Introduction
Some love stories make it easy to choose a side. They introduce two wounded souls, place obstacles in their path, and invite us to cheer for their happy ending. But Fascination is the romance you shouldn’t root for. It’s built on deception, manipulation, and motives that are anything but pure. The deeper the story goes, the more it challenges the audience’s emotions and instincts.
I can’t fully explain why I chose that title. Doing so would reveal one of the drama’s biggest plot twists—a revelation that completely changes how you view the relationship at the center of the story. It’s the kind of twist that deserves to be experienced firsthand, not spoiled in a review introduction.
Yet despite all the warning signs, the drama remains strangely addictive. It pulls us into a dangerous emotional game where attraction and obsession become impossible to separate. You know you probably shouldn’t be rooting for these two. And yet, episode after episode, you find yourself unable to look away.
But if you still insist on knowing what the big plot twist is, I put it at the end of the article (“Plot Twist #1”). But you’ll be warned, it’s a major spoiler!
Drama Info
Drama title: Fascination (Native title: 着迷)
Alternative title: Zhao Mi
Genres: Romance, Drama
Aired: 27 Apr, 2026 - 5 May, 2026
Episodes: 24 | Duration: 19 min.
Director: Zhang Ao (张敖)
Screenwriter: Yang Wei (杨葳)
Where to watch: MangoTV
OSTs
People have asked for the OSTs. On this site, I don’t share unofficial or fan-uploaded soundtrack links because YouTube may remove them later due to copyright issues (unless they are English-translated versions). Instead, I’ve listed the song titles below, sourced from Baidu. You should be able to find the tracks by searching the song titles and/or artist names on your preferred music platform. I was able to locate them on YouTube:
- 荒唐 (“Absurd”) by Zuo Zhuo (左卓)
- 爱你爱到忘了自己 (“I Love You So Much that I Forget Myself”) by Guo Jia Wei or Trevor (郭家玮)
- 过了几天 (“Days Have Passed”) by Guo Jia Wei or Trevor (郭家玮)
- 戒断反应 (“Withdrawal Reaction”) by Cici Jiang (CC酱)
- 漫漫 (“Boundless”) by Zkaaai
- 听流浪的风 (“Listen to the Wandering Wing”) by Zhao Man Jia or Mandy (赵蔓佳)
Trailer
Synopsis
Lin Moqing assumes a false identity to manipulate and train Lan Hewei as part of a calculated plan against his powerful family. But as deception, shifting alliances, and hidden motives collide, Lan Hewei proves far more formidable than he expected. What begins as a strategic game of control gradually evolves into a tense and unpredictable relationship, where rivalry and attraction blur—and neither can fully anticipate who will come out on top. (Source: TMDb)
Characters
Main Characters
Jesse Ren/Ren Yun Jie (任运杰) as Lin Mo Qing
Qi Yan Di (戚砚笛) as Lan He Wei
Supporting Characters
Zhu Wen Jie (Tifanny Gao/Gao Tian Ni)
Lin Mo Jiao (Liu Yan Qiao)
Lu Xing (Wu Sheng Qi)
Review
What I Like
The audience’s search on what actually happened
One of the most interesting aspects of Fascination is that the drama gradually reveals that the biggest mystery is the truth behind the relationship itself. The mystery is built around layers of hidden identities, concealed motives, and incomplete truths. Every time the audience thinks they understand why a character made a particular choice, another piece of information emerges that forces them to reinterpret earlier events. Scenes that initially appear romantic or protective often take on entirely different meanings once the truth is revealed.
Fast paced
This drama is not necessarily short for a short drama; it’s about 7 1/2 hours long, because there are also flashbacks and the story of the second couple. However, it’s a fast-paced story with plenty of twists and power plays.
Strong chemistry between Ren Yunjie and Qi Yandi
The romance is a compelling enemies-to-lovers dynamic filled with manipulation, distrust, and attraction. However, this type of romance is mostly predominant in Chinese short-dramas. The success of Fascination rests almost entirely on Ren Yunjie and Qi Yandi’s ability to make the audience believe that attraction and distrust can exist at the same time. Fortunately, they deliver exactly that.
What stands out most is the constant tension beneath their interactions. Even in scenes where our leading characters are simply talking, there is an underlying sensual attraction that neither can stay away from. The result is a chemistry built less on sweetness and more on anticipation.
Just for a sneak peek: Watch their hot scenes in Episodes 10 or 11!
Ren Yun Jie’s performance
This can be subjective, because I have wanted to watch his drama (where he is the Male Lead) for two years, but I either did not have time or did not like some elements of his previous dramas. Therefore, when I found out he was paired with Qi Yandi, whose dramas I have seen, I brought myself to watch Fascination.
