The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 68

Song Baili stared at Qian Qian, whose eyes sparkled like ripples on the surface of the water, reflecting a variety of emotions that made it hard to read her true feelings.

“Are you serious? I feel like you’re just teasing me,” she asked.

Qian Qian glanced at Song Baili, her eyes shimmering like leaves blown away by the wind, drifting silently across a still lake. There was a hint of unspoken grievance in her gaze.

She sighed softly, a bitter smile on her face as she said, “I’m serious. The person I like only sees me as a friend.”

Song Baili stared at Qian Qian, her mouth slightly open. In the blink of an eye, her expression became more confused, like a child who didn’t understand the situation at all.

“But… isn’t Xiao Jun always chasing after you?” she asked.

Qian Qian widened her eyes, looking like she was about to say something but held back. Finally, she rolled her eyes in frustration.

“My heartbreak has nothing to do with him. Why do you keep bringing him up?” she snapped.

After a brief pause, Qian Qian thought for a moment. She realized that maybe it wasn’t entirely unrelated. If she hadn’t heard all those gossip from Song Yongjun, maybe she wouldn’t have felt so heartbroken.

“Big Sister Baili, can I ask you something?”

Without hesitation, Song Baili nodded.

“I heard you have a pretty close boyfriend. Is that true?”

Song Baili looked at Qian Qian, a little confused. She felt like the conversation was veering off in a direction she couldn’t follow.

“I don’t even know I have a boyfriend. Should I call this so-called boyfriend to let him know?” she replied.

“Long-distance relationship, an artist, and you’ve set a photo of the two of you together as your profile picture. Are you still planning to hide it?” Qian Qian asked.

Song Baili froze for a moment, then couldn’t help but let out a laugh. Her laughter was clear and sweet, her eyes forming crescent-shaped arcs.

For some reason, Qian Qian’s words sounded particularly funny to her.

“You’re talking about him? He could never be my boyfriend because he’s already taken,” she said.

“Then why are you still showing off your love with that couple photo as your profile picture?” Qian Qian pressed.

Song Baili hesitated, unsure if she should tell the truth.

The man and she would never have any romantic sparks because they only felt their hearts race when they saw people of the same s3x.

The couple photo was just to ward off unwanted advances and cover their true feelings. They had an unspoken understanding, each protecting the other’s secret.

She lightly brushed her forehead with her hand, pursed her lips, and softly said, “It’s just a photo with a good friend, really. Don’t turn it into a love story.”

Qian Qian pouted, clearly unsatisfied with Song Baili’s answer, but deep down, she was overjoyed. She felt like flying, and for a moment, the world seemed brighter.

But in the blink of an eye, Qian Qian’s expression darkened again. She looked at Song Baili’s beautiful face, knowing that in this world, beautiful things were always easily taken away by others, including the person she loved.

“One day, you’ll fall in love, get married, and what will happen to us? Will we only be able to stay in touch through likes on each other’s social media posts?” she asked.

“I’m definitely not getting married, and I don’t have any plans for anything else. Right now, I’m focused entirely on running the restaurant,” Song Baili answered.

Qian Qian’s mood shifted like spring buds sprouting. Her eyes brightened, and the corners of her mouth curled up. Her eyelashes fluttered a little, and she suddenly grabbed Song Baili’s hand.

“Alright then, if we’re both single forever, we might as well live together. It’s better than being alone,” she said.

Song Baili felt a jolt as if an electric current passed through her body. Her hand trembled slightly.

She instinctively wanted to pull her hand back, but her mind stopped her from doing so.

Her heart was pounding, and her cheeks flushed with a gentle warmth. She opened her mouth, the words on the tip of her tongue, but just as she was about to speak, Qian Qian unexpectedly interrupted.

“Alright, it’s settled then. If anyone breaks the promise, they have to dance like an immortal in the square!” she declared.

Song Baili widened her eyes, her mouth half open, as if amused, but she was at a loss for words.

After a moment, she finally smiled softly, her smile like someone who had just found something amusing. With a hint of helplessness, she said quietly, “Okay, it’s settled then.”

Later, Song Baili was busy in the bathroom, preparing a basin of warm water and gently stirring it to make sure it was the right temperature.

Qian Qian, wearing only her undergarments, sat next to the bath with her injured ankle hanging outside. Song Baili carefully wiped her body with a wet towel, being cautious not to touch the injured area, occasionally asking with concern:

“How does it feel?”

Afterward, Qian Qian changed into a soft nightgown and sat on the sofa, leaning slightly against the backrest. Song Baili sat beside her.

There was a subtle atmosphere of intimacy between them, yet it was tinged with a slight awkwardness.

