The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 61

Three months later, Song Baili reassessed everyone’s contributions and efforts, adjusted each employee’s salary, and to commend everyone’s hard work over the past few months, arranged for all employees to enjoy a three-day, two-night luxury vacation package next week.

The day before departure, Song Yongjun sent Qian Qian a message, inviting her to share a ride.

Her fingers lightly touched the phone screen, staring at the message, as if a stone had been thrown into her heart, creating ripples upon ripples.

Various possible scenarios flashed through her mind, imagining that Song Baili might squeeze into a car with them. After weighing it in her heart, she ultimately agreed to the other party.

During this period, Song Baili has been “lavishing her with affection.” Her salary has skyrocketed, any suggestion she makes is immediately adopted, and he even occasionally texts to check on her safety, more considerate than her own father.

However, this woman’s thoughts are much more complex than they appear on the surface.

Qian Qian knew in her heart that beneath Song Baili’s friendly exterior was extreme indifference, like standing by the water’s edge looking at the moon, clearly within reach yet always unattainable.

Qian Qian casually set her phone aside, leaned back on the sofa, her waist gradually relaxing, her whole body like a soft, fluffy cloud, slumped there in exhaustion.

Her thoughts wandered across the ethereal ceiling, as if it were inscribed with the codes of countless hidden emotions, waiting for her to decipher.

The next day, as soon as Song Yongjun saw Qian Qian, he quickly got out of the car, ran to the passenger seat with a beaming smile, and smoothly and naturally opened the door for her, exuding gentlemanly charm.

Limited edition luxury cars, the attentions of handsome men—none of these brought Qian Qian any joy.

She gazed at the empty carriage, her brow involuntarily furrowing slightly, looking around in an attempt to find a glimmer of hope, but all she found was more disappointment.

“Where’s Sister Bai?”

“She has some things to take care of and will be late. She said we should just have fun without waiting for her.”

Qian Qian felt as if she had suddenly been swept by a storm, the dense rain threads like thousands of silver strands weaving a curtain, extinguishing her enthusiasm bit by bit, blowing away all her interest, leaving only a sense of dullness and lethargy.

Without Song Baili’s vacation, it’s like an island losing its internet connection, the Disney castle losing its dazzling lights, the Eiffel Tower shrouded in mist, and the Great Wall of China crowded like a market, becoming much less interesting.

The villa they rented has seven spacious bedrooms, each lavishly decorated and exuding a strong artistic vibe.

Climbing up to the second floor, there is a dreamy sky garden, with colorful flowers swaying in the breeze, filling the air with their fragrance.

Next to it is a fully equipped gym, and the outdoor swimming pool glistens under the sunlight, resembling a clear mirror embedded in the center of the villa.

Stepping downstairs, the spacious and bright living room is furnished with elegant furniture, and rare artworks hang on the walls. The underwater restaurant is unique, with glass windows allowing views of swimming fish, and dedicated staff preparing various delicious cocktails for them.

The spacious front yard presents a scene of tranquility, with meticulously designed landscaping extending to the backyard. Whether you crave solitude or enjoy gathering with a few friends, there are perfectly private spaces and suitable dining areas here.

Wandering through, one can see vibrant activity areas everywhere, from relaxed and pleasant garden parties to joyful outdoor games, each scene brings endless fun and surprises.

Qian Qian’s room is located in the quietest corner of the villa, with a glass door leading to a private terrace open, allowing fresh air and gentle sunlight to fill the room with golden light.

The bathroom is equipped with a comfortable massage bathtub, and the room features two spacious beds, along with an elegant walk-in closet.

Looking around, the room was empty, making it exceptionally quiet. She walked to another bed, gently patted the bedding, and couldn’t help but speculate in her heart.

All the girls have been assigned to other rooms, and the other person who was supposed to share a bed with her hasn’t shown up yet. Considering this situation, the person who will sleep in the other bed tonight should be…

Song Baili?

Just now, as she was driving over, the sun was shining brightly outside the window, and the endless blue sky came into view, but her heart was shrouded in dark clouds, and her mood couldn’t brighten up no matter what.

At this moment, she was alone in the quiet room, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously lifted, as if there were cute little fairies whispering sweet nothings in her ear, making her heart bloom with joy.

Song Baili and Dominique are rushing to an important interview today, so they can’t leave with everyone else.

After the interview, Song Baili unlocked her phone with a hint of anticipation, swiped the screen, and her eyes focused on the pinned WeChat contacts. To her dismay, after half a day had passed, not a single message or greeting had come through from there.

It seems she overestimated her importance in that person’s heart; they actually don’t care about her as much as she expected.

As evening approached, Song Baili slowly walked into the restaurant.

