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Today's news briefing includes the following.
CCTV officially announces "My Life and My Destiny"!
Starring Tan Songyun, a female urban entrepreneurship drama—definitely worth watching.
Remember the year "The Best of Us" premiered?
That campus drama that accompanied countless people's youth—it's almost ten years now.
The then "Geng Geng" and "Beta" weren't just on-screen besties,
but also a symbol of friendship in many girls' hearts.
Now, time flies, and Tan Songyun and Dong Qing, this pair of "youth besties,"
finally reunite after years apart. This time, with more mature roles,
they'll continue their bond in the new drama "My Life and My Destiny."
Unlike the innocence and naivety back then, this time,
they'll guide viewers through a thirty-year-spanning female entrepreneurship legend.
CCTV has officially confirmed "My Life and My Destiny" on the 2025 key drama lineup,
and the news sent social media platforms into an instant frenzy.
Netizens are buzzing: "The cast alone makes it a must-watch—all reliable actors, plot super solid!"
"From 'Geng Geng' to 'Fang Wanzhi': Tan Songyun's journey from girl to empowered woman"
Tan Songyun plays "Fang Wanzhi" in the drama,
a woman with a turbulent fate who never surrenders to destiny.
Born in the "Shenxianding" mountains of Guizhou, abandoned by her parents for being a girl,
she starts life with a harsh scar from the beginning.
Luckily, adopted by a nursing school principal, she gets her shot at education.
But the storms of fate never let up.
Just as she thinks she can finally change her life through hard work,
in college she faces a triple blow: her adoptive mother's death, her identity revealed, and a lover's betrayal.
In that moment, Fang Wanzhi seems pushed to the bottom by fate.
But right then, she makes a fateful choice—quit school and head south to Shenzhen.
That year was the wave of the 90s,
tens of thousands of young people just like her packed their dreams to factories in the south, waiting for a chance.
Fang Wanzhi couldn't even get through the factory doors at first, just working as a helper in a restaurant.
Endless dishes to wash, grimy stoves to scrub—it was her toughest starting point.
But she didn't quit.
She always said: "I can't choose my fate, but I can choose how valuable that fate is."
From kitchen helper to line worker, from street vendor to entrepreneur, Fang Wanzhi, over thirty years,
fought her own destined path with her bare hands.
To nail the role, Tan Songyun reportedly went nearly makeup-free on set.
She plays a character from 20-year-old student to 50-year-old businesswoman, looks evolving from a girl with pigtails to a sharp bob,
with the marks of time naturally showing on her face.
The director shared: "Tan Songyun's crying scenes aren't about technique—they're from true empathy.
Her 'I must live for myself' vibe is genuinely inspiring."
"Reliable" lead actor Gao Zhiting: One photo made him famous
Talking about the lead man Gao Zhiting, he's truly a "charismatic actor."
He went viral last year from a cooking photo in "Small Town Stories"—black T-shirt, buzz cut,
bustling in the kitchen, making netizens call him "so reliable" "Living with him might be tough,
but he'd never let you struggle."
In "My Life and My Destiny," Gao Zhiting plays "Gao Xiang," Fang Wanzhi's lifelong confidant.
He's not her lover, but her key partner, friend, and mental rock.
They build a business together, endure the roughest times side by side.
He gets her stubborn side and respects her independence.
Gao Xiang's like that quiet light in life that keeps shining without fuss.
In one scene, Fang Wanzhi's in the warehouse, falsely accused of stealing by a client, blamed by all the workers—she holds it in for a full minute,
then finally breaks down in tears.
Gao Xiang doesn't comfort or advise, just hands her a water bottle calmly: "Cry it out, then get back to work."
This scene is hailed by many viewers as the most real take on entrepreneurship.
Dong Qing back in the besties squad: From "Beta" to "Li Juan," friendship still strong
In "The Best of Us," Dong Qing's "Beta" is naive and direct, Geng Geng's warmest pal.
In "My Life and My Destiny," she becomes the ever-loyal "Li Juan"—the mantra "When you're out there,
you've got to look out for each other" defines her and Fang Wanzhi's whole business journey.
From helping each other on the line as "work sisters" at first, to co-running a brand as partners later,
Li Juan and Fang Wanzhi's bond is the drama's heart and soul.
They've bickered and split, but in the end, stick together moving forward.
