Yummy Yummy Yummy Episode 12 Recap
> Yummy Yummy Yummy Recap
The Mid-Autumn Festival had arrived, and work at the Capital Prefecture was especially demanding. While Lin Yan and his colleagues were dining, a messenger from the Princess extended an invitation for Lin Yan to celebrate the festival at her manor. Lin Yan, explaining he was swamped with the pressing task of reorganizing the city's markets, politely declined, promising to personally apologize later.
Cheng Hu, noting this was the third time the Princess had invited Lin Yan, playfully inquired about his romantic preferences, remarking on his handsome appearance. Just then, Li Fengxia arrived, bringing freshly made mooncakes for the officials. Each mooncake contained a fortune slip; Lin Yan's read, "will surely find a fine wife," which he subtly tucked into his sleeve.
Later that evening, long after the city's stalls had closed for the festival, Lin Yan remained at the Capital Prefecture, immersed in old case files. Two months into his tenure as Vice Prefect, the wrongful case of his father remained unsolved, causing him deep anguish. He had meticulously reviewed the documents, but all evidence still pointed to his father's guilt. Sending Liu Chang back to Yunshui Manor, Lin Yan decided to continue his solitary research.
As night fell, he found himself reminiscing about childhood Mid-Autumn Festivals with his family, a longing for his parents weighing heavily on him. Hearing from Liu Chang that Lin Yan would not be home for dinner, the Shen family, instead of leaving him to his work, brought a sumptuous meal to his office door, insisting he join their festive gathering. The joyful scene of the family's reunion intensified Lin Yan's own wistful thoughts.
Shen Shaoguang, noticing his subdued mood, gently asked if something was amiss, but Liu Chang quickly intervened, deflecting her questions. During the family dinner, Shen Jianshe, feeling reflective, spoke of earlier times when they were poor. He affectionately praised Li Fengxia for managing their household with such skill and dedication despite his meager earnings. He reaffirmed his belief that he had chosen wisely in marrying her and expressed his love. However, Li Fengxia grew visibly irritated by his reminiscing.
She felt he was reducing her efforts to mere frugality, rather than appreciating her as an equal partner. She accused him of becoming arrogant and boastful now that they had achieved some financial success. She pointed out that the elaborate headpiece and robes she was wearing were bought with her own earnings, earned through her daughter's culinary innovations, not his. Their argument quickly escalated, with Shen Jianshe defensively implying her jealousy.
The heated exchange culminated in Li Fengxia, in a fit of rage, suggesting they divorce. Lin Yan attempted to calm them, but unheeding, Shen Jianshe proudly declared himself "the Best Chef in Yong'an" and stormed out. A distraught Li Fengxia then ordered him to sleep at his diner, effectively banishing him from the house. Mortified by the scene, Shen Shaoguang apologized to Lin Yan. Lin Yan reassured Shen Shaoguang that he did not view her parents' squabble as a joke.
He explained that the Shen family had embraced him as their own, especially after learning about his concealed identity, which carried significant risks. They had never exploited his vulnerability for personal gain but instead offered unwavering care and comfort. He questioned why she would think he would mock her family's arguments, given their acceptance of his own struggles.
Feeling a sense of profound trust, Shen Shaoguang then asked if she could treat Lin Yan as her "tree hole"—a confidant for her deepest secrets and worries. She clarified that by placing a screen between them, he would no longer be the Vice Prefect but simply a trusted listener. Lin Yan, initially confused by the modern term, soon understood and agreed. Shen Shaoguang confessed that before their move to Yong'an, her father, despite their poverty, had been a kind man.
But his recent culinary success had changed him, leading to frequent arguments with her mother. She admitted to sometimes feeling that their quarrels were "improper" but immediately chided herself for such selfish thoughts about her parents. Lin Yan, in his role as her confidant, gently advised her not to be so hard on herself, reminding her that thoughts alone do not define a person's actions.
