Road to Success
| Road to Success | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Narrow Road |
| Traditional Chinese | 灿如繁星 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Càn Rú Fán Xīng |
| Genre | |
| Based on | Narrow Road (狭路) by Chang Er |
| Directed by | Lee Ching Jung |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | China |
| Original language | Mandarin |
| Production | |
| Production companies |
|
| Original release | |
| Network | IQIYI |
Road to Success (Chinese: 灿如繁星) is an upcoming Chinese television series directed by Lee Ching Jung and starring Yu Shuxin and Chen Jingke. This series is adapted from the web novel Narrow Road (狭路) by Chang Er, the story follows a PhD student who returns to her hometown to manage a high school football team and teams up with a mysterious former coach to lead the students to victory. The series is scheduled to release on iQIYI in 2026.
Synopsis
The series focuses on the football team at Hongjing No. 8 High School. Lin Wanxing, a PhD student, returns to her hometown and takes on the role of sports equipment manager. She collaborates with Wang Fa, a former professional football coach from the United Kingdom, to revitalize the school's struggling athletic program. The narrative depicts the team's preparation for the children's football finals while the students also prepare for the college entrance exams.
Cast
Main
- Yu Shuxin as Lin Wanxing[1]
- A PhD student who becomes the sports manager at Hongjing No. 8 High School.
- Chen Jingke as Wang Fa[2]
- A football coach who formerly worked for a professional club in the United Kingdom.
Supporting
- Lu Zhanxiang as Yu Ming
- Yang Xinghui as Zhang Feiyang
- Dong Li Wuyou as Chen Jianghe
- Yang Yunhao as Feng Suo
- Ye Kaiwen as Zheng Ren
- Chloe Xie as Ju Li
- Victor Ma as Yu Bo
- Yan Yuchen as Wen Chengye
- Liu Jun as Fu Xinshu
Guest
- Glay Chiang
Production
Development
The project was officially announced on April 15, 2025, during a production showcase by iQIYI. The series is an adaptation of the web novel Narrow Road (狭路) by Chang Er, who previously gained recognition for the novel The Heart of Genius.[3] The series was developed under the working title Narrow Road before being renamed Road to Success. The production is directed by Lee Ching Jung, known for her work on popular youth and romance dramas such as Go Go Squid! and Hidden Love.[4]
Casting
In April 2025, Esther Yu and Chen Jingke were confirmed as the lead actors.[5]
Filming
Principal photography began on April 15, 2025, in Quanzhou, Fujian Province.[6] It wrapped on August 18, 2025.[7][8]
Release
The series is scheduled to be released as an original program on the iQIYI streaming platform in 2026.
References
- ^ 《永夜星河》后，虞书欣《灿如繁星》化身犀利导师，男主是新晋小生_腾讯新闻 [Following "Eternal Night Galaxy," Yu Shuxin transforms into a sharp mentor in "As Bright as the Stars," with the male lead being a rising star.]. news.qq.com (in Chinese (China)). February 14, 2026. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
- ^ Du, Yixuan (July 4, 2025). 《燦如繁星》劇情看點＆角色介紹：虞書欣化身學霸博士，搭教練陳靖可上演熱血足球故事. beauty美人圈 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2026-02-14.
- ^ Chen, Liangyi (July 21, 2025). 《燦如繁星》線上看劇情7亮點！虞書欣化身「高智教師」戀上「硬漢教練」陳靖可，聯手《親愛的》原班製作團隊爆款預定. TVBS (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 2026-02-14.
- ^ 《灿如繁星》剧情看点＆角色介绍：虞书欣化身学霸博士，搭教练陈靖可上演热血足球故事. Sohu. July 4, 2025. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
- ^ Moyangyang, Entertainment (April 16, 2025). 虞书欣出发进组新剧《灿如繁星》，男主是万年不火的它 - 360娱乐，你开心就好 [Yu Shuxin departs to join the cast of her new drama "As Bright as Stars," and the male lead is someone who has never become popular.]. yule.360.com. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
- ^ Yu, Haocong (April 14, 2025). 《灿如繁星》将开机 《灿如繁星》剧情介绍_中华网 ["As Bright as Stars" to Begin Filming; Synopsis of "As Bright as Stars"]. 3g.china.com. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
- ^ 《灿如繁星》杀青 虞书欣陈靖可解锁热血燃愈新故事_中华网 [Filming for "As Bright as Stars" wrapped up, with Yu Shuxin and Chen Jingke unlocking a new, passionate, and heartwarming story.]. mtz.china.com. August 19, 2025. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
- ^ 虞书欣本月圆满杀青，《灿如繁星》林晚星引期待 [Drama "As Bright as Stars" wrapped filming this month, and her role as Lin Wanxing in the new series is highly anticipated.]. Sohu. August 1, 2025. Retrieved 2026-02-14.
External links
- Road to Success at IQIYI (in Chinese)
- Road to Success at IMDb
- Road to Success on Weibo (in Chinese)