One touching segment: early in the business, the factory gets shut down,
and Fang Wanzhi is saddled with massive debt overnight.
Li Juan pulls out her life savings and says: "You're not fighting this alone. We're in it together."
That moment left viewers in tears.
Netizen reviews: "This isn't just a biz drama—it's the ultimate answer on female friendship."
"Realism focus: From the 'migrant worker wave' to 'IPO dreams'—Chinese grit at its core"
"My Life and My Destiny" got picked by CCTV not just for the star power,
but mainly because it tells **the untold story of ordinary Chinese women's struggles**.
Unlike the fake shine of "heels and high-rises" in past city dramas,
this one shows the real lives of 90s female workers authentically.
The crew scouted locations in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Huizhou, recreating old industrial lines,
dorms, night class rooms.
Actors on set said, "It's like stepping back into that tough but hopeful time."
The producer in an interview: "We didn't want faux struggle,
we aimed for real-life feel—greasy dishes, worn-out shoes,
late-night streetlights, faces chasing success."
This drama isn't just feel-good entrepreneurship; it's a tribute to those women's "fate-changing" stories.
"Veteran talent onboard: Wang Jinsong, Liu Wei, Tong Lei anchor the scene"
Beyond the young stars stealing the show, "My Life and My Destiny"'s supporting cast is "gold standard."
Wang Jinsong plays "Liu Yongchang," an early reform-era factory manager,
acting as both mentor and rival to Fang Wanzhi.
His memorable line: "The boss's first lesson? Learn not to fear going broke."
Liu Wei is the adoptive dad "Fang Jiangguo," a classic old-school Chinese father.
He struggles to show affection, but after Fang Wanzhi leaves, quietly sends her money every year.
When they reunite years later, his "Dad never blamed you, just couldn't face you" brought many to tears.
Tong Lei plays Fang Wanzhi's business rival-turned-odd-ally "Lin Xiaofei,"
a quintessential modern woman archetype.
Sharp, calm, decisive—she contrasts Fang Wanzhi perfectly.
Their late-game team-up against a takeover is a major highlight.
"Empowerment awakening: She rises not by leaning on others, but by her own strength"
What hits hardest isn't just Fang Wanzhi's success, but her guts to "build her own path."
No "Prince Charming rescues," no "easy hacks"—just real repeat failures,
and keeping getting up.
This line went viral online:
"My life has no leading man; I'm my own star."
It became the drama's core message.
The director says, "My Life and My Destiny" uses one woman's story
to tell more people: "Life's unfair sometimes, but you can choose not to quit."
"Buzz building: CCTV stamp means reviews sizzling pre-air"
Since CCTV listed "My Life and My Destiny" as a must-watch,
related topics on Weibo have topped 300 million views.
Netizens are commenting:
*"Tan Songyun just says 'trust'—I'll watch whatever she does.
*"Finally, a woman-led show not built on romance!
*"Seeing Dong Qing and Tan Songyun back together brings my youth back.
*"Industry folks are calling it CCTV's potential 2025 realistic hit."
"Real-life parallels: Tan Songyun's own journey in the drama"
For Tan Songyun personally, "My Life and My Destiny" is like life in the mirror.
From Chu Ner in "The Legend of Zhen Huan," to Geng Geng in "The Best of Us," to Li Jianjian in "In the Name of Family,"
her career path mirrors the same growth from young to seasoned.
Once doubted to "only play teens," she shattered that with every role.
Fang Wanzhi now represents her career peak of self-overcoming.
She said in an interview: "Fang and I are alike—girls who fall hard but never stop."
"Final thoughts: Fate isn't set—it's what you make it"
"My Life and My Destiny" isn't about miracles; it's how ordinary folks,
make a beautiful life from imperfect paths."
It honors that wave of workers, hustlers, moms, daughters,
sweat by sweat rewriting their stories.
Like Fang Wanzhi concludes:
"I didn't pick my fate—I chose not to lose.
" It's a show that'll make you laugh, cry, and find new drive.
When it drops, anyone who's ever pushed through tough times
will spot themselves in Fang Wanzhi.
Ending bonus:
I'm super pumped to see Tan Songyun turn a lousy hand into a royal flush in the show!
Counting down for "My Life and My Destiny"—let's witness together
how one woman rewrites her destiny on her own terms.