The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - CHAPTER 5

It’s time for the afternoon store break, and the staff gathers in the lounge area, ready to enjoy a two-hour break, a time for them to socialize and relax, as well as to savor the food.

As was the store’s custom, newcomers were assigned to order food, just make sure you don’t waste the ingredients and order whatever you want.

Song Baihe’s eyes were fixed on the menu’s myriads of choices, her fingers flicking the edges of the menu as she hesitated slightly before resolutely ordering a series of dishes.

“Cheese macaroni, beef meatballs in tomato meat sauce, cream of mushroom soup, and spiced roasted broccoli, this is our store’s signature dish, you really know how to eat.”

Zhao Yuxuan couldn’t help but puff out his chest, slightly raising his eyebrows, the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but rise, nodding his head as he spoke, secretly proud of his own efforts, feeling that his whole day of patiently communicating with the newcomer hadn’t been in vain after all.

These dishes ordered by Song Baihe were the food that was left over by almost every customer at every table, she could probably understand the reason behind this phenomenon, she observed that the customers who came here weren’t exactly rich but were willing to waste the dishes, showing that the mouths were disliking the food.

Song Baihe invited an excuse to enter the bustling and noisy kitchen, and as soon as she entered, a wave of chaotic heat hit her, the chef’s hands were busy shuttling from workbench to workbench, and the workbench on the other side was piled up with all kinds of ingredients, some of which were placed randomly, with no signs of categorization.

One young chef is chopping vegetables in a frenzied manner, his knife skills obviously rusty, and the vegetables are sliced into uneven sizes and slices of varying thickness.

Another chef hurriedly stirred the soup, his eyes anxious and restless, frequently tasting the soup while constantly adding various spices, shaking and scratching his head, his expression looking very confused.

Not long after everyone was seated, but in just a few moments, a fragrant dish began to be placed on the table one after another, and the panic and pressure in the chaotic kitchen gave rise to a tacit cooperation, delivering the dishes at a surprisingly fast pace.

The cheese macaroni was pre-prepared and slightly cooled, Song Baihe picked up a piece with her fork and found that it had solidified into a lumpy yellow object, devoid of any tantalizing aroma, it looked yellow, but in fact the texture was on the light side, it tasted like sticky, greasy pieces of pasta.

The sauce for the beef meatballs in tomato sauce was not homemade in the store, and the flavor was bland beyond her expectations, and the texture of the meatballs was overly soft, almost as limp and feeble as a marshmallow.

Song Baihe happened to witness the process of making the meatballs, and that scene replayed in her mind, seeing the chefs busily mixing the ingredients, but there was clearly a problem with the proportions, with some ingredients being too much and others not enough, and she had long since realized the possibility of failure.

Song Baihe proceeded to pick up the cream of mushroom soup that had been placed in front of her, her nose didn’t have the expected tangy smell of mushrooms and cream, and after stirring it with a spoon, she noticed that the soup’s texture was a little bit thin, which was far from the richness that she had come to love.

When she tasted a mouthful of the soup, an unusual sweetness filled her mouth and she felt a bit dismayed, and when she tried a second mouthful, her entire taste buds felt a wave of resistance, an intense discomfort that caused her to hastily reach for a large gulp of water to wash down the taste in her mouth.

Song Baihe pushed the uncomfortable bowl of cream of mushroom soup away and turned her attention to the roasted broccoli on the table.

When she took a bite, her brows couldn’t help but wrinkle slightly, her expression instantly twisting.

The broccoli had been roasted to the point where it had overly softened and lost its original crisp texture, bringing a strong taste of salt with each bite, and the overabundance of spices took away the original flavor of the ingredients, filling her mouth with a salty and complex taste.

As the food lingered in her mouth, her lips trembled a little, and she covered the corners of her mouth with her fingers as she struggled to swallow the mouthful of food, then set down the utensils and drank the rest of the water in the cup in one gulp before exhaling and shaking her head unconsciously.

Song Baihe’s eyes narrowed into a thin slit, a wonderful feeling rising in her heart, a sudden respect for the restaurant’s patrons; everyone had tasted the food, but strangely, everyone had chosen to remain silent and not show a single hint of dissatisfaction.

It was rather ironic to recall that she had not entered this restaurant as a diner that day, perhaps because she possessed enough luck to avoid such an unpleasant dining experience.

Qian Qian perceived that there were only sporadic leftovers on the plate Song Baihe had placed on the table, and her appetite seemed to be small to the extreme, eating a meal as if it were a peddler’s taster, as if she had a pocket-sized stomach pouch hidden in her belly, which a little bit of food could fill up.

However, the food on the table all seemed to surge towards Zhao Yuxuan’s corner, and not long after, the food on the table was blown over like a hurricane, leaving only empty plates and empty bowls.

Quietly observing the obvious contrast in appetite between the two, Qian Qian couldn’t help but bend her head and snort a laugh unawares.

