Zhang Ruonan recently made a guest appearance in Liu Shishi’s drama Love Pavilion. Her popularity has soared rapidly after starring in the hit idol drama The First Frost alongside Bai Jingting. The drama became a major success, propelling Zhang Ruonan into the spotlight.
Interestingly, Zhang Ruonan reunited with Victor Ma Boqian—who previously played Sang Yan, Sang Zhi’s older brother in Hidden Love—on the variety show Hello Saturday. In The First Frost, the role of Sang Yan was played by Bai Jingting. This collaboration was a dream come true for fans, where the Hidden Love version of Sang Yan met the The First Frost’s Wen Yifan. However, during the filming of the show, Zhang Ruonan and Ma Boqian often had playful quarrels, creating a humorous atmosphere. So frequent was their banter that Ma Boqian once exclaimed in frustration behind the scenes, “I know I’m not Bai Jingting, but there’s no need to be like this!” The clip of their backstage interaction recently went viral online, and Victor Ma’s comment had netizens laughing out loud, according to Upmedia.
In Hidden Love, Ma Boqian portrayed Sang Yan, the older brother of Sang Zhi (played by Zhao Lusi). Although he originally started as a singer, Victor Ma’s acting was quite natural in portraying siblings with Zhao Lusi, and their chemistry became a highlight for viewers. Thus, when The First Frost was cast, many fans hoped Victor Ma would reprise the role of Sang Yan. However, the production team chose Bai Jingting, whose looks and charm also received positive feedback from the public. Both versions of the character Sang Yan, portrayed by Ma Boqian and Bai Jingting, are considered to have their own unique qualities.
The strong on-screen chemistry between Zhang Ruonan and Bai Jingting in The First Frost created a large fanbase for their couple pairing (CP). Fans believed that the two had genuinely fallen in love during filming. To avoid misunderstandings that might give the wrong impression to their fans, Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan were very cautious about their public behavior.
In a previously discussed clip by LayarHijau, Victor Ma jokingly called himself the “fake version of Sang Yan,” causing Zhang Ruonan to burst out laughing. When Ma Boqian appeared wearing tight clothes at the beginning of the show, Zhang Ruonan immediately said, “I’ll blur you out later!” Ma Boqian, both annoyed and amused, replied, “It’s rare to see me, so be nice. I know I’m not Bai Jingting, but there’s no need to be like this!” This comment went viral and was met with laughter from netizens.
Zhang Ruonan quickly eased the tension by saying, “But you’re ‘Ma Yan’!” In other words, she acknowledged Victor Ma as his own version of Sang Yan and praised his performance as refreshing. Zhang Ruonan’s high emotional intelligence in handling the moment earned her praise. Victor Ma admitted that he once thought if he had acted alongside Zhang Ruonan in The First Frost, the vibe would have been very different. Zhang Ruonan laughed and said, “That would definitely be a comedy!”
Many viewers realize that when a drama gets a sequel or spin-off, the same character can be played by different actors and still succeed. Sang Yan in Hidden Love was played by Victor Ma, while in its sister drama The First Frost, the character was portrayed by Bai Jingting. Both actors received praise for their performances in their respective dramas.
The pairing of Zhang Ruonan and Victor Ma is said to have a funny chemistry that contrasts with the romantic vibe between Zhang Ruonan and Bai Jingting. Many have suggested that the two should collaborate in a new project, believing it would bring unique and exciting chemistry.
