Cruel Romance () is a 2015 Chinese television series starring Huang Xiaoming and Joe Chen. It is based on the republican novel The Fate of Jinxiu (锦绣缘) by Yu Yi. The series aired on Hunan TV from 3 March to 26 March 2015.
The series is a commercial success, and became second highest rated television drama for the first half of 2015. It also has over 5 billion views online. Broadcasting rights of the drama were sold to America, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Vietnam.
Synopsis Set in the 1930s, Rong Jinxiu (Joe Chen) was born in a renowned medical family. When her father saves her teacher Mr Chen from a gunshot wound, her entire family was killed by the Japanese. With only a piece of watch as evidence, Jin Xiu heads to Shanghai to search for her enemies. On the ferry there, she meets the famous triad leader Zuo Zhen (Huang Xiaoming) of Shanghai's Huang Pu commerce. Through some entanglement, the watch ends up with Zuo Zhen. In order to retrieve her watch, Jin Xiu heads to Bai Le dance hall to look for him. There, she meets her long-lost half-sister Yin Mingzhu (Lv Jiarong), who is currently a famous dancer and the lover of Shanghai's wealthiest businessman, Xiang Hanchuan (Tse Kwan-ho). However, Ming Zhu still harbours hatred for the Rong family because they abandoned Mingzhu and her sickly mother many years before.
At the dance hall, Jin Xiu gets injured in the midst of a fight between Zuo Zhen and his enemies. Zuo Zhen rescues her and then brings her to Lion Forest hotel, which he had gifted to Xiang Yingdong, the brother of Xiang Hanchuan. While Zuo Zhen finds Jin Xiu annoying, he can't help but find himself attracted towards her and keeps helping her in the shadows, making sure that she is safe and comfortable in Shanghai. Jin Xiu remains clueless and continues to believe that the comfort and safety she has is because of sheer luck.
With all that happening, Mr Maeda, the one behind the murder of Jin Xiu's family, came to Shanghai posed as a businessman from Japan, with plans to execute all the anti-Japanese rebel groups in Shanghai and make Shanghai's business Japan's.
Cast
Main
Huang Xiaoming as Zuo Zhen Also known as Second Master. Leader of the Freedom Fighter triad. Calm, composed and sharp, Zuo Zhen is cold and indifferent to women. However, the appearance of Jinxiu changes that. Joe Chen as Rong Jinxiu / Ohno Yoko Determined, pure and kind-hearted. Jinxiu learnt medicine from her father since young, and is a skilled physician. After her parents' death, she comes to Shanghai alone to find out the truth, gaining independence and wisdom throughout her journey. Kimi Qiao as Xiang Yingdong Also known as Master Ying. Gentle and humorous, he has sought independence since young, but is overshadowed by his brother. After losing his beloved woman Mingzhu to his brother, he hides his inner pain and struggles by being a playboy. He subsequently falls in love with Jinxiu and comes into conflict with Zuo Zhen. Lv Jiarong as Yin Mingzhu Jinxiu's half-sister. Because of her mother's death, she is consumed by the desire of revenge and becomes the Japanese's puppet. She loves Yingdong but has no choice but to be with Hanchuan to complete her mission. Tse Kwan-ho as Xiang Hanchuan CEO of the Xiang Enterprise. A loyal and faithful man. He discovers Zuo Zhen's potential and grooms him into a capable man. Having accidentally snatched his younger brother's lover Mingzhu, he feels deeply apologetic toward him and thus is willing to condone all his wrongdoings. Qi Ji as Maeda Ryuichi A cold and cruel militarist who would resort to anything for his country. Because of his lowly position, he had no choice but to watch his lover Yang Zi being killed. When he comes to Shanghai and discovers Yang Zi's look-a-like Jinxiu, he resorts to all sorts of methods to win her over.
