LayarHijau.com — Although the drama The First Frost ended some time ago, its impact continues to linger in the hearts of fans. Many are still unable to move on from the chemistry between Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan. Their on-screen connection sparked the formation of CP (couple pairing) fan groups who believe the two may have fallen in love during filming.
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Previously, LayarHijau reported on CP fans’ theories about the alleged romantic relationship between Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan. To this day, these fans continue to discuss what they believe are subtle clues or “coded messages” suggesting the two are dating. However, it’s important to note that these speculations come solely from fans and have not been officially confirmed by either party.
In China, May 20th is celebrated as a local version of Valentine’s Day. This is because the numbers “520” are pronounced similarly to wǒ ài nǐ (“I love you”) in Mandarin. On this day, netizens commonly take the opportunity to express their love. According to Upmedia, CP fans once again turned their attention to Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan, claiming the two dropped sweet hints via social media.
At exactly 5:20 PM, Zhang Ruonan posted a photo of herself wearing a blue T-shirt from Bai Jingting’s streetwear brand, GOODBAI. In one of the pictures, she is seen winking. Interestingly, the same shirt was previously worn by her during a four-hand piano duet with Bai Jingting in a promotional video.
Not long after, around 6:00 PM, Bai Jingting also posted a photo of himself winking—though with the opposite eye. CP fans interpreted this as a subtle, indirect response to Zhang Ruonan’s post. According to Upmedia, some even said the photos looked like matching couple profile pictures that complement each other.
What sent fans into a frenzy was another photo Bai Jingting uploaded—a pair of Ruddy Shelducks walking side-by-side by a river. These birds are known to symbolize loyal and lifelong love, and many fans took this as another romantic gesture directed at Zhang Ruonan.
At the time, Zhang Ruonan was in Chongqing for an event she had been attending since May 18. Her official studio also celebrated 520 by sharing nine stunning photos of her in a car en route to the event. In one of the images, she is seen winking with her right eye, further fueling the fans’ belief in these “love signals.”
Another moment that caught fans’ attention was Bai Jingting’s dinner at THE HALL, a luxury restaurant owned by Louis Vuitton in Chengdu. He dined on a menu called “Four Hands Duet” by two chefs—something fans associated with the couple’s piano duet performance.
One of the desserts reportedly included strawberries, blueberries (a favorite fruit of Zhang Ruonan’s character in the drama), and a white hill-shaped cake. Fans interpreted this as a symbolic nod to “Mount Jingting” (a play on Bai Jingting’s surname), and the color white—since “Bai” means white in Mandarin.
This isn’t the first time Bai Jingting has updated his Instagram shortly after Zhang Ruonan posted something. The “coded messages” on 520 only further solidified CP fans’ belief that their relationship goes beyond the screen. Still, it’s worth emphasizing that all of this remains speculative and has not been confirmed by either celebrity.
So, what do you think about these fan claims? Are these truly signs of a secret romance, or just overanalyzed coincidences?
