The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 55

As the two of them walked out of the cinema, the light spilled over them, and Qian Qian couldn’t help but stare at Song Baili, who was walking ahead.

Song Baili’s figure was graceful and captivating, her tall silhouette particularly enchanting in the light, with each step seeming to create a perfect scene.

Suddenly, Song Baili turned and looked at Qian Qian.

With a smile in her eyes, her gaze was filled with charm, like the shimmering water or the drifting clouds, as if a fairy had descended to earth.

Qian Qian’s heart skipped a beat, overwhelmed by an unexpected sense of awe and attraction. Her eyes were locked onto Song Baili, as though time itself had stopped, leaving only that graceful figure shimmering before her.

“Why are you walking so slowly?” Song Baili asked as she got closer.

Qian Qian felt her heart race, and a wave of nervousness surged within her.

“Uh, I… I think I’m feeling a little dizzy.”

Her throat felt as though it was stuffed with cotton, and she suddenly felt parched. When she spoke, her voice sounded like a distant wind chime—hoarse, with a trace of nervousness.

She couldn’t help but glance at Song Baili again, her ears turning red, her face flushing with a light pink hue.

“Then let’s go get something sweet. Maybe it’ll help with the dizziness.”

“Mm, okay.”

As Qian Qian took a step forward, she felt a little unsteady, like walking on clouds.

Her body felt like an excited hot air balloon, rising higher and higher, as if she might float away at any moment.

After walking for a while, Song Baili turned around and noticed that Qian Qian was still far behind. Her expression changed slightly as she saw Qian Qian’s slow, unsteady gait, like someone whose feet had lost their rhythm.

Ignoring the bustling crowd around them, Song Baili walked toward Qian Qian without hesitation, taking her hand, and they wove through the busy street.

The neon lights of the shops flickered with vibrant colors, and the street was alive with people and traffic.

Qian Qian stole a glance at their hands, tightly clasped together. Her cheeks turned pink, and a smile involuntarily curled on her lips, forming a sweet arc.

With each heartbeat, a sweet sensation seemed to fill the air around her, and her heart fluttered with happiness.

They reached a quiet corner dessert shop, where they leisurely wandered through the display of tempting sweets, occasionally exchanging glances. The subtle tension between them made her heart race, and the unspoken feelings quietly flowed beneath the surface.

After choosing their desserts and getting ready to pay, Song Baili tried to pull her hand away, but Qian Qian refused to let go. With her free hand, she quickly scanned the payment and completed it.

The cashier smiled and handed them their desserts. Qian Qian took hers with her free hand and gently shook the hand she was holding, a hint of bashfulness passing over her face.

Song Baili paused for a moment, glanced at Qian Qian, and then took the other dessert from the cashier.

Qian Qian chewed on her taiyaki, but her eyes kept flicking to Song Baili’s dessert, her curiosity obvious. Finally, she couldn’t resist asking.

“What flavor is that?”

“Taro with cream.”

“Is it good?”

“Yeah, it’s good.”

Qian Qian hesitated for a moment, as though weighing something in her mind.

Her long lashes fluttered like delicate wings, framing her sparkling eyes. She blinked, then leaned close to Song Baili, slightly tilting her chin, her voice carrying a hint of coquettishness.

“Can I try a bite?”

Song Baili glanced at the taiyaki she had already taken several bites from. The faint sweetness still lingered on her tongue. She licked her lips and, looking slightly troubled, said:

“I’ve already bitten into this one. I’ll get you another one.”

“There’s no need to bother. I just want to taste it. I’ll take one bite.”

Before Song Baili could respond, Qian Qian firmly grabbed her hand and, without hesitation, took a big bite out of the taiyaki.

Song Baili widened her eyes, staring at the nearly empty taiyaki in her hand. She thought to herself, This is too much! The filling’s all gone, and there’s barely anything left but the shell.

Immediately, she felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. She lightly furrowed her brows but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth, a mix of being teased and amused.

“Silly girl, here, try mine too.”

Song Baili pursed her lips, a playful curve appearing at the corner of her mouth. Mimicking Qian Qian’s actions, she grabbed her hand without hesitation, opening her mouth to take a bite of the taiyaki Qian Qian was holding, preparing to return the favor for the unfairness of the missing filling.

In the end, Song Baili lightly bit into the taiyaki and slowly released Qian Qian’s hand.

The rich flavor of red bean and matcha spread across her taste buds, fresh and sweet. She nodded slightly in approval.