When she lifted her head, she saw Song Baihe concentrating on cleaning up the dishes on the table, her gestures elegant but slightly hurried, as if she wanted to eagerly put an end to this embarrassing dining experience.

Regarding the plates of unpalatable dishes in front of her, Song Baihe maintained a calm expression from start to finish, as if she had anticipated the poor cuisine and did not utter a single word of criticism or complaint.

This made Qian Qian’s opinion of her rise, and she felt more and more appreciative of this person.

In the restaurant, soft lights were cast down, paired with soft music, creating a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere.

Song Baihe held a moist rag in her hand and methodically wiped back and forth, the rag brushing over the surface of the bar, taking away a trace of dust and gradually revealing a delicate luster.

The restaurant’s business wasn’t bad, but it was far from busy either, and for Song Baihe, compared to her previous job at her father’s restaurant, the work here seemed a lot easier, and there was still some time left before the end of the shift, and the entire bar had already been wiped down repeatedly to a sparkling shine.

Several girls suddenly appeared in the doorway, and Song Baihe was about to greet them when Zhao Yuxuan suddenly rushed out, trying his best to get ahead of her, and began to warmly greet the customers with an exaggerated and confident demeanor.

He wore a smile while constantly waving his humor as if he was the center of attention in the restaurant, the girls looked a little surprised but were also induced to laugh by his performance.

Song Baihe quietly stood on the side, watching him out of the limelight with a bemused gaze, and when he passed by her, he couldn’t help but straighten his back, and with a solemn and serious expression, he softly said to her:

“A table of chicks is coming, so maybe they’re looking at my handsome pot. You’re only on your first day of work, you don’t understand the temperament preferences of the female customers yet, so you’ll just watch from the side to see how brother can handle it.”

After the customers were seated, Song Baihe held neat and shiny cutlery in her hands and moved to a place not far from their seats, carefully arranging the cutlery and adjusting the tabletop, keeping her expression calm and natural, occasionally raising her eyes to the table of customers without thinking.

Perhaps it was because the restaurant’s environment was too quiet, or perhaps it was because her ears were sharp, causing her to inadvertently catch some of the content of Zhao Yuxuan’s exchanges with the customer.

The customers quietly looked around the restaurant, their gazes skimming over every corner around them, and then towards the door, a few girls’ eyes kept turning back and forth, their eyes looking left and right for a while, as if expecting someone to show up next.

“Where’s Qian Qian? Is she not here today?”

When Zhao Yuxuan heard the girl’s question, the movement of his hand paused, the smile on his face froze for a moment, and some doubts welled up in his heart, but then, he resumed his friendly smile, and said with an easy and cordial expression:

“She just happened to be out shopping, do you want to find her for something?”

“Nothing, she greets us every time, I didn’t meet her today, so I’m a bit curious.”

A few girls looked over the menu attentively, their fingers flipping page after page, looking up at each other from time to time, and then returning their gaze to the menu, flipping through it shakily for half a day, taking quite some time, and then gradually frowning when they stopped at the last page.

The several girls, facing the dazzling menu, exchanged a devastated look with each other, and suddenly raised their hands in unison, at which point Zhao Yuxuan, as if he was stepping on a glider under his feet, rushed over to them in a split second.

“Brother, what’s good at your store?”

Zhao Yuxuan’s expression was like that of a student who had been preparing for class all night, waiting for the teacher to call his name, and couldn’t wait to seize the opportunity to show off his knowledge, and like a gushing stream, he mouthed the description of each food, his speech speed was fast, his gestures were exaggerated, and he recommended a few dishes in one breath.

“We have a unique recipe for special spicy chicken wings, garlic fries, skewered lamb, all specialties of the store, today’s seafood is as fresh as it gets, would you like a chowder gumbo with a Caesar’s mixed salad…”

Under his description, the food seemed to come to life, the aroma was mouth-watering, and it was as if a delicious picture of the dishes was unfolding before the girls’ eyes.

The girls excitedly exchanged glances with each other, their lips moving slightly, their eyes bright as the colored lights of a Christmas tree, and without hesitation, they ordered the entire menu he recommended.

Zhao Yuxuan finished his menu recommendations, and when he passed by Song Baihe’s side, he jerked to a stop and waited for Song Baihe to raise her head, her eyes meeting his, and gave her a thumbs up.

Looking at his smug look, it was as if that table of dishes was what he was going to prepare for his future mother-in-law, and he felt a special sense of accomplishment after taking care of it.

“Ladies, do me a favor, give me some face value, please throw a star to our store evaluation site, I’m waiter Zhao Yuxuan, Zhao Yuting’s “Zhao and”, Huang Xuan’s “Xuan”, thank you for coming, next time come again I’ll give you a joke. I’ll tell you a joke next time.”

Zhao Yu Ting stood in the doorway, smiling as he said goodbye to the group of young girls, watching them walk away, until their backs disappeared around the corner, he stopped waving, and took a fond look before turning back to the restaurant.

Song Baihe bent down and began sorting through the food remnants on the table, unable to help but frown slightly as she counted the remaining food, slightly surprised that the guests had left more food than they had actually eaten into their stomachs.

