The First Frost Episode 6 Recap
> The First Frost Recap
One day in high school, Wen Yifan was urgently informed by her teacher that her mother had called, asking her to go to the hospital because something had happened to her father. Wen Yifan rushed out, trying to call her mother but getting no answer. Sang Yan, seeing her distress, followed her out. He chased after her bus for a while before managing to board it.
When they arrived at the hospital, Wen Yifan hesitated at the door of her father's room, scared to go in. Sang Yan reassured her, promising to always be by her side, no matter what happened. Years later, as the New Year approached, Ms. Qian at the TV station was facing the difficult task of assigning staff for holiday duty.
She called out several names, but everyone had an excuse: Su Tian had forgotten her prior arrangements, Zhen Yu was planning a trip to Hainan, Fu Zhuang had not returned home for two years, and Wu Mian had a blind date arranged by his mother.
Just then, Wen Yifan received a message from Sang Yan, who said he wouldn't be returning to their apartment until the eighth day of the Spring Festival because his family home was too crowded with relatives. He also asked her to help finish the food in the refrigerator. Seeing this, Wen Yifan volunteered to stay on duty, stating she had nothing else to do. Ms. Qian praised her sense of responsibility.
Meanwhile, Su Hao'an was frantically sending orders to Zhong Siqiao's platform, trying to get her to pretend to be his girlfriend for a visit to his grandparents. Zhong Siqiao initially refused, asserting that her platform strictly prohibited such services and that it would be awkward, especially with him. She also worried her account would be flagged for "malicious order brushing." Su Hao'an, desperate, pleaded with her to help him as a friend.
Eventually, Zhong Siqiao reluctantly agreed but set a firm boundary: she would help as a friend but would not engage in any girlfriend-like behavior. Su Hao'an agreed to her terms. On New Year's Eve, after her shift, Wen Yifan bought a gift for Uncle Zhang, the TV station guard. She noticed his wife and daughter had come from their hometown to join him, creating a warm family scene that made her feel a pang of envy.
Back at her lonely apartment, she video-called Zhong Siqiao, who was celebrating with her large, boisterous family. Zhong Siqiao asked if Wen Yifan had eaten dumplings, reminding her it was a New Year's tradition. Wen Yifan admitted she hadn't and had even forgotten to buy any. With only her dog, Dian, for company, she felt the profound silence of her apartment. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. It was Sang Yan.
Wen Yifan was surprised, reminding him he had said he wouldn't be back until the eighth day of the Spring Festival. Sang Yan simply reiterated that there were too many relatives at his home and not enough rooms. He walked straight to the kitchen, claiming he had cooked too many noodles and needed her help to eat them. As Wen Yifan helped put away ingredients, she suggested adding some dumplings, reminding him it was New Year's Eve. He agreed.
She was surprised by his cooking skills and found his noodles "pretty tasty," playfully teasing him about being unable to cook a single portion. When Sang Yan just watched her eat, she gently reminded him that a reunion dinner should be eaten together, prompting him to join her. He even gave the noodles a long, auspicious name.
Thanks to Sang Yan's unexpected arrival, Wen Yifan finally had dumplings and felt a sense of reunion warmth, realizing this was their first dinner together alone since they had reunited. Later, they sat on the sofa watching the Spring Festival Gala, leaving a wide space between them for Dian. During the broadcast, Wen Yifan's mother video-called, showing off her new family, and her step-sister Jia greeted Wen Yifan.
The call made Wen Yifan feel distant, and her internal monologue revealed that for many years, the meaning of the Spring Festival had been lost to her. After the call, she asked Sang Yan why he hadn't called his parents. He replied dismissively that they didn't care much about him. His mind then drifted to Wen Yifan's difficult high school years. After her father's death, her mother and aunt discussed where she would live.
Her mother promised to pick her up once she was settled, but Wen Yifan was first sent to live with her aging grandmother. Tragically, her grandmother passed away soon after, and Wen Yifan ended up living with her aunt and uncle, where she was not welcomed. She vividly recalled her aunt arguing that she should not eat at their family table.
On another occasion, while out shopping, Wen Yifan realized she had lost the twenty yuan her aunt had given her. Terrified she would be sent away again, she sat crying until Sang Yan appeared and asked to borrow twenty yuan. Sang Yan, after momentarily disappearing to get cash, returned and handed her the money.
He gently told her not to be so upset over such a small amount and promised to lend her any amount she needed if she ever lost money again. Wen Yifan eventually dozed off during the gala. She woke up and apologized, then wished Sang Yan a Happy New Year before heading to bed. Sang Yan returned the greeting. On New Year's Day morning, Zhong Siqiao and Xiang Lang arrived to wish Wen Yifan a Happy New Year.
Zhong Siqiao tried to enter Sang Yan's room, but Wen Yifan quickly stopped her, reminding her of their co-living agreement to inform each other before bringing guests home. When Xiang Lang needed to use the bathroom, Wen Yifan suggested her room, but he insisted on using Sang Yan's, thinking it would be fine between men. Wen Yifan warned him that Sang Yan would mind.
At that moment, Sang Yan called Wen Yifan, telling her he had bought too much porridge that morning and left it in the rice cooker for her. He overheard the commotion and a male voice from her apartment. Wen Yifan quickly explained that Zhong Siqiao and Xiang Lang were visiting. Sang Yan ended the call, saying it was too noisy and they would talk later.
Sensing Sang Yan's displeasure, Wen Yifan's friends teased her about being afraid of him, though she denied it. To avoid Sang Yan, they decided to go out for the day, jokingly calling it "running for our lives" from "that big monster." They drove to a scenic spot, where Zhong Siqiao received a call from Su Hao'an, asking her to meet him at their bar, "Overtime," for a "rehearsal" of their fake girlfriend plan. She agreed and left.
As it was cold, Xiang Lang draped his coat over Wen Yifan before he dropped Zhong Siqiao off and drove Wen Yifan home. On the way back, Wen Yifan suddenly remembered Sang Yan's porridge. When she arrived, she found Sang Yan already back and casually drinking coffee. She apologized for forgetting to eat the porridge, but Sang Yan retorted, questioning her assumption that the porridge was specially for her.
He then reminded her of their agreement about not bringing guests home without prior notice. Wen Yifan apologized again and promised to inform him next time. Sang Yan, however, suggested a "punishment" by "exchange": he would also bring someone home for dinner the next day. Surprised, Wen Yifan asked if he had a girlfriend, explaining it would be helpful for his girlfriend to understand their co-living arrangement.
Sang Yan stated he didn't have a girlfriend and wasn't interested in having one. They agreed to communicate if either of them started a relationship during their co-living. Wen Yifan was left wondering who Sang Yan planned to bring home. A flashback revealed that Sang Yan had abruptly left his own family's New Year's meal.
Despite his father urging him to stay and his sister asking if he was meeting Jiaxu, Sang Yan had insisted on leaving to meet a "friend"—which led to his unexpected arrival at the apartment with the excuse that his family home was too crowded.
