LayarHijau.com – Chinese actor Zhang Linghe has once again taken on the role of a doctor—this time in the Republican-era drama Overdo (original title: This Second Overheated), which officially began filming on June 25. However, unlike his warm and comforting doctor persona in The Best Thing, his new character Murong Qingyi is far more mysterious, stylish, and emotionally complex.
In The Best Thing, Zhang Linghe gained popularity for his role as He Suye, a kind-hearted traditional Chinese medicine doctor. With his neat appearance, short hair, and gentle smile, He Suye embodied the perfect "green flag boyfriend"—reliable, compassionate, and emotionally supportive. His calm and healing presence left a strong impression on female viewers.
But in Overdo, adapted from the tragic romance novel If I Hadn’t Met You This Second by Fei Wo Si Cun, Zhang transforms into a completely different kind of doctor. Murong Qingyi is the heir of a warlord family who returns from studying abroad as a Western-trained physician. Set in 1930s Shanghai, his character exudes a refined yet dangerous aura—longer hair, layered retro suits, leather jackets, and a white coat paired with a gray vest and striped tie.
Netizens were quick to praise his new look, calling it "the uniform dream" and "a visual upgrade" from his previous role. Some even noted that the same white coat carried an entirely different feeling depending on the character—a testament to Zhang Linghe's impressive versatility.
According to Upmedia, the plot of Overdo promises high emotional stakes. Murong Qingyi was once rescued as a child by Ren Susu (played by Wang Churan), but she later approaches him under a false identity to seek revenge for her parents’ deaths. After discovering his innocence, she fakes her own death and disappears. Three years later, they reunite under different circumstances and unresolved feelings begin to resurface.
The intense emotional arc, combined with the vintage visuals and sharp contrast between his two doctor roles, has fueled anticipation for Zhang Linghe’s performance. While He Suye from The Best Thing healed hearts with his tenderness, Murong Qingyi from Overdo is set to ignite longing, suspicion, and heartbreak.
With chemistry already sparking between Zhang Linghe and Wang Churan during the opening ceremony and a Fei Wo Si Cun plot that guarantees emotional turmoil, Overdo is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Republican dramas among female audiences this year.