She wore a lightweight sun-protection jacket, paired with a simple gray sweatshirt, comfortable casual pants, and stylish sneakers.

Her face is delicate and beautiful, with long hair casually draped over her shoulders, each movement revealing a kind of effortless charm.

Qian Qian looked at her from a distance, her heart jolting. Suddenly, everything and everyone around her turned into a blurred background, with only Song Baili standing out clearly in her vision.

Qian Qian’s gaze followed Song Baili until their eyes met. The sound of her heartbeat echoed in her ears, bursting like fireworks, thumping and crackling, lighting up her entire world.

In the blink of an eye, her expression turned gloomy, a faint hint of displeasure flickering across her face, the corners of her mouth slightly drooping, as if her heart had been drenched in water, her mood plunging into a cold abyss.

Dominique’s appearance was like a stunning flash of lightning, shocking everyone present. The atmosphere of the party instantly became lively. Her beauty and charm seemed to ignite the entire room, lifting everyone’s spirits and creating an extraordinary excitement.

Song Baili’s gaze briefly lingered on Qian Qian but quickly averted. After casually finding a seat, someone across from her immediately handed her a glass of water. She took the cup and gently sipped.

The cool lemon-infused water slid down her throat, bringing a hint of refreshment, yet a sour taste surged in her heart.

Thinking back to when she first arrived at the villa, dragging her luggage through the backyard, her gaze was inevitably drawn to the man and woman in the thatched pavilion.

She couldn’t help but stop in her tracks, quietly gazing at the scene before her, a surge of complex emotions welling up inside her.

In the thatched pavilion, an atmosphere of mutual affection permeated the air. The man and woman held drinks in their hands, with Song Yongjun animatedly talking about something, while Qian Qian suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, like a spring breeze brushing against her face. The scene was harmonious and beautiful, as if the entire backyard was enveloped in a glow of happiness.

At the dining table, Qian Qian was arranged to sit next to Song Yongjun. The others seemed to consciously lean to one side, tacitly dividing the space into two territories.

On one side, there is laughter and a lively atmosphere; on the other, it seems like there are undercurrents, revealing an unclear tension and ambiguity.

Song Baili’s gaze quietly swept over everyone and everything, inadvertently landing on Zhao Youxuan.

She discovered that tonight, Zhao Youxuan actually ignored his goddess Qian Qian as if she were air, but was very attentive and caring towards another girl.

Usually, she doesn’t like to meddle in other people’s affairs, but today, for some inexplicable reason, she was driven by a strong curiosity and had to get to the bottom of it.

Seeing Zhao Youxuan approach, Song Baili slightly tilted her head, carefully looked around to ensure no one was paying attention to this side.

She gently tugged at Zhao Youxuan’s sleeve with her finger, signaling him to come a little closer.

“Xiao Zhao, did you get the wrong seat? Such a rare opportunity today, and instead of seizing your goddess, you’re here flirting with other girls?”

Zhao Youxuan glanced at Qian Qian, who was sitting at the other end of the table, his throat lightly rolling. He whispered to Song Baili:

“The goddess is sitting next to the Jade Emperor. I couldn’t compare to the former one, and I definitely can’t provoke the current one. Sister Song, you are my boss now, and I wouldn’t dare to compete with you for your sister-in-law. I’m just being wise and protecting myself!”

Zhao Youxuan decided to retreat and no longer pursue Qian Qian. Song Baili suddenly felt an inexplicable loneliness.

Without a backup like before, I’m walking this one-sided love path alone, playing my own role, with no supporting characters left.

Qian Qian glanced around, watching others have a great time, and couldn’t help but silently complain in her heart. She blamed Song Yongjun for always sticking close to her, making their side feel like a quarantine zone that others dared not approach.

In this era, female leaders are highly sought after. It seems everyone likes to gather around Song Baili, regardless of gender, everyone is eager to get close, as if they are vying for a hot item.

Between Song Baili and Qian Qian’s seats, several people were packed in so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through. Every time Qian Qian glanced over, she always saw scattered body parts—either a head or half a body—her brain had to automatically fill in the missing parts.

Some employees deliberately filled Song Baili’s glass, preparing to make her drink a few shots. Dominique would cleverly snatch the glass away and drink one shot after another on her behalf.

Dominique drinks alcohol like water, finishing every cup without getting drunk even after a thousand cups. As a result, everyone looks like they’ve seen a ghost and no longer dares to offer her a drink.

Later, Dominika received a phone call and had to leave the party. Suddenly, a few young girls with drinks in hand gathered around Song Baili, chatting and laughing, each more enthusiastic than the last, urging her to drink up and enjoy.

When Qian Qian’s gaze fell on Song Baili again, her eyes involuntarily widened, and her heart skipped a beat, thinking she was seeing things.