LayarHijau– The pure love drama The First Frost (难哄), starring Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan, has achieved remarkable success. According to data from Lighthouse and Dengta, the drama ranked first among online dramas in the first half of 2025 based on total viewership, recording 1.751 billion views. It outperformed other popular idol dramas such as Moonlight Mystique (白月梵星) starring Bai Lu, The Demon Hunter’s Romance (度若无忧) starring Ren Jialun, and The Prisoner of Beauty (折腰) starring Liu Yuning.
Excluding dramas that were simultaneously broadcast on TV and online platforms, such as The Legend of Zang Hai (沧海传) starring Xiao Zhan, The First Frost officially became the top-performing streaming drama in the first half of 2025. Furthermore, according to Maoyan data, the show also ranked first among sweet romance dramas with 1.433 billion effective views.
The First Frost is adapted from a popular IP by author Zhu Yi and is considered a sister work to Hidden Love, which starred Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan. It tells the story of Sang Yan (Bai Jingting) and Wen Yifan (Zhang Ruonan), two former high school classmates who unexpectedly reunite years later as roommates. While they initially keep their distance, their shared life gradually melts old barriers and draws them closer in an emotionally touching journey.
Both Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan received widespread praise for their performances. Their strong on-screen chemistry captivated audiences, while their emotional delivery brought authenticity to the nuanced relationship between the two leads, as reported by Upmedia.
For Bai Jingting, this success marks a significant comeback after a drop in public image due to a controversy at the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, where he was accused of intentionally taking the center position during a group performance. Now, his credibility as a leading actor has been reestablished. Meanwhile, Zhang Ruonan successfully shed her “cold stove” label, gaining 3.9 million new followers across platforms during the drama’s run.
Riding this wave of momentum, Bai Jingting is set to appear in the suspense drama Justifiable Defense (正当防卫), which will premiere on CCTV and iQIYI in July 2025. He will co-star alongside acclaimed actors Gao Ye and Zhang Luyi and take on a villainous role for the first time in his career — a bold new direction. In addition, his other project Mobius (also known as Sleepless Days), co-starring Janice Man, has completed production and is awaiting broadcast. He is also preparing to film the upcoming crime drama Criminal Police Time (刑警时间).
With a packed schedule and growing public enthusiasm, Bai Jingting is solidifying his position as one of the most sought-after actors in the Chinese drama industry today.
