3
31
2
Becoming Each Other's Sunlight: A story about growth, healing and enduring love
The First Frost is easily one of the most well-produced Chinese romance dramas of 2025. From its brilliant acting and plot progression to the impressive official soundtrack and meticulous attention to detail, The First Frost takes viewers on a journey about what it means to love another, and oneself. If you were waiting for a Chinese modern romance drama with enduring love, the most loveable couple and healthy character growth, say less. Although much more “melo” than Hidden Love, The First Frost will leave you looking forward to every loving interaction between the leads (and perhaps swooning at Sang Yan’s good looks).
ꨄ OVERVIEW------------
Adapted from the novel of the same name by Zhu Yi, The First Frost documents the decade-long romance between Sang Yan and Wen Yifan. Despite becoming close friends in high school and agreeing to attend university together, Wen Yifan breaks the promise, leaving Sang Yan questioning their relationship for years. Their reunion is bittersweet yet provides the leads with the new opportunity to say their unsaid words, feel the unfelt love, and truly be together.
The structure of each episode is unique and appealing, as it starts with flashbacks that dive into scenes that molded the leads into who they are today, and end with scenes in Sang Yan’s perspective. The beginning flashback ends with a timeline that documents how many days the leads have known each other for, as well as an unfinished sentence that is completed at the end of the episode. The novel is written in Wen Yifan’s perspective, an aspect that the drama maintained. While some have expressed disappointment over the supposed imbalance between the leads’ efforts into their relationship, I would argue that Sang Yan and Wen Yifan’s romance is one built off of immense mutual respect and care. However, Sang Yan plays a pivotal role as the sunshine that melts the frost. Growing up in a successful family that has showered him with love, he aims to do the same with Yifan. One of my favorite quotes from the drama is Wen Yifan’s response after the nagging Mu Chengyun asks, “Has he (Sang Yan) ever confessed to you?” to which she answers, “He treats me so well that it’s like he’s confessing to me everyday.” The way both leads treasure one another is the sweetest thing ever. We also see Wen Yifan’s outpouring of love towards Sang Yan, the immense worry she has for his safety as she regains confidence in herself.
ꨄ ADAPTATION------------
While TFF is set in the same universe as Hidden Love, the timeline between the two dramas is slightly different. There was much debate over the leading roles of the drama adaptation, especially among Chinese netizens, as the original web novel is extremely popular. When the lead casting was announced to be Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan, the news received extremely mixed reviews. Never having watched Zhang Ruonan in a drama before and looking forward to another Bai Jingting hit, I dived into the first few episodes of TFF with curiosity and basic expectations (coupled with excitement after having watched cute Hidden Love). 10 episodes in, I could simply not imagine another pairing embodying Sang Yan and Wen Yifan as remarkably as Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan. As with all novel adaptations, whether shows or movies, it’s impossible for the entire progression to remain the exact ‘same,’ and quite unrealistic. Having read the novel, I was pleasantly surprised by how true to the original story the drama was, down to the small details. Despite certain scenes that may have fared more preferably if aligned with the original plot, the overall story was well-paced and sprinkled in the sweetest scenes at the perfect times. Given the nature of the leads and their history together, their reunion starts off slow, but their relationship and romance quickly picks up from there.
ꨄ SECOND COUPLE------------
When it comes to the second lead couple (portrayed by Chen Haosen and Zhang Miaoyi), the leads’ best friends, they were certainly cute, but I couldn’t feel much chemistry that kept me on my toes. Perhaps this is because they have a much shorter history than the leads, having known each other for much less time. However, much of their screen time together was partially overshadowed by the grandparents arc, which quickly turned dull IMO and took away screen time from both couples that could have been utilized to better develop and expand on their relationships. However, given the time allotted to side characters, I do have to say that Sang Yan and Wen Yifan’s relationship was developed very well.
I’d also like to take a moment to address the drama relationship between TFF and Hidden Love. While established in the same universe and both dramas have the same characters, a major concern among Hidden Love fans was the total change in casting. While I greatly enjoyed Ma Boqian’s portrayal of Sang Yan, an annoying older brother, Bai Jingting fully embodies the other side to Sang Yan, the composed yet loving man who silently stayed at the side of the only girl he has loved, and the only girl he will ever love. Given that Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan weren’t present in Hidden Love, it makes no sense that Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan would even make a cameo in TFF. Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu are also not a main focal point in TFF, and I personally enjoyed watching the bantering interactions between the Sang siblings, as well as the strong bromance throughout. Liu Chutian and Wu Yuheng were satisfactory as Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu. If the connection between these two Zhu Yi romances does capture your attention, however, you may or may not have noticed Sang Zhi’s phone case in both series, which have been the same.
