Cupid's Kitchen Episode 31 Recap
> Cupid's Kitchen Recap
While having dinner, Lin Feng proudly suggested that Jiang Qianfan offer feedback on Xiaoyu’s fried rice. From the kitchen, Xiaoyu overheard and devised a plan. She began recording a video on her phone as she deliberately added a significant amount of edible alkali to the fried rice she was preparing for Jiang Qianfan, marking his bowl with two shrimps on top. She anticipated his reaction.
After tasting the fried rice, Jiang Qianfan commented that Xiaoyu had done an excellent job, noting that every granule of rice was well simmered with XO sauce and that the addition of pine nuts enhanced the taste, making it truly delicious. That evening, Xiaoyu went to the Jellyfish Bar and found Boris drunk. She splashed him with water to rouse him and then showed him the video. Boris was ecstatic, realizing he had finally found the evidence he needed.
He exclaimed his joy, stating he had been disappointed earlier, thinking he would never find such proof. Later, Jiang Qianfan showed Kesong his notebook, where he had recorded moments of happiness. He translated some entries for her, revealing that nearly every one was associated with her, such as when he gifted her a phone, returned her contract, bought her a steamed bun with special delivery, and helped in her uncle's kitchen.
Kesong teasingly accused him of being petty for keeping such a detailed count, but he claimed it was for self-motivation. Their conversation soon drifted to pajamas, making Kesong uncomfortable. She quickly retreated to her room, later regretting her hasty exit and wishing she had acted like a mature woman, calmly bidding him goodnight. Soon after, a severe thunderstorm with lightning and heavy rain began. Worried, Jiang Qianfan checked on Kesong, finding her huddled in her blanket, terrified.
He tenderly pulled her into his embrace, reassuring her that he was there to protect her. He then brought up the two chefs at Xiaoyu’s Private Kitchen, suggesting that while they were nice, their culinary skills had room for improvement, implying that better chefs might boost business. Kesong explained that her aunt had left her uncle years ago, prompting him to move to Shanghai with Xiaoyu, where he opened the restaurant.
Those two chefs had been with him ever since, and her uncle treated them like family. She believed that for her uncle, "bonding is more important than cooking," contrasting Yuxuan’s pursuit of delicacy with Xiaoyu’s Private Kitchen, which offered a "home-like" feeling. She emphasized that if her uncle treated the chefs poorly, their dishes wouldn't have that homely taste, adding that as long as she could remember, anyone who entered their kitchen had always stayed.
Jiang Qianfan, deeply moved, realized why everyone cooking there always had a smile on their face. He admitted his previous focus on management was narrow and vowed to learn from her uncle's approach. Just then, Jiang Qianfan’s phone rang. As Kesong accompanied him to his room to retrieve it, the doorbell chimed. It was Boris, drenched from the rain. He had come to show Jiang Qianfan the video Xiaoyu had recorded. Jiang Qianfan asked Kesong to go back inside.
After watching the video, Jiang Qianfan calmly told Boris that while it was unexpected, it was "understandable" and caused him no horror. Boris, however, claimed to see despair in Jiang Qianfan’s eyes. Boris declared his intention to upload the video online, wanting Jiang Qianfan to suffer immensely. He offered to delete the video immediately if Jiang Qianfan would bow to him and apologize for sending him that "box" years ago, acknowledging the pain it caused.
Jiang Qianfan firmly refused, stating he would never forgive Boris for the transgressions of the past decade. Boris, angered by Jiang Qianfan’s defiance, reiterated that even an apology wouldn't make him delete the video, adding that he "felt sorry" for Jiang Qianfan before leaving.
Lin Kesong, understanding the profound hurt Boris’s parting words inflicted on Jiang Qianfan, yearned to protect him and wished she could give him her sense of taste, but could only quietly rest her head on his shoulder. Jiang Qianfan comforted her, saying he had been waiting for this moment for a long time and now felt relieved. He then naturally took her hand. Back at the Jellyfish Bar, Boris prepared to live-stream the video.
Xiaoyu asked him if Kesong could still compete, as she wished to defeat her in the semi-finals. Boris scoffed, dismissing her hope and saying he would "eliminate all their hope to win," believing that fate often favored those who "profit by other's toil." He then initiated his live stream, playing the video with Xiaoyu appearing on camera to confirm she had filmed it and that it was unedited.
Seeing the live stream, Jiang Qianfan told Kesong to go to sleep and then called Elise, asking her to release his official statement. Elise, in a hurry to see Jiang Qianfan, unfortunately sprained her ankle again. Her mother reminded her that comforting Jiang Qianfan was not the immediate priority; instead, she needed to focus on minimizing the negative impact the incident could have on Yuxuan. Jiang Qianfan then shared the full history of his conflict with Boris with Kesong.
He explained that he initially thought Boris should have been chosen for the competition, as Boris had studied with Montgomery for a year longer and, at 28, was at the age limit for the "Future Star" competition, making it his last chance. However, Montgomery believed in equal opportunity based on skill. Jiang Qianfan unexpectedly outranked Boris in the selection, leading to a heated argument between Boris and Montgomery. Boris then challenged Jiang Qianfan to a cook-off.
On the day of the competition, Boris deceptively borrowed Jiang Qianfan’s saltshaker, secretly replacing the salt with lemon powder (an acid), cleverly concealing it with a layer of salt on top. Jiang Qianfan discovered the sabotage too late, damaging his dish. Fortunately, Montgomery noticed something amiss during the broadcast, confronted Boris, and learned the truth, ultimately ensuring Jiang Qianfan participated. Jiang Qianfan went on to win the championship, intensifying his feud with Boris.
In a moment of youthful arrogance, Jiang Qianfan sent Boris the empty trophy box, enclosing a card that read, "I wished him a lifetime without winning a trophy." Enraged, Boris started a violent fight with him, leaving Montgomery’s kitchen in disarray. Boris then packed his belongings and left that very day. Jiang Qianfan recounted that in the subsequent years, there was no news of Boris, and Montgomery couldn't find him.
They later learned Boris was wandering globally, teaching at cooking schools but never settling, eventually becoming blacklisted by the gourmet world. Jiang Qianfan admitted his past actions had deeply hurt Boris and that, despite his attempts at reconciliation, Boris had refused. Jiang Qianfan then chuckled bitterly about his future, fearing he might be unable to compete, his restaurant might go bankrupt, and he might become a pariah.
He then handed Kesong a recommendation letter addressed to Headmaster Ruan of the Cordon Bleu cooking school in France, a place where he had taught for several years and had connections. He explained it was the world’s best culinary school, and a degree from there would guarantee her numerous job offers.
Jiang Qianfan expressed regret that Kesong had been "lied to the cruelest" in the entire situation and, while grateful for her choosing to stay by his side, sincerely wished for her to achieve her dream of becoming an even better chef. Kesong, however, declared she would not seek another mentor and returned the recommendation letter to him, implying she wanted him to continue guiding her or pursue his own path.
Meanwhile, Victor asked his mother if his sister was responsible for Jiang Qianfan's loss of taste. He openly expressed his disdain for Jiang Qianfan, whom he found short-tempered and conceited, believing that Jiang Qianfan constantly hurt Elise. Victor concluded that Jiang Qianfan deserved his current misfortunes.
