Super Mixologist

"Sit down and eat!" Zhang Hupan pulled over a chair and pointed to it as he spoke to Liu Xizhen.

"Ah!" Liu Xizhen hurriedly covered her cherry-red lips with both hands, her face flushing crimson. She berated herself nonstop: How could I be so greedy? I'm doomed—I've embarrassed myself to death! I even sucked my fingers just now, didn't I? Oh heavens! How am I supposed to face him now?

Fortunately, the knowledge that Hu Zhiming and his group of lechers had passed on to Zhang Hupan during this time had come in handy. When a woman was embarrassed, one absolutely must not show any expression of mockery, or the consequences of her embarrassment turning into anger would be terrifying. For a Nascent Soul Stage expert, changing his appearance was a trivial matter, let alone merely controlling his facial expression! Thus, Zhang Hupan looked completely normal at that moment, without revealing the slightest abnormality. As for how hard he was laughing inside, that was known to no one!

Liu Xizhen lowered her head and bashfully took her seat at the dining table. She secretly peeked at Zhang Hupan with her beautiful eyes and, seeing that he showed no mocking or unusual expression, finally relaxed. She secretly congratulated herself on the fact that Zhang Hupan had not noticed her lapse. Alas, women were just so good at deceiving themselves!

Believing that Zhang Hupan had not noticed how she had eaten, Liu Xizhen gradually returned to normal. Looking at the pleasing, fragrant dishes spread across the table, her appetite stirred again. Her beautiful eyes drifted toward Zhang Hupan, who was seated opposite her, from time to time. She truly could not imagine that this plain and unassuming freshman could cook dishes so perfect in appearance, aroma, flavor, and texture—no, they could be called culinary masterpieces. Liu Xizhen was certain that she had never seen such exquisite dishes even at the Crown Prince Restaurant. Although she had yet to taste the other dishes, the Braised Pork Ribs she had just eaten had already stunned her as a heavenly delicacy. The others surely could not be much worse. Thinking of this, Liu Xizhen could not resist her curiosity—and, of course, the temptation of the food before her. Just as she was about to pick up her chopsticks, a voice rang out: "Wait!" She guiltily withdrew her delicate hand. After all, no woman wanted to be thought of as a greedy glutton. However, Zhang Hupan's next words made her realize that she had been worrying for nothing.

"Xizhen, would I have the honor of personally mixing you a cocktail?" Zhang Hupan asked with great gentlemanly grace, a cocktail shaker in hand.

Women were born with a curious nature, which was why nearly all gossip originated among women and spread among them at astonishing speed. As a woman, Liu Xizhen was no exception. Although she was not fond of spreading gossip, she was still intensely curious. Ever since Zhang Hupan had returned to the bar to fetch the cocktail shaker and foreign liquor, her heart had been filled with curiosity. Now that she heard Zhang Hupan was actually going to mix a drink, her innate feminine curiosity was completely roused.

"Hupan, you really know how to mix drinks? Then hurry up! I can't wait!" Liu Xizhen urged him like a little girl. Her beautiful eyes were fixed curiously on the bottle in Zhang Hupan's hand, as if she feared missing a single moment of the spectacular performance.

Zhang Hupan smiled and nodded at Liu Xizhen, then arranged the bottles and foreign liquors he needed in an orderly fashion on the dining table.

Suddenly, a sky full of cocktail bottles danced through the air like elusive sprites, flying gracefully and fluidly around Zhang Hupan. His hands seemed to possess magic. No matter how the bottles flew, they could never escape the restraint of his hands.

Sunlight streamed through the window and refracted through the bottles spinning in the air, reflecting a dazzling array of colors. The bottles flew faster and faster. In the end, Liu Xizhen could see only a sky full of star-like flashes of light. It looked mysterious and beautiful beyond words!

If Shangguan Yun's flair bartending was varied and colorful, then Zhang Hupan's performance had already surpassed the limits of language. It could only be described as miraculous—a divine skill.

Liu Xizhen was completely stunned by Zhang Hupan's performance. She cried out inwardly without pause: Is this really the bartending I know? No, this seems more like an incomparably magnificent magic trick. No, this is the kind of performance that should only appear in the immortal realm!

