Who taught him better?

If Asta's lessons were relaxed, full of jokes and the occasional exchange of jabs,

then Su Yue's lessons could be summed up in two words-

earnest and stern.

Shi Zhou leaned over the pool table, first assuming the stance he had just learned.

"Is this right, Yue?"

Su Yue watched him beside the green table, his upper body lying snug against it, his long, straight legs below. He turned his head slightly and asked in a small voice.

A fire flared inside Asta, burning so fiercely it knocked his very soul out of place. He ground his back teeth, caught Su Yue by the arm, and gave a derisive laugh.

"Aren't you in the wrong place? This is our date time."

His expression was icy, his voice cool and edged with sharpness, nothing like the way he had spoken to Shi Zhou earlier.

Only a few minutes after seeing Su Yue, he had already figured out the other man's intentions. Naturally, he had no friendly looks to spare.

You two aren't even a couple. What date?

Su Yue met his eyes, then freed himself from Asta's right hand, whose knuckles had gone white despite the relatively loose grip.

So he knew that himself.

But Su Yue would not say it aloud. He was not interested in scoring a momentary verbal victory.

He knew Asta had yet to make a real move not because he was incapable, but because he was still confused and could not see his own feelings clearly.

Then there was no reason to enlighten him.

So he merely said, "Zhouzhou wants me to teach him."

The emphasis fell on "me."

Asta said nothing more.

He went to order a drink from a waiter, then stood sulking a short distance away with his arms folded.

Hmph. Let's see which of us teaches him better!

While listening to the two of them talk, Shi Zhou had already taken two shots on his own.

Seeing Su Yue approach, he called, "Yue."

Su Yue nodded. "Sorry for the wait."

Behind the monitor, Director Zhang sneered. Heh. Who was the one waiting, really?

Waiting from morning until night. You must have been desperate, huh?

But Su Yue was not the sort to let urgency show on his face.

He could lie motionless in the snow for two days and two nights to ambush a broodmother.

Naturally, he could keep training as usual in the training pod now and wait until evening to make his move,

then strike to kill.

"Lean down again. Let me see."

His voice was not stern, but there was little emotion in it either, as though Shi Zhou were merely an ordinary new recruit under his command.

"Oh."

For some reason, Shi Zhou remembered what Su Yue had been like when they first met. He did not dare squirm around the way he had with Asta and hurriedly lay down obediently, pressing his lips together as he waited for instructions.

Su Yue did not even look at his legs or lower body. Holding the cue in his right hand, he said coolly,

"Straighten your back."

Shi Zhou hurried to straighten it.

The next second, that long pool cue struck his waist without mercy!

"Mm!"

Shi Zhou trembled lightly all over from the blow. His back sagged until he lay flush against the felt, looking utterly drained, even his hands losing their grip.

Su Yue sounded helpless, his voice softening a little while the cue remained against Shi Zhou's slender waist.

"I didn't even use any force."

Shi Zhou whimpered softly, "It's cold."

Besides, his waist was very sensitive. A single touch tickled.

Afraid Su Yue would discover that and deliberately target the spot to punish him, he did not dare say a word. He quickly bit his lip, exerted a little more effort, and straightened his back again.

Watching him rise and sink, Su Yue's Adam's apple shifted slightly.

He was keenly sensitive to being watched. At once, he spotted Asta drinking a short distance away with his arms folded, along with the camera operator and several others staring in their direction.

He withdrew his gaze with a cold chuckle.

What could he possibly do here?

Why were they watching him so closely?

They stood neither too close nor too far apart. Su Yue lowered his lashes and took the long cue off Shi Zhou's waist,

then tightened his fingers and unceremoniously slid it between Shi Zhou's abdomen and the felt, making him tremble again.

Su Yue's ice-blue eyes remained impassive, as though he had noticed nothing.

"When playing pool, keep your core naturally lowered to provide stable support, and rotate with the motion of your shot..."

He was so strong that, with one hand behind his back, he casually lifted Shi Zhou's upper body a little with the other.

Standing perfectly straight, his handsome face betraying no emotion, he used the slender cue to adjust Shi Zhou's legs next.

Shi Zhou was wearing black casual dress pants today, and some white chalk inevitably rubbed onto them, leaving faint marks.

"For your legs, start with the most basic stance. One forward, one back, knees slightly bent for support, weight toward the front, both feet planted without shifting..."

Shi Zhou listened attentively, both hands clenched around his cue, not even daring to breathe too heavily.

As for the cue moving over his sensitive waist and abdomen and between his legs, he could only endure it silently, his legs trembling as he hoped it would end soon.

Whatever Su Yue told him to do, he hurried to do it.

Ugh.

Su Yue nodded. Shi Zhou did learn quickly. He was perceptive and obedient, mastering the basics with only a few pointers.

It was impossible to tell whether his tone held regret or satisfaction.

"You learn quickly. Good."

Did that mean Asta hadn't taught him well?

Shi Zhou did not dare say anything.

He breathed a sigh of relief. Was it finally over?

Something suddenly occurred to Su Yue, and he gave a cold chuckle.

They had probably been standing too close to see the full stance. That must have been why Asta hadn't corrected it.

His voice leaned toward the cool side, clear and crisp without being overbearing,

and he continued, "Try taking a shot."

Shi Zhou's heart rose into his throat again, and he grew a little nervous.

He took a shot, but it missed.

His ears turned red, and he stayed where he was, bent over the table.

"Ah, sorry-"

He heard unhurried footsteps beside him. The faint scent of cedar on Su Yue settled over him with the warm light. Through his thin shirt, Shi Zhou could feel the heat of Su Yue's palm against his arm, making even his breathing slow for a beat.

Su Yue came to his side. "Lower your waist a little more. Shift your weight forward."

He remained restrained and courteous throughout.

Only at the end did he hook his fingertips lightly around Shi Zhou's wrist and ease the cue a little farther into his hand, murmuring,

"Aim for the center of the cue ball. Push the cue forward gently. Don't force it."

The cue brushed over the felt with a soft sound. It struck the cue ball, which rolled steadily into a colored ball-

The latter rolled into a corner pocket with a crisp clack!

There was a reason competitive games like this drew people in. The joy of sinking the ball instantly swept away Shi Zhou's earlier awkwardness, and he sprang up with a laugh.

"It's in! It's in! Yay!"

Overjoyed, he went to look for the ball he had just pocketed, while Su Yue stayed where he was, holding the cue in one hand with the other tucked into his pocket.

He looked every inch a capable pool coach.

Asta came over holding his glass and asked with a smile, "Zhouzhou, which of us do you think taught you better?"

Elsewhere, Xie Jiali lay in bed watching the footage on the Mindnet and sneered.