A woman in a car. Illustration photo by Pixabay
A brief 15-second clip showing two former lovers unexpectedly crossing paths on a highway in China a decade after their breakup has gone viral, attracting millions of views online.
The encounter took place Monday morning amid slow-moving traffic on the Shanghai–Chongqing Expressway, local outlet QQ reported.
The woman was driving from Tongling to Hangzhou when she recognized the license plate of the car in front of her. She said she had remembered the number for 10 years, even though the couple had separated in 2015 and had not kept in touch since.
She honked twice to get his attention. The man responded by rolling down his window, leaning out, and waving with a smile. Their cars traveled side by side briefly before continuing on in different directions.
The video quickly fueled discussion on Chinese social media about how people should react when unexpectedly meeting an ex.
Some users praised the woman’s composure, noting that she did not attempt to stop or reconnect, but simply confirmed he was doing well before moving on. Others argued that remembering her former partner’s license plate for so long suggested lingering feelings and could be unfair to any current partner.
An online poll on Chinese social media later found that 68% of respondents would smile and move on if they met a first love again while 12% said they would consider reconnecting.
U.S. psychologist Holly Schiff says first love is often associated with formative experiences in youth and can leave lasting memories, according to Bustle magazine.
“You will carry these memories with you throughout your lifetime especially since this person was responsible for some of your personal growth.
“First loves usually also represent your youth or a younger, more simpler time, one which most people look upon fondly and long for,” Schiff says.
Psychologist Robin Buckley, however, warned against attempting to rekindle past relationships, saying it can distract from the present and reinforce idealized memories.
He says, “You will be reliving the past, and distracting yourself from your present. It also triggers the associated neurotransmitters and re-strengthens the biased memories.”
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