The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 56

Su Fuqi gazed at Song Baili, his eyes like pools of clear autumn water, gently enveloping her as if appreciating a precious work of art, tracing every detail of her being.

Suddenly, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly, and he leaned forward, closing the distance between them.

“May I ask your name, Miss?”

His eyes seemed to speak, with a subtle smile that held a captivating tenderness, and his expression carried a certain seductive charm.

Song Baili was caught off guard, realizing that a grown man’s expression could be so alluring. A strange feeling began to stir inside her.

She felt a little shy under his gaze, her cheeks warming. When she spoke her name, she lowered her head slightly, purposely avoiding eye contact.

This scene made Qian Qian more uncomfortable, and her expression grew more impatient.

She hurriedly walked over to Su Fuqi, slightly tilting her head as she said, “We’ll talk later.”

Her tone was light, but her eyes cut through him like a knife, carrying a warning.

After saying her goodbye, Qian Qian grabbed Song Baili’s arm and pulled her away, walking quickly without looking back.

“Your senior is quite handsome, and he looks almost as pretty as a woman.”

Qian Qian paused, her eyes flickering, a sour feeling swelling in her chest, as if a small stone had been suddenly thrown into her calm heart, creating ripples.

She pursed her lips, turned to Song Baili, and smiled with a hint of mockery, her eyes holding a challenge and dissatisfaction.

“What’s going on? Are you interested in him?”

Song Baili sensed the strong jealousy in Qian Qian’s tone, and a shiver ran through her.

Her throat went dry, and after swallowing, she paused for a moment before speaking slowly.

“I don’t mean anything like that. Don’t overthink it. You two are the perfect match.”

Qian Qian’s face immediately turned pale, and she suddenly yanked her arm away from Song Baili, walking ahead with heavy steps, not wanting to deal with this bothersome fool anymore.

Song Baili stood frozen, realizing she must have said something wrong again, her heart racing with panic.

She stared at Qian Qian’s retreating figure and quickly caught up to her, blocking her path, her voice carrying a trace of anxiety.

“Qian Qian, listen, I really have no interest in your senior.”

Qian Qian stopped, glanced at Song Baili, and was once again mesmerized by her stunning face. Her anger instantly melted into tenderness.

Her eyes softened from anger to warmth, her shoulders relaxed as she sighed in resignation.

“Fine, don’t mention him again. Let’s go buy some groceries, and I’ll cook you something good.”

“You’re not going to poison the food, are you?”

Qian Qian glared at Song Baili, her teeth gritted, her eyes filled with frustration.

“I might, just to feed you some magical love pills that will make you smarter about relationships!”

Song Baili paused for a moment, her eyes sparkling like clear glass beads.

Then, she smiled playfully, her voice innocent as she responded.

“Better than putting laxatives in it, right?”

After saying this, Song Baili took a few steps forward and linked arms with Qian Qian as they continued walking together.

Their skin touched, and the warmth transferred through their clothes, like electricity flowing between them. Qian Qian’s heart raced as a sweet feeling filled her chest.

Their steps synchronized, and Qian Qian secretly glanced at Song Baili’s profile, a soft sweetness gleaming in her eyes. A warm sensation spread through her heart, and all her earlier discomfort seemed to vanish in this moment.

Song Qinyao met a client at a café inside a shopping mall, sitting at a window-side table.

The sunlight outside filtered through the glass, casting dappled light across the café and giving it a cozy feel.

She had just ordered her drink and was engrossed in the information on her phone when something caught her attention—a soft light that drew her gaze.

She looked up and saw two women walking hand-in-hand past the window.

She froze, staring blankly, her face turning pale, her lips trembling slightly as a complicated mix of emotions swirled inside her.

She remembered what Song Baili had said in her message: that she didn’t want to see anyone for a few days and just wanted to be left alone.

In this day and age, you couldn’t even trust a woman’s words—they were all lies.

After meeting her client, Song Qinyao didn’t rush to leave the building. She slowly walked down the hallway, her eyes wandering, searching for a familiar figure.

Finally, when she turned a corner, her steps came to a sudden halt, her brows furrowing slightly, her mouth twitching. Her eyes flickered with complicated emotions.

She saw Song Baili and Qian Qian holding shopping bags, one carrying a bag in each hand. The items inside swayed gently with their movements.

The two women were walking close together, their hands brushing occasionally, their arms touching. Anyone could sense the strong bond between them.

