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| Viewers Compare “Love’s Ambition” to K-Drama “Anna”, |
The new Chinese drama Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼) starring Zhao Lusi and William Chan has blown up since its premiere — topping streaming charts, pulling in big numbers, and trending nonstop.
The romantic workplace series quickly became a hot topic online not only for its dramatic twists and sizzling chemistry but also because of a rather unexpected comparison: viewers saying it feels a lot like Suzy’s 2022 K-drama Anna.
At first glance, both dramas share one big thing in common — a female lead who lies about her identity.
Also read: Alice Zhong Yating Goes Viral for Her Role in “Love’s Ambition”.
But dig a little deeper, and it’s clear that Love’s Ambition isn’t just a re-skin of Anna.
In fact, netizens have listed a handful of key differences that make Zhao Lusi’s Xu Yan a very different kind of anti-heroine.
Here’s a breakdown of the six biggest contrasts fans are talking about online, as originally noted by Beauty321.com.
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1. The Motives Behind the Lies
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In Love’s Ambition, Xu Yan fabricates her background out of survival and self-worth.
After her project proposal is stolen by a superior, she realises talent isn’t enough without connections or status.
Her fake “elite” background becomes a weapon against workplace injustice — and yes, to win Shen Haoming’s (William Chan) heart too.
Her deception is her rebellion against an unfair system.
Meanwhile in Anna, Suzy’s Lee Yumi lies purely out of ego and envy.
Her transformation into “Anna” is all about chasing prestige and validation, not love. It’s ambition for ambition’s sake — colder, emptier, and far more tragic.
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2. Family Backgrounds: Neglect vs. Love
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Xu Yan’s past is lonely.
She was born with a heart defect, nearly abandoned by her parents, and raised by her grandmother.
Returning home only to see her sister adored while she’s ignored leaves her craving the attention she never got.
Lee Yumi, on the other hand, comes from warmth.
Her parents might struggle financially, but their affection never falters.
It’s this contrast that gives Love’s Ambition a darker emotional tone — Xu Yan lies because she grew up unseen.
Related: Love’s Ambition: Differences Between the Drama and Novel Version.
3. Truth Within the Lies
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Xu Yan’s deception hides only her roots; her education, drive, and skill are very real.
When the truth comes out, she’s still capable — she built a name with real effort behind the false identity.
Yumi’s entire world, however, is smoke and mirrors.
From her degree to her social circle, everything is faked. When it crumbles, so does she.
Read: Love’s Ambition Facing Plagiarism Issue, But Production Team Strikes a Deal With Copyright Holder
4. Love or Just a Transaction?
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In Love’s Ambition, Xu Yan’s romance with Shen Haoming is emotionally messy but genuine.
She longs to be seen, and he—despite his flaws—eventually treats her as more than a pawn.
Her lies start from fear, not greed.
But Anna’s relationship is a cold business exchange.
Yumi and Ji-hoon use each other until there’s nothing left.
Love isn’t even in the equation — just status, control, and eventual ruin.
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5. Rebirth vs. Ruin
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Spoiler-light, but Love’s Ambition promises growth.
Xu Yan eventually walks away from her broken marriage, saying, “Everything about me was fake, but my love was real.”
Her downfall becomes a rebirth — she loses everything yet finds herself.
Yumi’s ending in Anna is the opposite: total collapse. Her lies consume her until there’s nothing left to rebuild.
Also Read: William Chan Nearly Lost His Cool Over the Nickname Zhao Lusi’s Fans Called Him
6. The Male Leads: Cold CEO vs. Dangerous Manipulator
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Shen Haoming is ambitious, yes, but human.
He plays the corporate game without losing his moral compass entirely, and his connection with Xu Yan has depth beyond power.
Ji-hoon from Anna, though, is straight-up toxic — manipulative, dangerous, and emotionally cruel.
He treats Yumi as a prop in his own ambitions, not a partner.
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Beyond the Comparisons
So while the setup might look familiar — a woman spinning lies to climb higher — Love’s Ambition flips the script. It’s not about vanity or greed but about agency, survival, and self-discovery.
Fans argue that calling it a “Chinese Anna” misses the point entirely.
Where Anna is a cautionary tale of ego, Love’s Ambition becomes a story about rebuilding your identity after it breaks — and the complicated cost of wanting to be seen in a world that rewards façades.