Melody Zhu Returns to Malaysia as Female Lead - Explores a 'Star & Mortician' Contrasting Romance

Astro Originals’ brand new Chinese drama series “One Heart One Hundred Million” held its opening ceremony on the 20th, with Melody Zhu (朱主爱) taking on the spotlight as the female lead for a Malaysian TV drama for the very first time. Not only is this her first time returning to Malaysia to participate in a drama shoot, but she also plays the role of popular star "Zhang Youwen" in the series, taking on numerous emotionally intense scenes. Melody Zhu frankly shared that being able to "come home to film" made her feel both excited and at ease—not only was the environment familiar, but even the meals prepared by the crew were full of hometown flavors. Her performance also received recognition from director Chan Lik-Him (陈立谦), especially her crying scenes, which were natural and showcased a breakthrough in her acting.

“One Heart One Hundred Million” boasts a strong cast lineup, with Feng Wei-Quan (冯玮佺), Guo Xiaodong (郭晓东), Deng Xujin (邓旭妗), Chan Weizhi (陈薇芝), Chan Jingqian (陈京谦), Peng Xuyue (彭诩越), Wu Qingnian (吴清年), Fu Wanqi (傅琬淇) and Zhang Jiani (张家霓) all making an appearance, creating a star-studded ensemble. The drama uses black humor to approach real-life topics, exploring the boundaries between truth and lies through absurd yet relatable storylines. It portrays the struggles and loneliness of modern people amid public pressure and personal desires, while highlighting the core theme: "Only by honestly facing oneself can you truly live."

The storyline follows Zhang Youwen (played by Melody Zhu), a celebrity at the peak of her career but on the verge of physical and emotional breakdown. Long subjected to manipulation from her company and cyberbullying from netizens, she eventually develops suicidal thoughts. Hiding her identity, she enters a funeral parlor intending to end her life, but is unexpectedly stopped by the taciturn mortician Wang Changlong (played by Feng Wei-Quan). Their conflict is caught by the media, and her agency quickly manipulates public opinion, re-packaging the story as a positive headline of the "celebrity saving a life," and asks Changlong to cooperate by playing the "rescued" person...

Feng Wei-Quan and Melody Zhu form a strongly contrasting couple in the drama—one a glamorous star, the other a reserved, silent mortician. The pair share plenty of intimate scenes, including holding hands, kissing, and even cohabitation. Feng Wei-Quan revealed that he was a little nervous acting together at first, but as filming progressed, the pair’s chemistry quickly grew and their interactions became more natural.

Guo Xiaodong plays a strikingly distinctive manager, and points out that the entertainment industry is complex and being a manager is even more challenging. His character draws inspiration from the real-world industry, with a comedic twist. He and Deng Xujin, who plays a lawyer, are a classic bickering on-screen couple, with their "serious quarrels that are hilariously funny". Chan Weizhi joked that she is the "oldest actor in the cast", yet develops a romantic storyline with the youngest actor, Chan Jingqian, making for an entertaining contrast. Both Peng Xuyue and Wu Qingnian take on villain roles for the first time, with performances that audiences can look forward to.

All 10 episodes of “One Heart One Hundred Million” will premiere from June 28, airing every Sunday at 9:30 pm on Astro AEC (Channel 306), Astro GO, On Demand, and sooka platforms simultaneously.