Why Is The Early Spring So Addictive? A 6-Year Boss × Employee Romance and Its Intimate Scenes Explained
Jing Boran × Sun Qian | The real hook is not just the kissing—it is the slow burn, emotional tension and boundaries of an adult relationship.
If your feed has suddenly filled with clips of Jing Boran and Sun Qian exchanging long looks, leaning closer and stopping just short of saying what they really feel, chances are they came from The Early Spring.
The 24-episode urban workplace romance premiered on August 26, 2026. Jing Boran plays creative director Luan Nian, while Sun Qian plays Shang Zhitao, a 22-year-old newcomer trying to build a career in Beijing. Their relationship begins as boss and subordinate—and stretches across roughly six years of attraction, distance, separation and growth.
Before its premiere, reservations had already passed four million. After launch, discussion quickly expanded beyond plot: Do the leads have chemistry? Why do the intimate scenes feel so charged? Is the advertising-agency setting convincing? And how closely does the adaptation match readers' expectations?
01.The real attraction is not the “boss fantasy”—it is the distance
The first hook is obvious: their professional positions are unequal. One is a demanding creative director; the other is a new employee. That hierarchy creates distance before romance even begins.
The Early Spring places its romance inside the pressure-cooker world of an advertising agency, letting love and career growth unfold at the same time.
What makes the story more interesting is that it does not rush toward a neat romantic payoff. The two move closer, pull apart, reassess each other, and eventually have to ask whether they still fit after both have changed.
▶ Official Video | Secret Relationship Trailer
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If the embedded player is blocked by SHOPLINE, click the thumbnail to watch on YouTube.
02.Why did the kissing and intimate scenes become such a talking point?
After the premiere, searches and short clips around the drama's kissing scenes, car moments and adult-romance atmosphere quickly became some of its most shareable content.
But the official material is less about “how bold” the scenes are than about distance: lingering eye contact, hesitation, a body moving closer, or a conversation that ends without either person stepping away.
That is exactly why the chemistry works. The camera does not rush to give the audience an answer, so the tension before a kiss can feel more charged than the kiss itself.
▶ Official Video | When the Distance Starts to Disappear
▶ 03.Behind the intimate scenes is one very important role
One of the more interesting production details is the use of a professional intimacy coordinator. The production invited Tsai Chia-yin, who had previously worked on Let's Talk About CHU, to help actors communicate movement, performance choices and physical boundaries before filming intimate scenes.
Sun Qian has also said that having this kind of professional support can help actors psychologically. That is precisely why intimate scenes are worth discussing without reducing them to spectacle.
💗 YOUKU ROMANCE | Couple Chemistry Short
▶ 04.120+ looks: even the wardrobe tells part of the story
Beyond the romance, Luan Nian's wardrobe has become part of the show's urban appeal. Jing Boran reportedly spent time observing work at a 4A advertising agency and participated in styling the character, with more than 120 looks prepared for the role.
That matters because clothes are part of character language. The shape of a jacket, an open collar, a fitted knit or a crisp shirt all affect how we read confidence, distance and control.
The same applies off-screen. Sometimes the difference between an outfit that feels polished and one that feels distracting is simply whether the first layer stays smooth, supportive and comfortable for the whole day.
💕 YOUKU ROMANCE | Another Official Couple Moment
▶ 05.More important than “Will he kiss her?” is a woman's own sense of security
Watching Shang Zhitao grow from a 22-year-old newcomer into a woman who can stand on her own makes the drama easy to connect with. Early in a career, it is common to overthink every sentence, every meeting and every first impression.
Over time, confidence becomes less about asking whether everyone else thinks you look right and more about knowing you feel comfortable in your own body.
In Hong Kong's humid weather, white shirts, thin knits, camisoles and off-shoulder dresses all make the first layer matter. If a bra digs in, feels hot or keeps slipping, even the best outfit can become something you spend the whole evening adjusting.
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06.From Office Hours to Date Night: 4 “Early Spring” Lingerie Picks
If you like Shang Zhitao's understated but increasingly self-assured urban style, start with lingerie that does its job without demanding constant attention.
VEIMIA Cooling Seamless Bra
Best for: White shirts, T-shirts, lightweight knits and long commutes.
Why we like it: Cooling, seamless and lightweight, designed to stay discreet under thinner fabrics.
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VEIMIA Airy Seamless U-Back Bra
Best for: Camisoles, lower-back tops and date-night outfits.
Why we like it: The U-back shape helps keep bra edges from peeking out under lower-cut looks.
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VEIMIA Secure Strapless Bra
Best for: Off-shoulder dresses, bandeau necklines and formal dates.
Why we like it: Anti-slip support and a smooth finish mean less time pulling and readjusting.
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VEIMIA Minimizer Bra
Best for: Fuller busts, shirts and fitted tops.
Why we like it: Designed for stable coverage, reduced bounce and a smoother outline under clothing.
View Product →07.So why is The Early Spring working?
Calling it popular simply because “there are lots of kissing scenes” misses the point. What really holds the story together is the imbalance between two people who meet at different points in life—and the way that imbalance changes over six years.
Shang Zhitao has to grow. Luan Nian has to change too. Only when they become more equal can the relationship move beyond the thrill of the forbidden and become something they can consciously choose.
Good lingerie works the same way: it should support your body, not ask your body to change for it.
LOVE EVERY MOMENT OF YOURSELF
Feel Comfortable First. Then Fall in Love. 💕
Work, dinner, a date—or simply an ordinary Friday. Feeling comfortable in your own body is its own kind of confidence.
Explore VEIMIA Hong Kong →The Early Spring FAQ
When did The Early Spring premiere?
The series premiered on August 26, 2026 and has 24 episodes.
Who are the leads?
Jing Boran plays creative director Luan Nian, while Sun Qian plays Shang Zhitao, a young professional building her career in Beijing.
Why are the intimate scenes getting attention?
Beyond the leads' chemistry, the production also employed a professional intimacy coordinator to help communicate movement and performance choices before filming intimate scenes.
Were the car-kiss scenes completely improvised?
There are multiple online claims, but exact durations, kiss counts and whether specific moments were fully improvised should not be treated as established fact without direct confirmation from the production or actors.
Did Jing Boran really prepare more than 120 looks for the drama?
According to public reporting, Jing Boran participated in the styling of Luan Nian and more than 120 looks were prepared for the character.
What promotion is VEIMIA Hong Kong currently running?
At the time of editing, the Hong Kong site displays a 9.9 Super Sale: buy two or more items to receive a free gift, with free shipping and 30-day easy returns. Final prices and promotions are subject to the live website at checkout.
Editor's note: This article is based on public entertainment reporting, publicly available drama information and official video materials. Unverified claims about exact kissing durations, kiss counts or improvisation are not presented as established facts. Product prices and promotions are subject to the live VEIMIA Hong Kong website.
