Bai Jingting, the rising star of Chinese drama, opens up about the pressure he faced while filming The First Frost, a new romantic series adapted from the bestselling novel of the same name. Premiering on CTi Entertainment on November 10, the drama pairs Bai with actress Zhang Ruonan, in a story that delicately unfolds the emotional reunion of two former high school sweethearts.
In The First Frost, Bai plays Sang Yan, a man who ends up sharing an apartment with his high school crush Wen Yifan (Zhang Ruonan), years after a failed confession. Their dynamic starts off strained—pretending not to know each other—but as old misunderstandings fade, a deep connection resurfaces.
Unlike traditional romantic dramas, The First Frost takes a subtler approach to love and emotional expression. Its introspective tone and layered dialogue have drawn praise from fans looking for a more grounded romantic narrative.
Despite the warm reception, Bai Jingting admitted that stepping into the role was daunting: “To be honest, I don’t see myself as classically handsome. That’s not me being modest—I just didn’t think I was the type for this kind of role,” he said.
Having built his career with procedural, suspense, and period dramas, Bai called the project “a major challenge” and something he had to “grow into”.
The actor also revealed the toll the character took on him: “The day I wrapped filming, I finally exhaled. I told my team, ‘I can be myself again.’”
To embody Sang Yan’s cool and composed image, Bai focused on everything from styling and demeanor to body conditioning. He worked hard to maintain a lean, defined physique, even studying professional fitness routines used by bodybuilders to prep for shirtless scenes. The result was a stark contrast between his typically boyish appearance and his more mature, sculpted on-screen look.
But Bai didn’t stop at the physical. He honed in on emotional detail, especially in scenes with tight close-ups: “For me, acting starts with sincerity. And the most sincere thing on your face? Your eyes.”
His intense preparation has paid off—fans have praised his performance as deeply emotional and visually compelling, with many calling him the perfect Sang Yan.
Still, Bai confessed he was initially intimidated by the fan-favorite character: “If Sang Yan weren’t so emotionally guarded, the story would’ve ended in two episodes,” he joked. “I’m like him in that I can be stubborn—but we’re not the same person.”
He even admitted that the experience has left him with a new sense of self-awareness: “The director caught so many good shots of me. I’ve never felt this photogenic in my life—I might start developing a bit of a complex!”
The First Frost airs weekdays at 9 PM on CTi Entertainment, bringing with it not only a poignant love story but also a breakout romantic performance from Bai Jingting.
Sources: Netizenbuzz
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