First Love Again Episode 20 Recap
> First Love Again Recap
In 2019, Ye Youning awoke in the hospital and immediately used his old phone to text young Xia Wenxi, asking what had happened after they watched the meteor shower. At that moment, young Xia Wenxi was watching a movie with young Ye Youning, and her reply was discovered by him.
She dutifully reported all the events since the meteor shower, detailing that they had slept in a tent on the mountain, that she had signed up for a singing contest with him that noon, they had eaten hot pot, and were now at the cinema. Ye Youning, finding no clues in her response to explain her death, recalled Chen Tingting's earlier words about him bringing Xia Wenxi back from Venice.
He resolved to go to Venice to uncover the truth behind Xia Wenxi's passing. Upon arriving in Venice, Ye Youning sought out the doctor who had treated Xia Wenxi. The doctor reiterated that her death was medically inexplicable, stating that her body showed no abnormalities. Undeterred, Ye Youning requested the ambulance records. Following the records, he located the spot where Xia Wenxi had collapsed. There, he encountered an old man who had been drawing her portrait at the time.
The painter recounted that Xia Wenxi had been fine, but she suddenly collapsed without any prior warning. Both the police and the hospital had confirmed there was nothing unusual. With no apparent anomalies, Ye Youning was at a loss as to how he could alter the past to save her. He sent a message to young Xia Wenxi, instructing her never to go to Venice, ever. Although puzzled, she promised him she wouldn't.
However, this action did not change the timeline. Ye Youning then recalled a story told by a local Venetian about a priest who invented a time machine. The priest, after falling in love with a girl at a carnival, used the machine to interfere with her life, trying to save her from death. But each attempt to change her fate only shortened her life, until she vanished completely, forgotten by all.
The local Venetian explained that this was a punishment for interfering with time, as the priest and the girl's timelines were never meant to overlap, and their love was a product of wrongful intervention. The story resonated deeply with Ye Youning, leading him to believe that if he had never intervened in Xia Wenxi's life, she might have lived a peaceful existence.
Meanwhile, in 2006, after the movie, young Ye Youning was upset about Xia Wenxi secretly texting on her old phone. He suspected she was involved with someone else, but Xia Wenxi insisted it was a misunderstanding. She tried to explain that the person was a "future man" and the phone was a "time machine," reminding him of how the person had helped them in high school and even provided lottery numbers.
Young Ye Youning dismissed her explanations as fabrication and, still angry, walked away. Xia Wenxi, feeling distraught, called Chen Tingting to talk about the argument. As they spoke, a basketball nearly hit Xia Wenxi, but young Ye Youning suddenly appeared, blocking it. Surprised and pleased, she asked why he was there, but he tersely claimed he was just "passing by" before heading to his dorm. Despite the cold, snowy weather, Xia Wenxi waited outside his dormitory.
Eventually, young Ye Youning came out, draped his jacket over her, and expressed concern for her well-being. Xia Wenxi tearfully swore there was no third party involved, and he softened, no longer pressing the issue. He then carried her back to her dorm. Separately, Chen Tingting attended a club event at HUAA where she encountered Lin Jiaqi. He asked about Xia Wenxi's recent situation, and Chen Tingting reassured him that Xia Wenxi was doing well.
Later, Chen Tingting realized she had left her old code notebook at HUAA. Coincidentally, Lin Jiaqi found it. Using an invisible pen, he discovered entries detailing Chen Tingting's long-standing affection for him, including a note about "the 109th day of knowing Lin Jiaqi." Lin Jiaqi went to Chen Tingting's dorm to return the notebook and, before she could express her feelings, he gently rejected her.
He explained that Xia Wenxi was the only one in his heart, acknowledging that her feelings were her own but that his could not change, leaving Chen Tingting heartbroken. Back in 2019, deeply affected by the priest's story, future Ye Youning decided to try to restore the correct timeline to save Xia Wenxi.
He sent a message to young Xia Wenxi, telling her that she and young Ye Youning were not meant to be together and that their continued relationship would negatively impact both their futures. He urged her to break up with him. At that moment, young Xia Wenxi was preparing to perform at the preliminary round of a singing contest, and her phone was with young Ye Youning.
He saw the message and, enraged, texted future Ye Youning, demanding to know why he kept harassing Xia Wenxi and pushing them to separate. Future Ye Youning responded, identifying himself as the 31-year-old version of young Ye Youning and insisting that if he truly loved Xia Wenxi, he should break up with her. Young Ye Youning was furious and dismissed the claim as absurd.
After Xia Wenxi finished her song, "Time Machine," she descended from the stage to find young Ye Youning gone. She quickly went to find him. Upon learning about the future Ye Youning's message, she was shocked. Young Ye Youning demanded that she cease all contact with the future Ye Youning, but she hesitated, wanting to understand more. Angered by her reluctance, he refused to answer her calls and walked away.
Xia Wenxi frantically searched for him and found him near a live electrical wire. She quickly pulled him away just as he was about to touch it. Relieved and scared of losing him, Xia Wenxi promised never to use the old phone or contact the future Ye Youning again, regardless of who he was.
Later, young Xia Wenxi sent a final text to future Ye Youning, saying goodbye and explaining that she could no longer communicate with him, as she didn't want to jeopardize her current life.
