The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 7

Qian Qian looked a little flustered. Her fingers scratched lightly at the skin near the corner of her eye as her gaze drifted toward Song Baili—then quickly darted away. A hint of shyness surfaced on her face, and she mumbled softly:

“Ah… the customers were really happy. Did you use some kind of magic? How did the food suddenly get so good?”

“You think the food here wasn’t very good before?”

Qian Qian paused, fingers twisting unconsciously. Her eyes flicked to Song Baili and then away again. Her tone was hesitant, voice stammering a little:

“It’s not that it was completely bad, it’s just… just…”

She frowned in thought, her gaze dropping to the floor. Gently biting her lip, she seemed to be searching hard for the right words. She opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, her face blank, unable to find a fitting description.

At that moment, Song Baili finally took a good look at Qian Qian’s face.

Her skin was like delicate lily petals—fair, smooth, and glowing with softness.

Her bright, spirited eyes were like shooting stars streaking through the night, dazzling and vivid. Her nose was straight and graceful, blending perfectly with her facial features. Every tooth looked carefully cared for, shining clean and white like polished pearls.

Those lively eyes and well-defined, delicate features gave her the look of an enchanting character straight out of an anime.

When someone looks that good, it’s natural to feel a bit more drawn to them. Song Baili felt a strange ripple inside. Then a trace of worry flickered between her brows.

When the time comes and she gets what she wants, maybe they’ll end up as friends—truly understanding each other. Or maybe they’ll stand on opposite sides, never to reconcile again.

Thinking of that, she subconsciously pressed her lips together and pulled her emotions back inside. With a calm motion, she shifted her body slightly to maintain a proper distance from Qian Qian—close enough to be friendly, but not overly familiar.

“As long as the customers are happy. If there’s nothing else urgent, I’ll get back to work.”

Just as Song Baili was about to leave, she noticed Qian Qian’s face suddenly darken. It made her pause without thinking.

Qian Qian lowered her eyes and fell into a quiet moment of reflection. Her fingers moved gently, and in a calm, even voice, she said:

“My dad once studied cooking with a master, but he didn’t have much talent. Still, he really wanted to open a restaurant. He’s done his best, but this is the best he can make the food taste. We can’t afford professional chefs—everyone in the kitchen was trained by him. So… yeah, the quality is about what you’d expect.”

When she finished, she looked up and saw Song Baili watching her silently. Her expression was calm, like a still, deep lake—quiet, unreadable.

There was something thoughtful in Song Baili’s gaze, as though she was listening intently. But her eyes were like a locked box, holding countless secrets. In that silent moment, Qian Qian felt a distance she couldn’t quite cross.

As she stared into Song Baili’s calm, cool eyes, Qian Qian slowly realized something—this woman was incredibly economical with her words. You’d only get a response from her if you asked the right question.

Qian Qian’s lips curled into a gentle smile. She leaned slightly forward, resting her elbow on the wooden table, her arm forming a graceful line. Her slender fingers intertwined as she propped up her chin.

Her smile was soft and charming. Her brows curved gently, giving off a sweet, heart-melting vibe. Her voice was warm and slightly playful, with a hint of coquettishness, as she said:

“Song Baili, can you tell me how you got those ladies to praise the food like that?”

Song Baili hesitated slightly. Her brow furrowed a little, as though weighing something in her mind.

Suddenly, Qian Qian reached out and gently grabbed her arm. Her hand shook it lightly, and she spoke in a sweet, almost whispery tone:

“Big sis, tell me, pretty please…”

Song Baili’s body tensed for a moment. Then she turned to meet Qian Qian’s gaze. Slowly, her shoulders relaxed, and her eyes softened. In the end, she gave in.

“Details.”

As she spoke, a faint smile lit up her eyes, and the corners of her mouth curved into a graceful arc—a smile so subtly seductive it could knock the wind out of someone.

It looked light and casual, but it hit Qian Qian like a wave crashing through her heart, stirring it up in a frenzy.

That mix of beauty and danger, of warmth and edge, gave her an irresistible charm. For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze. Qian Qian felt as if an invisible force was pulling her closer to Song Baili.

“Come on, tell me more. What kind of details?” she pressed, a little playfully.

