The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 69

The moment Song Baili entered, Song Qinyao hurriedly tried to get out of bed to greet her.

As soon as she stood up, she felt the room spinning in all directions, her head spinning, her stomach churning, and her limbs going weak, almost unable to hold her own weight.

Even though it was a feigned act, Song Qinyao still played it out with all her might. She didn’t hesitate to torment herself, all for the chance to appear a little weaker in front of Song Baili, hoping to earn a bit of tenderness in return.

Seeing Song Qinyao stand up, looking like a dizzy flower fairy, Song Baili rushed over, quickly catching her and helping her back to bed, making sure she was comfortable.

Lying on the bed, Song Qinyao’s forehead was dotted with fine beads of sweat, her face pale, and her half-closed eyes revealed a vague emotion as she gazed intently at Song Baili.

Song Baili sat on the bed’s edge, gently reaching out to wipe away the sweat from her forehead.

“Next time, you have to remind them about your peanut allergy. This is no joke. Don’t let such small things hurt you.”

“I’ll be more careful next time. Sorry for worrying you, sister.”

Despite her weak condition, Song Qinyao’s beauty remained undiminished, her eyes still bright.

The corner of her eyes lifted slightly, a faint smile curling on her lips like a spring breeze brushing over peach blossoms, fresh and charming.

Song Baili glanced at the untouched medication on the table, sighed, and asked, “Did you take your medicine yet?”

Song Qinyao pouted and shook her head, then lowered her gaze, showing a hint of stubbornness.

However, inside, she was secretly delighted. She had been waiting for Song Baili to say those words, which meant it was time to strike a deal and get something in return from her sister.

“Not taking the medicine is fine, but taking too much won’t make you fly. The body will heal itself, just rest more.”

“…”

Song Qinyao widened her eyes, looking confused. Her lips parted, but she hesitated before closing them again.

Everyone in the house urged her to take medicine, but her sister’s response was so unexpected. She was so desperate she almost bit the pillow like it was a cookie!

Song Qinyao lifted her gaze and locked eyes with Song Baili. Her expression slightly tightened as she thought she saw a fleeting smile in her sister’s eyes.

She squinted and stared intently, but Song Baili’s face remained calm and expressionless.

“I heard Miss Qian was injured. It’s not too serious, right? Brother is so worried he might die of it.”

Recalling the scene of Song Yongjun’s uninvited visit, the corners of Song Baili’s mouth tightened, her pupils contracting slightly, and a flash of displeasure appeared in her eyes.

“The injury’s not serious. He’s just being overly worried.”

“Can’t really blame him, though. After hundreds of years, he finally finds someone he’s interested in. If he delays, he’ll have to deal with the arranged dates from our parents, and he might have to wait for the next life to enjoy free love.”

“Love is unpredictable, forcing it won’t work. Love can’t be forced.”

Song Qinyao stared at Song Baili, gritting her teeth, but didn’t dare to vent her anger in front of her sister.

She raised an eyebrow and let a faint smile curve her lips, saying casually, “Everyone knows that, it’s just about who can stay rational when it comes to love.”

Seeing that Song Qinyao was feeling better, Song Baili quietly sighed in relief. She patted her hand gently and slowly stood up.

“You’re so good at talking, I think your illness might be cured just by your words. Rest, I’ll go to my room.”

Seeing Song Baili preparing to leave, Song Qinyao quickly grabbed her wrist, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

“When the person you like is taken by someone close to you, it’s like when someone buys the limited-edition watch you’ve been eyeing. You can buy the item again, but trust between people can be broken.”

Song Baili’s eyes slightly narrowed, and after a brief hesitation, she gave a gentle smile. She softly held Song Qinyao’s hand and placed it back under the covers before turning to walk toward the door.

“Sister, family is always the closest, you know?”

Song Qinyao’s words wrapped around Song Baili’s heart like a delicate thread, making her stop in her tracks.

Her heart stirred, waves of confusion and contradiction rising inside her. She took a deep breath and silently walked out of the room.

Song Baili entered her bedroom and carefully surveyed the spacious, comfortable space.

She walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and gently pulled open the curtains, her gaze penetrating the glass to the distant scenery.

Song Qinyao’s words were like a dull knife stirring her emotional turmoil, making her feel more conflicted and uncertain than ever.

For a moment, she felt guilty, but the next, she felt she wasn’t at fault. The inner voices in her mind argued back and forth, leaving her in a state of indecision and confusion.

The next morning, Song Baili was running alone on a tree-lined path. Her footsteps fell rhythmically on the ground, with the sunlight filtering through the tree branches, casting a warm glow on her. The breeze gently brushed through her hair, bringing a refreshing chill.

Suddenly, her phone vibrated a few times.

She stopped, took out her phone, squinted at the screen, and opened the message.

“Good morning, Baili.”

“I had breakfast early this morning, I’m being good!”

“What did you have for breakfast? Was it delicious?”

“Did you miss me?”

Song Baili focused on each word, her lips involuntarily curling into a smile. Her mood was as clear and bright as the blue sky, everything felt so beautiful.

“Hmm, I missed you.”

“What do you want to eat this afternoon?”

Qian Qian’s eyes were fixed on the phone screen, her heart pounding wildly as if it might jump out of her chest. She almost couldn’t contain her excitement, wanting to shout out loud.

In her excitement, she forgot about her injured ankle and accidentally put too much weight on it, causing a sharp pain to hit her. She gasped in pain.

