Episode Summary
After Lu Tianchi's release, his relationship with Liu Yan becomes clear to a heartbroken Tang Shuangshuang, who retaliates against her own cheating boyfriend with a staged public proposal. Liu Yan begins a new chapter, starting as a dishwasher at the Gaodi Hotel and impressing chef He Sheng. The episode culminates in Tang Shuangshuang drunkenly confessing her long-held feelings to Lu Tianchi.
Spoiler Alert
With Lu Tianchi finally out of prison, a grateful Tang Shuangshuang finds him a place to live, feeling responsible for his time behind bars. One night, as he sleeps off a drunken stupor, she quietly confesses her feelings, admitting she's never had anyone protect her the way he did. She's unsure if it's love, but she knows she couldn't stop thinking about him while he was away.
Her feelings become more complicated when she visits Liu Yan and accidentally sees an intimate moment between Liu Yan and Lu Tianchi, instantly understanding their relationship. She puts on a brave face, reminding herself that she has a boyfriend and can't show her true emotions. Meanwhile, after some deep thought, Liu Yan decides to finally give up her search for Jiang Fang, choosing to let go of the past.
Later, Liu Yan is looking for Tang Shuangshuang when she spots Shuangshuang's boyfriend being affectionate with another woman. Surprisingly, Tang Shuangshuang doesn't seem to care and asks Liu Yan to keep it a secret. That evening, Tang Shuangshuang turns the tables. She buys a ring and stages a surprise proposal at her boyfriend's business party. To save face in front of his clients, he's forced to go along with it and proposes.
Upset by her friend's scheme, Liu Yan sits alone in a corner, where she's approached by He Sheng. During their conversation, Liu Yan is mortified to learn that she had accidentally dug up his mother's grave. She sincerely apologizes and insists on making it up to him by cooking him a lavish dinner.
He Sheng is deeply impressed by Liu Yan's cooking. A skilled chef himself, he has always struggled to move beyond the flavors his mother taught him. Tasting Liu Yan's food, he realizes what his own cooking has been missing. The next day, Tang Shuangshuang brings Liu Yan good news: an interview at the Gaodi Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in the area.
Dressed to impress, Liu Yan arrives at the Gaodi's kitchen, only to be dismissed by the head chef as unqualified. However, the front desk supervisor kindly explains the kitchen hierarchy to her. Determined to get a foot in the door, Liu Yan accepts a position as a dishwasher.
During a shift, a coworker nicknamed Juan Mao faints from exhaustion. Liu Yan rushes to help, bringing him sugar water, only to discover he was faking it to get a break. The incident helps her bond with other kitchen staff like Wang Daxiang and Ping Ge. Later, He Sheng holds a staff meeting, stressing that the hotel must achieve the prestigious "Diamond" rating this year.
Inspired, Liu Yan begins secretly practicing her dishes after hours to help the hotel. When the head chef catches her using the kitchen, he doesn't punish her. Instead, he promotes her to an ingredient handler, freeing her from the washing station.
The episode closes with Tang Shuangshuang, who has finally broken up with her boyfriend after he left her for another woman. She goes to Lu Tianchi, drunk and heartbroken, and finally confesses her love for him. She tearfully asks why he chose Liu Yan over her, questioning how she could lose to someone she sees as less beautiful, while also admitting that she genuinely admires Liu Yan's unique character.
