First Love Again Episode 16 Recap
> First Love Again Recap
Yang Chuang was on the phone with Gao Xiaoai, discussing snacks for their planned board game session, when he noticed Ye Youning meticulously setting up a romantic scene in Central Park. Yang Chuang, realizing Ye Youning intended to confess his feelings to Xia Wenxi, was surprised by his usually stoic friend's romantic gesture.
Ye Youning, who was about to call Xia Wenxi, instead asked Yang Chuang to invite her to the park for a surprise, to which Yang Chuang readily agreed, wishing him good luck. Shortly after, Ye Youning left to pick up the flowers he had ordered. Meanwhile, Yang Chuang encountered Lin Jiaqi, who was also preparing a confession for Xia Wenxi, remarking on the unusual coincidence that both friends chose the same day.
Yang Chuang informed Lin Jiaqi that Ye Youning was also planning to confess at Central Park and had asked him to deliver an invitation to Xia Wenxi. Enraged by this news, Lin Jiaqi immediately rode his bike to the park, where he destroyed Ye Youning's carefully planned confession site. He then told Yang Chuang to guard his own setup, especially the balloons, until he returned.
Just as Lin Jiaqi rode off, Ye Youning returned to find his site destroyed and gave chase to Lin Jiaqi. Yang Chuang found himself in a dilemma, having promised both friends different tasks related to their confessions. Back at Lin Jiaqi's designated confession spot, which Yang Chuang was supposed to be guarding, Gao Xiaoai and Chen Tingting arrived, having been waiting for Yang Chuang for longer than he promised.
As Yang Chuang attempted to stand up after crouching for an extended period, his legs became numb, causing him to involuntarily kneel, holding the bouquet of flowers intended for Lin Jiaqi's setup. Chen Tingting, misinterpreting the situation, enthusiastically encouraged Gao Xiaoai, believing Yang Chuang had orchestrated the romantic scene and flowers specifically for her. Seizing this unexpected opportunity, Yang Chuang confessed his feelings to Gao Xiaoai, who, amidst cheers from onlookers, accepted his proposal.
Just then, Lin Jiaqi returned to find Yang Chuang and Gao Xiaoai celebrating their new relationship. Ye Youning also arrived, confronting Lin Jiaqi and accusing him of destroying his carefully planned confession site. Lin Jiaqi, upset by the turn of events, scoffed at Ye Youning, implying he deserved it. Xia Wenxi, witnessing the chaotic scene, wondered why Lin Jiaqi and Ye Youning were even there together.
Feeling defeated and not wanting to prolong the argument, Ye Youning began pushing his bicycle home, only to be surprised by his mother, who had unexpectedly returned. Ye Youning's grandfather had previously advised Ye Youning's mother to be patient and communicate with her son about moving to England, noting how much more cheerful and social Ye Youning had become since living with him.
Despite this, Ye Youning's mother quickly began packing his belongings, telling him they could buy clothes in England. Ye Youning finally confronted her, stating he didn't want to leave, and asked her to listen to him for once. She dismissed his refusal as a tantrum, reminding him of their prior agreement to move to England after her divorce from his father.
She spoke of the immense effort she had put into securing his future abroad, feeling deeply betrayed by his change of heart. Ye Youning calmly explained that the decision to go abroad had always been hers, and she was emotionally manipulating him. His mother, deeply wounded, broke down in tears, calling his words a "stab in her heart."
She recounted the hardships she endured with his father, enduring a difficult marriage for his sake, and confessed that he was her sole hope and reason for living. Ye Youning retorted that he had always wished for them to divorce, enduring over a decade of torment from their daily fights. He insisted that he had finally found a normal life, and if she truly cared for him, she should let him stay.
She then asked if he would abandon her, just as his father had. Ye Youning firmly replied that he was not abandoning her but insisted she couldn't continue to exert such pressure. His mother then recalled how his father had always favored his half-brother, providing him with the best international schooling and plans for overseas studies, while neglecting Ye Youning. She asserted that they could thrive without his father, relying solely on each other.
Ye Youning listened, appearing helpless and weary. The day for college entrance exam results arrived, and Xia Wenxi's parents excitedly roused her to check her scores. Despite their anxious encouragement, Xia Wenxi discovered she scored 525. While her parents were thrilled, celebrating her intelligence, Xia Wenxi was visibly upset. She knew the minimum admission score for Jiangcheng University the previous year was 545, rendering her score insufficient for her dream school.
Distraught, Xia Wenxi expressed her disappointment, emphasizing that she had promised Ashin of Mayday, who had written to her to encourage her, that she would get into Jiangcheng University and she couldn't let him down. Her father tried to reassure her, while her mother, frustrated, began to expose the truth. She chastised her husband, blaming his "bad idea" of impersonating Ashin for Xia Wenxi's current obsession with Jiangcheng University.
Her father, in turn, argued that his letters were precisely what motivated her to achieve such a high score. To rectify the situation, Xia Wenxi's father decided to write another letter, again under Ashin's guise. This new letter would gently advise Xia Wenxi not to be overly critical of herself and to choose a university that was a realistic fit for her abilities.
To maintain the illusion, he arranged for the letter to be mailed from Taiwan by a contact and sent back. A few days later, while Xia Wenxi was discussing her university application worries with Gao Xiaoai and Chen Tingting, a postal worker delivered another letter addressed to her. Her friends suggested she consider other universities, assuring her that Ashin wouldn't be disappointed. However, upon opening the letter, Xia Wenxi became even more determined.
