The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 6

Zhao Youxuan held his phone in hand, body leaning forward slightly, fingers gently swiping the screen. His eyes were focused, but suddenly his brows furrowed a little. His expression looked like someone sucking on a sugar-coated sour plum — a mix of flavors rippling across his face.

He hesitantly walked over to Qian Qian and Song Baili, his face slightly twisted. After pausing, he looked at the two women and began to read the comments on his phone word for word.

“The environment’s okay, the staff is friendly, the food’s so-so. Too bad we didn’t get to see the store’s flower girl today.”

With each word he read, his voice grew heavier. By the time he finished the last sentence, it felt like he’d been stabbed twice in the back. A double blow.

Zhao Youxuan put down his phone helplessly, raising his hand to his head. He scratched his hair absentmindedly and mumbled,

“How can they say the food’s just so-so? I love everything we serve! And they complain about not seeing the flower girl—what about the handsome guy working here, huh?”

Qian Qian couldn’t help but giggle. Her laughter was like a clear spring, light and pleasant. She quickly covered her mouth and stole a glance at Song Baili beside her.

Song Baili’s eyes were deep and cold, like a snow-covered mountain — beautiful, but completely unapproachable. She seemed out of sync with everything around her, calmly going about her tasks like a precise machine, showing no emotion at all.

Seeing Song Baili again left Qian Qian with a strange sense of disappointment. The gap between expectation and reality was hard to put into words.

To Qian Qian, Baili gave off an elusive vibe, like a proud black rose — mysterious and captivating, yet distant and thorny.

Qian Qian tried hard to hide her fascination, only daring to watch her from a distance. Every little move Baili made tugged at her heart, yet she didn’t dare get too close.

She thought to herself: Maybe I’m just a butterfly lost in a sea of flowers, drawn to their beauty and scent, but never really thinking about picking one for myself.

Break time ended, and the shop reopened. Baili scanned the room and suddenly noticed the man who picked up Qian Qian last night walking in again. The laughter of the couple echoed through the shop as they happily made their way into the office together.

This professional space suddenly felt wrapped in a romantic air. The scene sparked all sorts of thoughts — the office now looked like the backdrop to a secret date, filled with an unspoken intimacy.

“Sigh… same person, different fate. I guess being handsome isn’t enough. It doesn’t help much in love either.”

After saying that, Zhao Youxuan slumped his shoulders, shook his head, and let out a deep sigh. He felt like a balloon full of frustration that had just been popped by a tiny needle. And honestly, he felt even more pathetic than that balloon.

Song Baili’s gaze was like the moon on a cold night — seemingly cold and distant, but able to pierce through darkness and reveal the truth.

“You like Qian Qian?”

“Was it not obvious? You still have to ask?”

“You’re both single. You still have a chance to go after the girl you like.”

“Even if I had a shot, I can’t compete with someone rich and powerful. Li Shao owns this place. I’m afraid I won’t win the girl and might even lose my job. Then I’d be single and broke — can’t even pay rent. Just a sad, lonely guy with no future.”

A flicker of emotion flashed through Baili’s eyes. She looked at Zhao for a moment, realizing she too was alone. Like a stray dog — no partner, no home.

Her face stayed calm, but her muscles tensed slightly. She didn’t want to keep talking. This conversation felt blander than unseasoned food. Without a word, she quietly turned and walked away.

The same three women from yesterday suddenly showed up at the door again, catching Zhao Youxuan’s attention. He blinked, thinking he was seeing things. He rubbed his eyes to make sure.

To his surprise, it really was a sequel. He perked up like a deflated balloon suddenly pumped full of air. Straightening his back and lifting his head high, he walked toward them enthusiastically.

Seeing him again, the women hesitated, unsure whether to step inside. They whispered among themselves. One of them finally asked,

“Is Qian Qian here today?”

“She is, but she’s in a meeting with the boss.”

The woman nodded slightly but looked a little disappointed. She stepped back and whispered with her friends again before turning to Zhao Youxuan.

“We’ll come back another time then.”

She was just about to leave when Zhao froze, completely caught off guard. He stood there in shock, like a video paused mid-scene, lips slightly parted but unable to speak. It was as if something was stuck in his throat.

Right then, it hit him — being a pretty boy doesn’t mean you’re a gold bar. No matter how sweet your smile is, it doesn’t always make people want to spend money.

Just as the guests were about to walk away, Song Baili appeared — like an unexpected scene that instantly caught their attention.

“Here to eat? Right this way, please.”

The women paused when they saw her stunning face. Curiosity sparked in their eyes, and something shifted in their expressions. It was like they were drawn in by an invisible force. Together, they stepped into the restaurant.

Following behind Baili, they passed through the entrance and chose a warm, cozy seat by the window. All three sat down in unison.

As they browsed the menu, Baili’s gaze moved lightly across their faces, noticing every small change in expression.

One of them furrowed her brows, eyes scanning back and forth over the menu, clearly overwhelmed by the many options.

Baili saw her chance and stepped forward with elegance. Pointing to the menu, she gently tapped a few dishes and introduced them.

“Try our Iberian ham and ice plant salad. It’s low in calories, fresh, and very popular with our guests.”

