LayarHijau – The Early Spring (早春晴朗) has reached a major milestone on Weibo, with the drama’s official account claiming that the series starring Jing Boran and Sun Qian became the most popular drama on Weibo in 2026. In a September 19 post, the official account said The Early Spring generated 38.2 million interactions on Weibo, accumulated 1,323 trending topics across Weibo’s two trending lists, and saw its drama index surpass 100 million within just three days.
In the post, the official The Early Spring account described the achievement as becoming a “popular Weibo drama.” It also thanked viewers for their support and for all the discussions surrounding the series throughout its run.
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“Every bit of enthusiasm and every discussion makes this encounter even more precious,” the official account wrote in its message to viewers.
The account added that being seen, accompanied, and cherished by viewers was the drama’s greatest fortune. It concluded with a wish that the days ahead would always be filled with the joy of early spring.
The Weibo achievement was announced after The Early Spring completed its 24-episode main run on September 16. The drama follows Luan Nian, played by Jing Boran, and Shang Zhitao, played by Sun Qian, who are reunited after sharing a history in the past.
Special Episode Released After the Finale
Although the 24 main episodes have concluded, viewers have received additional content from The Early Spring. On September 19, a special “high-sweet” version episode was released following the finale.
The additional episode has been referred to by some viewers as “Episode 25.” However, it is a special episode outside the 24-episode main run rather than part of the drama’s previously announced regular episode count.
The special episode features additional moments between Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao after the main story comes to an end. Its release also kept discussions surrounding The Early Spring active on Weibo after the drama aired its finale.
The Early Spring Sequel Officially Announced
As the drama wrapped up its run, news of a continuation was also officially announced. On September 16, Youku introduced Midsummer Clear and Bright (盛夏晴朗) as a sequel to The Early Spring as part of its lineup of dramas planned for 2027.
Midsummer Clear and Bright literally means “bright midsummer.” This is a literal translation and should not be treated as a confirmed official English title unless the production team announces one.
Youku also released a concept poster for Midsummer Clear and Bright. The sequel is set to reunite the main creative team behind The Early Spring. Qianyu Studio will again be involved in production, while Gao Xiaoxian is returning as the screenwriter. Youku has also stated that the drama will stream exclusively on its platform.
The concept poster for Midsummer Clear and Bright features a Chinese tagline that can be translated as, “The hustle and bustle for me, special affection for you. Summer brings the breeze, and the world is bright.”
Although the sequel has been officially announced, Youku has not yet revealed its storyline or main cast. There is therefore no official confirmation yet that Jing Boran and Sun Qian will reprise their roles as Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao in Midsummer Clear and Bright.
With its 24-episode main run completed, a special episode released, and a sequel announced for 2027, The Early Spring still has more to offer viewers beyond the conclusion of its main story.
