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| Zhong Ya Ting Steals the Show as the “Sweet Villain” in Love’s Ambition |
The Chinese romantic hit Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼) is currently the talk of the town, climbing to the top of Netflix Taiwan’s charts and holding strong as one of the most-watched dramas across Asia.
While the spotlight naturally shines on its leads — Zhao Lusi and William Chan — fans can’t stop talking about Alice Zhong a.k.a Zhong Ya Ting, whose fiery portrayal of a homewrecking antagonist has stirred up equal amounts of admiration and frustration online.
In Love’s Ambition, Zhong Ya Ting plays Fang Lei, a deceptively sweet-looking woman with a dangerous obsession.
She’s the younger sister of Shen Haoming’s (William Chan) late ex-girlfriend, and after growing up together, she develops deep feelings for him.
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When he marries Xu Yan (Zhao Lusi), Fang Lei’s infatuation turns toxic — and she’ll stop at nothing to claim him for herself.
From slipping into Shen Haoming’s life before his wedding, to deliberately sabotaging his marriage, Fang Lei’s every move feels like a carefully planned strike.
One of the drama’s most viral moments is when she venomously exposes his secret, declaring to Xu Yan: “He married you because you’re easy to control.”
That single line lit up social media — fans raged, memes exploded, and Zhong YaTing became the name everyone loved to hate.
Despite Fang Lei’s unforgivable actions, viewers couldn’t help but praise Zhong YaTing’s performance.
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Her piercing gaze, subtle smirks, and emotional intensity transformed a potentially one-note villain into a complex, almost sympathetic woman.
The actress captured the duality of desire and self-destruction, making audiences both despise and pity her at the same time.
Her rise in popularity has been swift — fan pages, edits, and hot-search mentions have multiplied overnight.
Internet sleuths even began digging into her background, finding that the Hong Kong-born star once studied in the UK and previously worked on smaller web dramas like Yes, Her Majesty and Goodbye, My Lover.
Meanwhile, Zhao Lusi and William Chan have been earning praise of their own.
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Lusi’s gentle yet emotionally raw portrayal of Xu Yan, a news anchor facing betrayal, brings heartfelt weight to the drama.
William Chan’s performance as Shen Haoming, a man torn between guilt and affection, complements her perfectly — their bittersweet dynamic is what keeps fans glued to the screen.
Together, the trio’s intertwined fates create a storm of love, secrets, and revenge — and it’s this chemistry that makes Love’s Ambition such a gripping watch.
For Zhong Ya Ting, this might just be her breakout moment.
After years in smaller roles, she’s finally earned widespread recognition — and industry insiders are already calling her one of the most promising faces to watch.
She’ll next appear in The Days of Seclusion and Love (风月不相关), starring alongside Deng Wei and Li Wanda — a project that could cement her place among China’s rising stars.
With Love’s Ambition dominating rankings and conversations alike, Zhong Ya Ting’s transformation from a relatively unknown actress to a fan-favourite “villain queen” is proof that sometimes, the bad girl really does steal the show.