Delicious Romance Episode 20 (Ending) Recap
> Delicious Romance Recap
As children, the three friends gazed at a diamond ring, dreaming about the kind of women they would become when they grew up. One of them wondered if she could earn enough to buy it herself, while another emphasized the complexity of finding love and marriage. Liu Jing finally embarked on her true passion, meticulously researching every dish and selecting unique tableware. With some help from Song Chao, she officially opened her private kitchen.
Song Chao brought her parents to the restaurant, presenting it as his treat before he moved away. However, upon realizing Liu Jing had opened a restaurant instead of taking the bank job, her parents were furious. Liu Jing calmly informed them that she had already declined the bank offer and signed a six-month lease for the restaurant. Her parents accused her of being impulsive and willful, threatening to leave.
Fang Xin and Xia Meng intervened, urging the parents to stay, and Fang Xin made Liu Jing apologize for her attitude. Liu Jing conceded, and her friends explained that she had important matters to discuss, asking for a chance to listen. Liu Jing began serving her culinary creations. The first dish was Spicy Sichuan Pepper Tofu Skin, a refined version of a dish she had previously made, now with tofu skin for a better texture.
Her father praised its deliciousness, and her mother also approved. The second course was Boiled Fish in Spicy Broth, a dish she had failed at before. This time, Liu Jing elaborately explained her precise techniques for thickening and oil temperature, and the special knife-cut chilies sourced from Mount Qingcheng. While her father acknowledged the improvement, her mother remained critical, dismissing Liu Jing’s explanations as a facade of professionalism.
Liu Jing, however, insisted on her dedication, and Song Chao defended her, stating her skills matched professional chefs. She then presented Snowflake Chicken Mousse, a traditional Sichuan “kung fu dish” made from tender chicken breast, explaining how she transformed its texture through pureeing. She hoped this dish would change her parents’ perception. Her father fondly recalled the dish as "Chicken you can't see," noting its requirement for patience—a rarity among modern chefs seeking quick profits. Both parents found it delicious.
For soup, Liu Jing served Bitter Melon Soup, a refreshing choice suitable for the season, particularly for her mother who loved it, and for her father to alleviate "internal heat"—a subtle jab from her mother about his current anger. Song Chao then spoke directly to Liu Jing's mother, expressing that it would be a "waste" if Liu Jing, with such culinary talent, were to only become a good wife.
Liu Jing continued with desserts: a Peach Pudding, for which she explained her method of optimizing sweetness and crispness, and a modernized Sweet Steamed Pork Belly. This traditional main dish was reinvented into a smaller dessert portion, paired with jasmine milk foam (ice cream) to create a delightful hot and cold contrast, symbolizing the blending of tradition and modernity, much like her family's generational differences.
Liu Jing then confidently articulated her vision for the restaurant, reassuring her parents that her decision was deeply considered. She presented a detailed budget for the renovation, highlighting her logical approach from her science background. Her mother criticized the modest industrial decor, but Song Chao affirmed its popularity among young people in high-end restaurants. Liu Jing further elaborated on her philosophy, emphasizing that food, for Chinese people, represents emotional connection.
She aspired for her restaurant to offer more than just a meal. Her father questioned why she would turn a hobby into a demanding profession, while her mother suggested a stable job and cooking as a pastime was ideal. Fang Xin interjected, stating her own career was her lifelong passion. Liu Jing passionately explained that her past pursuits—art cultivating aesthetics, MBA teaching management, and a sensitive palate leading to discerning tastes—had all prepared her for this path.
At thirty, she felt capable and resolved to pursue her love for cuisine as a career, assuring her parents she would have no regrets. Her mother, still visibly upset, left the table, and her father followed. He returned shortly, asking Fang Xin, Xia Meng, and Song Chao to step aside for a private conversation with Liu Jing.
Her father revealed that he and her mother had saved money for her wedding, but despite Liu Jing’s declaration that she didn't plan to marry, they had decided to invest that money into her restaurant instead. Liu Jing was deeply moved, tears streaming down her face as her father urged her to persevere. Meanwhile, Lu Bin, reflecting on Fang Xin’s advice to give Xia Meng another chance, went to Maisi Video to see her.
