C Dramas W/O Angsty Main Couple Breakups

Director: Zeng Qing Jie

Screenwriter: Zhao Lin

Actors: Ke Ying, Song Zhaoyi (Kay), Cheng Lei (Ryan), Wang Zexuan 

Shen Qin, the Prime Minister's daughter, is due to be married to a powerful general, Xiao Han Sheng, but she is already in love with another man, Prince Ning. In a nefarious bid to disentangle herself from this marriage, Shen Qin traps a female artist, Shi Qi, and uses a magician to perform a type of sorcery that enables the two ladies to swap faces. Shi Qi wakes up with her face now belonging to the Prime Minister's daughter and is blackmailed by Shen Qin into marrying Xiao Han Sheng. To her surprise, she recognizes Xiao Han Sheng from an old encounter in the past. Conflicted, she has to carry out a charade as his wife, Shen Qin, and matters get complicated when Prince Ning also starts getting interested in her.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVn9O_Mx0d6yuRWiTkuaOzCDocNo-iUS6&si=pLnxM4XhbTVoDoDF (ENG Subs)

Native Title: 好想和你在一起 

Screenwriter: Zhou Miao 

Actors: Ji Xiaobing, Zhang Yaqin

A young cartoonist intentionally gets near Ji Yan Xin, a cold and arrogant professor. Qi Nian, a girl with a straightforward personality hopes that interacting with Ji Yan Xin would give her inspiration and creative materials for her comic plot. Coincidentally Ji Yan Xin’s younger brother Ji Si Qi becomes Qi Nian’s assistant and a catalyst for their relationship to progress and blossom.

Native Title: 步步为陷 

Actors: Qu Mengru, Wei Tianhao (Vincent), Dai Gaozheng

Ye Qing Lan, the only daughter of the second branch of the Ye family, was framed by the former eldest young master of the Mu family. Then she becomes an unwilling bride to wash away bad luck, which ensues in revenge. From now on, Ye Qing Lan has to fight green tea bitches, scumbags and an evil mother-in-law.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIPiKkS-FpK-svKaUzZNtqQ_zq-5X2Y9Y&si=sUYHr7Rqkr96wx1Z (ENG subs; full version and individual episodes)

FYI: SA Warning (this is sort of central to the plot and gets replayed throughout the drama). 

MINI DRAMA

Director: Steve Cheng, Liu Chong Chong 

Actors: Ren Jialun, Xing Fei, Zhu Xudan, Yan Yikuan, Zhu Zhengting

Wu Geng, the human prince who has fallen from grace, undergoes the trials of losing his family and becoming a slave in the lowest depths of a mining camp. Despite these hardships, he inherits the will of the former king; he carries a deep-seated hatred for the destruction of his country and people. To improve himself, Wu Geng follows his grandfather and life mentor, Fu Xi, to the hidden village of Shen Yin for training. Overcoming various difficulties and challenges with an indomitable spirit, he embarks on a path of revenge and the pursuit of freedom. Ultimately, he forms a powerful anti-heaven army and goes to the Boundless Domain, putting an end to the long-standing struggle against slavery.

IQIYI (VIP) (ENG subs)

Director: Li Xiao Jiang 

Actors: Tang Min, Yang Kaichen

A story about food and romance follows Hua Xiao Mai as she falls in love with a bodyguard. Through her passion for the culinary arts, Hua Xiao Mai starts small and slowly makes her way up in the food business. She meets the cool-headed Meng Yu Huai who heads up a bodyguard agency and excels in martial arts. With his qualities, he is the definition of a true man. Meng Yu Huai and Hua Xiao Mai become quarrelsome lovers who are sweetly in love.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_YRrI7So6bhVO4STJ76DNJqeNzwwGUn8&si=MltT-Q0d2tF-CE2f (ENG subs)

Director: Sun Xun 

Screenwriter: Huai Yu 

Actors: Garvey Jin, Tiffany Gao

After being disfigured in a car accident, Gu Qing Qing suffered severe mental trauma. Fortunately, she was rescued by Pei Jin Qing, the president of the Pei Group, and takes on the new identity of Shen Man Qing. With her new face, she decides to pursue her revenge and find the culprit behind her tragedy.

https://t.kisskh.la/YcjS (ENG subs)

FYI: SA Warning Episode 8

FYI: There is kind of a breakup but it's for literally like 5 min at the end of episode 17 and beginning of episode 18. 

