According to QQ, the modern romance drama The Early Spring concluded its run with remarkable success, becoming one of the few productions in recent years to surpass a 40% share of viewership. As a result, the production team, along with lead actors Sun Qian and Jing Boran, held a farewell event to celebrate the drama’s conclusion.
During the event, Jing Boran gestured toward Sun Qian, who then stepped forward and secretly held his hand. The actor responded with a gentle smile, creating the impression of a couple secretly dating. The seemingly subtle interaction, however, sparked mixed reactions.
Supporters argued that the two actors were simply recreating the famous “holding hands in the parking lot” scene from the drama at fans’ request. The secret office romance storyline is one of the biggest attractions of The Early Spring.
In the drama, Sun Qian plays Shang Zhitao, a newcomer to the workforce, while Jing Boran portrays Luan Nian, a demanding boss. After returning home, the two develop intense feelings for each other and secretly date for years. The hand-holding moment between Sun Qian and Jing Boran at the farewell event garnered nearly 70 million views.
Some viewers praised the pair, saying that the two actors were fully committed to their roles and provided audiences with a complete experience. During the event, they were still portraying their characters from the drama. “This is a professional way to promote a production, with both actors completely immersed in their roles and bringing the series to a perfect conclusion,” one Sohu commenter wrote.
Others, however, accused Sun Qian and Jing Boran of “going too far with the act.” Jing Boran has been in a long-term relationship with supermodel Liu Wen, yet critics argued that he failed to maintain an appropriate distance from his co-star. Sun Qian was also criticized for relying on her “outgoing and carefree personality” to become overly intimate with an older male co-star who is already in a relationship.
Previously, Sun Qian had even commented asking for a shirt worn by Jing Boran. After the actor sent her the shirt, she wore it and posted a photo on social media.
While the debate over how close co-stars should be when promoting a drama continues, there is no denying that The Early Spring has emerged as a surprise hit of the Chinese television scene in summer 2026.
Jing Boran and Sun Qian are not A-list stars with massive fanbases or exceptionally high traffic numbers, often referred to as “traffic stars.” However, thanks to their strong chemistry and convincing performances together, they have attracted a huge audience. The drama surpassed 10,000 points on Youku’s popularity index for 14 days, while its average daily views at one point exceeded 50 million, along with numerous other records.
Following the success of The Early Spring, Jing Boran received widespread praise for his acting, ability to immerse himself in his character, and capacity to carry the success of a major project. Meanwhile, Sun Qian has been recognized as one of the promising actresses of the post-1995 generation who is particularly well suited to modern romance dramas. The popularity of both stars has surged dramatically.
Sun Qian broke down in tears during the farewell event for her character, saying that playing Shang Zhitao had helped her gain much greater recognition.
Sources: kenh14