Cupid's Kitchen Episode 30 Recap
> Cupid's Kitchen Recap
Lin Kesong, unable to sleep, decided to try a recipe for Braised Mushroom Stems that her father had texted her. Jiang Qianfan emerged, offering to cook with her, and they headed to the kitchen. Later, Lin Kesong, having found her dish a little bland, insisted Jiang Qianfan try it. She encouraged him, saying that he might miraculously regain his taste in the next second.
Jiang Qianfan, observing her persistent optimism, mused that he was incredibly lucky to have her by his side, especially given his condition, to which Lin Kesong responded that it must be fate. Meanwhile, Xie Junbin and Elise went to a bar for fun, inviting Victor to join them. Victor, after some playful banter with Elise and Junbin, took to the stage. He sang "The Special One," dedicating it to his older sister, Elise, and Dr. Xie.
Elise was visibly moved and shed tears during his performance. Back at Elise's place, Xie Junbin offered to cook noodles as a late-night snack. Victor found the noodles terribly undercooked, jokingly attributing Junbin's poor culinary skills to his studies in England, suggesting he'd picked up the "dark cooking secrets of the British Isles." Elise, however, found them delicious and ate her entire bowl, prompting Victor to question his own sense of taste.
As it grew late, Xie Junbin prepared to leave, but Victor, exaggerating the potential health risks of the noodles, insisted he stay overnight on the sofa to "take responsibility." To entice him, Victor promised popcorn, chilled cola, a war movie, and even offered to cook breakfast the next morning while teaching him how to properly cook noodles. Xie Junbin readily agreed to the arrangement. Jiang Qianfan took Lin Kesong to the market to teach her how to select fresh produce.
He pointed out the different varieties of eggplants and their origins. The shopkeeper, observing them, made a comment about autumn eggplants being so tasty one shouldn't give them to their wife, causing Jiang Qianfan to clarify that Lin Kesong was merely his apprentice. While Jiang Qianfan was paying, Lin Kesong, eager for a snack, slipped away to a bun stall. Jiang Qianfan found her there, buying a cream-filled bun. He also bought a pickled cabbage bun for himself.
The bun seller also teased them, referring to them as a couple, which made Lin Kesong blush and quickly run away. Soon after leaving the market, Jiang Qianfan received a text message from Da Mai, instructing him to review surveillance footage from Yuxuan from around 4:30 PM the previous day. Upon watching the video, Jiang Qianfan saw Da Mai intentionally adding an unknown substance to his water.
Jiang Qianfan then called Da Mai, who was waiting for him at Jiexin Park. At Jiexin Park, Da Mai directly confronted Jiang Qianfan about his loss of taste, confirming that Jiang Qianfan couldn't discern what was added to his drink. Jiang Qianfan admitted the severity of his condition.
Da Mai then revealed that he had hired someone to write a critical article specifically to provoke Jiang Qianfan, hoping it would lead to his dismissal from Yuxuan, thus satisfying his own ego, as he had always believed their culinary skills were comparable, with Jiang Qianfan simply being luckier. However, Jiang Qianfan's unexpected public encouragement, instead of anger, made Da Mai realize the profound difference between them lay not just in cooking, but in character and broadmindedness.
From that moment, Da Mai decided to wholeheartedly follow Jiang Qianfan, assuring him that he was not alone and the entire Yuxuan team was his family, ready to help with any difficulties. Jiang Qianfan expressed his gratitude, surprised by Da Mai's unexpected sincerity. Da Mai also advised Jiang Qianfan to be cautious of Boris, who would undoubtedly be watching him closely, to which Jiang Qianfan responded that Boris had been doing so for a decade and he would remain vigilant.
After Da Mai departed, Lin Kesong emerged, expressing her admiration for the genuine friendship between men and how Da Mai truly respected Jiang Qianfan from the bottom of his heart. Jiang Qianfan, however, confessed that despite the positive outcome, he couldn't shake the feeling that his secret about his taste loss was on the verge of being fully exposed.
Victor, deeply puzzled, asked Xie Junbin why some individuals seemed utterly uninterested in gourmet food, especially his own cooking, despite his best efforts in color, taste, and aroma. Xie Junbin, noticing Victor's evident torment, playfully suggested that he must have met a girl. While acknowledging Victor's immense natural talent for cooking, Xie Junbin explained that true culinary excellence demands not just innate skill, but also diligent, repeated practice.
