The First Frost

The First Frost is a 2025 Chinese romantic television series starring Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan. The plot is adapted from the Chinese web novel of the same name by Zhu Yi. On 18 February 2025, it was released on Youku and Netflix worldwide. It is about two former high school classmates who reunite after years and accidentally share the same apartment. It delves into the complexities of love, longing, trauma and healing. On 15 November 2025, the Chinese animation First Frost was announced on Bilibili.
On 23 August 2025, the series' two episodes were screened for 91 minutes at the 30th Busan International Film Festival. It sets a record by exceeding 10,000 'Popularity Heat Index' points within 2 days of its release on Youku. On 27 February 2025, it was ranked 6th in 'Netflix Top TV Shows Worldwide', and has set the record for the highest ranked C-drama in 'Netflix Global' daily ranking history. It was ranked in the S+ Tier i.e. 'Top Performing Shows' on Yunhe Chart.

Plot

Wen Yifan accidentally runs into Sang Yan at a bar after six years. The two were high school classmates and had a crush on each other. However, she was driven to reject his feelings, causing them to drift apart. To avoid the awkwardness, they pretend not to know each other. Due to circumstances, they are compelled 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 past family trauma and she finds herself in Sang Yan's room, which further intertwines their lives.

Soundtrack

On 31 December 2024, Taiwanese rock band Mayday released an official OST and music video for the series. "The Invisible Man" sung by Bai Jingting, originally sung by Stefanie Sun from her 2005 album A [Perfect Day (album)|A Perfect Day], was listed among 'Top 10 Songs' on streaming platforms. At the series finale, Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan performed a piano rendition of the song "Willful".

Title	Artist	Lyrics/Composer	Channel	Length
Willful	Mayday	Ashin	B'in Music	4:40
I'm So Into You	Xiao Bingchih	Xiao Bingchih	B'in Music	4:24
Like A Sunny Day, Like A Rainy Day	Silence Wang	Silence Wang	Dreamer Music	3:56
The Invisible Man	Bai Jingting	Xiaohan, Eric Ng	Dreamer Music	4:45
Serenade	Mao Buyi	Mao Buyi	Dreamer Music	4:06
It's You	Li Yuchun	Li Ziming	Official Channel	5:21
Everything	Zhang Ruonan & Zhang Miaoyi	Jesse Deng	Official Channel	3:40
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	Zhuang Zhuheng	Official Channel	4:15
My Dear	Zhang Zhenhao	Li Zhizi	Dreamer Music	4:03
There Is You Amidst Raindrops	Chen Kexin	Crispy Band	Official Channel	4:00

Reception

Director Qu Youning joined the post-screening exchange at the 30th Busan International Film Festival, South Korea. Before its release, the series collected over 8M reservations on Youku. It surpassed billions of views across Douyin and Xiaohongshu; set the record for contemporary dramas, and was named the 'Hottest Youth Idol C-Drama'. Its popularity led to its first merchandise pop-up store in Taiwan.
During its release, Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan were ranked 'Top C-Drama Artists in the International Market'. Bai's role as Sang Yan was ranked 1st on the 'Character Index List'.

Critics reviews

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 dual perspective storytelling, adds a compelling layer to the narrative, showing how 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 highlights subtle expressions, 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." India Today stated that "The First Frost delivers it all, with stellar performances, breathtaking cinematography, and a script that captures weight of regret. A drama that lingers long after the credits." English Jagran stated that "The First Frost leaves lasting impact worldwide, with its thought provoking storytelling, poetic visuals, 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." India Forum states that "The First Frost is a gripping and evocative statement on how mental abuse in teenage affects people. From being too self-reliant to dealing with constant low self-esteem, it touches a raw nerve." Mashable rated 4/5 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, new insights that raise awareness on sensitive issues."
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." Newspoint appreciated stating that "The series deals with the aftermath of discovering love in a painful and gut-wrenching way. Its cinematography doesn't just display sentiments, it makes you feel them." Dramadaze highlights that "The First Frost is the perfect balance between heartfelt romance and visual storytelling. It’s a love story that feels both grand and personal, pulling you in with its sincerity."

Production

The First Frost is produced by Wajijiwa, Youku Information Technology 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 the series was undergoing script polishing and content development. It also has a Manhua adaption named Eternal Love. On 24 March 2024, the initial posters were released. From February to June 2024, the filming took place in Chongqing. On 27 June 2024, the series' first official teaser was released. In December 2024, the series got its airing permit for 32 episodes on Youku.

Ratings

The series topped Yunhe with 50M daily views, Dengta with 70M views, 19.7% market share, and led other platforms.

The represents the lowest ratings and the represents the highest ratings in China.
Based on the average audience share per day.