# No Return (2024 TV series)

No Return (Chinese: 巾幗梟雄之懸崖) is a 2024 Hong Kong television period drama, and romantic comedy co-produced by TVB, and Tencent Penguin Pictures by producer Dave Fong, and screenwriter Cheung Wah-Biu. It stars Wayne Lai, Nancy Wu, Edwin Siu, Hera Chan, Celina Harto, Joey Law, Gabriel Harrison, Susan Tse, Akina Hong, and Lisa Ch'ng among the main cast. The drama is the 4th installment of the Rosy Business franchise.

## Synopsis

Set in the 1920s to early 1940s early Republic of China era, No Return follows the lives of Tang Kwai Sim "7th Master", and Chai 17. Tang Kwai Sim is a successful businesswoman in charge of Wing Yip Bank left to her by her late father. She is feared by many as "7th Master" being one of the ten most influential tycoons in the Shanghai Concession. She is also the only woman among the cadre of the top businesspersons. Under her ruthlessness, lies a vulnerable young woman facing adversity in both her professional and personal life. There she encounters Chai 17, an out-of-luck businessman, one who's able to give sound business advice, but unable to personally prosper. Chai 17 grudgingly saves her life and the bank from going under, and the two develop a professional relationship that blossoms into a friendship. A friendship to which both were willing to give up everything and their lives for each other. Along the way they encounter many adversaries, including Lam Mo Choi, a manipulative villain with three separate, yet identical identities. He holds a grudge against the Tang Family, and is bent on destroying 7th Master and her allies.

## Cast and Characters
### Chai Family

| Cast | Role | Description |
| To Yin Gor | Chai Man Yee 柴民意 | Doctor 大夫 Owner of a Chinese medical clinic Chai 17's father Suffered a heart attack and died after healing Luk Yik Cing. |
| Wayne Lai | Chai 17 柴十七 | Chai Man Yee's son Business wizard His abilities made him prideful, he offends many people, rarely talks politely to others Tang Kwai Sim's friend Kwai Fa Heung's friend Benefactor of the Luk Family He rescued 7th Master several times from danger He is named after the 17th Hexagram of the I Ching, overcomes all odds, drawn toward noble people, influential and successful |
| Yuki Law | Luk Yik Cing 陸奕澄 | Cing Cing Luk Wing's (9th Master) daughter. Suffered from a strange illness before being healed by Chai Man Yee. Became Chai 17's student. |

### Tang Family

| Cast | Role | Description |
| Willie Lau | Tang Wing So 鄧永壽 | Owner of Wing Lok Textile Mill. Founder of Wing Yip Bank Sze Wai Ngaa's husband. Father of Tang Kwai Lan, Kwai Sang, Kwai San, Kwai Sim. Father to Kwai Ping through an extra marital affair with Ms. Lam. |
| Rosanne Lui | Sze Wai Ngaa 詩懷雅 | Ms. Tang 鄧老太 Tang Wing So's wife. Mother of Tang Kwai Lan, Kwai Sang, Kwai San, and Kwai Sim. Foster mother to Kwai Ping, but merely tolerated him. Her closest bond was to her daughter Kwai Sim. |
| Kiwi Yuen | Tang Kwai Lan 鄧桂蘭 | Elder sister of Tang Kwai Sang, Kwai San, and Kwai Sim. Wai Kang's mother. Tang Kwai Ping's half-sister. |
| Carisa Yan | Tang Kwai Sang 鄧桂嫦 | Younger sister of Tang Kwai Lan. Elder sister to Tang Kwai San, and Tang Kwai Sim. Tang Kwai Ping's half-sister. |
| Gabriel Harrison | Tang Kwai San 鄧桂新 | 2nd Master, Master San Tang Kwai Sim's elder brother. Younger brother of Tang Kwai Lan, and Kwai San. Tang Kwai Ping's half-brother. Covets Tang Kwai Sim's wealth and power. |
| Nancy Wu | Tang Kwai Sim 鄧桂嬋 | 7th Master 七爺 Shanghai business tycoon Principal owner of Wing Yip Bank She greedy, duplicitious, cunning and deceitful Younger sister of Tang Kwai Lan, Kwai Sang, and Kwai San. Tang Kwai Ping's half-sister. Tang Kwai Sim was the only one in the family who gave the most attention to Kwai Ping Loves Chai 17. She rescued Chai 17 on several occasions including wielding a gun playing Russian roulette, wagering her life to save him from dying in the hands of Governor Long in episode 16. |
| Edwin Siu | Tang Kwai Ping 鄧桂平 | Tang Wing So and Lam Fong's son |
| Yuri Wong | Lam Fong 林方 | Tang Kwai Ping, and Lam Mo Choi's birth mother |
| Brian Chow | Wai Kang 偉強 | Tang Kwai Lan's son. Kwai Sang, Kwai San, Kwai Sim's nephew |

