Download The Early Spring Episode 19

The Early Spring Episode 19 begins after Shang Zhitao's painful separation from Luan Nian. Determined to regain control of her own life and career, Zhitao volunteers to take on a challenging project in Northwest China. The assignment is not an easy one, but she sees it as an important opportunity to gain experience, prove her abilities and build a future on her own terms. When Lumi learns about her decision, she understands that Zhitao is deliberately choosing a path that requires courage and independence. Zhitao also tells Sun Yu about her decision and admits that her relationship with Luan Nian has left her emotionally confused. She begins to wonder whether the two of them were truly in love or whether they had become accustomed to being together without ever achieving genuine equality. She feels that being with Luan Nian sometimes turned her into someone who simply followed his decisions instead of making her own choices. Rather than remaining trapped in that pattern, she decides to embrace the opportunity in the Northwest. Before leaving, Zhitao once again discusses the project with Luan Nian. He initially questions why she insists on choosing such a difficult assignment and suggests that she is deliberately taking the road nobody else wants. Zhitao remains firm and explains that she wants to challenge herself and discover what she is capable of accomplishing without relying on him. Luan Nian remembers her earlier list of goals for before turning thirty, including marriage and having children, and realizes that she is now choosing a very different path from the one he expected. Eventually, Luan Nian agrees to let her leave. He even offers to take care of Luke while she is away. Zhitao initially wants to bring the dog with her, but Luan Nian points out that she will be extremely busy and may not have enough time to look after him. He also has plans to travel for work, but he proposes arranging for a dog-walking helper from their residential community to take care of Luke when necessary. After considering the practical situation, Zhitao finally agrees to let Luke stay with Luan Nian. Three months later, Zhitao has completely adapted to life in the Northwest. The difficult project has become a major success, and she has been promoted to become the Northwest project director. Her hard work, strong management skills and understanding of the local market impress everyone involved. When Luan Nian travels to the region with Lumi and a new colleague, Song Ying, to inspect the project, they are surprised by how much Zhitao has grown. Zhitao confidently explains the project's development, strategy and future prospects to the visiting team. Song Ying is immediately impressed because she has already heard about Zhitao's reputation. Lumi proudly reminds everyone that Zhitao is someone she personally helped train, while Luan Nian watches her with obvious admiration. He openly acknowledges that Zhitao has become an excellent professional and recognizes that she has achieved something significant without his direct guidance. Luan Nian originally wants to speak privately with Zhitao after the presentation, but suddenly experiences severe abdominal pain. Zhitao notices that something is wrong and insists on taking him to the hospital. Medical examinations reveal that he is suffering from kidney stones. Despite their recent separation and unresolved feelings, Zhitao immediately puts aside her own emotions and stays beside him while he receives treatment. Zhitao sits with Luan Nian during his intravenous treatment and eventually falls asleep beside him. Luan Nian quietly supports her head with his shoulder and reaches out to hold her hand. The small gesture reveals that despite their separation, neither of them has truly stopped caring about the other. After leaving the hospital, Luan Nian refuses to return to his hotel. He insists that he needs someone to take care of him and persuades Zhitao to let him stay at her home. He also asks her not to tell Lumi about his condition. Zhitao initially protests, but Luan Nian stubbornly follows her home, making it clear that he wants to remain close to her. At Zhitao's apartment, Luan Nian deliberately calls his mother, Liang, and proudly tells her that he has a girlfriend taking care of him. Liang is immediately delighted and asks to speak with Zhitao. Zhitao politely greets her, while Liang affectionately complains about Luan Nian's difficult personality and asks Zhitao to be patient with him. Embarrassed by his mother's enthusiasm, Luan Nian quickly takes the phone away before she can reveal too much. The next day, while Zhitao goes to work, Luan Nian remains at her apartment. When he hears her returning, he immediately pretends that his pain has become worse. Zhitao suggests that he return to a hotel once he feels better, but he refuses and retreats to the bedroom. She eventually tells him that she bought a chicken to make soup for him. Luan Nian finally comes out and, knowing that Zhitao is