Netflix’s Chinese workplace romance The Early Spring concludes with a deeply earned happy ending for its central couple, Shang Zhitao (played by Sun Qian) and Luan Nian (portrayed by Jing Boran). Based on the web novel by Gu Niang Bie Ku, the 24-episode series traces the six-year on-again, off-again relationship between Zhitao and Nian, whose romance begins with an office affair despite company policies and significant power imbalances.
For Zhitao, Beijing represents more than just a city; it symbolizes her professional ambitions and the rigorous lifestyle required to succeed in one of China’s most competitive advertising firms. Her decision to leave the metropolis in Episode 21, titled “A Grand Retreat,” stems from a convergence of personal and professional disappointments. After expressing a desire for marriage, she learns Nian is not interested in the idea. Shortly thereafter, a close friend dies by suicide, and Zhitao is passed over for a promotion in favor of a less experienced colleague with industry connections. When she seeks emotional support from Nian during this period, he offers none, prompting her to question whether her sacrifices for the relationship were worthwhile.
Zhitao ultimately returns to her hometown of Harbin to launch her own advertising agency. Years later, Nian, now regretful and bereft, sees an opportunity for reconciliation when Zhitao’s new firm partners with his agency, Lime, on a local project. He leverages their shared dog, a Samoyed named Luke, to reconnect with his ex-girlfriend. Over several months, Nian works to rebuild trust, offering sincere apologies and respecting Zhitao’s need for space. Eventually, he gains entry back into her life, declaring his intentions to marry her to her parents.
The proposal takes place at an art gallery installation called “Flora’s Museum of Time and Eternity,” featuring photos from their history together. Nian gifts Zhitao a necklace featuring the “L” key from the typewriter she famously knocked over during their first face-to-face meeting. Inviting their closest friends and family, he asks the woman he has loved for nearly a decade to marry him, and she accepts, finally feeling that they can relate as equals. The series finale shows the couple balancing their lives between Harbin and Beijing.
Given the show’s strong performance on both Youku and Netflix, where it has remained a fixture in the Global Top Ten, questions about a second season have arisen. While second seasons are rare for East Asian dramas, The Early Spring could be extended through the adaptation of the series’ second book, Miss Talkative. That novel focuses on the developing romance between Zhitao’s work bestie, Lumi, and her stoic coworker Will, a subplot hinted at but left unresolved in the television finale.
The success of The Early Spring highlights Netflix’s growing commitment to Chinese-language content. Although the streamer has historically invested heavily in South Korean productions, regulatory hurdles have prevented it from operating directly in China since 2016. Instead, Netflix licenses content to domestic providers while expanding its international catalog.
Chinese dramas have seen surging popularity in markets such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. Maya Huang, Netflix’s Head of Chinese-Language Content, noted that while Asian audiences have long enjoyed the genre, the platform is now making these stories accessible to a broader global viewership. Since 2024, Netflix has increased its offerings from Mainland China, with recent hits including Pursuit of Jade and Ashes to Crown, building on earlier pandemic-era successes like The Untamed.
“With Netflix’s reach, dubs and subtitles, and our ability to release titles simultaneously worldwide, we’re seeing audiences discover these stories in the U.S., South America, Europe and the Middle East,” Huang told TIME. “We want to give these fans more of what they love—so there’s plenty more to come from our Chinese language slate.”
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