Walk Into Your Memory Episode 3 Recap
> Walk Into Your Memory Recap
Ms. Ma was engrossed in gossip with several waitstaff about Long Haoqian and An Ning when she tripped, her high heel catching in a floor gap. She stumbled backward, only to fall into Head-chef Gong Chen's arms. Her surprise turned to slight discomfort as she realized her heel was firmly on his foot, causing his expression to grow increasingly strained. She mumbled an apology.
In the kitchen, Gong Chen rigorously tasted and critiqued the dishes prepared by An Ning and her colleagues. He pinpointed issues with ingredients, suggesting iron mountain yam, and noted one dish was too sour and another's broth too thin. He praised a dish whose taste was good despite its dark color. Gong Chen reminded them that cooking, like life, requires heartfelt dedication, continuous learning, and time to hone skills.
He warned against shortcuts, emphasizing that only one person would become his apprentice and they must earn the spot through skill and hard work. The chefs were preparing diligently for this upcoming apprentice competition. Meanwhile, Ms. Ma was finalizing a wedding banquet menu with a server. Long Haoqian passed by, giving a few instructions.
Ms. Ma thought to herself how unfortunate it was that such a handsome man was not interested in women, imagining she might otherwise have a chance to pursue him. Long Haoqian informed An Ning that their transaction contract would be ready for signing soon, and her pay raise would start next month. He added that she needed to begin fulfilling the contract terms that very night and specifically instructed her not to wear "odd outfits."
An Ning was immediately annoyed, taking offense at his comment and feeling he was mocking her fashion sense. She retorted, "Cucumber Freak," accusing him of calling her names and judging her aesthetic. She warned him that if she continued to criticize her appearance or call her names, she would expose his secrets, regardless of the confidentiality agreement. She declared she wouldn't mind terminating the contract and finding a new job, leaving Long Haoqian utterly frustrated and helpless.
Later, while returning to his office, Long Haoqian overheard two cleaning staff gossiping about An Ning, mentioning she had been blacklisted by dating websites and even suggesting she liked women, which made Long Haoqian frown and shake his head. The hotel welcomed two arrogant VIP guests who, upon arrival, immediately demanded Gong Chen personally prepare their meals. A server explained the hotel's policy that VIP guests could only order one head chef-prepared dish.
One guest scoffed at the rule, calling Gong Chen "just a cook" and questioning the limitation, drawing disapproving looks from other diners. Ms. Ma quickly intervened, politely asking how she could assist. The other guest demanded two dishes: Woolly Fried Perch and Dongpo Pork. When Ms. Ma tried to reiterate the hotel's policy, the rude guest cut her off with a dismissive "Nonsense!"
Realizing they were deliberately causing trouble, Ms. Ma instructed the server to process the order as if it were for two separate tables, ensuring Gong Chen would prepare both dishes. When the message reached the kitchen, Gong Chen remarked on the unusual number of VIPs that day.
As Gong Chen prepared the Dongpo Pork and Woolly Fried Perch, he lectured the other chefs on the crucial control of stove heat, explaining how it profoundly influences flavor and comparing it to maintaining balance in social interactions. The other chefs intently watched, acknowledging Gong Chen as a legendary figure in culinary art whose cooking process was rarely seen.
However, once served, the two guests immediately disparaged the dishes, claiming they were "disgusting," "too sour and salty," and "too greasy," questioning the hotel's integrity and demanding to see the head chef. Gong Chen arrived and was dismayed to find two sets of dishes presented on a single table. He confronted Ms. Ma, accusing her of disregarding rules and creating problems, escalating their usual rivalry.
An Ning, present with the other chefs, used her ability to read the guests' memories and discovered they were from Yi An Corporation, dispatched by L Group to intentionally damage Long Teng Hotel's reputation. She exposed their scheme, reciting their exact conversation, but the guests became even more belligerent. Long Haoqian then stepped in. He affirmed his unwavering trust in Gong Chen's culinary skills but stated that the ultimate judge should be the public.
He requested Gong Chen to prepare the same two dishes again for other guests to taste and provide their honest opinions. After sampling the food, the other diners unanimously praised Gong Chen's cooking, leaving the two instigating guests speechless. Long Haoqian then instructed Ms. Ma to call the police to formally address the disruption and slander. Afterward, Long Haoqian pondered the potential business applications of An Ning's unique ability.
After work, Long Haoqian brought An Ning to a class reunion, introducing her as his assistant and future driver. However, he did not allow her to join them at the dining table, leaving her to sit hungrily on a nearby sofa. She listened as his classmates reminisced about Long Haoqian's significant transformation after high school, recounting a harrowing incident where he was kidnapped and nearly killed, which prompted him to move abroad. Another classmate, Du Kai, arrived late.
An Ning read his memories and discovered that it was Du Kai who had called the police after finding a wounded Long Haoqian following the kidnapping. As the dinner concluded, a famished An Ning attempted to pack the uneaten leftovers, which Long Haoqian found distasteful, telling her, "I said no. Don't you get it?" An Ning, annoyed at being hungry all day, defiantly packed the food anyway and refused to divulge the memories she had seen of his classmates.
Long Haoqian explained his aversion to dining with women. As they bickered, a water truck drove by. An Ning instinctively pulled Long Haoqian in front of her to shield herself, resulting in him getting drenched. The physical contact with a woman also caused him to retch in discomfort. An Ning bought tissues to help him dry off.
Seeing a father and daughter happily playing with fireworks nearby triggered a poignant memory for An Ning: her own father had done the same when she was blind, vividly describing the beautiful "brilliant gem" of fireworks and assuring her she would one day see them for herself. Back home, An Ning was devouring her packed meal.
Her mother casually told her the household registry was in a steel box in her closet, just in case An Ning ever decided to elope. An Ning asserted her continued belief in love, contrasting herself with her friend Xia Tian, who had no boyfriend and no hope for romance. An Ning mused that while she could perceive Long Haoqian's memories, his true character remained elusive to her.
Meanwhile, Long Haoqian arrived home, remembering the cleaning staff's gossip about An Ning preferring women. He considered offering to find her suitable female companions if she would share the memories she had seen that day. However, a chilling thought then crossed his mind: what if An Ning, being particular, found no woman appealing and instead developed feelings for him? He shuddered at the grotesque idea of having to "cross-dress" as a solution. The apprentice competition commenced with three rounds.
An Ning won the first round, which focused on decorative garnishes. For the second round, contestants were asked to be creative. An Ning attempted an elaborate Imperial cuisine, Meat-Filled Fish-balls in Stew, but Yi Mingjun won with his preparation of a common dish. The judges noted that while Imperial cuisine was remarkable, the greatest culinary creations often came from common people, and Yi Mingjun's "common cuisine" was the most successful they had seen.
The third and final round required both chefs to prepare stir-fried potato slices from the same ingredients. An Ning secured this round with 12 votes, winning by a margin of two votes, thus winning the competition. She was informed that the apprentice acceptance ceremony would be held soon. Separately, Yi Mingjun, still captivated by Xia Tian after witnessing her stand up to a director, had gathered her personal information and her filming set address, determined to pursue her.
Long Haoqian, recalling the Yi An Corporation incident, hesitated but ultimately decided to enlist An Ning's help for a business matter. However, considering her unique fashion sense, he decided their first step would be to go shopping for new clothes. He called her, telling her he was waiting at the hotel entrance.
When she questioned why they were going to a clothing store, he replied that he didn't want her to be "too dashing" and "scare the others," and that he was judging her fashion sense. She countered, asking if he had a "fetish for fruits and vegetables." After trying on several outfits he disliked, finally selecting a third option, he declared, "We are taking this."
