Episode Summary
In this episode, the relationship between Liu Yan and Lu Tianchi deepens as she cleverly turns a contract termination into an opportunity to spend more time with him. However, a potential rival, He Sheng, emerges, sparking Lu Tianchi's jealousy. A fire in the restaurant kitchen puts Liu Yan's career on the line, while the shocking truth about Wang Daxiang's gambling addiction comes to light. In a harrowing subplot, Tang Shuangshuang suffers domestic violence but remains in denial, accepting her abusive boyfriend's marriage proposal. Amidst the chaos, Liu Yan has a culinary breakthrough, but her progress is complicated when Jiang Fang presents Lu Tianchi with a risky proposition to help victims of a massive scam.
Spoiler Alert
"Her" Episode 15: Love, Lies, and Dangerous Deals
The episode opens with Tang Shuangshuang giving Lu Tianchi a much-needed pep talk. She finds him in a self-pitying state and urges him to step up his game, warning him that if he doesn't act fast, one of the outstanding people at "Highland" might snatch Liu Yan away. Lu Tianchi confesses he feels unworthy of Liu Yan, citing their differences in age and ability. For Tang Shuangshuang, this is a clear sign that he has already fallen deeply in love.
That evening, Liu Yan brings a special dessert back from the restaurant for Lu Tianchi as a thank-you for all his silent support. Playing it cool, he hands her a contract termination agreement instead. Unfazed, Liu Yan tells him she has already forgiven him and even brings out wine to share. Lu Tianchi stubbornly insists that his fight with Philip wasn't for her sake, but simply because he found Philip's cooking disgusting.
Liu Yan sees the termination agreement not as an ending, but as a new beginning—an excuse to get closer to Lu Tianchi. She disputes every single fee listed, insisting they go over the calculations line by line. Under the pretext of verifying a taxi fare, she drags him to a classical music concert. However, the high-brow music quickly puts her to sleep. While Lu Tianchi steps out to buy coffee, a man named He Sheng approaches Liu Yan. He strikes up a conversation, comparing the inspirational power of music to that of cooking. Just as Liu Yan was about to leave with Lu Tianchi, she has a change of heart and decides to stay, telling Lu Tianchi to go home without her. Instantly seeing He Sheng as a rival, Lu Tianchi becomes hostile and insists on staying, pulling rank as her "acting lawyer."
On the way home, their night is interrupted by an urgent call: the back kitchen is on fire. Liu Yan and He Sheng rush back to the restaurant. She staunchly defends her colleague Wang Daxiang from blame, taking full responsibility for the incident and promising that the dishes for the upcoming evaluation will be prepared on time.
Later, while Liu Yan is at home tirelessly working on her recipes, her friend Li Zan delivers some devastating news. After days of searching, Li Zan's contacts located Wang Daxiang's mother, who suffers from dementia and recognizes no one. A staff member reveals the heartbreaking truth: Wang Daxiang is a gambling addict who has been stealing his mother's medical funds to feed his habit. Liu Yan is crushed, as she had genuinely believed he had overcome his addiction.
Meanwhile, Tang Shuangshuang's life takes a dark turn. Her boyfriend returns from abroad unexpectedly, flying into a rage when he learns she has plans for afternoon tea with friends. Accusing her of prioritizing others over him, he becomes violent, pushing her into a swimming pool and beating her while proclaiming his love. Later, Tang Shuangshuang seeks comfort from Liu Yan, asking for dessert to lift her spirits. In a state of denial, she proudly shows off a ring, announcing that she has accepted his marriage proposal. She dismisses his violent outburst as him just being "emotional" at times, convinced that he truly loves her.
Driven by Tang Shuangshuang's request, Liu Yan experiments by adding cream to a fish dish, and to her surprise, the new creation is a resounding success. She eagerly has He Sheng try it, and after receiving his high praise, the dish is officially added to the menu. That afternoon, Liu Yan and Lu Tianchi go to a market to buy dried fish, but they hit a snag. The vendor, holding an old grudge against Lu Tianchi, flatly refuses to sell to them. Liu Yan's attempts to persuade him by explaining she's a chef from Highland and even offering him a taste of her cooking are all met with a firm rejection.
The next day, Lu Tianchi is summoned by Jiang Fang to a clandestine meeting in a hidden seaside air-raid shelter. There, he finds Jiang Fang living with a group of people. She explains that they are all victims of a sophisticated "pig-butchering scam" and have lost everything. She proposes a deal: if Lu Tianchi can use his legal skills to help them recover their money, they will both earn a substantial profit. Wary of the risks, Lu Tianchi is hesitant to get involved in such a messy and dangerous affair.
