Taiwanese actor's emotional portrayal of a son's risky scheme moves co-star

In the Taiwanese drama "Tofu Mama," actor Li Yun-ching portrays Zhou Jiaxuan, a character driven by a desperate need for a comeback. Believing a "fake prince" scheme is his path to redemption, he attempts to enlist his mother, played by Fan Jui-chun, in his risky plan.

Fan Jui-chun, who also draws from her own experience as a mother, found the role deeply affecting. She recounted crying so intensely during filming that she ruined her contact lenses and developed an eye infection. "As a mother myself, this kind of plot, where a mother wants to save her child but feels powerless, is truly heartbreaking," she said. The emotional strain was palpable, leaving her feeling immense sympathy for her character, Zhou Bixia.

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As a mother myself, this kind of plot, where a mother wants to save her child but feels powerless, is truly heartbreaking.

Li Yun-ching explained that Zhou Jiaxuan isn't simply a con artist but someone seizing an opportunity to change his fate after a life of hardship. He believes success will ultimately justify his actions, especially to his mother, whom he sees as his staunchest supporter. This dynamic creates a complex mother-son relationship, where both are trying to protect each other, albeit through vastly different means.

Li praised Fan Jui-chun's performance, noting her powerful emotional delivery that often required only a glance to draw him into his character. Their on-screen chemistry captures the intense, albeit conflicting, love between a son willing to take extreme risks and a mother torn between her conscience and her devotion to her child.

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He believes success will ultimately justify his actions, especially to his mother, whom he sees as his staunchest supporter.