### Wing Yip Bank

| Cast | Role | Description |
| Nancy Wu | Tang Kwai Sim 鄧桂嬋 | 7th Master Principal owner, and General Manager of Wing Yip Bank |
| Wayne Lai | Chai 17 柴十七 | 7th Master's special assistant |
| Lisa Ch'ng | Fong Yee 方儀 | Manager responsible for the Investment Banking, Credit, and Sales department 7th Master's closest, and most trusted colleague |
| Carman Kwan | Lai Ga Bo 李嘉寶 | Senior supervisor |
| Doris Chow | Tsoi Kyun 徐娟 | Senior supervisor |
| Kristy Shaw | Chow Na Na 周娜娜 | Senior supervisor Reported goings-on in the bank to Tang Kwai Sim's mother Ms. Tang |
| Josephine Hung | Ah Lai 阿麗 | 7th Master's secretary |

### Lee Family / Osmanthus Restaurant

| Cast | Role | Description |
| Lee Shing Cheong | Kwai Ting Fung 桂廷峰 | Owner of Osmanthus restaurant Chow Gee Ning's husband |
| Mary Hon | Chow Gee Ning 周芷寧 | Kwai Ting Fung's wife |
| 賀楚清 (childhood) | Kwai Fa Heung 桂花香 | Her name means Osmanthus perfume. Kwai Ting Fung and Chow Gee Ning's daughter. Osmanthus restaurant's head cook Chai 17's friend. Wai Ho's childhood schoolmate, in episode 3, Kwai Fa Heung mentions Wai Ho's childhood "Lau Chi Keung" 劉志強. Years later met him again as "Wai Ho", became friends, and eventually his wife. She has a caring personality |
| Hera Chan | Kwai Fa Heung 桂花香 | Her name means Osmanthus perfume. Kwai Ting Fung and Chow Gee Ning's daughter. Osmanthus restaurant's head cook Chai 17's friend. Wai Ho's childhood schoolmate, in episode 3, Kwai Fa Heung mentions Wai Ho's childhood "Lau Chi Keung" 劉志強. Years later met him again as "Wai Ho", became friends, and eventually his wife. She has a caring personality |
| 張洛齊 (childhood) | Wai Ho 韋豪 | Ning Lai's closest friend, and partner in crime. Kwai Fa Heung's childhood schoolmate. Years later met her again, became friends, and eventually her husband. Fraternal brother with Master Hao. Assassin, rickshaw driver, later working in the restaurant as a waiter. |
| Joey Law | Wai Ho 韋豪 | Ning Lai's closest friend, and partner in crime. Kwai Fa Heung's childhood schoolmate. Years later met her again, became friends, and eventually her husband. Fraternal brother with Master Hao. Assassin, rickshaw driver, later working in the restaurant as a waiter. |
| Celina Harto | Ning Lai 寧俐 | Wai Ho's closest friend, partner in crime, and benefactor having rescued him from trouble. In love with Wai Ho. Became jealous when Wai Ho and Kwai Fa Heung became closer together. Master Hao's god-daughter. Skilled in mimicry. Took refuge in the restaurant working as a waiter. She has a gentle like water personality, eloquent |
| Andy Sui | Pau Gor (Leopard) 豹哥 | Prisoner, broke out of prison with Chai 17. Waiter at Osmanthus restaurant |
| Oman Lam | Ah Gai (Chicken) 阿雞 | Prisoner, broke out of prison with Chai 17. Waiter at Osmanthus restaurant |
| Vincent Cheung | Sik Seot (Cricket) 蟋蟀 | Prisoner, broke out of prison with Chai 17. Waiter at Osmanthus restaurant |

