The Trembling of Cicada (蝉) is a 2026 Chinese legal and psychological drama starring Zhong Chu Xi and Francis Ng. The 21-episode drama premiered on Zhejiang TV, iQiyi, Tencent, and Migu Video on 20 August 2026. It follows criminal defense lawyer Ding Ning, chief judge Yu Songfan, and legal elite Zhao Yijie as they become connected through a series of criminal cases, while each carries their own complicated past and secrets.
Title: The Trembling of Cicada
Chinese Title: 蝉 / Chán
Also Known As: Cicada, The Cicada’s Song
Broadcast Date: 20 August 2026
Broadcast Network: Zhejiang TV, iQiyi, Tencent, Migu Video
Genre: Legal, Psychological
Director: Yuan Yu Mei
Screenwriter: Chen Qiong Qiong (陈琼琼)
Producer: Yuan Yu Mei
Production Company: Qing Mei Ying Ye, Zhejiang Film & TV
Episodes: 21
Watch On: iQiyi
The Trembling of Cicada Synopsis
Ding Ning is a criminal defense lawyer whose biological father is a kidnapper and whose stepfather is a criminal police officer. She crosses paths with Yu Songfan, a chief judge grieving the loss of his wife and child, and Zhao Yijie, a charming legal elite who operates in the gray zone.
The three become connected through a series of criminal cases. Although they face each other as opponents, they gradually recognize similarities in one another. Each becomes both hunter and hunted as they search for the person secretly controlling events from behind the scenes.
The Trembling of Cicada Story Breakdown
The story centers on Ding Ning, Yu Songfan, and Zhao Yijie, three people working in different areas of the legal system. Ding Ning works as a criminal defense lawyer, while Yu Songfan serves as a chief judge. Zhao Yijie is a legal elite who is willing to operate within the gray areas of the law.
Their paths cross through a number of criminal cases, putting them in direct opposition. At the same time, their personal experiences create an unexpected connection between them. Ding Ning’s complicated family background, Yu Songfan’s loss of his wife and child, and Zhao Yijie’s approach to the law all become part of the conflict.
As the cases unfold, the three find themselves caught between pursuing others and being pursued themselves. The central mystery is who is manipulating events behind the scenes and how the three will become involved in uncovering the truth.
The Trembling of Cicada Cast
Main Roles
- Zhong Chu Xi as Ding Ning, lawyer
- Francis Ng as Yu Songfan, judge
- Zheng Yun Long as Zhao Yijie, prosecutor
Special Appearance
- Wu Xing Jian as Zhou Hao
- Zhou Fang as Ma Tingting
- Yi Da Qian as Fan Dong
- Yu En Tai as Chang Ning
- Zheng Yu Cheng as Xu Ruqing
Supporting Roles
- Wang Jun Zhe as Yang Awu
- Chen Xi Xu as Qiu Qiming
- Wei Zi Xin as Kong Zhendong
- Wei Wei as Lei Xiaoming
- Yu Jin Wei as Bi Wenhao
- Ke Shu Qin as Jiang Wenpei
- Shi Yue Ling as Feng Xue
- Tong Yue as Cai Dongchu
- Dong Ke Fei as Song Shengli
- Jia Ze as Yang Miao
- Han Dong as Wang Zhiping
- Tong Chen Jie as Luo Shasha
- Wang Xiao Yu as Zhang Lin
- Zhao Hui as Kang Qingsong
- Wei Yi Bo as Ding Kuihai
- Yuan Jin Hui as Lu Zhiyong
- Hu Xiao Ting as Mrs. Yu
- Dong Xiang Rong as Yang Cheng
- Fang Xiao Dong as Yu Xiaoyue
- Wang Bo Wen as Xia Ge
- Ding Zi Ling as Wu Qiuju
- Leng Hai Ming as Lao Ou
- Zhu Tie as Liang Zidong
- Li Yu Tong as Yu Ying
- Qi Sheng Han as Sun Jing
- Han Shu Mei as Yang Cheng’s wife
- Gao Ming Chen as Liu Xijun
- Guo Zi Ming as Kai Wen
- Yuan Yu as Shen Xue
- Ru Tian as Xiao Lu’s mother
- Bi Han Wen as Xiao Lu’s father
- Li Hong Lei as Mr. Lin
- Ma Ding as Mrs. Lin
- Lu Sen Bao as Li Sheng
- Pan Yi Fei as Brother Sun
- Zeng Han Yu as Xiao Jia
- Lian Ya Jia as Kong Qing
