The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 39

Song Baili’s gaze turned toward Qian Qian, slightly dazed. She tried to appear calm, but her body felt as if it was bound by an invisible force, stiff and uncontrollably frozen.

Her mouth was slightly open, yet her tongue seemed glued to the back of her throat. For a long time, she couldn’t bring herself to say a single word.

A subtle mental clash made her feel as if she were standing on the edge of two different worlds. She deeply sensed the enormous contrast in emotions and attitudes between people from these worlds.

The reason Qian Qian didn’t mind being physically open was because she harbored innocence, without any ulterior motives or lustful thoughts. She was as pure as standing in front of a mirror. But Song Baili saw something entirely different through Qian Qian’s eyes—something full of desire, which she could easily interpret as temptation.

A straight woman’s mind is as simple as water without any additives, clear and transparent. It was almost shocking for someone like Song Baili, who was accustomed to playing mind games, to navigate this pure, straightforward intention. She wasn’t sure where the line of affection lay, and feared she might be overthinking it.

Qian Qian was like a naive little lamb, utterly unaware of the world, while Song Baili, with her sense of guilt, could have been the wolf who might devour this restless little lamb, rather than the innocent, clueless one approaching her.

“You look so scared, like you’ve seen a ghost. I’m not going to eat you. I’m just messing with you. I’m going to take a shower now,” Qian Qian said with a smile, and with that, she skipped toward the bathroom.

Inside the bathroom, she stood in front of the mirror, her expression somewhat subtle. Her brows furrowed slightly, and there was a hint of uncertainty on her face.

She looked at herself closely, glancing left and right, her fingers lightly touching her skin. She blinked and looked at her reflection, letting out a sigh.

She quietly wondered, had her charm faded?

As soon as Song Baili entered the bathroom, Qian Qian went straight to the bookshelf and casually grabbed a brightly colored food-themed comic.

She chuckled and sat down on the couch, opening the comic.

The food images were fascinating, and as she flipped through the pages, she seemed relaxed and carefree, occasionally glancing around the room. Yet her heartbeat was racing, and she felt a faint sense of anticipation.

In the next moment, reason suddenly emerged, firmly believing that this evening was destined to be a calm and uneventful one, with no romantic scenarios likely to unfold.

The events of fate, like an unwritten novel, were like characters on the pages, following the plot, but deep down, Qian Qian knew she was just a temporary visitor here. She secretly wished for a bit of luck so she could stay a few more nights.

When the bathroom door opened slightly, Song Baili walked out wrapped in a soft towel, her long hair half-wet and messy, exuding a natural sense of fashion. The water droplets gently fell as she moved.

Her skin, like flower petals washed by morning dew, had a subtle pink hue. The light danced across her skin, softly outlining her graceful curves.

Her long, slender legs were graceful like a cat’s, and her movements were smooth and fluid, like a painting unfolding before one’s eyes.

A rush of emotions surged through Qian Qian, who couldn’t help but gasp in awe, her thoughts running wild: “My God, I’d be so happy if I were kicked by those beautiful legs…”

Song Baili noticed Qian Qian’s gaze, as if it were silently observing some kind of stunning exhibit.

Though there was a trace of subtle greed in Qian Qian’s eyes, Song Baili knew full well that, in Qian Qian’s eyes, she was more like art than an irresistibly tempting meal.

Qian Qian and Song Baili’s eyes briefly met, and Qian Qian’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked away, lowering her head and putting on a forced smile, occasionally flipping through the comic’s pages with a distracted expression.

Realizing how close Song Baili was, Qian Qian’s heartbeat began to race. She pretended to be deeply absorbed in the comic, though her fingers trembled slightly, and her eyes remained glued to the page without lifting.

“Do you like comics too?” Song Baili asked.

“Yeah, I love comics!” Qian Qian responded without thinking, then raised her head, but because of the proximity, her vision was disrupted, and she was caught off guard, unsure of how to respond.

Her expression froze in that instant, her eyes wide open and her mouth slightly agape. She stood still for a moment, staring blankly at the scene before her.

Song Baili’s gaze lingered on the comic in Qian Qian’s hands for a brief moment, her lips curving into a smile that was nothing short of captivating.

“Hmm, I believe you like comics. Even holding it upside down, I can still tell you’re into it.”

It was only then that Qian Qian realized she was holding the comic upside down. She hurriedly flipped it right side up, and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

She squinted, scolding herself silently, then raised her head but froze again in surprise.

Under the warm, soft lighting in the room, Song Baili sat on the edge of the bed, wrapped in a towel, her legs elegantly crossed as she scrolled through her phone.

The towel wrapped around her body, and the light brushed over her delicate skin, casting soft shadows and highlighting her graceful figure. Her long, straight legs formed a perfect curve, beautiful enough to take one’s breath away.

“You… aren’t you cold? Aren’t you afraid of catching a cold?” Qian Qian asked, flustered.

