The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 20

It was Qian Qian’s first time driving into a wealthy residential area. Security booths were everywhere. After driving along a quiet mountain road and passing a peaceful green lake, she finally arrived at the gates of a grand mansion.

Staring at the palace-like building in front of her, Qian Qian’s eyes widened, her pupils fixed in place, and her lips moved slightly as if trying to speak. She sat frozen, unable to snap out of her daze.

Song Baili unbuckled her seatbelt. Seeing Qian Qian still staring blankly out the window, she cleared her throat. Only when Qian Qian turned her head did she awkwardly explain:

“This is my uncle’s house. I didn’t have anywhere else to go, so I’m staying here temporarily.”

Qian Qian nodded lightly, her eyelashes fluttering before she responded with a quiet:

“Oh.”

An awkward silence settled in the car. At that moment, all Song Baili wanted was to jump out and leave as fast as she could.

“Well then… Thanks again. Goodnight.”

Just as Song Baili opened the car door, Qian Qian suddenly called out to her. Her voice was so soft it almost sounded like a hallucination.

Baili slowly turned back. Qian Qian’s clear, bright eyes flickered as she nervously rubbed her thigh, licked her lips, then raised her head and said:

“I don’t mind having another roommate…”

The words slipped out before she could stop herself, and she regretted it immediately. Compared to this luxurious mansion, her own place was like a bird’s nest—maybe not even as big as someone’s closet.

She didn’t know what got into her tonight, why her brain was suddenly full of random, illogical thoughts.

But once the words were out, there was no taking them back. She drooped like a deflated balloon, wishing she could just dig a hole and crawl inside.

“Considering your place is closer to the restaurant, I’ll think about it carefully,” Baili said gently, giving her a graceful way out, not showing a hint of discomfort.

Qian Qian leaned over the steering wheel, her dark eyes misty and soft. A faint smile appeared at the corners of her lips as she watched Song Baili walk away.

As soon as Baili’s figure disappeared from view, a wave of longing surged through Qian Qian’s heart. On the drive home, she couldn’t help but start missing her.

Back home, just as Qian Qian was about to enjoy some rest, her phone lit up with a call from Li Shao. Annoyed, she tossed the phone aside, closed her eyes, and rubbed her temples. She didn’t want anyone ruining her good mood tonight.

After a brief silence, the phone started ringing again. Qian Qian was about to put it on silent when Li Shao’s twisted face flashed through her mind—either grinning or snarling. She hesitated for a second, gritted her teeth, and finally swiped to answer.

A cat that strays too often still misses its food bowl at home now and then.

Qian Qian put him on speaker, lay back on the bed, tilted her head slightly, and let her mind go blank. Li Shao’s sweet nothings went in one ear and out the other.

“A pretty new girl at the office keeps throwing me flirty looks. Xiao Wu even put his arm around me today and said seriously, ‘Li bro, as long as we’re holding things down here, maybe don’t come to the office so often.’ What do you think that means? Jealous, right?”

“Mm.”

“Then I went to buy milk tea this afternoon, and the girl at the counter kept batting her eyelashes at me. I bet she’ll ask for my WeChat tomorrow. But don’t worry—I’ll tell her I already have a girlfriend.”

“Mm.”

Whenever Li Shao’s buddies looked at other women on the street, their girlfriends would fight with them for a whole day. Jealousy was common in relationships. But Qian Qian always turned a blind eye, generously accepting all the metaphorical green hats he tossed her way.

Lately, some nosy people had been stirring up trouble, saying Qian Qian often flirted with men in the shop and might be secretly seeing someone. They told Li Shao to keep an eye on her.

The more Li Shao thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. Just as his temper was about to explode, he suddenly had an idea.

“Let’s video call. I want to see you.”

“Mm,” Qian Qian replied instinctively. A moment later, she realized what he said and sat up straight, heart skipping a beat. Right on cue, her phone lit up with a video call request from him.

Her temples throbbed. She sighed deeply, covered her face with both hands, and let the phone keep ringing without answering.

After a while, she sent him a message:

Qian: Sorry, I’m really tired today. Let’s talk another time.

Li Shao read the message and turned red with anger. His nostrils flared, and his teeth clenched tightly.

Was there really another man hiding in her place?

With all his cheating experience, he knew the signs of a partner losing interest—and Qian Qian’s recent behavior checked all the boxes.

