- Drama Title: The Early Spring
- Also Known As: 早春晴朗, Zao Chun Qing Lang
- Director: Chiang Chi Cheng
- Genres: Romance, Drama
- Cast: Jing Bo Ran, Sun Qian
- Number of Episodes: 24
- Date of Release: August 26, 2026
- Original Network: Youku
- Where to Watch: Youku, Netflix
- Adapted from the web novel “Zao Chun Qing Lang” by Gu Niang Bie Ku
Dear readers, I was a bit under the weather lately. I keep yawning nonstop and my eyes are teary. I know that I should pay more attention to my sleep schedule. But how can I stop that when Against the Current, Spring of the Blad, and The Long Watch are on air?
I even missed writing my Pull String review because I was too busy pushing the play button. So, what does a sensible person do in this situation? Buy more popcorn, of course. Now I can keep watching, and at least my mouth will be too busy chewing to keep yawning. Problem solved. 😜
Health may be important, but so is knowing what happens in the next episode. Priorities, dear readers. Priorities. Now, while I still have enough energy to keep my eyes open, let’s get started with The Early Spring Drama Review. Happy reading!
The Early Spring Drama Review
The Synopsis
Shang Zhi Tao moved to Beijing after her graduation. Coming from an ordinary background, she manages to land a job in one of the city’s top advertising agencies. Being hired is the easy part, but keeping her job there is much harder.
On her first day, Shang Zhi Tao met Luan Nian, the agency’s brilliant director, whose sharp tongue and impossible standard leave her with one very clear message: she should resign, as soon as possible.
But Shang Zhi Tao has more than intelligence. She has determination and resilience. She isn’t someone who give up easily. Instead, she works harder and keeps improving herself, all to prove that she deserves her place there.
Along the way, the constant battle between this stubborn rookie and her demanding boss begins to change into something neither of them expects. What starts as a professional relationship turns into a secret romance as Shang Zhi Tao finds a way to Luan Nian’s guarded heart.
But loving each other is one thing, while making their relationship work alongside their ambitions is another. When their career and expectations began pulling them into different directions, Shang Zhi Tao and Luan Nian are forced to decide just how much they are willing to sacrifice for both love and success.
The Review – Red Flags Never Looked This Good
“How did I become the person I hate the most?” —Luan Nian
“This isn’t running away, this is a grand retreat.” —Shang Zhi Tao
“What is wrong with these people?!” — iyamoyya
Dear readers, when I wrote this review, I swear, whenever I open my social media, there will always be a post about The Early Spring. This drama has reached a major global success after debuting on Netflix.
Everyone couldn’t stop praising the Jing Bo Ran and Sun Qian’s acting and beauty. This situation reminded me of when the Pursuit of Jade reach its global success last March, when everyone I knew was saying the same about Zhang Ling He and Tian Yi Wei.
And me? I’ll just put on my smug face and show them the list of favourite Cdramas. Completed with the face cards, of course. Those people didn’t know that they had just sent themselves down a rabbit hole. Hmmm… should I complete the list with the list of eye creams that I have use to treat the eye bags too?? 😏
The Early Spring deserved its success because this drama really made me glued to my screen for a very VERY long time. The story deserves a raised eyebrow, but the chemistry between Jing Bo Ran and Sun Qian is explosive. Their interactions are hard to miss.
Yes, nobody could resist Luke’s charm. Jing Bo Ran looks so dashing in this drama. And perhaps because he did all the styling himself, he knows exactly what to do to bring all his charms out.
And Sun Qian? I saw her in a different light now. I always remember her as Cheng Miao Miao, the lively high school girl in Wind Direction. I’ve seen Sun Qian in many dramas, but the one that leaves the deepest impression on me is that girl with her untamed wavy hair.
But now, seeing her here playing as an adult woman with good sense of fashion and nicely done hair, she looks sooo gorgeous. She still retains a slightly childish image compared to other characters because Shang Zhi Tao is indeed the youngest of all.
The Early Spring is a drama meant for adult audiences not only for the intimate scenes, which are hot and sexy. But also, because the story itself needs some consideration while watching. Luan Nian and Shang Zhi Tao’s relationship is indeed interesting. But here is where I have to say something: interesting doesn’t necessarily mean healthy.
