- Drama Title: Les Belles
- Also Known As: 怎敌她千娇百媚, How Can I Compete with Her Charming Beauty? Zen Di Ta Qian Jiao Bai Mei , Qian Jiao Bai Mei
- Director: Huang Ying Xiang
- Genres: Romance, Comedy
- Cast: Lin Yun, Alen Fang
- Episodes: 26
- Date of Release: February 13, 2025
- Original Network: Tencent Video
- Where to Watch: Tencent Video, WeTV, Viki
- Adapted from the web novel: “Zen Di Ta Qian Jiao Bai Mei” by Yi Ren Kui Kui
Hello readers… March 2025 marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere. Some countries are looking forward to the blooming flowers and the warmer weather. In my tropical country, every day is wet and humid, as we are still in the middle of the rainy season.
This kind of day makes me want to stay indoors, wrapped in a blanket, and catch up on the latest drama series. It’s the perfect excuse for a cozy escape, and there’s no better place to unwind than in the world of Cdramaland.
This time, I’m spending my time with the drama Les Belles. It is one of the new Chinese dramas released in February 2025. The cast was a sight for sore eyes. Even the villain looked handsome. As for the rest, let me tell you in detail in this review. Let’s not waste too much time, happy reading!
Les Belles Drama Synopsis
Twenty-four-year-old Luo Ling Yu and her sister were orphans who sought shelter with their aunt and uncle. She planned to find a man willing to marry into her Luo family in order to keep her family’s property. If she married into another family, the wealth left by her late father would belong to her husband’s family.
However, nothing went as she had planned. Luo Ling Yu’s greedy uncles and aunts arranged for her to be married to the wealthy Fan family. Unwilling to resign, Luo Ling Yu, along with her younger sister and maid, prepared to flee.
Meanwhile, Lu Yun was on a secret mission to steal a ledger from the Fan family. He found out that the best time to obtain it would be on the day of the Fan family’s sole heir’s wedding. In order to enter the house, Lu Yun sneaked into one of Luo Ling Yu’s dowry boxes.
On her chaotic wedding day, Luo Ling Yu managed to escape the Fan household and sailed to Yuezhou, seeking refuge at her relative’s home. By chance, her relative lived in the house of the Lu family, where Lu Yun, the third son, was staying.
This marked the beginning of a complex relationship, where they used each other, resented each other, and yet, admired each other. Through a series of incidents and misunderstandings, Luo Ling Yu and Lu Yun grew closer and their relationship blossomed as they slowly began to fall in love with each other.
Les Belles Drama Review
Les Belles is a French phrase that translates into English as the beautiful ones or the beauties. It was often used to refer to attractive women or girls. This drama is about Luo Ling Yu and how she faces the hardships of her life while protecting her loved ones.
Throughout Luo Ling Yu journey, Luo Ling Yu made new friends and enemies. Her bravery, honesty, assertiveness, and positive outlook on life inspired those around her, especially the other women. This must be the reason why the drama is called Les Belles.
However, Les Belles was an adaptation of a web novel called Zen Di Ta Qian Jiao Bai Mei by Yi Ren Kui Kui. The translation of the title is ” “How Can I Compete with Her Charming Beauty?
Ooohhh… I’m so over Chinese novel titles 😅😅
And I guess that’s why the main attraction of this drama is the on-off relationship between the confident Luo Ling Yu and the proud Lu Yun. In this story, Luo Ling Yu is described as the number one beauty in the city.
On a small scale, Luo Ling Yu has the kind of beauty that makes men flock to her house; the kind of beauty that every mother with a son is afraid of; the kind of beauty that makes every young lady seethe with envy.
On a larger scale, Luo Ling Yu has the kind of beauty that could cause the downfall of a country. And Lu Yun, despite having his own unbeatable appeal, couldn’t resist her charm.
The Story-When Fast Meet Slow
I chose Les Belles on a whim. I don’t even remember why I clicked on the title that day. It was probably because the thumbnail looked interesting. Anyway, the story was quite refreshing, so I watched several episodes in a row for quite a long time.
The beginning was the introduction of Luo Ling Yu and Lu Yun. The pacing was quite fast. We get to know the reason why Luo Ling Yu ran away from her marriage to the heir of a wealthy family.
I was a little confused by the age difference between Luo Ling Yu and Luo Yun Hua. When they first arrived at their aunt and uncle’s house, Luo Ling Yu seemed to be 12 years old and her sister was 4 years old. But when Luo Ling Yu was 24 years old, her sister looked like she was 12 years old. But she hadn’t stayed in the house for that long. So did I make a mistake in my calculations?
After a short introduction, the pace of the story slowed down considerably. Much of the focus was on the slow-burning romance between Luo Ling Yu and Lu Yun, but it felt a bit tedious. Watching Luo Ling Yu meticulously scheme to win Lu Yun’s affection became repetitive, and their battle of wits felt clichéd.
