Find Yourself
Find Yourself (Chinese: 下一站是幸福; pinyin: Xià Yī Zhàn Shì Xìngfú) is a 2020 Chinese romantic drama television series directed by Ding Zi Guang and starring Victoria Song, Song Weilong, and Wang Yaoqing.[1][2] Consisting of 41 episodes, each approximately 45 minutes long, it premiered on Hunan TV on January 26, 2020, and concluded on February 18, 2020, while also being released internationally on Netflix starting January 14, 2020.[3] The series centers on He Fanxing, a successful but overworked advertising executive in her early thirties navigating career instability and personal relationships.[3] The plot follows He Fanxing (Victoria Song) as her company faces a potential acquisition, coinciding with the breakdown of her long-term engagement to her boyfriend.[1] Amid these challenges, she forms a close bond with Yuan Song (Song Weilong), a talented young intern who harbors romantic feelings for her despite their 10-year age difference, and receives support from the mature and dependable Ye Luming (Wang Yaoqing), her company's vice president.[3] This love triangle propels He Fanxing toward self-reflection and unconventional choices in love and life, highlighting themes of empowerment, age-disparate romance, and work-life balance in contemporary urban China.[1] Find Yourself garnered positive reception for its fresh take on mature romance and relatable depiction of professional women, achieving high viewership ratings during its broadcast on Hunan TV.[2] It received multiple nominations at the 30th China TV Golden Eagle Awards, including for Outstanding Television Series and Outstanding Actress for Victoria Song.[4] On IMDb, the series holds a 7.5 out of 10 rating from over 5,500 user reviews (as of 2025), praised for its heartfelt storytelling and strong ensemble cast.[2]Plot and themes
Plot summary
He Fanxing, a 32-year-old director of administration at MZ Advertising, encounters a significant career crisis when her company faces an impending acquisition, threatening her professional stability.[1] Concurrently, she experiences a painful breakup with her boyfriend Shen Jing, stemming from conflicting life goals, leaving her navigating emotional turmoil alongside her work pressures.[1] Amid these challenges, He Fanxing meets Yuan Song, a young intern at her company who strikingly resembles her ex-boyfriend and quickly develops feelings for her, introducing tense workplace interactions and the gradual emergence of a romantic connection.[1] Following the acquisition, Ye Luming assumes the role of company president, forging a key professional partnership with He Fanxing that shapes her career decisions and adds layers to her personal growth.[1] The narrative also explores a subplot centered on He Fanxing's best friend Song Xue, whose long-term relationship faces strain from relational discord.[1] Spanning 41 episodes, the series charts He Fanxing's progression from these lows—marked by doubt and instability—to a path of self-empowerment, emphasizing resilience amid evolving relationships and opportunities.[1]Central themes
"Find Yourself" delves into age-gap relationships by presenting a nuanced romance between an older woman and a younger man, emphasizing mutual respect and emotional maturity rather than stereotypical power imbalances or superficial attractions. This portrayal challenges conventional narratives, showcasing how such dynamics can foster genuine connection and personal empowerment for both partners.[5][6] Central to the series is the theme of self-discovery and personal growth for women in their 30s, as the protagonist navigates the tension between ambitious career pursuits and the pursuit of emotional fulfillment. Through her experiences, the drama illustrates the importance of introspection and resilience, allowing the character to redefine her priorities beyond societal expectations of marriage and family. This motif resonates with contemporary viewers by highlighting the ongoing journey toward authenticity in mid-life.[5][7] The narrative critiques workplace gender dynamics, exposing the obstacles women face in male-dominated corporate settings, such as bias and unequal opportunities, while underscoring the role of mentorship in overcoming them. It portrays supportive professional relationships that blend objectivity with empathy, demonstrating how guidance from peers can empower women to thrive amid competitive pressures.[5] Friendship and support networks among women form a vital backbone, exemplified by the close bond between He Fanxing and Song Xue, which provides emotional sustenance and practical advice during personal and professional trials. This theme celebrates female solidarity as a counterforce to isolation, reinforcing the value of communal strength in addressing life's challenges.[5] Subtly woven throughout is a commentary on modern dating pressures, urging a redefinition of success away from traditional milestones like early marriage toward individual happiness and self-actualization. The series reflects broader societal shifts, encouraging viewers to prioritize personal agency over conformity in romantic pursuits.[6][5]Cast and characters
Main cast
Victoria Song stars as He Fanxing, a 32-year-old administrative manager at a design company who faces professional challenges and explores unexpected romantic possibilities after a decade-long relationship ends.[8] Song Weilong plays Yuan Song, a 22-year-old university student and optimistic intern at He Fanxing's company, whose youthful enthusiasm and design talents make him both a valuable colleague and her primary romantic partner, driving the series' exploration of age-gap relationships.[9] Wang Yaoqing portrays Ye Luming, the 37-year-old CEO of an advertising firm who mentors He Fanxing through her career uncertainties while developing a subtle romantic interest in her, creating tension in the central love triangle.[9] These lead performances anchor the narrative's focus on self-discovery, professional growth, and unconventional romance, with Yuan Song's alliance providing comic relief and emotional support amid He Fanxing's dilemmas.[1]Supporting cast
