The First Frost

Love That Lasts a Lifetime

I made a mydramalist account to write a review for this drama.... so you get an idea of how much I loved it.
Chinese people have a penchant for making the most spectacularly heartful slice of life dramas. Even though this has romance as the main plot, it still heals something inside you.
The story follows Sang Yan and Wen Yifan, in two timelines, one the past (when they met) and one the present. The best trope that could describe it would be second chance and very heavy he fell first and fell harder.
The characters in themselves are very impressive. Yifan is a unit of a woman and honestly reminds me of Cinderella in her mannerisms. She's someone who's been through hell and yet never holds a grudge against the world, she silently perseveres and lives her life as dull as it is. She is strong as hell and honestly I don't think the drama gives her enough credit for they way she handled her woes silently. Sang Yan... now this man, everyone deserves someone like him. He is just phenomenal in his persistence. Man should get an award or smth, for his selflessness. Gosh, he gave me so many butterflies, its ridiculous.
The romance itself is very heartwarming and there are a lot of cute moments just sprinkled here and there. Zhou Rhounan is honestly such a beauty and Bai Jing Ting is just handsome all around. Love them together, love the cute moments of the second couple too. There is a little bit of comedy sprinkled here and there, primarily relying on the charm of the leads. But love it nonetheless.
However, I had one major gripe with the story telling, they focus a little too heavily on the main plot-point: the main love story, the second lead couple had a story too, but it felt filler at most, only present to give us breaks from the heavy dominance of the lead couple. The child actor, interning at Yifan's office was dropped mid-way after he no longer served any purpose and the character's themselves as people weren't explored.
Most of the relationships in the drama are also developed only to the point where they help in progression of the story. The only relationships properly explored are the ones with the antagonists (Mom, Aunt and Uncle) and the main couple. Aside from that nothing is adequately developed.
The relationship Sang Yan has with his family and Yifan with her dad are also not explored. They are only present as hindsight, and doesn't really allow for any major character arc to form.
Even the main leads themselves aren't developed, especially Yifan. For someone who's been through so much, I expected to see a hell lot of 'suffer in silence moments', even in the flashbacks... but almost all of those moments are shown in Sang Yan's light to push the "he cares for her" agenda. Sang Yan too, his own heartbreak is mellowed over in the ending as "Oh it helped him grow". You don't see how they grew up to be people, which is kind of weird considering they had 32 whole episodes to do so.
BUT, BUT, BUT.... I STILL LOVE IT
If you have no problem with a little too much focus on the main storyline, then this is DEFINITELY your jam. It's still one of the more poetic dramas I've seen, very quiet and mellow. Definitely perfect after a heavy day, for relaxing along with a bucket of popcorn. If you love romance, and love the idea of the red strings of fate, this is definitely for you.
HAVE FUN

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It is all about love, loss and new beginnings

Wise men said accidents change people. It's true.

Accident brings out the worst from you, makes you feel loser and even alters your belief. Yi Fan changed over the years, but her heart still rang loudly when spotted Sang Yan after all these years.
Generated from the universe of Hidden Love, this story delves into the life of senior Sang. Sang Zhi’s brother falls for a girl whom he spots on a random day while going to school. He gains her interests and starts running around her. Maybe our adorable Sang Zhi got her adorable love shot attitude from her brother. Things get complicated as she dumps him one day and decides to join Yihe University.

He waited, cried his heart out till one day she resurfaced in his life again.

Parents are the biggest support system of one’s life. Yi Fan lost herself as she faced the untimely death of her father. And lack of support offered by her mother made her more broken. Her mother not only betrayed her but never offered her support to the little girl who kept on looking for her support.

Yu Ning not only brought a love story alive. He successfully painted the scar people face in their own home. Betrayals when they come tip toed leaves a deeper scar than imagined. He dared to put hostility and sexual threats women face at home alive. They are forced to keep quiet for the sake of the roof steals their sense of belongingness.

The journey of Yi Fan is not about falling in love. It is about finding your true self, getting free from all the darkness that holds you behind and starting to take stand for yourself. It is easier to say fight for yourself, than doing it in real life.

The chemistry between Yi Fan and Sang Yan is smooth like butter. They did not burn the screen but poured warmth as they melted in each other's arms. Story of Qiao and Hao running in parallel drew attention to the importance of staying true to yourself and your partners. Even if you think your words can hurt them, you should not stop yourself from sharing.

The first Frost is about learning how to stay in love even when you both are flawed. Love is not just holding hands or hugging. You need to understand each other in your darkness and light.

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A Perfectly Sweet Romance with the Best Boyfriend Ever

Okay, The First Frost is EVERYTHING. If you loved Hidden Love, you’re in for a treat, because this one follows the lead elder brother from Hidden Love, and let me tell you—he is just as swoon-worthy. This drama is like the perfect mix of cute and intense, with a slow-burn romance that’ll have you smiling like a fool and feeling all sorts of emotions.

