The First Frost Episode 1 Recap
> The First Frost Recap
Years ago, on a rainy night, Sang Yan questioned Wen Yifan, asking if he was merely a backup option for her. With a somber "Goodbye," he vanished into the rain, leaving Wen Yifan heartbroken and teary-eyed as she watched his retreating figure. Years later, Wen Yifan, an intern at Nanwu TV, found herself in a perilous situation while investigating illegal business owners with her colleague, Fu Zhuang.
They were aggressively pursued on the road by a red car, and their news material was forcibly taken. A flashback revealed Wen Yifan's supervisor, reminding her that despite her good work at Yihe Daily, a traditional paper medium, she would be eliminated if she couldn't adapt to the TV station's fast-paced environment after her probation. Suddenly, the red car ahead crashed, trapping the business owners inside.
Wen Yifan, prioritizing safety over reporting, immediately urged Fu Zhuang to call an ambulance while she rushed to help the injured couple, carefully pulling them from the wreckage. The driver thanked her for her quick actions. Later that night, back in her shared rental house, Wen Yifan was showering when she noticed movement behind the curtain.
Confronting a co-tenant, a stout man, he denied any wrongdoing, insisting he was merely doing laundry and accusing her of constantly complaining to the landlord. Annoyed, Wen Yifan returned to her room, locking the door. She was often plagued by nightmares and restless sleep. The next afternoon, around 2 p. m. , Wen Yifan was woken by a call from her friend, Zhong Siqiao.
Zhong Siqiao excitedly told her about running into a handsome high school deskmate and suggested they go out for fun that night. She mentioned a new restaurant bar called "Overtime" on Gastropub Street, boasting a "super handsome" boss. Wen Yifan, having worked overtime for a week straight and feeling exhausted, reluctantly agreed to a quick glance.
When they arrived at "Overtime," Zhong Siqiao raved about its clever name, suggesting it served as an excuse for office workers to tell their bosses they were "at Overtime" when in fact they were relaxing. As Zhong Siqiao pointed out the supposedly handsome boss, Wen Yifan was stunned to see Sang Yan behind the bar. In a frantic attempt to avoid being seen, she turned away sharply, accidentally bumping into a server and spilling a drink on her clothes.
Outside the restroom, as Wen Yifan tried to clean her top, Sang Yan appeared. He introduced himself as "Sang, the boss of Overtime," and offered her his jacket, stating that her entire bill for the night was on the house as an apology for the mishap, all while seemingly not recognizing her. Wen Yifan decided to pretend not to know him either.
Although she declined the refund, a server misinterpreted her gesture as a tip for Sang Yan, who seemed unfazed. Walking home alone later, Wen Yifan found herself lost in thought, wondering what her life would have been like if she and Sang Yan hadn't broken up in high school. She pondered if she would be happier and braver.
She resided in a shared house Zhong Siqiao had found for her, acknowledging its less-than-ideal environment but appreciating its convenient location for her commute. The noisy train tracks outside her window mirrored her restless mind. The following day, Wen Yifan returned to "Overtime" to search for a bracelet Zhong Siqiao had lost. She learned from a staff member that Sang Yan might have inadvertently taken it when he collected her stained clothes.
She left her contact information with the bartender, He Mingbo. Sang Yan, upon hearing about the lost bracelet, surprisingly located it himself, despite another staff member's insistence that no such item had been found. He then handed it to Wen Yifan. Zhong Siqiao later called Wen Yifan, overjoyed that the bracelet, a gift from someone she liked, had been found.
That evening, as Wen Yifan prepared for bed in her shared house, another co-tenant, a glasses-wearing man, forcibly pulled her into his room. He menacingly told her that her screams were useless, his wife wouldn't be back for hours, and that she was "all alone," so "no one will care what happens to you."
Just as he attempted to assault her, the other co-tenant, Pang Dashu, burst in and intervened, claiming he was merely "doing the right thing" and proudly declaring himself a "good guy" from the Northeast. At the police station, Wen Yifan was assured that her room had been thoroughly checked and no cameras were found, allowing her to feel safe enough to return home. However, still deeply shaken, she sought refuge at Zhong Siqiao's house.
Alone in the middle of the night, Wen Yifan was haunted by vivid flashbacks of her mother abandoning her as a child. The next morning, observing Zhong Siqiao's lively and supportive family, Wen Yifan found comfort, but also a sense of longing for such warmth. Back at work, Wen Yifan received a commendation. Her brave actions at the car accident scene had motivated the illegal business couple to turn themselves in, earning her an honor certificate.
Her supervisor praised her for being "self-made and extraordinary" and announced that she would be formally hired. Ms. Qian informed Wen Yifan that she would be joining her for the New Year's Eve live broadcast. On New Year's Eve, as Wen Yifan and her team headed to True Love Square for the live broadcast, she spotted Sang Yan in a passing car. The square was bustling with people celebrating.
Worried about her appearance during the broadcast, Wen Yifan borrowed a mask from Zhong Siqiao. While waiting in line for the restroom, she encountered Sang Yan again, who was waiting for his younger sister, Sang Zhi. Observing Sang Yan's casual interaction with Sang Zhi, Wen Yifan overheard Sang Yan playfully boast about how easily he got into Nanwu University compared to Sang Zhi's exam struggles.
Later, Zhong Siqiao mentioned that Sang Yan had replied to her own New Year's group message. Wen Yifan realized Sang Yan had blocked her previously, as she hadn't received his replies to her previous messages. Deciding to try again, she sent him a "Happy New Year" message. He replied with a single question mark. Wen Yifan then sent a final message, simply stating, "It's fine if you're not happy."
As the New Year's countdown reached its climax, Wen Yifan inadvertently bumped into Sang Yan, who was engrossed in a phone call. She quickly mumbled, "Sorry. Happy New Year." Sang Yan, after hanging up, returned the greeting with an indifferent "Happy New Year" before turning and walking away. As another man wished him a happy new year, Sang Yan clarified, "Stop getting too full of yourself. I wasn't talking to you." Wen Yifan was left wondering if his brief greeting had even been directed at her.