Outside, the sound of a gentle breeze rustling through the trees could be heard, occasionally interrupted by distant car horns, contrasting with the quietness inside the room.

Their eyes accidentally met and quickly looked away, as if some unspoken feeling was flowing between them, making their hearts beat a little faster.

At that moment, Song Baili lightly coughed and shifted slightly, seeming like she was about to stand up, but then paused, hesitating as she looked at Qian Qian.

She adjusted her hair, her lips moved slightly, and she said, “It’s getting late. I should head back.”

“I’ll take you,” Qian Qian said as she started to get up.

But before she could move, Song Baili stopped her.

“I’m fine. Don’t bother. Just focus on your injury.”

Song Baili’s hand gently rested on Qian Qian’s leg, her fingertips softly gliding over her skin, her palm slightly cool to the touch.

Qian Qian’s heart skipped a beat, as if a warm current had touched her, her body trembling, on the verge of collapse.

Her gaze involuntarily turned to Song Baili, and their eyes met, like two burning flames, intense and full of passion, as if they could pull out endless love.

Unconsciously, the distance between them closed, the warm breath swirling in the air, turning into a unique fragrance that filled the room.

Qian Qian’s throat moved slightly, and she couldn’t help but raise her hand to touch Song Baili’s face. Her fingertips delicately traced the light creases between her brows, slowly gliding along the soft contours of her cheek, feeling the smoothness of her skin.

Eventually, her fingertips rested on the full lips, as if she could smell the faint fragrance coming from them, mixed with a hint of sweetness, like the temptation of nectar to bees and butterflies, making her draw closer instinctively.

Suddenly, a sharp knock on the door broke the intimate atmosphere like a thunderclap, causing them to quickly pull away from each other.

Song Baili straightened up suddenly, her face flushing slightly, her eyes beginning to wander nervously.

Qian Qian, flustered, quickly jumped up, hopping on one foot as she hobbled towards the door.

Before Song Baili could react, the door was gently opened.

Song Yongjun’s gaze fell on Qian Qian with concern, noticing the thick bandage around her injured foot and the faint blush on her cheek. Her expression seemed unusual, which made him feel uneasy.

“What happened to you? Your face is so red, are you burning up? Let me take you to the hospital.”

Seeing Song Yongjun barging in, Qian Qian panicked, instinctively stumbling back, forgetting her injured ankle.

Her body unsteadily swayed, and just as she thought she was about to fall, a soft yet strong embrace caught her, steadying her.

Song Baili slightly turned her head to look at Song Yongjun, her brows furrowing slightly before she asked, “What are you doing here?”

“I tried calling but got no answer, so I came to check on her. Qian Qian doesn’t look well, does she?”

Before he could finish, Song Yongjun unconsciously moved closer, reaching out to touch Qian Qian’s forehead to check her temperature.

Qian Qian subtly avoided it, hurriedly moving closer to Song Baili, almost completely leaning into her, burying her head gently in her shoulder, as if wanting to hide in her embrace.

She glanced at Song Yongjun and then calmly said, “I’m fine.”

Song Yongjun awkwardly withdrew his hand, scratching his head in embarrassment. He hesitated before glancing at Qian Qian and then turning to Song Baili.

“Sis, Yao Yao had another peanut allergy attack. After lunch with a client this afternoon, she started having trouble breathing. The doctor came, and she’s stable now, but she’s stubborn about not taking the medicine.”

“I was about to leave, I’ll go talk to her later.”

Qian Qian quietly sat on the sofa, her eyes following Song Baili’s every move, filled with deep affection and dependence.

Song Baili quickly packed her things. As she picked up her bag to leave, she suddenly stopped, slowly turned around, and her gaze fell on Qian Qian. After a brief hesitation, she gently walked over to her.

Qian Qian slightly tilted her head back to look at Song Baili, then reached out and gently pulled her sleeve but quickly retracted her hand.

“I’ve prepared breakfast for you in the fridge, rest at home. I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Sis, don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of everything for Qian Qian—food, drinks, and everything!”

Hearing a voice from the door, both Qian Qian and Song Baili froze. They turned to look in surprise, only to find that Song Yongjun was still standing there, not leaving.

They exchanged glances, their faces flushing with embarrassment, wondering if their subtle exchange of emotions had been fully noticed by Song Yongjun.

Qian Qian fixed her gaze on him, her brows furrowing slightly, and in a cold tone, she said:

“Don’t worry about me. I’m fine. You should go back; your sister needs you. I’m good with Baili here.”

Realizing that Qian Qian wasn’t too welcoming of his presence, Song Yongjun felt a chill in his heart and a sense of frustration.

He couldn’t help but reflect on himself, perhaps he needed to reconsider his approach to “pursuing” her.