Cupid's Kitchen Episode 3 Recap
> Cupid's Kitchen Recap
Before Song Yiran departed for Shanghai, his older brother, Song Yisen, called him in to discuss the significant meaning of his move. He emphasized that the company's expansion into Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen was a "long game," and the cooperation between Bellagio and Suning was a crucial step. If successful, the company headquarters would relocate to Shanghai. Song Yisen told his brother, "Ran Ran, you're an adult already. You can't be so short-tempered anymore.
It's time for you to work on controlling your temper." Song Yiran, impatient, urged him to get to the point. His brother warned him, "You must not flirt with other women when in Shanghai. Treat her well—" Song Yiran cut him off, questioning if he was merely a "chess piece" in his brother's plan to introduce him to Chu Ting. Song Yisen reiterated, "Ran Ran, you've been with many girls since you were young.
I never said anything about it, but you're grown up now. It's time for you to settle down." Song Yiran retorted that his brother’s words had turned his budding feelings for Chu Ting into aversion. His brother concluded by telling him to treat Chu Ting well and "Don't let me down." Meanwhile, Lin Kesong's parents readily agreed to her moving to Shanghai because her uncle resided there.
Her internal thoughts revealed that her true intention for moving was to get closer to Song Yiran, confessing that she found the courage to travel alone to a new city because of him. " If I didn't like you, I would probably never have been so brave. Thank you, Song Yiran." Her uncle, Lin Feng, apologized for being late to pick her up, citing the restaurant's busy schedule and Shanghai traffic.
He excitedly pointed out landmarks like the Garden Bridge and the Oriental Pearl Tower as they drove. Upon arriving at "Xiaoyu's Private Kitchen," Kesong was surprised by how busy the restaurant was. Lin Feng led her to the kitchen to see his daughter, Lin Xiaoyu, who was swamped with orders and barely had time to acknowledge Kesong, even telling her she was in the way. Lin Feng then showed Kesong her new room, which she was "super satisfied" with.
However, her delight was short-lived as Lin Feng immediately instructed her to get ready and help in the kitchen in five minutes, dismissing her protests about the "terrifying" environment. Kesong reflected on the irony of her situation, realizing that instead of getting closer to Song Yiran, she was being pushed further away and, unknowingly, closer to Jiang Qianfan. At the hospital, Jiang Qianfan received an update from his doctor, Junbin.
The diagnosis remained unchanged from six months ago, with "no effective treatment" available, only medication. Jiang Qianfan bitterly stated that "Losing my sense of taste. . . is more cruel than losing my life." Junbin expressed concern that while it took 183 days for Qianfan to lose his sense of sweetness, other senses might deteriorate faster. He also revealed that all the nerves responsible for Qianfan's five senses showed signs of degeneration.
Despite still having a fever, Qianfan insisted on leaving, arguing that further treatment was a "waste of time" without knowing the cause of his illness. Back at Yuxuan Restaurant, a frustrated Jiang Qianfan furiously criticized his kitchen staff for their substandard work, reprimanding a cook for poorly sliced fish and another for using the wrong type of vinegar for a sauce.
His subordinate, Oliver, offered a solution by using fermented tomatoes as a replacement for balsamic vinegar, which Qianfan approved, appreciating the savory and balanced flavor. Shortly after, Boris Rogoff, a known food critic who had previously caused trouble for Yuxuan London, arrived and personally requested Jiang Qianfan to prepare the "Wild Matsutake thousand layers" dish. Elise, seeing Boris, immediately questioned a server about his presence, learning he had booked under a different name.
Boris, already live-streaming, gloated to his audience about his "famous blacklist" being back and reminded them how his last visit delayed Yuxuan London's Michelin three-star rating by a year. He promised another "surprise" from his current visit to Yuxuan Shanghai, which had already earned two stars in six months. When the "Wild Matsutake thousand layers" was served, Boris complained on his live stream about the absence of bamboo salt and cilantro oil, calling the dish "ordinary and boring."
Jiang Qianfan then personally delivered the condiments. Boris, upon opening a bamboo tube, found mustard mayonnaise. After tasting the dish with the sauce, he declared to his audience, "My friend, your Boris always seeks the truth. This sauce here makes me instantly feel like Montgomery came back. When I remember him, my hatred for Jiang Qianfan grows deeper. As for the why, I won't tell you. This is it for today's live stream." He then abruptly ended the broadcast.
Later, while Lin Kesong and Lin Xiaoyu were eating at the restaurant, a news report on TV announced the upcoming "Muellers International Chefs Association, Future Star Culinary Competition." Xiaoyu was ecstatic, calling it "the most prestigious competition in the culinary world." She mentioned that Jiang Qianfan had achieved fame through this very competition and expressed her determination to participate again after failing to pass the first round two years ago.
