Episode Summary
It's Wen Yifan's birthday, but she's unable to be reached by phone. Sang Yan gets her a cake and a special perfume gift, "First Frost," reminding her of her childhood nickname. Yifan, touched by his gesture and fueled by a colleague's sudden labor and relationship reveal, decides to actively pursue Sang Yan, who subtly indicates his interest. The episode highlights a turning point in their relationship, with Yifan determined to make a move.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Sang Yan receiving a text from his mom back in Nanwu, reminding him to bundle up because of the upcoming first frost and the big temperature drop it brings. But Sang Yan's mind is elsewhere – it's Wen Yifan's birthday. He tries calling her repeatedly, but the number is out of service. He throws his phone into a box filled with train tickets from his trips to Beiyu, a silent "Happy Birthday" to Yifan.
Fast forward to day 263 of Yifan and Sang Yan officially living together. At the station where Wen Yifan works, her colleague Su Tian suddenly goes into labor. It's a bit of a scare, and they need to contact the baby's father. In a moment of panic, Xiao Guo from the finance department rushes in, revealing he's Su Tian's boyfriend. After Su Tian safely delivers a baby girl, Xiao Guo pledges to take care of both of them. Witnessing this, Yifan messages Sang Yan, reflecting on the miracle of life.
On the actual day of the first frost, Yifan's grandfather holds a touching farewell ceremony for their dog, Mutou. It brings back memories of Yifan's father's passing. She shares a comforting thought: those who leave us are just going ahead to prepare a warm home for us in the sky. Zhong Siqiao comforts Su Haoan, saying that being remembered fondly is a true blessing.
Back at home, Yifan finds Sang Yan still awake. He asks her to grab a box from the fridge, which turns out to contain a birthday cake. Yifan playfully asks if it's for her, but Sang Yan, ever the stoic, plays it cool. She thanks him and snaps a picture of him with the cake. When Sang Yan asks about her birthday wish, Yifan says it's work-related. Sang Yan, slightly disappointed, mutters something about hoping she'd wished for him to be her boyfriend. The two share the cake, a palpable, unspoken current flowing between them. It's not just cake, though – there's a gift, too. As Yifan goes to get it, Sang Yan gently strokes her hair and softly wishes her a happy birthday.
Su Haoan confides in Sang Yan about having a crush but feeling hesitant. Sang Yan brushes him off, claiming he's busy because a girl is pursuing him. Yifan unwraps Sang Yan's gift: a bottle of perfume named "First Frost." It hits her – Sang Yan remembers her childhood nickname, Shuangjiang (meaning "First Frost"). A sudden, powerful urge to date Sang Yan overwhelms her. She calls Zhong Siqiao, confessing her plan to pursue him. With Siqiao's encouragement, Yifan resolves to be bold and passionate for once.
Later, seeing Sang Yan's light still on, Yifan texts him a thank you. Sang Yan replies, telling her to sleep early. She promises a return gift for his birthday, to which he simply responds, "Oh." But after sending the message, Sang Yan can't help but grin, reminding Yifan that his birthday is 69 days away. Yifan replays this voice message repeatedly, her heart soaring.
Yifan shares her pursuit plans with Su Tian, who's shocked to learn the object of her affection is her roommate. Meanwhile, Sang Yan is working late. Yifan, eager to stay awake for his messages (especially the countdown to his birthday, now at 68 days), searches online for advice on how to win over someone you've previously wronged. She's determined to stay awake, not wanting to miss a single message from him.
