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Zhao Lusi's Fans Outraged Over ‘The First Frost’ Phone Case Drama
‘The First Frost’ just dropped, and it’s already causing drama—but not for the reasons you’d expect.
The sequel-of-sorts to ‘Hidden Love’ premiered on 18 February 2025, and while it’s breaking records left and right, some fans aren’t too happy.
And no, it’s not about the acting or the story—it’s all about a phone case. Yes, a phone case.
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For those who somehow missed the ‘Hidden Love’ craze, Zhao Lusi’s character, Sang Zhi, made waves back in 2023.
Now, in ‘The First Frost’, she’s been replaced by Liu Chutian. Not a huge deal—actors change, life moves on.
But what didn’t change?
The frog-shaped phone case.
Fans of Zhao Lusi aren’t having it.
They claim the new drama is riding on ‘Hidden Love’s’ success, instead of building its own identity.
Comments like, “Does ‘The First Frost’ not have its own Sang Zhi? Why copy the old one?” are flooding fan forums.
And it’s not just about the case.
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Zhao Lusi’s fans argue that ‘Hidden Love’ became a global sensation thanks to her influence—not just in acting but also in setting trends with costumes and accessories.
Now, they feel like ‘The First Frost’ is piggybacking on that success.
It’s not unusual for dramas to pull elements from their predecessors, especially when they exist in the same universe.
But this tiny detail has somehow become a massive controversy.
The backlash has gotten so loud that even mainstream media is picking up on it.
Despite the uproar, ‘The First Frost’ is smashing records.
Over 10 million viewers tuned in on its first day, making it the most-watched Chinese drama debut of 2025 so far.
Love it or hate it, people are watching.
But the big question remains—should ‘The First Frost’ carve out its own identity, or is it fair game to reuse fan-favourite elements?
Either way, one thing’s for sure: this frog phone case is now officially iconic.