The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 13

That night, after having coffee together and listening to Qian Qian share her not-so-upsetting misfortunes, Song Baili sensed a subtle shift in her feelings. It seemed like she was starting to care about this person, her eyes unknowingly following Qian Qian wherever she went.

The café was about to close when suddenly, Song Qinyao appeared at the door, followed by a tall man with a clean, neat face, fair skin, and an elegant appearance.

He had a high-end look, and his fashion sense was impeccable. When they walked into the café, their presence was like a burst of dazzling light, drawing everyone’s attention. The staff, thinking they were models, felt out of place and didn’t dare approach to serve them.

Zhao Youxuan, who was at the bar, felt a little excited and nudged Song Baili, who was focused on wiping glasses, with his elbow. In a slightly jealous tone, he asked, “Isn’t that your sister? Does she have a boyfriend?”

Song Baili looked up, froze for a moment, and widened her eyes. A look of surprise sparkled in her eyes, and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

Zhao Youxuan watched her expression change and was utterly stunned. Who was this person? How could someone make the “Ice Queen” smile?

The man hurriedly walked over, arms wide open. Song Baili almost ran into his arms, and the two embraced in a scene that was both sweet and warm.

Zhao Youxuan stared with his jaw dropped, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets, and waves of shock rolled through his mind, unable to calm down.

“I thought you were coming home tomorrow?” he asked.

After a few years apart, the man had grown taller, and his arms were now more muscular, adding to his previously handsome features.

“I wanted to surprise you,” the man said, raising an eyebrow and grinning with pride.

“Let’s go eat together after I finish work,” Song Baili said, seating the two of them and bringing them drinks before returning to her duties.

In order to stay out of sight, Zhao Youxuan put on a mask and stood at the far end of the bar, peeking out occasionally, only to quickly hide again.

“What are you sneaking around for? Did your landlord chase you to the café?” came a voice behind him.

Startled, Zhao Youxuan turned around, seeing Qian Qian looking at him. He pressed his finger to his lips and whispered, “Baili’s boyfriend is here.”

“You borrowed money from someone else’s boyfriend?” Qian Qian asked, her eyes wide, her voice unconsciously rising.

“Ugh, keep it down, I don’t know him! There’s no way I owe him money,” Zhao Youxuan said with a helpless expression. Qian Qian was his goddess, while he… He probably wasn’t even worth the string she used to tie her shoes.

Qian Qian suddenly realized something was off. Just last night, Song Baili had said she didn’t have a boyfriend, but today she had one?

Could it have come out of nowhere, like from her phone?

She narrowed her eyes and looked at Zhao Youxuan. Sometimes, she didn’t even trust the punctuation marks in what he said.

“If you didn’t owe him money, why are you hiding?” she asked.

“If you were a man, would you be okay knowing your girlfriend works in a place with temptation?”

“Temptation? What temptation?”

“A tall, slim, handsome male colleague. Doesn’t that count as temptation?”

“…”

Qian Qian felt a dark cloud forming above her head. She pursed her lips and walked off without saying another word.

As Song Yongjun watched a woman with a bob haircut pass by, his unshakable years of love were suddenly shaken, and though his face remained calm, his heart raced with a storm of emotions.

“Miss Qian!” he called out.

Qian Qian turned to see Song Qinyao smiling at her and waving her over, and her intuition told her that something wasn’t right.

Song Yongjun was stunned by how perfect Qian Qian looked. Her bright eyes, sharp features, and flawless skin made her seem almost unreal, like she had a beauty filter applied in real life.

He couldn’t tear his gaze away, and when she looked his way, he quickly lowered his head, his ears turning red. He raised a hand to touch his nose and then smiled awkwardly.

Song Qinyao watched the interaction between the two, a playful smile crossing her lips. She turned to Qian Qian with a mischievous glint in her eye.

“Miss Qian, let me introduce you. This is Yongjun.”

“Hello, I’m Qian Qian,” she said, smiling as she extended her hand.

Song Yongjun, nervously wiping his palm on his clothes, reached out to shake her hand.

“Hello, I’ve heard that Song Baili has been well taken care of by you. I really appreciate it.”

Qian Qian gave a polite nod, her smile warm. Then, she suddenly seemed to remember something and paused, her smile freezing for a moment. She seemed a little confused and couldn’t help asking, “So, you’re Song Baili’s…?”

“I’m her family,” Song Yongjun answered.

Qian Qian’s face brightened as understanding dawned on her, and she smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling.

Song Yongjun stared at her, forgetting to pull his gaze away, clearly captivated by her beauty.

Song Qinyao nudged him with her elbow, giving him a pointed look before turning to Qian Qian with a wide smile, her eyes twinkling with playful charm.

“She said she’d join us for dinner after work. Miss Qian, would you like to come along?”

The mention of “sister” brought Song Baili’s image to Qian Qian’s mind, and a subtle, irresistible pull tugged at her. She agreed to join them.

