Against the Current stars Tan Songyun as a fallen noblewoman who survives under a servant’s name, opposite Liu Xueyi as the man she was once meant to marry. The Chinese period drama premiered on September 11, 2026, and WeTV lists a 47-episode format.

Shen Jialan and Xu Lanxiang are the same lead

Shen Jialan comes from a prominent family, but an accusation of treason destroys the protection she once had. She assumes the identity of Xu Lanxiang and enters the Lin household as a servant. Lin Jinqi is her former fiancé, making her changed status central to the story’s relationships.

The two names attached to Tan Songyun’s role describe that identity change. They are not two separate leading actresses. The drama follows the heroine’s efforts to navigate the household and seek justice; the outcome of that effort is left out of this guide.

Who’s involved in the household story

Liu Xueyi plays Lin Jinqi, whose family occupies the household where the heroine now works. Supporting roles include Li Meng as Zhao Xingtang, Zheng Hehuizi as Du Cuique and Pan Yihong as Jiugao. These actor–character pairings are identified in the production coverage and official cast material.

Who’s who in Against the Current

How many episodes are there?

WeTV labels the production All 47 EPs. Read that as its stated series total, rather than proof that all 47 are unlocked in your account. The drama was still in its release run at the September 21 check, and Viki’s listing showed a smaller selection of episodes.

The Chinese premiere notice announced daily Tencent Video member updates at 9:30 p.m., with SVIP access one episode ahead. Overseas release windows can differ. A specific final-episode date has not been established by the official material used for this guide, so an estimated mid-October finish should not be treated as confirmed.

Apple TV’s Taiwan catalog lists the first three episodes at 46 minutes each. That supports the runtime of those entries, not an exact total for all 47 episodes. The catalog page also does not make the drama an Apple TV+ original.

Where to watch Against the Current

In mainland China, the announced outlets are CCTV-8 and Tencent Video. International viewers can check WeTV and Viki. The Viki page lists English among its subtitle languages, but access and subtitle completion can vary by country and episode.

Use the Chinese title 兰香如故, or 蘭香如故 in traditional characters, to distinguish this drama from other productions called Against the Current. Taiwan has a regional WeTV listing; availability elsewhere should be checked in your local account before subscribing.

The novel and production team

The series adapts He Yanshan’s novel 兰香缘. Huang Yingxiang and Chen Dan direct, with Tong Hua and Xiao Lou credited for the screenplay. The adaptation uses the heroine’s changed position within the Lin home to connect family conflict, romance and the search to clear her family’s name.

Explore the cast, images and related stories on our Against the Current series page.