The pilot episode of the newest VIdol Series, which is available to stream on GagaOOLala, introduced us to the mysterious and passionate chef Gu Jing, who appears to be overly kind toward their customer Liu Li, a writer who lacks inspiration and resides on the floor above. Will their chef-customer relationship blossom into something more after they spend a night together and share a drunken kiss? Let’s find out in BLTai recap of ‘VIP Only’ Episode 3.
Warning: Spoiler alert! Read at your own risk.
Liu Li visits the restaurant again, and this time, Da-Ren can’t help but show his contempt with obvious partiality when Gu Jing, who is on the other line, tells him to give the former a hangover drink to help with his headache. Liu Li is asked by Da-Ren if Gu Jing has a crush on him and if anything happened between them the previous evening as he takes a sip of the warm beverage. Liu Li becomes flustered and tries to cover up his humiliation by claiming he can’t remember anything that happened. To shift the subject, Liu Li asks Da-Ren if Gu Jing has always owned restaurants. To which the latter responds that his boss started the enterprise to ensure that the family legacy of his grandmother’s cooking is preserved. Additionally, he states that Gu Jing is a brilliant advertising professional who rose to fame in the business but left it after unidentified sources began spreading false information about his relationship with his mother, who is now estranged. Gu Jing left the company he works for and concentrated on the restaurant after the rumor damaged his reputation. At that moment, Gu Jing shows up at the restaurant and chastises Da-Ren for talking behind his back before he sits down and hands Liu Li a warm thermos containing soup to further cure his hangover. Gu Jing simply tells Liu Li that if he were uncomfortable, he wouldn’t be in front of him after he apologizes to him for all the inconvenience he has caused. He reminds Liu Li not to drink too much in the future as he peels a boiled egg for the latter to eat, giving him a furious flush in the process. Offering the now-peeled egg, Gu Jing asks him why he is finding it difficult to write as Maurice once more. Liu Li responds that his first two books are about his heartbreak and confession; since those aspects of his life have not improved, he has run out of things to write about. Liu Li asks Gu Jing’s opinion about changing his pen name, but the latter replies with confidence that he will eventually be inspired to.
During Liu Li’s visit to the restaurant that day, he begins to observe small details and gestures made by Gu Jing, noting them in his notebook. That evening, before the restaurant closes, Gu Jing sits down with Liu Li once more and inquires as to whether he needs any advice from him. This prompts Da-Ren to add that numerous individuals are pleading with Gu Jing for his skill at advertising.
Da-Ren goes on to say that people are willing to pay a huge amount for Gu Jing’s ideas, making Liu Li reluctant to seek him out for advice. Gu Jing gives Da-Ren a hard look that makes him take back his words on Liu Li and assure him that the service is free. Although the service is free, Gu Jing tells Liu Li that he must get him snacks instead, to which the latter excitedly agrees. The two-fold origami bluebirds happily eat at a nearby snack bar. Gu Jing says that to prevent his characters from becoming the same, Liu Li must project that persona onto someone. If he previously used a personal experience as inspiration, then he should use a similar personal experience for his projection to overcome writer’s block. Liu Li is surprised to see that Gu Jing has given him an origami bluebird with a long tail, unlike the usual ones he makes. He explained that there are various ways to fold bluebirds and that if someone hadn’t seen one before, they would assume they all looked the same even though they didn’t. It takes bravery to try folding something, even if someone knows how to do it. Liu Li opens his eyes to the possibilities and acknowledges that Gu Jing’s words do speak wisdom.
