jade», «The Princess Royal») and Wang Chu Ran («Love Has Fireworks», «Fireworks of My Heart»).

The story is set in Shanghai during the Republic of China era. It centres on Mu Rong Qing Yi (Zhang Ling He), the youngest son of a military governor, who was abused by his adoptive father from childhood after being swapped with another baby at birth. He ran away from home as a teenager and was rescued by Ren Su Su (Wang Chu Ran), a pharmacist's daughter, but her kindness inadvertently led to the massacre of her entire family. 

Years later, Mu Rong Qing Yi and Ren Su Su cross paths again. Feelings ignite between them, yet Ren Su Su fakes her death to save another person and vanishes, leaving Mu Rong Qing Yi in agonising grief. 

Read more: Zhang Ling He and Wang Chu Ran to star in drama «Overdo»

Three years later, she returns – this time as the fiancée of Mu Rong Qing Yi's elder brother. He is consumed by resentment over her betrayal, she hides unspeakable pain, and their relationship devolves into a tangled web of love and abuse. 

But the times are turbulent and war-torn; Mu Rong Qing Yi and Ren Su Su eventually resolve to stand together against their enemies.

Filming ran from June to September 2025. During production, numerous on-set stills and behind-the-scenes videos were released, drawing considerable viewer interest. 

One particularly striking clip showed Zhang Ling He, soaked through in a heavy downpour, lifting Wang Chu Ran out of a lake in wet clothing. Long-time drama fans were instantly reminded of Colin Firth's iconic wet-shirt scene in "Pride and Prejudice" – a moment so sensational in 1990s Britain that it even found its way into Helen Fielding's "Bridget Jones's Diary".

Supporting cast members include Fu Xin Bo, Xu Zhen Xuan, He Qiu, and Wang Zi Su. The series is directed by Yi Jun.

According to some reports, the production budget per episode reached 8 million yuan, with the team reconstructing streets of old Shanghai using period-accurate sets and costumes.

As of July 17, the total number of pre-registrations across the two platforms had surpassed 9 million, of which Tencent Video accounted for more than 4.6 million and iQIYI over 4.5 million. In addition, 1,500 users on the Chinese review aggregator Douban had marked the project as "want to watch".

Particular attention has been drawn to an unconventional marketing campaign. Two days before the premiere, Zhang Ling He and Wang Chu Ran each posted on their Weibo accounts messages consisting solely of 52 flame emojis. This minimalist post sparked a frenzy online: the number 52 was interpreted as "I love you" (in Chinese, "五二" sounds similar to "吾爱"), and combined with the fire symbols, the phrase was read as "I love fire/passion", echoing the drama's title. Other cast members and many netizens soon joined the flash mob, and the hashtag "everyone lights the fire" went viral.

The original soundtrack for the drama, featuring the track «缠», was released on July 18. The song is performed by singer Na Ying. The composition depicts the intertwining of love and hatred and, according to listeners, perfectly matches the atmosphere of the series. Interestingly, Na Ying is scheduled to hold a concert in Beijing on August 22, 2026, and fans have already expressed hope of hearing this piece performed live.

The series «Overdo» will premiere on Tencent Video and iQIYI at 12:00 on July 19, 2026.

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