The First Frost

A storytelling masterpiece about romantic and self love wrapped in a bow of excellent production

It’s been a few days since I finished the show and while I can’t remember every single detail, there are certain plot choices I want to highlight because of how good they were:

- **Flashback set up:** I normally don’t love jumping between timelines, but the way this show does it is phenomenal. It not only builds up their romance, but also helps unravel who they are as individuals and who they have grown into.
- Usually when we flashback, the actors are so obviously adults it’s disturbing but Bai Jing Ting & Zhang Ruo Nan have faces that really allowed them to seamlessly play high school and adult characters. So the casting for these two was 10/10.
- **The “set up” for assault:** I hate sad stories only because the real world is full of them. 1 in 4 women experience sexual assault including attempted sa. ~ 78% of rape cases involve someone the victim knows so to have this story really set the stage for this creepy uncle with concerning easy access to a young vulnerable girl was important to me in terms of properly representing that it’s not just strangers that hurt women.
- **When she talks to her past self (Ep. 29):** This scene almost broke me. It was such a great visual representation of healing and moving on from the scars that can haunt you.
- **Her mother’s apology (Ep. 30):** We can see that Yifan’s mom does not deserve her daughter, but Yifan for much of the show is still trying to meet her mom half way, so you aren’t really sure as a viewer how she will finally make peace with her mom. I love that she chose to let her mother completely go.
- **Secondary romance:** I usually enjoy the secondary couples in these romance shows, but Zhong Si Qiao and Su Hao An were such an excellent story. They felt like a different show (in a good way). Their plot didn’t overshadow Sang Yan & Wen Yi Fan but it also wasn’t so basic as to feel underwhelming/unneeded. It’s usually that the secondary couple(s) are “assigned” a basic trope and their story is squished in the few extra minutes the show has where its not a bad romance but there isn’t enough substance to really care or root for them. But I truly feel like we got to see Zhong Si Qiao and Su Hao An grow as individuals as well as a couple. I would LOVE a show that follows their kind of romance of oopies to old classmates to friends to lovers.

And OF COURSE the main romance. This is it’s own essay that it can’t be a bullet point. I have a lot I want to say about this relationship.

- It’s practically impossible for fated mates trope to be used for a contemporary romance, and yet, this show truly made me double think that. These two were truly made for each other and are fated.
- Sang Yan: He is stubborn, narcissistic, and brooding – but so very hot and perfect. Even with his “negative” traits at the forefront, we know his heart absolutely belongs to Wen Yi Fan. It real life, there is a bit of a creepy, stalker aspect to how in love he is with her even after she breaks his heart, but some how in this story it just works. Probably because Wen Yi Fan has been abandoned by her family and is alone in this world, but Sang Yan keeps his high school promise that she will never really be alone because she has him.
- Wen Yi Fan: She is traumatized and insists on running rather than facing trouble onwards BUT we can understand very well why. Her actual personality is witty and kind with a sprinkle of cutie-patootie. I love that she has always adored Sang Yan but that life and haters held her back from really indulging her feelings. Watching her grow into herself to gain confidence and defend herself was really beautiful. Seeing her find strength within herself but then learn how to depend on those that love her was the cherry on top.

All in all, this is not a light and fluffy romance, but it is a storytelling masterpiece with a happy ending.

### Original Thoughts & Ideas

- I wish parents had more counseling and guidance about how to really care for their child. Yifan was not wrong when she said the worst betrayal was not her aunt and uncle, but from her very own mother. This woman birthed and raised her for ~15 years, but just completely abandons her when hard times hit.
- Parents are not *owed* forgiveness when their actions play a direct role in your deepest hurts. While some children can make space to try and repair their relationship, sometimes the damage and hurt is too deep to ignore and that is okay.

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LOVE-SWEET-WONDERFUL

I only watched this series because of the ML (watched Mobius which he was in and liked him from that series). This is the 2nd Chinese series I’ve seen. (I watch K-dramas)! I so loved this series, although a little long for me, I prefer shorter series.
I loved both the ML & FL, they were awesome I thought (as well as all the supporting actors). It had a lot of sad moments and issues, but this series I think is truly about true love and to see how much he truly loved her was amazing, just melted my heart.
And of all the K-dramas I’ve watched, I have to say this had the best ending (yeah it made me cry) but a happy cry. The ending was just amazing, so sweet, so full of love, so everything. I LOVED IT! MADE THE WHOLE SERIES!

