The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 12

Li Shao was away on a business trip, so for the time being, Qian Qian had to drive herself to work. Seeing that Song Baili still planned to take the bus alone today, she quickly stepped forward and blocked Song Baili’s way.

A smile hung on her face, like a rainbow in the sky, bright and colorful.

“Are you planning to take the bus again? I’m driving to work today. Would you like a ride?”

“No need to trouble yourself, the bus is quite convenient for me,” Song Baili replied.

She walked straight past Qian Qian, her steps firm, without a hint of hesitation.

Qian Qian narrowed her eyes slightly, biting her lip. She felt that Song Baili was an interesting person, especially when she rejected someone—it was like pressing the “delete” button, a quick and direct dismissal.

Qian Qian took a deep breath, then slowly caught up with Song Baili, extending one hand to gently block her path.

“I’m in the mood for coffee. Would you like to join me?”

Song Baili lowered her gaze, her long, slightly curled eyelashes casting a soft shadow under her eyes, adding an air of mystery to her gaze.

Her demeanor was ethereal and fleeting, with eyes as deep as a misty forest, giving her the aura of a fairy in the fog, making it feel like one shouldn’t get too close.

Qian Qian involuntarily took a small step back, her body momentarily frozen, as if she had bumped into an invisible but impenetrable wall, unable to cross.

These days, it wasn’t just difficult for men to ask women out—women asking other women out was like piecing together a puzzle, requiring more time to find the right fit and perfect match.

Especially those who were already in relationships and also looked beautiful.

Qian Qian didn’t want to make things awkward for Song Baili, but disappointment weighed heavily on her heart. She felt too weak to even force a smile, her shoulders drooping, and in that moment, she lost interest in everything.

“There’s a coffee shop I often go to, with a lot of different choices, though it’s a bit far. I’m not sure if you’d be interested?”

Like a flash of light in the darkness, Qian Qian suddenly looked up, her big eyes sparkling, and she eagerly nodded with a bright smile.

Song Baili, seeing the woman before her smile only slightly with the corners of her lips, felt a subtle flicker in her heart, as if a brilliant firework had just exploded inside her, leaving behind the faint scent of love.

A light blush appeared on Song Baili’s cheeks, a faint shiver ran through her, and she felt a subtle, uneasy stir in her chest, as though something emotional was slowly spreading within her.

Suddenly, she realized such thoughts shouldn’t exist, so she shook her head slightly and tried to push the chaotic thoughts from her mind.

When they reached the restaurant, there was already a long line outside. They joined at the end, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee. Qian Qian slightly turned her head and saw the soft light reflecting on Song Baili’s porcelain-like face, highlighting her delicate features.

Song Baili didn’t notice Qian Qian was secretly watching her, as she was too captivated by a couple in front of them, deeply absorbed in their sweet display of affection. Her gaze lingered, and after a while, she swallowed, unsure where to shift her focus.

Noticing Song Baili’s distracted gaze, Qian Qian decided to follow her line of sight to see what had caught her attention. When she saw the scene, her whole body stiffened as if struck by lightning. Her jaw almost dropped, and she stared, as if the circuits in her brain had short-circuited.

Song Baili turned her head and saw Qian Qian quickly spinning around, trying to move away and hide behind her.

The man was bold and obvious in his display, while the woman, who had been cheated on, was trying her best to hide, fearing exposure.

“Shall we get coffee somewhere else?” Qian Qian asked.

Song Baili gave a slight nod and happily agreed. She felt a strange aversion toward the coffee shop that had witnessed her boyfriend’s infidelity, not wanting to let those unpleasant feelings linger.

They casually entered another café, not expecting much from the drinks. Song Baili took a sip and raised her brows in surprise, suddenly realizing that unexpected things often happened.

The coffee was quite hot, yet Qian Qian continued to drink it quickly. Song Baili watched, feeling a bit heartbroken, thinking that if she had been more considerate, she should have suggested going to a bar instead.

“I saw Li Shao while we were in line,” Qian Qian said.

Song Baili’s inner monologue: Unfortunately, so did I.

“He was with another woman.”

Song Baili lowered her gaze, falling silent.

“It’s not the first time I’ve dealt with this. When he said he was on a business trip, I had a feeling.” Qian Qian took another sip of coffee, glancing at Song Baili, her heart racing, as if it was jumping around in her chest.

“I’ve tried to break up with him many times, but he won’t agree. My dad doesn’t want us to break up either. After all, he’s the major investor in our shop. He can’t give me happiness, but he can help my dad’s dream survive.”

A sense of helplessness filled the air, and the atmosphere became heavy. Silence took over the space, replacing any comforting words. Song Baili sipped her unsweetened latte, savoring the rich yet slightly bitter taste, and could sense Qian Qian’s mood through the coffee.

