The Early Spring has officially wrapped its 24-episode run, delivering a deeply satisfying conclusion to a story defined by messy emotions, workplace complications, and missed chances. Starring Jing Boran as Luan Nian (Luke) and Sun Qian as Shang Zhitao (Flora), the hit Chinese drama, which aired simultaneously on Netflix and Youku, captivated audiences across the world with a slow-burn but risky romance that was never quite simple. For years, Luan Nian and Zhitao remained trapped in an intense but stagnant dynamic, unable to figure out how to move forward. So, how does this complicated narrative finally conclude, and what makes their ending feel so entirely different from where they started? [ Warning : Spoilers ahead.]
Episode 24 delivered one of the most emotional moments of the finale when Luke finally made his grand gesture. He revealed that when he had first driven Flora home all those years ago, he had not actually been going that way. At the centre of the series was Flora and Luke’s secret six-year weekend relationship, made even more complicated by the fact that he was her proud, demanding boss at Lingmei Advertising in Beijing. There was no denying their chemistry, but being together was never easy. Luke’s controlling nature often left Flora feeling boxed in, while her own insecurities in her 20s made her constantly wonder if she was good enough for him, or if she was making the right choices for herself. That change was also visible in their more personal moments. By then, Tan Mian had sent her the video of him breaking down during New Year’s Eve. When they nearly kissed in Flora’s apartment, she stopped him. Luke did not pressure her or assume that their history meant she owed him another chance. He waited for her to make that choice herself. Later, when Flora’s father caught them together the morning after they had finally reunited, Luke did not try to hide or dodge the situation. He wanted to marry her and build a future with her openly. Instead of relying on the usual flashy display of wealth, he put together something far more personal, a pop-up exhibition called the Museum of Time. The exhibition brought together photographs, belongings and memories that captured the years Flora had spent building her life in Beijing and the bucket list she had made for her 20s. It also gave Luke a chance to finally let his guard down. He had simply been “looking for a reason to stay close to her. It was a small confession, but it showed that Luke had noticed and cared about Flora long before he was willing to admit it. The proposal that followed kept things emotional without taking itself too seriously. Their dog, also hilariously named Luke, arrived with balloons and a message asking Flora to say yes.
“You don’t have to be perfect to be worthy of love” perhaps summed up The Early Spring better than anything else. With a competitive workplace and years of things they had never really said to each other thrown into the mix, it was hardly surprising that their relationship kept finding its way back to the same painful dead end. He simply faced it and said, “We dated, broke up because of a misunderstanding, and are still in love,” making it clear that he was no longer looking for another secret relationship. With their closest friends around them including Lumi, Tracy, Sun Yu, Tan Mian and more, Luan Nian got down on one knee, and a tearful Flora said yes.
