The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 34

Song Baili gently pushed open the door, and Qian Qian appeared in her sight.

She paused for a moment, her body instinctively trembling slightly, a subtle emotion rising in her heart.

Qian Qian heard the sound and turned her gaze toward the door. Her casual stance against the wall immediately became rigid, her fingers unconsciously grasping the edge of her clothes.

Her lips moved slightly, but there seemed to be a faint current of electricity spreading within her body, and the smile she showed appeared a bit stiff.

Song Baili slightly tilted her head, quickly adjusting her mindset, and relaxed her eyebrows, trying to keep her expression soft. When their eyes met, a faint smile appeared on her face. She then walked straight toward the shop door.

Before she could take more than a few steps, a soft sound of footsteps followed from behind. She subconsciously slowed her pace, turned around, and was surprised to find Qian Qian had silently caught up, walking beside her.

“It’s getting late, let me walk you a bit,” Qian Qian said.

“I’m meeting someone,” Song Baili replied.

For a moment, Qian Qian hesitated, her eyes dimming slightly. A shadow of disappointment flashed in her eyes, disappearing almost instantly.

She concealed the turmoil inside her and asked lightly, “Is it Song Qinyao?”

“Dominiq.”

Qian Qian suddenly stopped. Song Baili noticed the pause, but she continued walking forward, quietly calculating that if she took a taxi now, she would arrive just in time.

Other pedestrians hurried past, but Qian Qian stood still, silently watching Song Baili’s receding figure. Her gaze lingered on that distant direction.

The surrounding noise slowly became muffled, but the sadness inside her grew sharper, a pain that was hard to describe seeping into her heart.

As soon as Song Baili got into the car, two messages from Qian Qian popped up on her phone.

Her heart stirred, and her fingers trembled slightly as she hurriedly opened them. She was both eager and uneasy, unsure of what emotional impact the words might bring.

“Yesterday on the terrace,” the first message read.

“I saw everything,” the second message followed.

Saw everything? What did she see?

Song Baili slowly lowered her phone, leaning back in the seat. Her shoulders dropped slightly as she turned to look out the window.

For a moment, the scene from last night that made her feel uncomfortable came to mind.

She furrowed her brows and closed her eyes, trying to shake off the troubling images, but the nauseating scenes kept swirling in her mind, refusing to go away.

Her eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened. She quickly opened the chat with Qian Qian, staring at the blank message box. Biting her lip, she lightly touched the screen and began typing a message.

Each word was carefully written, her emotions mirrored in the turbulent text, carrying a sense of unease.

Just before hitting send, she paused, her eyes filled with hesitation. One hand gently rubbed her cheek, her fingers returning to the screen and erasing everything she had typed.

Finally, taking a deep breath, she began typing again and pressed the send button.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“But don’t worry about my business.”

When Qian Qian saw the reply, it felt like a bomb had exploded inside her.

In an instant, the blow to her heart felt catastrophic, as if her whole body had been torn apart by the impact.

Tears welled up, rolling down like a broken string of pearls, quickly blurring her vision. Her body trembled violently, and the uncontrollable shudder made it hard for her to stay steady, so she could only grip the steering wheel for support.

If she hadn’t interrupted last night, that moment of intimacy between them might have already escalated beyond control.

Although she had successfully interrupted their private moment and blocked the emotional connection between the two, the pain in her heart still felt unbearable.

Looking back inside herself, she couldn’t help but wonder what exactly she had been hoping for.

She knew she shouldn’t have these feelings, but the yearning and longing still followed her like a shadow, and all her pain stemmed from her own choices. She felt as if she deserved this torment.

Thinking of how Song Baili had found her own happiness, her fingers instinctively clenched into a fist, her brows furrowing deeper.

She bit her lower lip, resisting the overwhelming emotion surging within her.

Slowly, she relaxed her hand, sighed, and gently shook her head, a trace of fatigue in her eyes. The emotional storm inside her gradually calmed.

It felt as if she had weathered a storm, and she decided not to think about the possible outcomes anymore. Instead, she chose to strip away the hopes and dreams she had cherished and return to a normal life. She imagined dating and marrying someone else, planning a bright future together, baking cakes, exchanging gifts, and sharing joy and warmth with her husband and children.

Sometimes, the whole family could travel abroad, tasting unfamiliar cuisines in foreign lands, watching her children’s excited smiles, and strolling hand-in-hand with her lover on the streets, exploring new sights and creating precious memories.

With the thought of this simple and beautiful life, a soft smile gradually appeared on her face.

Suddenly, she felt a slight saltiness filling her mouth.

