The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 41

The four of them planned to go to a place for breakfast together. Song Yongjun and Qian Qian walked ahead, and Song Qinyao watched them drive away before slowly walking toward the car.

She sat leisurely in the car, turned to look at the rearview mirror, adjusted her hairstyle, checked her makeup, and lightly swiped her finger on the touch screen to play a soothing piece of music.

“I heard from my brother that something happened to Qian Qian last night. Why didn’t she consult me? Maybe I have connections that could help.”

“This kind of small matter, we can handle it ourselves.”

As the car slowly started, the interior lights gradually turned on, skillfully creating a luxurious atmosphere inside.

A soft fragrance filled the air—Song Qinyao’s unique perfume blended perfectly with the car’s interior, adding an elegant and mysterious vibe.

“Why does my sister spoil Qian Qian so much?”

“If it were your friend in trouble, wouldn’t you help out too?”

“Isn’t there something ulterior about how good she is to Qian Qian?”

At the red light, when the car stopped, Song Qinyao quickly turned her head. Her eyes were sharp like a hawk’s, and for a brief three seconds, it seemed as though time stood still, allowing her to catch the subtle and fleeting change in Song Baili’s expression.

However, all she saw was Song Baili maintaining her graceful posture in the front passenger seat.

She slightly raised her head, her hand gently resting on the car door, her beautiful features showing no signs of emotion. Her deep, clear eyes were like a closed ocean, calm to the point where it was impossible to see the bottom.

Song Qinyao stared at the person in front of her. Her pupils dilated as Song Baili’s features came to life before her eyes, vibrant like colors leaping on a canvas. The feeling of being trapped in that gaze felt like an enchanting force, shrinking her world to nothing but the other person’s eyes.

“The light’s green.”

A honk sounded from behind, and Song Qinyao quickly snapped out of her trance, pulled her gaze away, and stepped on the gas pedal.

Song Baili unconsciously drummed her fingers, lightly touching her knee. The scenery outside the window blurred in her eyes as if her thoughts drifted to a faraway place.

After a while, she lowered her head to look at her hand, her gaze seeming to follow the movement of her fingers as if in deep thought.

Then, she slowly raised her head, her voice carrying an unreadable emotion as she spoke:

“What do you think I’m after?”

“That restaurant of theirs has a great location, but it’s poorly managed. The reason my sister worked there was to understand the restaurant’s situation better, and befriending Qian Qian was to win her trust. The overall goal is probably to take over that restaurant.”

Song Baili remained silent, neither agreeing nor denying, not showing any surprise or shock. But her eyebrows twitched slightly, as though forming a faint, subtle smile.

“This restaurant has been losing money. It’s only holding on because of Qian Qian’s boyfriend. But if they break up, my sister can take over the restaurant, and my brother can win Qian Qian’s heart.”

Song Baili froze for a while. It was as if a spark of thought exploded in her mind, and suddenly everything became clear. Her expression shifted from confusion to surprise. She widened her eyes and spoke with a tremor in her voice:

“Don’t tell me… you were the one who made them break up?”

“I’m not that capable. That day, my brother invited me to dinner, but I had to meet a client, so my brother took Qian Qian instead. They ran into Li Shao at the same restaurant, and everything went wrong. Didn’t you hear about it?”

“She never mentioned it to me.”

When Song Baili said this, her face was slightly turned to the side, gazing out the window. Her pupils slightly contracted as her eyes wandered, as if searching for some answer.

No matter how close two flowers are, the butterfly always steals the show.

Even the best of friends can’t compete with the brilliance of love. It seems she can only quietly take a backseat and be the backdrop for this golden couple.

“Seeing them together, they seem to be doing quite well. Maybe Qian Qian broke up with Li Shao for my brother.”

Song Baili tightened her grip on the armrest of the passenger seat without realizing it. These words stung her ears like needles. She wished she could cover her ears to block out what she was hearing.

She tried to convince herself that she truly wanted to wish them well, but the turmoil inside her was a strange, deep sadness—a deep sense of loss. The inner conflict surged within her, and she was actually heartbroken.

After arriving at the destination, Song Baili opened the restaurant door and saw an outstanding-looking couple chatting away, laughing and exchanging glances that conveyed an easy and pleasant atmosphere.

Qian Qian occasionally clapped her hands and giggled, while Song Yongjun sat slightly sideways, a soft smile on his face as he listened attentively to her, his gaze filled with admiration for her.

Watching this joyful scene, Song Baili felt as though her chest was filled with small stones, each one heavy and sharp, making her heart ache.

Her footsteps felt like they were dragging a heavy ball, each step reluctant, as her expression subtly changed. Her face shifted with a complex look, her brow furrowing, and ripples appearing in her eyes.