Personally, I found the relationship between Prince Chang Yi and Zhou Yang Ling far more engaging. However, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes every time the supposedly astute prince didn’t recognize Zhou Zi Bo as a woman in disguise. Frankly, it was hard to believe considering how feminine Zhou Zi Bo looked. She didn’t look like the masculine A Mai from Fighting for Love. And it was quite obvious that Zhou Zi Bo had no Adam’s apple.
Next! Obviously, the love rivalry between Lu Yun and Fan Qing Chen wasn’t enough for the writer. Another character who can’t resist Luo Ling Yu’s charm appears. He is the brother of Chang Yi and Liu Tang, Prince Heng Yang.
Chang Yi and Heng Yang don’t have a good relationship, which is surely related to their power struggle. Chang Yi spends most of his time in the capital, helping her father with the government, while Heng Yang is stationed at the border. He holds the military power in the Northern Army and is responsible for protecting Nanyue from neighboring countries, especially Beichu.
I don’t remember whether Chang Yi, Heng Yang, and Liu Tang have the same biological mother or not. But they have the same father. 😁😁
This is the point where the story’s pace begins to pick up. The relationships between Luo Ling Yu and Lu Yun, as well as Chang Yi and Zhou Yang Ling, have undergone significant improvement.
Heng Yang’s arrival brings the central conflict to the forefront, revealing the tension between him, Lu Yun, and Chang Yi. In addition, the Northern Army’s connection to the Fan family and Beichu is revealed.
However, many of the problems are resolved too quickly. The marriage issue with Fan Qing Chen is hastily resolved with Heng Yang’s help. Soon after, the love triangle shifts from Lu Yun-Luo Ling Yu-Fan Qing Chen to Lu Yun-Luo Ling Yu-Heng Yang, which feels a bit like déjà vu. Similarly, the Beichu issue is resolved in an equally rushed manner.
The ending of Les Belles is undoubtedly a happy one where everyone gets what they really deserve and the villains get the punishment they rightfully earned.
The Story-Falling for the Belles
Les Belles is like a gust of fresh wind for me. I have read so many Cnovels and watched so many Cdramas. And each time, there was a female villainous character who happened to be a distant relative who was seeking refuge.
Usually, they were described as a gentle and weak lady in desperate circumstances. Either from a fallen noble family, or an orphan who didn’t have anyone to rely on. Their condition would evoke pity, especially from the male lead. But behind the weak and gentle appearance lies the cruel, manipulative personality of a scheming pretender.
In Les Belles, Luo Ling Yu is the distant relative seeking refuge. She has her own desperate situation. Behind her weak and gentle appearance, she is also scheming and manipulative. However, what makes her different from the other so-called distant relatives is her sincerity.
Although Luo Ling Yu is a scheming person, she never wanted to harm others. She never saw other women as rivals because she believed in her own abilities.
It was always a pleasure to see a confident female character in a Chinese historical drama. In one episode, Lu Yun wanted Luo Ling Yu to turn to him for help in finding a solution to her problems. Instead of accepting, Luo Ling Yu said that there were many ways in this world, and if one way was blocked, she would take another.
If there was no other way, she would make her own. Luo Ling Yu was a girl who believed in herself, and she would always find a way out. Only then did Lu Yun realize that Luo Ling Yu was different from other women who tried hard to rely on him.
The second strong woman is Zhou Yang Ling. Just like Luo Ling Yu, she is running away from her arranged marriage with Chang Yi.
Zhou Yang Ling is the daughter of the imperial tutor Zhou Fan. Surrounded by knowledge from a young age, she grew up to be a wise and open-minded woman with her own ambitions and dreams. To her, marrying into the imperial family felt like being confined in a cage. Instead, Zhou Yang Ling chooses to travel the world, seeking to help others and pursue her own path.
Another is Princess Nanping, Liu Tang. She is a lovely person, but a little too shy and self-doubting. However, Liu Tang still possesses a righteous nature in her heart. She didn’t turn a blind eye when she saw Luo Ling Yu in need, even if it meant revealing her true identity as a princess.
Although Liu Tang has a noble title and power, self-confidence and courage are not something a person is born with. It had to be nurtured. Her family understood Liu Tang and never pressured her. It was Luo Ling Yu who awakened her desire to protect others and prove herself, bringing newfound strength into her life.
The Story-The Unspoken Bond
There were many things I found interesting about this drama. The first is the visuals. Although the CGI was a bit off, I have to say that the sets were stunning. Not to mention the costumes. I love how extravagant Luo Ling Yu’s wardrobe was. She never hesitated to dress herself up to the nines. Modesty is definitely not in her vocabulary.
