The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 35

The soft voice behind her felt like a warm current flowing into Qian Qian’s heart. She turned around and saw a gentle, handsome face, with a smile as warm as an angel’s.

In that moment, she felt an odd sense of familiarity, as if she had met an unexpected kindred spirit.

A sense of grievance surged within her, as if it was boundless. Qian Qian felt a slight sting in her nose, and her eyes held back tears. She couldn’t help but bite her lip and forced a smile as she said,

“They said I didn’t have a reservation, so they wouldn’t let me in. Looks like I’m not welcome in such a fine place.”

Her voice trembled slightly, and her pale smile was filled with helplessness and grievance.

Song Yongjun lowered his head slightly, his eyes focused on her expression. He keenly noticed the fleeting sadness on her face.

His handsome face wrinkled slightly, a hint of concern in his eyes mixed with the unexpected joy of meeting her.

Without thinking, he reached out and gently rubbed his nose, his gaze toward Qian Qian like the warm autumn sun, softly enveloping her.

“If you don’t mind, why don’t we eat together? I’ve got a reservation for a two-person table.”

Qian Qian looked at Song Yongjun, noticing his luxurious attire which sharply contrasted with her simple outfit.

She instinctively tightened her grip on her cheap coat, as if trying to hide her humble appearance. Then she shook her head lightly and said,

“No, it’s fine. I didn’t come here to eat anyway. You enjoy your meal, I’ll just leave.”

“Miss Qian, please wait.”

Song Yongjun, panicked and unable to think clearly, disregarded the surrounding noise and the distance between a man and a woman. He hurriedly stepped forward, grabbing Qian Qian’s wrist.

In that instant, it seemed as if he forgot everything around him. He furrowed his brow slightly, his movements somewhat awkward as he focused on Qian Qian.

His eyes were like the Northern Lights on a starry night, holding deep affection, radiating warmth onto Qian Qian.

Just as Li Shao stepped out the door and lit a cigarette, he turned around and happened to see this moment of them holding hands.

His anger flared as he stubbed out his cigarette, his face turning pale, his lips pressing into a tight line. He stalked towards them, his steps quick and forceful.

Li Shao’s eyes, as tiny as black beans, were nearly unreadable as he glared furiously at the couple, his eyes narrowing into a small slit.

When his gaze shifted to Qian Qian, his anger grew, and his sharp eyes seemed to pierce her face. His right hand shot up, like an angry beast ready to strike.

Qian Qian saw the hand coming toward her left cheek, and instinctively closed her eyes, her heart pounding in her ears, her entire body enveloped in a tense, indescribable fear.

She heard a crisp “slap,” but the hand never touched her face. There was no pain.

She waited for a moment before cautiously opening one eye to peek. She saw the tall Song Yongjun firmly gripping Li Shao’s hand.

Li Shao, protected by his wealthy family, had been spoiled since childhood. He became arrogant and unrestrained, using threats and violence as his usual way of dealing with problems.

But now, Li Shao was trapped, unable to fight back.

His face twisted with anger, his left cheek marked with a red imprint. Despite being held, he still gritted his teeth and glared at Song Yongjun, showing a mix of rage and helplessness.

His mind was in turmoil, filled with unprecedented humiliation. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his body trembled with fury.

However, when he looked at Song Yongjun again, the towering man’s cold gaze made his initial aggression dissipate like steam.

His proud and defiant posture began to slouch. His back bent slightly, like someone who had lost their composure, losing all their previous arrogance.

“You… you dog of a man, wait for it!” Li Shao spat, his voice shaking, his steps unsteady as he retreated into the restaurant.

Qian Qian’s emotions were in chaos, a mix of conflicting feelings. She wanted to move, but her feet felt as if they were frozen, held in place by some invisible force, unable to take a step.

Seeing Li Shao’s figure fading away, Song Yongjun let out a sigh, his tense emotions slowly relaxing.

He stretched his neck and arms, then turned toward Qian Qian, walking toward her slowly.

“Are you okay?”

Qian Qian, like someone waking up from a nightmare, looked up at Song Yongjun. She shook her head gently, a strand of hair falling with the motion. She forced a weak, pale smile.

The atmosphere was heavy and silent for a moment. Song Yongjun wanted to place his hand on her shoulder, but a thought crossed his mind about the distance between men and women. His hand paused mid-air.

He withdrew it, placing his hands lightly behind his back, slightly tilting his head with a soft, warm smile that felt both comfortable and unassuming.