ꨄ ACTING------------
As mentioned before, Chu Yuning did brilliantly casting his lead roles. I’ve watched Bai Jingting a few years ago in Reset and later in historical dramas, but he really brings out another extraordinary aspect to his acting in TFF. There’s such an obvious difference in emotions that Bai Jingting carries in his eyes. The eye candy is such a plus (and even Bai Jingting himself said that TFF captured him at his handsomest lol), but it is clear that Bai Jingting is the perfect Sang Yan.
Going back to watch the lead’s reunion scene after six years in Jia Ban (Sang Yan’s restaurant), you can see the sadness and longing in Sang Yan’s eyes, and the disbelief and denial on Wen Yifan’s face. The chemistry between Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan subtly increases, and if I could say so myself, this pairing is absolutely perfect, and just the couple we needed in the Cdrama romance world. The crying scenes also particularly stood out to me; The leads poured their heart and soul into their roles, allowing the viewer to feel the pain they have felt over the past decade and feel that same hatred towards the antagonists.
ꨄ CHARACTER GROWTH------------
The First Frost also effectively touches upon a very delicate topic. In the face of her father and grandmother’s death, Wen Yifan no longer has anyone in her life besides Sang Yan who really cares for her (with the exception of her best friend Zhong Siqiao, who is truly the sweetest), and even Sang Yan is far away from her, unaware of her situation. As a teenage girl with no adult family member to protect her from the threats of harassment, she is left to fend for herself. Her experience parallels those of many women in real life. The nuances in Zhang Ruonan’s facial expressions reflected that of Wen Yifan’s past experiences, encouraging sympathy and admiration for her personal growth. As the drama progresses, we witness Wen Yifan’s transformation: She starts standing up for herself, and later, others with similar grievances. She ‘rediscovers’ ballet, something so dear to her. She addresses her strained relationship with her mother. And of course, she gains the confidence to reach out to Sang Yan. I simply cannot express how much I adore Zhang Ruonan in this role. Her acting was just so realistic, from the nights of sleepwalking to Wen Yifan’s cute, bubbly moments. She nailed it all.
ꨄ PRODUCTION------------
The editing and filming aspects are also top-notch. Chu Yuning and his team absolutely found the best angles and lighting for their shots, capturing the leads in the best atmosphere possible. Filmed mostly in Chongqing, the audience was able to admire the cityscape and beautiful modern culture, from the trains that ran through tall buildings to serene night scenes strewn with fireworks and lights. The transitions were also seamless, allowing for the best-quality watching experience and satisfaction.
ꨄ OST------------
When it comes to the OST, I have to say that there are not that many Cdramas that can compare to the quality of these songs. We have well-written lyrics, a line of talented singers, and catchy tunes. Whether it’s “Willful” by Mayday, a song filled with strength and determination, or the dreamy “Like a Sunny Day, Like a Rainy Day” by Silence Wang, there’s a song for every scene. And by every scene, I really mean it. I fell in love at first sight with the OST the way Sang Yan did with Wen Yifan:
“Willful” - Mayday: Theme Song
“Like a Sunny Day, Like a Rainy Day” - Silence Wang: Romance Song
“Late” - Zhang Bichen: Past Pain Song
“Serenade” - Mao Buyi: Self-Healing Song
“It’s You” - Li Yuchun: Ending Song
“My Dear” - Zhang Zhenhao: Reunion Song
“The Invisible Man” - Bai Jingting: Waiting Song
“I’ve Never Liked Anyone Except You” - Zhang Lei + Fine Band: Longing Song
“Everything” - Zhang Ruonan + Zhang Miaoyi: Friendship Song
“Look at Me” - Yan Yidan: Heartwarming Song
“I Want To Quietly Slip Into Your Soul” - Xiao Bingzhi: Protection Song
“There Is You Amidst Raindrops” - Chen Kexin: Memory Song
“Stubborn” - Sandee Chan: Heartbeat Song
“Crush” - Chen Haosen: Adoration Song
This drama has carved a special place in my heart with its moments filled with love, acceptance, growth and resilience. There are so many admirable traits in both leads, and their love story will give you butterflies in your stomach until the very last episode, the cutest little ending that marks the continuation of their happiness together.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ “Besides me, there will be many people who love you.” - Sang Yan
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ “Love is…becoming each other’s light.” - Episode 31
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ “It’s okay. The boy you like will also think that you were so brave. He’ll thank you for protecting yourself.” - Wen Yifan
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ “Tell me, were you sent down by my dad to be good to me?” - Wen Yifan
“No, I willingly do so.” - Sang Yan
ꨄ OVERVIEW------------
Adapted from the novel of the same name by Zhu Yi, The First Frost documents the decade-long romance between Sang Yan and Wen Yifan. Despite becoming close friends in high school and agreeing to attend university together, Wen Yifan breaks the promise, leaving Sang Yan questioning their relationship for years. Their reunion is bittersweet yet provides the leads with the new opportunity to say their unsaid words, feel the unfelt love, and truly be together.
