The online buzz centers around Chinese actress Zhang Ruonan and her stunning performance in the drama The First Frost. Her character, Wen Yifan, is currently receiving a lot of love on social media, especially with the emotional performance she put up during her crying scene.

Zhang portrays Wen Yifan in The First Frost, where she is seen as a "school goddess" — attractive, and complications arise.

When her father dies, and the family falls apart, Wen is forced to live with relatives who treat her like a slave. Audiences have resonated with the character arc, riddled with insecurity and trauma.

As one viewer put it, Wen Yifan is "at first glance, smiling like the sun, but in her heart, it is always raining."

As per KBiZoom, Zhang has received extensive worldwide acclaim for her capacity to express profound feelings.

In just five days, the term "Zhang Ruonan's tears" has garnered more than 80 million interactions online, with numerous fans finding her crying performances pretty and emotional at the same time.

One commenter said, "Not only Wen Yifan crying in The First Frost, but all Zhang Ruonan crying is very touching;"

Another said, "Whether it is loud, wailing tears or solemn, sad drops that shatter you into tiny pieces, she makes you want to wrap her in your arms and whisper 'stop crying, your tears are pearls."

This role, according to fans, allows for a soft and frail soul when she is sad but also for strength and resilience.

One viewer said, "Watching Zhang Ruonan cry makes the whole world seem to have wronged her," which stood as a testament to how well the character was portrayed.

Here's what other fans are saying:

Zhang Ruonan enjoyed the peak of her popularity in the past for her extremely delicate face in the role of school love before being the "youth goddess" for Chinese audiences but is now known for her acting ability.

One of her recent videos alone topped 17m TikTok likes, cementing her status as the most popular actress born after '95 in China.

On Youku, The First Frost broke records prior to its release, with 7.9 million viewers setting watch reminders for the drama, equating to the highest pre-order count in the platform's history.

Although the broadcast raised some controversy, Zhang's performance is growing among fans and critics alike.

As Zhang Ruonan's popularity increased, she appeared third on the "Dream Goddess" table on a Hufu forum poll, just behind Liu Yifei and Gao Yuanyuan.

In addition, her portrayal brought something new to her, having established herself as a capable actress through her recent performances in Cry Me a Sad River and My Love.