### Shanghai's 10 Most Influential Business Tycoons

| Cast | Role | Description |
| Gabriel Harrison | Tang Kwai San 鄧桂新 | 2nd Master / Master San Schemed a bank run against Wing Yip Bank. Schemed to dismiss Tang Kwai Sim from the general manager position by shareholder vote. |
| Albert Cheung | Ngok Cheung Ling 樂祥齡 | 3rd Master Ngok Su Tong's father Lender to Wing Yip Bank. Chai 17 convinced him to lend money to 7th Master |
| Feng Li Ping | | 6th Master Allied with Master San and 8th Master to form a shareholder bloc in Wing Yip Bank |
| Nancy Wu | Tang Kwai Sim 鄧桂嬋 | 7th Master Principal owner of Wing Yip Bank, and its largest stockholder. |
| 張振才 | | 8th Master Allied with Master San and 6th Master to form a shareholder bloc in Wing Yip Bank |
| Pat Poon | Luk Wing 陸永 | 9th Master / Uncle Zhai 齋叔 Owner of Forever Bank Luk Yik Cing's father |
| 徐金水 | | 10th Master |

### The Underworld

| Cast | Role | Description |
| Edwin Siu | Tang Kwai Ping 鄧桂平 | Half-brother of Tang Kwai Sim |
| Edwin Siu | Lam Mo Choi 林茂財 | Republic of China Minister of Military and Political Affairs. Holds a huge grudge against the Tang Family |
| Edwin Siu | Long Sei Hoi 龍四海 | General Long and Aunt May's son |
| Akina Hong | Big Red Sister 大紅姐 | Influential, and respected businessperson in Hangzhou. Tang Kwai Sim's sworn sister, and close friend. |
| Susan Tse | Aunt May 薇姨 | Long Zhan Tong's wife, Long Sei Hoi's mother Suffers from glaucoma and cannot see very well. She and Tang Kwai Sim are linked by fate. |
| Sam Tsang | Long Zhan Tong 龍振堂 | Beiyang Army military governor, corrupt warlord, mass murderer He has a moody personality, vicious and unpredictable Bullied 7th Master into donating large sums of money to him and his army |
| Steven Chan | Adjutant 龍副官 | Governor Long's right-hand man |
| Anson Ng | Adjutant 龍副官 | Governor Long's underling |
| Ng Shui Ting | Police Commissioner 警務處長 | Shanghai Municipal Police. Seventh Master has him in her pocket. |
| 怖仁巴雅爾 | Brother Lai 孝哥 | Underworld boss, helped 7th Master with secret matters |
| 李卓律 | Siu Bak 小白 | Helped 7th Master secretly examine Lam Mo Choi, episode 10 |
| Lam King Kong | Man Cing Gor (Artsy Brother) 文青哥 | Jailor, abused his power to bully prisoners. Gambling addict |
| Hellston Ching | Cho Dai Fu (Big Tiger Cho) 曹大虎 | An underworld boss, thug. Long Sai Hoi's scheming led to Cho Dai Fu framing Wai Ho for murder, with Chai 17 also going to prison |
| Marco Lee Yiu King | Master Hao 侯爺 | An underworld boss, took advantage of 7th Master's kidnapping to extort ransom money from the Tang Family. |
| Sunny Dai | Wu Ying (Housefly) 烏蠅 | Master Hao's god son, Wai Ho's fraternal brother, sexually harassed Kwai Faa Heung |
| Alan Tam | Fei Fan Gor (Flying Sail Brother) 飛帆哥 | Master Hao's god son |
| Eric Cheng Kai Tai | Tong Si Ling 唐司令 | Beiyang Army general, nicknamed Tong Yu Maa 唐如麻 (kill countless people), mass murderer, drug lord, episodes 1, 2 |
| Gordon Ip | Mr Long 龍先生 | Gangster, Tong Si Ling's subordinate. Cho gang member, episodes 1, 2 |
| Keith Mok | Mr. Chu 朱先生 | Gangster, Tong Si Ling's subordinate, episodes 1, 2 |
| Bert Mok | Mr. Gam 金先生 | Feng Shui master who can read minds, con artist, episode 12 |
| Cheng Ka Sang | Leader of the Axe Gang 斧頭幫幫主 | Aunt May's god brother. Tried to intimidate Seventh Master. episodes 18, 19 |
| 黃福增 | Slanted Head Man 歪頭漢 | A famous assassin couple from Dongbei. After the death of her mother Sze Wai Ngaa, 7th Master hired assassins to kill Lam Mo Choi, but Chai 17 convinced her to abort the mission, episode 12 |
| 陳淑雲 | White Haired Woman 白髮女人 | A famous assassin couple from Dongbei. After the death of her mother Sze Wai Ngaa, 7th Master hired assassins to kill Lam Mo Choi, but Chai 17 convinced her to abort the mission, episode 12 |
| Sun Zheng Yu | Wu So Ban (Bearded Mr. Ban) 鬍鬚賓 | Thug, extorted Wai Ho, and other rickshaw drivers for protection money, episode 4, 6 |
| 李婉儀 | Hoi Tong 海棠 | Wu So Ban's girlfriend, episodes 4, 6 |
| Hiroto Ikuma | Koichi Inoue 井上宏一 | Japanese Colonel, episodes 24, 25 |
| Tomonori Shimizu | Japanese Major 日本少佐 | episodes 24, 25 |