Luan Nian and Shang Zhi Tao’s relationship starts from sex and attraction. Luan Nian is not only Shang Zhi Tao’s lover but also her boss. That already creates a very complicated power dynamic between them. She is the younger woman trying to build her career in a new city, while is the person who has authority over her at work. And instead of making their relationship easier, they decide to keep it hidden. For six years. SIX. YEARS.
And I like, WHOA!!! 🫣
I do realize why Shang Zhi Tao falls for her boss. I understand why she stays. I even understand why we, as viewers, keep falling for these two because their chemistry is ridiculously food.
But if we take away the gorgeous faces, the beautiful clothes, the kisses, and all that heart-fluttering moments, there are quite a few things about this relationship that make want to sit Shang Zhi Tao down and say, “Girl… are you sure about it?”
I, and apparently many viewers too, think that Luan Nian is a very much a red-flag man. He is handsome, charming, capable, and deadly to my poor common sense. But the amount of jealousy, possessiveness, and gaslighting he throws at Shan Zhi Tao is not something I would call healthy.
There are moments when his words make her questions herself and even her own worth. But because she loves him, she keeps trying to understand him, accommodate him, and stay within the boundaries of their relationship.
And the distressing part is that Shan Zhi Tao also contributes to this unhealthy pattern. She doesn’t tell Luan Niang how she felt when he gives her expensive bags after they sleep togethers. She just keeps saying that she cannot bear to use them. She also avoids asking him for help because she is afraid he will scold her later.
That says a lot more than simply, “they have bad communication.”
And that is where I think The Early Spring becomes more interesting than just a sexy office romance. Well in fact, I think the drama work precisely because their relationship is messy. They love each other, with genuine affection that we all can see clearly.
But we also know that love alone is not enough to make a relationship work. We need respect, trust, COMMUNICATION (I make it big because this is where Luan Nian lacking the most), emotional safety, boundaries, equality, and compatibility.
Both Luan Nian and Shang Zhi Tao are prideful. They also struggled with trust, insecurity, and imbalance between them. With his jealousy and controlling tendencies, Luan Nian even forget that the word “boundaries” existed. 😼
Shang Zhi Tao, on the other hand, is not a bad person. But she does have some significant weaknesses as a partner. Her flaws are her insecurity, weak boundaries, and tendency to tolerate behaviour that hurts her. She is emotionally attached to Luan Nian and very accustomed to their intense chemistry.
I also came to a conclusion that her strong physical attraction to Luan Nian is one reason she finds it so difficult to let him go. After all, she is often the one who start the kissing.
Girl, that man really has you under a spell. 😏
Although things eventually move forward to a better situation, it didn’t erase how bad things go in the beginning. And this is exactly the reason why we should take this drama with a grain of salt.
The Early Spring makes this man ridiculously attractive that we can almost forget to question his behaviour. And Shang Zhi Tao? I wouldn’t say she is a victim because she isn’t powerless. She has agency, but she doesn’t always use it well.
In the end, Luan Nian needs to learn how to love without controlling, while Shang Zhi Tao needs to learn how to love without abandoning her own boundaries. Because having strong chemistry and loving each other is one thing, but knowing how to love each other properly is another.
What kept me watching wasn’t simply whether these two would end up together. I wanted to see whether they could actually learn how to be together without repeating the same mistakes. And, well, watching Luang Nian always make Shang Zhi Tao angry and then seeing the confusion in his face because he genuinely thinks everything he said is perfectly normal was half the fun. 😂
And I have to say that in this drama, it’s Jing Bo Ran who shines the most. He is the star of The Early Spring. He managed to make me love and hate his character at the same time. My hands were constantly hovering between pause the scene and admire his muscular arm or throwing something to the screen because he said stupid things that ruined the situation.
Sun Qian did really well too. I especially like how she showed Shang Zhi Tao’s insecurity through her little expression and body language. You can see her character slowly becoming more confidents and willing to stand up for herself. She may not steal the spotlight like Jing Bo Ran, but she definitely made Shang Zhi Tao feel like a real person.
Overall, The Early Spring is a drama that full of intense emotions. The romance is pretty complicated and emotionally draining, but the whole plot was actually quite predictable.