He cursed out loud, jabbing at his phone screen as he sent a couple of angry messages:

Li: Cheating on me, huh?

Li: (swearing emoji) Slut!

Qian Qian stared at the screen for a while, then sighed and rubbed her forehead, too tired to defend herself. But thinking of how furious Li Shao must look right now, veins popping and face red, she hesitated, then typed back.

Qian: What are you talking about?

Qian: (confused emoji)

Li: Don’t “what” me!

Li: You dirty slut—are you seeing someone else?!

Qian Qian blinked at her phone in confusion, reading the messages a few times but still not getting it.

Qian: What are you even saying?

Qian: I don’t have a brother-in-law. And my dad doesn’t have another man.

Li: What the hell…

Li: Are you really this dumb or just pretending?

Li: Don’t tell me you don’t have a side guy!

So that’s what this was about—he thought she was cheating.

Qian Qian let out a breath of relief. She could swear to the heavens that up to this point, not a single man had caught her eye, let alone driven her wild.

Qian: I just go back and forth between the store and home every day.

Qian: Have you seen my supposed affair partner?

That stumped Li Shao. He scratched his head, thinking it over, and slowly started to believe her.

Ever since Song Baili started working at the restaurant, Qian Qian had shown up early every day without fail and always stayed late. Even on her days off, she dropped by the store. Her whole heart was clearly tied to one person—there was no room left for anyone else.

Li Shao looked at his own reflection in the floor-to-ceiling windows, blurred against the backdrop of his expensive home. His eyes flickered, the corners of his mouth twitching up as his expression relaxed a little. His chest felt less tight.

He had money, good looks, a Western education, and an inheritance lined up. A catch like him wasn’t easy to find—how could Qian Qian possibly fall for someone else?

He picked up the phone he’d thrown on the couch, opened the chat again, and quickly typed a few more messages.

Li: I was just kidding (facepalm emoji)

Li: You seem close with that Xiao Song.

Li: If you get the chance, try to convince her to drop out of the competition. Your dad and I don’t want to see her lose her job.

Qian Qian heard her phone beep. She slowly picked it up, read the messages with a blank expression, and curled one side of her lips into a smirk. A cold laugh escaped her throat.

Qian: “We’ll see. Maybe someone else will lose their job instead.”

Li: “If you told me she was an actress or model, I’d believe it.”

Li: “But a chef? That’s a stretch.”

Qian Qian raised her brows slightly, lips curving into a soft, subtle smile.

Her cousin Bai-jie really did have that natural charm—beautiful, long-legged, and elegant. Even the basic staff uniform looked stylish on her.

Qian: “Maybe she’s just been keeping a low profile all along.”

Li: “If you won’t talk to her, I’ll do it myself. I actually get along pretty well with her.”

Qian: “‘Pretty well’? Are you sure she hasn’t been flirting with you too?”

Li: “Well, a little. But don’t worry, she’s not my type.”

Qian Qian read the message and let out a quiet chuckle. She exited their chat and opened Song Baili’s Moments feed. As expected, there were only a handful of posts, and nothing new in a long time.

She put down her phone, leaned back slightly, and stared up at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Song Baili was her type…

There were things you could hide from others, but not from yourself. Thinking back on her past relationships with men, even at their most intimate, something always felt off. She wasn’t sure if she had “turned” or if something long buried had finally surfaced—but she knew one thing for sure:

She had fallen for a woman.

Qian Qian glanced at the time, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She thought about her plans after work with Song Baili, her eyes softening, joy flickering across her face.

Just before closing time, a man appeared at the entrance. He wore a loud floral shirt, red high-waisted cropped pants, and a thick gold chain that sparkled under the lights.

His flashy outfit caught the attention of several customers. Song Baili took one look, and her eyes instantly darkened. No wonder Qian Qian had seemed extra cheerful today.

She sighed—looks like that new menu she’d stayed up all night designing would have to wait.

As she walked out of the changing room, she ran right into Qian Qian. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air between them stilled.

Song Baili quickly dropped her gaze, then lifted it again, her expression turning distant. Pressing her lips together, she said:

“You’re still here?”

Qian Qian took a small step forward, closing the gap between them.

The warm yellow light cast a soft glow. Qian Qian looked up and saw that Baili’s face was like fine jade—clean features, a well-defined nose, and an aura of cool detachment in her every glance.

