"The First Frost" is a 32 episode cdrama that delivers an emotionally intense slow-burn romance between two former high school classmates. Starring Zhang Ruonan as Wen Yifan and Bai Jingting as Sang Yan, this cdrama follows their unexpected reunion six years after a painful separation that left both heartbroken. When they're forced to become roommates through a series of coincidences, they must navigate their complicated past while pretending to be strangers.
The Story
The First Frost tells the story of Wen Yifan and Sang Yan, two people who were high school classmates and had feelings for each other years ago, but life pulled them apart in the most painful way possible. The drama starts when they accidentally meet again at a bar after six years of no contact.
Back in high school, Wen Yifan and Sang Yan were deskmates who slowly developed feelings for each other. Sang Yan was popular and came from a loving, wealthy family, while Yifan was quiet and dealing with serious problems at home. Her father had died, her mother remarried, and she was living with a stepfamily that didn't want her around. Things got even worse when her stepfather's brother tried to assault her. When Yifan told her mother what happened, her mother didn't believe her and chose to side with her new family instead of protecting her own daughter. This betrayal broke Yifan's heart completely.
Because of all this trauma, Yifan felt like she had to protect Sang Yan from her messy, dangerous life. She was scared that her problems would hurt him or drag him down. So even though she had feelings for him too, she pushed him away and rejected him when he tried to get closer to her. She thought she was doing the right thing by keeping him safe, but it left both of them heartbroken.
Years later, when they meet again at the bar, they both pretend not to know each other because it's too awkward and painful. But fate has other plans. Through a series of coincidences, they end up having to share the same apartment as roommates. This forces them to face each other every day, even though they're both trying to act like strangers.
Living together brings back all their old feelings, but it also shows how much they've both changed. Yifan has become even more withdrawn and careful around people, especially men. She works as a news reporter, but she seems to float through life like she's barely there. She's been through even more trauma since high school - she was sexually harassed at her previous job, attacked at her old apartment, and seems to attract dangerous situations wherever she goes.
Sang Yan, on the other hand, is now a successful businessman who co-owns a restaurant and bar called "Overtime". He also works in the video game industry. He's still confident and popular, but there's a sadness about him that wasn't there before. He never got over losing Yifan, and seeing her again brings back all those feelings he tried to bury.
One of the most important parts of the story is when Yifan starts sleepwalking. This happens because of all the stress and trauma she's been carrying for years. During these episodes, she sometimes ends up in Sang Yan's room without remembering it. This creates both funny and touching moments, but it also shows how her subconscious mind is still drawn to him even when she's trying to keep her distance.
As the story goes on, we learn more about why Yifan has been so scared to let anyone close to her. She's been attacked and harassed multiple times over the years, which has made her feel like she's not safe anywhere. She's learned to expect the worst from people, especially men, so she builds walls around herself to stay protected.
Sang Yan slowly starts to understand what Yifan has been through, and instead of being angry about the past, he becomes determined to show her that she can trust him. He protects her in small ways - fixing things in their apartment, making sure she eats properly, and being there when she needs help without making her feel like she owes him anything.
The drama also shows us Yifan's best friend Zhong Siqiao, who is bubbly and optimistic - the complete opposite of Yifan. Siqiao comes from a big, loving family and tries her best to take care of Yifan and include her in family gatherings. There are also other characters like Su Haoan (Sang Yan's business partner), Xiang Lang (who has a crush on Yifan), and various family members who help tell the complete story.
Throughout the cdrama, we see flashbacks to their high school days that help us understand how deep their connection was and why losing each other was so devastating for both of them. They had a pure, innocent love that was destroyed by circumstances beyond their control.
The story reaches its emotional peak when Yifan finally tells Sang Yan the truth about why she pushed him away all those years ago. She explains about the assault, her mother's betrayal, and how she felt like she had to protect him from her dangerous life. Sang Yan is heartbroken to learn how much she suffered alone, and he wishes she had trusted him enough to let him help her.
In the end, they both realize that they never stopped loving each other. Sang Yan helps Yifan understand that she deserves to be loved and protected, while Yifan learns to trust again and let someone care for her. They work through their trauma together and build a relationship based on understanding, patience, and healing.
The drama ends with them finally together and happy, showing that love can survive even the most difficult circumstances when two people are willing to fight for each other.
My Review
This is nothing like the light, fluffy romance I was expecting. Instead, it was a deep, serious story about trauma, healing, and how love can survive even when life tries to tear it apart.
What I loved most about this drama is how real everything feels. Wen Yifan's trauma isn't something that gets magically fixed by love. Instead, the drama shows how difficult it is to heal from abuse and betrayal, and how it affects every part of your life. Zhang Ruonan does an incredible job playing Yifan as someone who is barely holding herself together but still trying to survive each day. You can see the pain in her eyes even when she's trying to act normal.
Bai Jingting is equally amazing as Sang Yan. He shows how someone can be strong and confident on the outside while dealing with his own heartbreak and confusion. You can tell he's been carrying this torch for her for years, and he's willing to wait however long it takes for her to heal.
The chemistry between the two main characters is absolutely beautiful. Even when they're pretending not to know each other, you can feel the connection between them. Their love story isn't rushed or dramatic - it's slow and careful, like two wounded people learning to trust again. The sleepwalking scenes are particularly touching because they show how Yifan's heart knows what it wants even when her mind is trying to protect her.
One thing that makes this drama special is how it handles serious topics like sexual assault and family trauma. These aren't just plot devices to create drama - they're treated with respect and shown as real problems that affect real people. The drama doesn't shy away from showing how difficult it is to recover from these experiences, but it also shows that healing is possible with the right support.
The supporting characters are also wonderful. Zhong Siqiao is like a ray of sunshine who refuses to let Yifan disappear completely. Her friendship with Yifan feels genuine and shows how important it is to have people who care about you when you're going through dark times. The family dynamics are also really well done - you can see how Sang Yan's loving family shaped him into someone who knows how to care for others, while Yifan's toxic family situation explains why she has such a hard time trusting people.
The scenes are absolutely gorgeous. The cinematography uses colors and lighting to show the characters' emotions - Yifan's scenes are often darker and more muted, while Sang Yan's world is warmer and brighter. The music is also perfect and really enhances the emotional moments without being too dramatic.
If I had to criticize anything, it would be that some viewers might find the amount of trauma Yifan experiences to be overwhelming. She seems to face one terrible situation after another, which can be hard to watch. However, I think this actually makes the story more realistic - unfortunately, people who have been abused often do find themselves in vulnerable situations repeatedly.
I also think some people might be frustrated with how long it takes for the main characters to get together. But personally, I appreciated that the drama took its time. Healing from trauma isn't quick or easy, and it would have felt unrealistic if Yifan suddenly became okay just because Sang Yan loved her.
The ending is absolutely perfect and worth all the heartbreak you go through to get there. Seeing Yifan finally learn to accept love and care, and watching Sang Yan's patience and devotion pay off, made me believe in true love all over again.
This drama is definitely not for everyone. If you're looking for something light and easy to watch, this isn't it. But if you want a story that will make you think about love, trauma, and healing, "The First Frost" is absolutely beautiful. It shows that sometimes the most powerful love stories are about people finding their way back to each other despite everything that tries to keep them apart.
I would recommend this drama to anyone who enjoys emotional, character-driven stories. It's the kind of drama that stays with you long after you finish watching it, and it might just change how you think about love and relationships.
Watch on Netflix