The Taste of Love Starts in the Kitchen (GL) - Chapter 9

Song Baili gently pushed the door shut behind her. As she turned around, she suddenly felt a weight crash into her. The impact was so strong it threw her off balance. She stumbled backward and slammed against the door, the cold wood pressing against her back.

In the stillness of the room, their bodies pressed tightly together. The embrace felt timeless, like it existed outside of reality. To Song Qinyao, it was as if she were floating in a space where time stood still—a space where she and Song Baili would never have to part.

Song Baili softly reached out and ran her fingers through Qinyao’s hair. It was silky smooth, and in that gentle motion, she felt the passage of time.
She remembered the days when Qinyao was so small she could easily hold her in her arms. Now, somehow, she seemed a little taller than her.

When they moved to sit at the edge of the bed, the mattress dipped slightly under their weight. Their silhouettes fell softly against the floor, blending into the warm glow of the bedroom light.

“Is it your body that’s not feeling well, or is it your mood?”

“Both. But after seeing you, I feel much better.”

Baili had been on her feet at the shop all day and felt a bit tired. She stretched her legs and leaned back against the headboard, her head tilted slightly, one hand resting lazily on her stomach. She half-reclined on the bed in a relaxed posture.

Qinyao moved lightly, like a cat curling up in its favorite warm spot, and snuggled into Baili’s arms without a hint of hesitation.

She nestled her face against Baili’s chest, enjoying the soft warmth. Tilting her head, she breathed in the faint floral scent that clung to her sister, as if chasing after her warmth.

The whole scene felt dreamlike—flowers blooming, sunlight pouring in, birds chirping softly outside. It was as if nature itself echoed the gentle happiness Qinyao felt in that moment, like she’d found a slice of springtime love.

Though the woman in her arms was beautiful and enchanting, to Baili, Qinyao would always be that clingy little girl. She gently patted her back, like a mother coaxing her child to sleep.

Qinyao had sipped a few glasses of baijiu downstairs earlier, and the alcohol was starting to kick in. Her body relaxed, and her mood turned light and hazy. Her eyes, long and almond-shaped, curled upward with a hint of mischief. The tipsy warmth gave them a soft, alluring glow.

“Hey, Sis, can I ask you something? Do you have someone you like?”

Baili paused for a moment. The sudden question didn’t shake her calm. Her gaze remained composed, and her voice was calm and steady.

“No, I don’t have anyone I’m interested in.”

Qinyao’s lips curled up into a wide smile. It was so pure, so full of happiness, like she’d just heard the answer she’d been hoping for all along.

Baili looked down at the girl in her arms. Her face was as lovely as a blooming peach blossom—high nose, smooth jawline. She was growing more beautiful by the day. Baili couldn’t help but ask:

“What about you, Yaoyao? Do you have someone you like?”

“Yeah, I do.”

Qinyao answered right away, as if worried Baili hadn’t heard her. She raised her voice and even drew out the last word, clearly trying to make a point.

Downstairs, guests were still chatting over dinner, laughter echoing through the house. But Qinyao had chosen to sneak away alone.

Baili knew what she was feeling. She understood it was a case of unrequited love. But even so, she asked knowingly:

“You mean that handsome guy we saw downstairs just now?”

“Nope, not him. And he’s not that handsome anyway.”

Qinyao frowned slightly, as if something unpleasant had annoyed her. The slight curve of her lips showed her clear dislike.

Seeing this, Baili couldn’t hide the amusement in her eyes. Her gaze lingered on Qinyao’s face, as if trying to read her thoughts. Then she softly asked:

“Have Mom and Dad met this person you like?”

“They’ve met him. Actually, they know him pretty well.”

Baili froze for a second, a bit stunned.

As far as she remembered, Qinyao had never brought a guy home. But she’d been away overseas for a few years, and it hit her that maybe she’d missed a lot. She had no idea who Qinyao hung out with or what she’d been through.

“Then why are they still trying to set you up with someone?”

“They don’t know how I feel about him. If they did, they’d totally flip out. They’d probably lose it.”

Qinyao looked straight at Baili, trying to read her expression.

Then she looked away, a faint blush rising to her cheeks. Suddenly shy, she started playing with Baili’s fingers, letting her own gently slide across them.

“If I get to see him again, and if he really is a good guy, I’ll say something nice about him to Dad. That way, when I finally tell them, they won’t object as much.”

What Qinyao felt inside was like a messy riddle, even more tangled than Zhu Yingtai’s tragic love story.

In her heart, Baili was someone special—far beyond just family. Like a tightly sealed book, full of feelings and contradictions that were impossible to explain.

What a shame—Baili was even more clueless than Liang Shanbo!

“Sis, I’m feeling sleepy. I’m going to bed. Goodnight.”

