Cupid's Kitchen Episode 25 Recap
> Cupid's Kitchen Recap
Elise approached Oliver, proposing they resume their relationship, but she had a condition: she wanted to be the one to post the public announcement. Oliver disagreed, stating he couldn't let her use Lin Kesong as a bargaining chip and emphasizing the need for professionalism. He then offered her an open invitation to move her belongings into his home whenever she was ready. Elise, however, refused, feeling too exhausted, and left.
After a night in a hotel, Lin Kesong calmly realized her reluctance to return home wasn't about facing her parents, but rather an unspoken wait for Oliver to seek her out and bring her back. She felt deeply ashamed to find herself unable to move past Oliver, just as she once struggled to let go of Song Yiran.
Meanwhile, at her shop, Sister K watched a video of Victor competing in a culinary contest, prompting her to immediately put a "low price" sign on his motorcycle. Lin Kesong checked out of the hotel and returned to her uncle's restaurant. Outside, she found Blu looking glum. He explained that Lin Xiaoyu, upset after losing the previous competition, was refusing to see him, believing that Boris thought Blu had distracted her focus.
Her uncle, seeing Lin Kesong arrive with luggage, was deeply concerned for her. Upon learning Lin Kesong had withdrawn from the competition, Lin Xiaoyu excitedly embraced her, happily reconciling. Her uncle realized Lin Xiaoyu had lied about reconciling previously. Lin Xiaoyu then quickly messaged Boris that Lin Kesong was dropping out of the competition and saying her goodbyes, experiencing a brief pang of loss afterward.
Song Yiran's older brother, Song Yixing, went to Chu Ting's shop, subtly trying to get her to look at a billboard. Chu Ting, seeing through his efforts, bluntly told him he worried too much for Song Yiran, which prevented Song Yiran from truly growing up. She asked Song Yixing for the exact time the billboard would be displayed, indicating she wished for Song Yiran to face some setbacks. After Chu Ting’s candidness, Song Yixing called Song Yiran, scolding him.
Song Yiran then went into Chu Ting's shop and confessed that his brother wanted him to propose via the billboard. He admitted he had hesitated because he wasn't ready and feared hurting her. He had also questioned whether he would be with Chu Ting if not for his brother's influence, concluding he didn't know. Chu Ting, though angry, admired his honesty in confronting his true feelings without mixing in other motives.
She advised him to return only after he had a clear answer, but warned she couldn't guarantee she would wait for him. Song Yiran then went to Oliver's house, looking for Lin Kesong. Finding Lin Kesong absent, Song Yiran asked Oliver if he was the person Lin Kesong had secretly admired for ten years. Oliver confirmed this.
Song Yiran admitted he now realized Lin Kesong held a special place in his heart, but he also liked Chu Ting and felt the need to clarify his feelings before moving forward. Oliver acknowledged and admired Song Yiran's courage and honesty in facing his emotions, admitting it was a quality he lacked. Song Yiran then left, asking Oliver not to mention his visit to Lin Kesong.
Lin Xiaoyu and Lin Kesong discussed the punishments inflicted by their respective mentors, realizing how foolish they were to have fought over them. During their conversation, Oliver called Lin Kesong, stating he had left two bottles of wine for her parents as an apology, and the house key was under the door since he was out. Lin Xiaoyu was visibly displeased by Oliver's renewed contact with Lin Kesong.
Lin Kesong's uncle, however, encouraged her to go retrieve the wine for her parents after dinner, considering Oliver's sincerity. Meanwhile, Victor approached Sister K about his motorcycle. Sister K explained that the bike had inherent manufacturing defects, but she had spent many days making extensive modifications, ensuring the next owner would find it perfectly tuned. Victor, dismissing Sister K's daily oatmeal diet, scoffed at her perceived misunderstanding of gourmet food.
Sister K's apprentices challenged Victor to cook a dish that would genuinely impress them; if he succeeded, they would return his motorcycle and even offer themselves as his apprentices. Victor accepted, cautioning them not to regret their wager. Upon arriving at Oliver's house, Lin Kesong found the door locked from the inside, realizing Oliver had lied about being out. Just then, her mother called, confirming receipt of the wine from "Mr. Jiang" and asking for storage instructions, expressing their gratitude.
