The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 25

It felt like a small puff of cotton gently brushing against her cheek. Song Baili instinctively raised her hand to scratch her face, but then she felt a heavy pressure on her body. She slowly opened her eyes. The last rays of sunlight were filtering into her peripheral vision, bringing a cool and refreshing sensation mixed with the quiet stillness of the air.

Song Qinyao’s face was almost pressed against hers, the warm, damp breath spilling over her ear.

She gently shifted her body, pulling her leg out from under the weight, and moved her hand that had been resting on her abdomen to the side. She propped herself up on her elbow, but unexpectedly, she was pulled back onto the bed.

It felt like falling into a soft, fluffy blanket, and in an instant, she was enveloped in the warm embrace filled with the scent of flowers. Song Qinyao pressed her head to her chest with one hand while the other firmly held her waist.

“Don’t go, sister…”

It felt like two soft, bouncy cotton candy puffs pressing against her face, the fragrance of petals lightly brushing her nose. Her arms were pressed against the sharp angles of her bones, and her body’s lines were smooth to the touch, but beneath her chest, it was all legs.

Ten years ago, Song Qinyao had been a freshly ripened cherry, sweet and fresh with a hint of cute pink. Now, the fruit had become plump and juicy, each curve radiating a mature femininity.

Song Baili’s body remained stiff, her eyes twitching slightly, with a dazed light flickering in her gaze. A feeling of awkwardness surged in her heart. She cleared her throat softly, subtly shifting her body in an attempt to escape the embrace.

Feeling the restlessness in the woman in her arms, Song Qinyao tightened her grip around her waist, leaned down unexpectedly, and nuzzled her nose against her hair, gently brushing her cheek with it, inhaling the fragrance from her body.

“Sister, you smell so nice. Like fresh lilies, with a hint of orange.”

“Lilies and orange?”

“Exactly. A sister like you is at the top of the food chain; every little sister goes wild for you.”

“…”

Song Baili felt her breath catch in her throat. Her palm lightly closed into a fist, and her long lashes fluttered briefly. Her lips quivered, and words rolled around in her throat, only to fall back into her heart.

The silence in the air seemed to echo through a canyon, the lingering sound fading away. Song Qinyao could feel her heartbeat pounding in her chest. Her nose brushed against Song Baili’s cheek as she softly whispered in her ear.

“Sister, I…”

Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong…

The phone on the coffee table rang continuously with sharp notification sounds.

Song Baili quickly seized the opportunity to slip out of bed, grabbed her phone, and tapped the glowing screen.

When she opened the chat window, messages flooded in. Strings of flashing words spread across the screen.

“Have you handled the family matters?”

“I’m a bit worried since you’ve been quiet.”

“Reply to me as soon as you see this message.”

Song Baili stared at the screen, her lips curling into a soft smile, her fingers dancing swiftly across the screen. Her bright, clear eyes sparkled with joy.

“My sister is allergic to peanuts.”

“She’s fine now.”

“Have you eaten yet?”

Song Qinyao lay on the bed, her brows furrowing slightly. One hand rested on her chin while the other fidgeted with the sheets. Her gaze wandered aimlessly before she was drawn back to Song Baili.

Seeing that Song Baili was still busy chatting with someone, she tilted her head, pouting slightly, and her gaze froze on the half-empty cup of water on the bedside table.

She sat up, reached for the cup, raised it to her lips, and drank a large gulp.

As the water quickly flowed into her throat, she accidentally swallowed wrong, and immediately began to cough violently, her eyes tearing up from the force of the cough.

Song Baili furrowed her brows in concern and walked to the bed, holding her phone with one hand while offering her some tissue. She gently patted her back.

Song Qinyao massaged her chest with one hand, took a deep breath, and slowly lifted her flushed eyes. Pouting her full, round lips, she spoke in a slightly hoarse voice:

“Sister, do you have a lot of good little sisters?”

“Good little sisters? Is that like a grocery store bonus?”

Song Qinyao closed her eyes, her long fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. She sighed, her lips slightly parted.

“I’m serious. I heard someone call you Bai-jie (Big Sister).”

Song Baili’s heart jolted, her gaze freezing for a moment. She turned her face slightly, avoiding eye contact with Song Qinyao, and unconsciously ran her fingers through her hair. She awkwardly said:

“I’m older than her, so of course I’m her sister.”

Song Qinyao squinted at her. This answer stirred something familiar within her.

She lowered her head slightly, her gaze fixed on her hand, and her thoughts drifted to a distant memory. Her eyes darkened, and her brows furrowed deeply.

It felt like an invisible hand had tightly squeezed her heart, and she could barely breathe. The thought of someone else being close to her sister made her heart feel like it was shattering into pieces.

