Asian dramas like
The Little Devil

A romantic thriller unfolding in the chaotic era of Shanghai. (DramaWiki)

Wealthy entrepreneur Bai Yi Ming took his soon-to-be wife, A Bu, to his stunning Rose Manor. A Bu experienced a series of strange occurrences and nightmares during their stay. Seeking answers, she turned to her fiance. Bai Yi Ming had a brief affair with a woman named Hu Yin Yin, promising to marry her before disappearing without a trace. Learning of her pregnancy, Hu Yin Yin traveled to Shanghai in search of Bai Yi Ming. Fate had other plans for her, as she was eventually taken care of and loved by musician Tao Da Wei. While Bai Yi Ming was involved with other women, Tao Da Wei and Hu Yin Yin faced many challenges together. They welcomed a set of twins, and Tao Da Wei discovered Hu Yin Yin's beautiful singing voice. Tragically, Hu Yin Yin was disfigured in a terrible accident, leading her to wear a mask. Their paths crossed again when Hu Yin Yin, now known as Hu Die, encountered Bai Yi Ming once more. Despite their shared history, Bai Yi Ming pursued Hu Die. However, their story did not have a happy ending, as it was eventually revealed that Hu Die had passed away.

Amidst numerous challenges posed by U.S. and Jiang spy operatives, Police Officer Pang Hong Mei successfully rescued Ji Danyang, a patriotic scientist recently returned from the United States, from an enemy spy. Together, they traveled to Lumen City to take part in the "Water Drop Project." Enemy special forces devised a sabotage mission called "Operation Rock," mobilized their troops, and attempted to dismantle the "Water Drop Project." Pang Hong Mei and Ji Dan Yang engaged in a fierce battle with enemy agents in Lumen, thwarted their scheme, safeguarded the "Water Drop Project," and ultimately achieved the desired outcome. The pair, who endured a life-threatening ordeal, also fulfilled their aspirations and unwavering beliefs.

Gu Zhan Bei reunites with his former lover Jiang Ling Long, who has assumed a new identity and established the Jiangbei Detective Agency. Opting to rejoin her agency, Gu Zhan Bei and Jiang Ling Long team up to rekindle their bond and tackle cases together.

Tao Zhen Yan, a trainee forensic doctor in the Republic of China, crossed paths with private detective Gu Nan Chuan during an investigation into a murder. Their destinies intertwined as they encountered the notorious stamp demon serial killer, leading them to collaborate in unraveling perplexing cases. (SubbingPaws on Ko-Fi)

Lu Yan is on a quest for retribution for his parents, but encounters continuous obstacles from Mu Lan. As their journeys intertwine, he realizes she is his long-lost love from childhood. With no choice but to collaborate, they expose the mysteries surrounding the elusive figure known as "Lu Chang He", who has been outsmarting them at every turn.

Taking place in Shanghai in 1948, a double-crosser reveals details about a top-level Communist Party operative, prompting the Nationalist secret service to track him down.

In a tale of ambition and self-discovery, a man from a small town relocates to the city with his mother and best friend in search of employment. They stay temporarily with an old acquaintance of his, who finds himself caught in the middle of a conflict between labor union members fighting for their rights and ruthless employers seeking to suppress their protests. As the man navigates the complex political landscape, he rises through the ranks of society. However, he grapples with inner dissatisfaction over the person he has become. Eventually, he discovers a newfound sense of purpose and a cause that transcends material wealth and influence.

The story takes place between the 1920s and 1940s and focuses on Beile Ha Lan, a mischievous and timid individual from the former Qing Dynasty. Ha Lan's life takes a dramatic turn when he comes into possession of a confidential document detailing the treasures hidden in the imperial tombs. Born in a rundown palace in the capital city in 1909, Ha Lan shares a childhood romance with Xiao Yue Lou. While serving as a study companion in the palace, Ha Lan develops a passion for imperial cuisine and befriends the skilled Chef Xie. Despite being engaged to Tong Li Hua, the daughter of Marquis Tong, Ha Lan declines the arrangement and expresses his desire to marry Xiao Yue Lou instead. Elsewhere, Eunuch Wang steals the secret tomb records, but Chef Xie manages to swap it with a meal given to Ha Lan. Additionally, Eunuch Wang's godson, Wang Si Jai, is also on the hunt for the treasures.

