The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 72

Qian Qian’s gaze followed Song Baili’s face downward, pausing at her delicate, Baili-white fingertips, staring at them for a moment.

“This bénier pastry isn’t served here, I baked it myself this afternoon. I wanted you to try it fresh,” Song Baili explained.

Just as Song Baili was about to pick up a piece for Qian Qian, before she could even move, Qian Qian suddenly leaned in, quickly grabbed her hand, and ate the bénier pastry that Song Baili had bitten into.

The wet sensation on her fingertips and the feeling of Qian Qian’s teeth brushing against her skin made Song Baili’s heart skip a beat.

At that moment, the noisy chatter around the dining table seemed to disappear into thin air. Everything turned completely silent.

Song Baili stood frozen, staring in shock at Qian Qian, her heart racing, and her breath quickening.

“I never expected it, but the pastry you’ve bitten into, Sister Baili, really does taste the best.”

Song Baili couldn’t help but tighten her fingers, her face flushing red like a ripe peach in April, radiating a hint of shyness.

“Hey, you’ve got frosting on your lips, let me wipe it off.”

Before Song Baili could react, Qian Qian had already reached out, gently wiping the frosting from her lips.

Then, Qian Qian placed her finger in her mouth and delicately licked the frosting off, savoring the sweetness without wasting a drop.

Qian Qian’s actions were as smooth and natural as flowing water, but they left both Song Qinyao and Song Baili’s jaws nearly dropping to the floor. Their expressions were frozen, like they had turned into statues.

Song Qinyao’s face remained expressionless, like a still pond, but inside, her emotions were bubbling up like water in a pot about to boil over.

An uncontrollable impulse surged inside her, threatening to break loose at any moment, like a wild animal trapped in a cage, restlessly pacing and trying to escape.

“Miss Qian, if your relationship with my brother wasn’t anything special, why does your ex keep bothering him? Yesterday, you called my brother into your room—just the two of you, didn’t you do anything inappropriate?”

Upon hearing this, Qian Qian’s fingers instinctively tightened into a fist. She lifted her head, casting a cold glance at Song Qinyao.

She was annoyed by this little troublemaker, who couldn’t even handle her own emotions but kept poking into other people’s affairs. Seriously, was she so bored?

Song Baili noticed Qian Qian’s speechless and frustrated expression. She furrowed her brows slightly and calmly spoke to Song Qinyao.

“Stop making up things. Yesterday, I asked Xiao Jun to go find Qian Qian. They’re both upright people. Don’t keep assuming the worst.”

Hearing Song Baili stand by her side, Qian Qian’s mood instantly brightened, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.

Leaning slightly forward, she placed both hands on the table, looking directly at Song Qinyao and said, “Looks like Sister Baili is truly my confidant. Miss Song, rather than saying I like your brother, I’d say I admire your sister even more.”

Song Qinyao’s smile gradually faded, and her calm demeanor also disappeared.

She struggled to suppress her emotions, fearing that she might lose control. She forced a smile but couldn’t hide the obvious displeasure in it.

“Miss Qian, my brother’s feelings for you are not simple. Don’t forget that he took a beating for you, and all these troubles have been caused because of you.”

Song Baili took a sip of water, deliberately setting the cup down with a sharp “thud” that echoed in the quiet room, catching the attention of both Song Qinyao and Qian Qian.

She slowly picked up a napkin, gently wiping her lips, and her gaze turned sharp as she looked at Song Qinyao. Her voice carried an unmistakable coldness.

“Qian Qian and Li Shao have been over for a while. You can’t blame everything on her. Why are you being so unreasonable?”

Song Baili’s words hit home like a perfectly aimed arrow, piercing Song Qinyao’s heart.

Song Qinyao’s expression darkened. Furious, she slammed her cup onto the table, the dull sound of the collision filling the air.

She stood up, grabbing her bag. As she walked toward the door, it seemed like she was about to leave, but when she reached the door, she suddenly turned toward the balcony instead.

Although Song Baili’s expression remained indifferent, she kept glancing toward the balcony.

There, Song Qinyao stood alone, facing away from the room, staring into the distance. Her silhouette seemed lonely and desolate.

Song Baili frowned slightly, tapping her fingers on the table. Worry flickered in her eyes.

Finally, unable to sit still any longer, she stood up abruptly. Her voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable trace of anxiety as she spoke.

“I’m going to check on her.”

Before her temper could even catch up, Song Baili was like a delivery person, reaching the target in a flash, ready to smooth over the conflict.

Qian Qian suddenly felt a sense of understanding rising in her heart, sparking an inner resonance.

Sister Baili was so beautiful, so perfect, a gift from heaven. It was no wonder that Song Qinyao, at that age, full of youthful admiration, had fallen deeply in love with her, unable to control her feelings.

In that moment, Qian Qian felt the intricate complexity of human emotions, and she couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.

Song Qinyao took a cigarette from her bag, preparing to light it. However, before she could even raise her hand, Song Baili quickly walked over to her, wordlessly taking the lighter from her hand.

Song Qinyao paused for a moment, her brows furrowing slightly. Her lips pressed together as if she had something to say, but then, she was stunned by the breathtaking scene before her, her pupils dilating.