For me, the whole workplace conflicts were more of a background story that eventually led to personal conflicts between Luan Nian and Shang Zhi Tao. I was mainly invested in the romance because, mind you, I’m a romance junkie. So of course, all my attention was on these two and their complicated love life.
And if I were personally involved in Luan Nian and Shan Zhi Tao’s world? I would run away from those walking red flags immediately. Cdramaland is the only place I can afford to fall to a red-flag man. in real life? Gosh, I pray every day and night that these men never get a chance to enter my world.
I enjoyed The Early Springs because everyone is looking soooo stylish. But Lu Mi really stands out to me. I love how bold she is with her fashion. One day she can look sleek and sophisticated like any modern working woman do, and the next day she looks so playful with the half up high pony, permed waves, and wispy curls fringe paired with chunky earrings or huge loops. Truly defining the aesthetic combos of the 1980s style. 👍🏻
I also like how Shang Zhi Tao’s fashion changes throughout the drama. at the beginning, she still has that fresh youthful look, but gradually she becomes more polished as she settles into her life in the city. So, her wardrobe doesn’t just make her look pretty. It also quietly shows her growth.
And Jing Bo Ran, there were so many news about his fashion in this drama. Those Louboutin shoes are striking. I already mentioned before that he arranges Luan Nian’s fashion himself. He even brought his own personal wardrobe to the set.
It actually reminds me that Zhao Lu Si also did the same with Xu Yan’s costume in Love’s Ambition. I really thought that Jing Bo Ran and Zhao Lu Si have that annoying ability to look good no matter what they wear. Just like what Jing Bo ran did in Road Home. Compared to Luan Nian, Lu Yan Chen looked much more rugged and basic. But hey, he was still a sight to behold. 😁
The Story – Too Much Work, Too Much Love
The Early Spring only has 24 episodes. Rumors said that it originally had 32 episodes, but many scenes were cut before it aired. Probably the censorship did it because there were many intimate scenes in this drama.
Speaking about the hot scenes, The Early Spring is reportedly as the first Cdrama to use an intimacy coordinator, which made the kissing and the intimate scenes feel natural and carefully choreographed. 👍🏻
Shang Zhi Tao and Luan Nian’s relationship started after one drunken night. Although she feared him, Shang Zhi Tao genuinely admired him as a brilliant expert in the advertising industry. But before that, Luan Nian is the vicious final boss that she has to face on a daily basis.
Shang Zhi Tao started working at Lime as a fresh graduate. She was young, ambitious, determined, and optimistic about her future. Luan Nian was in a completely different league. He was only six years older than her, but he was already a big name in the industry and held an important position in this multinational company.
And to be honest, if I’m not such a sucker for beautiful people, I might have dropped this drama after 3 episodes because Luan Nian is soooo annoying character.
Let me tell you as someone who has fallen into the rabbit hole of Cdramaland for years. Cdramas are very good at creating characters who make your blood boil.
Whether it’s family members, love interests, friends, workplace colleagues, or even some random auntie or uncle on the street, those writers know how to write a line that will make blood pressure soar. They also know how to make a character annoying without making you want to stop watching.
The Early Spring does this very well, especially in the beginning. The workplace is stressful, the characters are complicated, and sometimes I was watching while thinking, “What is wrong with these people?!”
But at the same time, I think that is also what keeps the story interesting. The characters are not simply divided into good people and bad people. Almost everyone carries their own problems, emotional baggage, and wounds. Some people managed to move on, some carry scars for years, and some are still trying to learn how to live with what happened to them.
The Early Spring carries a message about mental health too. It indirectly told is that everyone has their own problems and pains. We never really know what another person is going through. So be nice. Help whoever needs help. At least be there when they need you. Because human are social creatures. We need other people in our lives.
Now, my favorite part of the drama is everything about Lumi. She is striking and stylish. She is also completely unhinged and I love it! My favorite scene of hers is in episode 15, when she arrives with her crew, ready to avenge Shang Zhi Tao.
They come riding in on four motorcycles. And when Lumi gets off her bike in that zebra-print dress, vintage sunglasses, big earrings, and that gorgeous wavy hair, she looks SO cool. She picks up the baseball bat in the most sophisticated manner possible. I feel like I’m watching a 90s Hong Kong gangster movie starring Andy Lau.
