The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 40

“If you want to leave here and don’t have a place to stay, you can come stay at my place.”

As soon as the words were spoken, Song Baili felt her heart leap suddenly. Her eyes lifted slightly, and it felt like countless tiny sparks were lighting up inside her. A strange sense of nervousness washed over her.

She quietly raised her gaze, looking at Qian Qian for a moment, then slowly lowered her head, letting her long hair fall to the side of her face, covering the fleeting expression of excitement that passed over her features, making her appear lost in thought.

Qian Qian noticed the slight hesitation in Song Baili, her eyebrows raised slightly. She turned her body, moving a little closer.

She reached out and gently placed her hand on Song Baili’s arm, smiling as she said:

“Although my place is much smaller than this, it’s definitely cozy. We’re both single and good friends, so living together would be better than living alone.”

The moment Qian Qian’s hand touched Song Baili’s arm, she shuddered, feeling an electric shock where they made contact. Her heart raced, like fireworks exploding in her chest, swirling and fluttering non-stop.

She barely managed to force a smile, her voice laced with a touch of playful sarcasm as she said:

“You’re just looking for a personal chef and roommate, aren’t you?”

Qian Qian immediately puffed up her cheeks, pouting, and lightly tapped Song Baili’s arm. Her voice carried a hint of emotion as she replied:

“Big sis, I can show you my cooking skills and surprise you every day.”

Song Baili looked at Qian Qian’s cute, slightly annoyed expression and couldn’t help but smile, gently raising her hand to cover her lips. Her voice was soft and playful as she said:

“I was just joking, don’t take it seriously.”

“I’m not joking at all! I can cook for you regularly, take care of housework, and I’m not just a chef or a cleaner; I can be your food digestion assistant and travel bodyguard. You’d find it really convenient living at my place.”

“I get it. You’re like a superwoman—cooking, cleaning, and taking care of everything. Li Shao clearly doesn’t understand your worth, but someone ten times better than him is out there waiting for you.”

When Qian Qian heard this, a gleam of excitement and shyness flashed in her eyes. She straightened up, turned slightly, and fidgeted with her hands in her lap. One hand instinctively smoothed her hair, and she stole a glance at Song Baili out of the corner of her eye.

“Really? Who… who could that person be?”

Qian Qian’s lips curved slightly, a faint smile appearing on her face, and she spoke a little hesitantly.

Song Baili seemed to hesitate for a moment. Her fingers intertwined gently as her gaze wandered aimlessly in the air.

After a deep breath, she finally opened her lips and said softly, a touch of tenderness in her voice:

“That person has always been right beside you. You must have felt it, right?”

Qian Qian suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of urgency, like her breath was trapped within an unbreachable boundary. Her cheeks flushed a faint pink, and her eyes sparkled like starlight dancing on the surface of water, gently rippling in the air.

She unconsciously tilted her head, her eyes briefly passing over Song Baili’s figure. She lightly bit her lip, then spoke slowly, her voice almost floating through the air:

“Who is it?”

The sound of “thump, thump, thump” reverberated in her ears—her heartbeat pounding in her chest.

Her emotions soared, like the excitement of climbing the Eiffel Tower for the first time, or a bird breaking free from its cage, fluttering with joy, her heart brimming with anticipation.

Song Baili looked at Qian Qian’s shy expression and felt a mix of emotions stirring inside her. Finally, she conquered her inner thoughts and reluctantly uttered the name.

“Song Yongjun.”

It was like a bird, newly freed, soaring towards the tower, only to be struck by an “airborne thunderbolt,” falling faster than a parachute could deploy.

In that moment, Qian Qian seemed frozen at the edge of time. Her body became rigid, her eyes wide with disbelief and confusion. Her throat made a sound that vanished into the air, leaving no trace behind.

Her expectations dropped like the blazing sun, and waves of disappointment crashed into her, struck hard by the reality. She felt like she was falling into a deep abyss.

She forced a smile, weak and faint, and muttered:

“You know I just broke up. I’m a little disappointed in men right now, so I’m taking a break from relationships. No rush to find a new one.”

Song Baili’s eyes seemed to light up, like stars shining brightly in the night sky, the corners of her lips involuntarily lifting into a smile. Her usual calm expression became strikingly evident.

At that moment, a message from Dominique appeared on Song Baili’s phone screen.

She quickly typed a reply and set the phone down, still smiling gently. When she looked up, she unexpectedly found Qian Qian watching her.

For the whole evening, Qian Qian kept a close eye on Song Baili, noticing that the sweet and happy smile only appeared when she was focused on her phone screen.

This discovery struck her like a sharp, merciless knife, piercing her heart.

Her brows furrowed slightly, her hands unconsciously curling into fists, a surge of jealousy spreading through her chest like a hidden current, boiling uncontrollably.

“Did someone make Big Sis Baili’s heart race? I can practically hear her heartbeat.”

Song Baili felt her breath momentarily catch, as though someone had inadvertently lifted a seal deep in her soul, exposing her hidden feelings.

Her throat moved slightly, trying to remain composed. She slowly turned her head, her gaze meeting Qian Qian’s.

Her lips curved into a mysterious smile, though there was a slight awkwardness, as she softly replied:

“It’s a secret.”