### Other Characters

| Cast | Role | Description |
| William Chu | Ngok Siu Tong 樂少堂 | Ngok Cheung Ling's (3rd Master) son, episode 1, 4 |
| Samuel Wong | Chan Mau Long 陳茂龍 | Master San's chief advisor He offered a poorly written bank reform proposal to 7th Master and was criticized. |
| 梁筠苓 | Chu Sau Lan 朱秀蘭 | Wing Lok Textile factor worker Lam Mo Choi's wife, episode 10 |
| 王燕敏 | Ms. Zhai 齋大太 | Luk Wing's (Uncle Zhai) wife |
| Ngai Wai Man | Director Ho 何廳長 | Blackmailed by Lam Mo Choi to approve a search of Wing Yip Bank, episode 23 |
| Cheng Shu Fung | Doctor Tong 童大夫 | Helped 7th Master force a confession from Cho Dai Fu, episode 21 |

## Production Notes

Principal photography began October 7, 2023, and ended December 17, 2023. No Return aired October-November 2024 to coincide with TVB's launch anniversary date. The drama marked the return of screenwriter Cheung Wah-Biu who wrote the first two successful Rosy Business dramas, Rosy Business, and No Regrets his last script before leaving TVB in 2011.
Filming took place at the Dream Bund backlot at Hengdian World Studios in Dongyang, Zhejiang Province, China. The Dream Bund, opened right after the COVID-19 pandemic, recreates the look and feel of Old Shanghai with streets and buildings built on a 1:1 scale. Nancy Wu mentioned in an interview that the spacious sets and rich details at Hengdian made one feel as though one was in Shanghai. Compared to shooting period dramas at Early Republic Street (民初街) in TVB City in Hong Kong, the pictures shot in Hengdian would be more realistic, and actors have much more sense of space when acting.
Art director Lau Sai Wan designed and produced over 200 period costumes for the No Return, 30 costumes of which were for Nancy Wu's character, who wears both Chinese, and Western influenced clothing together. The artistic director said the hat style worn by Nancy not only added elegance to the costumes, but represented 1930s Western upper class society, and culture.
Lead actress Nancy Wu mentioned the strenous nature of the film shoot, taking place within a span of just over two months, with dozens of scenes daily, resulted in her losing weight. Additionally, Wu said it was mentally and emotionally draining playing the 7th Master as her character was very complex, requiring a high degree of emotional expression on top of the acting nuances required for a period drama. Wayne Lai also agreed on the intensity of the daily shooting schedule; many of the scenes consisted of long pages of dialogue.
Rosanne Lui said it took close to 8 hours of auditioning different hair and makeup styles to find the right look for her character. She also said many scenes were done in one take because morale was high, and everybody was focused on performing. Lisa Ch'ng mentioned the hairstyle she wears was inspired by 1920-30s era department store window dolls. She said the art director was really good, able to pick out the most appropiate hairstyle based on photos of us.
Producer Dave Fong was satisfied with the performances of the new generation of actors Joey Law, Hera Chan, and Celina Harto, saying they were very attentive, and expressed the personalities of their characters very well. He mentioned Hera Chan has an excellent temperament and performed brilliantly in the crying scene, she has the best crying scene presently at TVB. The producer said Celina Harto grasped the essence of her role very well, somebody who looks very scheming, but actually a simple, and pitiful person. Celina Harto's performance also won approval from mainland Chinese netizens for her portrayal of a Green Tea Bitch "綠茶婊". Celina Harto mentioned she spent time researching the role, trying several variations of the personality before choosing one that was ruthless enough, but not extremely so. Dave Fong also praised Lisa Ch'ng for her outstanding, and professional performance; and Wayne Lai agreed that she deserved a more important role in the drama.