As they waited for the elevator, Qian Qian leaned close to Song Baili and whispered something playful in her ear. The two of them laughed softly, ignoring the other people around them.

Song Qinyao watched from afar, her heart aching. Tears glistened in her eyes as her fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms without her noticing.

Suddenly, dizziness overtook her. She felt like her heart had stopped, and an overwhelming sense of despair filled her chest, as if she were sinking into an abyss she couldn’t escape.

Faced with this deep emotion, she felt like she was trapped in a whirlpool, unable to struggle, just surrendering to the pull.

Since she couldn’t escape, the only choice was to plunge forward, no matter how rocky and difficult the path ahead might be.

After dinner, Qian Qian and Song Baili finished washing up and felt a bit tired. They lay down on the bed and started chatting.

Qian Qian lay on her side, resting her head on one hand, looking elegant and relaxed.

Her gaze was soft as silk, filled with tenderness, her smile evident as she focused entirely on Song Baili.

The scene seemed to freeze at that moment, and Qian Qian felt like she was walking through the long corridor of time, a sense of happiness filling her heart like a flowing stream, immersing her in endless joy.

“Qian Qian, if I take over the boss position at our restaurant, would you treat me as an enemy?”

“Wow, you’re so rich. I’ll have to kiss up to you now.”

“Stop changing the subject! That’s not the point!”

“Then what’s the point? Of course, I wouldn’t treat you as an enemy. I’m just concerned about which position you’ll put me in.”

“You want to know which position?”

“I…”

Qian Qian gazed into Song Baili’s eyes, seeing her own reflection in her black-and-white pupils.

The air seemed to freeze in that moment, Qian Qian’s heartbeat quickening as a subtle smile appeared on her lips, her expression soft.

Qian Qian’s hand slowly reached for Song Baili’s chest on the left, gently touching her clothes, feeling the heartbeat beneath.

It was a deep longing, hoping her presence would be etched into Song Baili’s heart, making her always think of her.

“I want a place here.”

Song Baili felt the touch of Qian Qian’s fingers, a wave of tingling running through her. It was like a soft thread brushing against her heart, reaching the deepest, most tender parts.

Her eyes flickered briefly, her lips parted, and it seemed as if words would flow from her mouth, but in the last moment, she swallowed them back.

Qian Qian suddenly realized she might have been too bold, feeling a wave of unease. She coughed lightly, forcing a smile and said,

“That was just a joke. Your nervous expression was too funny.”

“I knew you were just joking.”

Song Baili’s gaze returned to its usual calm.

She shifted back to lie flat on the bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, her gaze deep and peaceful, without any emotional fluctuation.

At that moment, Qian Qian’s heart seemed to be stabbed with a knife. She clenched and unclenched her fists, regretting revealing her true feelings but pretending it was all just a joke.

“My father left me some money. If I use it to run the restaurant, it would fulfill his wishes. Yaoyao took the lead because she was afraid someone would take it first. She’s not really interested in this business, so I plan to take over.”

Qian Qian blinked, realizing Song Baili wasn’t joking about being the boss—she was serious.

She mimicked Song Baili’s movement, lying back on the bed and gazing at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Suddenly, she seemed to remember something important and sat up quickly, turning to Song Baili with a question.

“But what about the chef? He’s gone. How are you going to handle the kitchen on your own?”

“I’ve already found someone. They can come help me anytime.”

Song Baili paused, her long eyelashes fluttering, and the light from the lamp reflected in her eyes like a glowing moon.

She slowly opened her lips, her voice calm and firm.

“Everyone will stay in the same positions, and their pay won’t change. The only difference is that the work will be adjusted slightly—less tiring, but definitely more efficient.”

“Sigh, I used to be your boss. I could tell you what to do, but look at you now—you’re my boss.”

Song Baili lightly rested her hand on her head, closed her eyes, and let herself daydream with Qian Qian’s words, a faint smile curving on her lips.

“When are you planning to take over the restaurant?”

“It won’t be until next week. I have to discuss it with Yaoyao first and decide when to reopen.”

Qian Qian’s lips curled, her mood fluctuating like passing clouds, filled with both sunshine and storms.

Although she had regained her job, this meant that the promise of leaving with Song Baili would not come true.

“Does that mean you’ll be going back to your uncle’s place?”

“I plan to rent a place and live on my own.”

Qian Qian’s eyes immediately brightened, and she shifted closer to Song Baili, leaning slightly forward. Their eyes met.

“Bai-jie, why don’t you move in with me? I think we get along really well, don’t we?”