Cupid's Kitchen Episode 5 Recap
> Cupid's Kitchen Recap
Lin Kesong, having finished her meticulous grooming and makeup, returned to the dining room, only to discover Nina pouring her breakfast into the bin. Distraught, Lin Kesong demanded to know why, but Jiang Qianfan calmly explained that he had instructed Nina to do so, threatening to fire her if she had allowed Lin Kesong to eat.
He reiterated his long-standing habit of exercising at four in the morning and having breakfast at six, stating that the rules would not change for her; instead, she must adapt to them. Lin Kesong, feeling tormented and stripped of her dignity since yesterday, retorted that she couldn't survive if she was starving, and questioned how she could maintain dignity. Jiang Qianfan dismissed her concerns, saying that missing one meal had nothing to do with dignity.
After Jiang Qianfan left, Lin Kesong secretly retrieved an untouched egg from the trash. As she was peeling it, Jiang Qianfan reappeared, catching her in the act. He accused her of wasting food, though he admitted it was "worth it" to teach her the rules. He then reminded "Little Bun" that her first class was in five minutes, warning her not to be late. Lin Kesong quickly went to change into her chef's uniform.
Putting on the uniform, she felt incredibly cool and stylish, an outfit so magical and perfectly fitted that she momentarily forgot her anger towards Jiang Qianfan. She wondered how he knew her exact measurements (75, 58. 5, 89), to which he replied that a chef should be able to gauge ingredient sizes at a glance for perfect plating.
Jiang Qianfan informed her that the uniform was on him, then helped her tie a triangular towel, explaining its dual purpose: to prevent presenting dirty food to guests and to cover her mouth and nose for escape in case of a kitchen fire. Lin Kesong, surprised, asked if being a chef was life-threatening, and Jiang Qianfan responded that her life could be in danger if she didn't learn to be smart.
Jiang Qianfan then led Lin Kesong into the elaborate kitchen, announcing that her task for the day was simple: measuring salt. He instructed her to measure two grams. Lin Kesong, initially dismissive of the task, believing it depended on "feel," spent thirty-two seconds to measure the two grams. Jiang Qianfan then explained that a normal chef must prepare 100 dishes in an hour, meaning she would spend nearly an hour just on measuring salt.
Lin Kesong challenged him to demonstrate, and he precisely measured the salt in one-third of a second. She doubted she could reach his level before the competition, but he encouraged her, saying it was never too late to practice, and then asked her to measure 5. 4 grams. Meanwhile, Song Yiran, after failing to reach Lin Kesong on her switched-off phone, called Lin Xiaoyu's private kitchen.
Lin Xiaoyu abruptly told him Lin Kesong had left and hung up, refusing to answer his subsequent calls. Concerned, Song Yiran went to Xiaoyu Private Kitchen in person. He learned from Lin Xiaoyu that Lin Kesong had been taken by Jiang Qianfan for private training. Song Yiran, bewildered by this development, speculated that Lin Kesong might have come to Shanghai specifically for Jiang Qianfan.
He pressed Lin Xiaoyu for Jiang Qianfan's address, but she evasively claimed ignorance of Lin Kesong's true intentions and Jiang Qianfan's address. Back in the dining room, Jiang Qianfan presented Lin Kesong with three bowls of food containing varying salt levels, asking her to taste them and describe her sensations. Lin Kesong accurately identified one as too salty and strong, making her feel annoyed, and another as too bland, making her feel tired.
Jiang Qianfan revealed that the salt amounts were 0. 5, 0. 6, and 0. 4 grams, respectively. He praised her acute sense of taste, noting that most people couldn't detect such subtle differences, but their emotions would still be affected. He emphasized that precise salt control was crucial to provide every diner with a perfect feeling. Lin Kesong, disheartened, declared she no longer wanted to be a chef, but Jiang Qianfan playfully patted her head, saying she had no choice.
Later, Jiang Qianfan observed Lin Kesong through a monitor, seeing she had fallen asleep in the kitchen. He began playing rock music, hoping to motivate her. Lin Kesong complained, asking for JJ Lin's songs instead, and called his music a "power drill." Jiang Qianfan responded by playing even harsher noise, forcing her to beg him to stop.
Seeing no response from him, Lin Kesong, mistakenly believing Jiang Qianfan had left, secretly tasted some of the salt she was supposed to be measuring. Finding it incredibly salty, she sought iced water from the refrigerator, but it was locked with a password. Feeling utterly miserable and starving, she began to cry. Nina later found Lin Kesong resting and informed her that Jiang Qianfan had canceled her lunch because she had not practiced well and had left the kitchen.