“I know a place that sells a lot of snacks. Would you like to go?”

His voice was low and magnetic.

Qian Qian gazed at Song Yongjun, feeling as if she was seeing a man with a halo, soaring in the sky, gently wrapping her wounded heart in warmth.

Song Baili made her feel suffocated, Li Shao made her feel cold, but Song Yongjun made her feel that the world wasn’t as barren and indifferent as she had thought. He was like a light in the vast darkness, showing her a glimpse of warmth in an otherwise cold crowd.

Song Baili and Dominique sat at a round table in a molecular gastronomy restaurant.

Their smiles blossomed in conversation, sometimes with furrowed brows, sometimes laughing joyfully. One would gesture elegantly with her fingers, while the other rested her chin on her hand, listening intently, eyes sparkling.

Their conversation was like a brilliant game, with Song Baili tossing out an interesting idea, and Dominique catching the ball effortlessly, responding with new and intriguing thoughts.

They were like teammates with perfect chemistry, passing the conversation back and forth with ease, always engaged in witty exchanges.

Suddenly, Song Baili’s phone rang, interrupting their conversation.

She glanced at the caller ID, hesitating for a moment. She put down her utensils, picked up the phone, but didn’t answer immediately.

This person rarely contacted her, and most calls were about work-related matters, rarely touching on personal topics.

“Sorry, I need to take this call.”

Song Baili got up and left the dining area, walking away from the hustle and bustle of the restaurant to a quiet corner of the hallway.

The hallway was softly lit by wall lamps, their shadows casting a gentle glow on the walls, outlining the emptiness of the corridor.

As she was about to answer, the call abruptly ended. A few text notifications popped up on her screen.

She quickly glanced through the messages, her brow furrowing slightly as she focused on the content, keeping her emotions controlled and calm.

“小宋, I saw your sister. She’s had quite a few drinks, and people keep approaching her. You should come check on her.”

The message was accompanied by a blurry photo taken from a distance, showing Song Qinyang sitting alone at the bar, bathed in dim light, her profile barely visible. The image captured a faint sense of solitude.

Song Baili gently pressed her fingers to her forehead, tired, and closed her eyes for a moment, deep in thought.

After a moment, she opened her eyes, her brow furrowed deeper. Her finger hovered over the screen, quickly dialing a contact.

After a few rings, the call went to voicemail, and there was silence on the other end.

Song Baili’s frown deepened, her lips lightly biting her bottom lip. She dialed again, but after several more rings, the call still went unanswered.

With a frustrated sigh, she walked over to Dominique’s side. She scratched her head, cleared her throat, and with a slight apologetic expression said,

“Sorry, I… have to go, something urgent came up.”

Dominique, noticing her change in mood, didn’t ask any questions but gave a slight nod, signaling her understanding.

Song Baili made her way to the cashier, quickly paid the bill without checking the receipt, and stuffed it into her bag, walking swiftly out of the restaurant.

Standing outside, she hailed a yellow taxi. The car stopped, its headlights illuminating the area. She opened the door and quickly got in.

Song Baili made her way to the private bar where Song Qinyang was.

The bar, hidden in a quiet corner away from the lively streets, had no flashy signs or bright lights, just a simple wooden door.

When she reached the entrance, a tall, cold-faced security guard blocked her way.

She politely explained her purpose, but the guard remained unmoved, his strict attitude making her feel like she had hit a brick wall.

Just as she was about to feel helpless, an idea came to her, and she quickly searched for her phone, dialing a friend to handle the situation with the security guard. She waited silently for the outcome.

Gradually, the guard’s expression softened. He relaxed his posture, and with some negotiation from her friend, she was finally allowed to enter.

Upon stepping inside, she was greeted by the luxurious decor of the bar, which made her eyes widen in awe.

The bar was filled with ancient bronze artifacts and decorative art pieces, exuding an air of nobility and history, every corner radiating a high-class atmosphere, as if she had entered a private world.

Song Baili stopped and looked around. Her gaze was naturally drawn to the bar counter.

Song Qinyang’s beauty shone like a spotlight, silently attracting the attention and envy of those around her.

Standing next to her was a well-dressed man, holding a glass of wine with an air of confidence. His subtle movements made it clear he was interested in the woman beside him.

Song Baili, almost floating like on clouds, quickly maneuvered through the crowd and reached her sister’s side.