Starring Cai Wenjing, Liu Kai, and Peng Guanying, “Under the Sunshine” has already premiered on Mango TV! Despite launching with zero promotional push, it promptly landed in the top three on major new-media drama rankings across platforms like Weibo, Douyin, and Guduo. With an initial Douban rating of 8.0, many viewers have hailed it as a “spot-on adaptation” and “utterly addictive,” making it a truly impressive and well-earned success.

(Image source: Guduo Data official Weibo)

Now, let me take you behind the scenes of “Under the Sun,” which has been making waves on WeChat Moments and was produced with end-to-end post-production involvement from the Zhu brothers.

01

Adapted from the original work by Xiancheng

The TV series “Under the Sunshine” is jointly produced by Bona Film Group, Bona Love Film & Television Media, and the Golden Shield Film and Television Culture Center of the Ministry of Public Security of China. Yu Dong and Tang Haiyan serve as producers, with Tang Haiyan also acting as the executive producer. The original author, Xian Cheng, personally participated in the scriptwriting, and the series is directed by Yan Yutong.

02

Justice will ultimately triumph over evil.

University professor Ke Ying (played by Cai Wenjing) is attacked by a criminal, only to find that her unexpected actions help the police take down a fugitive. But months later, the robber reemerges—rebranded as Feng Xiaosheng (played by Peng Guanying), the president of a powerful conglomerate—and launches a relentless campaign of revenge against Ke Ying, who has yet to recover from the trauma she endured.

To protect herself and her family, Ke Ying engages in a battle of wits and courage against organized crime, teaming up with Xiao Wu, a delivery driver (played by Liu Kai), who provides crucial leads to the police. Together, they secretly gather evidence against the criminal syndicate, helping the authorities and the investigative task force prevent the group from laundering its ill-gotten gains. Through countless trials and tribulations, they ultimately see justice prevail over evil.

03

Anti-Stockholm stereotype

One reason this series has attracted so much attention is its unconventional character design: it breaks away from the typical domineering‑CEO trope, and the female lead’s anti‑Stockholm syndrome angle in particular has left many fans raving about how thrilling it is.

The female lead’s fate can be summed up as “trapped in hell, yet steadfastly reaching for the light.” She never gave up on escaping, never stopped fighting, and certainly never fell into the trope of “falling in love with the male lead after being tormented countless times,” winning over legions of fans.

04

Rising to the challenge, the real show begins.

The Zhu brothers were fortunate to participate in the entire post-production process of “Under the Sunshine.” For this highly anticipated project, every department went all out. From the start of filming to today, after roughly two years of pre‑visual effects and post‑production, and through the concerted efforts of the production team, the director, and the entire cast and crew, we have finally delivered a work born of our sincere dedication.

Sculptures brimming with a sense of redemption, shattered glass, crosses, armor, doves soaring through the buildings, and eerie music all herald the arrival of danger. Through meticulously crafted editing and packaging, we invite viewers to step into a city of desire shrouded in thick fog.

(A visually striking opening sequence)

It’s worth noting that the mixing took place right as the pandemic erupted. To ensure the project’s quality, and with strict health‑safety protocols in place, the director personally oversaw the mixing sessions alongside several mix engineers, rotating between them. Here, we extend our respect to the director and the entire creative team.

(The sound production happened to coincide with the beloved director’s birthday.)

The curtain has risen on the escape—just open Mango TV and search for “Under the Sunshine” to enjoy the thrill of binge-watching! P.S. From Saturday to Monday at 8 p.m., two new episodes drop each day—exclusive for members; and every Monday at 8 p.m., six episodes are available for early access.