The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 58

After finishing her meal and tidying up, Qian Qian changed into a new outfit. Before heading out, she asked Song Baili:

“I’m going to the convenience store downstairs to buy some things. Do you need anything?”

Her voice lacked its usual liveliness, her gaze was dull, and she seemed shrouded in a cloud of melancholy.

“No, I don’t need anything.”

The moment Qian Qian left, Song Baili’s eyes lit up. She immediately sat up straight, grabbed her phone, and quickly typed in keywords to search for information about the Land of Men.

Just as Qian Qian finished shopping and walked out of the convenience store, she ran into Song Qinyao on the street near their complex.

This woman had a striking figure—tall and with legs that could rival a highway. The way she walked resembled a model strutting on a runway, effortlessly drawing the attention of passersby.

Qian Qian’s short legs didn’t give her much of an advantage. Before she could slip away unnoticed, Song Qinyao stopped her in her tracks.

“Miss Qian, long time no see. Have you been busy lately? My brother said he’s tried to contact you several times but hasn’t been able to reach you.”

“Yes, I’ve been quite busy recently.”

Song Qinyao’s almond-shaped eyes, alluring and captivating, seemed to pierce straight into one’s soul, as if she could unearth hidden secrets.

Qian Qian dared not meet her gaze directly and replied with a tinge of guilt.

“The restaurant hasn’t been open these past few days. Don’t tell me you’ve started a career as an influencer?”

“Being busy doesn’t necessarily mean work-related matters; it could also be personal.”

Song Qinyao didn’t respond, but the faint smile on her face made it seem like she could see right through Qian Qian’s thoughts.

Her smile was dazzling, but Qian Qian felt a subtle pressure lurking beneath it—a kind of veiled threat that made her uneasy.

Even though her life experience wasn’t extensive, she could sense that this woman was not someone easy to deal with. Like a hedgehog, Qian Qian instinctively raised her defenses, cautiously preparing to protect herself.

Unfortunately, in a contest of wits between a hedgehog and a fox, the fox always emerged with a bigger grin.

Suddenly, Song Qinyao’s smile faded, and her expression turned serious. Standing before Qian Qian, her gaze became sharp, and her tall stature amplified her authoritative presence, leaving no room for argument.

“I know you’re hiding something. Don’t bother denying it—I’m well aware that my sister is staying with you right now.”

Qian Qian tried to feign calmness, refusing to back down under Song Qinyao’s piercing stare.

Feigning composure, she maintained a neutral expression, but her confidence wavered. The guilt bubbling inside made her gaze begin to falter.

“That’s… that’s not true. I haven’t seen her these past few days.”

“I saw you and her out shopping together yesterday. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me, but the video on my phone certainly isn’t lying.”

Song Qinyao’s sharp eyes seemed to slice through Qian Qian’s defenses like a blade, leaving her feeling utterly exposed.

A wave of panic surged within Qian Qian. But after a moment, she clenched her fists, crossed her arms defiantly, and lifted her chin slightly. With a firm, unwavering tone, she declared:

“So what if she’s staying with me? Sister Baili has the right to make her own decisions. She can stay wherever she likes, hang out with whoever she wants—it’s not against the law. So what if you have a video? What does that prove?”

For a moment, Song Qinyao was taken aback. Then a cold glint appeared in her eyes, and her lips curled into a subtle, provocative smile.

“Don’t get too cocky. Do you really think my sister needs you? She’s just using you. From the moment she applied to work at your restaurant, her every move has been calculated.”

“If Sister Baili hears you bad-mouthing her like this, I doubt she’ll want to see you anymore.”

“Why don’t you ask her yourself? Did she have an ulterior motive for working at your restaurant? Was her kindness toward you just a part of her plan?”

Qian Qian’s face froze, and her inner emotions churned like waves in a storm. A hint of doubt quietly surfaced in her heart.

Though she didn’t fully believe Song Qinyao’s words, the woman’s confidence and unwavering certainty made Qian Qian’s once-steadfast faith begin to waver.

Noticing the change in Qian Qian’s expression, Song Qinyao felt a trace of triumph rise within her.

She glanced at her watch, her movements calm and deliberate. Then, in a steady and measured tone, she said:
“Big sister, so many people are infatuated with her, but she’s all about chasing her dreams. She doesn’t care about relationships. Don’t expect her to stop for anyone. If you hope for too much, you’ll only hurt yourself.”

Song Qinyao stood tall, her lips slightly curved into a smirk. Her gaze held an air of superiority, and the faint smile on her lips carried a hint of ridicule.

Qian Qian froze, rooted to the spot as if unable to move.

She watched Song Qinyao’s figure fade into the crowd. The surrounding sounds seemed distant and muffled, as if she were lost in a foreign land, unsure of where to go.

