No Regrets () is a 2010 Hong Kong period television drama created and produced by Lee Tim-shing for TVB as a grand production. It is the second installment of the Rosy Business franchise. It stars Wayne Lai and Sheren Tang in the 2nd installment of the Rosy Business.
Set in Canton, Republic of China during the years of the Second Sino-Japanese War, it follows the lives of Lau Sing (Wayne Lai) and Cheng Kau-mui (Sheren Tang), who go against all odds to protect their families from the violence of war.
No Regrets is the companion piece of Rosy Business (2009) featuring majority of the same cast with a new storyline set in a different time period. It premiered on Jade and HD Jade networks from 18 October 2010 and aired for 32 episodes, with the final two episodes airing back-to-back on 28 November 2010. It was one of two anniversary dramas used to celebrate TVB's 43rd anniversary in 2010, the other being Gun Metal Grey. Both dramas were the first Hong Kong dramas to broadcast live with English subtitles. It stars TVB Best Actress winners Sheren Tang (2009/2010) who won for this series and its first instalment, Nancy Wu (2015/2016), Kara Wai (2019), Elena Kong (2022), and TVB Best Actor winner Wayne Lai (2009/2010/2012) who also won for this series and its first instalment.
The drama received critical acclaim during its broadcast, and is the second highest-rated television drama in 2010 in average live viewership. The final episode peaked at 47 TVRs with 3.43 million live viewers, becoming Hong Kong's most-watched episode of the 2010s decade and continues to hold the record in viewership on TVB's online service MyTV with an additional 3.7 million clicks days after its live broadcast. No Regrets received multiple awards at the TVB Anniversary Awards sweeping the main acting categories, including Best Actor (Wayne Lai), Best Actress (Sheren Tang), Best Supporting Actor (Mak Cheung-ching), Best Supporting Actress (Fala Chen), and Most Improved Actor (Raymond Wong Ho-yin). With a score of 9.4 out of 10 on Douyin, the drama remains the highest-rated Hong Kong drama of all time with over 70,000 reviews on the platform. In 2022, the drama was selected as one of ten classic TVB dramas being honoured for a new joint Youku and TVB programme.
Overview Set in the late 1930s to late 1940s in Canton, Republic of China during World War II, No Regrets is an epic drama that centers on a triad family, the Canton police force, and the Japanese occupation of the city. The Chinese title of No Regrets (巾幗梟雄之義海豪情) literally translates to "Veiled Heroine, Ruthless Hero: Righteous Sea, Heroic Passion", referring to its main theme of righteousness being as vast as the sea and the bond shared by the two main characters, Cheng Kau-mui (Sheren Tang) and Lau Sing (Wayne Lai). The English title No Regrets refers to Lau Sing's dedication and willingness to make sacrifices for Cheng Kau-mui which is referenced in the line from the theme song "for love, I live without regrets".
Synopsis
Canton is in a state of political turmoil in the 1930s. Gangsters are on a rampage and opium trading becomes rampant. As they watch the illicit profits from opium trading escalate, the government forms the Anti-Smoking Bureau under the guise of suppressing opium, but the bureau is under the influence of Cheng Long-kwan (Elliot Ngok), the gang's kingpin. His eldest daughter Cheng Kau-mui (Sheren Tang) who is an unscrupulous person soon returns from Shanghai to reap the rewards. Mui meticulously plans her every move.
On the other hand, Lau Sing (Wayne Lai) is the leader of the Criminal Investigation Team. He has worked hard all his life to ensure an easy trail for his family. Despite his hot temper, he values friendship and brotherhood more than anything else. He almost sacrifices his life to help his timid teammate, Spareribs (Ngo Ka-nin).
Meanwhile, the Japanese army invades China and Canton falls into the hands of the Japanese. Mui enters the darkest time in her life when her aunt Cheng Long-hei (Susan Tse) frames her. Luckily, Sing is always by her side as the two begin to share a complicated relationship after experiencing various political and emotional setbacks.
Production Development and Casting After the critical and popular success of Rosy Business, TVB decided to produce a sequel for the drama. Most of the original main cast signed on to film the sequel, with the exception of Kiki Sheung, Ron Ng, and Suki Chui, who were reported to be not taking part in the production due to schedule conflicts. While the production was labeled as a sequel, the term was only a namesake. Wayne Lai, who portrayed Chai Kau in the predecessor, expressed that he would not film a sequel to Rosy Business: "I do not wish [to film a sequel]. Chai Kau's ending was the most significance part of his life. He will not appear in this world again." Sheren Tang and many of the other cast members also agreed and expressed that the ending to Rosy Business was perfect, and that there was no need to film a direct sequel but could rather do a whole new story.
It was announced that the sequel will be a completely different story taking place during World War II in Guangzhou, about 100 years after the events of Rosy Business. A sales presentation trailer of No Regrets featuring majority of the original cast was filmed on 25 October 2009 in TVB's filming studio in Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong. The three-minute trailer aired on the TVB Jade channel on 6 December 2009 during TVB's 42nd Gala Presentation, and received an overwhelmingly positive reception. It featured new cast members Fala Chen and Raymond Wong in the second lead roles. Many of the storylines and supporting characters teased in the trailer were changed but one of the shots was kept as the title card in the opening theme. 50 random locals were interviewed in the streets, and 58% chose No Regrets as their most anticipated drama of 2010. Several Mainland China news portals also listed No Regrets as one of the top 15 for most anticipating upcoming Hong Kong/Taiwanese dramas. Additional new cast members including Evergreen Mak, Elena Kong and Henry Lo joined the cast later on.