The structure of each episode is unique and appealing, as it starts with flashbacks that dive into scenes that molded the leads into who they are today, and end with scenes in Sang Yan’s perspective. The beginning flashback ends with a timeline that documents how many days the leads have known each other for, as well as an unfinished sentence that is completed at the end of the episode. The novel is written in Wen Yifan’s perspective, an aspect that the drama maintained. While some have expressed disappointment over the supposed imbalance between the leads’ efforts into their relationship, I would argue that Sang Yan and Wen Yifan’s romance is one built off of immense mutual respect and care. However, Sang Yan plays a pivotal role as the sunshine that melts the frost. Growing up in a successful family that has showered him with love, he aims to do the same with Yifan. One of my favorite quotes from the drama is Wen Yifan’s response after the nagging Mu Chengyun asks, “Has he (Sang Yan) ever confessed to you?” to which she answers, “He treats me so well that it’s like he’s confessing to me everyday.” The way both leads treasure one another is the sweetest thing ever. We also see Wen Yifan’s outpouring of love towards Sang Yan, the immense worry she has for his safety as she regains confidence in herself.
ꨄ ADAPTATION------------
While TFF is set in the same universe as Hidden Love, the timeline between the two dramas is slightly different. There was much debate over the leading roles of the drama adaptation, especially among Chinese netizens, as the original web novel is extremely popular. When the lead casting was announced to be Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan, the news received extremely mixed reviews. Never having watched Zhang Ruonan in a drama before and looking forward to another Bai Jingting hit, I dived into the first few episodes of TFF with curiosity and basic expectations (coupled with excitement after having watched cute Hidden Love). 10 episodes in, I could simply not imagine another pairing embodying Sang Yan and Wen Yifan as remarkably as Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan. As with all novel adaptations, whether shows or movies, it’s impossible for the entire progression to remain the exact ‘same,’ and quite unrealistic. Having read the novel, I was pleasantly surprised by how true to the original story the drama was, down to the small details. Despite certain scenes that may have fared more preferably if aligned with the original plot, the overall story was well-paced and sprinkled in the sweetest scenes at the perfect times. Given the nature of the leads and their history together, their reunion starts off slow, but their relationship and romance quickly picks up from there.
ꨄ SECOND COUPLE------------
When it comes to the second lead couple (portrayed by Chen Haosen and Zhang Miaoyi), the leads’ best friends, they were certainly cute, but I couldn’t feel much chemistry that kept me on my toes. Perhaps this is because they have a much shorter history than the leads, having known each other for much less time. However, much of their screen time together was partially overshadowed by the grandparents arc, which quickly turned dull IMO and took away screen time from both couples that could have been utilized to better develop and expand on their relationships. However, given the time allotted to side characters, I do have to say that Sang Yan and Wen Yifan’s relationship was developed very well.
I’d also like to take a moment to address the drama relationship between TFF and Hidden Love. While established in the same universe and both dramas have the same characters, a major concern among Hidden Love fans was the total change in casting. While I greatly enjoyed Ma Boqian’s portrayal of Sang Yan, an annoying older brother, Bai Jingting fully embodies the other side to Sang Yan, the composed yet loving man who silently stayed at the side of the only girl he has loved, and the only girl he will ever love. Given that Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan weren’t present in Hidden Love, it makes no sense that Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan would even make a cameo in TFF. Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu are also not a main focal point in TFF, and I personally enjoyed watching the bantering interactions between the Sang siblings, as well as the strong bromance throughout. Liu Chutian and Wu Yuheng were satisfactory as Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu. If the connection between these two Zhu Yi romances does capture your attention, however, you may or may not have noticed Sang Zhi’s phone case in both series, which have been the same.