Her fingers, gripping the blanket, tightened, the joints turning pale from the force. She slowly raised her head, her gaze filled with unsaid emotions, her eyes heavy with unspoken thoughts, as she looked at Song Baili and said:

“Sister, can you only have me as your little sister? Don’t be close to other girls.”

Song Baili said nothing, just gazing into Song Qinyao’s eyes. Her clear, bright eyes were like the beautiful ocean, deep and endless, pulling anyone who looked into them into a mysterious world.

Countless questions and answers circled in Song Qinyao’s mind. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the crumpled sheets, and a faint sense of unease spread through the air, creating a subtle pressure.

“Why aren’t you saying anything, sister?”

“What do you want me to say?”

Song Qinyao slowly lowered her gaze, her lips turning red from biting them. She suddenly lifted her eyes, and a ripple of emotion moved through her gaze.

“What’s your relationship with Qian Qian?”

“Colleagues, friends.”

Song Baili’s answer came smoothly, as if the words had already been settled in her heart.

“Are you more than just ordinary friends?”

Song Baili hesitated briefly, and her eyes flashed with a brilliant light before growing calm again.

“She has a boyfriend.”

“But I think she likes you.”

Song Qinyao’s voice suddenly rose by eight degrees, her words trembling slightly. Her brows furrowed in frustration as she spoke through clenched teeth.

It was as if a layer of frost had settled on her face. Song Baili’s expression turned cold, like it could freeze everything around her. She pressed her lips together and looked sharply at Song Qinyao.

“Stop saying things like that. It’s not true, don’t spread rumors!”

Song Qinyao pouted in dissatisfaction. She lowered her gaze, a trace of tenderness flowing under her eyelids, and the faint smile on her lips seemed to clear the thick mist of suppressed emotions, like the sky clearing after a storm.

Song Baili drove Song Qinyao’s car to the supermarket, picking up a few miscellaneous items. She leaned her arm against the window, resting her elbow on it, her curved finger gracefully supporting her chin as she waited for the green light.

Her slender fingers tapped rhythmically on the oddly shaped steering wheel. Her destination was home, but her gaze kept drifting to the side, a sense of longing rising in her heart.

The details of her visit to Qian Qian’s house this morning played vividly in her mind. Even though it had only been a few hours, it felt like she had been apart for much longer.

She hadn’t intended to turn right, but as she gently pressed the gas pedal, the car seemed to be guided by some invisible force, and it drove straight toward Qian Qian’s apartment.

When the car stopped, she sat up straight, feeling like a horse racing toward its destination. Sweat beaded on her palms, her heart pounding like a flood breaking its dam, swirling with intense emotions.

Her hand grazed her knee before gently pressing against her chest, filling her lungs with air and relaxing her shoulders.

She took her phone from her bag. A glance outside the window revealed Li Shao stepping out of his car.

He walked briskly, talking on the phone, the breeze tousling his hair. He raised his hand to adjust it before walking confidently toward the sidewalk.

It seemed like they were back on good terms.

Song Baili glanced at her phone, a shadow seeming to cloud her eyes. Her gaze deepened, followed by a helpless sigh.

She put the phone down, resting her hands on the steering wheel, her chin settling on her wrist, staring out the window with a distant gaze.

The neon lights along the street began to glow, casting bright outlines of the buildings. Song Baili focused on the happy faces of the passersby, but the feeling of loneliness grew stronger.

The flowers on the cow dung still bloomed, and she was merely a bystander who could appreciate their beauty. Why interfere with the natural bloom of the flowers, only to risk being pricked by their thorns and stepping into the dung?

The breeze continued to blow. Suddenly, Li Shao stopped in his tracks, his grip tightening on his phone. He looked around, craning his neck, his brow furrowing.

“Hey, hey, can you hear me? Where are you? I don’t see you…”

“I’m almost there, wait for me.”

Li Shao’s face relaxed, and his smile returned. He shrugged his shoulders and turned back, walking toward the woman who was approaching him.

She moved lightly, like a breeze. Li Shao’s eyes lit up as he quickly walked toward her, extending his hand to pull her into an embrace, lowering his head to kiss her lips.

The woman gently pushed him away, stepping back a bit. She frowned and scolded him playfully:

“Someone might see us here. Let’s go to the car.”

As the car door opened, the woman climbed in with a bright smile. Li Shao casually made his way to the driver’s seat, not rushing to get in. He scanned the surroundings carefully, adjusted his collar, and smoothly sat down.

Qian Qian strolled through the neighborhood, and she happened to spot a familiar figure coming toward her. She froze, raising a slender eyebrow. She quickly looked around, and, like a startled rabbit seeing a wolf, she darted into a narrow alley.

The sounds of gentle conversation and playful laughter from the couple grew faint as they moved farther away. She looked up at the sky, her thoughts like thin clouds, with a figure she longed for flickering within them.