Fortunately, Qin Menglu and Fan Le were both easygoing people, so the three of them together didn’t feel too awkward. Qin Menglu, now completely relaxed, even fully displayed her potential as a lively, street-smart girl…
“Brother Fan, treat her well, okay? It’s been quite a while since Cheng Ying left. It’s time for you to start a new relationship; only then can you truly move on!”
Looking at Qin Menglu, who appeared completely sincere and without ulterior motives, Fan Le patted Xiao Yufan’s shoulder and whispered softly, just loud enough for the two of them to hear. It seemed that Fan Le held quite a high opinion of Qin Menglu.
“She’s just not my type… Besides, I’m already used to being free. Having someone around now might only make things worse…”
Xiao Yufan smiled rather stiffly. Since his breakup with Cheng Ying, he hadn’t thought about the future. Perhaps he had truly gotten used to being alone, bearing his own burdens, cold or warm—it was actually quite fine!
For a moment, even Fan Le didn’t know what to say. He was well aware that Xiao Yufan still carried deep wounds in his heart, because Xiao Yufan had always been a very emotional person.
“Why did you suddenly go quiet? This rum is really delicious. I never knew drinking could be this enjoyable…”
Qin Menglu quietly savored the golden rum, her face flushed slightly from the alcohol. Soon, she had completely finished the cocktail.
“This is still pretty low-grade rum. By the way, you know Brother Fan is a master mixologist. Why don’t you ask him to make you a cocktail?”
Upon hearing Qin Menglu’s words, Fan Le suddenly seemed to recall something. His eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as he began scheming again, thinking about how he could get another cocktail mixed by Xiao Yufan. That previous Blue Margarita had left an unforgettable impression on him.
Fan Le’s suggestion immediately sparked Qin Menglu’s interest. Even though she didn’t know much about alcohol, she understood the concept of mixology. Naturally, she became even more curious about Xiao Yufan…
With a look of anticipation in her eyes, Qin Menglu watched Xiao Yufan shake his head helplessly. He could at least fulfill this small request for her. He might as well treat her to a welcoming drink.
“I can tell what you’re up to just by how you wiggle your butt, though you’ve certainly gotten more sophisticated in your methods. You know how to target my weaknesses now. Since that’s the case, I’ll teach you how to mix drinks as a reward for your generosity today!”
Jumping off his seat, Xiao Yufan walked toward the bar counter. It wasn’t necessarily because he wanted to show off in front of Qin Menglu, but rather because he wanted to channel all his emotions through mixing drinks. Although he appeared calm on the surface, his heart was far from peaceful—his grandfather’s death and the mystery of his origins weighed heavily on him like burdens.
Xiao Yufan exuded a unique aura, one that naturally drew many people’s attention. As soon as he appeared at the bar counter, several people had already turned their gazes toward him.
Compared to others’ surprise, Qin Menglu felt more puzzled. She realized she couldn’t quite figure this man out. The flirtatiousness she had seen at first meeting now contrasted sharply with his current aloofness—two completely different personalities manifesting in one person.
Inhaling deeply and appreciatively, Xiao Yufan savored the scent of the various base liquors. He wasn’t someone who drank excessively, yet he had a special fondness for alcohol. Perhaps this was a common trait among all bartenders—an intense passion was necessary to excel.
Finally, Xiao Yufan slowly opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flashed across them, causing everyone to feel a sudden chill. An inexplicable sense of melancholy filled the entire bar.
“Do you like something stronger?” Xiao Yufan asked Qin Menglu and Fan Le while continuing his precise mixing without missing a beat.
Both nodded excitedly—Fan Le was thrilled at the prospect of tasting the exquisite drink, while Qin Menglu was captivated by Xiao Yufan’s incredibly skillful techniques. After only a day of interaction, she had already developed a strong interest in him.
Mixing drinks wasn’t about flashy techniques, but rather about accurate judgment. Even the slightest variation in the proportions of ingredients could significantly alter the flavor. A good bartender would never allow such imprecision.
This time, Xiao Yufan chose to mix a relatively mild cocktail among strong spirits. This particular cocktail was known as the “Prince of Melancholy Spirits”—the Devil’s Graveyard.
As black rum mixed with tequila, a slightly pungent aroma emerged. Following this, Xiao Yufan precisely added several other ingredients…
The combination of six different spirits created a unique sensation. Just by smelling the aroma, one could imagine approaching the Devil’s Graveyard. Seeing the increasingly vibrant color, Fan Le couldn’t help but smacking his lips exaggeratedly. If not for the fear of ruining his image in front of the beauty, he might have drooled.
Melancholy emotions swirled within the tall glass. Quietly feeling this sensation, Xiao Yufan continued shaking the glass rapidly—only this could fully release the strength of the spirits…
“It’s like watching magic! I never knew mixing drinks could be this fun!” Qin Menglu stared intently at the changing colors within the glass, her eyes sparkling with fascination. She was naturally curious about the unknown.
Eventually, his movements slowed down, and the emotional tension around Xiao Yufan dissipated. The Devil’s Graveyard cocktail sat quietly on the bar counter, as if it had absorbed all his emotions.
After a long hesitation, thunderous applause erupted throughout the bar. Although they hadn’t tasted Xiao Yufan’s cocktail yet, the atmosphere he created had already moved them. This was the presence a true bartender should possess, and they firmly believed Xiao Yufan had profound expertise in mixology.
Pouring the Devil’s Graveyard into two glasses, Xiao Yufan carried the two drinks off the bar counter. He was responsible only for mixing the drinks; the task of drinking them would be left to Qin Menglu and Fan Le…
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