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| Director Spills Tea on “The First Frost” Film—And Bai Jingting & Zhang Ruonan’s Relationship? |
The First Frost buzz is back—and this time, it’s not just about a sequel.
Director Qu Youning lit up the fandom again during a fan meet in Taiwan, where he teased a possible movie adaptation of the wildly popular Chinese drama The First Frost (《难哄》).
But what really sent the internet spiralling were his cheeky comments about the drama’s two leads—Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan—and whether their sizzling on-screen chemistry has spilled over into real life.
Held as a photobook signing session for The First Frost, the event was intimate but packed with juicy tidbits. Qu Youning—whose credits include Your Name Engraved Herein, It Started With a Kiss, and Go Go Squid!—was in a playful mood, chatting openly with fans and press. But when the talk turned to the drama’s main pairing, he became a little less direct... and that’s exactly what got people talking.
“Don’t Ask Me That” — Or Is That a Yes?
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When directly asked whether Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan are dating in real life, Qu pulled the classic cryptic card.
“Don’t ask me if they’re together. If I answer that, it’s over,” he said with a laugh.
“I won’t answer that question, I don’t know how to answer that question. Let’s just say everyone has their own sense of things, their own imagination.”
To many fans, that sounded less like a denial and more like a wink-wink-nudge-nudge confirmation.
As Upmedia reported, Qu could’ve easily shut down the rumours—but he didn’t. With the drama’s promo cycle long wrapped up, some reckon there’s no reason to keep up the charade unless there’s something actually going on behind the scenes.
And the fan service didn’t stop there.
.png "Director Teases The First Frost Film and Leaves Relationship Rumours Unanswered") |
Zhang Ruonan Video Call Sets Fans Off
In a move that seemed straight out of a CP fanfic, Qu dialled up Zhang Ruonan mid-event via video call and flashed her a note from a fan that read, “Let it be a real relationship then” (假戏真做吧).
Zhang, visibly amused, laughed and said, “What are you showing me?”—a reaction playful enough to keep shippers fed for weeks.
It wasn’t a confession, but it also wasn’t a rejection. Which, in the world of CP fandom, is basically throwing petrol on the fire.
Movie Confirmed? Not Quite—but There’s a Catch
On the actual film rumours, Qu Youning didn’t hold back.
“If they’re not in it, I won’t shoot it,” he declared firmly, referring to Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan’s characters Sang Yan and Wen Yifan.
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For many, that’s a big hint that the two leads aren’t just irreplaceable as characters—they might be emotionally attached to the roles too. Others believe it’s a strategic move by Qu to keep fans invested while leaving the real relationship status hanging in the air.
Either way, it’s working.
The First Frost has already racked up over 1.7 billion views and is easily one of 2025’s biggest drama hits. Fans dubbed Bai and Zhang as the “Yi Yan Wei Ding” or “Bainan” CP (a mash-up of their character and real names), and ever since the finale, speculation about the pair’s off-screen relationship hasn’t cooled down one bit.
Real or Not, the Magic Stays
Whether they’re actually dating or just really good at their job, one thing’s clear: Bai Jingting and Zhang Ruonan’s partnership has left a mark. And if Qu Youning gets his way, they might just reunite on the big screen—hopefully with even more sparks flying.
Until then, fans will keep reading between the lines… and that might just be exactly how Qu Youning wants it.