Another aspect that can’t be overlooked is the undeniable chemistry between our leads. In my opinion, Lin Yun stood out more than Alen Fang; they played the bickering couple dynamic perfectly. Plus, both of them are true eye candy! I can’t get enough of dimples, and Lin Yun’s smile would definitely steal your heart.
As for Alen Fang, even though I still have some lingering resentment toward his character in The Long Ballad, I have to admit that he’s absolutely handsome in this drama.
Guo Jia Nan and Zhao Qing, who portrayed the second couple, Chang Yi and Zhou Yang Ling, did a great job with their roles. However, I have to say that their chemistry as brothers was more convincing than their portrayal as a couple.
It hasn’t been long since I watched Li Jia Xin’s bold portrayal of Jin Miao Cui in Under the Moonlight. Comparing her performance in that drama to her role here, I must say her depiction of Jin Miao Cui was far more impressive than Chen Xiu’s. She also looked absolutely stunning with red lipstick, which really complemented her.
The only disappointment I had was with Charles Lin. His portrayal as the supposedly aloof Heng Yang was a bit lacking. Or maybe it was just my imagination because I kept remembering him as Shang Que, the dragon in Love Between Fairy and Devil. 🤷♀️
Apart from that, I found this drama to be an enjoyable entertainment. Just make sure that you leave any scrutiny at the door. If you approach “Les Belles” purely as light entertainment, I promise you’ll have a great time.
The Characters
Luo Ling Yu
Luo Ling Yu (played by Lin Yun) is a woman of remarkable straightforwardness, unafraid to speak her mind and always honest about her feelings. She faces every challenge with unwavering optimism and a creative mindset, always finding her own way out of trouble without relying on anyone else. Her determination knows no bounds; she is as unyielding as she is stubborn.
Once Luo Ling Yu sets her mind on something she believes is right, she will pursue it relentlessly, no matter what obstacles stand in her way.
As the eldest daughter of the Luo family, the weight of responsibility has always been on her shoulders. She has made it her duty to protect her loved ones, especially her younger sister, Luo Yun Hua.
Luo Ling Yu would rather face expulsion or hardship alone than drag her sister down with her. This fierce devotion to her family and her sense of duty have shaped her into the person she is today.
Unlike most women of her time, Luo Ling Yu has a modern mindset. When it comes to choosing a husband, she approaches the matter with logic and clarity. She even making a list of requirements for her future partner.
Luo Ling Yu never saw other women as rivals in a competition for affection. She was confident in her own abilities and never felt threatened by the presence of a competitor. Her unshakable self-confidence remains strong even in the face of the most noble young lady in the capital, Chen Xiu.
Lu Yun / Xue Chen
As the third son of the prestigious Lu family, Lu Yun (played by Alen Fang) was born into a life of privilege and luxury. His family’s wealth ensured him a comfortable life. His father held a high-ranking position in the government, further solidifying their status.
In addition, Lu Yun was blessed with exceptional talent, which only added to his promising future. However, everything changed with the death of his father, followed by the devastating suicide of his mother.
These tragedies changed the course of Lu Yun’s life. He retreated from his former responsibilities and chose to indulge in leisure. His refusal to shoulder the burdens of duty, both to his country and his family, caused a stir among the Emperor, Chang Yi, and his second brother, Lu Xian.
Beneath his carefree facade, Lu Yun was secretly investigating the mysterious deaths of his parents. He is determined to uncover the truth, clear his father’s name, and restore the honor that once defined his family. With his sharp mind, unwavering determination, and natural talents, Lu Yun was destined to become a powerful figure, one who would rise from the ashes of his family’s downfall.
Lu Yun is a man with many facets. To the young women who admired him, he was the epitome of elegance: handsome, gentle, and a man of extraordinary talents, qualities that made him the most sought-after bachelor in the city.
To the Emperor, Chang Yi, and Heng Yang, Lu Yun was a brilliant strategist. His intelligence, bravery, and loyalty made him the perfect candidate to serve his country. However, in the presence of those who truly knew him, Luo Ling Yu and his trusted servant, Lu Yun was able to shed his public persona. With them, he revealed his true nature: a somewhat childish man, prone to jealousy, but utterly devoted to those he loved.
Prince Heng Yang
Prince Heng Yang (played by Charles Lin) is Prince Chang Yi’s younger brother. His cold, distant demeanor made him seem unapproachable. However, underneath this hard façade, he was a soft-hearted man. To those whom he trusted and loved, Heng Yang was nothing like the image he projected to the world.
Prince Heng Yang was surprisingly gullible, easily swayed by kindness, and tender in his affections. The years he spent on the border made him long for the warmth of family. In his father’s absence, he found solace in Mr. Kong. To Heng Yang, Mr. Kong was more than a mentor; he was an advisor, a teacher, and an elder to whom he could turn for guidance.