In 1929, the son of Liao Sheng Hui, the head of the police department in Tianjin, was unknowingly drawn into a complex scheme orchestrated by an unknown individual. This scheme led him to uncover the secrets surrounding a fire at the Shengnan Orphanage 14 years prior, a collection of mysterious Dunhuang cultural relics, a shocking series of poisonings that rattled the city, and the involvement of various factions such as the Communist Party, the Kuomintang, the Japanese, and the Beiyang warlords. Liao Sheng Hui faced numerous challenges as he delved into the puzzle, including formidable adversaries like the meticulous KMT special agent Zeng Jia Yang and the skilled Japanese ninja Ikuko. As the mysteries unraveled, the true motives of the Japanese and the Kuomintang were revealed, leading Liao Sheng Hui to a painful realization that he, Zeng Jia Yang, and Yu Zi were all connected to the orphanage. Despite their different allegiances, the three banded together to confront their common enemies, only to be defeated. When the anti-Japanese war erupted in 1937, the three comrades, now staunch communist fighters, reunited on the battlefield to fight against the common foe.

During their childhood, Huai Yu, Zhi Gao, and Dan Dan made a pact to be as close as siblings and visited a mysterious old eunuch for fortune-telling using divination sticks. However, the sticks were accidentally shuffled by the eunuch's cat before they could be interpreted. One stick mentioned preferring death over birth, another suggested life was better than death, and the third talked about dying and being reborn. The meaning behind these messages remains a mystery.

Qin Yue Xiang, a former housekeeper, unintentionally causes the death of her husband who was a builder while trying to protect her 9-year-old daughter Sang Cai Qing from being forced into marriage with an elderly man. Facing punishment by the local official Xiao Ru Zhang, Yue Xiang arranges for Cai Qing to seek safety with her biological father, wealthy businessman Chen Yuan. However, Chen's envious wife, Yu Ru, forces Cai Qing to work as a servant in their mansion. As Cai Qing grows older, she becomes entangled in a series of romantic entanglements.

In the aftermath of World War II in Shanghai in 1945, Tang Teng, a fighter pilot, and Shen Ying, a Qi Pao saleswoman, fell in love. Despite facing consequences such as being court-martialed for desertion, Tang Teng was determined to be with Shen Ying. He was ultimately saved from a death sentence by family friend Ji Wen, who helped him escape to Hong Kong. Meanwhile, Shen Ying, believing Tang Teng to be dead, agreed to marry another man for financial support. However, upon learning that Tang Teng was alive in Hong Kong from expert tailor Lu Xiao Mao, she broke off the engagement and traveled to Hong Kong. Instead of a joyful reunion, Shen Ying discovered that Tang Teng had married Ji Wen.

During the early 1940s, the fight against Japanese aggression was intensifying, reaching a crucial point. The ruthless Japanese imperialism wreaked havoc on the strength of the CCP's underground movement, resulting in the sacrifice of many revolutionary comrades. Xia Jia He, a member of the underground party, was tasked with delivering a radio to Dalian by the organization. However, he was intercepted and pursued by Japanese Police Officer Junji Aoki along the way. In a twist of fate, Xia encountered his first love, Wang Da Hua, during this ordeal. Da Hua, along with her current husband Tang Quan Li, became entangled in the events that unfolded. Despite Da Hua's attempts to save her husband, Tang Quan Li's fate remained unchanged. Fueled by resentment towards Xia Jia He for causing her misery and disrupting her peaceful life, Da Hua decided to keep the radio instead of returning it to its rightful owners.

As Jiang Ling Long delved into the mysterious disappearance of a young girl, she crossed paths with Gu Zhan Bei, a youthful marshal hailing from Ping Cheng. Together, they cracked the case, prompting Jiang Ling Long to admire Gu Zhan Bei's capabilities and propose they team up at the detective agency. As they unraveled their second case, Gu Zhan Bei began to suspect that he and Jiang Ling Long were entangled in a series of murders. Simultaneously, tensions arose between the two as they confronted emotional complexities, unresolved cases from a decade past, and shadowy figures pulling the strings from the background, plunging them into a dire predicament.

During the year 1943 in Shanghai, Chen Qian, a military operative, was tasked with eliminating the Japanese forces, but ended up being ensnared by Yujiro Ida, the leader of Japan's plum organization

Detective Gong Sun He, along with Bao Qing Tian and their colleagues, are up against a dangerous criminal syndicate. Through cleverness and collaboration, they work together to unravel a string of intricate cases. Their mission is to combat wrongdoing and uphold the principles of justice. (TMDb)

Chen Chu is chosen to wed Miss Murong through the influence of a prominent family, without knowing that the marriage is a ploy to weaken his vitality. Despite this, Chen Chu enters into the marriage with full awareness, resolved to unveil the secrets surrounding a devastating fire that wiped out his family many years ago.

