Drama Recap: Love Song in Winter

Love Song in Winter (冬至)

Character Breakdown | Drama Recaps | Q&A

Synopsis & Character Breakdown

• Genre: Mystery, Romance
• Episodes: 36
• Episodes Length: 35 minutes
• Where to watch: iQiyi (EN), WeTV (EN)

Love Song in Winter is part of iQiyi’s Love On series, focusing on romance with a twist of mystery. Adapted from Ning Long’s novel of the same name, the drama follows Lu Yan, an anesthesiologist, and her ex-boyfriend Jiang Cheng Yi, a police officer, as they unravel a chilling mystery intertwined with their past.

Lu Yan, played by Sun Qian (Take My Brother Away, Dr. Cutie, Islands), is haunted by the suicide of her college friend Deng Man. Years later, she is spooked when she sees Deng Man, who has been dead for years, on her way to work. Seeking answers, she turns to Jiang Cheng Yi, who has recently returned to Ning Hai.

Huang Jing Yu (Addicted) stars as Jiang Cheng Yi, a determined police officer who never moved on from Lu Yan. Using his father’s illness as a reason to transfer back to her city, he is intent on rekindling their relationship while helping her confront the mysterious reappearance of Deng Man. As the pair delves deeper, they uncover truths that could change their lives forever.

Synopsis: On her way to work the night shift, anesthesiologist Lu Yan unexpectedly encounters her long-dead friend Deng Man, triggering a series of strange events. Detective Jiang Cheng Yi, Lu Yan’s ex-boyfriend from years ago, becomes involved in the investigation, and the truth, hidden for eight years, begins to unravel. (Source: iQiyi)

Characters

Sun Qian [孙千]	Huang Jing Yu [黄景瑜]
Lu Yan	Jiang Cheng Yi
Anesthesiologist who suffers from the trauma of losing one of her best friends, Deng Man, in college.	Police officer and Lu Yan’s ex-boyfriend who has never forgotten her. Meeting her again by chance, he uses the opportunity to transfer back to be close to her.

People around Deng Man’s Case

People around Jiang Cheng Yi

People around Lu Yan

People around Wen Peng

heavy spoilers ahead

Love Song in Winter Mini-Episode Recaps

Episode 1

Dr. Han brings Lu Yan along for a pre-surgery consultation, knowing her exceptional ability to communicate with patients’ families. To her surprise, the patient’s son turns out to be Jiang Cheng Yi, her college boyfriend from eight years ago. Now a police officer on leave, Jiang Cheng Yi is equally taken aback by their unexpected reunion, and the atmosphere between them is tense.

Jiang Cheng Yi opposes the high-risk surgery for his father and repeatedly questions Lu Yan’s professional judgment. His challenges make it clear that he still harbors resentment over their breakup years ago. Back then, Lu Yan had ended their relationship abruptly due to a painful secret she couldn’t share, leaving her with lingering guilt. While she struggles to address their unresolved emotions, she remains firm in her medical decisions, leading to heightened tension between them.

Episode 2

Jiang Cheng Yi and Lu Yan collaborate under intense pressure to defuse a life-threatening a bomb strapped to an injured man and through the worry that they show for each other, it reveals that they still care deeply for one another. However, the unresolved secret that caused their breakup continues to create tension.

Meanwhile, Lu Yan’s best friend, Tang Jie, is preparing for her wedding to Jiang Cheng Yi’s college friend, Da Zhong. Both Lu Yan and Jiang Cheng Yiare chosen as the maid of honor and best man, forcing them to spend more time together.

At the wedding, Wen Peng, Lu Yan’s accomplished former classmate and now a successful film producer, also appears. Wen Peng, who has long harbored feelings for Lu Yan, quickly clashes with Jiang Cheng Yi, creating tension between the two.

Episode 3

As the ceremony begins, Lu Yan and Jiang Cheng Yi, serving as maid of honor and best man, watch Tang Jie and Da Zhong’s union with mixed emotions. Among the guests is Ding Jing, who has had a long-standing crush on Jiang Cheng Yi. Despite her attempts to cling to him throughout the event, Jiang Cheng Yi’s focus remains fixed on Lu Yan.

The atmosphere becomes lively as classmates reminisce about their university days, including the screening of an old basketball game video. In the footage, Jiang Cheng Yi and Wen Peng, the star players of opposing teams, are fiercely competitive. Meanwhile, Lu Yan, as a spirited cheerleader, draws laughs from the crowd with her cheerful antics despite missing her formation.

The cheerful mood is abruptly shattered when the video cuts to a photo of Deng Man, Tang Jie, and Lu Yan.

Episode 4

At the hospital, Lu Yan learns from Jiang Cheng Yi’s mother about his father’s near-fatal injury during his time as a police officer. Moved by the conversation, Jiang Cheng Yi finally agrees to his father’s surgery.

Later that evening, Lu Yan notices new lights illuminating the once-dark alley she often passes, realizing Jiang Cheng Yi arranged it. Walking her home, he spots the bicycle he gifted her years ago, still carefully kept. The two reminisce about the days he taught her to ride, rekindling old memories.

That night, Lu Yan is unsettled by persistent knocks at her door from a masked stranger, prompting her to call property management. The following day, her bike is mysteriously dismantled. Jiang Cheng Yi investigates and suspects foul play. Despite the unnerving incidents, Lu Yan remains focused on performing Jiang’s father’s surgery.

