# The Early Spring (2026)

> A bold newcomer to Beijing and a guarded creative genius fall into an intense, on-again, off-again romance while their careers pull them apart.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/1104941

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 24
- Episode runtime: 48 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: romance, drama
- Network: Youku
- Cast: Jing Boran, Sun Qian, Li Chuan, Peng Yang, Dai Xiangyu, Guo Xiaoting, Yu San, Pang Hanchen
- TMDB rating: 8.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37884717/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: bittersweet, tender, intense, hopeful, emotional

## Synopsis

The Early Spring (2026) is a Chinese romance drama series created for Youku, adapted from a web novel. New to Beijing, Shang Zhitao (Sun Qian) is bold and open-hearted, and she crosses paths with Luan Nian (Jing Boran), a gifted creative whose guarded heart she slowly works to break through. Their attraction turns into an intense, on-again, off-again relationship set against the pressure of the urban jungle, where a workplace romance carries the risks of secrecy and office politics. The engine of the story is the tug between love and ambition: as Shang grows stronger step by step and builds her career, she must decide what she is willing to sacrifice, while Luan learns to soften his sharp edges. Supporting figures such as Liang Xin (Peng Yang) and Alex (Li Chuan) add friction and rivalry around the couple. The single season of twenty-four episodes plays as a grounded, emotionally layered romance, with tender, bittersweet moments and a steady focus on growth. Fans of C-drama romances will find resonance in its slow-burn heartache and career-driven love story.

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