But after saying goodnight, Qinyao didn’t leave. She chose to stay in Baili’s room.

Baili’s bed smelled just like her—a soft, comforting scent that filled the air, like her own signature.

The weather was getting colder, and Baili’s body warmth was like a down comforter in the chill of night. The mix of her scent and warmth brought a kind of happiness Qinyao couldn’t put into words.

The next morning, Qinyao slowly opened her eyes and realized she was wrapped around Baili like an octopus, arms and legs clinging tightly to her.

She carefully pulled out her numb arm, rolled to the side, and propped herself up to quietly watch Baili sleep.

Baili’s face was peaceful and soft in sleep, a rare sight. Her features were gentle and composed, eyes lightly closed, long lashes trembling slightly, lips parted just a bit—like she was dreaming something sweet.

Qinyao was mesmerized by the sight. Her eyes filled with tenderness and deep affection.

She raised a hand and gently stroked Baili’s cheek. A tiny spark shot through her fingers, like a jolt of electricity racing through her. Her heart pounded wildly, on the verge of breaking past reason.

Her fingers trembled slightly, hesitating. She clenched her fist and bit her lip, trying to stay calm. But her heart whispered—maybe just a little closer… just a little…

Qinyao leaned in slowly. The scent of Baili’s skin was intoxicating. She couldn’t help but breathe it in, the fragrance filling her lungs and spreading through her whole body.

A warm wave rushed through her, setting her nerves ablaze, stirring a heat deep inside her. Her heart raced, out of control.

In her sleep, Baili felt a soft breath against her ear and a gentle touch on her cheek, like the tip of a cat’s wet nose, sending tingles across her skin.

She flinched slightly, the sensation stirring her from sleep. She slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the light, and her gaze focused on the figure in front of her.

“Morning, Sis.”

Qinyao whispered, then placed a soft kiss on Baili’s forehead.

The gentle touch made Baili stiffen slightly, her eyes blinking in surprise. She hadn’t expected such an affectionate move.

With Qinyao’s energy growing bolder, Baili felt the heat rising around her. The emotions pressing in became overwhelming. It was getting hard to breathe.

She fumbled on the nightstand for her phone. After some searching, she found it and saw the time—it was already 7:30 AM.

Realizing it wasn’t the weekend, she turned to find Qinyao still in bed, stretching out comfortably while scrolling through her phone.

“You don’t have work today?”

“I told Dad I wasn’t feeling well, so he gave me the day off.”

“Are you really sick?”

Baili frowned slightly, then reached over and gently touched Qinyao’s forehead, checking her temperature.

It felt warm but normal. As she withdrew her hand, she noticed Qinyao’s cheeks were flushed pink, and even her ears were a little red. Under the morning light, her beauty seemed to glow, but the flush didn’t match her normal body temp.

“What’s with your face?”

Baili leaned in, frowning, studying Qinyao closely. Her clear eyes were calm but filled with concern.

“Don’t worry, Sis. I’ll be fine after lying down a bit. Go on with your day.”

With that, Qinyao suddenly turned her back and curled up under the covers, pulling the blanket over her head.

Baili sat silently for a moment, then gently reached over to touch the moving lump under the covers, her voice soft:

“Want me to call a doctor?”

Qinyao shifted slightly, wrapping herself tighter in the blanket. Though she didn’t show her face, Baili could sense her stubbornness.

“Maybe I’m just hungover. A little rest will help. Don’t worry about me, Sis. Go get ready for work.”

Faced with Qinyao’s insistence, Baili had no choice but to drop it. She looked like she wanted to say more but ended up keeping quiet.

When she heard the sound of water running in the bathroom, Qinyao finally kicked off the covers. She’d tried to smother her desire like a wild little beast—but ended up nearly smothering herself under the comforter.

Just a light forehead touch in the morning, and her body reacted like she’d been reading smut all night. She rushed off to her own room to take a cold shower and cool down.

When she came downstairs, she saw her mother, Zhong Yalei, sitting in the living room, looking elegant and composed.

It was strange to see her still at home at this hour. Sitting on the sofa with her back straight, legs crossed, and arms folded, she looked straight ahead with an air of sharpness so intense it felt like even mosquitoes wouldn’t survive in her presence.

Qinyao crept down the stairs like a cat, but her mother, sharp as ever, called her out as soon as she got behind her.

Zhong Yalei gave her a cold stare. Though Qinyao was dressed casually, it was clear she’d put thought into her outfit. And that “natural” beauty was definitely touched up with some light makeup.

Girls dress up for the ones they like, and Zhong Yalei could see it plain as day. Her daughter, usually so proud and hard to please, was now skipping work over a crush.

“So, you’re ‘not feeling well’ but still going out to play?”