LayarHijau.com — Lu Yuxiao, who previously rose to fame through My Journey to You and Perfect Match, has returned with her new drama Serendipity alongside Wang Ziqi. The drama premiered on April 25, 2025, on Tencent Video and WeTV. On its debut, Serendipity immediately broke past the 21,000 heat index mark on Tencent Video and topped the Maoyan popularity charts. It even managed to surpass the ratings of The Demon Hunter’s Romance starring Ren Jialun and Song Zuer.
Viewers and netizens in China have identified at least three main reasons why Serendipity has become so popular: its fast-paced and straightforward plot, the strong chemistry between the two lead actors, and the intelligent and charming female lead. Many praised the drama for breaking the typical stereotypes of costume dramas, predicting it could become the next big hit.
Fast-paced plot
From the very first episode, Serendipity moves at a rapid pace. At the start of the story, Lu Chang (played by Wang Ziqi) passes the imperial examination and becomes the top scholar. This achievement causes many noble families to scramble to marry their daughters to him.
Among them is the Jian family. Jian’s father goes directly to Lu's residence to discuss marriage. When Lu Chang refuses, the Jian patriarch secretly drugs him and sends him to the bridal chamber.
Jian Mingshu (played by Lu Yuxiao), the daughter of the Jian family who is married to Lu Chang, is a highly intelligent and talented young woman. It turns out the two had known each other since childhood, and Jian Mingshu hoped that Lu Chang still remembered their childhood bond.
However, after regaining consciousness, Lu Chang accuses Jian Mingshu of drugging and forcing him into marriage. Heartbroken, Jian Mingshu decides to treat their wedding banquet as a farewell party. Thus, the marriage turns into a divorce scene in just the first episode, shocking audiences. Some viewers even joked that the story progresses "at rocket speed."
Strong chemistry between the leads
Initially, netizens were skeptical about Lu Yuxiao and Wang Ziqi’s pairing, predicting that the drama might not gain much popularity due to a perceived lack of chemistry between the two.
However, their concerns proved unfounded. After Jian Mingshu loses her memory, Lu Chang pretends that she is his younger sister and renames her Lu Mingshu. This act paves the way for their strained relationship to develop into a closer bond. Lu Chang gradually softens toward her, even shyly lowering his head to let his "sister" pat him on the head. These subtle romantic moments melted the audience’s hearts, leaving them eager to see how their relationship will unfold.
Smart and sharp female lead
Jian Mingshu’s character has also earned widespread praise. Unlike typical dramas where female leads become naïve after losing their memory, Jian Mingshu remains intelligent and perceptive despite her amnesia. She deduces from a gold bracelet she wore that Lu Chang and his mother are not her real family members. Furthermore, upon seeing the traditional jewelry vendors at the market, she shows ambition to start her own business.
Viewers applauded this portrayal, with one netizen commenting, “The historical drama heroine with a high IQ—truly the real deal!” Another praised, “She deduces her background from small details—amazing!”
Thanks to the combination of a fast-paced plot, strong chemistry between the leads, and a smart female protagonist, Serendipity is considered highly likely to become one of the hit dramas of the year in China.