Cry Me A River of Stars Episode 5 Recap
> Cry Me A River of Stars Recap
Having intercepted a love letter originally intended for Cherry, which A Fan had written on behalf of Zhuo Jiqing, Tao Junran mistakenly believed it was addressed to him by A Fan. The following morning, he subtly probed A Fan about "the thing you gave me last night." A Fan, recalling the midnight snacks she had prepared for him, innocently confirmed she remembered them clearly, believing he was inquiring about the food.
Tao Junran, frustrated by her apparent lack of understanding, found her response "too much" and "inappropriate." Unaware of his true meaning, A Fan promised to improve any "sweetness" in her future dishes and offered to provide midnight snacks as many times as he desired, leaving Tao Junran even more bewildered. Soon after, Tao Junran and Cao Qing arrived amidst an argument between A Fan and Cherry.
Cherry complained that A Fan was exploiting her, as A Fan, seeing the surging number of guests, had arbitrarily increased Cherry's daily performances from three to ten. Cherry found this demand excessive, but A Fan insisted that as the owner of Springtime Pleasure Boat, Cherry, having signed a contract, must adhere to her arrangements.
Tao Junran initially agreed that ten performances were exploitative, but when A Fan proposed a compromise of five, he sided with her, instructing Cherry to obey her owner. Cao Qing further supported this, suggesting that while five performances might be challenging, they were attainable, and even ten could be managed on special occasions. With no other option, Cherry reluctantly conceded. Later, A Fan thanked Tao Junran for his intervention.
He warned her against swindling others, but implicitly allowed her to overcharge him because it was "her." He sternly added that if he ever discovered her doing this to anyone else, he would shut down her pleasure boat. A Fan then presented Tao Junran with Springtime Pleasure Boat's new dishes: "Snowy Volcano," "Blue Dragon out of the Sea," and "Immortal Congee."
Tao Junran observed their plain appearance, prompting A Fan to weave an elaborate, false narrative about their exotic origins and ingredients. She claimed the vegetables were irrigated by spring water, serenaded by farmers, and picked by innocent virgins, while the "Immortal Congee" contained rare whitebait from the Red Lake, scallops, and clams, slow-cooked for hours. Tao Junran found the congee to be quite good. However, when Cao Qing prepared to pay, Zhuo Jiqing informed him the total was six taels.
Overhearing this, Cherry furiously exposed A Fan's deceit, revealing that "Snowy Volcano" was just tomatoes with sugar, "Blue Dragon out of the Sea" was simply sliced cucumber, and the "Immortal Congee" was ordinary white porridge. She accused A Fan of being greedy and disrespectful. Tao Junran, however, dismissed Cherry's accusations, reiterating his enjoyment of the congee before escorting Cherry away.
Later, Cherry expressed her deep frustration to Cao Qing, questioning why Tao Junran continued to protect A Fan, whom she considered avaricious and worthless. She even attempted to resign from Springtime Pleasure Boat, arguing that A Fan had no value. Tao Junran, however, firmly stated that A Fan indeed had value, believing that the constant presence of Azureland agents around her meant she possessed something they coveted.
He gently cautioned Cherry against letting personal emotions interfere with her undercover assignment and promised she would be reassigned after the mission concluded. To comfort her, Cao Qing offered Cherry a candied green plum, recalling a past military campaign where Tao Junran's strategic ingenuity had saved their army, urging her to trust his lord's decisions. Tao Junran then commissioned A Fan's Springtime Pleasure Boat to pick up Yun He'an, a noble lady from the Yun family in the capital.
A Fan, curious about Yun He'an, only learned her identity from Cao Qing. Yun He'an, who had a long-standing affection for Tao Junran, made a grand entrance, but was visibly displeased that he had only waited at the ferry instead of Li Pavilion. She then attempted to dismiss A Fan’s services, stating that Tao Junran preferred refined individuals over "untrained commoners" and that her maids would attend to all needs.
A Fan calmly countered, explaining that due to the boat’s limited size and safety regulations, Yun He'an’s extensive entourage could not all board. Tao Junran supported A Fan’s decision, prioritizing safety. Annoyed, Yun He'an reluctantly complied and retired to her room, though she continued to cling to Tao Junran, a sight that visibly bothered A Fan. Soon after, A Fan was informed that Yun He'an was tormenting Cherry.
She rushed to intervene, finding Yun He'an forcing Cherry to perform the "Startled Swan Dance" repeatedly, criticizing her for not matching the skill of capital dancers. Yun He'an’s maid, Xinguan, then splashed water on Cherry to "awaken" her. A Fan, feigning an accidental slip, poured water on Xinguan, then gently chided Cherry to tidy herself.
Yun He'an angrily complained to Tao Junran about A Fan and Cherry’s "rudeness," but Tao Junran promptly interjected, declaring "Enough" and ordering the matter to cease. Upon their arrival in Cloud County, Yun He'an asked Tao Junran to escort her home and invited him to her mansion that evening to discuss "important matters." That night, after much hesitation, Yun He'an confessed her love for Tao Junran and asked him to stay.
Tao Junran, however, coldly rejected her advances, telling her it was "time to grow up" and threatening to send her back to the capital if she persisted. Meanwhile, Cherry, grateful for A Fan's earlier defense, expressed her thanks and a newfound appreciation for her. She also informed A Fan that Yun He'an’s brother, Yun Jiayu, was the current leader of the Imperial City Division and a former deputy of Tao Junran.
Cherry then warned A Fan to avoid Yun He'an, emphasizing her extremely vindictive nature and that she would not easily forgive those who crossed her. The annual Pleasure Boat Contest then commenced in Cloud County. The host introduced the five finalists, including Springtime Pleasure Boat, and each owner presented their unique services.
A Fan, in her turn, humbly described Springtime Pleasure Boat as a place where she personally handled tasks, ensuring equal, heartfelt service for every guest, regardless of their social standing. During the talent exhibition, Cherry performed "Moonlight over the Pinghu Lake," with her graceful dance captivating the audience. The competition then proceeded to the food appreciation segment. Instead of a professional chef, A Fan herself presented her dish: egg-fried rice.
This dish attracted Tao Junran and Cao Qing, and the judges acknowledged A Fan's "back-to-basics" approach to cooking. During the final voting, while other pleasure boats received votes for their opulent offerings, Tao Junran and Cao Qing's votes were still pending. Ultimately, Springtime Pleasure Boat won first place in the competition.
