Love's Little Delicacies- Episodes 1-5
I was drawn in by the promise of food and romance in this charming mini-series, so I couldn’t resist giving it a watch! With each episode only 10 minutes long, it’s a quick, delicious bite of entertainment. Instead of diving in piece by piece, I’m serving up a recap of 5 episodes in one go.
Ready to savor every moment? Let’s dig in!
Episode 1: A Scandalous Beginning
The drama kicks off with a striking Ji Yu, managing her food influencer boyfriend, Xia Mu. Things take a dark turn when an argument erupts, and Xia Mu cruelly provokes Ji Yu by bringing up her deceased mother, pushing her to the breaking point. Unbeknownst to her, the entire scene is being secretly filmed. The footage is edited to paint her in the worst possible light and soon goes viral. The fallout is swift—Ji Yu is fired, her reputation shattered.
Seeking solace, she heads to her friend's house to vent, only to be met with an unexpected sight: a handsome, towel-clad stranger fresh out of the shower. Tensions flare as the two immediately clash, but the surprise doesn’t stop there. When her friend arrives, Ji Yu learns this mysterious man, Shi Guang, is the new food influencer she’s supposed to manage. Frustrated, she initially rejects the idea and storms off.
Later that night, curiosity gets the better of her. As she stumbles upon Shi Guang’s livestream while he cooks, something about his passion draws her in. Inspired by his talent, she returns the next day with a bold idea—to sign Shi Guang up for a prestigious cooking competition. This marks the beginning of their unexpected journey together.
Meanwhile, in the shadows, Xia Mu is revealed to be the mastermind behind Ji Yu’s downfall. As Ji Yu and Shi Guang arrive at the competition, they face off against Xia Mu’s new food influencer ally. Tensions rise further when Shi Guang goes head-to-head with Xia Mu himself. Against the odds, Shi Guang triumphs, winning the competition and proving his worth.
With the prize in hand—a rundown car from the competition sponsors—Ji Yu and Shi Guang are now set for a cross-country culinary adventure. But with Xia Mu still lurking in the background, their journey is bound to be full of unexpected twists.
Episode 2: Tension and Temptation
As Ji Yu and Shi Guang arrive in Weinan for their next challenge in the competition, they’re immediately swarmed by reporters. The media throws accusations at Ji Yu, smearing her reputation and warning Shi Guang that associating with her will only ruin his career. Unfazed, Shi Guang steps up to defend her, and the two make a daring escape, finding refuge in a cozy local restaurant known for its unique pebble stew.
Just as they settle in, Ji Yu’s friend calls with unsettling news: if they don’t hit 1 million followers soon, they’ll be forced to drop out of the competition. Desperation sets in, but before they can come up with a plan, the restaurant owner gets into a heated argument with a group of rock band members over a nearby music venue.
In a stroke of inspiration, Ji Yu and Shi Guang decide to merge the restaurant’s traditional music troupe with the rock band for an epic live-stream performance to attract viewers. The band leader, intrigued by Ji Yu, eagerly agrees to the collaboration—leading to sparks of jealousy in Shi Guang as he watches their growing connection. The tension between the two men crackles, and Shi Guang’s protective side begins to emerge, adding another layer of complexity to their already fraught journey.
With their future in the competition hanging in the balance and emotions running high, Ji Yu and Shi Guang must now navigate not just the culinary challenges ahead but the simmering feelings and rivalries threatening to boil over.
Episode 3: Drunken Confessions and Hidden Jealousies
Outside a bustling club, a tipsy Shi Guang impatiently waits for Ji Yu, only to spot the band leader leaning in close and whispering in her ear. Fueled by jealousy, he loses control and shoves the man, sparking tension. Ji Yu quickly steps in, calming the situation and guiding a stumbling Shi Guang back to their hotel.
The next morning, we’re led to believe they may have shared an intimate night together—but reality quickly snaps into focus. In his drunken state, Shi Guang only dreamed of kissing Ji Yu. In truth, his attempt at romance was cut short when he embarrassingly threw up instead. Ji Yu kindly tucked him into bed, leaving Shi Guang mortified by his own actions.