ꨄ ACTING------------
As mentioned before, Chu Yuning did brilliantly casting his lead roles. I’ve watched Bai Jingting a few years ago in Reset and later in historical dramas, but he really brings out another extraordinary aspect to his acting in TFF. There’s such an obvious difference in emotions that Bai Jingting carries in his eyes. The eye candy is such a plus (and even Bai Jingting himself said that TFF captured him at his handsomest lol), but it is clear that Bai Jingting is the perfect Sang Yan.
Going back to watch the lead’s reunion scene after six years in Jia Ban (Sang Yan’s restaurant), you can see the sadness and longing in Sang Yan’s eyes, and the disbelief and denial on Wen Yifan’s face. The chemistry between Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan subtly increases, and if I could say so myself, this pairing is absolutely perfect, and just the couple we needed in the Cdrama romance world. The crying scenes also particularly stood out to me; The leads poured their heart and soul into their roles, allowing the viewer to feel the pain they have felt over the past decade and feel that same hatred towards the antagonists.
ꨄ CHARACTER GROWTH------------
The First Frost also effectively touches upon a very delicate topic. In the face of her father and grandmother’s death, Wen Yifan no longer has anyone in her life besides Sang Yan who really cares for her (with the exception of her best friend Zhong Siqiao, who is truly the sweetest), and even Sang Yan is far away from her, unaware of her situation. As a teenage girl with no adult family member to protect her from the threats of harassment, she is left to fend for herself. Her experience parallels those of many women in real life. The nuances in Zhang Ruonan’s facial expressions reflected that of Wen Yifan’s past experiences, encouraging sympathy and admiration for her personal growth. As the drama progresses, we witness Wen Yifan’s transformation: She starts standing up for herself, and later, others with similar grievances. She ‘rediscovers’ ballet, something so dear to her. She addresses her strained relationship with her mother. And of course, she gains the confidence to reach out to Sang Yan. I simply cannot express how much I adore Zhang Ruonan in this role. Her acting was just so realistic, from the nights of sleepwalking to Wen Yifan’s cute, bubbly moments. She nailed it all.
ꨄ PRODUCTION------------
The editing and filming aspects are also top-notch. Chu Yuning and his team absolutely found the best angles and lighting for their shots, capturing the leads in the best atmosphere possible. Filmed mostly in Chongqing, the audience was able to admire the cityscape and beautiful modern culture, from the trains that ran through tall buildings to serene night scenes strewn with fireworks and lights. The transitions were also seamless, allowing for the best-quality watching experience and satisfaction.
ꨄ OST------------
When it comes to the OST, I have to say that there are not that many Cdramas that can compare to the quality of these songs. We have well-written lyrics, a line of talented singers, and catchy tunes. Whether it’s “Willful” by Mayday, a song filled with strength and determination, or the dreamy “Like a Sunny Day, Like a Rainy Day” by Silence Wang, there’s a song for every scene. And by every scene, I really mean it. I fell in love at first sight with the OST the way Sang Yan did with Wen Yifan:
“Willful” - Mayday: Theme Song
“Like a Sunny Day, Like a Rainy Day” - Silence Wang: Romance Song
“Late” - Zhang Bichen: Past Pain Song
“Serenade” - Mao Buyi: Self-Healing Song
“It’s You” - Li Yuchun: Ending Song
“My Dear” - Zhang Zhenhao: Reunion Song
“The Invisible Man” - Bai Jingting: Waiting Song
“I’ve Never Liked Anyone Except You” - Zhang Lei + Fine Band: Longing Song
“Everything” - Zhang Ruonan + Zhang Miaoyi: Friendship Song
“Look at Me” - Yan Yidan: Heartwarming Song
“I Want To Quietly Slip Into Your Soul” - Xiao Bingzhi: Protection Song
“There Is You Amidst Raindrops” - Chen Kexin: Memory Song
“Stubborn” - Sandee Chan: Heartbeat Song
“Crush” - Chen Haosen: Adoration Song
This drama has carved a special place in my heart with its moments filled with love, acceptance, growth and resilience. There are so many admirable traits in both leads, and their love story will give you butterflies in your stomach until the very last episode, the cutest little ending that marks the continuation of their happiness together.
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ “Besides me, there will be many people who love you.” - Sang Yan
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ “Love is…becoming each other’s light.” - Episode 31
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ “It’s okay. The boy you like will also think that you were so brave. He’ll thank you for protecting yourself.” - Wen Yifan
˚ʚ♡ɞ˚ “Tell me, were you sent down by my dad to be good to me?” - Wen Yifan
“No, I willingly do so.” - Sang Yan
Was this review helpful to you?