“Hmph, this is definitely someone hiding their feelings for someone!” Qian Qian gritted her teeth and pressed her lips tightly together, her fingers twisting unconsciously. She didn’t want to let her emotions show, forcing herself to put on an indifferent face, though a faint sense of disappointment was evident in her eyes.

To avoid Qian Qian pressing further, Song Baili quickly changed the topic, skillfully steering the conversation back to where it had been before:

“What matters isn’t who I like. What matters is that someone likes you, and they’re obsessed with you.”

Qian Qian almost wanted to jump up from the sofa and bite someone!

She almost couldn’t catch her breath, her emotions bubbling up like soda in a shaken bottle. Her voice suddenly rose, no longer calm, but laced with urgency.

“The point is, I’m not interested in him! Everything else is nonsense!”

Qian Qian crossed her arms, sitting up straight, her chest slightly rising and falling, like a small mountain of turbulent waves. She looked away, avoiding any further eye contact with Song Baili.

Song Baili observed Qian Qian’s reaction, her eyebrows raised slightly as she gently ran her fingers through her hair, a subtle sense of satisfaction in her movements.

Worried that Qian Qian might notice her joy, she casually glanced around, suddenly stopping her actions and checking the time on her phone. She spoke casually:

“It’s getting late. You should rest.”

As she spoke, Song Baili lightly stood up and walked gracefully toward the bed. Qian Qian helplessly followed behind her.

The two lay on opposite sides of the bed, and the room was filled with a quiet atmosphere.

Qian Qian’s gaze wandered around the room, her mind replaying the moment when she saw Song Baili receiving a message. She had accidentally noticed that the message came from Dominique.

Her fingers unconsciously traced over the blanket as she frowned slightly, feeling a sense of discomfort and jealousy rising in her chest.

Lately, it seemed like the two had been talking a lot more. Had their relationship crossed the line from just friends?

Qian Qian silently imagined that if she had golden hair, lighter-colored eyes, and a little more height, maybe she could be on equal footing with Dominique and compete with her.

Her emotions were in turmoil, and she pinched her fingers together, trying to shift her frustration to the small pain in her hands.

However, the bed was really much more comfortable than the one at home. It felt like floating on a cloud, enveloped in softness and warmth.

Before long, she was swallowed by sleep, purring softly like a kitten.

Song Baili gently turned over, facing Qian Qian. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she slowly distinguished the beautiful contours of Qian Qian’s face, which appeared even softer in the moonlight.

The shallow breaths filled the dark room, like gentle waves on a quiet sea. This serene and harmonious rhythm contrasted sharply with the turmoil inside her heart.

In the stillness of the night, Song Baili realized clearly that this unrequited love could never be exposed to the light of day. It would only breathe quietly under the cover of night, destined to fade away at the break of dawn without leaving a trace.

Song Yongjun and Song Qinyao had already prepared everything and were waiting in the living room.

When they saw Qian Qian, the two siblings smiled brightly, their faces lighting up like the golden rays of the morning sun, brightening the entire living room.

Song Yongjun looked dashing in his stylish outfit, as though he had stepped out of a fashion magazine. Song Qinyao’s eyes were crescent-shaped as she smiled, her bright eyes radiating warmth, every expression exuding a goddess-like elegance.

The sight of the two siblings together was truly a visual feast.

Despite the apparent harmony, Qian Qian couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. There seemed to be a chill in the air, a hidden tension behind their smiles.

“Miss Qian, did you sleep well last night?” Song Qinyao asked, her slender, delicate eyes curving into a crescent shape. Her gaze was like the tide, clear and beautiful, but with an underlying coldness.

When Qian Qian unintentionally met her gaze, she suddenly felt a sharp, icy chill run through her heart, like the cold wind blowing through her, making her heart shrink.

Though she sensed the challenge in Song Qinyao’s gaze, Qian Qian refused to back down. She raised her brows slightly, straightened her back, and locked eyes with her, a confident smile spreading across her face.

“Well, I slept just fine.”

“Our home is small, with a lot of rooms. Miss Qian, if you want to stay another night, feel free to choose a room. Don’t make yourself uncomfortable sharing a bed with your sister.”

On the surface, their conversation seemed lighthearted, but beneath it, a silent challenge was exchanged, every word like a sharp arrow, though it didn’t draw bl00d, it was filled with poison.

Qian Qian wasn’t angered by Song Qinyao’s remark. Instead, she smiled even more charmingly. She moved closer to her ear, her lips barely moving, speaking softly:

“Sharing a bed with Big Sis Baili, whether it’s uncomfortable or not, I actually enjoy it. In my opinion, you’re a little jealous.”

Song Qinyao’s once bright smile faded, replaced by a cold, icy air.

Her eyes narrowed sharply, filled with an unforgiving sharpness, as if she could freeze everything with a single glance.

She slightly squinted, her face darkening as her repressed frustration boiled within. But with everyone around, she had to force herself to remain calm, forcing a faint smile and muttering to herself:

“This woman hasn’t even stepped into the house yet, and she’s already acting so arrogant…”

She took a deep breath, planning to talk to her brother later, to suggest he marry into the Qian family, so this arrogant girl wouldn’t cause trouble at the Song family.