Huang Shengyi and Zhu Xiaotian play the children of wealthy parents forced to make names for themselves. Photo: Zhang Yu

By Xu Liuliu

Producers of the new Chinese TV drama Love Without Commitment held a press conference last week to introduce its story and cast to the public. The 30-episode drama was mainly shot in Hangzhou and stars Taiwanese actor Zhu Xiaotian, Chinese mainland actress Huang Shengyi and other young newcomers.

The dramatic series takes focus on China's "second generation rich," children of the country's wealthy. "Just when talking about [the second generation rich]," said Hao Wenhai, show producer, "people immediately think of sport cars and a luxury lifestyle."

"I want to say that it's not true," he added. "Most of them work hard to run their families' business. I'm showing their real life on the small screen."

In Love Without Commitment, main character Lin Minna (played by Huang Shengyi) is a girl born with a silver spoon in her mouth. We see her suffering from father's death and various failures in business after she finishes her studies abroad.

"Lin Minna suffers a lot and had to move out of her villa in a shabby apartment with her little brother," actress Huang Shengyi said of the character she plays. "She then manages to find a job and survive, and even builds her own business."

In the show, character Han Jiaqi's (played by Zhu Xiaotian) primary concern is to guard his family's business. "Han is very lucky to have such a large fortune," said Zhu, "but he doesn't show off his money as people might think."

"He's paid a lot to guard his family's business," he added. "So the second generation rich are real people, just like us." Zhu said he did not get along with co-star Huang at first, but they came to get to know each other. "We had a great time."

The TV program offered an opportunity for Huang Shengyi and Yang Zi (who plays the show's villain) to work together again after making the highly successful CCTV series The Legend of Guangfu Taiji.