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This is my 15th C-Drama and it's the first time I give a 10 in a review...

(Spoilers are at the end with a warning.)

I'm not sure what to say other than you have to watch it to form your own opinion; it may or may not resonate with you. But from the outstanding worldwide ranking this drama received, it speaks for itself.

As I was watching it for the first time, I was completely drawn in by the story and the people within it. I caught myself smiling the whole way through, falling in love with the characters as the story unfolded, and wishing I had met this special someone in my life. It made me discover new actors, and Bai JingTing is now part of my Top 3 favorite actors.

Rarely does an OST feel like a heartbeat running through a story. This one does.
It's the first time I love all the songs of an OST except one. I usually enjoy 1 to 3 songs at the most and discard the rest. This OST has now become part of my regular favorite songs playlist.





--------------- Spoiler: Do Not Read if you haven't watched the Drama --------------

I'll point out 2 things I found questionable in the story. It's minor, but since I gave a 10 and there is no such thing as perfection, I need to rant a little bit!

1- In the real world, when someone stalks someone else, it usually never ends well.
Sang Yan's behavior was a little obsessive in the wrong way during the years Wen Yifan was in Yihe. I do get that he was deeply hurt while suspecting something was off, so in a way, he was "investigating". But going there once a month over the 2 years she was working after graduation is not a healthy behavior.


2- In episode 31, we finally see the complete “Day 1” scene—their very first meeting.
It’s the first day of school, and both are running late. Sang Yan spots Wen Yifan, and in a sudden impulse, he dashes up the stairs to position himself, pretending to play basketball, hoping she’ll notice him.

It’s meant to be a cute moment, but it just doesn’t land: why would someone fall for a girl he’s seen for less than 30 seconds? Why go out of his way to get her attention, especially when he has no idea where she’s headed? The campus is vast, with several paths, and her actual destination turns out to be nowhere near those stairs. She might as well never have gone up there at all.

It would have been more plausible if he had just been goofing around, and she bumped into him by sheer chance.

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Healing and unconditional second chance romance

To me, this drama is like a warm hug. An endless warmth after a blistering snow storm.

Wei Yifan is so sad and lonely with a painful past, but Sang Yan is just so incredibly caring. He carries a quiet intensity that no matter what life throws at them, he will be the one to keep them afloat. It's funny how it seems like it's the cold ML x naive FL cliche. The dual POVs reveal that their misunderstandings are due to fear to hurt the other when there actually is such a depth of love.

Yifan's trauma is intense and almost triggering. It's understandable why she is the way she is, her strength is quiet but unyielding. Sang Yan is the most chalant nonchalant man I ever witness. He is such a loser in-love that it hurts my eyes.

A second-chance romance that actually is a first love story, Sang Yan had never let go.

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A 99% unique chinese romance drama

Oh my! After seeing about 10 episodes, I got to know that this drama is a sequal of Hidden Love. Then, everything clicked for me!! A very very VERY good plotline which can be 100% relatable for us girls, soothing visual, background music which sounded like lullaby to me, beautiful acting, specially, a big shoutout to jingting bai, for his VERY MUCH DETAILED ACTING as sang yan [the little trembling while kissing-having passionate moments-proposing!!!!!!!!!!!😭😭😭]- these things got me in tears-shock-awe-butterflies many times while watching this drama. Also, who doesn't want a bestie like siqiao?! 😭💘 A very beautiful chinese drama I got to watch after many many many days. Thanks to the whole team for this.

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A masterpiece

This drama was intense, emotional, and deeply moving-it takes you on a rollercoaster of feelings. Every moment felt raw and heartfelt, making it impossible to look away.

The beginning might feel slow for some, but trust me, it's worth it in the end. The long episodes allow you to fully immerse yourself in the lives of the characters, making their joys and struggles feel personal.

The character development is beautifully done, and the emotional depth keeps you engaged until the very last scene. If you're looking for a drama that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you feel every emotion possible, this is it.

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