Later, tensions flare again when Ji Yu goes over the song list with Song, the band leader. Shi Guang, still simmering with jealousy, struggles to hide his feelings. But the day takes an unexpected turn when they learn the restaurant owner has been in an accident and can no longer perform. Song offers to step in, but with one catch—Ji Yu must pretend to be his girlfriend in front of his mother.
What follows is a hilariously awkward charade, with Song’s sharp-eyed mother seeing through the act almost immediately. Pulling Ji Yu aside, she delivers a surprising observation: it’s not Song who truly cares for her—it’s Shi Guang. With the truth now hanging in the air, how long will it be before Shi Guang’s feelings finally surface?
Episode 4: Confessions and Competition Heats Up
In the kitchen, an unsuspecting Song confides in Shi Guang, admitting he has feelings for Ji Yu and asking for help in winning her over. But Shi Guang, masking his jealousy, mutters a new "clause" for their partnership: no dating the manager. As Ji Yu heads out to shop for ingredients to impress Song’s mother, Shi Guang stays behind to learn the art of Shaanxi cuisine from her. While crafting Xue Noodles, Song’s mother slyly hints that he shouldn’t wait too long to confess if he truly likes someone. Shi Guang quickly denies any feelings for Ji Yu, but her probing question—"Then why are you so jealous of my son?"—leaves him in thoughtful silence.
Realizing his emotions are more tangled than he wants to admit, Shi Guang confronts Ji Yu. She reassures him that her relationship with Song has always been strictly professional—her focus has been solely on winning the competition. Meanwhile, Xia Mu, plotting from the sidelines, dismisses their efforts, certain they’ll never reach 1 million followers.
But the competition takes an unexpected turn. When customers at a band member’s restaurant challenge the authenticity of the mutton stew, Shi Guang steps up, recreating the dish live to prove its authenticity. The impromptu live stream captures a massive audience, and the band’s subsequent performance skyrockets their viewership well past the 1 million mark—much to Xia Mu’s fury. Determined to sabotage them, Xia Mu enlists rival food blogger Linda for revenge, setting the stage for a brewing showdown.
Later that night, emboldened by the day’s success, Song decides it’s time to confess his feelings to Ji Yu. In a tense confrontation in a stairwell, he pours his heart out, only for Ji Yu to bluntly respond, "I don’t like you." Refusing to accept defeat, Song presses on, but before the situation can escalate, Shi Guang steps in, delivering a bold revelation: "The one she likes is me."
With the truth finally out in the open, emotions run high as the competition—and their relationships—take a dramatic turn.
Episode 5: Unplanned Kisses and Unexpected Rivals
Ji Yu and Shi Guang arrive in Yulin for their next mission, ready to compete in a Pinsanxian contest—but things quickly go awry. After realizing they’ve ended up at the wrong location, they head to another restaurant, hoping to learn a new recipe. When they arrive, the scene is more chaotic than expected, as the restaurant is in the middle of filming a commercial and is short an actor.
In a desperate bid for cash, Shi Guang is roped into the role, and Ji Yu is unexpectedly cast as his on-screen partner. What starts as an innocent commercial shoot takes a surprising turn when the two accidentally share a kiss, sending sparks flying. Ji Yu, caught off guard, reacts with a slap, leaving Shi Guang flustered and the air between them charged with unresolved tension.
Despite the awkward moment, the restaurant owner promises to teach them the recipe they came for. But just as things seem to be falling into place, rival food blogger Linda shows up, catching the owner’s attention. Swayed by her influence, he suddenly dismisses Ji Yu and Shi Guang, leaving them out in the cold.
With their plans disrupted and tensions rising between rivals, Ji Yu and Shi Guang must find a way to overcome both the competition and the brewing romantic tension simmering beneath the surface.
DramaZen's Opinion
This show surprisingly has captivated my attention, despite going into the drama with low expectations.
The leads seem to have pretty good chemistry, the side actors are interesting enough, and the story doesn't drag on. Overall, it has been pretty funny and light when it comes to romance.
The male lead didn't quite do it for me at first, since i found him rather soft when it came to playing opposite to the female lead. She looks like she would chew him up and spit him out! However, he always manages to man up when he needs to save her and comforts her in the ways that work best in soothing her when she is upset.
Meanwhile, the scumbag ex needs to take a hint and get over himself. Who in their right mind would think that harming someone would make the person come back to you for help. What a jerk!!!!!