Tan Songyun and Liu Xueyi lead Against the Current, a Chinese period drama about a woman rebuilding her life in the household that abandoned her. Once promised to the family’s heir, Shen Jialan returns under an assumed name and takes a job as a maid.
Wu Tiantian, Li Meng, Ye Qing and Liu Meihan also feature in the cast. Here is a closer look at six actors and the characters whose lives become entangled inside the Lin residence.
Tan Songyun as Shen Jialan / Xu Lanxiang
Tan Songyun plays Shen Jialan, whose family is massacred after her grandfather is accused of treason. Rescued by a married couple who work as servants, she takes the identity of their late daughter, Xu Lanxiang.
That new name allows her to enter the Lin household as a maid. She must keep her past hidden while seeking justice for her family and finding a way to support herself.
Liu Xueyi as Lin Jinqi
Liu Xueyi plays Lin Jinqi, the Lin heir once betrothed to Jialan. His family abandons the engagement after the accusations against the Shens and pursues a marriage alliance with the Zhaos.
Lanxiang’s arrival brings the former couple together again, with a stark difference in their social standing. Family obligations and the truth about her identity complicate their relationship.
Wu Tiantian as Lin Xiuwan
Wu Tiantian plays Lin Xiuwan, a young member of the Lin family raised in a wealthy, influential household.
Her privileged upbringing contrasts with Lanxiang’s new position. They inhabit the same home, but its rules offer them very different freedoms.
Li Meng as Zhao Xingtang
Li Meng plays Zhao Xingtang, the woman at the center of Lin Jinqi’s new marriage alliance. Her family’s influence makes the union politically valuable to the Lins.
For Jialan, the match is also a reminder of the future she lost when the Lins cut ties with her family.
Ye Qing as Yuchan
Ye Qing plays Yuchan, a maid who worked closely with Lin Jinqi before Lanxiang joined the household.
Her story follows the impact of her employers’ decisions on her personal life. Like Lanxiang, she has to navigate rules she has little power to change.
Liu Meihan as Lü Ji’er
Liu Meihan plays Lü Ji’er, another maid at the residence. Outgoing and outspoken, she shares Lanxiang’s working life and the daily tensions among the household staff.
Against the Current has an official series page on WeTV, where viewers can check episode access and subtitle options for their region.