Lin Kesong, still annoyed, tried to leave, but Oliver stopped her. He offered a sincere apology for his past words, promising to respect her feelings and preferences, even if he didn't always understand them. He vowed that if he ever upset her again, he would apologize to her on Boris's livestream. Lin Kesong added her own conditions: he must perform 2,000 wok tosses daily and cook her favorite crayfish and whatever else she desired every day.
Oliver readily agreed to all her terms. She clarified that she was merely observing his cooking, not yet fully forgiving him. After this, Lin Kesong messaged Lin Xiaoyu, who responded by pretending not to know her. Oliver advised Lin Kesong not to dwell on Lin Xiaoyu's reaction, suggesting that Lin Xiaoyu only sought reconciliation when Lin Kesong was in a position of "weakness" or "defeat."
He emphasized that Lin Xiaoyu was the one who needed to change her mindset, and Lin Kesong should instead focus on her culinary training. Lin Kesong, feeling comforted by Oliver's familiar presence and scent, reflected that she might have agreed too quickly but also couldn't bear to wait any longer, concluding that the right person is truly worth the wait and will bring unexpected warmth. Boris, upon hearing that Lin Kesong had returned to Oliver, expressed surprise.
He interpreted this as a sign that Oliver's strict adherence to his principles was beginning to waver. Boris speculated that if Oliver, who had achieved "god-like" status as a chef without using sugar, were to ever incorporate it into his cooking, his abilities would increase tenfold. Oliver later sought out Thomas, requesting to withdraw his application to exit the competition. Thomas demanded a compelling reason for such a change of mind.
Oliver explained that his aversion to sugar stemmed from finding Montgomery's last words, "I hate sugar," among his belongings after his shipwreck four years prior. Oliver believed sugar had taken Montgomery's life. Thomas corrected him, stating that a disaster, not sugar, had caused Montgomery's death. Oliver recounted how, after his parents' fatal car accident, Montgomery had been like a lifeline to him, only for Montgomery to also be lost.
He felt that while sweetness might bring happiness and relaxation to others, it had stripped him of everything, leading to his resolute exclusion of sugar from his dishes. Thomas reminded Oliver that as a mentor, his rigid stance was unfair to Lin Kesong. He reiterated the competition's purpose: to inspire more young people to embrace cooking and provide them opportunities to become skilled chefs.
Thomas pointed out that given Lin Kesong's current performance, she was highly likely to reach the finals, and if she needed to compete with sweet dishes, Oliver's position would put her in an impossible situation. Meanwhile, Madam Quentin, learning of Lin Kesong's return, reminded Elise that Oliver had nearly destroyed the Yuxuan kitchen when Elise merely added a bit of brown sugar to his dessert.
Yet, he was now showing such tolerance towards Lin Kesong, who had explicitly incorporated sweetness in her dish. Madam Quentin concluded that Oliver's boundaries were set for Elise and everyone else he didn't love. Huang Shi called Madam Quentin to collect her qipao. He closed his restaurant, setting up a private fitting for her. Madam Quentin eagerly tried on the qipao, delighting in its beauty and perfect fit.
As Huang Shi helped her with a necklace, Blu unexpectedly returned and awkwardly covered his eyes. Madam Quentin then departed, and Blu playfully teased Huang Shi about his charm. Later, Oliver noticed a malfunction with his home surveillance system at Yuxuan. He called Lin Kesong, asking her to go downstairs at his house and help him check the router. At that very moment, Li Yan had secretly infiltrated Oliver's home.
He took a selfie and sent it to Elise, attempting to blackmail her for two million. As Lin Kesong went downstairs, she spotted Li Yan, crying out in alarm and grabbing a kitchen tool to defend herself. Oliver, hearing her scream over the phone, sped home on his motorcycle. Frantically searching for her upon arrival, he couldn't find her anywhere. His heart pounding with anxiety, he was immensely relieved when a terrified Lin Kesong ran out and tightly embraced him. Oliver, his heart aching, held her close and softly comforted her.