The sequence of flashback scenes with Wayne Lai and Nancy Wu in a coffin was a continuous 2 minute shot done in one take.
The teahouse shootout scene was Joey Law's first action role since joining the industry. The 3 minute sequence took 2 days to film, one scene requiring over 30 takes. The director encouraged him do a Tiffany Lau kneel and spin referring to the action moves the TVB actress does in her recent dramas.
Nancy Wu originally was to wear knee pads to run and fall to the ground during the night curfew action scene, but she asked to take them off because the close-up shot could have reduced the realism of the scene. She also suggested her character remove her stilettos before getting up to run away which was noted in the script.
No Return represents Wayne Lai and Nancy Wu's 8th TVB collaboration together.
In regards to netizen comments comparing her performance with Sheren Tang in the first two installments of the Rosy Business franchise, Nancy Wu said it's understandable because Rosy Business and No Regrets were such TV classics. She said she doesn't think about it, only wanting to focus on her own interpretation and play her character well. Wayne Lai added, the Heroine series is just a concept, the characters are all different in each season, and hopes the audience will treat it as such; there's no need to compare, and we're not under any pressure.
No Return is the third co-produced drama by Tencent Penguin Pictures under their Hong Kong Drama Project "港劇計劃" platform. Containing elements of mystery and suspense in the narrative, light comedy in a period drama, and high production values, producers hope No Return will attract new audiences, and old fans, to a new style of Hong Kong dramas.
The Chinese name for the series 巾幗梟雄 means Ambitious strong Woman. The Chinese name for the 4th installment 懸崖 means Precipice, or symbolically, at the edge of no return.

## Viewership Ratings

The following table reflects viewers who watched episodes live on TVB Jade television and on TVB apps online.
| Episode | Week | Highest cross-platform ratings | Viewers (in millions) |
| 01－05 | October 21, 2024－October 27, 2024 | 24.8 points | 1.61 |
| 06－10 | October 28, 2024 - November 3, 2024 | 23.1 points | 1.50 |
| 11－15 | November 4, 2024 - November 10, 2024 | 22.2 points | 1.44 |
| 16－20 | November 11, 2024 - November 17, 2024 | 22.4 points | 1.45 |
| 21－25 | November 18, 2024 - November 24, 2024 | 23.5 points | 1.53 |
| Averaged total | Averaged total | 23.2 points | |
On Douban, No Return scored 5.6 midway through the series.

## Awards
### TVB Anniversary Awards 2024

| Category | Recipient | Result |
| Best Drama Series | No Return | Nominated Top 5 |
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Wayne Lai | Nominated Top 5 |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role | Nancy Wu | Nominated Top 10 |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Edwin Siu | Nominated Top 5 |
| Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Joey Law | Nominated Top 10 |
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Hera Chan | Nominated Top 5 |
| Most Improved Female Artiste | Celina Harto | Nominated Top 5 |
| Most Improved Female Artiste | Hera Chan | Won |
| Most Improved Female Artiste | Carman Kwan | Nominated Top 5 |
| Most Improved Female Artiste | Yuki Law | Nominated Top 10 |
| Best TV Song | "Even If the Sky Falls" by Leo Ku | Nominated Top 5 |
Wayne Lai was asked about his predictions for TVB Anniversary Awards 2024, he said despite No Return having a well-written and complex script, good character development, and great acting, No Return was an Early Republic of China drama, a genre audiences might find old fashioned compared to trendier modern dramas. He felt winning an award was not based on skill, but depends on whether or not the audience likes the drama, and the characters in it.