The four of them arrived at the restaurant in three separate cars, with those who arrived first waiting for the others in the parking lot.

Qian Qian was the last to arrive, walking with Song Yongjun beside her. The two sisters in front were arm in arm, chatting intimately like a pair of lovebirds.

At the table, Song Yongjun ordered two bottles of fine red wine, and the waiter brought four glasses. Song Baili didn’t drink, and Qian Qian, copying her, only had water. So, it was only Song Qinyao and Song Yongjun who kept clinking glasses.

Their seats were in a private corner, and as Song Qinyao became a little tipsy, she began leaning towards Song Baili, eventually draping herself on her shoulder. She whispered in her ear, “Sister, you smell so good.”

“Sister, what perfume do you use?”

“Sister, will you sleep with me tonight…”

They whispered softly, and though Qian Qian couldn’t hear their conversation, she could see Song Qinyao’s eyes shining with a dreamy, poetic look, her pale face flushed with a soft pink, her gaze fixated on Song Baili.

Qian Qian was left staring, her mind a whirl of confusion, until the heat in her cheeks made her look away.

She had never seen a sister like this before, so clingy and persistent. It left her both shocked and amazed. Meanwhile, Song Yongjun seemed unaffected, as if these kinds of things happened all the time in their family.

By the end of the meal, Song Qinyao, unable to hold her alcohol, had gone from sitting up straight to slumping onto the table, sound asleep.

“Qinyao is drunk. I’ll take her home,” Song Baili said.

Qian Qian’s face darkened at that. Throughout dinner, she and Song Baili hadn’t really spoken to each other. After witnessing the deep bond between the sisters, the evening ended.

Song Qinyao was the cherished princess of the Song family, and Song Baili made sure to safely carry her upstairs, refusing any help from the house staff. She gently placed her in bed, making sure the family’s precious jewel wasn’t harmed.

It was like trying to carry a motorbike up a slope; every step was taken carefully, cautious not to lose focus.

“She looks so skinny, how could she be so heavy…” Song Baili muttered to herself.

Song Qinyao lay on the bed, her drunk eyes still dreamy, gazing at Song Baili with a silly smile. She looked like a graceful fox, her long hair spread out like silk, her eyes half-lidded in an alluring gaze.

Song Baili covered her with a blanket and turned to leave, but just as she did, Song Qinyao grabbed her arm and pulled her back into her embrace.

Before she could react, Song Qinyao turned over and pinned her down. She was hot all over, her body burning with desire, and her drunken mind gave her the courage to act.

Suddenly, their lips met, and Song Baili felt like her head had exploded. After a few moments, she pushed her off in panic.

“Song Qinyao, you…” she began.

“I like you. I’m not marrying him. I’ll marry you instead…” Song Qinyao murmured, her eyes half-closed.

Song Baili frowned, watching her for a while before pinching her cheek, which made her groan in response. Then she turned over, facing away from Song Baili.

Song Qinyao’s skin was smooth and flawless, and Song Baili looked at her, feeling like she was seeing her younger self in the girl’s peaceful expression.

Her frown gradually relaxed, and after covering Song Qinyao with the blanket, she turned off the light and left the room.

As the door clicked shut, Song Qinyao’s eyes slowly opened. She gently bit her lower lip, the warmth of another lingering on her lips. She closed her eyes and fell asleep with a sweet taste in her mouth.

The next morning, when Song Baili returned from her run, she found Song Qinyao, dressed in a white suit with a beige underlay, her makeup light but elegant, sitting at the dining table, looking refreshed and radiant.

They said alcohol is the sharpest weapon, but the hangovers never seem to affect Song Qinyao. Her natural beauty and elegance seemed to have been inherited from her mother.

Song Baili took out some walnut milk from the fridge, and Song Qinyao immediately got up to ask for some as well.

Dressed in a crop top that showed off her toned waist and long legs, Song Baili caught Song Qinyao’s gaze lingering on her body.

“Sister, you run every morning and drink this milk often. No wonder your figure is so perfect,” Song Qinyao said, stepping closer to her.

“I’m all sweaty. Stay away from me,” Song Baili replied, pushing her hand away and stepping back.

“Sister, you don’t like me anymore?” Song Qinyao pouted.

Ignoring her, Song Baili stood by the window, holding her cup and staring blankly out.

Song Qinyao reached out in front of her face, waving her hand to snap her out of her thoughts.

“Sister, what’s wrong?” she asked.

Song Baili turned her head to look at Song Qinyao, her brows furrowed with confusion. After a moment, she mumbled, “Nothing.”

Song Qinyao went back to the counter, sat down, and picked up her coffee. As she sipped it, she propped her chin up and stared out the window, her fingers tapping lightly on the table.

The atmosphere grew heavy with silence. Then, suddenly, Song Qinyao stood up, walked over to Song Baili, took a deep breath, and turned to her.

“Did I do something last night that upset you?”