From hospital ward to drama series

Firsthand insight

Director Li Zhi, who also helmed the first season, says returning to the series took on new meaning after he experienced hospitalization himself.

Shortly after completing the first season, he was admitted to the hospital because of health problems, giving him firsthand insight into patients' emotions.

"Every time my attending physician came on her rounds, I typed my questions into my phone beforehand," Li recalls.

"She spoke very quickly because she had so many patients to see, but her thinking was always clear, and she knew my condition thoroughly. That reassured me."

The experience also reminded him of delivery rider Lu Dadong, a character diagnosed with hereditary hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Doctors warned Lu that a sudden attack could leave him unconscious, making it necessary for immediate family members to make key decisions and sign the informed consent form for surgery.

"I didn't want my parents to know I had been hospitalized because I didn't want them to worry. It was very similar to Lu's situation in the drama. Eventually, my attending physician and her intern helped me find a solution that complied with hospital regulations," Li says.

"Everyone has been to a hospital at some point, either as a patient or accompanying a loved one. That's why medical stories resonate with almost everyone."

With over 200 medical specialists serving as consultants throughout production, The Heart 2 strives to present every diagnosis, treatment and surgical procedure with professional accuracy. Beyond telling compelling human stories, Zhou Yifei and her team hope the series will also help audiences see the country's progress in medical research and healthcare technology.

"Today, our country's medical devices are advancing rapidly, and our basic scientific research is also making remarkable progress. Over the past three or four years — especially since the first season of The Heart — I've been amazed by the development of domestically produced devices such as artificial hearts. In many respects, they now rival, and in some areas even surpass, imported products," she says.