Lin Kesong, on the verge of starvation, became agitated. Nina tried to calm her by lighting an incense lamp with essential oil, remarking that Elise had given it to Jiang Qianfan. Lin Kesong scoffed at the idea of an aromatherapy lamp, complaining that while it smelled good, it wasn't edible, and she called Jiang Qianfan "insane." At Yuxuan, a waiter failed to explain the "Two Days and Nights of Joy" dish to guests.
Elise, the general manager, had to step in and provide a professional description. Jiang Qianfan subsequently gathered the staff, publicly reprimanded the waiter (Xiong) for his lack of knowledge, and immediately fired him. Jiang Qianfan passionately explained that he hired them to "tell a story, a good story!" to guests who might be dining at a Michelin restaurant for the first time, emphasizing that any staff mistake reflected on the entire establishment.
He demanded that his employees work with pride and make Yuxuan proud. After the meeting, Elise confronted Jiang Qianfan for firing the waiter without her consultation, reminding him that while he managed the kitchen, the front hall was her domain. Jiang Qianfan warned her to manage her staff carefully and not to let them provoke him. Meanwhile, Bru visited Xiaoyu Private Kitchen and invited Lin Xiaoyu to his studio.
She initially seemed annoyed but agreed to go after he piqued her curiosity. At his studio, Lin Xiaoyu was surprised to learn he was a painter and admired his work. She lamented that for him, cooking was merely a hobby, whereas she had to win the competition to escape her diner. Bru found her diner "so cozy," but Lin Xiaoyu insisted she needed a bigger platform.
Feeling misunderstood, she abruptly left, leaving Bru to wonder why she was "like a spice strip." That evening, Jiang Qianfan returned to find Lin Kesong asleep. He woke her with an egg and then made her do sit-ups. He encouraged her to express her emotions freely, whether crying or laughing, explaining that rich emotions translated into passionate dishes. Inspired, Lin Kesong defiantly yelled, "I hate you!" Jiang Qianfan praised her, saying, "Very good. Continue!"
During dinner, Jiang Qianfan proposed a new game: every evening, Lin Kesong must summarize everything she ate that day, with rewards for accuracy and penalties for mistakes. Lin Kesong reluctantly agreed, then declared she hadn't eaten a single bite all day. Jiang Qianfan corrected her, reminding her of the morning soup, the egg she had just eaten, and the salt she had tasted.
Furious, Lin Kesong kicked her chair, exclaiming, "Why is it so difficult for me to have a bite of your food? Stupid food. I don't want it anymore!" Later that night, Victor found Elise at a bar and took her to the rooftop. He advised her not to shed tears over Jiang Qianfan, whom he called an "insignificant man," warning her not to lose her pride and self-esteem. Elise merely chuckled, calling him "just a 20-year-old kid" who wouldn't understand.
Nina brought Lin Kesong her phone. Lin Kesong complained about Jiang Qianfan's "insane" methods, but Nina reassured her that Mr. Jiang was a good person and his arrangements had a reason. Lin Kesong then saw numerous voicemails from Song Yiran, who had been asking about her whereabouts and speculating if she was in Shanghai because of Jiang Qianfan. She called him back. Song Yiran, who was eating lobster pizza and pasta, asked directly if she liked Jiang Qianfan.
Lin Kesong, feeling famished, tearfully confessed that she hadn't eaten anything since yesterday and was starving. Song Yiran immediately offered to bring her food. Song Yiran arrived at Jiang Qianfan's gate with the pizza, but a call from Chu Ting, who addressed him as "Darling," diverted his attention. He hung the food on the door, sent Lin Kesong a message, and quickly left to take Chu Ting's call.
Lin Kesong tried to sneak out to retrieve the pizza but couldn't reach it over the locked gate. Jiang Qianfan then appeared, confiscating the pizza. He lectured her, explaining that eating pizza after such a long period of starvation would be bad for her stomach. He asserted that if she needed help, she could only ask him. Lin Kesong defiantly declared she would never ask him for help, even if she starved to death.
Jiang Qianfan, with a subtle look, then instructed Nina not to prepare breakfast for Lin Kesong the next day. Lin Kesong retorted that she didn't care as she was trying to lose weight. Shortly after, Jiang Qianfan quietly told Nina to prepare honey water.
