First Love Episode 19 Recap
> First Love Recap
Lu Wanwan, Ren Chu, Qiao, and Fan Yi met for dinner at a Western restaurant. Initially, Lu Wanwan wished they had chosen a hot pot restaurant, finding Western food expensive and not filling. Qiao, however, insisted that a Western restaurant offered a more romantic atmosphere suitable for a date, emphasizing the importance of appearance and reminding Lu Wanwan to be more reserved as Ren Chu's girlfriend.
Lu Wanwan attempted to appear delicate by ordering only a vegetable salad, but Ren Chu, familiar with her actual appetite, ordered a substantial meal for her, including sirloin steak, cream of mushroom soup, pasta, shrimp, and Tiramisu, which delighted her. During the meal, Qiao tried to subtly prompt Lu Wanwan to engage more romantically with Ren Chu.
After seeing Lu Wanwan tie her own hair instead of letting Ren Chu help, Qiao pulled her aside to the restroom, criticizing her for not giving her boyfriend opportunities to show his affection. Back at the table, when Lu Wanwan mentioned wanting pasta, Ren Chu immediately offered to mix it for her.
Later, when he asked if she had enough to eat, she playfully asked if he was about to make a sweet confession, only for him to practically respond by ordering her a second plate of pasta, further highlighting their familiar dynamic. After dinner, the group went to a KTV bar. Ren Chu had already pre-selected a long list of folk-style songs for Lu Wanwan, knowing her preferences and ensuring she could sing to her heart's content.
Lu Wanwan enthusiastically belted out the tunes, much to Qiao's dismay. Qiao again pulled Lu Wanwan away, scolding her for singing "Best Bro" songs instead of love songs on a date. To encourage interaction, Qiao suggested they play a dice game of "true words." During the game, Fan Yi and Qiao learned new things about each other, but when it came to Lu Wanwan and Ren Chu, they discovered they already knew each other's pasts almost entirely.
This led Lu Wanwan to feel a lack of mystery in their relationship, wondering if Ren Chu also felt their bond was more like that of an "old couple" than a new one. Meanwhile, at their university, Wang Xinyu’s dance teacher announced a competition for a solo dance spot in the upcoming anniversary celebration of a sister school, Qingyao University. Wang Xinyu immediately saw this as an opportunity to impress Meng Xibai and signed up, determined to win the role.
Later, Ren Chu met Lu Wanwan at the library for a study session. Lu Wanwan, however, longed for a more typical, romantic couple's date and felt a sense of disappointment. She tried calling him "Senior" instead of his name, hoping for a different reaction, but he didn't seem to notice. Lu Wanwan later confessed her frustration to Qiao, explaining that she felt their relationship lacked novelty.
Qiao suggested that Lu Wanwan cook for Ren Chu, believing a home-cooked meal would create a unique sense of intimacy. At the Qingyao University celebration, Wang Xinyu successfully secured the solo dance spot but was crushed to find Meng Xibai was not in the audience. She later confronted him, and he revealed he had missed the event for an experiment. Outraged, Wang Xinyu declared their breakup, to which Meng Xibai confusingly responded by asking if they hadn't already broken up.
With her parents away, Lu Wanwan attempted to cook braised bamboo shoots for Ren Chu. Ren Chu arrived dressed formally, and as she struggled with the recipe, the dish burned, causing hot oil to splash and scald her hand. Ren Chu immediately rushed to her side, tenderly tending to her injury and insisting that she never cook again, promising to handle all future meals himself. Shortly after, Lu Wanwan's parents returned unexpectedly.
During dinner, Mrs. Lu tried to set Ren Chu up with another girl, prompting Lu Wanwan to boldly announce that she was Ren Chu's girlfriend. Ren Chu confirmed this, stating he had liked her for a long time. When asked what he liked about her, Ren Chu simply replied, "everything." After dinner, Mrs. Lu gave Lu Wanwan relationship advice. To give Ren Chu some privacy from her parents, Lu Wanwan led him to her room.
She proudly showcased her childhood awards: first place in an eating competition, a tug-of-war championship, and an award for her first handmade dessert. Ren Chu then presented his gift: a notebook filled with "I like you" translated into various languages. Lu Wanwan realized he had visited the library specifically for this romantic gesture. Amused by his Chinese handwriting, she teased him, to which he replied that he is "super sweet."
He then kissed her, explaining that while he might be slow to learn the "technique" of romance, his feelings for her were based on "ninety-nine percent sincerity." Lu Wanwan found his sincere words to be the most romantic thing she had ever heard.