She furrowed her brows and slowly lifted her hand, gently brushing her cheek. Her fingertips felt wet, and she suddenly stopped.

From the burning sunset to the peaceful starry night, from blooming cherry blossoms to falling maple leaves, from the light flutter of butterflies in spring to the drifting snowflakes in winter.

If she could share every special day, every twist and turn of life, laughter and tears, with Song Baili, how wonderful would that be?

In that moment, she realized that her dependency on Song Baili had gone beyond what was normal. It was like an unhealthy craving, surpassing the concept of love, a poison she couldn’t escape, deeply trapped in this uncontrollable feeling.

Qian Qian slouched in the car seat, her heart a dark abyss, unpredictable and incomprehensible. She thought she had found the answer but realized that this was just the beginning of more questions.

She closed her eyes, her hand gripping the steering wheel. Her emotions felt like a storm, with no sense of security to hold onto.

She touched her forehead with trembling hands. She wanted to pursue her inner desire, but on the other hand, her father’s dreams had become an insurmountable obstacle.

This crossroads left her feeling lost. No matter which path she chose, it seemed there would be unavoidable sacrifices and losses.

Her mind was in turmoil. She didn’t want to go straight home. She walked through the familiar yet unfamiliar streets, her eyes wandering over the crowded intersections and familiar shops. Her gaze moved between the people walking on the streets.

A cool breeze brushed her face, bringing a sense of relief. She gazed into the distance, feeling both hopeful and uneasy, imagining that in the next second, around the corner, she might unexpectedly meet the person she had longed for.

Unconsciously, she turned her head and was surprised to see a familiar figure slowly walking toward her.

She stopped, her body stiffening for a moment. She instinctively took a step back, hesitant to go in another direction, but her legs felt like they were magnetically stuck to the ground, unable to move.

On the bustling street, Li Shao was holding his new girlfriend’s shoulder, his arm tightly wrapped around her delicate skin. Their gazes intertwined, and their faces showed affectionate intimacy, displaying all kinds of tender gestures without hesitation.

They ignored the strange looks from the passersby, fully immersed in their own world. It was as if they were shining stars, with everyone else as insignificant background figures. In the crowded scene, this unpleasant sight became an eyesore.

Before, Qian Qian had thought Li Shao wasn’t particularly handsome, but seeing his self-assured and reckless behavior now, she realized that compared to him, even a pig seemed more charming.

Looks weren’t just about appearances—they were also a reflection of one’s inner character. No matter how much lipstick you put on a pig, it’s still a pig.

Qian Qian’s gaze locked onto the couple’s receding figures. She unconsciously tightened her grip on her purse. Suddenly, she took a deep breath, straightened her back, furrowed her brows, and, with her heart racing, began to move forward.

Her steps were light and agile, like a cat sneaking behind her targets, careful to maintain an appropriate distance, watching their every move closely.

After a difficult chase through the busy, bustling streets, past dazzling windows, and through luxury boutiques, the couple finally stopped at the entrance of an elegant Western restaurant.

The restaurant’s grand entrance sparkled, with silver door handles casting soft glimmers, like ripples on a lake at night.

They turned and walked into the restaurant.

Qian Qian stood across the street, silently observing. A sense of hesitation surged within her, as though an invisible pressure was bearing down on her shoulders, as if a voice was softly warning her about the importance of this choice.

Her fingers kept rubbing together, her body leaning forward, then pulling back slightly, her gaze wandering. She placed family and personal happiness on opposite ends of a scale, weighing them, her heart swaying, unable to find balance.

Suddenly, Song Baili’s image appeared in her mind. Her heart jolted, and she froze for a moment. Then, taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture, relaxed her arms, and with a calm expression, confidently walked toward the restaurant’s door.

The receptionist greeted her with a smile as soon as she arrived.

“Excuse me, Miss Qian, are you here for dinner?”

Qian Qian paused for a moment, confused.

She glanced around the restaurant, her lips pressing together. She asked uncertainly, “Is there no space available?”

“Sorry, we only accept reservations.”

The hope and anticipation in Qian Qian’s eyes slowly faded, replaced by a deep sense of disappointment.

She quietly stepped back from the restaurant, sighing softly, her brows furrowed, her shoulders slumped, her steps weakening. Her silent figure revealed a sense of helplessness and confusion in the face of life’s blows.

This should have been an important turning point, a desperate push toward happiness, but in this unpredictable situation, it felt fragile and almost impossible to withstand.

Qian Qian slightly lowered her head, her fingers gently caressing her neck, her expression tinged with frustration. She was about to leave quietly when a pleasant voice caught her attention.

“Hey, Miss Qian, are you here for dinner too?”