Outside the restaurant, Jiang Qianfan confronted Boris, telling him to use his own name for future reservations. Boris revealed he would be in Shanghai for the next three months, adding a threat: "My apprentice will also target your apprentice!" He then informed Jiang Qianfan that he was one of the mentors for the Future Star Culinary Competition and had confirmed with Thomas that Qianfan would also be invited.
Noticing Boris’s itchy nose, Jiang Qianfan reminded him of his pine nut allergy, then revealed, "You couldn't detect that I used pine nut oil for the mayonnaise?" Boris, realizing Qianfan's subtle revenge, became enraged and challenged him to accept the mentorship, threatening to mock him online "24 hours a day" if he refused. Jiang Qianfan immediately confronted Elise about the competition.
She admitted to withholding the invitation, questioning, "How can you be a mentor with you losing your sense of taste?" Qianfan insisted that his "mentoring is based on experience" and that he could not refuse the mentorship after Boris's provocation. Elise warned him that Boris’s intentions were malicious and he "won't give it a rest if he doesn't achieve his goal." However, Qianfan remained confident, stating that Boris "will always lose to himself," as Montgomery once said.
Li Yan called Jiang Qianfan, reporting that Liang She Hotel refused to provide any employee information, including Song Yiran's. He had contacted Lin Kesong's dormitory manager, who claimed Kesong had moved out, refused to give contact information, and had "registered for marriage and preparing for the wedding." Jiang Qianfan was disbelieving, exclaiming, "Is this a joke? It has only been a few days. How is possible?" Elise, overhearing, commented that Kesong's extreme actions were not surprising.
Li Yan later sent a text to Elise, indicating that Jiang Qianfan likely believed the information. Meanwhile, Song Yiran texted Lin Kesong, simply saying, "I just arrived. I'm hungry." Kesong saw this as "the best opportunity" to reveal her presence in Shanghai. She bribed Lin Xiaoyu with her favorite shampoo to prepare a warm, caring meal for Song Yiran, believing that "a friend in need is a friend indeed." They rushed to the hotel, but Kesong's hopes were dashed.
She found Song Yiran surrounded by friends and on a video call with Chu Ting, who was still in Hangzhou but had already arranged a lavish dinner to be delivered to his room. Chu Ting, introducing herself as "Yiran's girlfriend," promised to see them in a few days. Heartbroken, Lin Kesong left. On the way home, she cried to Xiaoyu, lamenting, "He's a prince. I can't even be Cinderella."
Despite her profound sadness and the stark reality of their different worlds, Kesong declared, "I will work even harder in the future! Why would I give up? He's not married yet!" She stubbornly decided to continue pursuing Song Yiran. Unbeknownst to her, Jiang Qianfan was also searching for her, believing he would "meet her again soon" as he was working hard to find her. Elise frantically searched for Jiang Qianfan and eventually reached him by phone.
He informed her, "Elise, I have matters to attend to in Wuzhen for the next couple of days. Take care of things for me for a while." Elise was shocked by his sudden trip. Shortly after, Jiang Qianfan’s car was rear-ended on the road. Lin Kesong accompanied Lin Xiaoyu to the Future Star Culinary Competition preliminary auditions. Initially, Kesong was denied entry to take photos, so she reluctantly signed up herself to be able to enter the venue with Xiaoyu.
Inside, she spotted "Jiang Qianfan" listed as a mentor and immediately wanted to withdraw, but Xiaoyu assured her he wouldn't be present for the preliminary rounds. While filling out her application, an Italian contestant named Blu, who was studying ink painting in Shanghai, tried to flirt with Xiaoyu by asking her to translate his form. Xiaoyu, unimpressed, politely but firmly rebuffed him, telling him his "pick-up is very lame" and she did "not have time."
Elise called Jiang Qianfan, interrupting his journey to Wuzhen to inform him that her mother, Madam Quentin, wished to see him. Elise speculated it might be related to the Future Star Competition. Li Yan called Jiang Qianfan again, confirming he had found Lin Kesong’s house. However, neighbors told him her family had "gone out of town" for a "wedding at the groom's house." Elise, still present, emphasized, "What if she really got married?"
Jiang Qianfan dismissed the idea, stating that she would still need to work after marriage, and that he "doesn't have time to think about" her husband's feelings, implying his focus was on her culinary talent. The preliminary round of the Future Star Culinary Competition began, with 198 contestants and a one-hour time limit to prepare any cuisine using provided ingredients.
Lin Kesong, unprepared, struggled to make a simple scrambled eggs with tomatoes, admitting to herself that her dish didn't look like something a chef would make. The judges praised Lin Xiaoyu’s dish, but when a judge tasted Kesong's, he winced in discomfort and spit it out. Meanwhile, Jiang Qianfan was at Madam Quentin's villa, complimenting her "taste and floral design" and thanking her for her support of Yuxuan Shanghai.
