First Time I Saw You

Zhong Nian, a successful journalist who spent twelve years in London, returns to her hometown of Nan City after resigning from a prestigious position at The Times. Her decision is driven by a desire to reconnect with her roots and care for her widowed mother. Upon arrival, a mix-up at the airport leads to her suitcase being taken by the wrong person. She is picked up by Sui Yu, an old acquaintance known for his playboy lifestyle, who drives her to her new apartment. During the drive, a near-accident reveals the presence of Liang Yifeng in a following car. Liang Yifeng, a cold and wealthy attending physician and business executive, had been watching Zhong Nian with intense, hidden obsession since spotting her in Sui Yu’s vehicle. He is the son of the family that took Zhong Nian in during her high school years, a period marked by emotional distance and unspoken tension between them.

The suitcase mix-up becomes the catalyst for their reunion. Liang Yifeng realizes he possesses Zhong Nian’s luggage, which contains her savings and personal items. When he attempts to open it, he discovers the combination lock has been changed, but the luggage tag reveals her name. This discovery forces him to confront his long-suppressed feelings. Flashbacks reveal that twelve years ago, Liang Yifeng fell in love with Zhong Nian the moment he saw her at her father’s funeral in the rain. He followed her home, smoking beneath her window, beginning a decade of silent, possessive devotion. Despite their proximity as housemates and classmates, they remained parallel lines, with Liang Yifeng masking his intensity behind an aloof exterior.

The narrative shifts to Su Huachao’s wedding, where Zhong Nian serves as a bridesmaid and Liang Yifeng as a groomsman. In the fitting room, they share a charged moment when the lights go out, forcing Liang Yifeng to help Zhong Nian with her dress. The wedding ceremony intensifies their connection; when Zhong Nian nearly falls, Liang Yifeng catches her, and they simultaneously reach for the tossed bouquet. Later, during the banquet, Zhong Nian, unaware of local drinking customs, consumes excessive alcohol. Liang Yifeng facilitates this, pouring her drinks, and subsequently carries her to his reserved hotel suite when she becomes incapacitated. There, he tends to her while battling his own restraint, revealing a tattoo over his heart bearing her name, symbolizing his lifelong commitment.

As Zhong Nian begins her new job at the City Evening Post, she faces workplace hostility and rumors linking her to Sui Yu. Her professional path intersects with Liang Yifeng again when she is assigned to cover a fire drill at the hospital where he works. During the drill, a violent incident occurs when a grieving patient’s relative attacks staff. Zhong Nian intervenes to protect a child and a doctor, displaying physical courage. Liang Yifeng arrives and shields her from an attacker, sustaining injuries himself. This event breaks the ice between them, leading to a dinner invitation and an overnight stay at Zhong Nian’s apartment after a rainstorm. Liang Yifeng’s internal monologue reveals his dangerous possessiveness and the depth of his twelve-year obsession.

The story establishes a complex dynamic where Zhong Nian remains guarded and rational, viewing Liang Yifeng as a distant figure from her past, while Liang Yifeng struggles to balance his controlled public persona with his consuming private desire. The narrative sets the stage for a romance built on shared history, unresolved trauma, and Liang Yifeng’s relentless, albeit restrained, pursuit. Zhong Nian’s return to China is no longer just a homecoming but the beginning of a rekindled relationship that challenges her independence and forces her to confront the boy who once watched her from the shadows.