not particularly skilled at cooking, decides to prepare the chicken soup himself. As they eat together, he quietly enjoys being cared for by her again. When Zhitao returns from work, she finds Luan Nian preparing the bed. She asks whether he has recovered enough to return to Beijing. Instead of leaving, Luan Nian reveals that he has taken a long leave from work. He finally admits what he has been unwilling to say since their separation: after Zhitao left, he realized just how much she meant to him. He tells her that he only understood the value of what they had after losing it and that he wants them to take another chance together. Luan Nian sincerely asks Zhitao whether they can start over and take another adventure together. His unusually direct confession touches Zhitao deeply. She realizes that she has missed him just as much and embraces him. The two finally put aside their anger and misunderstandings, and their relationship begins again. After reconciling, Luan Nian asks Zhitao to return to Beijing with him. Zhitao refuses to abandon the Northwest project because she sees it as an important opportunity for her career. She tells him that if he is speaking as her boyfriend, she wants him to respect her decision and allow her to stay. If he is speaking as her boss, she will obey the order, but she will regret giving up such an important opportunity. Luan Nian understands her position and chooses not to use his authority against her. Instead, Luan Nian proposes another solution: he will take Luke and travel with Zhitao during his leave. The couple decides to take a road trip toward Tibet, turning their reunion into another shared adventure. With Luke accompanying them, they drive through the spectacular landscape, enjoying the freedom of traveling together without the pressures of the office surrounding them. During the trip, Liang calls Luan Nian and learns that he and Zhitao are traveling together. She is delighted and realizes that her son is finally treating the relationship seriously. Luan Nian's father remains more skeptical and warns Liang not to become too optimistic because Luan Nian has a history of making things difficult for himself. Liang, however, is happy that her son has finally found someone he genuinely cares about. When they reach Tibet, Zhitao dresses in traditional Tibetan clothing and asks Luan Nian to take photographs with her. At first he refuses to pose, so she jokingly suggests finding a handsome male model to take pictures with instead. Luan Nian immediately changes his mind and agrees to participate. During the photo session, he becomes affectionate and repeatedly embraces Zhitao, creating photographs that make them look like newlyweds. The photographer is impressed by how natural and attractive the couple looks together and suggests keeping one of their photographs as a display image for the studio. Luan Nian confidently agrees, joking that photographs of them this good are difficult to come by. Zhitao is amused by his arrogance but is also deeply moved by the warmth he shows her throughout the trip. Later, Zhitao's parents call while the couple is resting. Zhitao openly admits that she is traveling with her boyfriend. Before she can explain further, Luan Nian introduces himself to her parents and enthusiastically presents himself as Zhitao's boyfriend. He even describes their relationship as having lasted for six years, exaggerating the length to make it clear that he is serious about her. Zhitao becomes embarrassed and quickly ends the call before her parents can ask too many questions. Luan Nian is initially annoyed that she cut the conversation short, but Zhitao immediately softens the moment by sitting on his lap and kissing him. Their playful exchange shows how much more relaxed and affectionate their relationship has become after their reconciliation. The two later talk about their first impressions of each other. Zhitao remembers seeing Luan Nian for the first time and thinking that he was unbelievably handsome. Luan Nian gives her a much less flattering answer, admitting that when he first saw her, he wondered how someone could be such a fool. Zhitao becomes annoyed and turns away from him, refusing to speak. Luan Nian quickly tries to win her back by suggesting that they should watch the Northern Lights together in the future. Zhitao takes his hand and tells him that wherever he goes, she is willing to go with him. After the painful separation, the couple has finally reached a point where their relationship feels less like a struggle for control and more like a shared adventure. Episode 19 ends on this warm note, with Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao enjoying their renewed relationship while traveling together with Luke. Zhitao has successfully established herself professionally in the Northwest, while Luan Nian has finally learned that loving her means respecting her choices rather than controlling her future. Their reconciliation gives both of them a chance to begin again on more equal terms.