The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 71

After sending the message, Qian Qian stared at her phone screen, eagerly waiting for Song Baili’s reply.

She waited for what felt like ages, but the phone screen remained cold and silent, with no notifications at all.

Quietly placing the phone aside, she lay on her bed, her arms crossed over her chest, staring at the ceiling with empty, lost eyes.

The entire night passed without sleep. As sleepiness began to take over, Qian Qian’s eyelids grew heavier, sometimes closing, sometimes forcing herself to open them. She fought the urge to sleep, afraid of missing any new messages.

Suddenly, a new message notification sounded. She grabbed her phone like it was a lifeline, her eyes anxiously scanning the screen as she eagerly tapped to open the message.

“Alright, I get it. I won’t bother you anymore.”

Get it?

In an instant, all her sleepiness vanished. Holding her phone, Qian Qian’s expression turned serious. Her lips parted slightly as countless thoughts rushed through her mind, tangled together like a messy knot that she couldn’t untangle.

Oh my God, what did she mean by “get it”?

Qian Qian felt a chill run down her spine, panic rising in her chest.

Her fingers flew across the screen, rapidly typing a response. Her mood grew increasingly tense with each keystroke.

Suddenly, she stopped, her eyes scanning the message on the screen. It didn’t feel right. She wiped the entire message away.

Furiously, she tossed her phone aside, sat on the edge of the bed, and scratched her ear, rubbing her cheek, her expression tense, her brows furrowed.

Gradually, she began to calm down, realizing she couldn’t act on impulse at this moment. If she did, things might only get worse. She slowly lay back down, closed her eyes, and focused on thinking through what to do next.

In her sleep, Qian Qian heard her phone ring. Groggily, she sat up, stretching her arm out to fumble around the bed. After a moment, she finally found her phone.

She rubbed her blurry eyes, not yet fully awake, but she could clearly recognize the familiar name on the screen. Her mind was a fog, unsure if this moment was a dream or reality.

She pressed the answer button, and the voice on the other end instantly snapped her awake.

“How are you? I noticed you haven’t replied to my messages in a while, and I started worrying something happened to you.”

Qian Qian instinctively sat up straight, gripping the phone tightly, as if afraid that if she relaxed for even a second, the call would vanish in the next moment.

“I’m fine. I just fell asleep.”

No sooner had she spoken, than a deep silence fell on the other end of the line. The pause stretched the moment out, making Qian Qian’s anxiety grow even more.

She felt like she was standing high up on a wobbly tightrope, with a heavy weight pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

Several times, Qian Qian tried to speak, but every time the words reached her lips, they silently fell back. She kept trying to push past the invisible barrier, but it always trapped her.

She felt a wave of weakness and worried that her silence might make Song Baili misunderstand her intentions. Just as she was about to casually ask a question, the other side spoke first.

“Have you eaten?”

At that moment, Qian Qian suddenly felt so hungry it seemed like her insides might fall out. She placed her hand on her empty stomach and felt the rumbling sounds from within.

“No, I haven’t eaten.”

“How can you still be hungry? Don’t tell me you’re too lazy to even make instant noodles.”

Qian Qian suddenly felt a sense of grievance, her emotions burning like a fire that made it hard for her to breathe. She was overwhelmed by strong feelings she couldn’t release, trapped in an emotional prison where there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

The hunger in her stomach, the pain in her ankle, and her general discomfort made her feel incredibly fragile, like a leaf swaying in the wind, ready to be blown away at any moment.

She tried to control her emotions, but her mind heated up, and her eyes started to well up with tears. A surge of emotion erupted from within, releasing her inner desires like a volcano.

Finally, she lost control and blurted out:

“I’m not craving food, I just want to see you, I just want to see you, Baili, I’m craving you.”

On the other end of the phone, there was silence again. Qian Qian’s heart was tight with anxiety. She waited desperately for a response, but all she could hear was the sound of her own heartbeat.

She couldn’t see the other person’s expression, nor could she understand their thoughts. Her emotions fluctuated with the silence from the phone, and she began to realize the situation might not be good. A sense of foreboding gripped her heart, and she thought that maybe it was best to end the conversation right there.

“I’m going to get something to eat, you stay busy, I have to hang up.”

“I’m not busy, the store is closing soon. I’ll bring you something and come over.”

Qian Qian held the phone, stunned for a moment. The world around her seemed to suddenly quiet down.

She felt her heartbeat being gently stirred by a soft breeze, swaying lightly, but also filled with immense happiness.

After a moment, she snapped back to reality and quickly said:

“Alright, I’ll wait for you. Be careful on the way.”

After hanging up, Qian Qian bounced like a happy sparrow toward the bathroom.