MINI DRAMA

Director: Yin Tao

Screenwriter: Rao Jun, Bai Jin Jin

Actors: Bai Jingting, Song Yi, Liu Xueyi, Zhang Haowei

Ratings: 8.5/10 from 4k + users (2024)

Liu Yu Ru is the only legitimate daughter of a former cloth merchant living a stoic life with her mother in a household where they're mistreated despite their status. Due to a misunderstanding, she is married off to Gu Jiu Si, the notorious son of Yangzhou's wealthiest family, infamous for his idle lifestyle and lazy ways. At first, Gu Jiu Si does not like Liu Yu Ru, believing her to be calculating and scheming. As she settles into her new life, she begins to learn business from her welcoming mother-in-law while growing closer to Gu Jiu Si. The storm clouds of war, however, are gathering on the horizon and the Commissioner of Yangzhou creates endless days of terror, forcing the Gu family into unimaginable circumstances. As the couple grows ever closer through their hardships, the benevolent pair becomes destined for greatness.

IQIYI (ENG subs)

https://t.kisskh.la/uGGw (ENG subs) 

Director: Zeng Qing Jie

Screenwriter: Zhao Lin

Actors: Yang Ze, Lu Yanqi, Ni Hanjin, Guo Jiayu

Jin Rong Rong, the resolute general manager of Jinchao Group, met Gu Cong Bei, a singer of a bar, on the way to secretly inspect the operation of the business district. After a drunken night, Jin Rong Rong learned that Gu Cong Bei was still a college student, and with zero love experience, she pretended to be calm and claimed to be responsible for him. Coincidentally when Jin Rong Rong went to the blind date bureau, she unexpectedly found out that Gu Cong Bei was the third son of the Gu family, and was also in need of marriage, so she decided to choose him as her marriage partner. What she didn't know was that Gu Cong Bei was purposely trying to get close to her. Now living under the same roof after marriage, Gu Cong Bei noticed that Jin Rong Rong was different and unique, but Jin Rong Rong was also very secretive and refused to open up to her new husband about why she was afraid of the cold. As truths and motives begin to emerge, will these two be able to overcome the trials headed their way?

Viki Rakuten (FREE) (ENG subs)

https://t.kisskh.la/8hBM (ENG subs)

Director: Ren Jiang Tao (任江涛)

Actors: Cheng Lei (Ryan), Wang Yajia, Chen Huan, Wang Yidan

University student Wu Wan Wan accidentally time-traveled to a school in ancient times and disguised herself as a man in order to blend in. It follows a series of hilarious stories between Wu Wan Wan and her classmates Tang Wen Qi and Qi Shan. Together, they not only fight against inequality over family status but also work towards recruiting female students in a story about integrating modern education concepts into ancient academies.

https://youtu.be/4TBdtnVOm6g?si=ZbTgKrS6qgkThAiM (ENG Subs)

Director: Zhong Qing

Screenwriter: Yu Hai Lin, Zhong Jing

Actors: Ju Jingyi, Liu Xueyi

In the sinful city of Heyang, very well-liked Pan Yue married Yang Caiwei, who was despised by everyone. However, Yang Caiwei was murdered on their wedding day. The suspected culprit was none other than Pan Yue. Reborn from death, Yang Caiwei became known as "wicked woman" Shangguan Zhi. She came back in a fierce attempt to expose Pan Yue's true colors. As they bravely confronted the Four Major Clans and uncovered many old cases, their hearts drew closer once more. Yang Caiwei discovered that the true culprit was not Pan Yue, who had loved her deeply all along and never betrayed her. Just as things seemed to be falling into place, the mastermind behind the scenes set another trap, pushing them into the abyss of despair. Will their love survive it all?

Viki Rakuten (STANDARD) (ENG subs)

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLATwx1z00HseWI55WMF03RoBRLxhDGJtp&si=JzzuxxDaBPsn0b-y (ENG subs)

Director: Guo Hao 

Actors: Hankiz Omar, Yan Xujia, Zhang Jiayuan, Huang Qiao

To protect her eldest sister, Yue Ling, the Youngest Princess of Dongyu, was married into the country of Beishuo. However, she married Zhou Shi Yu, the North Prince of Beishuo, not one that was originally intended for. The trip to the Capital City of Beishuo was full of repeated assassinations, but they were saved when a mysterious jade pendant activated the Time Gate, allowing Yue Ling and Zhou Shi Yu to be repeatedly reincarnated and improve themselves from striving to change their destiny to shouldering the national cause. During this time of growth, they fell in love. 

