# The First Frost

The First Frost (Chinese: 难哄) is a 2025 romantic Chinese television drama starring Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan. The plot is adapted from the Chinese novel of the same name by Zhu Yi, and is released on Youku and Netflix worldwide. It tells the story of two high school classmates' reunion, after long separation, when they accidentally rent the same apartment. It delves into the complexities of love, longing, trauma and healing.
The series received widespread acclaim, topping charts and setting many records, with the leads' chemistry and engaging storytelling earning positive reviews from audiences and critics. It achieved popularity in the national and international market. By 10 March 2025, it has exceeded 1.1B viewership in Youku, and become the 'Hottest Youth Idol C-drama' at the beginning of the year. It was ranked in the S+ Tier i.e. 'Top Performing Shows' category on Yunhe Data charts. On 27 February 2025, It was ranked 6th in Netflix's 'Top TV Show Worldwide', and has set a record for the highest ranked C-drama in Netflix global daily ranking history.

## Plot

Wen Yifan accidentally runs into Sang Yan at a bar after six years. The two were high school classmates and she once had a crush on him. However, she was forced to reject his feelings, causing them to drift apart. To avoid the awkwardness, they pretend not to know each other. They are then forced to confront each other when they end up sharing the same roof. The nature of their relationship changes, when Wen Yifan learns that she's sleepwalking again. Her condition escalates due to some past family trauma and she finds herself in Sang Yan's room, which further intertwines their lives.

## Cast

| Character | Cast | Notes |
| Sang Yan | Bai Jingting | Owner of Overtime Bar, team lead in a video game company and Yifan's high school crush |
| Wen Yifan | Zhang Ruonan | News reporter/journalist and Sang Yan's high school love |
| Zhong Siqiao | Zhang Miaoyi | Delivery girl, care services provider and Yifan's best friend |
| Su Haoan | Edward Chen | Rich co-owner of Overtime and Sang Yan's friend from high school days |
| Xiang Lang | Zhai Xiaowen | Yifan and Siqiao's childhood friend, has a crush on Yifan |
| Mu Chengyun | Yuan Ye | College student, intern in Yifan's team and has a crush on her |
| Zhao Yuandong | Feng Yunzhi | Yifan's mother |
| Wen Liangzhe | Zhao Xiaodong | Yifan's father |
| Zheng Kejia | Duan Xingyu | Yifan's stepsister, intern in Sang Yan's team |
| Che Yanqin | Kong Lin | Yifan's aunt |
| Che Xingde | Li Hongchen | Yanqin's brother |
| Zhang Wenhong | He Jiong | Highschool teacher for Sang Yan and Yifan |
| Li Ping | Deng Ying | Sang Yan's mother |
| Sang Rong | Wei Zixin | Sang Yan's father |
| Sang Zhi | Liu Chutian | Sang Yan's younger sister |
| Duan Jiaxu | Wu Yuheng | Sang Yan's college dormmate and friend |
| Jiang Ru | Paw Heeching | Su Haoan's grandmother |
| Su Haojia | Paul Chun | Su Haoan's grandfather |
| Uncle Ma | Zhang Shihong | Su Haoan's grandfather's caretaker |
| Su Tian | Chen Jianan | Pregnant lady and news editor, Yifan's colleague |
| Fu Zhuang | Zhang Keyuan | Reporting camera assistant, Yifan's colleague |
| Qian Wenhua | Fu Miao | News team lead |
| Wang Linlin | Suo Langmei Qi | Su Haoan's ex-girlfriend |

## Reception

The First Frost was one of the most anticipated series in 2025. The first poster of the main casts in character and the teaser were well received by the audience. Before its release, the series collected over 8 million reservations with its first look in the upcoming Youku romantic C-drama list, and was ranked 1st in the 'Top 5 Popularity List Drama'. It set a new record of reaching fastest 10K 'Popularity Heat Index' points within 2 days of its release, and was ranked 1st in 'Most Searched Romantic Show' within a week. During its release, Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan were ranked 'Top C- Drama artists in the Global Market'.
Gulf News praises stating that "The First Frost is a more mature, emotionally intense journey. Bai Jingting bringing a quiet intensity that makes Sang Yan's pain all the more palpable. Zhang Ruonan delivers a powerful performance as Wen Yifan, whose guarded nature hides layers of emotional turmoil. The emotional depth where every moment is loaded with meaningful, rather than grand romantic gestures. The dual-perspective storytelling, adds a compelling layer to the narrative, showing how perception and emotions shape their interactions." Indiatimes states that "The non-linear storytelling, seamlessly transitioning from their high-school desk to their now shared apartment, never confuses you. The visual aesthetic perfectly complements the theme of the drama. The thoughtful, slow pacing allows for an exploration of subtle expressions like stolen glances and unsaid words, portraying their untangled yet impactful history."
The Evrim Ağacı website stated that "The show dives deeply with emotion, centering on themes of heartbreak, longing, and healing. The initial episodes have delighted viewers, showcasing the commendable chemistry between leads, and expertly retaining the charm of the characters. It has garnered attention not only for its storyline but also for its well-received performances by the cast." India Today stated that the "The First Frost, the new C-drama delivers it all. With stellar performances, breathtaking cinematography, and a script that understands the weight of regret, it’s a drama that lingers in your mind long after the credits roll." English Jagran stated that "The First Frost leaves lasting impact worldwide, with its thought provoking storytelling, poetic visuals, emotional narratives and masterful character development."
GQ stated that the "This slow-burn romance is packed with unspoken love, youthful chemistry and strong emotions, unfolding in a joyous manner as destiny brings protagonist under the same roof." Mashable rated 4 out 5 stating that "The First Frost hits all the emotional and heart-fluttering beats, a bingeable C-drama. It’s a refreshing and deeply nice take on romance drama with new sensibilities that raise awareness on sensitive issues. Newspoint appreciated the storyline, cinematography and background details; it stated that "The series deals with the aftermath of discovering love in a painful and gut-wrenching way. It shows what it takes to find love and stay in it for as long as you live. Its cinematography doesn't just display sentiments, it makes you feel them."
Daily Tribune (Philippines) praised The First Frost stating that "It is a soul stirring and angsty masterpiece. It's a drama that stays with you long after the credits have rolled - a warm, lingering hug on the coldest of nights." India Forum states that "The First Frost is a gripping and evocative statement on how mental abuse in teens affects people. From being too self-reliant to dealing with constant low self-esteem, it touches a raw nerve."

