The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 60

Song Qinyao’s face carried a heavy expression. Her lips trembled slightly as if trying to hold back something. She felt like her sky had suddenly been swallowed by a torrential downpour. The cold, piercing rain struck her like needles, leaving her deeply unsettled.

“Just because I’m not a child anymore, does that mean my sister no longer feels the need to care for me like she used to?”

“If that’s what you think, then there’s nothing I can do to change your mind. But no matter what, I’m not going back with you.”

In all her years, Song Qinyao had never faced anything as difficult as this.

She felt trapped in a haze of despair, her heart pounding furiously like a war drum. Staggering slightly, she fell to her knees with a heavy thud, her body trembling uncontrollably.

After a pause, she looked up. Her tear-filled eyes glistened, and with a voice bordering on a plea, she said:

“If you’re not there, there’s no point in me going back. If you’re angry, yell at me, hit me—do whatever you want. Just don’t punish me like this, please.”

This scene left Song Baili stunned, her face frozen in shock and disbelief.

“Yao Yao, don’t do this! Get up, please!”

Like someone jolted by electricity, Song Baili leapt off the couch and rushed to Song Qinyao’s side. Her hands gripped her sister’s shoulders as she tried to help her up.

As Song Qinyao slowly got to her feet, her legs suddenly gave out. She tilted backward, nearly falling, but Song Baili caught her just in time, steadying her.

When their bodies pressed closely together, Song Baili was struck by how much her sister had changed. She was no longer the young girl she used to be but a fully grown woman. The softness against her chest reminded her that the youthful innocence of the past had ripened into maturity.

Song Baili’s face instantly turned crimson, burning as if set ablaze. The proximity made her increasingly uncomfortable, and she hurriedly released her hold around her sister’s waist, eager to put some distance between them.

Before she could step away, however, Song Qinyao’s arms tightened around her, refusing to let her go.

“Sis, please come home with me today. At least give me some time to process this—to slowly accept that you’re planning to move out.”

On the balcony, Qian Qian strained her ears, trying to eavesdrop. But as the conversation continued, the voices grew faint and incomprehensible.

Curiosity got the better of her, so she turned around and peeked inside. What she saw made her freeze in place.

What the heck? Since when did those two get so close—closer than sticky rice?!

Anger flared within Qian Qian, and she stomped back into the room, her lips pursed tightly.

Normally, her footsteps were as light as a cat’s, barely making a sound. But this time, she deliberately dragged her slippers noisily across the floor, announcing her presence with every step.

The two sisters, startled by Qian Qian’s approach, hastily let go of each other.

Song Baili smoothed her disheveled hair, trying to regain her composure, while Song Qinyao quickly plastered on her signature smile as if nothing had happened, her acting flawless.

Noticing Qian Qian’s stormy expression after finishing her phone call, Song Baili felt an odd contrast. Her friend’s angered demeanor stood out against the air of romance that had seemed to envelop the room earlier.

As Qian Qian walked past the sisters, her glare was as sharp as someone spotting a cockroach at home—ready to grab a slipper and squash it mercilessly.

With all three now in the same room, an invisible tension hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.

Sensing the growing awkwardness, Song Baili decided to lighten the mood. She turned to Qian Qian with a smile.

“You’ve been on the balcony for a while. The weather looks nice, doesn’t it?”

Song Qinyao raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a mischievous grin. Nudging Song Baili’s arm with her finger, she whispered teasingly in her ear:

“Sis, you’re so clueless. She wasn’t admiring the weather—she was busy flirting. How did you not notice?”

Her words made Song Baili glance at Qian Qian again, but she fell silent.

The atmosphere in the room grew even heavier, quieter.

Though Qian Qian couldn’t hear their exchange, she caught the subtle changes in Song Baili’s expression. Her gaze lingered for a moment before abruptly looking away, avoiding eye contact altogether.

Narrowing her eyes, Qian Qian thought to herself, What was that about? Song Qinyao whispered something to her just now—bet she’s up to no good again.

“Bai-jie, what do you want to eat tonight? Is there enough in the fridge? Should we head to the supermarket later to stock up?”

Song Baili hesitated, her lips parting as if to speak, but before she could answer, Song Qinyao jumped in.

“Miss Qian, there’s no need for that. My sister’s coming home with me later. Thank you for taking care of her these past few days. Next time, I’ll treat you to a nice meal.”

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet is hard enough, let alone someone as talented and stunning as Song Baili. Qian Qian had no intention of letting her go so easily.

She stepped closer to Song Baili, standing by her side. Letting out a quiet sigh, her breath seemed to carry both affection and sorrow.

Looking up, her eyes met Song Baili’s. In a gentle voice, she asked:

“Are you really planning to leave?”

At that moment, Song Baili’s mind was a cacophony of thoughts, each voice louder than the last.

There were pleas to stay and warnings to remain detached, leaving her torn between conflicting emotions. She couldn’t tell what was real and struggled to make a decision.