https://t.kisskh.la/t6RG (ENG subs)

Director: Li Hong Yu 

Actors: Wei Zheming, Xu Lu

Luo Ai Lian, the gentle and peaceful eldest daughter of the Luo family, lost everything overnight due to a sudden disaster and was thrown from wealth into a quagmire. After experiencing many difficulties, she finally experienced a narrow escape and became the eldest daughter of the escort agency, Shen Dan Qing, who was capable of both literary and martial arts. She was reborn from the ashes and embarked on the thorny road of tearing apart her enemies with her hands, starting her different life. In the process of revenge, Shen Dan Qing accidentally broke into the sight of General Xu, who was looking for the lost treasure, arousing his suspicion. This made Shen Dan Qing's road to revenge even more ups and downs and unique. In this thrilling battle of wits and courage, they helped each other and cherished each other, and a series of exciting stories happened.

https://t.kisskh.la/vonH (ENG subs)

Director: Fei Zhen Xiang

Screenwriter: Zou Yue, An Yi Mo

Actors: Wu Lei, Zhao Lusi

Ling Bu Yi, the foster son of Emperor Wen and a talented & ruthless general of the Black Armour Army, was on a personal mission to uncover hidden truths about the past, which had led to the massacre of an entire city and of his clan when he met Cheng Shao Shang during a mission to apprehend a fugitive in a rural village. The young Cheng Shao Shang had been left behind because her parents had gone off to fight in the war. Neglected and uneducated, she had been a thorn in her aunt's and grandmother's side until the unexpected return of her parents after many years on the frontlines. Having always lacked a loving family, Shao Shang had been looking forward to being reunited with her parents, but the many years of separation inevitably led to some estrangement. Shao Shang, however, is unfazed and determined to live for herself, and her unruly and audacious nature, and her quick wits, begin to catch the attention of quite a few people in the capital, including Ling Bu Yi.

Director: Li Xiao Jiang 

Actors: Chen Yao (Sebrina), Zhang Linghe

It is the sixth century CE and the Qi Kingdom, in what is now Eastern China, is a land at war. The young teenage prince Xiao Yan Zhi, a prodigal young military talent, is sent to ward off a force of invaders. Although he makes a valiant effort, his army is ultimately ambushed and defeated in a decisive battle. An opportunist foe at the imperial court takes advantage of the situation, forcing Pei Yan Zhi to step down as head of the army – and manages to get a young subservient candidate to take the throne. Pei Yan Zhi feels he was betrayed. He vows to get to the bottom of the intrigue and goes undercover to investigate, pretending to be a commoner to help him work undetected. On his quest for the truth, he meets a remarkably smart and resourceful young female detective named Su Ci. Together, they form a close bond. They team up with two other quick-witted young sleuths and make a joint bid to discover the scale of the scheming that has undermined the Imperial Palace.

Director: Zhao Qi Chen 

Actors: Bai Jingting, Tian Xiwei, Liu Guanlin, Chen Xiaoyun, Edward Zhang

Because of a marriage selection, girls from all over the world gather in Xin Chuan. Yin Zheng, one of the six young masters of Xin Chuan, who keeps a low profile, and Li Wei, who just wants to work hard and not get selected, live comfortably in this hometown. They unexpectedly form a relationship, and, together, start a new life where they encounter numerous situations and complement each other in overcoming them. As Yin Zheng sets up a government office and goes to court, the two gradually develop similar tastes as their hearts become in sync. They share three meals and four seasons together, and grow up with other brothers and sisters with different personalities and fates, living a warm, daily life as a Xin Chuan family together.

IQIYI (ENG subs)

Native Title: 完美先生和差不多小姐 

Actors: Wei Zheming, Xu Ruohan

This story revolves around the cold and icy "male god" professor Zhang Si Nian and the calm and sunny Yun Shu. After a fractious first meeting, where Yun Shu dressed down the especially finicky Si Nian, she was shocked to find out that he was her university lecturer. Through a series of coincidental encounters, the two agreed to engage in a contractual marriage. As the feelings between them grow, how will they keep their relationship a secret from those around them?

