OMG if this leading lady switch happens it’s such a downgrade, or maybe not purely from the drama storyline standpoint. Tencent has a S-plus budgeted period drama (set in Republic era China in Shanghai Bund) titled The Way You Back (Chinese title Yu Lan Hua Kai Jun Zai Lai or When the Magnolia Blooms He Will Return 玉蘭花開君再來) that is female lead top billed with a strong female empowerment storyline. It was supposed to star Zhao Li Ying but industry gossip says it may now go to Tang Yan who is angling hard for it, after she got a career boost thanks to the hit drama Blossoms Shanghai. The switch may also be due to Zhao Li Ying wanting to do a C-drama with Zhang Yimou who reportedly is considering his first television directorial debut. I find Zhao Li Ying a billion times a better actress than Tang Yan but the drama is a Shanghai based story and Tang Yan is a Shanghai born hence why she was suitable in Blossoms Shanghai and may also be right for this role if she gets it.