The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 23

Song Baili immediately took out her phone, lowered her head, and quickly swiped her finger across the screen. She then handed the phone to Qian Qian.

Qian Qian hurriedly took the phone, her eyes fixed on the screen. A serious expression appeared on her face, her long eyelashes fluttering like delicate petals. Her red lips parted slightly as she murmured:

“Sheng Fan scored 15 points, and everyone else scored 13 points. Song Baili… Song Baili…”

Qian Qian’s tense expression suddenly softened, her eyes bright and clear, sparkling like stars. She looked up at Song Baili, a joyful wave spreading across her face, like ripples on the surface of a lake.

“19 points?! Is it really 19 points?”

“Mm.”

Song Baili nodded gently, the corners of her mouth curving into a subtle smile. Her smile was reserved and elegant, like a lotus bud about to bloom, exuding a quiet and serene aura.

Qian Qian felt a little flustered. She quickly lowered her gaze, her dark lashes brushing against her eyelids, casting a shadow over the fondness that quietly passed through her eyes.

The atmosphere grew silent for a moment, and Qian Qian felt her heart pounding faster, her breath becoming shallow. She took a deep breath, slowly raised her eyes, and glanced quickly at Song Baili, her gaze flickering.

“What should we do with the leftover ingredients in the fridge?”

“You can use them.”

Song Baili hesitated for a few seconds, rubbed her palms together, and spoke in a softer voice than usual:

“Or… how about I cook a big dinner tonight?”

“You don’t need to cook tonight. I know how to handle the ingredients.”

Song Baili froze for a moment, a shadow passing through her eyes. She had completely forgotten that Qian Qian needed to spend time with her boyfriend.

A faint smile curved her lips, and she nodded without saying more.

“Shall we leave now?”

Eh?

Song Baili froze.

Wasn’t Qian Qian going to cook for Li Shao? Did she want to make dinner for three people?

Song Baili hesitated for a moment before asking:

“How many people are you planning to cook for?”

“You, me, and the three judges. After all, I’m the daughter of a restaurant owner, so I’d like to ask for their opinion on my skills.”

Song Baili stiffened, a hundred reasons not to go running through her mind.

She opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Qian Qian couldn’t hold back and burst into a light laugh.

Song Baili couldn’t maintain her expression, and it was as if the still lake surface was suddenly disturbed by a stone, sending ripples through the air. Qian Qian enjoyed seeing her like this, unable to hold her composure.

After a moment, Song Baili regained her calm demeanor, and Qian Qian tilted her head, her eyes sparkling like a shooting star. She wore a mischievous smile.

“I was just teasing you! I’m not the one responsible for the kitchen. The judges don’t need to know how skilled I am; I just need to pass your test.”

Song Baili felt a quiet sense of relief. She smiled faintly, her lips slightly curling upward, and her deep eyes softened, blending into a gentle gaze. When she looked at Qian Qian, the latter’s breath caught in her throat, her heart racing.

Her face flushed red, and she quickly looked away, her eyes wandering before she added:

“I want to go to the supermarket and buy some ingredients, and then we can head home.”

Song Baili’s gaze softened, and she nodded with a gentle smile. “Alright.”

Qian Qian put on an apron and glanced at Song Baili, who was also wearing one.

She took a deep breath, her delicate nostrils twitching slightly as she muttered to herself, steadying her nerves before pulling out all the ingredients from the bag.

Qian Qian’s knife skills seemed a bit unsteady, and during the marinating process, she would occasionally stop, wiping the sweat from her brow with her shoulder. She blinked a few times and hurriedly washed her hands, searching the scattered ingredients on the table.

She had set a timer, but she kept checking the stove, afraid the food would burn if she wasn’t paying attention.

Song Baili stood beside her, skillfully handling the ingredients. Her fingers moved gracefully with the sharp knife, each cut smooth and precise, the sound of the blade against the cutting board clear and crisp. In no time, she had prepared several ingredients.

Qian Qian took off her apron, looking at the dishes on the table. Her shoulders relaxed, and she wiped the sweat from her forehead, letting out a long sigh.

Song Baili glanced at the dishes, raised an eyebrow, and gave them a visual inspection before picking up her chopsticks and taking a bite.

Qian Qian’s eyes were fixed on her, her grip tightening around her chopsticks, unable to breathe properly.

After Song Baili tasted each dish, Qian Qian eagerly asked:

“How is it? How does it taste?”

Song Baili chewed for a moment, swallowed, and put down her chopsticks to take a sip of water.

She looked up, her eyes clear and cold under the soft light. She spoke softly, her lips barely moving.

“Not good.”

“Ah?!”

