The Early Spring has become one of the biggest Chinese dramas on Netflix this year, but a joke made at a concert in Shanghai has turned its fanbase upside down. Jing Boran, who plays the male lead Luke Luan, attended singer Li Ronghao’s concert on September 25, 2026, with his real-life girlfriend, supermodel Liu Wen. Li Ronghao called Jing Boran by his character name “Luke” on stage and linked Liu Wen to the character. The comment set off a wave of anger among fans who believe the fictional character belongs only to his on-screen partner, Flora Shang, played by Sun Qian.
The Concert Joke That Sparked the Backlash
Li Ronghao held his “Black Horse” World Tour concert in Shanghai on September 25, 2026. During the show, he told the crowd that many friends and family were in the VIP box. He then said, “The Luke you all love is here today.” He followed that by saying, “If Luke is here, there is surely a lady by his side who is vitally important to his life.” He first joked that the lady was his own wife, Rainie Yang, before pointing to the audience and saying, “Wenwen (Liu Wen) is here today too.”
The crowd cheered at the time. The mood changed once the video spread on social media. Fans of The Early Spring felt the remark mixed the fictional character with the actor’s real-life relationship. For many viewers, Luke exists only with Flora inside the story. Bringing Liu Wen into that same sentence broke the emotional connection they had built with the show.
“Jing Boran is Jing Boran, Luke is Luke. Give Luke back to Flora.” — Fan comment widely shared on Weibo
Some fans also pointed out that Li Ronghao is a close friend of Jing Boran and had previously promoted the drama on his own. Supporters of Li Ronghao argued the comment was a light joke between long-time friends, not a serious statement about the characters.
Why Fans Are So Angry
The anger did not stop at social media posts. Some viewers took stronger action. A group of fans called for refunds on the 18-yuan VIP finale package sold on Youku, even though they had already watched the content. Media outlets in China noted that this was not a real consumer complaint but an emotional protest. The package was already used and the service was fully delivered.
Fans also put together a list they called Jing Boran’s “18 sins.” The list accused him of actively building the on-screen romance during filming and promotion, then asking viewers to separate the actor from the character after the show ended. Items on the list included following Sun Qian on Instagram, sharing her photo at the finale, and linking arms with her at a fan meeting.
Jing Boran’s social media comment sections were flooded with messages asking him to choose between the character and his real-life girlfriend. Some comments were directed at Liu Wen, blaming her for being seen with Jing Boran while the drama was still fresh in viewers’ minds.
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Liu Wen Caught in the Middle
Liu Wen became a target of online attacks even though she said nothing about the controversy. On September 26, 2026, she reportedly changed her flight and returned to Beijing alone on an earlier plane, while Jing Boran took a separate flight. The hashtag “Liu Wen changes flight to avoid suspicion” trended on Weibo.
Videos from the airport showed Liu Wen coughing and still signing autographs for fans. She has not commented on the situation. Many neutral viewers defended her, saying she did nothing wrong and was pulled into a fight she never asked for.
Jing Boran appeared at Shanghai airport on September 26 wearing a hat and glasses. He waved to fans but did not answer questions about the controversy. Later, he was seen on the plane looking at trending topics on his phone. Some fans criticized him for appearing calm while Liu Wen faced attacks.
Jing Boran’s Response
Jing Boran did not release a long statement. He quietly liked a post on Xiaohongshu that read, “May you not be swept up by the noise, and stay true to your heart’s choice.” Supporters saw this as his way of saying he will not let online pressure change how he lives.
He also liked another post that said, “Those who hate me can continue, those who love me should not stop.” The likes were seen as indirect answers to the backlash. He has not commented directly on Li Ronghao’s concert remark.
About The Early Spring
The Early Spring is a 24-episode Chinese workplace romance drama. It is based on the novel “Zao Chun Qing Lang” by Gu Niang Bie Ku. The story follows Shang Zhitao (Flora), a young woman from a modest background who joins a top advertising agency in Beijing. There she meets Luan Nian (Luke), a demanding and sharp-tongued creative director. Their relationship grows over six years as they deal with office politics, personal growth, and a secret romance that could ruin both of their careers.
The drama is directed by Chiang Chi-cheng and written and produced by Gao Xiao-xian. Jing Boran and Sun Qian lead the cast, with Liu Xiaobei, Qi Tianqing, Zhang Yezi, Guo Xiaoting, and Li Chuan in supporting roles.
The show became a global hit after its release. It debuted at No. 2 on Netflix’s Global Non-English TV list with 2.4 million views and 21.5 million hours viewed in its first week. It entered the weekly Top 10 in 22 markets, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Venezuela, and Qatar. It also topped the Netflix TV charts in Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam.
Release and Streaming Details
The Early Spring premiered on August 26, 2026, on Youku in China and on Netflix worldwide. New episodes were released in pairs, with the finale arriving on September 9, 2026. The full season is now available to stream on Netflix in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and most global markets. Viewers in China can watch the complete series on Youku.
The show has a rating of 6.7 on Douban, China’s popular review platform. Some viewers criticized the workplace setting as too polished and the male lead’s early behavior as harsh. Others praised the chemistry between the leads and the mature portrayal of adult relationships.
A follow-up season titled “Midsummer Sunshine” has appeared on platform listings, with calls for the original cast to return. No official confirmation has been released.
Stay with VvipTimes for more updates on The Early Spring, its cast, and the biggest stories from Chinese and global entertainment.
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