Supporting
Zhang Zi as Boss Wang, Hao Wang Dance Hall's boss Cai Juntao as Tang Hai Zuo Zhen's left-hand man and close friend. He was beaten crippled by Long Si, and later died with Xiaoze Yasha. Yang Le as Shi Hao Zuo Zhen's right-hand man and close friend. Stays by Long Si's side as a spy to help Zuo Zhen. Xie Wenxuan as Jin Ling, Ming Zhu's confidante. She likes Zuo Zhen. Mark Du as Muto Oda, Japanese spy, Maeda Ryuichi's teacher Hao Zejia as Ozawa Asa, Japanese spy He Hongshan as Shen Meng, Daughter of Shen Jinrong. Innocent and kind. She loves Xiang Yingdong. Yoyiki Una as Xiao Lan, An employee at Hotel Lion Forest, Jinxiu's close friend. She later gets together with Tang Hai. Feng Peng as Long Si, Zuo Zhen's rival Zhao Zhongwei as Mr Feng, CEO of Huang Pu commerce Tong Chenjie as Lin Meihua, CEO of Mei Hua company Zhang Jian as Zhao Hui, Zuo Zhen's underling Zhang Tianye as Ma Ziliu, Zuo Zhen's underling Wei Qing as Anna, a dancer at Hao Wang dance hall and Jinxiu's close friend. Yu Jieqi as Songben Cilang, Maeda Ryuichi's underling Li Ji as Ling Li, Meihua's younger cousin. He falls at first sight for Jinxiu. Mei Nianjia as Liu Yi, son of the Chief Police, Police Staff Sergeant. Wang Min as Police Chief Xiao Che as Zhou Mu, Zuo Zhen and Meihua's good friend. He helped introduce Jinxiu to Meihua Company. Cao Wan as Shen Jinrong, A rich businessman Cui Xinqin as Rong Xinru, Jinxiu's mother, Yin Xinping's younger sister Li Jianyi as Rong Qingyuan, Jinxiu and Mingzhu's father Jin Jia as Chang Sheng, Jinxiu's teacher Xu Xing as Yin Xinping, Mingzhu's mother Li Yilin as Yun Qiubao, Yingdong's classmate who asks him to retrieve the pocket watch from Jinxiu Meng Zhen as Du Ping, Anna's lover Xia Zhiliu as Qin Hao Liu Shan as Mad Girl Zhou Yunshen as Assistant He Liu Xiaoxue as Yin Di, Mingzhu's maid Zhou Hong as Manager Hu, Hotel Lion Forest's employee
Li Zigan as person who was bribed by Maeda Ryuichi to lie to Jinxiu that he is her parents' murderer Jiang Feng as Pervert, Mingzhu's admirer Luo Zhenhuan as Ah Bi, Hotel Lion Forest's employee. Collaborated with Manager Hu to frame Jinxiu. Cao Yanyan as Chen Xiangmei, Manager of Mei Hua company. Ordered by Jin Ling to frame Jinxiu. Fan Guolun as Uncle Chen Liu Wei as Sister Yao, Employee of Mei Hua company, Jinxiu's superior. Xiao Yongjia as Ah Tao, Lao Ma's daughter Wan Shengli as Lao Ma, Zuo Zhen's underling who becomes addicted to heroin Meng Lingchao as Shou Zai Zhang Xiangyu as Fang Ting Kun Ao as Zhou Qian Ji Limin as Mother Xu Zhang Jiayou as Wang Qing Liang Jingjing as Liu Xiaoxiao Shanghai's biggest celebrity. She disguises herself as Mei Hua company's endorser, helping the freedom fighters to carry out their tasks. Maeda Ryuchi drop her from a high building. Wang Guojing as Uncle Wang Bao Aoma as Fei Dinan An Long as Church Priest Ya Mi as Bao Luo Huang Jinsheng as Landlord Ding Wang Jincheng as Ah Gui Sheng Kengjie as Ah Min Yi Fei as Dancer Ling Haiming as Zuo Zhen's father Yin Qianru as Zuo Zhen's mother Li Min as Head of Labor He Feng as Yue Fen Xu Jiehao as Secretary Zhong Sun Qiusheng as Boss Chang Ke Su as Chen Keke
Soundtrack Title Singer Fate (緣) Huang Xiaoming Circumstances Changes with Time (时过境迁) Shen Yisha Love is a Faith (爱是信仰) Edison Lin Wrong Love (錯愛) Liu Tao Madness (瘋) Jovi Theng Lightly (輕輕) Cao Xuanbin Think Too Beautifully (想得太美) Zhang Qian At Least We Loved Before (至少愛過) Rynn Lim
Ratings Hunan TV RatingsBroadcast dateEpisodeCSM50 City ratingsNational Internet ratingsRatings (%)Audience share (%)RankRatings (%)Audience share (%)RankMarch 3, 20151-21.524.10312.677.351March 4, 20153-41.7224.70813.309.171March 6, 201551.1853.30312.747.731March 7, 201561.2833.62812.747.731March 8, 20157-81.9425.33713.289.441March 9, 20159-101.9445.37713.449.981March 10, 201511-122.0845.71613.379.621March 11, 201513-142.0265.61913.5110.041March 12, 201515-162.1616.01413.6310.361March 13, 2015171.5054.21513.078.581March 14, 2015181.6954.82413.078.581March 15, 201519-202.095.6413.078.581March 16, 201521-222.0025.66113.4410.081March 17, 201523-242.1565.99813.7610.811March 18, 201525-262.045.68513.6510.541March 19, 201527-282.0375.62213.479.841March 20, 2015291.3333.8541--1March 21, 2015301.4034.2381--1March 22, 201531-322.1225.76713.5110.101March 23, 201533-342.1816.19413.710.791March 24, 201535-362.3286.64813.811.161March 25, 201537-382.4517.02614.1011.801March 26, 201539-402.6017.48914.3312.731Average ratings1.9945.551---
Highest ratings are marked in red, lowest ratings are marked in blue
International broadcast Channel Country Date NotesKTSFApril 9, 2015 8TVMay 28, 2015 True Asian HDJuly 12, 2015 OMNI.2 (ON) August 3, 2015 OMNI AB OMNI BC ON TVAugust 17, 2015 CTSAugust 24, 2015 Mediacorp Channel 8 September 10, 2015 True4UFebruary 22, 2016 Asian TV April 4, 2016 중화TV 2016Giải Trí TVMarch 21, 2017D-DramaMay 10, 2018Sony ONEJune 23, 2018
References
External links