Qian Qian’s head immediately drooped, like a swan rejected by its companions, dejected.

Song Baili’s lips quivered, a subtle smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She pressed her fist lightly against her lips, lowering her head to hide her expression.

Qian Qian stared at her face, her eyelashes trembling lightly, as if a breeze had passed by.

Suddenly, she seemed to realize something, and her face turned red. She pouted and muttered:

“Hmph, my Bai-jie, I didn’t know you were like this…”

“Like what?”

Song Baili picked up her chopsticks with a slow and graceful motion, taking a piece of meat and chewing it thoughtfully.

A beautiful and elegant woman like her, who would have guessed that she was also a woman who holds grudges?

“You didn’t expect that you like my cooking this much.”

Qian Qian’s lips curled into a sweet smile. Her clear eyes shimmered, and she spoke while placing more dishes into Song Baili’s bowl.

The dishes were simple and not particularly fancy, but the seasoning was just right, like home-cooked food. As Song Baili ate, she felt a warmth spreading through her chest, her eyes starting to sting.

“I like it. It would be great if I could eat this every day.”

Qian Qian, who had just taken a small bite of rice, froze. It felt like her entire body was suddenly frozen. After a moment of silence, her mind erupted in a fiery rush, making her face turn bright red.

Was this a confession?

“Li Shao is lucky to have a girlfriend like you.”

Qian Qian immediately felt like her heart was being squeezed, and her facial muscles tensed. Her bright, starry eyes gradually darkened.

She stayed silent for a moment, setting her chopsticks down with a soft clink.

“Why bring up that person? You’re ruining the mood!”

Qian Qian shot Song Baili a glare, her nose huffing in irritation. She grabbed the wine glass and took a few shallow sips, the sweet taste soothing some of the bitterness in her heart.

She licked her glossy red lips and raised the glass to her mouth, tilting her head back to finish it in one go.

Song Baili furrowed her brow as she watched her. There was a brief flash of coldness in her eyes, but she set her own drink down and took a sip of plain water.

Qian Qian’s face was flushed, her eyes slightly raised as she glanced at Song Baili. Her lips parted, but the sound of her phone ringing broke the moment.

After a moment, Song Baili picked up the phone, responding to a long call. When she returned to the table, she noticed the dishes were scattered, and there were still some leftovers.

She picked up the wine bottle, shaking it, and poured out the remaining drops.

Qian Qian had her head resting on the table, one arm stretched out while the other was bent, her long eyelashes covering her eyes.

Song Baili quietly knelt beside her, looking at her delicate face. Before she knew it, her finger had reached out and gently poked Qian Qian’s soft cheek.

“Bai-jie…”

Thinking that Qian Qian was awake, Song Baili froze and quickly withdrew her hand, embarrassed. She looked away, but after a while, she stole a glance at Qian Qian’s face.

Their eyes met. It felt as though time had stopped, their gaze holding for an eternity. In that moment, Song Baili’s heart skipped a beat.

Qian Qian slowly sat up, her hair falling messily around her face. She stared at the table, lost in thought, then sighed softly and turned to look at Song Baili, her expression filled with confusion.

“Bai-jie… What should I do?”

Song Baili remained silent, her face calm like a shifting rainbow, sometimes hazy, sometimes clear, like snowflakes under the sun.

She sighed quietly and stood up, gliding across the room. As she did, her soft hand brushed against Song Baili’s sleeve, stopping her from walking forward.

“Where are you going?”

“To clean up the dishes.”

“And then?”

“Then, I’ll go home.”

Qian Qian pouted and raised her other hand, gripping Song Baili’s sleeve tightly, and said:

“I won’t allow it!”

“You won’t allow me to clean up?”

“I won’t let you go home…”

Song Baili’s heart skipped a beat. The atmosphere between them became charged with an unexpected tension.

She slowly lowered her eyes, her soft gaze falling on the woman below her. In that instant, her coldness melted, replaced by a flicker of sympathy.

The next moment, Song Baili crouched down to meet Qian Qian’s eyes. Their gazes locked, and it was as though she saw the sparkling flow of a creek in Qian Qian’s eyes.

Her body stiffened, her face suddenly flushing, her mind blank.

“Bai-jie, even if it’s just for one night, I want you to stay with me. Please?”

Qian Qian’s voice was soft, filled with gentle sweetness, and her smile was bright. Her eyes sparkled with a playful charm.

Song Baili’s heart fluttered. Her breath quickened, and her throat felt dry. She swallowed, her voice strained as she responded:

“Okay.”

It was like the evening sky, the soft murmur of the waves—beautiful and intense emotions that could only be silently contained in their hearts.

For one night, let these two women be together.