Director: Bai Yun Mo, Lu Hao Ji Ji, Ma Shi Ge

Screenwriter: Ren Ya Nan

Actors: Wang Xingyue, Wu Jinyan, Chen Xinhai, Liang Yongqi, Li Meng

It tells the story of Xue Fang Fei, the daughter of a well-off county magistrate who lost everything after a major upheaval. Saved by Jiang Li, the daughter of the Secretariat Director, she took on the identity of Jiang Li and returned to the capital. With the help of Duke Xiao Heng and others, she overcame numerous hardships, tirelessly fought against injustice, rescued her father, who had been wrongly imprisoned, assisted Xiao Heng in upholding justice, and protected the common people.

https://t.kisskh.la/6fVQ (ENG subs)

Director: Li Yang

Screenwriter: Yang Shi Ye

Actors: Liang Jie, Xing Zhaolin, Fang Yulin (Alen), Wang Haoge

Oh no, Qu Tan Er has time-traveled again! This time, she has come to a world where gender roles have been reversed, and men are treated as unequal to women. Mo Lian Cheng is one of the eligible bachelors joining the palace selection, yet he finds that he is being relentlessly pursued by the unabashed princess who will do anything to win his heart. Will he finally remember her to become her husband for the third lifetime?

Viki Rakuten (FREE) (ENG subs)

Director: Deng Ke 

Actors: Zhao Liying, Lin Gengxin

Born into the immortal realm, Shen Li grew in power, her skill on the battlefield eventually earning her the title of General Bi Cang. Pressured into a political marriage against her will, the general chose to fight for her freedom rather than accept the match. Sustaining injuries, Shen Li reverts to her original form and falls into the human world as a phoenix where she is picked up by a mortal vendor and sold as a plucked chicken at a local human market to Xing Zhi who goes by Xing Yun. 

An emotionless and last Ancient God who single-handedly brought an end to the God and Demon wars a millennia ago, Xing Zhi finds himself unable to pass by the plucked chicken he sees caged at the human market. With that single purchase, Xing Zhi links his fate with ShenLi's and love is born. 

Passing through the three realms and time, just as things are saved and reborn, in a small corner an ancient evil is being revived. With a stunning betrayal, Shen Li's world is turned upside down but her stubbornness and fierceness will not stop her for seeking revenge and the truth. Going against Natural Law, Xing Zhi and Shen Li's love becomes both their strength and taboo. As more secrets are revealed, will they ultimately win against evil and save the three realms from utter destruction? And what will happen to their eternal love?

Viki Rakuten (STANDARD) (ENG subs)

Director: Li Yang, Xu Zhi Ming 

Screenwriter: Yang Shi Ye 

Actors: Fang Yilun (Alen), Ling Meishi, Zhang Bohan (Lawrence), Zhou Zixin

A diplomatic marriage decreed, Xiyue’s Princess Li Ming Yue is off to the neighbouring state of Beixuan to wed Li Qian, Prince Zi. The highly-disciplined Qian meets the free-spirited Ming Yue resulting in a poor first impression. Reluctant to get married, the two antagonise each other in hopes one of them will break off the engagement. While hypnotising Qian, Ming Yue causes lost memories resurface. Curious about the trigger for his amnesia, Qian suggests a marriage of convenience, providing Ming Yue help him regain his memories. Qian’s brother Li Xun would prefer those memories remain in the past, as they would only impede his schemes of becoming Crown Prince. Which brother will make the throne his own?

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMX26aiIvX5rsWXKgnXGPRMsu9ZY3Dyq_&si=TGRoibMAq3BeUZle (ENG subs)

Director: Wen De Guang

Screenwriter: Cheng Ting Yu

Actors: Wallace Chung, Tan Songyun

Set during the Ming Dynasty, the story revolves around the romance between General Xu Ling Yi and the concubine's daughter Shi Yi Niang, that starts from an arranged marriage. Despite being born with a low status, Shi Yi Niang is extremely assertive and believes that a woman's vision should not be limited to the household. She hopes to rely on her embroidery skills as a ticket to freedom. However, the once esteemed Luo family is in a state of decline. Hoping to save the clan through a marriage alliance, Shi Yi Niang is selected to become the wife of Yongping Duke and great General Xu Ling Yi. Things were not easy for her due to the Xu family's biases towards her. Nonetheless, she manages to win over their trust through her optimism and sincerity. Xu Ling Yi also becomes attracted to her various beautiful qualities such that husband and wife manage to find love after marriage. Through Xu Ling Yi's support, Shi Yi Niang opens Xian Ling Pavillion to have her own embroidery workshop. Meanwhile, Xu Ling Yi experiences many setbacks as he tries to protect his homeland and improve the livelihood of the people by supporting the lifting of a maritime ban. As they face a crisis that could spell the end for the Xu family, Xu Ling Yi and Shi Yi Niang continue to support each other through thick and thin.