## Soundtrack

On 31 December 2024, Taiwanese rock band Mayday released an official OST and music video for the series. This theme song gained 3M views in a month. "The Invisible Man" originally is from Stefanie Sun's 2005 album A Perfect Day.
| Title | Artist | Lyrics/Composer | Channel | Length |
| Willful Theme Song | Mayday | Ashin | B'in Music | 4:40 |
| Serenade | Mao Buyi | Mao Buyi | Dreamer Music | 4:06 |
| It's You Ending Song | Li Yuchun | Li Yuchun | Official Channel | 5:21 |
| Like A Sunny Day, Like A Rainy Day | Silence Wang | Silence Wang | Official Channel | 3:56 |
| The Invisible Man | Bai Jingting | Xiaohan, Huang Yunren | Dreamer Music | 4:45 |
| Everything | Zhang Ruonan & Zhang Miaoyi | Jesse Deng | Official Channel | 3:40 |
| I'm So Into You | Xiao Bingchih | Xiao Bingchih | B'in Music | 4:24 |
| Late | Zhang Bichen | Zhang Pengpeng | Official Channel | 4:25 |
| Stubborn | Sandee Chan | Sandee Chan | Official Channel | 3.23 |
| I’ve Never Liked Anyone Except You | Zhao Lei & Fine Band | Wang Tianfang, Huang Yueyang, Shen Mingli | Official Channel | 3:45 |
| Look at Me | Yan Yidan | Yan Yidan | Official Channel | 4:14 |
| Crush | Edward Chen Haosen | Zhuang Zhuheng | Official Channel | 4:15 |
| My Dear | Zhang Zhenhao | Li Zhizi | Official Channel | 4:03 |
| There Is You Amidst Raindrops | Chen Kexin | Crispy Band (Taiwanese) | Official Channel | 4:00 |

## Production

The First Frost is produced by Wajijiwa, Youku Information Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., and Hunan Galaxy Cool Entertainment Culture Media Co. Ltd. The production house issued an official statement on their Weibo account that a live adaptation of Zhu Yi's novel The First Frost will be made. In August 2023, the production house stated that the series is in the script polishing stage and they are working on the content. It also has a Manhua adaption named Eternal Love. On 24 March 2024, the initial posters were released, and it was announced that the series would be broadcast on Youku. On 27 June 2024, the series' first official teaser was released. From February to August 2024, the filming of the series was scheduled. In December 2024, the series got its airing permit for 32 episodes.

## Viewership ratings and ranking

The First Frost was top ranked series as per Yunhe Data Analytics with over 50M viewership per day, top ranked in Dengta with 69M viewership and 19.7% market share; topped various charts like Lighthouse, Aiman, Douyin, Maoyan, VLinkage and Datawin.
* The Orange number represents the lowest ratings and the Blue number represents the highest ratings in China.
| Day | Original Broadcast Date | Episode | Average Audience Share | National Ranking China |
| 1 | February 18, 2025 (2025-02-18) | 1-4 | 7.7% | 2 |
| 2 | February 19, 2025 (2025-02-19) | 5-6 | 13.2% | 1 |
| 3 | February 20, 2025 (2025-02-20) | 7-8 | 15.6% | 1 |
| 4 | February 21, 2025 (2025-02-21) | 9-10 | 18.5% | 1 |
| 5 | February 22, 2025 (2025-02-22) | 11 | 20.5% | 1 |
| 6 | February 23, 2025 (2025-02-23) | 12 | 19.4% | 1 |
| 7 | February 24, 2025 (2025-02-24) | 13-14 | 18.3% | 1 |
| 8 | February 25, 2025 (2025-02-25) | 15 | 17.7% | 1 |
| 9 | February 26, 2025 (2025-02-26) | 16 | 16.1% | 1 |
| 10 | February 28, 2025 (2025-02-28) | 17-18 | 18.1% | 1 |
| 11 | March 1, 2025 (2025-03-01) | 19 | 19.1% | 1 |
| 12 | March 2, 2025 (2025-03-02) | 20 | 18.4% | 1 |
| 13 | March 3, 2025 (2025-03-03) | 21 | 16.6% | 1 |
| 14 | March 4, 2025 (2025-03-04) | 22 | 16.1% | 1 |
| 15 | March 5, 2025 (2025-03-05) | 23 | 15.3% | 1 |
| 16 | March 7, 2025 (2025-03-07) | 24 | 13.4% | 1 |
| 17 | March 8, 2025 (2025-03-08) | 25-26 | 16.1% | 1 |
| 18 | March 9, 2025 (2025-03-09) | 27 | 18.1% | 1 |
| 19 | March 10, 2025 (2025-03-10) | 28 | | |
| 20 | March 14, 2025 (2025-03-14) | 29 | | |
| 21 | March 15, 2025 (2025-03-15) | 30 | | |
| 22 | March 16, 2025 (2025-03-16) | 31 | | |
| 23 | March 17, 2025 (2025-03-17) | 32 | | |
    ^1 Based on the average audience share per day (Yunhe Data)