Episode Summary
In a moment of crisis before a competition, He Sheng confronts his past trauma related to his mother while trying to master a sesame cake recipe. Lu Tianchi gathers definitive proof of Pierre's abusive nature and presents it to a reluctant Tang Shuangshuang. The episode ends on a cliffhanger as both Lu Tianchi and Wang Yang are led to believe that Liu Yan has left town with another man, escalating their rivalry.
Spoiler Alert
With a major competition right around the corner, disaster strikes as all the chefs at Highland are hospitalized due to poisoning. Left with no other options, a desperate He Sheng finds himself drawn to the seaside once again. Elsewhere, an indignant Wang Daxiang confronts Philip, questioning why he would poison their colleagues. Philip, however, shamelessly shifts all the blame onto Wang Daxiang and even uses the incident to blackmail him into submission.
Meanwhile, Lu Tianchi's search for Tang Shuangshuang finally leads him to her home. He finds her playing the piano, attempting to appear calm and at ease, but her fearful demeanor immediately gives him away. His suspicions are further confirmed when he notices a scar on her head, leading him to believe her boyfriend, Pierre, is holding her in confinement. Changing his tactics, Lu Tianchi cleverly complains about his own girlfriend to lower Pierre's guard. After the brief visit, he leaves, planning to investigate Pierre's background while looking for another chance to get close to Tang Shuangshuang.
Lu Tianchi later finds Tang Shuangshuang at a nail salon she frequents and sincerely urges her to leave Pierre. However, she stubbornly insists that Pierre's actions are not abuse but rather a sign of his deep love for her. Lu Tianchi's investigation at a private clinic later confirms that Pierre does indeed have violent tendencies. He presents a video of this to Tang Shuangshuang, hoping it will finally make her realize that Pierre's feelings for her are not genuine love.
At the same time, He Sheng takes Liu Yan to a temple, asking her to find a man nicknamed Fantou ("Rice Head") to buy sesame cakes. Liu Yan waits from day until night, eventually falling asleep. After He Sheng wakes her, he sends her to a guest room to rest while he goes to the back courtyard to find the ingredients Fantou uses. The next morning, Liu Yan awakens to chaos. He Sheng, having failed to replicate the sesame cakes from his memory, has completely wrecked the kitchen and is being kicked out by the monks.
Following this, Liu Yan accompanies He Sheng to his mother's grave, a place he hasn't visited since her death. Guided by Liu Yan, he stands before the tombstone, overwhelmed by resentment. He remembers his mother as a brilliant chef who was overly harsh and constantly belittled him. Standing in the pouring rain, he angrily shouts, questioning why nothing he ever did as a child was good enough for her.
Liu Yan helps the emotionally drained He Sheng back to the temple. She apologizes to Fantou for the mess and explains He Sheng's situation. Fantou astutely realizes that He Sheng isn't just trying to learn a recipe; he's trying to prove himself to his late mother. When He Sheng approaches, Fantou personally begins to teach him how to make the sesame cakes.
Returning home to look for Liu Yan, Lu Tianchi is surprised to find Wang Yang lingering outside her door. The atmosphere between the two rivals instantly becomes tense. Their standoff is interrupted when a neighbor informs them that Liu Yan went on vacation a few days ago with a handsome young man in a luxury car. The news hits both men hard, leaving them with a strong sense of crisis.
