First Love Again Episode 6 Recap
> First Love Again Recap
In 2019 London, Xia Wenxi arrived at Ye Youning’s home, bringing a stack of letters Grandpa Zhou had written during his hospitalization. She explained that Grandpa Zhou had frequently written to Ye Youning, though he never knew where to send them. Grandpa Zhou often expressed how much he missed Ye Youning and wondered about his life, including his career and if he had married.
He had also shared with Xia Wenxi that while he wouldn’t see many things in Ye Youning’s future, he was certain Ye Youning would find happiness. Despite believing in Ye Youning’s future happiness, Grandpa Zhou carried immense guilt, regretting that he hadn't treated Ye Youning better after taking him in, and that he ultimately caused him pain. Ye Youning, deeply saddened, recounted his repeated attempts to alter time and space, hoping to bring Grandpa Zhou back.
Each time, however, Grandpa Zhou would still pass away, burdened with new sorrows. He desperately asked Xia Wenxi what he needed to do to save his grandfather. Xia Wenxi revealed that Grandpa Zhou had suffered a traumatic injury that led to a brain hemorrhage. She also mentioned that he had an old head injury from a previous car accident, which, combined with his old age, his body simply couldn’t withstand.
When Ye Youning pressed for details about the car accident and the old injury, Xia Wenxi admitted she couldn't recall the specifics, only remembering it happened after Ye Youning had left. She then urged Ye Youning to return with her to their hometown to retrieve Grandpa Zhou's ashes and pay their respects.
Meanwhile, back in Jiangcheng in 2006, Xia Wenxi and Ye Youning arrived late for school, having taken the bus together after Ye Youning refused to ride his Grandpa's sidecar. As they entered the classroom, the teacher scolded them. Xia Wenxi tried to explain their tardiness by saying she was helping Ye Youning, whose leg was injured. During class, while reciting texts, Ye Youning noticed a patch of bird poop on the back of Xia Wenxi's uniform.
He subtly offered his jacket to cover it. Xia Wenxi was annoyed he hadn't told her earlier, and her outburst earned her a punishment of standing at the back of the classroom with a textbook. Lin Jiaqi, who harbored feelings for Xia Wenxi, also offered his jacket, but Ye Youning had already given his. Other students who made light of Xia Wenxi's bad luck also earned themselves similar punishments.
The mysterious smell in the classroom was eventually traced to Ye Youning’s desk—Xia Wenxi’s homemade egg dumplings. Xia Wenxi, upset that Ye Youning didn't want the burnt dumplings, was about to throw them away after class when Lin Jiaqi intervened. He offered to taste her cooking and ended up eating the entire burnt batch. Later, Lin Jiaqi asked Xia Wenxi if she had managed to get tickets for the Mayday concert.
She replied that she had given up, lamenting that it would take money falling from the sky for her to get tickets. Unbeknownst to Xia Wenxi, Lin Jiaqi was determined to get her concert tickets. He sold his cherished jersey for cash, despite the low price, and used the money to buy two 500-yuan recharge cards. He meticulously followed the instructions to redeem points online for concert tickets, which would be mailed to him within three days.
Soon after, during P. E. class, word spread that Lin Jiaqi was in the clinic due to food poisoning from the egg dumplings. Chen Tingting, who secretly admired Lin Jiaqi and kept a record of every small interaction they had, including a candy wrapper he once gave her, rushed to the clinic only to find he had already left. Lin Jiaqi, having obtained the tickets, was attempting to sneak back into school by climbing a wall.
He was nearly caught by Director Zhu, but Chen Tingting, spotting the situation, cleverly distracted the director by pointing him in the wrong direction, allowing Lin Jiaqi to get back inside undetected. Later that day, Ye Youning received a call from his father, Zhou Zhihua, who wished him a happy birthday and apologized for forgetting it.
Ye Youning, still resentful, accused his father of having ulterior motives, believing he was only calling to butter him up to ask Grandpa Zhou for money, just as he had done before. He angrily hung up. At home, Grandpa Zhou had prepared a celebratory birthday dinner. He presented Ye Youning with a gift from Zhou Zhihua, assuring him that his father still cared.
This only further incensed Ye Youning, who vehemently denied his father's sincerity, believing the gestures were hollow and self-serving. He then lashed out at Grandpa Zhou for defending Zhou Zhihua, exclaiming that everyone expected him to be understanding and forgiving, but no one ever told his father to stop hurting him. Ye Youning recounted how his mother cried daily because of his father, making his childhood miserable. He declared his hatred, wishing his father would die in front of him.
Heartbroken and angered by Ye Youning’s words, Grandpa Zhou slapped him. Ye Youning, furious, stormed out of the house, limping down the street. In 2019, while at home mourning Grandpa Zhou, Ye Youning had a sudden realization. He remembered that he had left Grandpa Zhou after their heated birthday argument years ago.
He concluded that his childish outburst and subsequent departure had led to Grandpa Zhou being left alone, causing him to suffer a car accident while chasing after him, and ultimately passing away with guilt and regret. Overwhelmed with remorse, Future Ye Youning desperately texted Xia Wenxi in 2006, imploring her to prevent Ye Youning from leaving Grandpa Zhou, no matter what.
Xia Wenxi, who hadn't spoken to Ye Youning all day and was initially reluctant to intervene due to their recent tensions, changed her mind after learning that Grandpa Zhou's fate was at stake. She then set out to find Ye Youning, checking with a police officer who directed her towards the train station. She tried calling Ye Youning, but his phone was off. Xia Wenxi eventually found Ye Youning at the train station.
She confronted him, asking if he was really leaving and urging him not to abandon Grandpa Zhou. Ye Youning retorted that it was none of her business and accused her of being selfish. Xia Wenxi, in turn, called him selfish for considering leaving his elderly grandfather alone. Ye Youning, emotional and in pain, shot back that people like her, who lived happy lives, couldn't understand his suffering, and questioned her right to lecture him.
Just as the argument escalated, Grandpa Zhou appeared, calling out for Youning. As he hurried across the street, he was nearly hit by a car. Xia Wenxi quickly pulled him to safety. Ye Youning, witnessing his grandfather's close call, rushed over, his anger melting into concern. Grandpa Zhou, tearfully, apologized to Ye Youning, admitting his failure in raising Zhou Zhihua and the suffering it caused Ye Youning and his mother.
He also expressed regret for not understanding Ye Youning's feelings and for hitting him. He then gently asked Ye Youning to come home with him. Ye Youning, also in tears, embraced his grandfather, and together, they walked home. In 2019, a lightning flash signaled another shift in the timeline. Future Ye Youning sat alone in his home, still thinking of his grandfather. Suddenly, he heard Grandpa Zhou's voice. Grandpa Zhou walked in, holding a bowl of wontons, calling out to Youning. Grandpa Zhou was alive, and Ye Youning, stunned, asked, "Grandpa, it's really you?"
