Delicious Romance Episode 16 Recap
> Delicious Romance Recap
In her childhood, Xia Meng was told by her mother not to drink cold water after exercise, but rather hot water. Her mother insisted that hot water would reduce the dampness in her body, which was supposedly why she couldn't lose weight. For Xia Meng, hot water became a seemingly magical remedy, prescribed for every ailment, yet its effectiveness was never truly proven.
Liu Jing's mother also advocated for drinking hot water, but Liu Jing dismissed it as pseudoscience, believing it to be merely an excuse for her parents to control her, no different from their other endless nagging. Fang Xin, whose parents had divorced, was spared such lectures. While the efficacy of hot water remained uncertain, sometimes its warmth offered comfort, a metaphor for life's unpredictable journey where a shared sense of presence could ease anxiety.
The scene then shifted to a dream sequence: a triple wedding for Xia Meng, Liu Jing, and Fang Xin. Zhang Ting delivered heartfelt vows to Fang Xin, admitting he wasn't romantic but promised to face challenges with her and ensure her happiness. Fang Xin responded, stating that after her experiences, neither love nor material wealth mattered as much as Zhang Ting, who provided her with security, contentment, and happiness, making him her definitive choice.
Wang Jichong then told Xia Meng he was finally worthy of her, having been promoted to deputy general manager, and praised her as a motivating rival. However, Xia Meng, who had notes on her hand for her vows, couldn't speak, confessing she didn't want to lie and that she was thinking of Lu Bin. Suddenly, Lu Bin appeared, calling Xia Meng to leave with him.
Xia Meng, realizing what she truly wanted, joined him, declaring an end to her lifelong pursuit of winning. Just as they were about to leave, Ma Zhenyu burst in, holding their unsigned divorce agreement, accusing Fang Xin of bigamy, claiming she was still his wife. Zhang Ting was furious to learn Fang Xin wasn't divorced and was pursuing marital assets, questioning if he wasn't enough for her.
Fang Xin explained the divorce was still ongoing, and she intended to register the marriage later, further enraging Zhang Ting. Amidst the chaos, Liu Jing, seeing the others' weddings in disarray, grabbed a microphone and turned to her partner, whom she believed to be Shanmu. He declared his lifelong commitment and love for her, promising happiness. Liu Jing then passionately recited her vows, only to discover that the man beside her was Song Chao, not Shanmu.
The three women jolted awake, realizing they had all shared unsettling dreams. Reflecting on the adage "thoughts by day, dreams by night," Fang Xin decided to abandon the prolonged lawsuit against Ma Zhenyu, opting to quickly finalize the divorce to start anew, not wanting to waste another minute on him. Her friends playfully accused her of a clandestine encounter with Zhang Ting, hinting at a romantic development.
Fang Xin confessed she had recently realized she liked him and that no matter what happened, good or bad, she wanted to tell him first. Xia Meng, confused by dreaming of both Lu Bin and Wang Jichong, was teased by her friends for being a "player." Liu Jing found her own dream unsettling, starting with Shanmu but ending with Song Chao.
She was also called a "player" but insisted Song Chao was merely annoying and that she couldn't possibly like him. Later, in a meeting, Fang Xin discussed Nuomei Baili's 2020 collection of black wedding dresses. A colleague raised concerns about the difficulty of marketing black wedding dresses due to traditional superstitions and resistance from older generations, subtly challenging Fang Xin’s age and perspective.
Fang Xin, however, redirected the focus to the brand's philosophy of "bold breakthroughs" and the growing market of post-90s and post-00s couples. She encouraged innovative proposals, emphasizing ingenious and flexible solutions. Following this, one colleague offered to create a proposal, and another asked for an opportunity to submit her own. The manager overseeing the meeting encouraged healthy internal competition, and the second colleague suggested that Fang Xin, representing a more mature perspective, could also provide valuable input.
After the meeting, Fang Xin exchanged messages with Zhang Ting. She then received a call from Attorney Liu, who confirmed that the divorce agreement had been verified with Ma Zhenyu’s lawyer and would be sent to her via express delivery. Attorney Liu asked if Fang Xin was certain about dropping the asset claim, and Fang Xin firmly confirmed her decision.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hu summoned Xia Meng to his office, assigning her to visit the set of "The Decisive Battle in Yangxin Palace" as it concluded filming and to discuss a future project with Director Xu. He then addressed her personal life, warning her that as a company executive, she needed to be mindful of her influence, as there were "unpleasant rumors" circulating. Xia Meng acknowledged his warning. Later, Liu Jing's daughter, Wenwen, left to watch a movie with friends.
Liu Jing received an upsetting call regarding a film crew issue. Her mother informed her that Song Chao had invited them for lunch, messaging her directly as a polite gesture. Liu Jing teasingly questioned her mother's trust in her to dine alone with Song Chao, to which her mother responded that after all they had experienced, mutual respect and trust were only natural. Liu Jing then left for lunch.
That evening, Xia Meng attended a celebratory dinner with Wang Jichong and other colleagues for his new promotion to Vice President at a different company. Colleagues toasted Wang Jichong, with some jokingly mentioning that he had "taught that guy" (Lu Bin) a lesson. Overhearing their misunderstanding, Xia Meng decided to clarify. She explained that after her breakup with Wang Jichong, she felt incredibly insecure and had lied to Lu Bin about working as a waitress.
She thought men might be uncomfortable with strong, ambitious women. However, Lu Bin never looked down on her; instead, he encouraged her by offering a sales position at the gym to help her earn more. This, she clarified, was why she had encouraged her friends to get gym memberships, stressing that Lu Bin had no malicious intent. One colleague admitted to admiring a "very hardworking girl" who faced every challenge, subtly indicating Xia Meng.
Another commented that Lu Bin now seemed "quite handsome." Xia Meng apologized to everyone for the trouble she had caused, but her colleagues reassured her, pointing out the free gym memberships had benefited their health. They quickly shifted the conversation back to Wang Jichong, celebrating his new role. Xia Meng raised a toast to Wang Jichong, wishing him smooth sailing in his new company.
