Youku has officially confirmed a sequel to its breakout Chinese drama The Early Spring, titled Midsummer Clear Skies (盛夏晴朗), with the original creative team returning. The announcement arrived on September 16, 2026, during the platform’s 2027 lineup presentation, alongside a concept poster that mirrors the visual style of the original series. The news comes just as The Early Spring wrapped its run, having become one of the most-watched Chinese dramas on Netflix worldwide.
Fans across Chinese social media are now pushing for Jing Boran and Sun Qian to reunite as their characters Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao, with the hashtag calling for their second collaboration trending shortly after the announcement. The sequel’s cast has not been confirmed yet.
What Youku Announced About the Sequel
Youku revealed Midsummer Clear Skies as part of its 2027 annual drama slate on September 16, 2026. The platform released a concept poster for the project, which carries the tagline “喧嚣予我，偏爱予你” — roughly translated as “Give me the noise, give you the devotion.”
The sequel is described as a continuation of the story of Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao after they get married, focusing on their married life and the adjustments that come with it. Unlike the original, which was adapted from the novel Zao Chun Qing Lang by author Gu Niang Bie Ku, Midsummer Clear Skies will be an original screenplay. The series is listed for a 2027 broadcast on Youku.
Original Creative Team Returns for the Sequel
Gao Yixian (also credited as Gao Xiaoxian), who served as both chief producer and screenwriter on The Early Spring, will return to write the sequel’s script. Production will again be handled by Qianyu Studio, the team behind the first season. This confirmation of the original creative team’s involvement has been a key point of reassurance for viewers who credit the show’s writing and production quality for its success.
How The Early Spring Performed on Netflix and Domestically
The Early Spring premiered simultaneously on Youku and Netflix on August 26, 2026. Within its first week, the 24-episode series climbed to No. 2 on Netflix’s Global Non-English TV list for the tracking period of August 24 to 30, recording 2.4 million views and 21.5 million hours viewed despite being available for only five days of that window. The show also entered Netflix’s weekly Top 10 in 22 markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Qatar, and ranked No. 1 in Thailand and Vietnam.
The drama’s performance set a new benchmark for Chinese productions on the platform, becoming the first mainland Chinese drama to break into Netflix’s global non-English weekly top three. Domestically, The Early Spring commanded a 40.3% market share of effective plays on the data platform Yunhe, holding the top spot for 13 consecutive days.
Character Accounts Post Cryptic Messages After Announcement
Following the sequel announcement, the official character social media accounts for The Early Spring shared the new poster with messages that immediately caught fans’ attention. The Luan Nian_Luke account posted: “盛夏，没有冰雕” — “Midsummer, there is no ice sculpture.” The Shang Zhitao_Flora account wrote: “说了不会结束的” — “I told you it wouldn’t end.” A third account, Luke_东北户口版, added: “有我在这个家永远散不了” — “As long as I’m here, this family will never fall apart”.
These posts reference a memorable plot point from the original series involving an ice sculpture and a promise between the lead characters, which viewers have interpreted as a strong hint that the story will continue with the same characters. The posts have fueled speculation that the original cast may return, though no official casting confirmation has been issued.
Fans Push for Jing Boran and Sun Qian to Reunite
The most vocal response to the sequel announcement has been the call for Jing Boran and Sun Qian to return as the leads. The hashtag #井柏然孙千二搭# (Jing Boran and Sun Qian second collaboration) trended on Chinese social media platforms including Weibo shortly after Youku’s announcement.
Comments on news posts about the sequel reflect a strong preference for the original pairing. On Sina Finance‘s coverage of the announcement, top comments included: “不是原班人马我们不看 不是井柏然孙千不看” — “If it’s not the original cast, we won’t watch. If it’s not Jing Boran and Sun Qian, we won’t watch”. Another reader wrote: “一定要井柏然和孙千，不是我们不看” — “It must be Jing Boran and Sun Qian, otherwise we won’t watch”.
MyDramaList‘s news report noted that netizens expressed excitement, with many saying they were “looking forward to Jing Bo Ran and Sun Qian teaming up again”.
The Original Drama’s Story and Cast
The Early Spring follows Shang Zhitao (Sun Qian), a young woman from an ordinary educational background who lands a position at a top Beijing advertising agency. Her sharp-tongued boss, Luan Nian (Jing Boran), initially tells her to quit on her first day. The series tracks their complicated workplace romance as two ambitious people navigate their feelings for each other.
The drama was directed by Jiang Ji-Zheng and adapted from Gu Niang Bie Ku‘s novel. It is part of what is known as the “Early Spring trilogy,” which also includes The Talkative Lady and You Say Life Is Gorgeous, I Have No Objection. Whether the sequel draws from the other books in the trilogy or continues entirely as an original story remains unclear.
The original cast also included supporting actors whose character accounts participated in the sequel announcement, including the account for Luke. The full ensemble cast for Midsummer Clear Skies has not been revealed.
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Release Information for Global Viewers
Midsummer Clear Skies is scheduled for 2027 on Youku in mainland China. The Early Spring is currently available for streaming on Netflix worldwide, including in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions where the platform operates. Viewers outside China who want to catch up on the original series before the sequel arrives can find all 24 episodes on Netflix. A specific premiere date for the sequel within 2027 has not been announced.
Also Read: The Early Spring Ending Explained: How Jing Boran and Sun Qian Finally Found Their Way Back
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