“Sister, didn’t you promise me?”

Song Qinyao hadn’t finished speaking when she leaned closer to whisper quickly into Song Baili’s ear, “Give Qian Qian some personal time, or else big brother might just fight you for her…”

Song Baili’s expression froze for a moment, a flicker of unease crossing her face. But as she lifted her gaze, her emotions vanished as quickly as they appeared. Her tone was calm and indifferent.

“Qian Qian, thank you for letting me stay these past few days. I’ll let you know as soon as the restaurant is settled.”

Qian Qian’s gaze darkened slightly as she looked into Song Baili’s eyes. She pressed her lips together, ultimately choosing to keep her thoughts to herself, saying nothing.

From the moment Song Qinyao stepped into the house, Qian Qian already knew how things would end.

She could picture Qinyao pulling the “family card” and adding a dose of moral obligation. With that, Song Baili would become a puppet under her control, manipulated as she pleased.

After Song Baili left, Qian Qian stood alone in the middle of the room, lost in thought.

Her heart felt as if it had been split open, leaving an emptiness filled with an inexplicable sense of loss and loneliness.

Her eyes wandered across the empty house, settling on every corner she had once shared with Song Baili.

The bed still seemed to hold a trace of warmth. The sofa bore the indentation of their shared presence. The scent of their cooking lingered faintly in the kitchen.

Every object in the house was like a capsule of memories, holding their laughter, joy, and countless beautiful moments together.

Qian Qian walked onto the balcony, gripping the railing tightly as she gazed at the scenery outside. Her lips curled slightly downward, carrying a hint of bitterness.

Song Baili’s words seemed to echo relentlessly in her mind: “I never thought about being with a woman…”

After much discussion, a final decision was made.

Song Baili became the restaurant’s primary shareholder, while Song Yongjun, eager to be closer to Qian Qian, invested a portion of his funds and became a stakeholder as well.

They revamped the restaurant’s layout and décor.

Green, vibrant plants were introduced to add a fresh and lively atmosphere. The walls were repainted in cheerful, inviting tones, making the space feel brighter and more open.

Outdated tables and chairs were replaced entirely. The bar adopted a sleek, modern design, creating a fresh dining environment and significantly enhancing the restaurant’s image.

Song Baili gave the restaurant a simple, memorable name—“Food,” with its English equivalent being “She.”

She had always disliked the previous uniforms: white shirts with bows at the neck, which were not only cumbersome but easily dirtied.

The new uniform was a short-sleeved T-shirt in a soft coffee color. In colder seasons, staff could layer it with black, fitted long-sleeve sweaters—warm and stylish.

The previous menu was overly extensive, with redundant dishes. Song Baili streamlined it, retaining the bestsellers and adding a few of her original creations.

This significantly reduced ingredient costs, optimized storage space, and eliminated unnecessary preparation steps, lightening the staff’s workload.

The simplified menu, spanning just a few pages, included drinks, desserts, and a secret menu available only to regulars.

Qian Qian continued as the restaurant manager, while Zhao Youxuan took on the role of team leader.

Song Baili served as the executive chef and purchasing manager, working alongside two key partners: a sous-chef and an assistant chef.

She assigned roles to the rest of the staff, with positions ranging from beverage specialists to greeters, servers, and cleaners.

Dominique volunteered to assist with advertising and promotion, while Song Yongjun focused on personnel and financial management.

On the first day of the restaurant’s reopening, a line of eager customers stretched down the street like a flowing river.

Online reservations poured in so rapidly that it became nearly impossible to keep up.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Dominique herself made an appearance, causing fans to erupt in excited cheers and creating a small sensation.

The restaurant had never been so busy, but everyone worked efficiently and seamlessly, ensuring everything ran smoothly.

By closing time, miraculously, no one felt exhausted. Instead, the team was brimming with a renewed sense of passion and determination.

When Qian Qian picked up the restaurant’s first-month financial report, her eyes widened in disbelief as she scanned the numbers. Her astonishment grew with every page she turned.

Every day, the number of customers increased, and reservations were fully booked a week in advance. While she knew the restaurant would be profitable, she hadn’t expected earnings to far exceed her projections.

Back when her father and Li Shao were in charge, monthly losses piled up like a wild party, each time setting a new low.

Desperate, they had even resorted to feng shui consultations to “improve” the restaurant’s luck. Yet, at the end of the month, the financial reports always reflected more losses, as if they were competing to outdo the last.

One was a middle-aged man claiming to have eaten more salt than the younger generation had eaten rice. The other was an arrogant young man who refused to heed anyone’s advice.

Together, they ran the business into the ground.

Reflecting on those days, Qian Qian could only remember the struggles she endured under their “protection.” It felt like being caught in a storm, constantly facing new crises. They patched one problem by creating another, dragging everyone into chaos.

Just as she was about to drown in their mess, her knight in shining armor—her white knight—rescued her from the abyss.