LayarHijau – Zhang Ruonan is enjoying one of the brightest moments of her career. After starring in The First Frost (難哄) alongside Bai Jingting, her popularity surged dramatically. She became a Givenchy brand ambassador, appeared at the Hermès show, and secured major new projects, including Live Up to Your Youth (冬去春来), the latest drama by acclaimed director Zheng Xiaolong. This year has truly marked a significant turning point for the actress.
On November 14, Zhang Ruonan hosted a birthday livestream to celebrate turning 29. What began as a lighthearted event gradually turned emotional when she started reflecting on the major changes in her life. She shared that much of her success this year stemmed from the broadcast of The First Frost. However, some observers noticed that she appeared hesitant when she was about to mention the drama by name.
Their speculation arose because, during the livestream, Zhang Ruonan repeatedly glanced toward the staff off-camera, seemed to hold back her words, and even whispered, “Should I say it?” before finally naming the drama. Taiwanese media suggested that this hesitation might come from her concern that the mention of the drama would once again reignite past rumors linking her to Bai Jingting. As she expressed her gratitude, her eyes welled with tears, moving many viewers.
Zhang Ruonan made her acting debut in the film Cry Me a Sad River and has long been known for her gentle and serene presence. Although her talent was evident early on, her career advanced steadily rather than explosively—until The First Frost became the project that propelled her into much broader public recognition. As the “sister series” to Hidden Love, starring Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan, the drama attracted notable attention from the casting stage to its broadcast. Many fans of the original novel praised Zhang Ruonan’s portrayal of Wen Yifan, calling her performance delicate, nuanced, and emotionally resonant.
The drama’s success also fueled a wave of enthusiasm among CP (couple pairing) fans of The First Frost. Even though Zhang Ruonan and Bai Jingting have maintained a noticeable distance in public after the drama ended, CP fans continue to hope for interactions between them. Some were even stirred into excitement after spotting what they believed to be matching Cartier rings and necklaces, as well as social media posts they interpreted as subtle signals. To this day, however, neither actor has offered any official response, leaving the topic within the realm of fan interpretation.
During her birthday livestream, Zhang Ruonan also discussed her new music project. She released the song Ding Ge as a gift to her fans. Although she is widely known for having an unsteady singing voice, she trained with a vocal coach to deliver the best result possible. When a viewer asked whether she would ever hold a concert, she laughed and replied, “I won’t be having a concert. I’m self-aware. This song was polished by a whole team of sound editors. If I sing live without effects, all their hard work would be ruined.”
Toward the end of the livestream, Zhang Ruonan shared a simple birthday wish: she hopes to stay happy in the days to come. Her quiet, humble wish touched many fans, who now look forward to seeing what the rising star will accomplish next.
