Zhao Lusi Reunites With Her ‘The Long Ballad’ Co-Star In This C-Drama

Made for fans of the enemies-to-lovers trope

Hidden Love breakout star Zhao Lusi is gearing up for the release of her new historical romance drama The Story of Pearl Girl! Our sweet rom-com star seems to be taking on a more heart-wrenching project. We’ve rounded up what you need to know about her upcoming C-drama’s cast, plot, release date, and where to stream in Singapore. 


Zhao Lusi in 'The Story of Pearl Girl'

Chinese actress, singer, and Versace global brand ambassador Zhao Lusi. (Photo from: @rooosyzh09)


The Story of Pearl Girl: Zhao Lusi and Liu Yu Ning’s reunion drama


But first, let’s take a trip down memory lane. Zhao Lusi and Liu Yu Ning previously worked together in the drama The Long Ballad, from which she won the Asian Star Award at the 2021 Seoul International Drama Awards. Viewers were captivated by their romantic storyline even though they only played supporting characters. Take a sneak peek of their chemistry in the clip below. You can also stream The Long Ballad here.



In The Long Ballad, Zhao Lusi and Liu Yu Ning characters don’t get along well at first, but eventually, their relationship blossomed into something more. The Story of Pearl Girl seems to follow a similar trajectory, with our leads moving from enemies to lovers. Let’s dive into it.


The Story of Pearl Girl: trailer, cast, plot, and more



The upcoming series is categorised under the historical drama genre, more commonly known as gǔzhuāng jù meaning “ancient costume drama” to the Chinese audience. It’s based on the novel Kun Shan Yu Qian Zhuan by Tan Tian Yin and centres on Duan Wu (Zhao Lusi), a skilled pearl diver from Hepu fighting for survival. She gets entangled with two men — Yan Zi Jing (Liu Yu Ning), a wealthy merchant from Xiyu (Western Region), and Zhang Jin Ran (Tang Xiao Tian), a poet of humble origins.

She joins Yan Zi Jing’s caravan, wherein she embarks on a perilous path into the world of jewellery. As she unravels the dark secrets of her past, Duan Wu becomes entwined in Yan Zi Jing's quest for revenge and encounters unfortunate situations. 


The first official poster.


She renames herself Su Mu Zhe and vows to uncover the truth. She ventures into Yangzhou, forming an unlikely alliance with Zhang Jin Ran. Together, they face formidable challenges and later, she teams up with Yan Zi Jing too.

More than just a story involving a love triangle, The Story of Pearl Girl is set to portray how our heroine will rise above her troubles and her journey of courage and determination to keep a clear conscience in the world of business. Zhao Lusi’s fans also can’t wait to see her take on a more mature role.


The Story of Pearl Girl: release date and where to watch in Singapore


The new drama consists of 40 episodes. It premieres today, 1 November 2024. You can stream it in Singapore via the Youku app


(Cover photos from: @rooosyzh09, @youkuofficial)


This article was first published on 13 September 2024. Last updated: 1 November 2024.



Speaking of romance tropes, check out this contract marriage drama No Gain No Love starring Shin Min Ah.

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