Cupid's Kitchen Episode 37 Recap
> Cupid's Kitchen Recap
Victor asked his mother, Madam Quentin, if Elise was in even more serious trouble now that Oliver was blind, suggesting it was her fault. Madam Quentin clarified that Oliver's blindness was a side effect of medication and had nothing to do with Elise, urging Victor to focus on preparing for the final round.
Victor dismissed the competition's significance, noting that the official Mueller's Future Star poster already portrayed Madam Quentin as the queen and him as the genius, easily competing against Lin Kesong and a blind opponent. He proposed quitting and handing the trophy to Lin Kesong and Oliver, attributing their situation to Elise's actions. Madam Quentin firmly told Victor not to meddle in Elise and Oliver's affairs.
She emphasized that the competition was not merely about winning, but about demonstrating his skills to the world, and she would not tolerate any complacency from him. Victor agreed to be ready. That evening, Li Yan returned Elise's car keys and bank card. He confronted her, asking if making Oliver lose his sense of taste wasn't enough, and why she had to make him blind too.
Elise denied intentionally blinding him, explaining that Oliver, in his haste to detox, took an excessive amount of medication, which, combined with the poison, caused the side effect of blindness. She urged Li Yan to confirm with Junbin if he didn't believe her. Li Yan, though still skeptical, agreed to trust her one last time, making it clear that his patience was for Oliver and Yuxuan, and he would not let her off if anything happened to either of them.
After returning home, Elise received an email from the drug seller claiming to have medicine that could cure Oliver's eyes. Seizing onto this hope, she immediately called Junbin for advice. Junbin informed her that the drug, called "Hope #1," works by forcing open or severing nerve pathways. However, it had not passed animal testing because it indiscriminately affected all nerve pathways, causing severe pain throughout the body, making it unsuitable for human use. Elise ended the call, acknowledging the information.
She then asked Madam Quentin for a loan of 500,000 yuan, explaining that Junbin had already done so much for her, and she couldn't burden him further. When Madam Quentin hesitated, Elise implied she would have no choice but to borrow from loan sharks if her mother refused. Although Madam Quentin was still upset about a previous incident, she eventually transferred the money to Elise.
Afterwards, Elise sent a message to the drug seller, stating her intent to buy the medicine. Xiaoyu was discharged from the hospital, and Blu joined her and others at their restaurant for a celebratory gathering. Lin Kesong's mother expressed concern that Oliver, now blind and without taste, couldn't teach Lin Kesong to make desserts.
Xiaoyu then suggested making some of her best desserts and recording the process for Lin Kesong to help her with ideas, confident in her cousin's ability to learn quickly. Everyone enthusiastically agreed to contribute their own signature desserts to offer Lin Kesong variety and inspiration for the upcoming finals. Oliver guided Lin Kesong in the kitchen, teaching her key techniques for making custard, such as stirring quickly after adding sugar to yolks and controlling milk temperature.
He explained that while sugar provides a basic pleasant feeling, a true chef must infuse their emotions into a dessert for it to be touching and special. Oliver also emphasized that a chef's fundamental quality is to leave all negative emotions outside the kitchen and focus solely on the ingredients and cooking upon entering. Lin Kesong received numerous desserts from her friends and family, expressing their collective support.
Soon after, Xiaoyu called, informing Lin Kesong that a video demonstrating the dessert preparations had been sent to Oliver's phone. This gesture deeply moved Lin Kesong, mending any lingering tension between them as she affectionately told Xiaoyu, "I love you." Oliver assured Lin Kesong that he was not upset by receiving so many desserts, as everyone was simply trying their best to help her.
Lin Kesong then offered to make desserts based on Oliver's preferences, to which he replied that since he couldn't taste, she should decide. Lin Kesong playfully insisted he would like what she liked. A junior chef at Yuxuan informed Da Mai that a Mr. Zhao was trying to poach Xiao Pa with an offer of double salary, and Xiao Pa was reportedly inquiring about the reply deadline.
Enraged, Da Mai confronted Xiao Pa publicly, accusing him of betraying Yuxuan at its most difficult time and forgetting Elise's past support, calling him ungrateful. Xiao Pa argued that staying was out of courtesy, but leaving was his right, especially if Yuxuan might close, and Da Mai shouldn't drag others down with his idealism. When Da Mai asked the other chefs for their opinions, they all sided with him. Elise then emerged from her office, having overheard the commotion.
She stated that she understood both Da Mai's view of Yuxuan as a career and Xiao Pa's as a job, and welcomed both, pledging to do her best to stabilize Yuxuan and ensure no one's salary was cut. Xiao Pa questioned why London Yuxuan was unaffected while Shanghai Yuxuan's orders dwindled, asking if there was still hope.
Elise explained that London Yuxuan, established for four years, had built trust and reputation over time, a process Shanghai Yuxuan would also need to undergo through persistent effort. She added that she wouldn't stop anyone lacking confidence from leaving. After Elise departed, Da Mai rallied the staff, emphasizing that their only disadvantage compared to London Yuxuan was time.
He expressed belief that their collective effort would see them through, reminding them that Oliver once called them the "pillars of Yuxuan," and declared his own unwavering commitment. Da Mai's passionate words left Xiao Pa feeling ashamed. On the eve of the finals, Victor went to a bar with K-jie to relax. While he was on stage singing, Madam Quentin called. Victor put her on speakerphone, inviting her to listen to him sing.
Finding it too noisy, Madam Quentin hung up, telling him to come home early. That evening, Oliver asked Lin Kesong to take him out for some fresh air. Lin Kesong sensed his unusual nervousness, and Oliver admitted his fear that his low scores due to his blindness would drag her down. He explained that Madam Quentin was the queen of European desserts, and even Montgomery might not have beaten her, let alone himself, but he still didn't want to lose.
Lin Kesong reassured him, encouraging him to simply enjoy making the dishes he loved on stage with her the next day. She affectionately leaned on him, expressing gratitude that fate had brought her to the finals and to him, always wanting to do something for him but feeling unsure how.
Oliver countered that it was her kindness and persistence that had brought them this far, suggesting that anyone else would have given up, and perhaps it was because she was an "angel." Lin Kesong jokingly called him shameless, but Oliver confessed he called her an angel because he couldn't comprehend why she was so good to him. The next day, before the competition, a reporter interviewed Huang Shi, asking about Oliver's chances of winning.
Huang Shi acknowledged that the unfamiliar environment of the competition venue would be Oliver's greatest challenge. He expressed his hope that Oliver could overcome these difficulties, but admitted it would be a formidable task, as even minor errors in a complex dish could lead to failure. Lin Kesong's mother, Xiaoyu, Blu, Boris, and Da Mai all arrived at the finals venue, ready to cheer for Lin Kesong and Oliver. The lively atmosphere at the venue exceeded Thomas's expectations.
After the mentors, Madam Quentin and Oliver, and contestants, Victor and Lin Kesong, were introduced to a cheering crowd, Thomas announced that the competition would focus on sweet cuisine, with the theme "Original Intent."