The supporting cast in Find Yourself contributes to the central narrative by depicting family dynamics, workplace rivalries, and secondary romances that underscore the protagonists' struggles with love, career, and societal expectations. Fu Jia portrays He Qingfeng, He Fanxing's father, a supportive yet traditional figure who appears in key family gatherings to offer guidance on her romantic decisions and career ambitions, emphasizing intergenerational perspectives on independence for women in their thirties.[10] Ma Li plays Shen Hongmei, He Fanxing's mother, who provides emotional backing amid her daughter's uncertainties but also exerts gentle pressure toward marriage, to illustrate familial influences on personal growth.[10] Zhang Yujian depicts He Canyang, He Fanxing's younger brother and a charismatic university professor, whose interactions with his sister offer comic relief and sibling solidarity; his subplot involving concern over relationships enriches the family support system without overshadowing the leads.[11] Complementing this, Yu Shuxin as Cai Minmin, Ye Luming's niece and a spirited second-year student and He Canyang's love interest, injects youthful optimism and parallel age-gap romance themes, with her persistent pursuits creating lighthearted conflicts that highlight mismatched life stages in supporting interactions.[11] In the professional sphere, Wei Zheming's Chang Huan, a dedicated designer at Amazing Decoration, and Yang Zhiying's Cong Xiao, a capable sales employee, form a recurring couple whose workplace flirtations and collaborations provide comic relief and mirroring He Fanxing's own romantic tensions through shared office banter and minor conflicts.[11] Zeng Li embodies Wu Meiyin, head of investments at rival firm Aijia, who generates business antagonism for He Fanxing via competitive deals and strategic maneuvers, appearing in pivotal corporate scenes to amplify themes of professional discord.[12]Production
Development
The development of Find Yourself began with an original screenplay co-written by Wang Xiong Cheng and Shui Qian Mo, marking the duo's first collaboration after previous individual works like My Amazing Boyfriend.[13] The story centers on a professional woman in her thirties navigating career pressures and an unexpected romance with a younger colleague, drawing from contemporary urban life experiences without adaptation from any novel.[1] This narrative choice aimed to portray a positive depiction of an age-gap relationship, deliberately challenging traditional societal views on intergenerational romance in China, where such pairings are often stigmatized.[14] The project was officially announced on July 31, 2018, with Victoria Song and Song Weilong cast as the leads.[15] Directed by Ding Ziguang, it was produced by Huace Media and greenlit for production in 2018, with principal photography commencing that year and wrapping up by November.[16] Trailers and promotional materials were released in 2019, building anticipation ahead of its 2020 broadcast on Hunan TV.[17]Filming
Principal photography for Find Yourself commenced on September 3, 2018, and concluded on November 14, 2018, primarily in Shanghai and Suzhou, with an emphasis on capturing urban office environments and apartment interiors to reflect the story's contemporary setting.[15] To enhance realism, the production utilized actual offices of advertising firms for key workplace sequences, supplemented by constructed studio sets for controlled interior shots. Filming encountered logistical hurdles, including coordination around the cast's existing obligations—such as lead actress Victoria Song's commitments to previous endeavors—and interruptions from inclement weather that affected exterior scenes.[2] The approximately three-month schedule accommodated the production of all 41 episodes through intensive daily shoots, with post-production finalization achieved by late 2019. Cinematographic techniques highlighted the pulsating rhythm of modern urban existence, employing fluid camera movements and natural lighting to underscore Shanghai's dynamic skyline and daily life.[5]Music
Soundtrack
The original soundtrack album for Find Yourself was released on January 28, 2020, via Tencent Music Entertainment's QQ Music platform, featuring four tracks that enhance the series' romantic and emotional narrative.[18] These songs, performed by established Chinese artists, integrate seamlessly with key plot moments to amplify themes of love and self-discovery.[19] The album's opening theme, "Letter From the Wind" (风的来信) by Jin Wenqi, introduces the protagonists' budding relationship with its gentle, windswept melody evoking hope and serendipity; it plays during early episodes highlighting He Fanxing's professional life and initial encounters with Yuan Song. The ending theme, "Amazing" (迷人的你) by Lin Shimin, serves as a poignant ballad that closes each episode, reflecting the couple's growing affection and the age-gap romance's tender moments.[20] Additional tracks include "Light in Heart" (心光) by Hu Xia, a soft ballad underscoring intimate age-gap interactions, and "The Gentleness of the Left Hand" (左手的溫柔) by He Yi Chen, featured in workplace and heartfelt scenes to convey emotional warmth.[21]| Track No. | Song Title | Artist | Duration | Episode Integration Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Letter From the Wind (风的来信) | Jin Wenqi | 4:36 | Opening credits and initial romantic setups |
| 2 | Amazing (迷人的你) | Lin Shimin | 3:56 | Ending credits and romance climax scenes |
| 3 | Light in Heart (心光) | Hu Xia | 3:52 | Age-gap emotional dialogues |
| 4 | The Gentleness of the Left Hand (左手的溫柔) | He Yi Chen | 4:04 | Workplace tension and affectionate moments |