“You’re so great. Your boyfriend should be really attentive to you,” Qian Qian said.

Boyfriend?

Song Baili looked up at Qian Qian’s face and caught a fleeting look of envy. She smirked and said, “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

It was as though angels were singing in her ears. Qian Qian’s big eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky, shining with hope.

“Single men everywhere should be happy now… Too bad I’m not a guy.”

Song Baili didn’t respond but merely ran her hand through her hair, smiling faintly before lowering her head. Her subtle smile held a hint of bashfulness.

Qian Qian felt like her heart was being pulled away and quickly pinched herself to snap back to reality.

Qian Qian was beautiful, with fair skin and captivating features, the kind of appearance that Song Baili admired. It was for this reason that she made an exception and spent a few hours at a coffee shop with her.

“I’ll take you home,” Qian Qian said, remembering her original intention.

“No need, my sister is nearby. She’ll be here soon. I’ll go with you to pick up your car,” Song Baili replied.

As they walked down the busy street, they unexpectedly saw Li Shao walking toward them, holding hands with his lover. Qian Qian suddenly stopped, holding her breath, and looked around for a place to hide.

At that moment, the traffic light turned green. Qian Qian was about to cross to the other side, but someone grabbed her arm. Before she could turn around, a coat was pulled over her head.

The light turned red again, and Song Baili wrapped her long arm around Qian Qian’s shoulder, pulling her into the crowd of people waiting to cross the street.

Unlike the masculine scent of cologne and tobacco, there was a refined, luxurious fragrance about women. Among the noisy crowd, Qian Qian could only hear her own racing heartbeat and feel the sweat in her palms, too afraid to turn her head to look at Song Baili.

The crowd swarmed around them, and Song Baili, dressed in a turtleneck and plaid pants, stood out like a graceful flower in a field of ordinary people, catching the attention of several passersby.

Even Li Shao couldn’t help but look, his gaze lingering on her tall, slender figure. He unconsciously thought of someone else.

The woman next to him noticed Li Shao glancing back, irritated by all the fashionable young women they had passed on the way. She stomped her foot and playfully scolded him, “Haven’t you had enough of looking? Your eyes are going to fall out!”

“Ah, I just thought I saw Lao Liu. Let’s go, let’s go, or that limited-edition bag of yours will be sold out,” Li Shao said.

The woman glanced back at the scene, and after a pause, she lifted the corner of her companion’s hood, revealing a beautiful face with a flushed expression. She quickly lowered her head, staring at her feet.

Song Baili’s heart skipped a beat at the sight, her face flushing with heat. She quickly looked away, feeling an unexpected warmth despite the cool night wind.

“Ah, here’s your coat back.”

Qian Qian awkwardly took off the coat and handed it to her. As she saw Song Baili put it back on, she couldn’t help but smile sweetly, instinctively tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, revealing her delicate and fair earlobe.

At that moment, Song Baili’s phone rang. After finishing the call, she said to Qian Qian, “My sister is already nearby.”

“Okay, see you tomorrow.”

No boyfriend, but at least a reliable younger sister. Both sisters were beautiful, yet they seemed like different kinds of flowers, standing together in perfect harmony.

Qian Qian thought this idea was a bit absurd and lightly tapped her own head to clear her thoughts.

Song Qinyao, unable to find Song Baili at home, went out for a drive. When she realized the time, she called her, saying she was just around the corner.

“It’s so late, and you’re still not home. Who are you hanging out with?”

“A colleague,” Song Baili replied.

“And which colleague?”

Song Baili frowned slightly, fell silent for a moment, then said, “Her name is Qian Qian.”

“Is she the one with big eyes and short hair?”

“Yes.”

Upon hearing this, Song Qinyao’s mood sank instantly, and a wave of negative energy hit her. The first time she saw Qian Qian, she didn’t like her and felt like something was off, as if she were a troublemaker.

She gently bit her lip, her clear eyes flickering, before smiling again, though her mood was clearly affected.

“Is she your type?”

“Huh?”

“Do you like women?”

Song Qinyao’s question made Song Baili’s heart flutter. She froze for a few seconds, her mind going blank, as if her soul had left her body.

The person sitting in the passenger seat fell silent, and Song Qinyao quickly glanced at her before calling out softly, “Sister?”

Song Baili snapped back to reality, rubbing her forehead, her voice tired as she said, “Sorry, I was lost in thought about work. What did you just say?”

“Nothing. Let’s stop chatting. You should rest,” Song Qinyao said.

“Okay.”

About ten minutes later, they arrived home. Song Baili found a comfortable position in her seat, closed her eyes, and began to relax.