# While We Are Young

While We Are Young (Chinese: Z世代) is a 20 episode Singaporean drama produced and telecast on MediaCorp Channel 8. The show aired at 9 pm on weekdays and had a repeat telecast at 8 am the following day.
The drama series is a production to commemorate 35 years of locally produced Chinese-language dramas and in appreciation to the local educators in celebration of Teacher's Day. It stars Zoe Tay, Rebecca Lim, Zhang Zhenhuan, Terence Cao, Denise Camillia, Zong Zijie and Chantalle Ng.
The show featured several "second-generation" stars who are children of veteran artistes, including Calvert Tay (son of Hong Huifang and Zheng Geping), Chantalle Ng (daughter of Lin Meijiao and her ex-husband former actor Huang Yiliang), Chen Yixin (daughter of Xiang Yun and Edmund Chen), Marcus Guo (son of host Guo Liang), and Shalynn Tsai (daughter of Chen Xiuhuan).

## Cast
### Generation X/Y

* Zoe Tay as Fang Ting 方廷 For the first time in 29 years, Tay played the role of a teacher which incidentally has been her childhood dream. She had previously taken on a variety of roles, but never those of a teacher.
** Alicia Lo as young Fang Ting
* Rebecca Lim as Zhong Ai 钟爱
* Zhang Zhenhuan as Tang Yiwei 汤一伟
* Terence Cao as Bai Jinshun 白金顺
** Chen Xi as young Bai Junshun
* Denise Camillia Tan as Zheng Jiayi 郑嘉怡

### Generation Z

* Calvert Tay 郑凯介 as Tang Yijie 汤一杰, Fang Ting's son
| Cast | Character | Description |
| Zong Zijie | Yang Xiaoshuai 杨小帅 | Younger version portrayed by Perez Tay (郑传峻) Ex-convict Yang Shanhe's son Ben's nephew Zhong Ai's adopted son Huang Li Bai Yun's love interest Tang Yijie's rival in love Dream is to be a professional Swimmer |
| Chantalle Ng | Huang Li Bai Yun 黄李白云 | Alan's stepdaughter Fu Xiuqin's daughter Bai Jinshun's niece In love with Yang Xiaoshuai Tang Yijie's love interest Dream is to be a Television director |
| Joanna Theng 唐舒恩 | Zhou Xuanxuan 周轩轩 | Junior College Student Year 2 (Zhuo Yue Junior College) In love with Tang Yijie Dream is to be a Theater Performer |
| Marcus Guo 郭麦洋 | Kang Lele 康乐乐 | Junior College Student (Zhuo Yue Junior College) Dream is to be a PE Teacher |
| Shalynn Tsai 蔡绮耘 | Luo Yiling 罗依玲 | Junior College Student (Zhuo Yue Junior College) In love with Tang Yijie Suffered from hurtful comments given by Tang Yijie and Xu Tiancai and attempted suicide |
| Gary Tan 陈毅丰 | Lin Junkai 林俊凯 | Dream is to be a blogger |
| Chen Yixin 陈一心 | Hong Yuanyuan 洪媛媛 | Dream is to be a Singer |
| Shanice Koh 许舒宁 | Ren Youwan 任游玩 | Ren Chuan and Li Xue's daughter Junior College Student (Zhuo Yue Junior College) Dream is to be a Model Suffered from stress disorder and begin to self-harm |
| Li Decheng 李德承 | Xu Tiancai 许天才 | Yu Feng's son Junior College Student (Zhuo Yue Junior College) Dream is to be a Gamemaker |

### Zhou Yue Junior College Staff(s)

| Cast | Character | Description |
| Marcus Mok 莫健发 | Old Principal 老院长 | Old Principal of Zhuo Yue Junior College |
| Li Fuliang 李福樑 | New Principal 新院长 | Principal He (何院长) New Principal of Zhuo Yue Junior College |
| Kenneth Kong 江坚文 | Discipline Master 训育主任 | Discipline Master of Zhuo Yue Junior College |
| Rebecca Lim | Zhong Ai 钟爱 | Ms Zhong (钟老师) HOD of Chinese Department of Zhuo Yue Junior College See Generation X/Y |
| Li Wenhai | Zhuo Zigan 卓子乾 | Mr Zhuo (卓老师) Chinese Teacher of Zhuo Yue Junior College |
| Chen Ning 陈宁 | Guo Liwen 郭丽雯 | Ms Guo (郭老师) Chinese Teacher of Zhuo Yue Junior College |

