"Understanding our parents is something that often happens much later in life. In our teens and 20s, we don't truly understand them. We're too focused on rushing outward, rarely stopping to ask what our parents experienced when they were young, or why they made certain life choices. But eventually, there comes a day when these questions arise, and it stems from a sense of identity," says Li, who is in his 30s.

As the series progresses, we discover that Wu Limei, the mother in the series, fell head-over-heels in love and became pregnant while at university, leading her to marry. After becoming a housewife, she decides to find a job, but her husband repeatedly dismisses the idea, gradually chipping away at her sense of self-worth.

Determined to reclaim her life, Wu decides to divorce, and becomes a single mother. Despite the numerous setbacks she faces while searching for a job, she eventually becomes an editor at a magazine.

For Li, the character of the mother embodies many women born in the 1970s — a generation shaped by reform and opening-up. These women yearned for freedom, resisted being defined solely by their roles as mothers, and were determined to chase the lives they truly desired.

Wu Yue, who plays Wu Limei, says she was deeply drawn to the story. "I loved the script after reading just the first five episodes. At my age, most of the roles I get are for middle-aged women with heavy or pathetic storylines. This character — a cheerful, vibrant middle-aged woman — really touched me."

xingwen@chinadaily.com.cn