There seemed to be enough food left on the table to serve another gourmet meal.

When the time to leave work came, Qian Qian and Boss Qian appeared at the entrance of the restaurant, a father and daughter pair that seemed to have a distinctive vibe and contrasting appearance, walking side by side, one young and beautiful, the other looking rather old.

Boss Qian’s hair is gradually graying, a trace of silver hair mixed in between the black hair, his face is covered with the traces of age, forehead wrinkles deep, his figure is slightly hunched, his pace is slightly slow, his appearance shows a deep maturity and the vicissitudes of the years.

Qian Qian’s hair is in a fashionable bobbed hairstyle, like a soft cloud surrounding her delicate face, her big eyes are like crystal balls in the morning sun, every blink of her eyes is like a symphony of stars, glittering with crystal clear light.

Her figure was slim and slender, displaying the softness of youth, her skin was as snow-covered, delicate and smooth as lamb’s fat jade, and her features exuded a freshness, like a flower blooming in the sunlight, full of life and vigor.

Song Baihe guessed that Qian Qian was close to her age.

However, Qian Qian always displayed an innocent and simple attitude, exuding a natural and unadorned air, like a piece of white paper that had not yet been contaminated, making her appear younger than she was.

At this time a silver sports car slid to a halt in front of the entrance, with a superbly designed body and beautifully smooth lines, displaying fashion and taste perfectly.

When it parked on the curb, it was like a still lightning bolt cutting through the ordinary streets, exuding an air of nobility and luxury, attracting the attention of all passersby.

As the window slowly lowered, a young man stuck his head out and waved to the people around him with a smile. Qian Qian said goodbye to everyone and then deftly slid into the passenger seat as the fragrant car started up, its engine gently whispering as it gently drove off into the distance.

Zhao Yuxuan watched the car go away, his expression was like a mixed bag of flavors, his brows knitted lightly, his nose wrinkled lightly, the corners of his mouth twisted in a struggle, his eyes hidden deep in unspeakable emotions, seemingly unwilling to let go and mixed with regrets.

Everything he saw in front of his eyes was what he longed for but could not touch, he felt heartbroken and felt the injustice of fate, helplessly sighed softly, the corner of his mouth slightly raised a bitter smile.

He looked dejectedly to the side of the Song Baihe, suddenly his eyes lit up a bright flame, his eyebrows unconsciously stretched, realizing that there is another heartfelt goddess right next to him, although some people he may not be able to reach, but there is an opportunity right in front of him waiting for him to discover.

Not long after, another Audi RS7 stopped in front of the door, its engine emitting a low hum in the air, the windows coming down electrically to reveal a young and beautiful woman, her eyes fluttering with crystalline starlight, her lips lifting into a confident arc, releasing a different kind of elegant charm.

Under the gaze of this mysterious woman, Zhao Yuxuan felt like he was struck by an electric current, his body slightly trembled, his eyes were tightly captured by the other party, his heartbeat felt as if it had gained an extra rhythm, his hand unconsciously stroked over his own chest, and a kind of marvelous palpitation spread throughout his body.

The woman’s eyes flowed, her eyes presented the most perfect curvature as in a painting, with a charming smile on her face, as if inviting him to come closer, his feet were like rooted in place, feeling as if he had been penetrated by a high voltage, triggering an uncontrollable tremor.

Song Baihe walked easily behind Zhao Yuxuan, straight ahead towards that car, and at the same time, the woman’s vision seemed to be gradually converging, narrowing down to the only focal point in her eyes —- focusing on Song Baihe’s body.

“Why did you come here?”

“To pick you up from work.”

Song Yanyao rarely tilted her head like this to gaze at Song Baihe, only to see her sister’s eyes as bright and moving as stars, those eyes were simply like a black hole, as if one glance would be pulled in by gravity, feeling like she was drifting in and out, filled with endless curiosity about the world inside.

“I’m not a kid anymore, why do I still need you to come specifically to pick me up from work?”

Song Yanyao suddenly noticed a man frequently looking in their direction, her brows tightened, and her eyes showed uneasiness, sitting in the car she gently pulled Song Baihe over, her voice low and wary:

“Sister, hurry up and get in the car, that man behind you has been looking at you with thieving eyes, there are such perverts everywhere, let’s go.”

Song Baihe turned around and turned back, just in time to meet Zhao Yuxuan’s line of sight, the corners of his mouth pulled upwards, his face muscles slightly contracted, his smile looked unnatural and stiff, like the witty and funny, yet somewhat exaggerated expressions in cartoon comics.

Song Baihe forced back her smile, the corners of her lips pursed slightly, maintaining an elegant countenance, she slowly raised her hand and waved it to Zhao Yuxuan with soft movements, saying softly:

“Little Zhao, I’m leaving first, see you tomorrow ah.”

Zhao Yuxuan also waved his hand to Song Baihe, watching her board the vehicle with an awkward face.