Once, Heng Yang had been close to Lu Yun, and their bond was as strong as brothers. But after the tragic death of Lu Yun’s father, everything changed. A distance grew between them. Heng Yang still held out hope that the broken friendship could be mended.
Unfortunately, Lu Yun had moved on, and it was painfully obvious. The way Lu Yun referred to him as “Your Highness” instead of his name was a constant reminder that the closeness they once had was nothing more than a distant memory.
Heng Yang had fallen in love with Luo Ling Yu at first sight. Her beauty and intelligence had captivated him. And who could blame him? Luo Ling Yu was everything a man could wish for. Her charm was simply irresistible.
Zhou Yang Ling / Zhou Zi Bo
Zhou Yang Ling (played by Zhao Qing) had always dreamed of becoming a scholar, her heart set on the pursuit of knowledge. But in a world where women were bound by tradition, this dream seemed impossible.
The imperial examinations were closed to Zhou Yang Ling simply because of her gender. The injustice of it angered her. To make matters worse, her father had accepted a proposal from Prince Chang Yi with out asking her opinion. The thought of being confined within the walls of the harem was unbearable to her.
To avoid the marriage, Zhou Yang Ling fled her home. She disguised herself as a young man and took the name Zhou Zi Bo to avoid any problems. As Zhou Zi Bo, she captured the hearts of those around her with her charm and kindness. Luo Ling Yu could not resist his charm either, and added his name to her list of potential matriarchal husbands. 😆
Through her daring escape, Zhou Yang Ling revealed a core part of her character. She was determined, brave, and unyielding in her pursuit of freedom. Smart, wise, and open-minded, she was a woman far ahead of her time. Yet beneath her courageous exterior, she was gentle, with a touch of naivety that only made her more endearing. I love to see her shy and confused. Her sweetness could melt anyone’s heart.
Prince Chang Yi / A Man
On the surface, Prince Chang Yi (played by Guo Jia Nan) was a soft-hearted, kind, and gentle person. However, his kindness never made him meek or weak. Beneath his calm demeanor lay a sharp, strategic mind that could assess situations with a clarity and precision few could match.
As the son of a king, Chang Yi was bound by duty, constantly preoccupied with the task of sharing the emperor’s burdens.
Being a prince was not without its complications. It was a life filled with political intrigue, power struggles, and rivalries as everyone vied for the throne. The position was coveted by many, but Chang Yi never saw his own brother, Heng Yang, as a threat or rival.
This subtle yet profound distinction showed the depth of Chang Yi’s character. His refusal to see his brother as an enemy was a testament to his compassionate and generous heart.
Fan Qing Chen
Fan Qing Chen (played by Deng Xiao Ci) is the sole heir to the prestigious Fan family of Shuzhou. The family’s business has grown so powerful that they have earned the title of Imperial Merchants, a status that has solidified their place among the richest and most respected in the kingdom. As the heir, Fan Qing Chen carried the weight of his family’s legacy. He was a man driven by ambition.
Fan Qing Cheng was in love with Luo Ling Yu. His feelings ran so deep that they became an obsession. Fan Qing Cheng always wore a smile, but underneath was a cold, calculating ruthlessness that few had ever seen. He was a man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted, and Luo Ling Yu was no exception.
Chen Xiu
Chen Xiu (played by Li Jia Xin) was known as the most noble lady in Yuezhou. As the daughter of a powerful minister, she carried herself with a sense of pride and arrogance. To the world, Chen Xiu seemed to have it all: a gentle young lady who was blessed with wealth, beauty, and talents that seemed limitless.
But behind closed doors, Chen Xiu worked tirelessly to maintain this image, for it was the only life she could lead. Her ambitious and cunning parents had plans to use her as a mere pawn in their pursuit of power and success. Chen Xiu had no choice but to comply, as she had no power to oppose them.
From a young age, Chen Xiu had secretly loved Lu Yun, but when Luo Ling Yu came to live in the Lu family mansion, she noticed a change in Lu Yun’s treatment of her. The attention he paid to Luo Ling Yu made Chen Xiu feel insecure, as she felt threatened by her presence. As time passed, her jealousy deepened. It was not just because of Lu Yun’s affection, but because Luo Ling Yu seemed to possess something Chen Xiu longed for: freedom.
The Conclusion
I have to say, I was pleasantly entertained by Les Belles. But let me be honest. The story wasn’t the main reason I kept watching. It was the cast that made me stay. Lin Yun, Alen Fang and Zhao Qing were the reason why I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen.
As for the story… Well, it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t mind-blowing either. It was fun to watch, but I’m not sure I want to put Les Belles on my re-watch list. If you’re in the mood for some light romance, this drama has you covered. Just leave your judgment at the door and enjoy the show.
Finally, thank you for stopping by on this Les Belles drama review, dear readers. Don’t forget to visit the Les Belles Ending Explained post if you wanted to know the ending. Happy watching!
