{{Short description|Upcoming Chinese television series}} {{Infobox television | alt_name = Narrow Road | native_name = {{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none|t= 灿如繁星|p=Càn Rú Fán Xīng}} | genre = {{ubl|Youth|Sports|Life}} | based_on = {{based on|''Narrow Road'' (狭路)|Chang Er}} | director = Lee Ching Jung | starring = {{ubl|Yu Shuxin|Chen Jingke}} | country = China | language = Mandarin | company = {{ubl|iQIYI|Shishang Pictures|Shizhen Pictures}} | network = IQIYI }}
'''''Road to Success''''' ({{lang-zh|灿如繁星}}) is an upcoming Chinese television series directed by Lee Ching Jung and starring Yu Shuxin and Chen Jingke. This series is adapted from the web novel ''Narrow Road'' ({{lang|zh-hans|狭路}}) by Chang Er, the story follows a PhD student who returns to her hometown to manage a high school football team and teams up with a mysterious former coach to lead the students to victory. The series is scheduled to release on iQIYI in 2026.
== Synopsis == The series focuses on the football team at Hongjing No. 8 High School. Lin Wanxing, a PhD student, returns to her hometown and takes on the role of sports equipment manager. She collaborates with Wang Fa, a former professional football coach from the United Kingdom, to revitalize the school's struggling athletic program. The narrative depicts the team's preparation for the children's football finals while the students also prepare for the college entrance exams.
== Cast == === Main === * Yu Shuxin as Lin Wanxing<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=February 14, 2026 |title= |script-title=zh:《永夜星河》后，虞书欣《灿如繁星》化身犀利导师，男主是新晋小生_腾讯新闻 |trans-title=Following "Eternal Night Galaxy," Yu Shuxin transforms into a sharp mentor in "As Bright as the Stars," with the male lead being a rising star. |url=https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20250307A08T0S00 |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=news.qq.com |language=zh-CN}}</ref> ** A PhD student who becomes the sports manager at Hongjing No. 8 High School. * Chen Jingke as Wang Fa<ref>{{Cite web |last=Du |first=Yixuan |date=July 4, 2025 |title= |script-title=zh:《燦如繁星》劇情看點＆角色介紹：虞書欣化身學霸博士，搭教練陳靖可上演熱血足球故事 |url=https://www.beauty321.com/post/68327 |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=beauty美人圈 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref> ** A football coach who formerly worked for a professional club in the United Kingdom.
=== Supporting ===
* Lu Zhanxiang as Yu Ming * Yang Xinghui as Zhang Feiyang * Dong Li Wuyou as Chen Jianghe * Yang Yunhao as Feng Suo * Ye Kaiwen as Zheng Ren * Chloe Xie as Ju Li * Victor Ma as Yu Bo * Yan Yuchen as Wen Chengye * Liu Jun as Fu Xinshu
=== Guest ===
* Glay Chiang
== Production == === Development === The project was officially announced on April 15, 2025, during a production showcase by iQIYI. The series is an adaptation of the web novel ''Narrow Road'' (狭路) by Chang Er, who previously gained recognition for the novel ''The Heart of Genius''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Liangyi |date=July 21, 2025 |title= |script-title=zh:《燦如繁星》線上看劇情7亮點！虞書欣化身「高智教師」戀上「硬漢教練」陳靖可，聯手《親愛的》原班製作團隊爆款預定 |url=https://woman.tvbs.com.tw/entertainment/58745 |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=TVBS |language=zh-hant}}</ref> The series was developed under the working title ''Narrow Road'' before being renamed ''Road to Success''. The production is directed by Lee Ching Jung, known for her work on popular youth and romance dramas such as ''Go Go Squid!'' and ''Hidden Love''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 4, 2025 |title= |script-title=zh:《灿如繁星》剧情看点＆角色介绍：虞书欣化身学霸博士，搭教练陈靖可上演热血足球故事 |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/910707606_99913067 |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=Sohu}}</ref>
=== Casting === In April 2025, Esther Yu and Chen Jingke were confirmed as the lead actors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moyangyang |first=Entertainment |date=April 16, 2025 |title= |script-title=zh:虞书欣出发进组新剧《灿如繁星》，男主是万年不火的它 - 360娱乐，你开心就好 |trans-title=Yu Shuxin departs to join the cast of her new drama "As Bright as Stars," and the male lead is someone who has never become popular. |url=https://yule.360.com/detail/4051883 |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=yule.360.com}}</ref>
=== Filming === Principal photography began on April 15, 2025, in Quanzhou, Fujian Province.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yu |first=Haocong |date=April 14, 2025 |title= |script-title=zh:《灿如繁星》将开机 《灿如繁星》剧情介绍_中华网 |trans-title="As Bright as Stars" to Begin Filming; Synopsis of "As Bright as Stars" |url=https://3g.china.com/act/ent/11005281/20250414/48208488.html |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=3g.china.com}}</ref> It wrapped on August 18, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 19, 2025 |title= |script-title=zh:《灿如繁星》杀青 虞书欣陈靖可解锁热血燃愈新故事_中华网 |trans-title=Filming for "As Bright as Stars" wrapped up, with Yu Shuxin and Chen Jingke unlocking a new, passionate, and heartwarming story. |url=https://mtz.china.com/touzi/2025/0819/183215.html |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=mtz.china.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2025 |title= |script-title=zh:虞书欣本月圆满杀青，《灿如繁星》林晚星引期待 |trans-title=Drama "As Bright as Stars" wrapped filming this month, and her role as Lin Wanxing in the new series is highly anticipated. |url=https://www.sohu.com/a/919930917_122379603 |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=Sohu}}</ref>
== Release == The series is scheduled to be released as an original program on the iQIYI streaming platform in 2026.
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|https://www.iq.com/album/%E7%81%BF%E5%A6%82%E7%B9%81%E6%98%9F-2026-2f3498mxwyx|name=Road to Success}} at IQIYI {{In lang|zh}} * {{IMDb title}} * {{Weibo}}
Category:Upcoming Chinese television series Category:2026 Chinese television series debuts Category:Chinese sports television series Category:Television shows based on Chinese web novels Category:iQIYI original programming Category:Association football television series