Song Baili paused for a moment, then gently placed her phone on the bedside table. She casually shifted her shoulder, turning slightly to face Qian Qian, and a subtle smile flashed in her eyes. She softly said:

“Well, I actually have a habit of sleeping without clothes.”

Qian Qian froze, as if time had stopped. Her heart raced as if fireworks were going off in her chest. The sound of her heartbeat echoed in her ears.

She took a deep breath, unconsciously clutching the edge of her clothes, trying to remind herself to stay composed, not to appear too eager, and to avoid showing too much emotion or coming across as infatuated.

Qian Qian repeatedly told herself to stay calm, to behave like a gentleman, to keep some distance when sharing the bed with Song Baili, and to carefully plan how to sneak a peek or touch her without being noticed.

“I was just joking. I forgot to bring my pajamas to the bathroom earlier,” Song Baili explained with a laugh.

She stood up lightly, walking gracefully, her bare feet gliding across the carpet. The towel brushed against the sofa cushions as she walked over to pick up her neatly folded pajamas.

With each step, her long legs moved like elegant strokes of a brush, creating a beautiful line in the air. A fresh scent of body wash filled the room, and the fragrance of flowers seemed to linger in the air.

As the door to the bathroom half opened, a soft white light filtered through, and Qian Qian suddenly felt uninterested in the comic. She found herself stealing glances at the bathroom from the corner of her eye.

Hearing the sound of the bathroom door opening, she quickly looked away, adjusting her hair and focusing back on the comic in her hands. Her fingers lightly moved through the pages, but her actions seemed a bit awkward.

Song Baili used a hairdryer to dry her hair, carefully combing the ends. Just as she sat back on the couch, her phone vibrated, signaling a new message.

She tapped the screen, her expression shifting slightly as she read the message, then paused for a moment. Turning slightly, she looked at Qian Qian and softly asked:

“Yongjun suggested we have breakfast together tomorrow.”

“Sure, I’ll treat. I still need to thank him for helping me the other day and treating me to a meal,” Qian Qian replied.

Song Baili froze for a second, her eyes slightly unfocused, a shadow of something darker flickering beneath them.

She slowly lowered her gaze, a complex emotion rising within her.

She hadn’t expected Qian Qian and Song Yongjun to develop their own relationship so quickly behind her back, already meeting in private.

It felt like a twist of fate—no longer just following a script but becoming a player in the game.

The room, although simple, was filled with carefully selected items and a sense of thoughtful arrangement that spoke of a unique lifestyle.

Qian Qian scanned the room, her eyes lingering on every corner. The questions in her mind grew more numerous.

“Sister Baili, your family is so well off. Why would you work as a waitress in a small place like ours?”

“Song family isn’t that wealthy. It’s actually Yao Yao’s maternal grandparents who have money. I’m just here temporarily; I’ll be leaving eventually,” Song Baili answered calmly.

The atmosphere shifted instantly, as if a heavy silence had descended over the room.

Qian Qian knew about Song Baili’s family situation but pretended not to. She asked carefully, like a delicate flower touching a sharp rock:

“What about your family?”

Song Baili paused for a moment, her gaze drifting as if tracing some distant memory.

“My parents divorced when I was young, and my father is no longer around. I don’t have any siblings, so my uncle insisted I move in with them.”

Each word, each sentence, felt like sharp hooks digging deep into Qian Qian’s heart.

Her lips tightened, and her hands folded in her lap, her face growing serious.

Though she had heard this from Song Yongjun before, hearing it directly from Song Baili felt different, like a more intimate experience. It stirred a deep, emotional resonance within her.

Qian Qian paused before speaking again, her voice soft.

“I’ve only had my dad since I can remember. I don’t have many memories of my mom, and my dad doesn’t like to talk about her. I’m lucky I don’t look like her, or he’d be upset.”

Song Baili looked at Qian Qian’s face, her gaze lingering for a while.

She then raised a hand and gently traced her chin with her finger, pausing near her lips before speaking softly:

“You don’t look much like Boss Qian either.”

Qian Qian was beautiful, like a fairy, while Boss Qian resembled a neighborly uncle.

If they were related, the only connection would likely be their shared surname.

“Yeah, maybe I was picked up by my dad off the street, and he thought I was cute, so he kept me,” Qian Qian said, her mood suddenly deflating as she slumped her head.

Song Baili didn’t think Qian Qian was feeling sorry for herself. On the contrary, her expression made her seem even more adorable.

“Well then, ask your dad where he found you, and I’ll try my luck tomorrow to see if I can find one too,” she teased.

Qian Qian felt a sharp pain in her heart as if struck by Cupid’s arrow. She turned her head slightly, her gaze landing on Song Baili.

Song Baili had a graceful, noble look, her features delicate and pure, exuding a sense of elegance.

Her serious demeanor felt almost like a teenager experiencing love for the first time, unable to fully understand how to steal a girl’s heart.

Qian Qian turned away, shaking her head slightly and patting her cheek, realizing she had overthought the situation and let her imagination run wild, caught in excessive speculation.