Episode Summary
After her mother, Jiang Fang, sells all her belongings again, Liu Yan moves into the Highland restaurant to focus on her career. She thrives professionally, helping the restaurant navigate a supply crisis and comforting a grieving VIP guest. The situation with her mother comes to a head when Liu Yan pays off her large gambling debt, only to be publicly disowned. A devastated Liu Yan is comforted by Lu Tianchi, whose dramatic and misguided attempt to save her from herself leads to a sincere love confession, finally bringing the two together.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with a frantic Jiang Fang trying to see David, only to be turned away by security. When Li Zan calls, she lies, claiming to be at the market. Li Zan earnestly gives her a gift, pleading with her to stop tormenting Liu Yan, who is, after all, her biological daughter. Meanwhile, Wang Yang pays a visit to Liu Yan at the restaurant,Highland. Seeing her confidently manage the kitchen and even prepare a special dish for him, he is finally reassured that she can thrive on her own in a foreign country.
The peace is short-lived. The day after Wang Yang departs for home, Liu Yan returns to her apartment to find it completely empty—Jiang Fang has sold off all her belongings yet again. Her friend, Lu Tianchi, arrives, holding her car keys, remarking that if he hadn't intervened, the car would have been sold too. Faced with this betrayal, Liu Yan decides to move into the staff quarters at Highland to focus on the upcoming "Diamond Competition." Despite everything, she holds no resentment toward her mother and asks Lu Tianchi to help look after her.
AtHighland, Head Chef He Sheng finds Liu Yan living in the kitchen and kindly arranges a proper room for her. Finding her footing, Liu Yan boldly speaks her mind, insisting that as a sous-chef, she should have her own creative input rather than having He Sheng decide everything. He Sheng surprisingly takes her feedback to heart. Liu Yan's subsequent efforts, like making Beijing Zha Jiang Mian for the staff, help her bond with her colleagues. Her cheerful and optimistic nature begins to soften He Sheng's perpetually serious demeanor.
A crisis erupts when a colleague, Juan Mao, announces that the specific pudding needed for their competition dish has been bought out all over the market. Another chef, Wang Daxiang, steps forward and confesses he had been secretly developing his own pudding recipe. He Sheng first scolds him for betrayingHighland's trust but, after tasting the pudding, declares it perfect. He not only allows Wang Daxiang to stay but also decides to incorporate the new pudding's unique qualities into their sesame pancake recipe.
Just as Highland overcomes one hurdle, it faces another due to damaging rumors. Lu Tianchi comes to the rescue again, this time saving Tang Shuangshuang from her toxic partner, Pierre. Having left with nothing, Tang Shuangshuang moves in and uses her considerable influence as a food blogger to promoteHighland, attracting food lovers from all over. Among the new patrons is an elderly woman named Florence, a friend of He Sheng's late wife, whose presence deeply affects him. He Sheng prepares multiple dishes for her, but she remains unimpressed. Liu Yan, however, does some research and discovers the story of Florence's late daughter. She prepares a noodle dish tailored to the daughter's tastes. The gesture breaks through Florence's stoicism, and she weeps, finally releasing years of suppressed grief.
The drama with her mother escalates when Liu Yan receives a call from a gambling den; Jiang Fang has a significant debt and cannot leave until it's paid. Without hesitation, Liu Yan settles the debt. Instead of being grateful, Jiang Fang is furious that she gave away so much money. In a rage, she drags Liu Yan to a temple and, in front of the deities, formally disowns her as a daughter. Heartbroken, Liu Yan agrees.
Devastated, Liu Yan returns home and shows the disownment paper to Lu Tianchi. He laughs at the childishness of the act and suggests it's time to send Jiang Fang to a rehab center for her gambling addiction. Liu Yan refuses, accusing him of being cruel and expressing her deep-seated desire for a complete family.
Realizing he was too harsh, Lu Tianchi runs after her to the seashore. In the distance, he mistakes a reef for Liu Yan and, while shouting a heartfelt confession of his love, jumps into the sea to "save" her. Liu Yan, watching from the shore, is forced to swim out and rescue the foolishly romantic Lu Tianchi. The event breaks the final barriers between them. After a brief, awkward trip to a hotel, they return home, finally acknowledging their mutual love and officially beginning their relationship.
