“Rich guy, poor girl” is one of the most popular tropes in Asian dramas. The widely famous genre usually follows the story of a man belonging to an affluent background who falls for a girl from a poor household despite their differences. The following listicle explores prominent Chinese dramas that follow a similar storyline;
Pretty Li Hui Zhen (2017)
An adaptation of the popular K-drama, She Was Pretty, the Chinese series follows the story of Li Hui Zhen (Dilraba Dilmurat), who was known to be beautiful in the past. However, her beauty faded with time as she faced many crises. On the other hand, her old acquaintance, Bai Hao Yu (Peter Sheng), who once looked average, looks unrecognizable after becoming successful. When Li Hui Zhen crosses his path years later, she is too embarrassed to face him and asks her good-looking roommate to pose as her.
However, the problem is that Bai Hao Yu is actually Li Hui Zhen’s boss, and she now has to take up someone else’s name while working under him. Slowly, even without knowing her true identity, Bai Hao Yu finds himself attracted to Li Hui Zhen. The story follows Li Hui Zhen’s challenge to overcome her insecurity.
Meteor Garden (2018)
Meteor Garden follows the story of Shan Cai (Shen Yue), a girl from an ordinary family who gets admission to a prestigious elite school. However, what appeared to be a fairytale soon turns her life upside down. She constantly finds herself clashing with her elitist classmates, who do not want her there and bully her.
Four of her classmates, known as the F4, make her life a living hell. Yet, Shan Cai is stubborn. She does not budge and stands her ground. Her determination and diligence win their heart, and they slowly form an unbreakable bond. Meteor Garden is available to stream on Netflix.
Boss & Me (2014)
It is an adaptation of Gu Man’s novel Come and Eat. In this romantic comedy about a rich guy and a poor girl, Feng Teng (Zhang Han) is the president of a big company. His younger sister, with a very rare blood type, needs a transfusion. He finds an employee at his company named Xue Shan Shan (Zhao Liying) for blood donation.
Naturally, he feels indebted to Shan Shan, but rather than paying her off for her help, he follows his sister’s suggestion and sends her nutritious packed lunches so she can recover fast. Shan Shan is a big foodie. Her bright and bubbly personality slowly starts melting Feng Teng’s heart, and he falls for her.
Accidentally in Love (2018)
Chen Qing Qing (Amy Sun), the heiress of a wealthy family, flees town on her wedding day. She was being forced into an arranged marriage, but she wants to experience falling in love. Chen Qing Qing ends up enrolling in the same college where her parents studied, hoping to find the truth behind their untimely deaths. She changes her appearance to blend in with her classmates.
Meanwhile, her deskmate, Si Tu Feng (Guo Jun Chen), is a famous singer and popular at school. The duo starts off on the wrong foot and constantly bickers. The question lies as to whether love will bloom between them with time.
Well-Intended Love (2019)
An adaptation of the novel Game of Wealthy: Private Sweethearts, this Chinese drama follows the story of Xia Lin (Simona Wang), a third-rate actress. Tragedy strikes when she gets diagnosed with leukemia and needs an immediate bone marrow transplant.
To save her career, Xia Lin devises a master plan. She gets herself involved with Ling Yi Zhou (Xu Kaicheng), the CEO of a company. The two get married secretly. Despite facing many hardships, the two manage to find true love. The show is available to stream on Netflix.
Unforgettable Love (2021)
This drama narrates the love story of a CEO and a child psychologist. He Qiao Yan (Miles Wei), CEO of Heshi Group, and Qin Yi Yue (Hu Yixuan), a child psychologist, grow close because of their similar personalities. They are both kind-hearted, soft-spoken, and diligent. Soon, their acquaintanceship turns into love.
This drama is available to stream on Viki and MGTV Drama Channel.
Count Your Lucky Stars (2020)
Lu Xing Cheng (Jerry Yan) is a fashion industry legend known for his sharp-tongue and arrogant nature. Meanwhile, Tong Xiao You (Shen Yue) is an aspiring fashion designer. Luck does not seem to be on her side as she struggles to make ends meet.
Fate takes a surprising turn when Xing Cheng and Xiao You cross paths. Xiao You suddenly finds herself at the center of attention, while Xing Cheng experiences a streak of bad luck. They ultimately find their true sources of happiness as love knocks at their door. The drama is available to stream on Youku, Viki, and YoYo TV.
Dating in the Kitchen (2020)
This drama is an adaptation of Lan Bai Se’s novel Finally I Get You. Gu Sheng Nan (Zhao Lusi) is a hardworking chef, but her talent goes unnoticed at her workplace. To make matters worse, a misunderstanding causes her to be loathed by the CEO, Lu Jin (Lin Yushen).
As part of his business strategy, Lu Jin was ready to condemn the hotel, but one of Sheng Nan’s dishes changed his mind. Lu Jin recognized her talents. Soon, they grew an unlikely friendship that turned into love. The drama is available to stream on Tencent Video, iQIYI, Viki And WeTV.
