Chapter 223 - 190: An Online Flirt, a Real-life Dork

Chapter 223: Chapter 190: An Online Flirt, a Real-life Dork

By 9 PM, Yunzun High-altitude Restaurant and Bar was already at full capacity.

Soothing jazz music drifted through the air, punctuated by the occasional burst of laughter from the patrons.

Gu Heng stood before the central bartending station. The deep walnut bar glowed with a warm luster under the soft light, flanked by bartenders who were busily at work.

One was using an ice pick to sculpt a transparent ice sphere; another was rhythmically shaking a cocktail shaker with both hands. Gu Heng, meanwhile, had rolled up the sleeves of his expensive shirt and was learning to mix a cocktail with keen interest.

Already handsome and fair-skinned, Gu Heng was positioned at the center of the bar, bathed in the soft, atmospheric lighting from above. He was, frankly, a little too eye-catching.

The tables in front of the bar, for example, were noticeably more crowded than usual, and predominantly with young women. They appeared to be drinking and chatting, but in reality, their gazes were frequently drifting toward Gu Heng.

"Hmm..."

"Not bad at all."

Following the bartender’s professional guidance, Gu Heng had just mixed his first-ever cocktail: the Brahma World. It was a fusion of a sandalwood whiskey base, Bénédictine D.O.M., salted plum coffee vodka, sherry, dark chocolate, and several other ingredients.

There was a certain pleasant satisfaction in drinking a cocktail you’d mixed yourself.

Just as Gu Heng was sampling the Brahma World, a familiar figure appeared before him. It was Liu Nanyi. Wearing a floral slip dress and carrying a slice of cake with both hands, she walked right up to the bar stool in front of him and sat down.

Perhaps from drinking, Liu Nanyi’s sweet, pretty face was flushed, making her look inexplicably delicate and cute.

"Gu Heng, here, have some cake~"

"I cut it for you myself. And it’s the very first slice of the whole cake, you know~"

Liu Nanyi offered the cake to Gu Heng with both hands, her clear voice tinged with a charming naivety and shyness.

"Thanks."

Gu Heng took the cake from her. He looked at her slightly bashful expression and suddenly let out a soft chuckle.

"You... What are you laughing at?"

Already feeling a little self-conscious, Liu Nanyi grew restless when she saw Gu Heng look at her and laugh.

"Isn’t a certain someone quite bold online?"

A smile played on Gu Heng’s lips. He leaned his arms on the bar, watching her with amusement. "So how come you’re getting all shy now that we’ve met in person?"

"I..."

"I just... wasn’t mentally prepared!"

"Who could’ve guessed we’d run into each other today!"

Liu Nanyi replied, feigning composure.

"Oh~"

"So that’s how it is~"

Gu Heng feigned a look of realization as well, before his tone suddenly shifted. "So, is Captain Liu’s flight still scheduled for takeoff tonight? Do you still need me to send you photos?"

Gu Heng’s last two questions completely shattered Liu Nanyi’s feigned composure. Her pretty face flushed crimson at a speed visible to the naked eye, and she looked like she wanted to crawl under the table in embarrassment.

"You..."

"If you... send me a picture, I..."

"I guess I could reluctantly take off just once... This time, I want a picture of your hands."

Liu Nanyi remained flustered for a long moment before stammering out her reply.

"Oh?"

"Getting picky, are we?"

Gu Heng raised an eyebrow. "And what do you mean, ’reluctantly’? Have you found another airline to fly with?"

"Hmph..."

"It’s your fault for being so half-hearted with me lately."

Liu Nanyi sniffed. "If that’s how it’s going to be, I’ll just have to fend for myself and find my own... material to watch."

"I’m sorry..."

Gu Heng said suddenly.

Liu Nanyi froze. She hadn’t expected him to actually apologize.

But before she could even feel touched, he continued, "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so obvious about it that you actually noticed."

Liu Nanyi stared into Gu Heng’s eyes, which were brimming with mirth. She was so furious she could have screamed.

’Touched?’

’Not in the slightest!’

"I’m just kidding."

Gu Heng explained with a smile, "The reason I wasn’t replying much a while back is because I was on a business trip in Zhonghai. I had business dinners almost every night and was working late, so I barely had time to check my phone."

"Oh, so that’s why."

Seeing that Gu Heng was actually willing to explain himself, Liu Nanyi felt an unexpected flutter of joy.

"Do you know why I was laughing earlier?"

Gu Heng took a sip of his Brahma World and asked at a leisurely pace.

"Why?"

Liu Nanyi asked, her curiosity piqued.

"Because when I saw you, a certain phrase just popped into my head, and it seemed to fit you perfectly."

Gu Heng replied with a smile.

"What phrase?"

Liu Nanyi looked at him suspiciously. "I have a feeling it’s not going to be very flattering."

"A little siren online~"

"A little dork in person~"

The mirth in Gu Heng’s eyes deepened as he slowly spoke the phrase.

"Who..."

"Who’s a little siren online!"

"I’ve only ever been like that with you, okay?!"

Liu Nanyi’s face flushed, her expression a mixture of shame and indignation. "And I’m a perfectly cheerful and outgoing girl in real life! I was just caught off guard seeing you so suddenly and my brain froze for a second, that’s why I seemed a little dazed. How does that make me a little dork?!"

"So being a siren to me doesn’t count as being a siren?"

"And being a dork in front of me doesn’t count as being a dork?"

Gu Heng spread his hands. "My description is perfectly accurate!"

"Ngh..."

"Well, I’m not!"

Liu Nanyi muttered under her breath, her cheeks puffed out slightly.

With that, she glanced at the cocktail in front of him. "What are you drinking? It looks good."

Gu Heng replied casually, "It’s our bar’s signature cocktail, the Brahma World. I mixed this one myself. The taste probably isn’t quite as good as our professional bartenders’, but I think it turned out alright."