Shen Shaoguang acknowledged that just as she might harbor fleeting negative thoughts, her parents too might have felt burdened by her at times. Yet, she concluded, these fleeting feelings were secondary; their unbreakable bond as a family, always supporting each other, was what truly mattered. Following their heartfelt conversation, Shen Shaoguang offered to be Lin Yan's "tree hole" as well.
Lin Yan, touched by her empathy, then poured out his own profound regret and self-condemnation, particularly during times of family reunion. He confessed that his father, a former Prefect, had been unjustly framed, and his mother falsely accused. He lamented his fate, forced to adopt a new identity and become the Vice Prefect, yet feeling he had achieved nothing to clear his parents' names. He questioned his right to find joy or even to exist in the world.
Seeing his tears, Shen Shaoguang moved from behind the screen and embraced him, offering solace. She assured him he had no reason to blame himself, emphasizing that his parents would undoubtedly wish for him to live happily every day and on every festival. She asserted that enjoyment required no special qualifications, nor did existence demand a specific "face"; he simply needed to embrace happiness.
Afterward, Shen Shaoguang presented him with a specially prepared mixed nuts mooncake, noting his earlier meager meal. Lin Yan found it exceptionally delicious, leading to a lively discussion about the divisive nature of mixed nuts mooncakes, which Shen Shaoguang described as causing passionate debates in her "Future Village," even leading to fractured friendships, much like the scholarly arguments over different pillow types in Yong'an.
She playfully offered to make him a soft "cotton pillow" from her home, though admitting her mother's superior sewing skills. In the intimate atmosphere, perhaps intensified by the wine they had consumed, Lin Yan turned to face Shen Shaoguang. Recalling her earlier statement that he was someone to be revered and never disrespected, he asked if she still felt that way now. Then, they leaned in and shared a kiss.
The following morning, the memory of their kiss brought a wave of mortification over Shen Shaoguang. Believing she had committed an unforgivable offense against Lin Yan, whom she revered, she rushed to his room, prostrating herself and apologizing profusely, vowing never to drink alcohol again. Lin Yan, however, pretended to remember nothing beyond enjoying mooncakes, engaging in their "tree hole" confessions, and sharing wine. He innocently asked if something untoward had happened to warrant her extreme apologies.
Relieved that he seemed to have forgotten the kiss, Shen Shaoguang quickly fabricated a reason, claiming her guilt stemmed from allowing him to drink too much, fearing it might jeopardize his official duties. She offered to brew him sobering soup. Lin Yan then noticed her fever. Shen Shaoguang brushed it off as retribution, insisting on preparing the soup. He carried her back toward her room, placing her down outside and subtly mentioning the need for "boundaries" between them.
Confused by his sudden formality, Shen Shaoguang reminded him of their previous night spent together in a diner to evade a curfew. Lin Yan gently but firmly reiterated the importance of discretion in certain matters and advised her to be more cautious with her words. He then told her to rest.
Soon, Shen Jianshe and Li Fengxia arrived at Shen Shaoguang's bedside, immediately launching into an argument about her fever treatment: Shen Jianshe advocated for covering her to induce sweating, while Li Fengxia insisted that was unscientific and counterproductive to cooling down. Her niece, Shen Yangyang, speculated that her fever was a result of overeating three boxes of mixed nuts mooncakes, to which her brother, Shen Shaojie, bluntly added that she "deserved it."
Shen Shaoguang silently agreed that it was indeed retribution, but kept the true reason to herself. When the bitter medicine was brought, Shen Shaoguang stubbornly refused to take it. After both parents failed to persuade her, Shen Jianshe suggested that Lin Yan, as their revered figure and the Vice Prefect, would surely command her obedience. Lin Yan, carrying the medicine bowl, sat by her bed.
Before he could utter a word, Shen Shaoguang snatched the bowl, gulped down the medicine in one swift motion, and then quickly buried herself under the covers, too shy to meet his gaze.