He stressed that technique is never the ultimate core; rather, it is emotion. He believed everyone carries a "wholeheartedly" cherished dish in their heart, reminiscing about Elise's preferences like one-sided fried omelette and a 60-second marmalade cake. Victor then cheekily remarked that his sister, Elise, must be quite precious to Xie Junbin.
At the restaurant, Sister K's apprentices happily ate their meal, praising a chili pepper sauce made by Victor's mother and playfully contrasting Victor's generous cooking with Sister K's more restrained eating habits. Sister K overheard them reminiscing about their childhoods, where their parents encouraged them to eat abundantly, never scolding them for being gluttonous. This made Sister K reflect on her own experiences, perhaps with a touch of envy for their carefree upbringing.
Lin Kesong received an urgent call, learning that her uncle, Lin Feng, was suffering from a severe back injury from overwork, especially since Xiaoyu was unreachable and likely with Boris. Lin Kesong immediately prepared to rush back to help, but Jiang Qianfan intervened, questioning how much practical assistance she could offer. He then suggested that his own presence might be more effective, offering to go with her. Lin Kesong was overjoyed by his willingness to help.
Arriving at the restaurant, Jiang Qianfan quickly assessed the kitchen's operations and the existing flavor profiles of dishes like asparagus with mushrooms and Shacha Beef. He efficiently took charge, delegating tasks to Lin Kesong, such as preparing pineapple shrimp with cashews with minimal salt, and emerald spinach with thinly sliced leaves and four eggs.
Under his guidance, the kitchen became a whirlwind of activity, and soon, the customers were singing praises for his "divine" and "delicious" cooking, causing business to boom. From the back, Lin Feng, still recovering from his back pain, was informed by his grateful chefs that "Mr. Jiang's cooking is the tops!" Delighted, Lin Feng instructed them to covertly observe and learn from Jiang Qianfan, and to also prepare a tea table to properly thank him for his help.
Seeing the diners happily savoring his creations, Jiang Qianfan was filled with a profound sense of happiness. Meanwhile, Huang Shi completed a batch of fresh pickled vegetables and dispatched Blu to buy several popsicles, subtly trying to gain some time alone. He then called Madam Quentin, hoping she could visit in a couple of days to taste the freshly made pickles, stressing that they needed to be eaten promptly for optimal flavor.
Madam Quentin initially stated she couldn't make it for a few days due to a business trip, but then, to his utter surprise and delight, announced she was already standing at his front door. Huang Shi rushed out to greet her. Madam Quentin presented him with a bottle of Sherry from England, a thank you gift for a dress she had worn which had garnered her numerous compliments.
Song Yiran arrived at his professional manager training class on a shared bicycle, only to be surprised to find Chu Ting among the attendees. He greeted her, remarking that she had become beautiful, which she sarcastically countered by implying he thought she wasn't pretty before. After the class, Song Yiran attempted to invite her for a meal, but she politely declined, stating she needed to return to her shop.
Undeterred, he asked her to explain a complex concept from the lecture—the "edge effect curve" and its diminishing nature. Chu Ting, a true scholar, patiently elaborated on the diminishing marginal effect, using the analogy of eating rice to illustrate that beyond a certain point, additional consumption yields less satisfaction. She also anticipated the professor would discuss reallocating consumer capital. Song Yiran was genuinely surprised by her academic prowess, prompting her to tease him about his previous assumptions of her.
Later, Xiaoyu returned to the restaurant, finding her father and Jiang Qianfan. She learned that Jiang Qianfan had spent the entire afternoon cooking and helping her father while she was unreachable, and feeling somewhat embarrassed, she thanked him. Jiang Qianfan then attempted to leave with Lin Kesong, but Lin Feng, eager to express his gratitude, warmly insisted that Jiang Qianfan stay for dinner, specifically for Xiaoyu's fried rice, which he touted as the restaurant's absolute best specialty. Unable to politely refuse such hospitality, Jiang Qianfan agreed to stay, and Xiaoyu began preparing the acclaimed dish.
