The period fantasy drama Love in the Dark Night officially premiered in Taiwan, immediately attracting attention not only for its high-concept plot but also for its surprising casting choices. Among them, the most talked about is Gillian Chung (Zhong Xintong, also known as Ah Sa), who plays the role of Ding Yuxi’s mother, a revelation that left many viewers stunned.
Starring Ding Yuxi and Esther Yu (Yu Shuxin), the drama marks the duo’s second collaboration after Moonlight, once again sparking discussions about their on-screen chemistry. Set in a fantasy world that combines romance, danger, and game-like survival mechanics, the story follows Esther Yu’s character Ling Miaomiao, a modern girl who accidentally transmigrates into a novel. Trapped in the story as a doomed villain, she must complete system-assigned missions to return to reality, the main one being to make the cold and hostile male protagonist Mu Sheng (played by Ding Yuxi) fall in love with her.
Failure means restarting the world again and again, forcing Ling Miaomiao to relive deadly scenarios in a relentless loop. This unique “no save point” setting has earned the drama praise for its fast pace and refreshing twist on the transmigration genre.
As the plot develops, Ling Miaomiao teams up with Mu Sheng, demon hunter Mu Yao (played by Zhu Xudan), and Liu Fuyi (Yang Shize) to combat threats arising from the long-standing conflict between humans and demons. In addition to the main cast, the addition of Chen Duling, Zhang Chenguang and Yu Menglong significantly enriches the narrative layers, elevating the emotional depth of the series.
However, it is Gillian Chung’s appearance that has generated the most excitement. In Love in the Dark Night, she plays Murong’er, Mu Sheng’s mother, a character who spans two starkly contrasting phases. Initially introduced as a kind and mysterious demon woman living in seclusion, Murong’er falls in love with a human, a forbidden relationship that ultimately leads to betrayal. After being abandoned, she descends completely into darkness, transforming into a great ninth-rank demon known as the “Woman of Grudge”.
Despite playing the mother of a much younger male protagonist, Gillian Chung’s ethereal beauty has attracted widespread admiration. Fans have dubbed her the “most beautiful mother in the history of period drama”, and many joke that she looks more like Mu Sheng’s sister than her parent. The actress revealed that her elaborate style required up to eight hours of makeup and hair prep, including heavy accessories and long hairpieces. Although she admitted that the headdresses were physically taxing, she shared that she particularly enjoyed the darker, more evil version of her character, finding the emotional contrast refreshing and inspiring.
In addition to surprises in terms of surprises, the drama also benefits from the established relationship between Ding Yuxi and Esther Yu. Ding Yuxi noted that their second collaboration was particularly smooth, explaining that their familiarity with each other’s acting rhythms eliminated awkwardness, even during intimate scenes. He added that if he had the chance to do a third project together, he would like to explore a modern slice-of-life story, such as childhood friends-turned-neighbors.
With its lively storytelling, genre-blending premise, and a cast that includes both rising stars and seasoned names, Love in the Dark Night injects new energy into the period drama landscape. As its broadcast officially begins, viewers are eager to see if this high-stakes mission of love, from hostility to heartfelt connection, can ultimately solve the game and reach a happy ending.
Sources: Yahoo News