In the era of the Republic of China, Feng Xiao, the adopted son of a prosperous entrepreneur, and Lin Wan Xiu, the adopted daughter of a military leader, tied the knot

The plot unfolds in Republican Shanghai, where four individuals from diverse backgrounds unite to delve into the secretive realm of Qianmen Jianghu and unravel enigmatic cases. Su Zi Quan, a sharp-witted individual who boasts of being the top detective globally, possesses a remarkable memory but cannot recollect his early years. His weakness lies in his allergic reactions to women, causing him to sneeze upon physical contact with them. Tang Dai Yun, a benevolent yet headstrong wealthy young woman, crosses paths with Zi Quan while searching for her missing brother. Accompanying them are Chen Yi Ming, the stoic butler of the Tang family with exceptional combat skills and a soft spot for Dai Yun, and Lu Zi Xiao, Zi Quan's childhood companion and the only woman he is not allergic to.

During the early 1900s in China, Xiao Yue Gui, a young girl from the countryside, moves to Shanghai to avoid starvation. By rescuing Yu Qi Yang, a member of the Pujiang Association, the most powerful gang in Shanghai, she gains access to the leaders of the organization. This leads her to start working at their brothel, which alters the course of her life. Xiao Yue Gui is now on a journey to become the next "King of Shanghai," following in the footsteps of three previous generations, as depicted in Hong Ying's novel.

Due to financial difficulties, Wen Yu He's father agreed to have her marry into the Gu family as the wife of Madam Gu's third son. With Madam Gu's first son missing and her second son deceased, all hope was placed on Yu He and her remaining brother-in-law. The third son, Shao Tang, is known for his reckless behavior, spending time in brothels and gambling away his money. Madam Gu believed that Yu He could positively influence her son. Yun Kai, a school teacher, disguised himself as a groundskeeper to work in the Gu household, assisting with accounting and the family's lantern business. Despite facing mistreatment from her older sister-in-law, Yu He remains devoted to Shao Tang. As tensions rise and hidden agendas come to light, the Gu family's secrets begin to unravel, revealing a web of deceit and betrayal.

In the 1930s, the setting for this tale is in the southern region of Fujian

The plot revolves around Bai Wen Huan, who is the head of the Northern Shaanxi Brothers Association

Shen Xin Ci escapes from her dangerous fiance, Liang Yong Chang, after discovering the truth. Along the way, she encounters Zhao Shi Jun, who shows compassion by giving her money to settle her father's medical bills. Following her father's passing, Xin Ci resolves to find Shi Jun and repay his kindness, regardless of the request. To resolve conflicts between Shahe Town and Wan Jia Village and secure the water supply, Zhao Shi Jun is compelled to marry Mayor Wan's daughter, Wan Qiu Ling. On their journey to Qiu Ling's new home, she falls ill due to a lifelong condition but is saved by a mysterious doctor, Liang Yong Chang. He offers a cure for her illness but warns that she will be unable to conceive in the future. Determined to continue her family line, Qiu Ling follows Yong Chang's advice and switches places with another girl to ensure pregnancy. Unbeknownst to Yong Chang, the other girl happens to be his former fiance, Shen Xin Ci. Now, Yong Chang seeks revenge on Zhao Shi Jun and anyone else in his path.

During the 1930s in Shanghai, Peng Yu Tian, a National Army officer, bravely fought against the Japanese forces and was gravely wounded. He was saved by Lei Jin Yi, a field nurse, and the two developed a deep bond. Just as they were preparing to wed, Peng was called back to the battlefield. Tragically, Peng's family was targeted and bombed by the Japanese. Lei managed to escape with Peng's child and later assumed a new identity as Shen Han Bing, working as a dancer to support her family. Meanwhile, Peng, believing Lei had perished in the bombing, went on to marry a wealthy businessman named Wu Jiang. However, fate brought Peng and Lei back together when they crossed paths at a party hosted by Wujiang. As a member of the Communist underground, Peng was tasked with investigating Wu Jiang, and sought Lei's help in uncovering the truth. It was ultimately revealed that Wu Jiang was a Japanese spy posing as a Chinese. After the Anti-Japanese War, Wu Jiang attempted to flee with Lei, but was apprehended and met his end at the hands of Peng and Lei.