There weren’t many comedy scenes in The Early Spring. But some managed to make me laughed out loud. The first thing is the white Samoyed named Lu Ke and Luan Nian’s priceless expression when he heard the dog’s name is similar with his. 😂
The second is how Luan Nian and Shang Zhi Tao seemed to be competing over who could work the hardest. He saw her working overtime, so he wanted to accompany her by working too. Then she saw him as a talented person who worked incredibly hard, so she thought that she, being a mediocre person, should work even harder. My thought was simple. They should just bring their beds to the office because apparently, overtime is their love language. 😆
And then there was episode 8, when Luan Nian returned to the company after being suspended. He walked in wearing that crisp suit, looking gorgeous and dangerous. He was leading the walk with Tracy and several other people following behind. Everyone looked at him with awe. I did too. Until Li Tian Ran said, “The empress has returned.”
I laughed SO hard. That line is chef’s kiss! 🤣
And as expected from a romance drama. The Early Spring gave us a happy ending. And they didn’t disappoint me. AT ALL. But have you heard about the SEASON 2 news? I AM THRILLED!!!
The Visuals – Come for the Drama, Stay for the Tourism Ad
I love the visual of The Early Spring. The lighting is good. It’s not too bright or excessive, but I can still see the details even in the night scenes. The camera work is great too. I especially like how the drama uses close-up shots during the emotional scenes.
I can really see the characters’ expressions and subtle reactions instead of having the camera constantly moving around. The overall visual also gives the warm, slightly mature feeling that fits the story. It didn’t exaggerate things or make things overly dramatic, which makes the whole thing quite pleasant to watch.
I did find one small flaw though, and maybe those with eagle eyes could spot it too. It’s such a silly little mistake, but once you notice it, you can’t unsee it. The Early Spring is set around 2014.
But if you pay close attention to episode 13, Luan Nian covers his face with a newspaper while lounging around in a beach chair. And guess what? The newspaper shows an article titled, “Russian, Belarusian ‘Neutral’ Skiers Banned from 2026 Olympics.” Well, I guess someone forgot to check the date before putting that newspaper there. 😜
And Cdramaland always knows how to sneak some tourism advertising into a drama. From Beijing, Harbin, or Tibet, they somehow know how to disguise the tourism promotion as a business trip or vacation scenes. Personally, because of this drama, I became really curious about Harbin, which according to Sun Yuan Zhu, is even colder than Switzerland. But if I really go there, can this tropical girl survive the cold? 😆
The Characters
Shang Zhi Tao / Flora (Played by Sun Qian)
Shang Zhi Tao is a Harbin girl who went 659 miles away from home to find a career in Beijing. She is smart, brave, cheerful, but also hardworking, prideful, stubborn, and a 100% resilient. When she came to Lumi, Shang Zhi Tao is looking so out of place.
She is timid and honest. That’s why even Luan Nian wondering how long she could last in the cutthroat industry. However, he might underestimate Shang Zhi Tao’s determination to stay. So after some time, Luan Nian began to appreciate her efforts for her job and the company.
Personally, Shang Zhi Tao is a bit naïve. She often overthinks many things especially in the beginning of her relationship with Luan Nian. Shang Zhi Tao born into a small, humble family. Her parents are simple people but is rich with love.
Making Shang Zhi Tao a girl with positive vibe. She grown up in a comfortable and protected environment. But entering the working world was different. For the first time, she had to prove herself in a competitive environment, surrounded by people who were more experienced and established than her. and Luan Nian also contribute the biggest part of her insecurity by saying, “In my eyes, you are not good enough.”.
Luan Nian / Luke (Played by Jing Bo Ran)
When you first see Luan Nian, you must realize that this man’s pride is as high as the sky. He always acts aloof, as if he didn’t need anybody, including Flora. At work, Luan Nian is a brilliant director with extremely high standards. He also tends to judge people by ability and results.
People call him cold and cruel because of his sharp tongue, which shows no mercy to anyone. Not even the soft and gentle Tracy is spared. And at the same time, he is actually a very good boss. He judges people fairly, takes responsibility when things go wrong, and is protective of his subordinate.
But not everyone managed to see his good side, because only Lu Mi and Shang Zhi Tao are brave enough to stay close to him. The rest of the people choose to scatter whenever he gets nearby. Well, basically, Luan Nian is the kind of boss who makes everyone suddenly remember that they have somewhere else to be.
