The recently released C-drama Tender Light aired its first set of episodes on April 27, 2024. It features Zhang Xincheng and Tong Yao in the lead roles. The drama tells the story of Zhou Luo (Zhang Xincheng), who returns to his hometown after taking a break from university. There, he meets Nan Ya (Tong Yao), a beautiful and hardworking woman who is suffering because of her abusive husband. Eventually, Zhou Lou finds himself fascinated by her.
The first episode focuses on Nan Ya and Zhou Lou’s involvement in a murder case. On New Year’s Eve 1999, a panic-stricken Nan Ya runs through the gullies, her hands all bloodied. Zhou Lou follows her, carrying Nan Ya’s daughter.
Officer Lin Fanglu (Ye Zu Xin) is transferred to the town of Qingshui. But he wishes to change his posting, as he grew up there and the town is too small for the convenience of an investigation. His request gets cancelled by his superiors, and he joins the Qingshui police station as the deputy chief.
He is handed the case of Nan Ya, who confesses to killing her husband, Xu Yi (Dean Liu). Nan Ya admits that she wanted a divorce from her abusive husband, but he refused. She accumulated some information regarding the collision of the town’s bridge that killed many people of the town. But when she confronted him with the evidence, he violently attacked her. In a desperate attempt to save herself, she stabbed him with a kitchen knife.
Tender Light ep 1: Why does Zhang Xincheng get interrogated?
Nan Ya had previously admitted to hearing footsteps outside her house but later denied it. Fanglu feels that she is hiding something. The only witness in the case is Xingcheng, who reported the incident to the police. But there is a gap in time between him witnessing the incident and reporting it.
While interrogating the townspeople, Fanglu finds that Nan Ya doesn’t have a good reputation. He finds it strange that the women envy her beauty, but the men drool over her and question her character. Meanwhile, Xu Yi’s mother refuses to look after her dead son’s daughter. But at Nan Ya’s request, Zhou Lou’s mother agrees to take her in.
Fanglu interrogates Zhou Lou next. He says that he did not see Xu Yi and Nan Ya argue. He mentions that he took Nan Ya’s daughter home that night and witnessed the incident taking place but didn’t shout for help as Xu Yi had already passed away. Zhou Lou had anxiously run home with Nan Ya’s daughter. His explanation does not satisfy Fanglu. Meanwhile, he decides to move into Zhou Lou’s house to keep a close watch on him.
After returning to the police station, Fanglu finds an officer threatening Nan Ya. He tries to clear Xu Yi’s name from the bridge incident. Fanglu comes to her rescue and asks him to stop at once.
Zhou Lou helps Fanglu sort his room. Meanwhile, it is revealed that Nan Ya and Zhou Lou were close acquaintances who occasionally exchanged books. What dark secret is he hiding?
Tender Light is available to stream throughout the week on Youku.