“Sorry, I can’t practice with you tonight.”

“It’s fine. We don’t have to practice every day.”

Baili turned her head away, avoiding Qian Qian’s intense, slightly teasing gaze. Her heart pounded. When she noticed Qian Qian’s phone lighting up repeatedly in her hand, a wave of jealousy crept in.

Outside, Li Shao was sitting with his legs crossed, tapping impatiently on the table. As the employees gradually left and the place emptied out, he glanced at his watch, then toward the changing room.

Still no sign of them. He frowned deeply, clicked his tongue, and called Qian Qian.

“The number you have dialed is currently unavailable…”

Furious, Li Shao slammed the table and yelled:

“Qian Qian, are you ready or not?”

Still no response.

Qian Qian wasn’t in a hurry at all. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, took another small step forward, and stood with her hands behind her back, chin slightly raised. Her bright eyes sparkled like moonlight on a lake.

Her thick eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, a loud voice cut her off.

Li Shao barged in, clearly angry. But when he saw Song Baili there too, he paused, the rage slipping from his face. He cleared his throat and said in a calm, friendly tone:

“Take your time. I’ll wait outside.”

Baili’s eyes chilled, the light in them fading. She stayed quiet for a while, then slung her bag over her right shoulder and forced a stiff smile.

“I won’t interrupt your date. I’m heading off.”

As she hurried away, Qian Qian felt like the sky had suddenly gone dark. Her heart sank, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She bit her lip and blinked quickly to keep them from falling, then turned and walked toward the door.

As soon as she got into the car, Li Shao leaned over and started kissing her aggressively.

His bristly stubble scratched her face, and his breath smelled like fish. The sloppy sounds of his kisses made her stomach churn. She pushed him away with all her strength, instinctively clutching her bag to her chest.

Caught off guard, Li Shao’s expression changed instantly. Just as he was about to explode, Qian Qian pointed toward the windshield and said:

“Someone’s watching…”

He turned to look and squinted into the distance. Sure enough, there was a figure standing under the streetlight, too far to make out their face or even their gender.

He clicked his tongue and cursed Qian Qian in his head for overreacting and ruining the mood.

After dinner, Qian Qian noticed the car wasn’t heading toward her apartment. Her heart skipped a beat. Thinking about what usually happened when a man and a woman were alone like this, her whole body tensed in resistance.

She had always found men’s body odor unpleasant, especially during intimate moments. The more excited they got, the worse it smelled. She often had to hold her breath and silently pray it would end quickly.

The thought of their greasy, sweaty skin made her stomach turn. She shivered in disgust.

Qian Qian frowned, biting her lip, mind racing. Just then, her phone pinged with a new message, startling her. She stared at the screen, eyelashes trembling, when a sudden idea popped into her head.

“Mianmian just got dumped. I want to go check on her.”

Mianmian was Qian Qian’s best friend. They’d made a deal: if either of them ever got stuck in an awkward date, the other’s name would be the perfect excuse to escape.

“She got dumped? Didn’t you say she just started dating a few weeks ago?”

Li Shao’s voice jumped a few octaves, and his forehead wrinkled up like an old shirt.

“Exactly. It’s been a few weeks—if the guy wasn’t any good, she would’ve figured it out by now.”

“Pfft. It’s not her first breakup. Just leave her alone!”

“We’ve already finished eating. We can hang out anytime. But she’s drunk and home alone—I’m worried something might happen.”

Li Shao’s face darkened. When the light turned green, he suddenly slammed on the gas. The car shot forward like a bullet. Qian Qian gasped and grabbed the seat handle, body pinned to the backrest, bl00d running cold.

Before she could catch her breath, he slammed the brakes. Her body lurched forward, stopped only by the seatbelt. She bounced back, clutching her chest in shock.

“You b1tch! I pay for your crap, I even cover your stupid little store’s losses every month, and you think you’re some big deal? You’re not even worth it!”

Li Shao shouted, breathing heavily, then slammed the steering wheel and yelled:

“Girls like you? I can get dozens anytime. I don’t need you tonight. Get out of my car! Get out!”

Qian Qian didn’t hesitate. She unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out.

Watching the car speed off, she finally relaxed. The tight knot in her brow loosened, and she let out a long breath of relief.