Filming A costume fitting was held on 10 March 2010 at TVB's headquarters. A blessing ceremony was held on 8 May 2010 at the same place. Filming took place in Hong Kong, with most scenes set inside TVB City and some in local parks and historical sites. Filming began under the working title Rosy Business II (巾幗梟雄之義海豪情) on 25 March 2010 and ended on 19 July 2010. The official English title was announced as No Regrets.
Music Leo Ku recorded the theme song for the series, titled the same name, on 29 August 2010. Lai also recorded a cover of Rosy Business' theme song "Red Butterfly" which was played in the final episode. Lai later revealed that he suggested to Lee for him to cover the song rather than playing the original version as he believed it should be his character, Lau Sing, singing it to Tang's character, Cheng Kau-mui.
Cast and characters
Main Sheren Tang as Cheng Kau-mui (鄭九妹): Known as Miss Kau (九姑娘), she is the only daughter of Cheng Long-kwan, the most powerful drug tycoon in Canton. Holding a deep hatred for drugs, Miss Kau hopes to gain full control of her father's expansive opium business in order to destroy it from within. She is extremely intelligent and will do whatever it takes to get what she wants but behind her tough demeanor, she is actually one who always puts other's needs over herself. Tang expressed that it took her a while to grasp Miss Kau's character. "Her character is extremely complex. She doesn't abide to one direction; she may be doing one thing, but she's actually thinking of doing something else in her head. She's an extremely manipulative woman." Tang describes Miss Kau and Sing's romantic relationship as "extremely complicated; there's love and hate, right and wrong; and most of the time, they oppose each other."
Wayne Lai as Lau Sing (劉醒): The intuitive, sharp-tongued captain of a police crew in Canton. Originally a bad-tempered man, Sing is one who is incredibly loyal to those around him. After being the only one who learns about Miss Kau's true motives, Sing develops a strong bond with her and is willing to put his own life on the line to protect her as she puts herself into constant danger to help others. Lai considers No Regrets to be his representative work. He describes Sing to be a man with a sad fate.
Fala Chen portrays Lau Ching (劉晴): Nicknamed Ching Ching, she is Sing's younger sister who suffers from a congenital heart disease. She has feelings for Yeung Yeung, but is afraid to act on them due to her illness.
Raymond Wong Ho-yin portrays Yeung Yeung (楊陽): A member of Sing's police crew. Yeung Yeung's mother owns an apartment in Chu Lung Lane (豬籠里), in which Sing is a tenant. Thoughtful and selfless, Yeung Yeung always puts Ching Ching's needs before his own.
Ngo Ka-nin portrays Tong Kat (唐吉): Nicknamed Spareribs (排骨), a metaphorical phrase for "skinny weakling", Spareribs is Sing's subordinate and housemate. Unlike Ngo's portrayal of the villainous Chiang Bit-man in Rosy Business, Spareribs is a much simpler and kinder character. He has no ambition in life, and becomes a police officer only because he wants to live a steady life.
Supporting Mak Cheung-ching as Leung Fei-fan (梁非凡), known as Fei Fan Gor, a police captain and Sing's direct superior. Corrupted by money and power, he is willing to betray others for his own gain. After being tricked by Lau Sing and Miss Kau, he seeks revenge on them and begins to work with the Japanese Army. Elliot Ngok as Cheng Long-kwan (鄭朗軍), Miss Kau's father. As Canton's richest drug trader, Kwan is one of the four founding members, and its leader, of the region's largest opium business Tung Tai. Susan Tse as Cheng Long-hei (鄭朗喜), the youngest of the Cheng siblings and one of four founding members of Tung Tai. Fearing that Miss Kau would take full control of Tung Tai, she is willing to do anything to destroy her and assists her nephew Siu-hong to become the next leader of Tung Tai. Kwok Fung as Cheng Long-hung (鄭朗熊), the second oldest of the Cheng siblings. He is one of the four founding members of Tung Tai, and works with Miss Kau in hopes of converting Tung Tai into a legal business. Ben Wong as Cheng Siu-hong (鄭少康), Miss Kau's younger brother who wants to take over his sister as the only successor of Tung Tai. Henry Lo as Choi Tai-fung (蔡大鳳), Kwan's brother-in-law and one of the four founding members of Tung Tai who works with Long-hei and Siu-hong to take down Miss Kau. Helen Ma as Chow Teet (周鐵), known as Sister Teet (鐵姐). She is one of the four founding members of Tung Tai, and Miss Kau's loyal subordinate. Kara Wai as Ng Lai-sim (吳麗嬋), known as Mrs. Yeung, Yeung Yeung's mother who is the owner and landlord of the Chu Lung Lane apartment. Elena Kong as Chiu Tung-nei (趙冬妮), Sing's wife and later ex-wife who falls for Leung Fei-fan's manipulation. King Kong as Colonel Mukaiyama Tetsuya (向山鐵也; むかいやまてつや), a Japanese general who, after invading Canton, seeks out Miss Kau for an opium business collaboration. Nancy Wu as Ma Lai-wah (馬麗華), a spoiled, narrow-minded college student who is the daughter of Mui Lan-heung, Miss Kau's close childhood friend. With dreams of being a wealthy socialite, she goes against Miss Kau's wishes and marries Cheng Long-kwan to be his young concubine. Li Shing-cheong as Wong Man-fai (黃文輝), nicknamed Dr. Wong Luk (黃綠), a patriotic yet unlicensed doctor who lives with Mrs. Yeung as one of her tenants. Eileen Yeow as Lee Yuk-king (李玉琼), known as Mrs. Wong, Wong Luk's wife. Simon Lo as Che Wing-ping, nicknamed Big Che (大車), Sing's housemate at Chu Lung Lane and a member of his police crew. Kelvin Leung as Che Wing-on, nicknamed Small Che (細車), Big Che's younger brother, and a member of Sing's police crew.
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