Ren Yunjie’s performance is arguably the backbone of Fascination. One of his greatest strengths is his command of micro-expressions. Lin Moqing spends much of the drama hiding his true thoughts, which means the actor often had to communicate emotion without dialogue. A slight tightening of the jaw, a fleeting look of jealousy, or a momentary loss of composure tells the audience far more than words ever could. Even when Lin Moqing maintains a calm exterior, viewers can sense the turmoil underneath.
Another highlight is his ability to create tension through eye contact alone. Some of the drama’s most memorable moments involve very little dialogue. Instead, Ren Yunjie relied on his gaze to communicate longing, frustration, possessiveness, and regret. These silent moments contribute significantly to the romantic tension that drives the series.
What I Dislike
Toxic relationships and crazy people
It’s just subjective, but toxic romances are usually one of my least favorite relationship dynamics. I often find it difficult to root for couples whose relationships are built on manipulation, dishonesty, emotional games, or an unhealthy imbalance of power. So on paper, Fascination shouldn’t be my kind of drama at all.
And yet, I kept watching.
Part of the reason is simple curiosity. The story constantly hints that there is more going on beneath the surface—hidden motives, shifting identities, and truths that don’t fully line up with what the characters (or the audience) are being told. I wanted to understand why they were behaving the way they did and what would eventually be revealed.
Trigger warning: If you’re afraid of snakes, beware of the snake scenes in Episode 9 (timestamp 4:15 to 4:25) and Episode 23 (timestamp 11:45) relating to the villain.
Messy editing
One of the biggest problems in Fascination is the editing. At times, it feels messy and confusing, making it hard to follow what is actually happening emotionally or narratively. Scenes often jump between timelines, reactions, and plot points without enough transition or clarity. Important moments don’t always land the way they should because the buildup is either rushed or cut in a way that breaks the emotional flow. Instead of enhancing tension, the editing sometimes creates unnecessary confusion.
Special Shootout
My special shootout that the subarc when they bring the main characters to “Country T” which mostly refers to Thailand, because Li Moqing’s subordinate mentions his liking of Thai food. This “Thailand” scene feels noticeably more cinematic compared to the rest of the drama. The visuals are stronger with the landscape background, non-Chinese characters speak Thai, costumes, and food. In this Thai subarc, the emotional tension between the leads lands much more effectively, and their relationship progresses from just working partners to lovers.
“Country T” is used instead of Thailand to avoid legal or censorship issues. Real country naming in sensitive contexts (crime, shootouts, illegal business, kidnappings, etc.) can complicate review or distribution approval. Using a placeholder like “Country T” keeps it safer.
My Rating
I used my rating system with additional scores of:
- 0.5 for the mystery plot
- 1.0 for the complicated characters, acting, and sizzling chemistry between Ren Yunjie and Qi Yandi
- 0.5 for the visuals (costumes and “Thailand” setting)
Total rating 8.0/10.
Conclusion
If you enjoy intense love-hate romances where the leads constantly outmaneuver each other, Fascination is an addictive short watch. It isn’t a sweet romance; it’s a story about obsession, deception, and two equally determined people falling for each other as they try to gain the upper hand.
Spoilers
Plot twist #1 [major spoiler!]
The “Lan Hewei” or “Vivi”, our heroine, is not the real Lan Hewei. She is Xu Meng, Lan Hewei’s best friend. Lan Hewei’s husband orchestrated the auto accident, which left Lan Hewei’s in a coma and Xu Meng badly injured. Xu Meng’s face was beyond recognizable and she had amnesia, so Lin Moqing took the chance to authorize a face reconstruction surgery on her with Lan Hewei’s face. He lied to her that she was Lan Hewei and her friend Xu Meng was in a coma. Later, the real Lan Hewei woke up and confronted Xu Meng. At the end, Lan Hewei is killed by her husband.
Plot twist #2 [major spoiler!]
At the beginning, the audience was led to believe that Lin Moqing was an illegitimate son and Lin Mojiao was the heir of the wealthy Lin family. In fact, Lin Mojiao is the illegitimate son. He killed Lin Moqing’s mother, which Lin Moqing witnessed when he was little. Lin Mojiao made his own mother commit suicide, killed his own father by changing his heart medication, and orchestrated the auto accident Lan Hewei’s parents. Lin Moqing only wanted to take what belonged to him: the Lin family’s business and wealth.
What is the ending? [short answer]
Happy ending.
How does it end? [long answer]
The villain died after jumping off the building (he is crazy). The ending scene shows Lin Moqing, Xu Meng, Zhu Wenjie, and Lu Xing barbeque together. Zhu Wenjie is pregnant.