Episode 5

In college, Lu Yan was notoriously bad at sports, often struggling to run even 400 meters, much to her classmates’ amusement. However, one day, Jiang Cheng Yi witnessed a surprising moment: while he was about to chase down a thief, Lu Yan, despite her lack of athleticism, sprinted ahead and helped him catch the culprit.

Meanwhile, Lu Yan’s friend, nurse Wang Qianqian, is in an unhealthy relationship with her controlling boyfriend, Zhang Xiaohui. To cheer up Wang Qian Qian, Lu Yan surprises her with a meeting with her idol, Yu Bo Feng, an artist managed by Wen Peng’s company. Zhang Xiao Hui secretly follows them and attempts to harm both women. Fortunately, Wen Peng arrives in time to rescue Lu Yan.

Episode 6

With his leave ending the next day, Jiang Cheng Yi can’t resist seeing Lu Yan one last time. The two revisit their campus, stopping by a nostalgic spicy hotpot shop that brings back fond memories. During their university days, it was Lu Yan who first developed feelings for Jiang Cheng Yi. She boldly confessed her love, but Jiang Cheng Yi, though secretly reciprocating, hesitated. He feared committing to a relationship since he planned to leave the city for graduate studies at the police academy.

Undeterred, Lu Yan declared she wouldn’t give up, asking Jiang Cheng Yi to meet her at the finish line of the race during the school sports meet if he could be brave enough to choose her.

Episode 7

Jiang Cheng Yi and his team chases the hospital bomb scare suspect, Liu Yu Ming, who attempts to escape by jumping from a building but is injured and sent to the hospital. With the case resolved, Jiang Cheng Yi’s colleagues at the precinct tease him about his transfer to Ning Hai.

Determined to win Lu Yan back, Jiang Cheng Yi visits the hospital under the guise of thanking her for saving Liu Yu Ming. Wang Qian Qian invites him to join their dinner, Jiang Cheng Yi initially declines, citing work. However, upon hearing that Wen Peng will also be attending, he quickly wraps up his tasks and makes sure to join the gathering.

Episode 8

After dinner, Lu Yan, Tang Jie, and Wang Qian Qian took a photo together, reminding Tang Jie of a similar one from her university days with Lu Yan and Deng Man. She reflected on the past, remembering how Deng Man’s suicide had deeply affected Lu Yan, leading to her break-up with Jiang Cheng Yi. On the way home, Lu Yan shared to Jiang Cheng Yi how she became close to Wang Qian Qian after the tragedy.

Tang Jie sensed something was off between Lu Yan, Jiang Cheng Yi, and Wen Peng. Lu Yan denied any rekindled romance, while Da Zhong encouraged Jiang Cheng Yi to pursue her. With their support, Jiang Cheng Yi resumed his pursuit, eventually securing a dinner date with Lu Yan.

Episode 9

Lu Yan is stalked by the criminal Wang Qiang in a narrow alley. As she tries to escape and call Jiang Cheng Yi for help, Wang Qiang knocks her unconscious with ether and drags her deeper into the alley. Just as he attempts to assault her, Jiang Cheng Yi arrives in time to stop him.

Jiang Cheng Yi begins investigating Wang Qiang, a known voyeur, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Meanwhile, Wen Peng also starts looking into Wang Qiang’s background. Eventually, the police locate him at an internet cafe, missing his interaction with Ding Jing and a mysterious woman who witnesses the exchange between Ding Jing and Wang Qiang.

Episode 10

Jiang Cheng Yi and Yu Zheng, long-time friends, worked together to set a trap for Wang Qiang and successfully apprehended him. During the interrogation, Wang Qiang denies everything, claiming he randomly chose his target and attacked Lu Yan when he saw she was alone that night.

Wen Peng visits the hospital and invites both Lu Yan and Wang Qian Qian to the premiere of his new movie. However, Qian Qian gives her ticket to Lu Yan, encouraging her to invite Jiang Cheng Yi.

At the movie premiere, Wen Peng is somewhat disheartened to see Lu Yan and Jiang Cheng Yi together but hides his feelings. As the movie unfolds, which is based on Wen Peng’s own story, he recalls his dark college years, where constant pressure from his father almost drove him to suicide. It was during that time that Lu Yan’s appearance saved him, and since then, she became the only light in his life.

Episode 11

coming soon…

Episode 12

coming soon…

Episode 13

coming soon…

Questions and Answers: Plot of Love Song in Winter

Is “Love Song in Winter” adapted from a novel?

Love Song in Winter is adapted from the novel Winter Solstice (or Midwinter) by Ning Long (凝陇).

Who is behind Deng Man’s death?

Deng Man’s death is determined to be suicide. As of episode 10, there is suspicion of Ding Jing and Wen Peng being involved in her death. The character chart as shown above shows that there is a connection between Deng Man, Ding Jing, Wen Peng, and Zhou Zhi Cheng.

Is there a second male lead or female lead?

Wen Peng – He is the second male lead in Lu Yan’s storyline. As her senior, he has had a long-standing crush on her since she helped him during his dark days in university.

Ding Jing – She is the second female lead in Jiang Cheng Yi’s storyline. Ding Jing has been in love with Jiang Cheng Yi for a long time, despite his repeated rejections.

Is there another couple in “Love Song in Winter”?

Lu Yan’s friend Tang Jie and Jiang Cheng Yi’s friend Da Zhong are a married couple.

How does “Love Song in Winter” end? Does “Love Song in Winter” have a happy or sad ending?

Love Song in Winter has yet to conclude but based on the novel, it is said to have a happy ending.

Drama Review: Love Song in Winter

Coming soon…