To his friends, Luan Nian is generous and loyal. Still, he says whatever he likes, and the only person he seems to spare is his mother. Nevertheless, even Mrs. Luan also think that his son is bad tempered and has a rather weird personality.
As a lover, Luan Nian is jealous and possessive. Yet you can see that he has a soft heart from the way he takes care of Shang Zhi Tao when she is sick. When he stays silent, Luan Nian is actually a perfect boyfriend. He is handsome, capable, generous, attentive, and protective.
He notices the little things about Shang Zhu Tao and often shows his care through his actions. And there is one more thing that might explain why Shang Zhi Tao finds it so hard to leave him: Luan Nian is also a very good cook.
Sun Yu (Played by Qi Tian Qing)
Shang Zhi Tao has two housemates, Sun Yu and Sun Yuan Zhu. Sun Yu is the longest-running tenant in the house. She works as a salesperson in a dating website company.
Shang Zhi Tao is lucky to have her as a friend because Sun Yu is a cheerful, caring, and very loyal. Her romantic side makes her the biggest supporter in Shang Zhi Tao’s love life. Nevertheless, whether it was love or career, Sun Yu is always there whenever Shang Zhi Tao needs her.
She is the kind of friend who listens to your problems, gives you advice, and stays by your side when things get messy. But while Sun Yu is always ready to help others with their love lives, her own is far from lucky. After having a broken heart, she quietly falls for Sun Yuan Zhu, unaware that he already has feelings for someone else.
Sun Yuan Zhu (Played by Liu Xiao Bei)
Sun Yuan Zhu is the third tenant in Shang Zhi Tao’s rental home. He is a gentle and calm person who loves cooking and enjoys seeing everyone happily eating his food. Whenever Shang Zhi Tao or Sun Yu needs help, Sun Yuan Zhu is always the thoughtful and dependable one.
He is kind and considerate, but rarely opens up about his own family situation, which is quite complicated. Sun Yuan Zhu is also very smart and capable man. His talent leads him to work at a renowned IT company where he works on self-driving car. But despite his intelligence and achievements, he remains humble and is always willing to help others.
Lu Mi (Played by Zhang Ye Zi)
Lu Mi works at Lime with Luan Nian and Shang Zhi Tao. She is Luan Nian’s direct subordinate and Shan Zhi Tao’s mentor. She is smart, resourceful, kind, and very stylish. And just like her boss, Lu Mi is also bold, outspoken, and protective.
She says everything straight to your face as if she is simply stating a fact. However, Lu Mi has a much higher level of conscience than Luan Nian. Lu Mi knows Luan Nian’s working style very well. Being with Luan Nian every day makes her immune to his attraction.
After all, she knows she probably couldn’t handle his bad temper for too long. And honestly, there are more benefits to being friends with someone as handsome as Luan Nian anyway.
Zang Yao (Played by Guo Xiao Ting)
Zang Yao is Luan Nian’s childhood friend. She has been hanging out with him and his group for years and is considered his people. Some people even called her Luan Nian’s childhood sweetheart.
Zang Yao is a cheerful, confident girl, and never shy about showing her feelings towards Luan Nian. Although Zang Yao comes from wealthy family and can be a little spoiled, she isn’t an unreasonable person. She knows what she wants but also understand that not everything can be won just because you want it badly.
The Conclusion
The Early Spring is truly a sight to behold. From the cast, the chemistry, the storytelling, everything is so enjoyable. But mind you, this isn’t the kind of drama that you can casually watch in the office canteen during the lunch break or during your commute. Too many hot scenes. You never know who might peek at your screen. 😆
You should watch this drama quietly at home, where you can wear your most comfortable sleepwear with a bag of popcorn and a can of soft drink. And please take this drama with a grain of salt.
Enjoy the drama, admire the face cards, but please don’t use Luan Nian as your relationship manual. After all, Cdramaland is the perfect place to fall for a walking red flag. Because thankfully, we can hit the fast-forward button when he starts getting on our nerves.
Well, I hope you find this review helpful in deciding whether this drama is worthy of your time. Whether you end up watching it or just quietly judging it from afar, I’ll leave that to you. Thank you for staying with me until the end, dear readers., I’ll see you again in another drama review. Until then, goodbye!