### Other Casts

| Cast | Character | Description |
| Joshua Chia 謝樂 | Cai Yaozu 蔡耀祖 | Junior College Ex-Student (Zhuo Yue Junior College) Take video in the girl's toilet and was caught by Zhou Xuanxuan Arrested for abusing boarding pass to meet his idol |
| Adele Wong | Ah Jie 阿姐 | TV Station's actress |
| Hu Wensui 胡问遂 | Alan | Villain Fu Xiuqin's husband Huang Li Baiyun's stepfather |
| Teo Ser Li 张思丽 | Fu Xiuqin 傅秀琴 | Alan's wife Huang Li Baiyun's mother Bai Jinshun's sister-in-law |
| Jazreel Low 刘琦 | Rose | Fang Ting's best friend |
| Authur Choo 朱锐雄 | Ah Hao 阿豪 | Villain Car Mechanic's ex-employee Tang Yiwei and Zheng Jiayi's colleague In love with Zheng Jiayi |
| Shane Tan Yu Xuan 陈宇轩 | Sunny | Yang Xiaoshuai's swimming instructor |
| Cassandra See 薛淑珊 | Mary | Villain Threatened Yang Xiaoshuai to upload his nude photos if he doesn't agree her to meet other rich sugar mummies |
| Andi Lim 林伟文 | Ben | Supporting Villain Yang Xiaoshuai's uncle |
| Kenneth Chung 钟坤华 | Kun Hua 坤华 | YES 933's Radio DJ Fang Ting's ex-student |
| Steven Chiang 江常輝 | Yang Shanhe 杨山河 | Gang leader Yang Xiaoshuai's father Zhong Ai's ex-lover (Deceased – mentioned by Zhong Ai) |
| Ye Xiangling 葉向玲 | Li Xue 李雪 | Ren Chuan's wife Ren Youwan's mother Manipulating Youwan’s life, causing her deep injuries |
| Seth Ang 翁兴昂 | Ren Chuan 任川 | Li Xue's husband Ren Youwan's father |
| Chen Waiwai 陈慧慧 | Yu Feng 玉凤 | Xu Tiancai's mother |
| Lu Guanyao 卢冠耀 | Mr Luo 罗先生 | Luo Yiling's father |
| Nico Chua 蔡伟彬 | Mrs Luo 罗太太 | Luo Yiling's mother |
| Tay Ying 郑颖 | | Sign up for Modelling Agency with Ren Youwan |
| Zeng Hanrong 曾汉荣 | Gary | Huang Li Baiyun's teacher |
| Cansen Goh 吴开深 | Mr Zhou 周先生 | Mr Zhou (周先生) Zhou Xuanxuan's father |
| Larry Low 刘龙伟 | Tony | Fang Ting and Bai Jinshun's ex-JC classmate |
| Zack Lim 林志强 | Xiao Kedou 小蝌蚪 | Fang Ting and Bai Jinshun's ex-JC classmate |
| Joy Yak 易凌 | Lin Qingxia 林青霞 | Fang Ting and Bai Jinshun's ex-JC classmate |
| Lin Peifang 林佩芳 | Ms Wu 吴老师 | Fang Ting, Bai Jinshun, Xiao Kedou, Lin Qingxia and other Ex-JC classmates JC teacher |
| Wauren Beh 马纬翰 | Jon | Villain Xu Tiancai's friend Conned Xu Tiancai's money and manipulates Xu Tiancai's mother |
| Brendon Kuah 柯迪宏 | Ray | Villain Peeping Tom (偷窥狂) Property Agent Installed a hidden camera in Huang Li Baiyun's room and manipulates Bai Jinshun |
| Tao Li 陶李 | Herself | A professional Singapore swimmer Yang Xiaoshuai's idol |

## Original Sound Track (OST)

| No. | Song Title | Singer(s) |
| 1) | 回家睡觉 (Main Song for the series) | Jayden Chew 周俊安 |
| 2) | 致爱 | Zong Zijie 宗子杰 Chantalle Ng 黄暄婷 Calvert Tay 郑凯介 Joanna Theng 唐舒恩 Marcus Guo 郭麦洋 Shalynn Tsai 蔡绮耘 Chen Yixin 陈一心 |
| 3) | 致爱 (Demo Version) | Deng Bi Yuan 邓碧源 |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Organisation | Nominees | Category | Result |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Loh Woon Woon | Best Director | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Chantalle Ng | Best Newcomer | Won |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Zong Zijie | Best Newcomer | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards | Zoe Tay | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2018 | Star Awards | — | Best Drama Serial | Nominated |

## Production

Filming began in May and wrapped in July 2017, with the major scene taken at Nanyang Junior College. The series is the first to cover Singapore's post-secondary education landscape.