The way Liu Xizhen looked at the performance—and at Zhang Hupan—was filled with fascination. The young man before her had given her far too many surprises. He was a rural freshman who spoke authentic New York English, had become as close as family with her daughter, who never spoke to strangers, dominated every athletic competition, possessed astonishing culinary skills, and now performed flair bartending with supernatural skill! Was this really the plain and unassuming young man she knew? She had no idea what other surprises he might bring her.

Before long, a dazzling Seven-Colored Rainbow appeared on the table before Liu Xizhen. Looking at the drink, as brilliant as a rainbow in the sky, Liu Xizhen was deeply shaken once again. Although Shangguan Yun could also mix a "Seven-Colored Rainbow," its pure hues and distinct layers were utterly incomparable to the drink before her. Shangguan Yun had merely stiffly mixed seven colors and given it the flattering name "Seven-Colored Rainbow," while the "Seven-Colored Rainbow" mixed by Zhang Hupan was a true rainbow from the heavens!

Liu Xizhen held her breath, as if afraid that her exhalation might ruin the perfect, dazzling rainbow before her. Her slender jade hand did not dare touch the glass.

Seeing Liu Xizhen gaze at and protect his "Seven-Colored Rainbow" as if it were a precious treasure, Zhang Hupan felt both happy and amused. Cocktails of this level were something he could casually mix tens of millions of ways.

"Don't just look at it! Have a drink and see how it tastes," Zhang Hupan said with a smile.

"No, no! How could you bear to drink something so beautiful?" Liu Xizhen shielded the "Seven-Colored Rainbow" on the table with her jade arm as though protecting a treasure.

Seeing how nervous Liu Xizhen was, Zhang Hupan felt both exasperated and amused. With a casual wave, he mixed three or four more "Seven-Colored Rainbows" and said, "See? There are plenty more here—enough for you to look at. Now you can drink the one in front of you, right?"

Liu Xizhen's face reddened slightly as she carefully lifted the "Seven-Colored Rainbow" from the table and took a small sip. A clear, sweet, richly fragrant liquid slid down her throat. In an instant, an indescribably refreshing sensation spread through her entire body, and a flush blossomed across her pretty face.

"It's delicious!" Liu Xizhen could not help exclaiming. Then she took a large gulp. The refreshing sensation flowed through her body again, and every pore seemed to open. Liu Xizhen could no longer resist the temptation of such a delicious cocktail and began her first bout of "drunkenness" in her life. Fortunately, Zhang Hupan had taken into consideration that the cocktail was made for a beauty, so its alcohol content was extremely low. Otherwise, with Liu Xizhen's tolerance, she would already have been dead drunk.

The drinks vanished one glass after another, while the dishes on the table were swept away by Liu Xizhen at a speed like an autumn wind scattering fallen leaves. Even with Zhang Hupan's abilities, he managed to eat only a few scraps. Fortunately, Zhang Hupan was an immortal who did not need mortal sustenance. Otherwise, after the intense exertion of climbing mountains, shopping, cooking, and mixing drinks, followed by such abuse of his stomach, he would have suffered internal bleeding at the very least!

"Wow, I'm really full!" Liu Xizhen leaned back in her chair with satisfaction, gently stroking her slightly protruding belly with her jade hand.

"Ah!" Liu Xizhen cried out as though shocked by electricity and sprang to her feet. Then, like a bashful young girl, she blushed and asked Zhang Hupan shyly, "Are you full?"

Seeing Liu Xizhen's flustered appearance, Zhang Hupan could not help finding it amusing. He teased her, "Haha, greedy girl! I secretly ate in the kitchen earlier. Otherwise, my stomach would have been done for!"

Hearing Zhang Hupan call her greedy, Liu Xizhen's already flushed face turned even redder. She hurriedly said, "You rest for a while. I'll clean up the dishes!" With that, she lowered her head, hastily gathered the bowls and chopsticks from the table, and ran into the kitchen. After putting them down, Liu Xizhen covered her burning cheeks and stomped her feet repeatedly, her cherry-red lips muttering nonstop, "How could I lose control like that in front of him? How could I drink and eat so shamelessly? This is so embarrassing! How am I supposed to go back out and face him now?" (To be continued)