Loved First Frost? Five romantic C-dramas based on novels to binge on Netflix

Plot- Wen Yifan never expected to cross paths with Sang Yan again. Destiny brings them face to face at a bar six years later. Once high school classmates, they both secretly harboured feelings for each other but drifted apart. Now, with an unexpected reunion threatening to bring back old feelings, they do what any two people trying to avoid the awkwardness would—pretend they don’t even know each other. But dodging the past isn’t that easy, especially when life throws them under the same roof. Sooner or later, they’ll have to face everything they’ve been avoiding.

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Hidden Love

Released in 2023, this C-drama was a massive hit on Netflix (even stirred up a few controversies), launching Zhao Lusi and Chen Zheyuan to a whole new level of fame. The falling-for-your-brother’s-best-friend trope? Always a winner. But throw in an age gap, heart-fluttering romance, and some serious emotional growth, and you’ve got a drama people still can’t stop talking about. Adapted from Zhu Yi’s novel Secretly, Secretly; But Unable to Hide It, the series aired on Youku from June 20 to July 6, 2023, before dropping on Netflix on June 29, where it exploded in popularity overseas.

Plot: The story revolves around Sang Zhi (Zhao Lusi), a girl who’s been crushing on Duan Jiaxu (Chen Zheyuan) forever, except he’s her older brother Sang Yan’s (Victor Ma) best friend. What starts as a childhood infatuation slowly turns into something deeper, as time (and fate) push them to finally take charge of their own love story.

Falling into your smile

If you haven’t watched this C-drama yet, consider this your sign to explore a world where romance meets esports. Adapted from Qing Mei’s novel of the same name, this series stars Xu Kai and Cheng Xiao. Not only did it intrigue drama fans, but it also pulled in esports lovers. The drama first premiered on Tencent Video on June 23, 2021. The series later made its way to Netflix for global audiences.

Plot: The story revolves around Tong Yao (Cheng Xiao), a talented gamer who lands a spot on the all-male esports team ZGDX straight out of college. As the first official female player in China’s professional league, she takes on the intense world of competitive gaming while finding love in the most unexpected place.

Love O2O

Yang Yang has built a fan base of his own, and let’s be real, Love O2O is the reason we just can’t get enough of him. This 2016 C-drama, based on Gu Man’s novel of the same name, stars Yang Yang and Zheng Shuang in a romance that brings sports and romance together. A massive commercial hit in China, the show wasn’t just a national hit; it turned Yang Yang into a global sensation.  With over 25.2 billion views, it remains one of the most-watched modern Chinese dramas to date.

Plot: The show follows the story of Bei Weiwei (Zheng Shuang), a brilliant computer science student with dreams of becoming an online game developer. In the virtual world of A Chinese Ghost Story, she plays as “Luwei Weiwei.” But when her online husband, Zhenshui Wuxiang, unceremoniously dumps her, she catches the attention of the game’s top player, Yixiao Naihe (Yang Yang). His offer? A virtual marriage to team up for in-game competitions.

Untamed 

If period dramas are your thing, The Untamed should be on your binge list. It’s got historical romance, mystery, and plot twists that’ll keep you glued to the screen till the very end. Starring Xiao Zhan and Wang Yibo, this fan-favourite C-drama is based on Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s novel Mo Dao Zu Shi and follows two soulmates as they uncover dark secrets from a tragic past.

Plot: The story follows Wei Wuxian, who is brought back to life 16 years after his death. He’s forced to face old friends, enemies, and Lan Wangji. As the pieces of his past start falling into place, we see his transformation from a young cultivator wielding swords and musical instruments to someone who forges his own path using resentful energy. 

Word of Honor

If you’re a fan of BL dramas, Word of Honor needs to be on your list. Based on the danmei novel Faraway Wanderers by Priest, this 36-episode C-drama (plus a special ending, thanks to fans’ demand) stars Zhang Zhehan and Gong Jun, and it’s seriously worth the hype. Released in 2021, it’s sitting pretty with an 8.4 rating on IMDb.

The story follows Zhou Zishu, the former leader of a secret assassin organisation. After leaving his post to find freedom, he’s left with only three years to live. So he wanders the martial arts world as a carefree drunk until he meets Wen Kexing. The mysterious leader of Ghost Valley is out for revenge over his parents’ deaths. Their paths collide, pulling them deep into a soulmate bond where they just might be each other’s salvation.