This wasn’t a joyful walk; it felt more like a forced confrontation with an unavoidable reality.

“Slow down, sis…”

Song Qinyao said, then without hesitation, grabbed Song Baili’s hand and walked toward the restaurant’s exit.

Outside the restaurant, among the crowd, the two sisters stood out like a beautiful scene. People passing by stopped and stared at them, leaving admiring glances behind.

“I left my phone in the car. Oh, my memory! Can you come with me to get it?”

Song Baili looked at Song Qinyao with a doubtful expression, trying to read her, but despite her concerns, she followed her into the parking lot.

Song Qinyao’s upper body bent into the car, and she searched for a while. Her body twisted slightly as sunlight streamed through the window, highlighting the graceful curve of her waist.

Suddenly, she let out a relaxed laugh and stood up, proudly holding the recovered phone.

Song Baili stood aside, impatiently urging:

“Stop dragging it out. They’ve been waiting for us for a long time.”

The car door closed gently with a soft click.

Song Qinyao glanced at Song Baili, pouting slightly, her eyes lingering on the car roof for a moment. Her expression was relaxed and unhurried, showing no sign of wanting to leave quickly.

“They’ll be fine even without us.”

Song Baili felt the small stones in her chest pile up again. In an instant, her mood became subdued. Now, everything seemed tasteless. Even breakfast lost its appeal, let alone dealing with the romantic drama.

“I’ve never seen my brother so fully invested in a relationship. Right now, she’s the only one in his eyes. I don’t even expect him to serve me food anymore.”

Song Qinyao glanced at Song Baili, her eyes glinting with mischief, as she pulled her toward the side, her voice filled with cheerfulness:

“Let’s not be the third wheel. Let them enjoy themselves. We’ll be the good people who stay out of it.”

“No, if we keep this up, Qian Qian will get upset. Let’s go back quickly.”

Song Baili furrowed her brows lightly, pulling her arm away from Song Qinyao’s grasp and turning to walk toward the restaurant.

Song Qinyao felt a slight irritation. She quickly moved in front of Song Baili, blocking her path without mercy.

Song Baili stopped, glaring at the roadblock, trying to get around her, but Song Qinyao, like a quick cat, stayed right behind, leaving no room to escape.

“Come on, think about it. If you let this go, my brother will be over the moon. But think about it—family or friendship. Which one would you choose?”

“I…”

Song Baili was speechless, at a loss for words.

Indeed, Song Qinyao understood her well, and with one line, she pinned her down, making her feel caught between a rock and a hard place. The inner conflict felt almost physical, and she stood there, nearly breaking down in frustration.

At that awkward moment, the phone rang. The caller ID showed Qian Qian’s name. Song Baili glanced at Song Qinyao with a troubled expression before reluctantly answering the call.

“Hello? Why are you two still messing around? Haven’t you arrived yet?”

“Yao Yao forgot her phone…”

Before Song Baili could finish, she heard Song Yongjun’s gentle voice calling out “Xiao Qian,” his voice as soft and warm as a spring breeze. It carried a light, sweet feeling, as if she could almost smell the flowers.

Then, Qian Qian replied:

“Don’t hang up. Wait for me, I’ll be right there.”

There was some muffled noise on the other end, but Song Baili could only faintly hear the conversation, which seemed to tangle her emotions even more.

Her fingers lightly gripped the phone’s edge. With every muffled sound, her unease deepened.

After a long silence, Qian Qian’s voice came again, and the words struck Song Baili like a thunderclap.

“We’ve already ordered. We’re waiting for you. Hurry up.”

The words “we” seemed to echo through the phone, as if they were a sudden lightning strike that shook the air, tearing open Song Baili’s heart.

Her grip tightened on the phone. She felt as if the small device in her hand had grown heavy, carrying a painful truth that pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Suddenly, she felt so unnecessary, like an uninvited guest who had stepped into someone else’s story.

A helpless smile spread across her face, a self-deprecating response to the situation. How ridiculous she felt.

Perhaps Song Qinyao had always known this—she and Song Baili were just extra light bulbs, quietly shining but blinding themselves with their own glow.

Qian Qian waited patiently on the other end, but all Song Baili could feel was the deep silence, as if time had stretched on, each second becoming heavy and endless.

After a while, she finally spoke:

“Okay, you go ahead. Don’t let your important matters wait.”

The silence between the two was thick, broken only by the faint background noise.

The air on both ends seemed to freeze, and Song Baili softly pressed the hang-up button.

Song Qinyao was already waiting in the car, occasionally swinging the phone in her hand. Her gaze was fixed ahead, waiting for the crucial moment to come.

When she saw Song Baili end the call and slowly walk toward the car, she quickly stashed her phone in her bag and adjusted her posture, a victorious smile curling on her lips as she anticipated Qian Qian’s displeased face.