Chapter 853: One Shot, One Hole

At the bar counter on B1, warm yellow lights radiated beneath the half-circle hanging cabinets, casting an intimate atmosphere around.

At this moment, Li Luo, dressed in a suit, elegantly transformed into a professional bartender.

A silver-colored cocktail shaker danced in his hands, quickly crafting two cocktails.

One pale blue, one deep red.

Li Luo handed the deep red cocktail to Xu Youyu and smiled: "Miss Xu, please."

"What kind of drink is this?" Xu Youyu lightly lifted the vividly colored cocktail, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

"This drink is called Red Hell," Li Luo chuckled. "Perfectly suits your situation today."

Upon hearing this, Xu Youyu's elegant expression instantly cracked; she glared, gritting her teeth: "... Do you even want to keep this bartender job?"

"Cough... If the guest doesn't like it, then try this one," Li Luo offered the pale blue cocktail.

"What's this drink called?" Xu Youyu asked suspiciously.

"This one is called Sea and Sky," Li Luo smiled. "As the saying goes, step back and the sea and sky open wide—sometimes, just stepping back and thinking carefully reveals things aren't as bad as they seem."

Xu Youyu's brow twitched: "... Can you stop making up nonsense? I've never heard of a cocktail named that."

"A professional bartender naturally creates his own unique recipes," Li Luo said with a smile. "This is my secret formula."

"Hmph~" Xu Youyu didn't believe his lies; she picked up the Red Hell, took a sip, and recognized the flavor: "It's just a Bloody Mary."

Then she picked up the other cocktail, Sea and Sky, and took a small sip: "This is Blue Hawaii."

"It's just a name," Li Luo said indifferently, then picked up the shaker again and casually mixed two new cocktails.

He made each serving small—just enough for one person to finish in two big sips.

The advantage was clear: since there were only two of them, they could sample more varieties of cocktails.

And less likely to get drunk from overdrinking.

"Miss Xu," Li Luo said after mixing ten cocktails in total, "earlier you said you wanted to play pool, right?"

"Yes," Xu Youyu smiled sweetly at Li Luo. "I'm not very good at it. Do you have any good ideas?"

"Of course," Li Luo nodded with a smile. "Tonight, I'm the only one here, and there are no other guests, so..."

"You'll teach me?"

"Exactly."

Li Luo nodded, wiped his hands with a clean Mao Jin, then stepped out from behind the bar.

"Miss Xu, please," Li Luo stood before Xu Youyu, gently cradling her outstretched right hand and helping her down from the high stool.

Xu Youyu followed Li Luo to the pool table and, as he set the balls in position, blinked and suggested: "Playing pool alone is boring—there should be a stake."

"What do you mean, Miss Xu?"

"Every time someone sinks a ball, the other person drinks a sip. How about it?"

"I'm afraid you won't be able to go home tonight."

"You've got to let me win a little," Xu Youyu pouted. "If I sink one, you drink. If you sink two, I drink. Deal?"

"You're the guest—I'll follow your rules," Li Luo smiled. "Shall I break?"

"Go ahead."

On the pool table, besides the white cue ball, there were fifteen colored balls, with the black eight-ball to be sunk last.

The remaining fourteen colored balls were divided into balls numbered 1 through 7 and 9 through 15, assigned to each player.

So normally, the winner would sink at least eight balls per game.

Li Luo executed a clean, decisive break—the fifteen colored balls scattered instantly.

Unfortunately, he didn't sink a single ball.

Now it was Xu Youyu's turn; she stepped to the table and looked at Li Luo: "You said you'd teach me—come on!"

"How do you want me to teach you?"

"Shouldn't that be your question?" Xu Youyu winked seductively at him. "I'll do whatever you say."

"Is that so?" Li Luo smiled, stepping beside her. "Listen to me: grip the cue stick, then bend your upper body—yes."

Xu Youyu obediently stood beside the pool table, lowering her upper body.

Li Luo naturally extended both arms, wrapping around her—one hand steadying her cue-holding arm, the other tightly gripping her cue-hand.

"See, like this," Li Luo said, helping her aim at the back of the white cue ball.

But the next second, he couldn't help himself—he stole a quick glance downward.

Technically, the pale blue dress Li Luo had chosen for Xu Youyu was relatively modest on top.

Normally, apart from a slight glimpse of her shoulders, little else was visible.

But in this position, it was impossible not to see.

Xu Youyu clearly sensed Li Luo's gaze, yet pretended not to notice, asking innocently: "Like this? What next?"

"Hmm... now pay attention to your grip—form a ninety-degree angle, control your strength," Li Luo pulled his gaze back, holding her hand and gently thrusting forward. "See, like this."

The cue stick struck the white ball precisely, sending it forward and pocketing the three-ball directly.

"Wow~" Xu Youyu clapped her hands happily as the three-ball dropped into the pocket. "You're really good! But I sank a ball—you have to drink."

"Mm." Li Luo accepted his loss, picked up a cocktail from the bar, and raised it to his lips.

But Xu Youyu stopped him in time, stepped before him, and took the glass from his hand with a smile.

"What's wrong? Didn't you say I had to drink? Are you suddenly reluctant?" Li Luo laughed.

"Of course not," Xu Youyu chuckled. "But since you helped me sink that ball, the drinking method should change—I'll feed you."

"That's not..." Li Luo began, but then watched Xu Youyu lower her head and take a sip herself.

The next second, she threw herself into his arms, pressed her lips to his.

Mmm... this sip of alcohol was truly intoxicating.

When Xu Youyu gracefully stepped away from Li Luo's arms, leaning back against the pool table with flushed cheeks and beckoning him with a finger, Li Luo could no longer hold back—he stepped forward, ready to pin her against the table.

But Xu Youyu gently pushed him away, giving him a look. "What are you thinking? You're the bartender, I'm the patron—don't go getting ideas. Besides, we haven't finished playing pool."

"Then what just now…"

"Didn't I say?" Xu Youyu smiled seductively. "That was just thanks for helping me sink the shot. Don't overthink it."

Hearing this, Li Luo took a deep breath, thinking: no wonder he called her Sister Youyu…

Even after over half a year of trying countless tricks together, she still managed to come up with something new.