 |
| Zhang Ruonan Goes Full 90s as Dream-Chasing Singer in Winter Goes and Spring Comes, the Spiritual Sister to Always on the Move (Pics: Upmedia) |
Zhang Ruonan’s got a mic in one hand and dreams in the other in her latest drama Winter Goes and Spring Comes (冬去春来), where she plays a small-town girl trying to make it big as a singer in 1990s Beijing. And it’s not just any period drama—this one’s from the same creative team behind Bai Jingting’s Always on the Move, and the two shows share more than just a nostalgic vibe.
Helmed by veteran director Zheng Xiaolong (Legend of Zang Hai), Winter Goes and Spring Comes is being dubbed the “sister series” to Always on the Move.
While the stories and characters don’t overlap, both series live in the same narrative world—zooming in on ordinary people during huge shifts in modern Chinese history. Always on the Move took viewers on a ride with railway workers in the 1970s. This time, we're heading into the fast-paced, neon-glow chaos of the '90s.
 |
✦ Zhang as Zhuang Zhuang: A Sweet Voice in a Tough City
Nannan steps into the shoes of Zhuang Zhuang, a hopeful young singer chasing the spotlight. But instead of landing on big stages, she finds herself singing in smoky bars and tiny live houses, trying to make ends meet while living in a run-down guesthouse called Dongqu Chunlai. It’s here that she meets other “beipiao” — young folks who’ve migrated to Beijing with nothing but ambition in their pockets.
Photos uploaded from the set have been making rounds on Weibo, and fans are loving Zhang Ruonan’s full retro glam: voluminous hair, mustard beret, plaid skirt, and those emerald green earrings that scream 1994. “She looks like she walked straight out of an old cassette tape cover,” one netizen wrote. “Vintage but still so sweet!”
 |
✦ Bai Yu Joins the Cast, Not Yang Yang After All
Starring opposite her is Bai Yu, known for moody roles in The Long Night and The Bond. He plays Xu Shengli, an aspiring screenwriter who keeps getting rejection slips but refuses to give up.
He’s styled in soft-washed denim and side-parted hair, looking every bit the frustrated artist with a heart of gold. On-set photos show Zhang Ruonan and Bai Jingting chatting between takes, sparking buzz about a warm (maybe even romantic?) relationship between their characters.
Interestingly, fans initially thought Yang Yang would be playing the male lead. Rumours flew for weeks until Bai Yu’s casting was officially confirmed—still, fans seem thrilled with the pairing.
 |
✦ Following the Heat of The First Frost
Zhang Ruonan’s star has been rising fast since her romantic hit The First Frost with Bai Jingting took off earlier this year. The show topped Maoyan’s charts with over 1.43 billion effective views and saw Nannan’s fanbase explode—earning nearly four million new followers in just a few months. Critics hailed her as one of the new-gen drama queens to watch.
And now with Winter Goes and Spring Comes, she's switching gears into something rawer and more grounded. The series promises emotional highs, crushing lows, and all the chaos that comes with chasing dreams in a big city.
✦ A Nostalgic, Emotional Ride from a Proven Team
Just like Always on the Move, this new drama is expected to hit viewers right in the feels. Think cramped apartments, shared bowls of instant noodles, spontaneous rooftop singing sessions, and a generation trying to find their place in a rapidly changing world.
With Zheng Xiaolong’s sharp direction, period-perfect styling, and two well-matched leads in Zhang Ruonan and Bai Yu, Winter Goes and Spring Comes might just be the sleeper hit of the year. If you’re into slow-burn character arcs, retro fashion, and underdog dreams, this one’s definitely going on your watchlist.