When her gaze fell on Qian Qian’s taiyaki with one bite missing, she couldn’t help but feel her cheeks warm up slightly, and she blushed.

“Hey, if the taiyaki bitten by the beautiful Song Baili was sold in our shop, it might fetch a good price.”

“Your imagination’s too wild. What are you even talking about?”

“You don’t know. A lot of girls come to our restaurant just because of your charm. Look, you’ve got them all mesmerized, and I’m starting to feel a little jealous.”

Song Baili remained silent, her expression calm as still water, as though she didn’t care. But inside, she felt like a storm was raging, waves crashing violently.

She didn’t change her face, but mechanically, she kept eating the rest of the taiyaki, piece by piece.

After finishing the last piece in a few bites, she twisted open the bottle of water and was about to take a sip.

“Bai-jie, have you ever thought about expanding your options and trying dating a girl?”

Song Baili had just taken a sip of water when she almost spit it out, startled by the question.

She quickly wiped the water from her lips with the back of her hand and glanced at Qian Qian, lowering her head slightly, hiding her eyes behind her hair, avoiding her gaze.

When she looked up again, she noticed a tall, slender man, with a gentle face, dressed in a tailored shirt and wearing a bright earring, walking gracefully toward them from behind Qian Qian.

His eyes gleamed with excitement, his face showing the joy of discovering something new, like he couldn’t wait to explore the unknown.

“Hey, Xiao Qian, it’s a rare sight to see you out here!” he said.

Qian Qian turned around at the sound of his voice, and her face lit up with a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with joy.

She quickly pulled her hand away from Song Baili’s, rushing over to greet the man.

Song Baili stood still, her expression serene, as if she were a painting—elegant and captivating.

She had long hair cascading over her shoulders, fair skin, and clear, bright eyes, giving her an ethereal quality that made others want to look at her longer.

After chatting for a moment, the man’s eyes inadvertently lingered on Song Baili. He was instantly captivated by her unique aura and couldn’t help but subtly admire her.

His gaze flickered with something unusual, a playful smile appeared on his lips, and he leaned toward Qian Qian’s ear and whispered:

“Xiao Qian, your sister here is like a street style queen! Is she your friend?”

Qian Qian turned to look at Song Baili, just as Song Baili also glanced over.

But Song Baili’s gaze went past her, landing on the man next to her, like she was secretly observing him.

Qian Qian suddenly felt a pang of discomfort, furrowing her brows and feeling a flicker of unease in her heart. Her fingers tightened around the hem of her clothes, and she pressed her lips together, the smile on her face becoming stiff.

“Aiya, such a pretty girl, why are you keeping her all to yourself? Why not introduce her to me?”

Qian Qian raised her chin slightly, her voice soft as she replied:

“She’s my girlfriend.”

The man’s mouth fell open in shock, his eyes wide as he stared at her, his eyebrows furrowing in disbelief.

Then his eyes lit up, as if he understood something, and a knowing smile appeared on his face.

“Really? That’s quite a turn of events! I thought you were straight. How did this big twist happen?”

“Fake.”

Qian Qian replied quickly, her hands unconsciously falling to her sides.

She felt as though her confidence had been crushed, leaving only confusion and loss behind.

“Well, if that’s the case, I guess I have a chance now. I’m going to show the big beauty my most charming side!”

The man grinned, revealing a full set of teeth, his smile mischievous as he confidently walked toward Song Baili.

Qian Qian gave him a disdainful glance, rolling her eyes, and let out a cold hum before following after him.

“Hey, beautiful, I’m Su Fuqi. You might have heard my name. I’m the senior who Xiao Qian had a crush on back in the day.”

Song Baili was startled by his sudden approach, taking a small step back instinctively.

Her gaze quickly shifted from confusion to caution, but still, there was a lingering sense of hesitation, as if she didn’t fully understand what was happening.

At this moment, Qian Qian had already walked up, and without hesitation, she gave Su Fuqi a firm slap on the shoulder, the sound crisp and loud.

“Can’t lose, huh? Don’t confuse things—who was really crushing on who?”

Su Fuqi turned to face Qian Qian, their eyes meeting, a playful glint in his gaze.

Song Baili’s face tightened slightly, her eyes lowering.

It seemed that the two of them shared a subtle hint of flirtation, and in that moment, she felt like an outsider in the scene, as if she didn’t quite belong.

No matter how close two women are, they are always bound by society’s expectations and morals, never crossing the line of friendship.

To Song Baili, even a man who suddenly appeared might replace her position in Qian Qian’s heart and become the most important person in her life.