https://t.kisskh.la/VpMb (ENG subs)

Native Title: 千年情劫 

Actors: Yu Xuanchen, Tu Zhiying

Feng Ruo Yao, a phoenix and the ruler of the demon realm, falls in love at first sight with Immortal Lord Mo Chen Yuan and forces him back to the demon realm to marry her. Mo Chen Yuan has always had a crush on Feng Ruo Yao.

Since he has been seriously injured by his half-brother in secret, he turns Feng Ruo Yao's trick to his own use and allows himself to be captured by her in order to recuperate in the demon realm. The two seem to be quarrelsome foes, but in fact, their love is two-way.

No matter what obstacles they encounter, they always treat each other with sincerity. Eventually, they manage to eliminate the gap between the immortal and the demon and get together...

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyLbHF3-UFDAcqV2mDlBL10uQbdsowsWG&si=90Nj_VSaygQ3Q6wt (ENG subs; both full version and individual episodes)

MINI DRAMA

Director: Yin Tao, Yu Yong Gang 

Genres: Romance, Wuxia, Fantasy 

Actors: Yang Yang, Zhao Lusi

Hei Feng Xi is handsome and elegant, while Bai Feng Xi is majestic and unrestrained. Opposites attract as both are unrivaled in skill and intellect. Caught in the warfare and chaos of the martial arts and political worlds, the flowers of love begin to bloom amidst the blood that has been sacrificed within the last ten years. Trying to keep their identities hidden, they constantly have to be three steps ahead when dealing with much political unrest, betrayal, infighting, and the ultimate battle for the imperial throne. They join hands, seeking justice while trying to calm the ever-growing uncertainty brought on by unseen malice. But will their love bring peace to a chaotic time, and who will ultimately rule the world?

Netflix (subscription) (ENG subs)

https://t.kisskh.la/woDg (ENG subs)

Director: Cheng Feng

Screenwriter: Ma Sha Sha

Actors: Tian Xiwei, Ao Ruipeng, Zhao Shunran, Bai Bingke

In the affluent city of Yangzhou, in Tang Dynasty China’s Jiangsu Province, powerful parents from the Du and Li clans are planning marriages for their daughters, with the weddings coincidentally slated to take place on the very same day. Du Bing Yan’s intended husband is the sickly Qi Tian Lei, the third son of the Qi family. The Qi hope that marrying Qi Tian Lei off to a beautiful woman will reverse the man’s bad luck, and restore his health. But rumor has it that Qi Tian Lei is actually on the verge of death. Du Bing Yan is dismayed by the fact that she must marry such a sick individual, but bows to her parents’ wishes. Meanwhile, the Li family has agreed to marry their daughter Li Yu Hu to a general named Yuan Bu Qu, a man with a reputation for ferocity and roughness. Li Yu Hu is equally distraught by this choice of a husband, but also acquiesces to her family’s wishes. But while they travel by sedan to their respective weddings, they both take refuge from a rain shower in a temple they pass along the way. When a monk warns them that bandits are going to attack the temple, their respective entourages panic. In the confusion, the two women are taken off in the “wrong” sedans – and end up heading to weddings with the other woman’s intended husband! Will Cupid be able to sort out the mess? Or will chaos ensue for this quartet?

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIPiKkS-FpK_Cmpo7tK7FWD4CAQ8U7yoW&si=IDSoDQucJwcHBzLH (ENG Subs)

Viki Rakuten (FREE) (ENG subs)

Director: Li Heng Jian 

Actors: Yu Song, Liu Yinjun, Zhu Jintong, Dai Gaozheng

Xue Wan Er, who pursued free love, was not tolerated by her family and was deceived and used by her eldest sister. After her rebirth, she battled wits and courage with her enemies and fought against the pedantic feudal ethics. After all kinds of twists and turns, her lover was lost and found. She also successfully regained everything that belonged to her and ushered in a new life.

https://youtu.be/RwdtiewKi_A?si=bqU9Vq2Fr0dp5ea4 (ENG Subs)

MINI DRAMA