Cupid's Kitchen Episode 19 Recap
> Cupid's Kitchen Recap
Lin Kesong found herself in a confusing emotional state, hating Jiang Qianfan yet feeling inexplicably upset upon realizing he was once again with Elise. She questioned her own feelings, wondering if she feared Jiang Qianfan would no longer be as kind to her. She chastised herself, remembering she was merely his apprentice under contract and an outsider who shouldn't entertain such thoughts.
Meanwhile, Li Yan, struggling to make ends meet by selling street food, received a frantic phone call from his mother. She had gambled away the ¥500,000 he previously gave her and was now demanding more money. Frustrated, Li Yan told her he only had ¥2,300 left but promised to transfer it to her. He then called Elise, explaining his desperate plight: he was on a wanted list, unable to find work or travel by plane or train.
He demanded a million yuan from her, threatening to confess everything to Jiang Qianfan if she refused, expressing deep regret for ever taking her money, feeling that imprisonment would be preferable to his current situation. Elise, stating that such a large sum was not immediately available, promised to gather the money and call him back. Driving home alone, Elise broke down in tears.
Following her mother's instructions, she had used the drunken Jiang Qianfan's finger to press a print on the share transfer agreement. She confessed her love for him but lamented that she had passed the point of no return. Upon her arrival, Elise's mother confronted her, eager for the agreement. Elise tried to lie, claiming she hadn't obtained it, but her mother, suspecting her soft-heartedness, snatched her purse and found the document.
Furious, she accused Elise of regretting her actions and lying because of Jiang Qianfan, reminding her that there was no turning back. Elise tearfully admitted she understood. Victor, awakened by the commotion, intervened to protect his sister, urging their mother to calm down and advising Elise to apologize in the morning. The topic for the second culinary competition, "Thrill," was announced. Lin Xiaoyu, eager to train, tried to placate her father, Lin Feng, by preparing pan-fried buns.
He was initially angered by her past behavior, stating he would not allow her to train if she hadn't genuinely learned her lesson. Xiaoyu lied, apologizing for past mistakes concerning her sister, Lin Kesong, and claiming she had given Kesong a doll for good luck to ease her nerves during the previous competition. She then promised to learn from her sister's dedication and train diligently.
Convinced by her earnestness, Lin Feng granted her permission but warned her not to stay out too late. Jiang Qianfan awoke at home, undressed, with no clear memory of the previous night's events. He reviewed the surveillance footage from the night before getting ready for the day. Meanwhile, Lin Kesong, determined to prove herself to Jiang Qianfan, began researching recipes for the "spicy" competition, whose theme was to "enhance" flavors. Her experimentation led to a small fire in the kitchen.
Jiang Qianfan rushed in, scolding her for her carelessness and for stir-frying chili with chili, calling her dumb. He then attempted to explain the science of spice, defining it as a sensation of pain that stimulates the brain to release hormones, influencing emotions. He emphasized that expertly controlled spiciness could create unique emotional experiences, intensifying sweet and bitter flavors, or amplifying happiness and sadness. Despite his elaborate explanation, Lin Kesong remained unresponsive and even ate a Carolina Reaper chili.
Lin Xiaoyu visited Boris, excitedly remarking that Jiang Qianfan had finally been "knocked off his pedestal." Boris, however, dismissed her excitement, arguing that a single dish could not shake Jiang Qianfan's long-established reputation. He asserted his conviction that Jiang Qianfan suffered from a taste disorder, citing the "Surf and Turf" incident as proof that Jiang Qianfan had not tasted the dish but relied on imagination and deduction.
Boris explained that exposing an instructor of the Future Star Culinary Competition for hiding a loss of taste would be a monumental victory, potentially leading to his disqualification by Thomas and his ultimate downfall. He stressed that they must defeat Jiang Qianfan both on and off stage. Boris then began to teach Xiaoyu Chili Foie Gras for the second round. Their session was interrupted when Bru arrived with cosmetics Xiaoyu had left at his place.
Xiaoyu dismissed the items and told Bru to discard them. Boris, calling Bru a "Canadian creep," quickly ushered him out, handing him a bag of trash to take with him. Chu Ting discovered Song Yiran's private group chat titled "My Idol and Schoolmate, Lin Kesong" and a passionate, anonymous letter of encouragement he had written for her.
Enraged, she confronted him, accusing him of breaking his promise to avoid private contact with Lin Kesong and asserting that he had developed feelings for her. Song Yiran deflected by praising the letter's writing, but Chu Ting forcefully disbanded the group chat on his phone. She expressed her frustration at having generously supported Lin Kesong with flowers while Song Yiran repeatedly argued with her over Lin Kesong.
Declaring she could not tolerate her boyfriend having another woman in his heart, Chu Ting broke up with him. Later, still confused, Song Yiran asked his gym coach to read the letter. The coach confirmed it was a "particularly subtle love letter" and suggested Song Yiran himself might not realize his true feelings.
Subsequently, Song Yiran texted Lin Kesong, who replied that she was deeply moved by the letter, felt every sentence spoke to her heart, and was eager to know the sender, agreeing it read like a love letter. Jiang Qianfan, feeling uneasy about Lin Kesong's lack of reaction during his spice lesson, received a call from Junbin and rushed to the hospital. Junbin informed him that his blood index showed no change and the medication had been ineffective.
Jiang Qianfan asked to increase the dosage, but Junbin firmly refused due to potential complications, advising him to bring back the remaining medicine, which Jiang Qianfan kept in an aspirin bottle. Simultaneously, Elise transferred a partial payment to Li Yan, promising the rest later. Li Yan vehemently rejected this. Later, Song Yiran visited Lin Kesong, revealing his breakup with Chu Ting, whom he characterized as too narrow-minded.
He wanted to take her out, but she offered to cook for him instead. She prepared a spicy seafood soup, which he found delicious but "a little too spicy." He took a photo of her in her chef's uniform and posted it on social media.
His caption recounted how she had once eaten chili peppers for 200 yuan until she passed out and he had carried her to the emergency room, expressing admiration for her transformation into a "big woman" in the kitchen. Meanwhile, at her shop, Chu Ting feigned approval of the post to her staff, dismissively suggesting Lin Kesong had "brain problems" for her past stunt. Moments later, she deleted Song Yiran's contact from her phone.
During the morning meeting at the restaurant, Jiang Qianfan reassigned Damai to continue washing vegetables, a task Damai clearly resented. After the meeting, Jiang Qianfan attempted to discuss the previous night with Elise, but she deflected, suggesting they talk after work. Elise left the restaurant late that night, only to find Jiang Qianfan waiting. He revealed he had reviewed the surveillance footage, which showed her leaving before dawn.
Admitting he could not recall the previous night, he expressed deep remorse, calling himself a "jerk" for repeatedly hurting her. He offered to take responsibility and proposed they be together. Elise, tearfully, told him she had waited for this moment for so long that "it's too late." She asked for time to think and walked away.