When Qian Qian gently pushed open her front door and stepped into the quiet living room, she stopped in her tracks, slightly startled by what she saw.

Sunlight streamed through the window like a golden ribbon, softly illuminating Song Baili, making her appear serene and radiant.

Song Baili sat upright on the sofa, holding a pen tightly in one hand and lightly touching a notebook with the other. Her brows were furrowed in deep concentration as she wrote.

Qian Qian walked over and sat next to Song Baili. She noticed Song Baili immediately closed the notebook, and an unsettling feeling crept into her heart.

Since Song Qinyao had said those words, Qian Qian began to overthink everything. Every action, every detail seemed suspicious to her.

Her mind swirled with Song Qinyao’s words and the look in her eyes. She bit her lip lightly, took a deep breath, and tried to shake off her unease and doubt.

“Baili, what are you writing?”

“Just jotting down some new ideas for the menu.”

As Song Baili spoke, she instinctively moved the notebook to the other side of the sofa, out of Qian Qian’s reach.

“Can I take a look?”

“It’s just some messy doodles. My handwriting’s like chicken scratch—nothing worth seeing.”

Qian Qian pouted slightly, her brows furrowing, lips curving downward in mild displeasure.

Song Baili appeared calm and composed, her expression natural and her gaze clear. But her hand remained firmly pressed against the notebook, as if guarding some small secret.

Since Song Baili clearly didn’t want to share, Qian Qian decided not to insist. After all, a notebook alone couldn’t prove anything.

A brief silence settled between them, an almost tangible tension in the air, like a thin mist making it hard to breathe.

Qian Qian felt as if her emotions were like a loose thread, tugged here and there, leaving her restless.

As they sat together on the sofa, Qian Qian inched closer to Song Baili, slowly narrowing the distance between them until their skin brushed.

She stole a glance at Song Baili, her thoughts churning. After much deliberation, she made up her mind and spoke:

“I ran into Song Qinyao downstairs.”

Hearing this, Song Baili’s eyes widened in surprise, her face turning pale. Her hands and feet momentarily froze, unsure where to place themselves.

“But don’t worry, I didn’t tell her you’re here with me.”

Song Baili, whose body had been as tense as a bowstring, began to relax. Her rigid features softened as she exhaled a long-held breath.

Qian Qian lowered her head in thought for a moment, then looked up with a calm, steady gaze and said softly, “But she guessed you’re here anyway.”

Song Baili’s unease returned, her expression like that of a startled cat caught off guard. Her guarded eyes darted nervously as she swallowed hard.

“Of course, I didn’t confirm anything. I told her I hadn’t seen you lately.”

Upon hearing this, Song Baili felt relieved again. She patted her chest lightly and let her shoulders drop, finally appearing at ease.

But Qian Qian, her toes nervously tapping the floor, curled her fingers slightly. She turned toward Song Baili and, as if suddenly resolving to strike, added, “But she found out we went shopping together yesterday. She even recorded a video.”

Song Baili’s face cycled through shock, anxiety, and confusion, like a roller coaster of emotions. Just when she thought the storm had passed, Qian Qian’s words kept pulling her back in.

Feeling cornered, Song Baili finally glared at Qian Qian, her voice tinged with irritation:

“Why are you dragging this out? Can’t you just say everything at once?”

A surge of frustration rose within Qian Qian. She frowned deeply, turned sharply to face Song Baili, and slapped her thigh with force. Her voice grew louder as she retorted:

“Say it all at once? Fine! Let’s cut to the chase then!”

Song Baili, startled by Qian Qian’s sudden outburst, looked momentarily at a loss for words. Her lips trembled as if to speak, but before she could, Qian Qian had already fired another question:

“You deliberately came to work at the restaurant, didn’t you? Getting close to me, being kind to me—what exactly are you after?”

Song Baili froze as if someone had hit pause. Time seemed to stop as she sat there, motionless.

After a long silence, she finally collected herself. Her gaze was calm and steady, without a hint of panic.

“Did Yao Yao tell you that?”

Her tone was utterly flat, like she was asking about the weather.

“Answer me! Everything you’ve done—was it all for a reason?”

“I never intended to harm you.”

Qian Qian clenched her teeth so hard they creaked. She couldn’t hold back anymore. Grabbing Song Baili’s arm, she yanked her closer until their faces were just inches apart.

“Don’t play word games with me! Just answer—yes or no?”

Song Baili met Qian Qian’s gaze head-on, her eyes unwavering, radiating a sense of self-assurance.

Yet beneath her firm expression lay a trace of disappointment and sadness.

She realized she had overestimated their relationship. Clearly, their bond lacked the foundation of trust.

Her face darkened as her mood sank. Suddenly lifting her chin, she shot Qian Qian a cold, sharp look and spat out an impulsive answer:

“Yes.”