Song Baili kept a calm expression on her face, but inside, she was already in chaos, stirred up by Qian Qian’s sweet and clingy tone.

She reached up and tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. Her eyes hovered over Qian Qian’s sweet figure but quickly looked away, too flustered to hold the gaze. Taking a breath to steady herself, she coughed lightly and said:

“Looks like they eat around the office often, so I introduced them to some different options.”

Qian Qian’s eyes lit up, as if they’d caught all the light in the room. Her brows arched, and she clapped her hands in delight.

“Oh wow, you’re totally right! How did I never think of that before?”

A faint smile flickered in Song Baili’s eyes. She lifted a hand and lightly touched the corner of her mouth, trying to hide the grin that was starting to show.

“I recommended the chicken cutlet because it had been marinated overnight. Letting it sit brings out more flavor, which makes it tastier than something cooked the same day.”

As she spoke, Song Baili turned slightly to glance at the table of girls. She saw them using small spoons to scoop up the dessert, their eyes narrowing in delight as they smiled with satisfaction.

“They tried the chocolate soufflé today. Not bad. Most girls like having something sweet after a meal. And the included drink covered their beverage needs too.”

Her voice was soft and gentle. She spoke at a calm pace, every word clear and thoughtful. Each syllable was like a feather, brushing softly past Qian Qian’s ear and spreading warmth through her chest.

Qian Qian was completely enchanted by her voice. She felt like she could listen to her speak forever. Looking up again at that beautiful face, every expression and every feature made her heart race.

Not only was she gorgeous, she was clearly talented too. No wonder she’d already earned so much customer praise in just a few days.

Qian Qian bit her lip and tilted her head slightly. Her fingers traced lightly over the tabletop. Her eyes flickered with a playful glint as a cheeky idea popped into her head.

Since Song Baili was being so generous, why not invite her to grab a late-night snack together?

She straightened up, took a deep breath, her eyes gliding subtly as she scratched her head. Just as a smile started to form on her lips, a voice suddenly cut in:

“Hey, Baili, want to grab something to eat later tonight? Just got paid—my treat.”

Qian Qian instantly felt a little annoyed. Her brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of irritation flashing through her eyes. She shot a sharp glare at Zhao Youxuan, as if her stare alone could shut him out.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that. Today’s my single-versary—eight years strong. I only hang out with fellow singles. Sorry, you don’t make the list.”

“Hold on, didn’t you say it was your ten-year single anniversary two years ago? How’s it eight now?”

Qian Qian remembered that day clearly, and her brows furrowed as the memory played back—Li Shao had been there too.

That moment had changed everything. She’d thought it marked the start of something happy, but it ended up being the moment her happiness was taken from her.

“Ten years just feels like a full cycle, you know? Once the countdown hits zero, love’s right around the corner.”

“Uh… you sure your math checks out? By that logic, don’t you still have eight more years to go?”

Zhao Youxuan’s eyebrows twisted into a maze of tangled lines, like a string of question marks carved into his face. He started counting on his fingers, looking completely serious as he tried to figure it out in his head.
Then he turned to Qian Qian. Sparks flew between them as their words clashed, laughter and teasing filling the air. Neither of them seemed willing to back down, each stubbornly defending their point of view.

Song Baili, however, didn’t seem interested in their debate. She casually took out her phone, tapped the screen with her fingers, and stared at it for a moment. Her expression froze slightly, her gaze distant. Then she turned her head toward Zhao Youxuan and said:

“Sorry, I already have plans tonight.”

“Whoa, you have plans? Don’t tell me it’s with your boyfriend?”

Song Baili gave a faint smile, her lips barely parting, but her eyes were a little vague, as if she didn’t want to say much more.

Zhao Youxuan twisted his mouth into a sour expression, like he’d just bitten into a lemon.

Qian Qian’s body stiffened instantly, like a statue turned to stone. Her face went slightly pale, and it felt like something heavy had slammed into her chest. Inside her, there was a sharp, clear crack—like something precious had just broken.

Qian Qian arrived at a girls’ night dinner. As soon as she sat down, she kept fidgeting—playing with the napkin on the table, smoothing out her skirt, shifting in her seat. Unease flickered in her eyes.

