Latest iQIYI’s ancient drama, My Journey To You, tops the popular drama chart, both lead actors found out in surprise that they had similar reasons for accepting their drama roles.
iQIYI ancient drama My Journey to You (云之羽) rose to the top of the popular drama chart after its premiere on 2 September, emerging as the No.1 drama on the platform. It stars the sensational duo, from the hit drama last summer Love Between Fairy and Devil (苍兰诀), Esther Yu (虞书欣) and Zhang Linghe (张凌赫), who are known as the “Changsheng Flower CP”.
It sees a stellar cast lineup, with Ryan Cheng (丞磊), Lu Yuxiao (卢昱晓), Jin Jing (金靖), Sun Chenjun (孙晨竣), and Tian Jiarui (田嘉瑞). The show revolves around a female spy who disguises herself as a bride to infiltrate a mysterious family and their cold wars. The cast has received praise from netizens for their killer looks and acting skills.
Having garnered a reputation for its frequent plot twists, My Journey to You keeps viewers on their toes about what will happen next with the battle between two rivals. In the first four episodes, three actors had five different crying scenes, depicting extreme emotions of anger, deception, grievance, fear, and disappointment.
Esther Yu and Lu Yuxiao, who are the bride spies, delivered intense performances in their interactions. As both are beautiful and deadly, they earned themselves the nickname “poisonous roses”.
Esther Yu and Zhang Linghe sat down for an iQIYI interview and Esther Yu revealed that she was convinced to play the role of the female assassin Yun Wei Shan by the director. He told her that this drama was a work to preserve her most beautiful self in her 20s. She humorously asked if she could use the drama for her dating profile after it aired, to which the director agreed.
This left Esther Yu Shuxin laughing absurdly, and Zhang Linghe added unexpectedly, “The director said the exact same thing to me.” Both actors expressed their joy in working together once again as the lead pair, believing it eliminated the awkwardness of getting to know each other. Zhang Linghe praised Esther Yu’s portrayal of her character, as it differed significantly from her previous roles. He even specifically highlighted a recent fight scene at the Snow Palace, describing it as “breathtakingly beautiful.”
Esther Yu portrays Yun Wei Shan, the lowest-ranked assassin in the Wu Feng organization in the drama. In the first five episodes, she transforms into a bride, infiltrating the secretive ‘Gong Men’ family, and enduring various tests. She did not merely change her voice but integrated her character’s emotions and lines seamlessly. She subtly alters her expressions and demeanor, making her character multi-dimensional.
She is both a cold-blooded assassin crawling through piles of dead bodies in the shadows and a seemingly vulnerable Miss Yun in front of the rebellious young master, Gong Zi Yu (played by Zhang Linghe). Additionally, her interactions with another assassin, Shang Guan Qian (played by Lu Yuxiao), reveal a complex web of deceit, leaving Yun Wei Shan’s true self shrouded in mystery.
The drama also features both the on-screen and off-screen interactions of Lu Yuxiao and Ryan Cheng, who acted as a pair in the drama, as well as the brotherly dynamic between Ryan Cheng’s character, Gong Shang Wei, and Tian Jiarui’s character. This love triangle has earned them the nickname “角浅征” (Jiao Qian Zheng) among fans.
The behind-the-scenes moments capture Lu Yuxiao’s romantic gesture of passing flowers to Ryan Cheng, only for him to pass them to his on-screen younger brother Tian Jiarui. These interactions highlight a stark contrast to Lu Yuxiao’s character, Shang Guan Qian, who is cunning and manipulative in the drama.
Ryan Cheng plays the role of Gong Shang Wei, who is well aware of the danger posed by Shang Guan Qian. He understands that the more beautiful a woman is, the more dangerous she can be. Despite this, he chooses to stay by her side, saying that he wants to stay close and see what danger lies ahead.
Each time, Shang Guan Qian’s advances stir his heart, and he comprehends her feigned restraint while she understands the depths of his enigma. However, he cannot help but be drawn to her, leaving the audience shipping them, exclaiming that they are “irresistible.” Tian Jiarui’s portrayal of Gong Shang Wei also left the audience unable to contain their smiles.
My Journey to You tells the story of Yun Wei Shan (played by Esther Yu), a ruthless assassin controlled by the Wu Feng organisation who longs for freedom. She takes a risky opportunity to regain her freedom by accepting a mission to infiltrate the rich ‘Gong Men’ family.
Disguised as a potential bride, she finds herself in the intricate traps she has set for Gong Zi Yu (played by Zhang Linghe), the family’s young master who unexpectedly becomes the family’s leader overnight due to the sudden loss of his father and brother.
The drama explores the conflicts of identity and emotions that lie ahead for the two, trapped in a web of lies and crises, unknowingly embarking on a tragic love story. The combination of intense espionage and romantic elements has become a highlight of the series.
My Journey to You is currently exclusively streaming on the iQIYI international app and iQ.com.
*Press Release