The narrative follows the Eighth Route Army as they attempt to reclaim Qiyang City, a strategic military outpost held by the Japanese forces during the Anti-Japanese War

"The Tale of Qin Cheng" narrates the renowned saga of Meng's Household and Lin's Household near the Yellow River. In the past, Meng Xiang He, the heir of Meng's clan, wedded Lin Xiang Yu, the offspring of Lin's Household, in an arranged marriage. However, he absconded shortly after the ceremony. Consequently, Meng's Household agreed to a settlement: if Meng Xiang He did not return within six years, they would compensate Lin's Household with ten thousand silver dollars and over sixty thousand square meters of land. After six years, Meng Xiang He reappeared with his newfound lover as his wife. This led to a complex web of emotions involving both families and wives. Leveraging his business acumen, he amassed a fortune through trading hookahs and rose to become the wealthiest individual in Qingcheng, earning himself the status of a legendary figure. As the prolonged feud neared its conclusion, the true identity of the main antagonist was finally revealed. (Q1Q2)

Yang Mu Chu and Yang Mu Ci, twin brothers who were separated as children, experienced contrasting upbringings in the tumultuous 1930s Shanghai. Despite facing initial misunderstandings and various challenges, the brothers eventually unite to uncover and thwart a perilous plot orchestrated by the Japanese military.

Taking place in Shanghai during the 1930s, this famous story follows the journey of Zhang Lian Xin, a former maid who defies her predetermined fate during China's conflict with Japan. In her pursuit of liberty and affection, Lian Xin becomes entangled in Zhang Wen Jin's plot to overthrow his father, leading to her and Chong Yang being falsely accused of a crime. As they face numerous challenges while battling against Wen Jin and the Japanese forces, Lian Xin and Chong Yang develop a romantic relationship. In an attempt to protect Chong Yang, Lian Xin chooses to turn down He Tian, a wealthy admirer who is deeply in love with her, and instead weds Ma Kun, the influential leader of Shanghai Bund's underworld. Upon uncovering Ma Kun's true nature and facing the wrath of the Japanese, Lian Xin and Chong Yang make the ultimate sacrifice by relinquishing their love and lives in the name of freedom and justice.

In a time of military expansionism, He Tao Hua's father, a highly respected military official, was killed. Adopting a new persona, Tao Hua embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind her father's murder. By 1925, the He Family had been wiped out, leaving only He Tao Hua alive. She ventures to a different city and finds employment as a servant for the Liao Family. Her quick wit and charm win over Old Master Liao, while she also forms a romantic relationship with Young Master Liao Chun Feng. However, just before their wedding, Liao Chun Feng learns of her true identity and, unable to bear the burden, confesses before leaving to join the war effort. Recognizing her feelings for him, He Tao Hua decides to pursue him despite the challenges that lie ahead.

Set against the backdrop of three significant historical events pre-dating the establishment of New China, The Eve revolves around the journeys of Lin Xi, Su Nan, and other zealous young individuals who participate in the revolution and dedicate themselves to their country. The narrative unfolds during the 1941 Shanghai Concession, the 1948 Battle of Jinzhou, and the liberation of Shanghai in 1949. Lin Xi, a member of a gang, and Su Nan, a forward-thinking female student, embody the unrecognized heroes of their era. It portrays the clandestine struggles and imminent perils faced during the Anti-Japanese War of Resistance, as well as the arduous path revolutionary laborers have trodden in pursuit of their beliefs.

A jade sculptor named Li Tian Shun, residing in Beijing Old Street, bravely defends a valuable jade ornament that has the power to change the fate of the nation. Despite facing opposition from local criminal groups, Li Tian Shun remains steadfast in his mission to safeguard this national treasure. Alongside other ordinary yet courageous individuals in the neighborhood, such as Chinese opera singer Yang Shang De, camel herder Ding Guang Yuan, and antique dealer Jin Zhao Ji, Li Tian Shun demonstrates unwavering resilience in the face of adversity. The arrival of Ding Liu Lan, a Communist revolutionary, brings a glimmer of hope for a brighter future to Old Street.

Shortly before his wedding, businessman Fang Xue Wen is wrongly blamed for the murder of his fiancée Liu Jing Zhi and is gunned down. However, he is surprised to find himself waking up in a time loop, repeating the days before her death. With a strong determination to reveal the truth and avoid his grim destiny, Fang Xue Wen must hurry to identify the true perpetrator and end the cycle.