In front of the bathroom mirror, she stopped, glanced at herself, and gently raised her hand to brush through her messy hair. As she moved, her hair seemed to dance, adding a playful charm to her look.

She quickly finished her shower, and her hair dried fast with the blow dryer.

Standing in front of the mirror, she picked out a cute set of home clothes, spun around gracefully, and the skirt fluttered, making her look like a beautiful flower fairy.

She then applied a layer of illuminating foundation to her face and used peach lip gloss, gently applying it with her fingers. Immediately, her lips gleamed like polished fruit, giving off an alluring shine.

Song Baili parked her car near Qian Qian’s neighborhood, walking lightly down the familiar road. Suddenly, she heard the sound of high heels clicking behind her, the sound sharp and clear.

She instinctively turned around and, at the same time, someone gently placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling brightly as they said:

“Hey, sister, what are you doing here?”

The person who had been forced into a miserable situation by peanuts last night now had a flushed face, full of energy, acting like everything was fine as she stood under someone else’s building.

She spoke as though Song Baili shouldn’t be there.

“I’m here to see Qian Qian. What about you? Why are you here?”

Song Qinyao was dressed in an elegant suit, the clothes tailored perfectly, her long hair neatly styled, flowing over her shoulders, enhancing her confident and poised aura.

“I finished with a client and was heading home. When I turned the corner, I saw your car, so I followed it here.”

“You’re fine now, so you should head back and rest. I’m not going to chat with you. I have important things to do.”

After speaking, Song Baili lightly patted Song Qinyao’s arm and hurriedly walked ahead.

However, after a few steps, she felt someone chasing after her.

Looking back, Song Qinyao grabbed her hand firmly, speaking with determination:

“Since I’m already here, I might as well join the fun and see Miss Qian. Maybe she misses me.”

Song Baili looked at Song Qinyao, noticing her gentle smile, the way her face bloomed like a flower—truly enchanting.

In that fleeting, beautiful moment, she felt her heart soften, as if a feather had gently brushed across her chest. It was hard to resist the request.

“I promise I won’t cause trouble, and I won’t argue with her. I’m just here to bring a little excitement, out of friendship.”

Song Qinyao took a step forward, holding Song Baili’s arm and gently swaying her hand. Her voice carried a tone of playful coaxing.

Song Baili thought for a moment, then sighed and finally agreed:

“Alright, I’ll let Qian Qian know, and then we’ll go up together.”

When Song Qinyao saw Qian Qian, she rushed over and embraced her warmly.

Song Baili’s mouth twitched, her eyes nearly popping out. She wondered if her sister was up to her usual tricks again but couldn’t help feeling a little envious of her carefree behavior.

Taking advantage of the close proximity, Song Qinyao whispered something into Qian Qian’s ear. Immediately, Qian Qian’s face turned pale, her expression twisting slightly.

When Qian Qian noticed Song Baili watching them, she forced a smile, concealing her emotions, and began interacting with Song Qinyao.

The table was neatly set, and Qian Qian quickly reached Song Baili’s side, sitting gracefully as if in a race to see who could move faster.

As she sat, she discreetly glanced at Song Qinyao, noticing a flicker of displeasure on her face, which made her feel secretly pleased.

Song Qinyao put on a flirtatious smile, hiding the storm brewing inside her, and walked over to sit across from them. With her chopsticks in hand, she began serving herself, teasing as she did:

“Your brother can’t even cook an egg, but he’s cooking for Miss Qian. I saw his fingers were turning into sieves, yet he was grinning with pride. You two are really something.”

After her words, Song Baili paused mid-bite but ate calmly, her expression neutral, though her eyes revealed faint ripples of emotion.

Qian Qian shot a glance at Song Baili, inwardly cursing Song Qinyao, but quickly masked her emotions. She then turned to smile sweetly and said softly:

“Don’t think too much. I’m just friends with your brother, nothing more.”

“Oh, what couple doesn’t start off as friends?” Song Qinyao teased, smirking.

Qian Qian glared at her, her teeth clenched, her chopsticks spinning in her hand as if she wanted to throw them like a dart at her.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself, reminding herself not to be tricked by this little fox’s schemes.

Finally, when she regained her composure, she quietly glanced at Song Baili beside her.

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Song Baili turned slightly, their eyes met, and a subtle emotion passed between them, making their hearts beat a little faster.

Song Baili held a half-eaten scone, sugar glaze lingering on her lips. She gently licked it off, her actions tender and contrasting with her elegant demeanor.

What should have been a cute and innocent moment now felt unusually enticing in Qian Qian’s eyes.

Her face flushed, her heart racing, and everything around her seemed to blur. Only the subtle exchange of gazes between her and Song Baili remained clear.