A Tale of 2 Cities

This drama tells a tale of four women, whom all has the character "乐 (lè)", meaning "happiness", in their names, namely Zhang Yale (Rui En), Pan Leyao (Joanne Peh), Lin Le (Kate Pang) and Pan Lexuan (Julie Tan). They go through many ups and downs in their respective lives, and eventually learns that happiness lies in simple living, in knowing what one wants in life and undauntedly daring to pursue it.

Yale was born into a wealthy family. When her parents pass away, she inherits their wealth. Yale leads a carefree and indulgent life, nonchalant about the running of the family bridal business and the investments she holds, and leaves these to her employees. Reality bites one day and Ya Le realizes that the bridal business is in the red, the investments have largely reaped no returns and the banks are hounding for repayment of the loans. She tries to seek help from her friends, but she is hurt to find out that they were only interested in her friendship because of her wealth and the lifestyle she could afford to share with them. Yale is now down and out, and her "friends" have all deserted her.

Just when Yale is at her wit's end, she finds out that her late mother had invested in a bridal business "Blissful Times" in Singapore with her aunt, Jinfeng (Mimi Chu), who is running the business. Yale tries to sell her late mother's shares in "Blissful Times" to Jinfeng to raise cash to repay the banks. However, Jinfeng has other plans. She refuses to buy over Yale's share in the business and insists that Yale works in "Blissful Times" with her. Left without a choice, Yale agrees.

• This drama is the first MediaCorp TV drama in 2011 to have an instrumental music for the opening theme, the next three shows with music as the opening theme are C.L.I.F., On the Fringe and Bountiful Blessings.
• Some scenes in this drama were shot in Kuala Lumpur. However, it is not a co-production with NTV7. Some Kuala Lumpur scenes were also shot in Singapore.
• Originally this drama had intended to produce 21-episodes, but there would be an additional episode due to overruns in filming.
• Mimi Chu apparently plays two roles, as Mei Jinfeng and the "Fairy Godmother" in Yale's dreams (eps 1 & 21).
• Joanne Peh and Zhang Yaodong paired up again after The Greatest Love of All and Your Hand In Mine.
• Huang Wenyong and Xiang Yun were paired up for many times. Their recent pair-up was The Score.
• In Your Hand In Mine, Huang Wenyong and Yao Wenlong were brothers. In this drama, they are father and son.
• In Joys of Life, Yao Wenlong and Kate Pang were father and daughter. In this drama, they are husband and wife
• The show was originally called 'Love In Two Cities'

• The Making of A Tale of 2 Cities (1) on Youtube
• The Making of A Tale of 2 Cities (2) on Youtube
• List of programmes broadcast by MediaCorp Channel 8