First off, let’s talk about the male lead. Honestly, he’s the epitome of the perfect boyfriend—handsome, sweet, caring, and always there when the female lead needs him. Like, if there was a "boyfriend goals" checklist, he would tick every single box. He’s so patient with her shy, quiet nature, and watching him slowly break through her walls is so heart-melting. He’s supportive, understanding, and, let’s be real, every girl’s dream. Seriously, he’s the guy we all wish existed in real life.

And speaking of the female lead—her shy personality is honestly the cutest thing. Her awkwardness and innocence just make her so endearing. The way she blushes or gets flustered around him is adorable and makes the slow development of their relationship feel so authentic.

The chemistry between them is chef’s kiss—the tension is perfect, and the whole story has this light, warm vibe that makes you want to root for them from the start. Yes, the plot can be a little predictable at times, but honestly, it’s the characters that make this drama so special. It’s just one of those feel-good, heartwarming romances you can’t get enough of.

In short, The First Frost is everything you need if you're craving a slow-burn romance with a dreamy guy and an adorable, shy girl. It’s sweet, it’s cute, and it’s got the feels!

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My forever love

Cdramas have always been my refuge, providing solace during my toughest times. However, The First Frost felt like a magical escape, a delightful surprise that transported me to a world filled with rainbows and sunshine. It’s said that an actor must deeply understand their character’s past and develop empathy to truly embody the role. Nannan and Xiaobai’s portrayal of Wen Yifan and Sang Yan showcased their profound understanding and emotional depth, allowing us to connect with the characters on a much deeper level. Thanks to director Qu Youning and the entire crew, who poured their hearts, time, and creativity into this endeavor. With brilliant direction, a cohesive team, and a beautifully crafted storyline, the aesthetic and breathtaking cinematography have left me in awe—truly a masterpiece! Thank you to everyone involved in this project, including the supporting actors, whose contributions are invaluable. Every appearance they make enriches the story. Thank you, Xiaobai and Nannan, for breathing life into Sang Yan and Wen Yifan. No one could have captured the essence of these characters and their journey better than you. My beloved SangYifan will always hold a special place in my heart, forever. Nan hong you'll always be loved.🍃❄️

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the ultimate slowburn...

This was Yi Fan's story, first and foremost. She's such a captivating character. I think that you have to like her and root for her to truly enjoy this. She's quiet, and she takes a while to open up. But I love that over time she learns to stand up for herself and open up. And I loved watching the show just to see that side of her.

So it makes sense that the romance is a super slow burn. It takes time for Yi Fan to open up, but Sang Yan is the most selfless and enduring character. Maybe that's unrealistic, but I don't mind that much. They did a perfect job drawing the line and learning to become friends again before anything romantic happened. I think that watching just 1 or 2 episodes a day really helped in enjoying the character progression.

And while I loved the romance, I do think that the story pacing could've been better. Some episodes and plot lines were dragged out, while the Hong Kong plot felt rushed. And it did feel like only Yi Fan was really fleshed out, I would've loved to see Sang Yan outside of his relationship. All that is to say that I loved the characters. This is a character-driven story, so for all the slowburn yearning lovers out there, this is for us!

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Its an amazing C-drama I would 100% recommend it

IT WAS SO CUTE! I MEAN, WATCHING THIS AFTER HL AND WIFTY WAS SO MUCH FUN. I LOVED THE ACTING AND THE WAY THE ACTORS DREW ME IN, BUT I DON'T THINK I WOULD REWATCH IT. I MEAN IT WAS AMAZING, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN ONLY WATCH ONCE CUZ OF HOW LONG IT IS, BUT OVERALL, I ABSOLUTELY ADORED IT

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Thank you very much (⁠✿⁠^⁠‿⁠^⁠)
This drama is memorable ❤️💐🌸🌟⭐✨🌹🍀

I really like Sang Yan's character ☆⁠☆⁠☆☆⁠☆♡♡♡⁠♡⁠♡🥹😭🥹✨🫶🏻 his behavior is caring and guarding, his heart is cheerful only for people he likes & not friendly to all women, his love is truly sincere ✨ and he is a real man ☆⁠☆⁠☆☆⁠☆♡♡♡⁠♡⁠♡

Sang Yan when he smiles and his act of service is immediatly dar der dor makes you excited 🤩(⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

Indonesian :
sukaa banget sama karakter Sang Yan 🥹😭🥹✨🫶🏻 tingkahnya perhatian dan menjaga, hatinya setiaaa cuman buat orang yg dia suka & tidak friendly ke semua wanita, Cintanya sungguh tulus dan dia adalah pria sejati ⭐ ✨

Beuhh Sang Yan kalo udh senyum dan act of service nya itu langsung dar der dor bikin excited 🤩

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A Drama That Hits Where It Hurts and Heals Where It Matters

I don't even know where to begin because this drama didn’t just tell a story—it lived in my head, rent-free, taking over my thoughts, my emotions, and my ability to function like a normal person. Every episode had something that hit me straight in the heart, whether it was making me giggle uncontrollably or cry until I couldn’t see properly.

