The 2025 Chinese drama The First Frost has captured significant attention, offering viewers a compelling narrative centered around the lives of Sang Yan and Wen Yifan, portrayed by Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan, respectively.
As an adaptation of Zhu Yi’s popular web novel First Frost, this drama serves as a prequel to the acclaimed 2023 series Hidden Love. The latter is inspired by Zhu Yi’s earlier work, Secretly, Secretly; But Unable to Hide It, which follows the romantic escapades of Sang Yan’s sister, Sang Zhi.
Crossover and Independence: The Connection Between Hidden Love and The First Frost
The relationship between Sang Yan and Wen Yifan exists independently of the narrative involving Sang Zhi and her love interest, Duan Jiaxu, making it easy for viewers to engage with The First Frost without having seen Hidden Love. The events depicted in The First Frost unfold before those in Hidden Love, centering on the elder brother Sang Yan.
The drama traces the beginnings of Sang Yan and Wen Yifan’s relationship back to their high school years, where they first met at the age of 15. At this time, Sang Zhi is significantly younger, just around 10 to 11 years old due to the 4-5 year age gap with her brother. The storyline follows Sang Yan and Wen Yifan as their paths cross in high school and later reunite during crucial life moments.
In contrast, Hidden Love—which stars Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan as Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu—begins several years later, when Sang Yan befriends Duan Jiaxu at university. This relationship brings him frequently back to the Sang household, where he eventually catches the attention of 14-year-old Sang Zhi, who develops a crush on him.
It’s noteworthy that First Frost was written prior to Secretly, Secretly; But Unable to Hide It, prompting Zhu Yi to shift focus to the romance between Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu for the latter narrative. Although Hidden Love was adapted first into a drama, its success subsequently led to the high-production spinoff, The First Frost.
This adaptation process saw significant casting changes. Victor Ma, who originally played Sang Yan in Hidden Love, has been replaced by Bai Jingting for The First Frost, alongside the introduction of Zhang Ruonan as Wen Yifan. Additionally, the roles of Sang Zhi and Duan Jiaxu were recast, now played by Liu Chutian and Wu Yuheng, respectively. The prequel introduces new characters such as Zhong Siqiao as Zhang Miaoyi and Su Haoan as Edward Chen, who were not featured in Hidden Love.
While Hidden Love primarily captures Sang Zhi’s perspective, The First Frost delves deep into Sang Yan’s background, which was only lightly brushed upon in its predecessor. This narrative shift reveals vital aspects of Sang Yan’s character, exposing his past heartbreaks and the emotional complexities tied to his relationship with Wen Yifan.
For viewers familiar with Hidden Love, The First Frost provides a richer, more layered exploration of Sang Yan. In Hidden Love, he appears as a fun-loving older brother. However, in The First Frost, his character is portrayed with a depth that showcases the emotional scars he carries from his past with Wen Yifan.
Connections between the two series are apparent through specific moments. In episode 13 of Hidden Love, Sang Yan implies that he has a female admirer, which resonates with upcoming events in The First Frost, where Wen Yifan actively pursues him upon acknowledging her feelings.
Another impactful scene occurs during a wedding attended by the Sang siblings and Duan Jiaxu. Episode 13 of Hidden Love showcases early moments of their affection, while The First Frost extends this narrative by revealing that Wen Yifan, arriving late and now involved with Sang Yan, contributes to significant developments in their relationship.
Furthermore, in episode 20 of Hidden Love, Sang Yan rushes to Yehi University upon discovering that Sang Zhi is dating an older man. This same university setting reappears in episode 24 of The First Frost, where Sang Yan’s confrontation with Jiaxu is heightened by his emotional state. Notably, a black bracelet with a snowflake charm worn by Sang Yan is identified as a gift from Wen Yifan, symbolizing her nickname “first frost.”
While The First Frost draws on several subtle references to Hidden Love, it distinctly diverges in tone. Hidden Love is characterized by its lighthearted charm, focusing on youthful romance. Conversely, The First Frost explores deeper themes such as emotional healing, past traumas, and the complexities of relationships, particularly the struggles Wen Yifan faces, which impact her bond with Sang Yan.
In summary, while The First Frost maintains a relationship with Hidden Love, it stands alone as a self-contained narrative that broadens the drama universe for its audience. Thus, watching Hidden Love first is not a prerequisite; however, fans will find the spinoff enriching, providing in-depth character development and nostalgic callbacks.
With its intricate storylines and emotional depth, The First Frost presents itself as a captivating drama that complements the narrative landscape of Hidden Love.
Currently, all 32 episodes of The First Frost are available for streaming on Youku, while Netflix offers a selection of 28 episodes.