The moment the woman read the dish name, it didn’t feel like just a list of ingredients — it sounded classy, almost luxurious. And when she saw the price was pretty normal, she felt surprisingly at ease.

No words were exchanged. Just a glance between them, and all three nodded in agreement.

“Our chef recommends the pan-seared chicken with yuzu sauce today. It’s sweet with a bit of tang, light but filling. There’s also a fruit salad. It’s a favorite with our female customers.”

They immediately thought of the greasy, spicy smells that filled the air near their office, and the heavy food from nearby stalls. Their taste buds were tired of that kind of stuff.

Right then, they craved something refreshing — a lighter, fruity meal. Swallowing slightly, they all chose the dish without hesitation.

“Our best-selling dessert is the chocolate soufflé. And right now, it comes with a complimentary Earl Grey tea. Want to give it a try?”

Their eyes lit up. For office workers, dessert is like a reward after a hard day — each bite a little celebration. And it came with free tea? It was exactly what they needed.

After going through the data and having a deep budget discussion with Li Shao, Qian Qian felt her head buzzing. Her speech slowed, and her focus started slipping.

She rubbed her temples lightly, looking tired.

When the meeting ended, the office door opened softly. Qian Qian straightened up, relaxed her shoulders, and looked out through the glass. Spotting some familiar customers, she quickly shook off her fatigue and walked over with a spring in her step.

The customers held their teacups, smiling with delight. Though it was just tea, they sipped it like fine wine. Their happy expressions showed how much they were enjoying themselves.

In this easy atmosphere, Qian Qian chatted freely with them. Her eyes sparkled as she listened, sometimes narrowing with joy. The usual distance between customer and staff had vanished — it felt like a reunion with old friends.

Seeing that every plate on the table was completely clean and her customers smiling, Qian Qian raised her eyebrows slightly. A wave of relief and pride washed over her.

Every time she saw food wasted, it bothered her deeply — like squandering the shop’s blessings. Waste always felt like chipping away at their good luck, and one day that luck might run out, bringing the end of good business.

The female customers kept stealing glances at Song Baili, as if something about her drew their eyes again and again. Their hearts skipped a beat, overwhelmed by a strange and powerful feeling, filling their world with her presence.

When one of them realized what she was doing, she snapped out of it, shook her head, blinked, and rubbed her forehead, trying to calm herself. Then she turned to Qian Qian and asked,

“Qian Qian, Qian Qian, how come we never saw that Miss Song Baili before?”

“She’s new, only started not long ago.”

While speaking, Qian Qian’s eyes drifted toward Baili in the distance. Her gaze lit up like a sparkler, and a subtle smile formed on her lips. A quiet sense of pride rose in her chest.

“She looks like a celebrity! Her beauty breaks the scale, and her vibe is just magnetic.”

“It’s not just the looks. The dishes she recommended were amazing! I never realized the food here could be this good. From now on, we’re definitely asking the goddess to recommend our meals.”

Qian Qian looked at them with gratitude and nodded gently. Behind her back, her fingers rubbed together nervously. Her face brightened with joy, and her eyes sparkled.

It had been a long time since she’d heard customers praise the food. Their compliments today warmed her heart, like she had found the confidence she’d lost.

Just then, Song Baili walked over with a tray, gracefully clearing the empty plates and placing a beautifully presented dessert on the table.

Qian Qian’s eyes lingered on Baili a little too long, like batter sticking to soft cloth — hard to peel away.

Watching Baili’s graceful figure felt like a visual feast. Qian Qian swallowed without thinking, as if she could taste the beauty she was seeing.

Suddenly, a vivid image flashed through her mind, stirring emotions she couldn’t control. Her heart fluttered like butterflies dancing in her chest. A blush spread across her cheeks. She felt flustered and uneasy.

The attraction was like an invisible force, brushing gently against her soul. Her logic felt paper-thin — ready to be pierced at any moment.

Baili was like a forbidden zone — mysterious and dangerous, like the Bermuda Triangle, pulling you in before you even realized it.

As Qian Qian’s gaze wandered, Baili seemed to sense it — as if she had eyes on the back of her head.

She turned sharply and looked straight at Qian Qian. Her gaze pierced through like a beam of light, as if she could see right into her thoughts.

Qian Qian felt like her soul had been laid bare. A strange feeling spread quickly through her, pulling her into an unfamiliar emotional space, leaving her briefly lost.

Baili’s eyes were deep and glistening, as if they could speak. Each glance felt like a page from a book — calm, yet full of meaning.

Her aura was like a glacier in winter — pure, cold, elegant, and almost unreal.

When Qian Qian snapped back to reality, she realized she had somehow ended up standing right next to Baili. It felt like being under a spotlight, with Baili shining like a superstar right beside her.

Her fingers trembled slightly, not knowing where to place them. Every heartbeat felt like a loud drum, echoing through her body.

She pressed her lips together, thinking hard about what to say. Her emotions tossed like a little boat in a storm, restless and uncertain.

Baili looked over her face, then leaned in slightly. Her lips moved, voice slow and cautious:

“Is something wrong? Were the customers unhappy with the food?”