He encountered an employee from Maisi Video at his gym and asked for help locating Xia Meng. The employee, after a small deception to get past security, led him inside, cautioning that Director Xia disliked interruptions during work. Lu Bin observed Xia Meng skillfully handling an overbearing actor's manager who tried to shorten their shooting schedule, firmly asserting her professional boundaries and contractual rights. Impressed, Lu Bin left quietly, not wanting to disturb her.
Later, after her work was done, Xia Meng sought out Lu Bin at the gym. Lu Bin confessed his initial anger stemmed from her deception, but more deeply from his insecurity that he, a simple gym instructor, was not good enough for the successful woman she truly was, seeing her previous "struggling girl" persona as a manufactured character. Xia Meng, in turn, opened up about her lifelong struggle with being valued solely for her achievements, unlike her friends.
She admitted her relentless pursuit of excellence was driven by a fear of becoming unvalued. Lu Bin, she said, was the first person who made her feel beautiful and worthy, irrespective of her accomplishments. She admired his simple honesty, a quality she longed for, and felt she could be her true self with him. Their candid conversation mended their rift, and Lu Bin invited her to move in with him.
At Zhang Ting’s store, Fang Xin was developing her proposal for Nuomei Baili, deciding to position white as classic and black as trendy. Zhang Ting was preparing desserts for a charity photography exhibition, which he supplied free of charge, as proceeds benefited families of medical workers who died on the front lines. Fang Xin was touched by his generosity and offered to help him.
She noticed a poignant photo of a doctor couple who had postponed their wedding due to the pandemic. Zhang Ting sadly informed her that the husband had passed away from the infection. Later, at the Nuomei Baili meeting, Fang Xin was dismayed to hear Deng Jia present a proposal remarkably similar to her own, focusing on black wedding dresses. Despite this, Deng Jia's presentation was well-received.
When it was Fang Xin’s turn, she overcame initial nervousness and delivered a powerful presentation. She shared personal stories: her childhood fascination with wedding dresses, her mother’s belief that the wedding day was a woman's most important, and her subsequent confusion when her parents divorced. She drew parallels to her own divorce, finding empathy for her mother’s difficult decision and reflecting on how a woman’s beauty manifests in moments of strength and significant life choices.
She recalled her mother’s second marriage without a ceremony, and her mother’s self-deprecating comment about being too old to look beautiful in a wedding dress again. Fang Xin passionately argued that beauty isn't confined to a wedding day, but is found in all important life moments. She advocated for women's right to celebrate any day they feel their most beautiful, by wearing any wedding dress they desire.
Her proposed event was a grand ball, inviting a hundred diverse women—from police officers and nurses to homemakers and single mothers—to celebrate their individual journeys and decisions. Her message resonated: women should believe in themselves at every stage of life and take pride in being women. The audience, including Director Zhang, gave her a standing ovation. Impressed, Director Zhang asked for her name and personally invited himself to her upcoming dance party.
Fang Xin’s "Creative Wedding Dress Ball" was a resounding success, filled with women celebrating their individuality in wedding gowns. Fang Xin hosted, honoring their diverse roles and inviting a special guest, Ms. Zhang Yue, a doctor and bride-to-be whose fiancé had died on the front lines. Zhang Yue bravely shared her story, explaining her pride in their decision to serve and wearing her wedding dress that night to celebrate herself and her love, despite his absence.
Fang Xin closed the event by emphasizing that every decision a woman makes defines an important moment in her life, and should be celebrated. Amidst the jubilant atmosphere, the three friends had a shared moment of introspection, wondering if their adult selves had disappointed their childhood dreams. They concluded they had not, affirming their courageous, diligent, and beautiful lives. A reflective narration underscored the idea that in life's important moments, following one's true heart always leads to a good outcome.
Later, the three friends gathered to share major life updates. Liu Jing revealed that Shan Mu had proposed, and she had accepted, though she confessed to already having regrets. Xia Meng announced her decision to forgo buying a house and move in with Lu Bin, declaring she would "love until they don't love anymore." Fang Xin shared exciting news: she received an offer from Nuomei Baili to be the Deputy Director of their PR department in Shanghai. However, she admitted she hadn't told Zhang Ting yet, and there was one more secret: she was pregnant. The three friends embraced the moment with joyful laughter.