This isn't just a romance. It’s about them. Two people with wounds, regrets, and history—navigating love not as a fairytale, but as something raw, messy, and painfully real. And yet, in all that, there’s tenderness. There’s patience. There’s Sang Yan, who, for all his teasing and bravado, is so painfully gone for her. And Wen Yifan, who deserves softness after everything life has thrown at her.

The way they look at each other? The way they hold onto each other without saying much? The way he believes in them even when she hesitates? It’s the kind of love that feels like home. The kind that makes you believe in love again.

Even when things got heavy—even when past wounds resurfaced—their relationship wasn’t about dramatic misunderstandings or unnecessary angst. It was about choosing each other, again and again, in the quiet moments, in the loud ones, in the in-betweens.

And now that it’s over? I feel empty. The good kind of empty. The kind that lingers, that makes you want to rewatch, relive, and hold onto every second a little longer.

If you haven’t watched this drama yet, let me warn you: you will be ruined. But in the best way possible.

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A drama wrapped in meancholy

This was an angsty drama from start to finish. For me personally Wen yifan was like that one tragic xianxia character that suffers all her life with no way out. Name any abuse she has suffered it and yet bravely faced the reality and went for the so called life. She was an experience. The whole story is presented so brilliantly that I'm afraid this is the new standard. From story to acting to casting you can really feel the dedication of this team. The count of days at the beggining of each episodes to how they wrapped each and every single details of the drama makes it untouchable.

I need to write a whole paragraph on sang yan. One fact that sets him apart from any other ML is that he never intruded on yifan's past. No matter how much he loved he respected her private matters, this she didn't wanted to say. That doesn't happen a lot even in drama let alone real life. He was there for her in silent. He never crossed some lines which made my respect for this character go higher than mount everest. Yifan needed to make peace with her own past and sang yan was the pillar she could rely on whenever she needed. Someone like sang yan can only be in real life when one grows up in a family of love and understanding.

Be the Sang Yan of your own life till you find one. With this I'm wrapping my humble opinion

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Best C-Drama I've ever watched

Honestly, I’m not a big fan of C-Dramas and have only watched a few. Even when I started watching this drama, I had no expectations. All I knew was that it shared the same universe as Hidden Love, which I had already watched. I didn’t know much about the lead actors either, as I initially started watching this out of curiosity after seeing a circulating teaser.

But who would’ve thought that this drama would be so amazing! It even surpassed my expectations. To be honest, it has become one of my all-time favorite dramas, even though I usually only watch K-dramas. The first thing that impressed me was the chemistry between the two lead actors. Their chemistry was so strong that even just by looking at each other, you could feel it. Additionally, their chemistry when they hugged made me, as a viewer, feel the warmth and sincerity between them. In short, their chemistry was extraordinary! In all the dramas I’ve watched, I’ve rarely seen a couple with such strong chemistry.

Secondly, the storyline. For those who don’t like slow-paced plots, they might get bored, but in my opinion, this pace was just right. It helped me understand the characters of Wen Yifan and Sang Yan even better. I could see how Yifan dealt with the trauma he experienced, and how Sang Yan stayed by his side, understanding his character, and eventually helping Yifan overcome his trauma.

Maybe some novel readers were annoyed with the plot changes, especially when Yifan ran away for the second time. But for me, that was the most realistic and best plot decision. Yifan left with the intention of protecting Sang Yan and wanting to become a better person, someone more worthy of Sang Yan. It’s not easy for someone with trauma to share their burdens with others because they fear that the people around them will suffer because of them.

Thirdly, the acting of the main leads. In my opinion, the casting of Zhang Rounan and Bai Jingting was perfect. They did an excellent job portraying their characters and truly understood them. Their acting felt so natural and real. I really want to appreciate them because their tears were so heartfelt and truly expressed their emotions, whether they were sad or happy.

One of the best scenes in this drama was the proposal scene. It felt so real that I even doubted whether they were really acting, because every gesture seemed so genuine. This proposal scene, in my opinion, is the best I’ve ever seen. I haven’t found a better proposal scene in any other drama.

In short, this drama is extraordinary. I don’t usually cry while watching romance dramas, but in this one, I cried a lot, especially during their proposal scene, which was truly legendary.

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