First Love Episode 23 Recap
> First Love Recap
Lu Wanwan's pre-internship came to an end, and Ren Chu had planned a trip for them. Lu Wanwan expressed her delight with the arrangements, describing it as her dream vacation where someone else handled all the bookings and planning. Seeing this, Meng Xibai decided to invite Wang Xinyu to join them. Wang Xinyu initially hesitated, pointing out that they were not a couple.
Meng Xibai assured her there were four bedrooms in the homestay, and he and Ren Chu would stay downstairs while she and Lu Wanwan stayed upstairs, promising not to disturb her. Lu Wanwan also encouraged Wang Xinyu to join, suggesting it would be a good opportunity to deepen her relationship with Meng Xibai after her performance. Wang Xinyu agreed to go.
As Lu Wanwan and Wang Xinyu went shopping for the trip, Wang Xinyu focused on purchasing items to ensure she looked beautiful, including tone-up cream, night powder, and even sexy pajamas. She confided in Lu Wanwan that while she truly wanted to travel, she was concerned about interrupting her dance practice. She explained that Meng Xibai was the one who ended their relationship, so if they were to reconcile, he would need to initiate it.
She intended to remain reserved and not make the first move. For a more romantic journey, Wang Xinyu decided she and Meng Xibai would drive to the destination, wanting to experience the feeling of elopement from a road movie. Meanwhile, Ren Chu and Lu Wanwan opted to fly and unexpectedly encountered Ren Chu's parents at the airport. Lu Wanwan became visibly nervous, exhibiting uncontrolled leg shaking, which she self-diagnosed as a result of uncoordinated muscle contractions and a dopamine drop.
Ren Chu introduced Lu Wanwan as his girlfriend, and his parents were very amiable, expressing their fondness for her and suggesting they have a meal together before their flights. During the meal, Lu Wanwan gradually relaxed as Ren Chu praised her accomplishments and his parents echoed their approval. She even recounted an amusing story about Ren Chu sleeping in the school swimming pool, which had initially scared her.
On the plane, Lu Wanwan watched the horror film "The Conjuring", terrifying herself. Upon arriving at the spacious villa designated as their homestay, she felt it resembled a horror house from a movie, imagining ghosts everywhere. Ren Chu's explanation that a startling noise was just a squirrel did little to calm her. Despite her fear, she tried to maintain a brave front. He offered to let her sleep in his room if she was afraid, but she claimed she wasn't.
Later that night, Lu Wanwan experienced intermittent pain in her right lower abdomen, which she identified as symptoms of her chronic appendicitis. She then heard a terrible scream, which she feared was a hallucination. Overcome by fear and discomfort, she went to Ren Chu's room and asked to sleep there, promising she meant nothing by it. She was initially nervous sleeping beside him but eventually drifted off, comforted by his presence and a cup of hot water he offered.
Separately, Meng Xibai and Wang Xinyu's long drive was not going smoothly; during a stop, Meng Xibai tried to get Wang Xinyu to do stretching exercises, even offering to teach her the five-animal exercises, but she was entirely uninterested. Meng Xibai and Wang Xinyu finally arrived late that night. Exhausted, Wang Xinyu immediately found a room and fell asleep.
Meng Xibai attempted to change her into clean clothes, but she kicked him when he touched her feet, so he opted to sleep on the sofa to watch over her. The next morning, Wang Xinyu was disappointed that he had done nothing more, lamenting that she brought her "sexy pajamas for nothing." Around the same time, Lu Wanwan emerged from Ren Chu's room, and both couples quickly explained that nothing inappropriate had transpired.
Meng Xibai noted Ren Chu's tired appearance, teasing him about Lu Wanwan's restless sleeping. The group then planned a hike. While Ren Chu and Wang Xinyu went to buy tickets, Lu Wanwan seized the opportunity to speak with Meng Xibai, urging him to be more proactive in pursuing Wang Xinyu. During their conversation, Lu Wanwan unexpectedly learned from Meng Xibai that Ren Chu would be participating in a year-long exchange program, meaning their long-distance relationship would resume.
Lu Wanwan was visibly dismayed, wondering why Ren Chu hadn't told her. During the hike, Wang Xinyu accidentally sprained her ankle. Meng Xibai, being a doctor, insisted on examining her foot, despite her reluctance to reveal her "ugly dancer's feet." He then carefully carried her down the mountain. In the car, as he treated her injury, Meng Xibai poured out his heart.
He apologized for breaking up with her, confessed his deep desire to take care of her for the rest of his life, and expressed his wish to be her personal doctor forever. He asked for another chance to start over. Overjoyed by his sincere confession, Wang Xinyu happily agreed to reconcile and immediately asked him to plan their "dating schedule." Meanwhile, Ren Chu continued to hike with Lu Wanwan, who was silently grappling with the news of their upcoming separation.
She wondered if her independent facade had made him think she didn't mind being apart. Ren Chu then led the group to an art museum. There, he had arranged for a room to be filled with green light. He explained that light is an electromagnetic wave with its own wavelength, and the wavelength of green light is exactly 520 nanometers, symbolizing "I love you" (5-2-0 in Mandarin).
Lu Wanwan was deeply moved by this romantic gesture, which Ren Chu had arranged with the help of his parents and the museum curator, calling it the most romantic gift she had ever received. Ren Chu then officially informed her about the year-long exchange program. Despite her earlier worries, Lu Wanwan expressed her full support.
Ren Chu explained that seeing her sleep so soundly and safely the previous night made him realize she was still a little girl inside, reinforcing his decision to make this grand gesture. He wanted her to know that she was the center of the light, the center of his life, and his ultimate destination. Lu Wanwan reciprocated, acknowledging that he was her destination too.
