Cupid's Kitchen Episode 16 Recap
> Cupid's Kitchen Recap
With the Future Star Culinary Competition fast approaching, Jiang Qianfan instructed Lin Kesong to avoid highly stimulating foods rich in oil, salt, and fat. Although Lin Kesong expressed her dislike for him, she stated her stronger aversion to losing like a coward. Jiang Qianfan praised her performance that day, and she seized the opportunity to ask for an ice cream, but he denied her request, telling her to wait until after the competition.
During media interviews following the press conference, Elise, representing the Quentin Group, confirmed that President Thomas had consistently rejected all sponsorship to maintain the competition's independence and seriousness, a decision she respected. When asked about her prediction for the competition's outcome, Elise acknowledged that her answer might offend some, but stated that while she and Jiang Qianfan were good work partners, Victor was a genius.
Meanwhile, reporters pursued Boris, eager for the "big secret" he had teased in a morning video. Boris, however, announced that the video was for sale to the highest bidder. Boris then managed to shake off the reporters. He instructed Lin Xiaoyu to start a live stream and offered Jiang Qianfan a specially mixed drink. He pointed out that Jiang Qianfan hadn't consumed anything since entering the venue, questioning whether there was something wrong with his sense of taste.
Elise rushed over to intervene, but Boris told Jiang Qianfan to "man up" and stop using women to shield him. Jiang Qianfan calmly took a sip, accurately identifying the drink's components as vodka, apple-flavored liqueur, Old Tom gin, and a bit of absinthe, declaring it "awful." Boris, frustrated that his plan was foiled, dismissed Jiang Qianfan's accuracy as a "lucky guess" and stormed off. Lin Kesong observed this entire spectacle.
Elise followed Jiang Qianfan to the stairs, asking if he had anticipated Boris's actions. Jiang Qianfan explained that after Boris’s previous attempt to test him with cake, he suspected a follow-up. He had therefore preemptively requested the menu and wine list from President Thomas, claiming he was on medication and feared conflicts with the food and drinks. He had deduced the drink's ingredients based on Boris's character and the drink's color.
Jiang Qianfan then sensed someone listening upstairs and quickly went to check, but found no one. Boris remained adamant that his judgment about Jiang Qianfan was correct, despite the failed attempt. Lin Xiaoyu suggested that his earlier video announcement might have forewarned Jiang Qianfan, giving him time to prepare. Accepting this possibility, Boris decided he would catch Jiang Qianfan off guard next time, declaring he would never lose his prey.
Later, after deleting his video, Boris was trolled online, which he angrily blamed on Jiang Qianfan. Just then, police officers from the City Police Office arrived, investigating Li Yan's case. They revealed that Li Yan's phone records showed contact with Boris over the past three months. Boris lied, claiming he had merely offered Li Yan a job, which Li Yan declined, and that he hadn't seen him since.
After the police left, Boris told Lin Xiaoyu that he had thought Li Yan was just fired by Jiang Qianfan, not that he had fled after committing a crime. He then reminded her to check the competition challenge that would be announced after midnight. Lin Kesong, having overheard Jiang Qianfan's conversation with Elise and witnessed Boris's test, concluded that Jiang Qianfan must have lost his sense of taste.
This revelation explained why he couldn't discern the saltiness of the chrysanthemum fish, why his crab stuffed orange dish had gone wrong, and the secret technique he used for taste ratings. On her way home, her mind was abuzz with questions, but she hesitated to ask Jiang Qianfan directly, fearing his anger. The first round's challenge was announced: wild greens. Elise predicted that Victor would use Shepherd's Purse. Jiang Qianfan, in contrast, decided to use Okinawa spinach.
The next morning, Jiang Qianfan instructed Lin Kesong to prepare for a trip to a mountainous area with water to gather wild ingredients. Lin Kesong, treating it like a childhood spring outing, made numerous tea eggs, much to Jiang Qianfan's amusement. Following their map, they arrived at a small river. Jiang Qianfan asked Lin Kesong to taste the river water to identify trace elements.
Lin Kesong, still suspicious of his taste, recognized the taste of Shepherd's Purse but feigned ignorance, hoping to test him. Jiang Qianfan eventually confirmed it was Shepherd's Purse. As they continued, they encountered Elise and Victor and decided to move on to find different ingredients. Jiang Qianfan then tasked Lin Kesong with finding Okinawa spinach, describing its taste as a little bitter, spicy, and subtly fruity, with hints of garlic and spring onion.
He explained that its unique flavor and ease of cooking made it perfect for her first competition, where she would undoubtedly be nervous. Lin Kesong was amazed that he could distinguish such nuanced tastes, making her wonder if his sense of taste was, in fact, perfectly fine and he was just tricking her. Meanwhile, Elise claimed she had work to attend to, intending to secretly follow Jiang Qianfan and Lin Kesong.