Song Baili stood by the railing, gazing at Song Qinyao.

Under the cover of night, her translucent skin shimmered in the darkness, glowing softly like moonlight—gentle and dazzling.

A light breeze blew, stirring her long hair, making it flutter like angel wings, light and free.

Her beauty was like the goddess Nyx descending to the mortal world, captivating all with her enchanting presence.

Song Qinyao’s eyes were distant, almost forgetting the worries that had been troubling her. Taking advantage of her daze, Song Baili skillfully snatched the cigarette from her mouth.

Then, Song Baili placed the cigarette between her lips, lighting it. Song Qinyao watched as she exhaled the smoke, feeling a stir in her heart.

Under the moonlight, Song Baili raised her hand, letting the smoke swirl around her slender fingers. After a moment of contemplation, she softly asked:

“When did you start smoking?”

“Back in college.”

Song Baili’s gaze returned from the distant view to Song Qinyao’s face. She suddenly felt that the once-clear eyes were no longer innocent as before. Now, they were narrower, with the corners slightly upturned, giving off an alluring, graceful look.

Song Qinyao now radiated a new kind of charm, exuding a mature, seductive aura that was completely different from the naive girl she had been.

“How many times have you been in love?” Song Baili asked.

“Several times, but I can’t remember who they were. I just did it to pass the time, never really falling for anyone.”

Song Baili lowered her gaze, thought for a moment, then lifted her eyes with a calm expression and said softly:

“That’s because you haven’t met someone you truly like.”

Suddenly, Song Qinyao laughed loudly. Her laughter was as clear and pleasant as a stream flowing over stones.

She turned to face Song Baili, closing the distance between them, almost letting their lips brush against each other’s ear. In a soft, tender voice, she whispered:

“You’re right, sister. Because all this time, there’s only one person I’ve had my eyes on.”

Song Baili’s hand froze for a moment as she raised the cigarette to her lips. After taking a slow drag, she exhaled a cloud of smoke. The smoke swirled around her, adding a dreamy quality to her beauty under the moonlight.

“It’s getting cold. Let’s go back inside,” she said.

Seeing Song Baili about to leave, Song Qinyao quickly grabbed her arm, asking:

“What stage are you and the woman inside at?”

Song Baili slowly turned, gently pulling her arm from Song Qinyao’s grasp. She tilted her chin slightly, meeting her gaze, and calmly replied:

“Why don’t you tell me? What stage do you think we’re at?”

“I can see that you care about her, and the look she gives you isn’t just a casual flirtation.”

Song Baili didn’t answer immediately. She gently raised her hand to her lips, took a drag from the cigarette, and slowly exhaled. The smoke lingered in the air, adding depth to her expression.

Song Qinyao’s gaze lingered on Song Baili’s silent face, her heart pulled by an almost invisible thread. The more she felt uneasy, the stronger the pain in her chest became.

She bit her lower lip, a faint flush appearing, her voice soft and strained, like a spring frozen by ice, barely escaping:

“Are you falling for her?”

Song Baili exhaled a puff of smoke, the tendrils curling toward Song Qinyao, spreading gently around her.

“What do you think?” she asked, her voice light, the corners of her lips lifting slightly, her eyes gleaming with a star-like sparkle, the smile carrying a hint of mystery.

“Heh…” Song Qinyao suddenly grabbed the cigarette from Song Baili’s fingers, taking a deep drag. The bitter taste of tobacco filled her mouth, but she didn’t mind, as the strong taste eased some of the discomfort in her heart.

As she exhaled a ring of smoke, she felt a sting in her nose, her throat dry, and her vision blurred. She wasn’t sure if it was the smoke in the air or the tears in her eyes.

“The cigarette’s burning you. You should quit,” Song Baili said, snatching the nearly extinguished cigarette from Song Qinyao’s hand. With a quick flick of her fingers, it went out, the smoke dissipating, leaving behind a faint burnt scent.

Song Qinyao stood there, stunned, watching this sudden movement. It seemed to strike a chord in her heart.

She gazed at Song Baili’s long, delicate fingers, smooth and exquisite like jade, and an odd sensation stirred inside her.

Imagining how Song Baili had extinguished the cigarette with just her fingertip, a soft blush crept up her face. Her body seemed to burn with an unfamiliar heat, a warmth spreading through her as her heartbeat quickened and her breathing became more rapid.

“Are you listening to me?” Song Baili’s voice pierced the bubble of her thoughts, breaking her trance and plunging her into an awkward panic.

She couldn’t meet Song Baili’s gaze, her eyes darting away in unease. She quickly turned, staring into the distance.

In the quiet atmosphere, her emotions gradually calmed. Slowly, she spoke:

“Actually, I don’t smoke much. These cigarettes are just ones people often give me, and carrying a lighter is just for convenience when socializing.”

The wind on the balcony had become chilly, and Song Baili felt the cold seep into her skin. She glanced at Song Qinyao’s thin clothing, frowned slightly, and then shifted the topic:

“I’m a bit tired. Let’s go back and rest.”

As she spoke, she moved toward the door of the balcony, gently opening it. Just as her foot was about to step outside, she suddenly froze, her body coming to a halt.