Despite the letter's content, which subtly discouraged her from applying to Jiangcheng University, she interpreted it as Ashin's way of comforting her. She declared with newfound resolve that she would apply to Jiangcheng University, vowing to re-take the exam the following year, or even the year after, if she didn't get in, determined to achieve her goal. Xia Wenxi's father, despite his previous attempt to steer her away from Jiangcheng University, was delighted by her renewed enthusiasm.
However, he was quickly dismayed when she revealed she had already applied to Jiangcheng University, once again disregarding his "Ashin" letter. Xia Wenxi, unwavering, asserted that she had to try and was prepared to retake the exam if unsuccessful. At that moment, Xia Wenxi's mother arrived, asking if Lin Jiaqi had visited.
She then shared the concerning news that Lin Jiaqi had a heated argument with his father about his university application, which escalated to his father slapping him, causing Lin Jiaqi to run away from home. She urged Xia Wenxi to go and find him. Xia Wenxi hurried off to find Lin Jiaqi, eventually locating him by the sea. Lin Jiaqi confirmed he had indeed fought with his parents over his university application.
Xia Wenxi pressed him, asking why he had abandoned his dream of attending Huanzhou University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He corrected her, revealing that it was his parents' dream, not his, and that he actually wished to attend Jiangcheng University of Aeronautics and Astronautics because someone he liked was in Jiangcheng. Xia Wenxi then mentioned that Ye Youning had told her he would not be going abroad, surprising Lin Jiaqi.
She clarified that Ye Youning had confided this to her privately at school. However, Xia Wenxi also expressed her doubt, noting that with Ye Youning's exceptional academic performance, he would likely be accepted into prestigious universities like Tsinghua or Peking University, making it improbable for him to stay in Jiangcheng. She resolved to confirm his plans directly. Lin Jiaqi then asked Xia Wenxi if she truly didn't understand his reasons for wanting to stay.
When she suggested it was for their group to remain together, he confessed that he was staying because someone he liked was in Jiangcheng. He then reached out, attempting to kiss her, but Xia Wenxi quickly pulled away, startled and frightened. Lin Jiaqi calmly stated that it was sufficient for him that the person he cared for knew his feelings. He then extended his hand, asking if she would allow him to continue to be by her side.
Xia Wenxi, without a word, declined his offer and walked away. Returning home, Xia Wenxi found her parents still arguing vehemently about her university application. Her father was exasperated that she had ignored his "Ashin" letter and applied to Jiangcheng University. During their heated exchange, her mother, in a moment of fury, blurted out the truth: the encouraging letters she had received were not from Ashin, but from her own father.
Devastated by the revelation, Xia Wenxi confronted her father, who was then berated by her mother for his clumsy handling of the situation. Later, her father attempted to apologize, assuring her that he and her mother would support her choices regardless. Overwhelmed by betrayal, Xia Wenxi messaged the 2019 Ye Youning, expressing her heartbreak and confusion. She recounted how her dream of attending Jiangcheng University turned out to be a deception, realizing her father had impersonated Ashin.
She tearfully questioned why he would lie to her after she had placed so much trust in him. The 2019 Ye Youning, taking a break from a lecture, was on a video call with the 2019 Xia Wenxi, who had almost fully recovered from her surgery. She playfully chided him for being too strict and eagerly anticipated their upcoming date.
As he comforted the distressed 2006 Xia Wenxi via text, reassuring her that she would succeed in getting into Jiangcheng University and even date him there, a new memory fragment flashed through his mind: a scene of himself and his mother at an airport, suggesting he was preparing to go abroad.
Concerned, he immediately texted the 2006 Xia Wenxi, urging her to investigate why his younger self was at the airport with his mother, and if he was indeed leaving the country. However, the consequences of his actions were swift and drastic. His timeline abruptly shifted, and he found himself back in his apartment, but this time, the 2019 Xia Wenxi was confined to a wheelchair, in a vegetative state, with a prominent scar on her head.
Distraught, he asked what had happened, only to be met with his own past self's confused reply: Xia Wenxi had been like this for thirteen years, and he had always been by her side. A flood of new memories then revealed the truth: his earlier instruction to the 2006 Xia Wenxi to go to the airport had led to a terrible accident.
On her way, she was struck by a falling telephone pole, causing the severe injury that put her in a coma for over a decade. Realizing his intervention had inadvertently caused this tragedy, the 2019 Ye Youning frantically sent another text to the 2006 Xia Wenxi: "Don't go out! Don't go out! Ye Youning is not going abroad! Listen to me! Don't go out!" In 2006, Xia Wenxi had just stepped outside her home when she received the urgent messages.
She paused to read them, and at that exact moment, a large telephone pole crashed down right where she would have been, narrowly missing her. Her life was saved. The timeline then stabilized, and the 2019 Ye Youning found himself back in his original reality, conversing with a healthy and vibrant 2019 Xia Wenxi on a video call, their relationship restored.
In the 2006 timeline, despite narrowly escaping the falling telephone pole, Xia Wenxi was informed by her grandfather that Ye Youning had gone to the airport with his mother for a 9 AM flight. Panicked and believing he was leaving, Xia Wenxi rushed to the airport. Unable to find him, she broke down in tears, calling him a "liar" and a "bastard" for promising he wouldn't leave and then departing without a word.
She cried, heartbroken that she almost missed a final farewell. Suddenly, Ye Youning appeared behind her, asking who had told her he was going abroad. Relieved and overwhelmed, Xia Wenxi's anxiety vanished, and she threw herself into his arms, crying with joy.
Later, Ye Youning reaffirmed to his mother that he had indeed chosen not to pursue overseas studies, opting instead to attend university domestically, asserting his right to make his own life choices rather than be dictated by his parents' divorce. Xia Wenxi, now reassured, shared a moment of peace with him.