However, Victor admonished her, stating that "sneaking up behind them is too odd" and not like her. He convinced her to stay and continue digging for Shepherd's Purse, promising to make her a soup with it. Later, when Elise and Victor showed their mother the Shepherd's Purse they had gathered, Madam Quentin revealed that Elise and Jiang Qianfan had actually sown the seeds using drones. Victor was furious, but Elise placated him, urging him to consider them as her own.
Elise then revealed that Jiang Qianfan would be using Okinawa spinach, which she and Jiang Qianfan had planted together, with only the two of them knowing its location. Victor noted that now Lin Kesong knew as well, suggesting this was why Elise had been so distracted lately. Elsewhere, Bru was by the river with Old Huang, fishing and collecting water hyacinths. Jiang Qianfan eventually led Lin Kesong to a spot where Okinawa spinach grew abundantly.
Lin Kesong tasted the bitter vegetable, and a surge of relief washed over her, confirming her belief that Jiang Qianfan's sense of taste was indeed intact. She yearned to declare it to the world. Jiang Qianfan informed her that the Okinawa spinach's flavor was best when picked between three and four in the morning, meaning they would have to camp overnight. Lin Kesong was thrilled, as camping was something her mother had always forbidden.
At Yuxuan, the chef Damai presented Elise with a "Wagyu Sirloin and Red Crayfish" dish for her to taste. He expressed concern that the crayfish's fishy smell hadn't been properly removed, a sentiment shared by his team and many customers who visibly struggled with the first bite. Despite this, Elise, to protect Jiang Qianfan's reputation, praised the dish as "really delicious." Damai, unable to argue, left the dish. Song Yiran accompanied Chu Ting on a shopping trip.
As they passed a flower shop, Chu Ting noticed Song Yiran's gaze linger. Understanding his unspoken thought, she promptly ordered ten floral baskets, requesting the message "My best wishes for Lin Kesong's success in the competition." She told Song Yiran that she was willing to believe him and asked for his tolerance. Song Yiran, deeply touched, declared Chu Ting the best woman he had ever met. Meanwhile, Lin Xiaoyu discovered that Bru planned to use water hyacinths for his dish.
She remarked that he might not even beat his sister with such an ingredient. Bru, unfazed, simply replied, "It's fine." He then advised Lin Xiaoyu to choose a newly improved wok for the competition, explaining that it would ensure better heat distribution and be lighter to handle. He thoughtfully prepared a bowl of hot soup noodles for her, which moved her.
Lin Kesong asked Jiang Qianfan why, if he liked the bitter Okinawa spinach so much, he didn't incorporate it into a dish at Yuxuan. Jiang Qianfan responded thoughtfully, stating that the bitterness of Okinawa spinach was incomparable to the hardships people endure, and some things simply cannot be shared. Observing the scars on his hands, Lin Kesong realized the profound suffering he had experienced.
Jiang Qianfan explained that a chef's scars are medals: recalling how he had once worked for two days and two nights without sleep to perfect his cutting skills under Montgomery, and how his fingernails had regrown after being scalded while testing oil temperatures. Lin Kesong admitted that hearing his stories made her reconsider wanting to be a "successful person." Jiang Qianfan, with a smile, told her she no longer had a choice.
Later that evening, after Yuxuan had closed, Elise found the chefs discussing the problematic crayfish dish again. She reiterated that at Yuxuan, Jiang Qianfan was "the correct answer" and his palate was the standard. Despite her firm words, the chefs remained unconvinced, murmuring among themselves that continuing this way would lead to trouble. Separated by a curtain in their temporary lodging, Lin Xiaoyu found herself unable to sleep, a rare occurrence despite her many past competitions.
Bru deduced that she likely wanted to win too much. He then attempted to soothe her with calming, hypnotic words, guiding her to forget her worries and imagine herself floating lightly on a cloud. Having successfully gathered the Okinawa spinach, Jiang Qianfan urged Lin Kesong to return. Lin Kesong, however, was reluctant to leave the serene place, wishing she could spend every day happily rather than stressed by competition.
Upon their return, Lin Kesong was surprised to find ten floral baskets at her door, sent by Song Yiran and Chu Ting with a message wishing her success. She grew even more nervous, lamenting that she didn't want to draw so much attention and feared the embarrassment of losing. Jiang Qianfan comforted her, telling her that people were simply jealous. Lin Kesong then noticed another gift box. Upon opening it, she shrieked in terror, revealing a bloody, disemboweled doll.
Jiang Qianfan immediately pulled her into an embrace. Boris emerged, laughing triumphantly, confirming it was his prank. Enraged, Jiang Qianfan grabbed Boris by the collar and began to hit him. He sternly warned Boris not to teach his apprentice such "dirty tricks," reminding him that he still kept the bullet Boris had sent him years ago. Jiang Qianfan declared Boris "simply a joke," threatening to return the bullet if he ever dared to bother Lin Kesong again.