Sitting across from her best friends, her eyes were filled with conflict and confusion. She bit down hard on her lip, her lips turning a little pale, like she was trying hard to hold herself together. Then, all of a sudden, she relaxed a bit.

Her heart was beating faster than usual. She took a deep breath, and finally opened her mouth. Her voice was a little hoarse.

“Girls… I ran into her again.”

“Who? That stalker you mentioned last time?”

The words had barely landed when silence swept over the table. All eyes turned to Qian Qian.

“No, it’s…”

“Your ex, Chao Zhilian?”

Qian Qian felt like her brain was about to explode. Her eyes went wide—so wide they looked like they might pop right out of her head. She practically rolled them all the way to the back of her skull.

“She’s…”

Before Qian Qian could finish her sentence, one of the girls at the table suddenly let out a short scream and smacked the table. She leaned forward, her eyes lighting up.

“Don’t tell me you ran into my crush!”

“What crush?! What the heck does your dream guy have to do with me?!”

These straight girls always seemed to circle back to talking about men. Qian Qian hadn’t minded it before. But now, as she slowly realized she might be “bending,” she found it harder and harder to connect with them. Her perspective had started to shift.

As she thought about all these changes, she rubbed her forehead. One of her friends gave her a sharp look, frowning with a bit of annoyance.

“Tch. Then quit making us guess. Just spit it out!”

Qian Qian felt like tearing her hair out. She realized she had to calm down if she wanted to get through this conversation with them. She raised her head, closed her eyes, took a deep breath in… and slowly let it out. Then she repeated the motion a few more times.

It didn’t really help her calm down. But at least it got her friends to stop shouting over each other. For now, all attention was back on her.

“Do you remember the girl I told you about—the waitress at that restaurant called Flavor? That really pretty one? Do you remember her?”

The three women froze like statues, blank expressions on their faces. Their mouths were slightly open, but no one said a word.

These girls could rattle off names and stories about guys whenever relationships came up. But when it came to remembering a girl who left an impression? Nothing.

“Sigh… I told you I wanted to make friends with her first, to see if I really do have feelings for girls…”

One of the girls’ eyes lit up, rolling dramatically as something clicked. She slapped her thigh with a loud smack and stared at Qian Qian in disbelief.

“I remember now! I thought you were just into the thrill of something new. I didn’t think you’d still be hung up on her.”

Just a passing curiosity?

Maybe that’s what Qian Qian thought back then too. But now, three years later, those feelings hadn’t faded. If anything, they’d aged like fine wine—deeper, richer, more precious than ever.

Qian Qian slowly lifted her gaze, looking at each of her friends one by one. Her eyes were clear but held a bit of depth. Then she looked down, and softly said:

“She’s working at our restaurant now… as a server.”

“What?!”

All three of them widened their eyes and instinctively pressed their lips together.

It felt like something out of a romantic drama—like the story was only just getting started. Even though they weren’t too optimistic about where this was headed, they couldn’t help but feel a little excited.

“What about Li Shao? You planning to juggle both?”

Qian Qian gently traced the rim of her teacup, falling silent for a moment. Then, with a slightly lost tone, she said:

“There’s nothing going on. What I feel for Song Baili is different from what I felt for Li Shao. There’s no way I’d try to keep both.”

She tilted her head slightly, gazing out the window. Her eyes drifted toward the distance, like she was trying to figure out exactly what those differences were.

“Song Baili? Baili… hmm…”

One of the girls spoke, then paused mid-sentence, almost like she was tasting the word—rolling it around in her mouth, trying to uncover its hidden meanings.

Another girl flicked a finger at her forehead with a soft pop.

“Quit overthinking. If names worked like that, I’d have changed mine to ‘Cash Money’ already!”

“We’re coming to your restaurant tomorrow. We want to see what this stunning beauty looks like.”

As soon as they said Song Baili’s name, it was like someone lit a spark in Qian Qian. Her eyes shone with excitement, and her whole mood lit up.

“I promise—you’ll like her! You’ll definitely like her!”

They remembered the time Qian Qian introduced Li Shao to them. She had treated it like showing off a new outfit—parading it around while whispering:

“If none of you vibe with him, just forget I ever mentioned him. Let’s just see where it goes.”

The girls glanced at each other, curiosity bubbling up. They were already filled with energy, eager to meet this beautiful mystery woman.