Delicious Romance Episode 17 Recap
> Delicious Romance Recap
Liu Jing visited another commercial property with a real estate agent, who highlighted its poor environment and fourth-floor location, noting that the pedestrian street nearby had low foot traffic and the building itself was of low quality, suggesting it wouldn't attract discerning customers for a private kitchen despite the lower rent. However, Liu Jing found the space appealing, imagining it as her future Jing Private Kitchen, complete with welcoming guests and serving dishes like Spicy Sichuan Pepper Tofu Skin.
During this moment, Song Chao, whom Liu Jing had earlier called and shared her location with, walked in, witnessing her immersion in this dream. He observed the clear excitement in her eyes, despite the agent's negative assessment of the location's low foot traffic and overall low-end appeal.
Liu Jing recounted how she used to frequent this area when she first started working, often spending entire weekends alone, as her friends Xia Meng and Fang Xin were occupied with demanding careers and early marriage, respectively. She shared her habit of dining alone, even at high-end restaurants, not for loneliness, but to slowly savor and appreciate the food.
Song Chao expressed a similar fondness for expensive dining, though Liu Jing clarified her motivation was more about studying the ingredients, design, presentation, and culinary philosophy, even when money was tight. She remembered alternating between fancy meals at the start of the month and street food from the "Dirty Street" area, which predated the current malls.
She spoke fondly of a tiny noodle shop there, without a signboard, where the kind owner always added an extra fried egg to her pea noodles. Liu Jing explained that delicious food, regardless of cost, brought her happiness and was her only solace during a period of deep uncertainty when she disliked her previous job. She felt grateful for being fired, as it allowed her to pursue her passion and find direction.
Song Chao then confided that he was feeling equally lost, having recently argued with his mother over her nagging about his lack of serious endeavors. A passerby mentioned a good noodle shop downstairs, prompting Liu Jing to take Song Chao there. To her surprise and delight, it was the same noodle shop from her memories, run by the same elderly owner. The owner recognized her after many years and, true to form, gave her an extra fried egg.
As Liu Jing savored the familiar taste, she looked up to see the old man smiling at her, bringing tears to her eyes and reinforcing her sense of purpose. Meanwhile, Xia Meng burst into the men's changing room at the gym to confront Lu Bin. Lu Bin initially dismissed her, stating there was nothing left for them to discuss and referring to her as his "ex-girlfriend."
When other men in the changing room told Xia Meng to leave, Lu Bin surprisingly stepped in to defend her. Xia Meng then tried to explain her deception, claiming she initially feared he was trying to sell her courses and later, after falling for him, worried he wouldn't accept her true professional identity—someone who customizes and procures content for video platforms—just as her ex-boyfriend Wang Jichong had not.
Lu Bin, however, countered that he knew she harbored no ill intent but a lie was still a lie. He questioned when she would have revealed her truth if Wang Jichong hadn't exposed her, dismissing her claim of being ready to tell him when she moved in as an excuse. He pointed out numerous opportunities she had missed, from their first late-night snack to their cohabitation.
Lu Bin expressed his disappointment, feeling that she hadn't reciprocated his openness and the extent of his affection. Their argument was interrupted by the gym manager, who recognized Xia Meng as "President Xia" and admonished Lu Bin for his emotional outburst, reminding him to act professionally. The manager attempted to arrange a corporate partnership with Xia Meng's company, offering Lu Bin the lead on the project, which he immediately refused. Xia Meng, distraught, then left.
Later, Wang Jichong sought out Lu Bin at the gym, having added an extra class specifically to apologize for his previous misunderstanding regarding Lu Bin and Xia Meng. Lu Bin initially dismissed the need for an apology, wanting to maintain a professional distance, but eventually admitted he had been jealous. He then accepted Wang Jichong's apology, clarifying that his earlier harshness stemmed from his own feelings. Fang Xin met Ma Zhenyu to finalize their divorce.
Ma Zhenyu attempted to delay the proceedings, apologizing for his past infidelity and trying to explain that his parents had forced him to collateralize their shared house to secure a loan from his father's company for his struggling company, not out of stinginess. He claimed he had fought to keep the house for her but his parents were now demanding repayment due to the divorce. Fang Xin listened patiently, then calmly revealed that she saw through his manipulative charade.
She stated that her past trust in him stemmed from genuine love, not foolishness, and her current lack of engagement was due to simply being "bothered" to deal with him further. She firmly declared him unworthy of her and severed all ties, asserting her clear decision to divorce him. After the divorce, Fang Xin went to see Zhang Ting. She initially thought the flowers he was holding were for her, but he clarified they were for his baking ingredients.
He offered her a bottle of pomegranate juice, stating it was good for women and helped with beauty and anti-aging. Fang Xin joyfully announced her divorce, expressing immense happiness and relief from all burdens, believing her life now held limitless possibilities. Zhang Ting confirmed he understood her feelings. However, his next words were to mention that Aunt Wang and others were about to arrive, which confused Fang Xin.
She asked if he had anything else to tell her, but he simply handed her two pieces of bread. Later, Fang Xin realized that pomegranate juice, despite its "anti-aging" claims, contained a high sugar content, making it more likely to cause weight gain. She thanked Zhang Ting nonetheless for the gesture.