After a brief pause, she slowly sat down, closed her eyes, and tried to relax, but then couldn’t help but laugh.

She heard her phone ring again, happily grabbed it, eagerly opened the message, and stared at the screen, her smile growing sweeter.

Song Qinyao and Song Yongjun sat quietly at the dining table at home, each enjoying their breakfast.

Song Qinyao appeared somewhat distracted. The sunlight from outside filtered through the window, gently landing on her face, but it didn’t bring much radiance to her.

She sighed, suddenly putting down her utensils, clearly in a bad mood.

Song Yongjun heard the soft sound of her utensils being set down and immediately looked at her, sensing that something was off. After a brief hesitation, he couldn’t help but ask:

“What’s wrong? Why are you sighing so much?”

“How are things with Qian Qian? You’re moving so slowly, I’m almost losing my mind! Can you give me some sign so I can relax a little?”

Song Yongjun was confused. He parted his lips, trying to express what was on his mind, but in the end, all he managed to say was a vague “I…” before sighing and falling into silence.

Song Qinyao gave him a roll of her eyes, then circled her eyes. She picked up her fork, speared a piece of bacon, and without hesitation, tossed it onto Song Yongjun’s plate. Coldly, she said:

“There you go, your kind—have a big reunion!”

Song Yongjun didn’t mind at all, laughing heartily as he ate the bacon. He playfully teased Song Qinyao, saying:

“My kind? Also your relative!”

Just then, Song Yongjun’s phone suddenly buzzed, notifying him of a new message, which grabbed both his and Song Qinyao’s attention.

He picked up the phone and saw that the message was from Qian Qian. His eyes lit up, and a smug smile appeared on his face as he excitedly said to Song Qinyao:

“Look, she sent me a message this early. Now there’s some movement!”

A hint of disdain flashed in Song Qinyao’s eyes, but her expression remained calm, revealing little emotion.

Song Yongjun’s smile froze as he stared at the phone screen. As he put the phone down, he seemed to fall into silence.

Song Qinyao absentmindedly spun her fork in her plate, the slight clinking sound catching her attention. She noticed the sudden change in atmosphere, stopped her fork, and glanced at Song Yongjun.

“Any surprise? Tell me!”

Song Yongjun gently touched his nose, his lips parted to speak, but then fell silent.

Eventually, he shook his head, his gaze falling on Song Qinyao, a forced smile on his face, and his voice carrying a sense of awkwardness as he said:

“She says she’s fine and told me not to worry, not to come see her.”

Song Qinyao smiled faintly, as though she had already expected this outcome.

She shrugged lightly, placed her used napkin aside, stood up gracefully, and said calmly:

“I’m full, I’ll head to the office.”

“Don’t sneak off! Help me come up with an excuse to go visit Qian Qian today.”

Song Qinyao paused for a moment, her gaze turning to Song Yongjun. She absentmindedly tapped her fingers on her leg, then a mysterious smile crossed her lips.

She walked over to him, placing her hand on his shoulder, gently nudging him closer. Then, she leaned in slightly and whispered:

“You go to the restaurant this afternoon, and tell my sister this…”

The restaurant was bustling with customers, the sound of laughter and order calls blending together. Waitstaff hurriedly moved between tables, taking orders, delivering food, and keeping everything in order.

The kitchen was filled with the aromas of various ingredients, the steam floating in the air, and the smell of delicious dishes wafting throughout the restaurant.

Song Baili skillfully worked with the ingredients, fully immersed in preparing each dish. Beads of sweat slid down her face, but it didn’t detract from her beauty; instead, it added a touch of grace to her hardworking demeanor.

Amidst the busy atmosphere, her gaze frequently drifted to the clock on the wall, watching the passage of time with concern.

She hurriedly packed the food she had prepared for Qian Qian, and just as she was about to leave, Song Yongjun appeared.

Seeing him, Song Baili’s body froze for a moment, the package she was holding suspended in midair. Her expression quickly shifted between surprise and subtle displeasure, her mood fluctuating with complex emotions.

Song Yongjun’s arrival seemed to be at the right time, but not entirely.

“Sis, I see the restaurant is so busy. If you can’t leave, let me take the food to Qian Qian. I don’t have anything important to do today, and I can’t help with the other work here. I might as well run this errand for you.”

The restaurant’s business was usually brisk, but today it was particularly chaotic, with many unfamiliar faces. These new customers came in groups, mostly ordering the time-consuming and expensive dishes.

Every time a new menu arrived, Song Baili felt the pressure and challenge. These dishes had to be prepared by her, so she couldn’t leave her post.

But could she really ask Song Yongjun for help? What if it upset Qian Qian?

Song Baili furrowed her brows, her lips pressed together, and the hesitation lingered in her heart. She glanced at Song Yongjun, her lips quivering slightly, as if she wanted to speak but was held back by her own thoughts.

Song Yongjun slightly tilted his head, his gaze lingering in the air for a moment. He silently replayed the words Song Qinyao had taught him. Then, his smile returned, and he looked at Song Baili and said:

“If Qian Qian asks, I’ll tell her the restaurant is too busy today. I just want to help with your workload, no other intention.”

Just as Song Yongjun’s words echoed in the air, the sous chef hurried over, sweat beading on his forehead, his brow furrowed, and he spoke urgently to Song Baili in a low voice.

After the sous chef left, Song Baili turned to look at Song Yongjun, took a deep breath, and slowly said:

“Then, please run this errand. I’ll leave a message for her to let her know.”