Qin Ruoying's attention was all on Chu Ge at this moment, completely ignoring the displeased looks from the surrounding guests. Hearing Chu Ge's words, she couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Brother-in-law, do you know how to bartend?"

Chu Ge chuckled, "I know a little, can't say it's great, but definitely better than the two drinks on our table right now."

If the surrounding guests could barely hold back at Chu Ge's earlier words, this statement made it impossible for them to stay silent.

A guy in his twenties, dressed smartly, clearly a wealthy young man, was the first to lose his patience. He snorted heavily and said disdainfully in Chu Ge's direction, "Bro, aren't you boasting a bit too much? Are you saying your bartending skills surpass Master Wu's?"

At the same table, another man with an unfriendly expression chimed in, "Exactly, Master Wu is the only senior bartender in Lidu. If it wasn't for his bar just opening, do you think you could taste a drink he personally mixed?"

At another table, a man in his forties also stood up for Master Wu, frowning and saying, "Young man, just a few hundred bucks for a drink personally made by Master Wu is already a huge luck for you, yet you dare to question his skills? I've seen arrogant people, but none as arrogant as you."

Some other nearby guests didn't speak, but their expressions showed they shared the same enemy, looking at Chu Ge with ridicule and disdain.

A seemingly casual remark unexpectedly aroused everyone's anger, leaving Chu Ge dumbfounded.

Perhaps this Master Wu was indeed a remarkable bartender, but in Chu Ge's opinion, as far as his "Fleeting Clouds" invention was concerned, Master Wu's concoction wasn't impressive.

Chu Ge brought Qin Ruoying out to relax, not to seek trouble. However, just as he was about to say something polite to calm everyone down and take Qin Ruoying to another bar to mix her a drink, Qin Ruoying snorted and spoke up under those unfriendly gazes.

"Master Wu? I've never heard of him. I say, aren't you guys too bored? We're drinking our drinks, what's it to you?"

To Qin Ruoying, these people seemed completely inexplicable. Chu Ge merely said something casually, were these people so idle that they'd react like that?

After Qin Ruoying finished speaking, she glanced at Chu Ge and said, "Brother-in-law, don't mind them, let's continue with our drinks. Didn't you say you'd make me a drink? Then show me what you've got."

Chu Ge was speechless. Judging by these people's reactions, they must be devotees of Master Wu. If he hadn't spoken the truth, they would not have targeted him.

So, Chu Ge really didn't want to argue with them, but Qin Ruoying insisted on saying something, which made these people even more annoyed, turning him and Qin Ruoying into targets.

However, he didn't think Qin Ruoying was wrong to stand up and say what she did. If something is good, it's good; if it's bad, it's bad. Can't people speak the truth?

Ultimately, Chu Ge didn't want to get into any conflict while with Qin Ruoying. He stood up from his seat, smiling as he said to her, "Yingying, let's just go to another bar, and I'll mix you a drink."

Before Qin Ruoying could speak, the young man who had stood up for Master Wu earlier snorted again, giving Chu Ge a disdainful look and said, "Heh... Didn't you just say Master Wu's skills are not as good as yours? And now you're backing down? Couldn't keep up the act? Why brag if you can't deliver?"

Qin Ruoying glared like a little pepper, countering, "Watch your mouth! My brother-in-law, backing down? You must be joking. He's just being kind, trying to leave some face for Master Wu. Otherwise, when my brother-in-law mixes a drink, he'd definitely overshadow him immediately."

Chu Ge broke out in a cold sweat; Qin Ruoying was spot on. That's exactly what he was thinking. He had no grudges with this Master Wu and naturally didn't want to diminish his reputation being upheld by others.

At the same time, Chu Ge didn't expect Qin Ruoying to have such faith in him. She had no idea he could bartend, yet she didn't doubt his ability in this area at all.

"Hmph, nice words. Then show us! Bro, can you be a man and stop letting a woman stand up for you? I'm telling you, Master Wu is my idol. If you don't mix a drink for me right now, don't think about leaving this place."

Chu Ge wanted to take Qin Ruoying away, but the young man, who had been confronting him, blocked his path. Meanwhile, four or five compatriots surrounded Chu Ge and Qin Ruoying.

Faced with this situation, Chu Ge was at a loss for words, feeling both helpless and amused.

If he really wanted to leave, these people wouldn't be able to stop him; he could make these guys fall flat in a heartbeat. But since he had no grudges with them, this conflict was merely a clash of egos.

Helplessly glancing at Qin Ruoying and then at the young man who claimed to be a Master Wu fan, Chu Ge rubbed his forehead, sat back down, crossed his legs, lit a cigarette, and said, "Alright then, I'll mix a drink."

To prevent the situation from getting worse, Chu Ge disregarded Master Wu's reputation.

And honestly, whether it was "Fleeting Clouds" or "Horizon," they were all originally his creations. Regardless of how Master Wu figured them out, he essentially learned from him.

After all, he had only taught Guo Hao how to make this drink. If that Master Wu learned it from Guo Hao, then in a sense, that Master Wu could be considered his grand-disciple.

When Chu Ge said this, everyone around was taken aback. They didn't expect him to really accept the challenge, and moreover, his expression showed not a hint of panic. Instead, he wore an amused and speechless look.

Qin Ruoying also let out a long sigh of relief internally. Despite her previous assertive demeanor, she actually had no confidence deep down.

In fact, Qin Ruoying didn't know whether Chu Ge was joking with her or if he really could make drinks. But seeing someone provoke Chu Ge, she felt uneasy and impulsively chose to support Chu Ge, reasoning be damned.

Taking a puff of smoke, Chu Ge glanced around the crowd and happened to catch sight of the cowgirl who had just served him wine. With a slight smile, he said, "Miss, could you please bring me what I need for making drinks?"

Seeing Chu Ge's casual demeanor, the crowd around him became even more perplexed. They frowned, their eyes filled with skepticism.

Everyone wanted to see if this person, who claimed that Master Wu's drinks weren't that great, was really confident or just bluffing and putting on airs.

When Chu Ge, unhurriedly, listed the drinks, beverages, and tools he needed, Qin Ruoying felt reassured while the others became even more curious and doubtful.

Soon, the cowgirl, filled with confusion, placed all the items Chu Ge needed on the table. Without wasting a word, Chu Ge picked them up and began to mix the drink at a steady pace under the watchful eyes of everyone.

It wasn't long before a glass of "Fleeting Clouds" was completed. Chu Ge smiled at Qin Ruoying, "Yingying, don't you love watching the mist? Go ahead, light it up."

Since Chu Ge had said so, Qin Ruoying immediately took the lighter he handed her, but she didn't rush to light it. Instead, with a playful smirk on her lips, she glanced around at the many faces that looked as bizarre as they could be.

Just moments ago, the crowd was all aggressive, looking at Chu Ge with dissatisfaction. Now, they all looked awkward and avoided eye contact when Qin Ruoying's gaze swept over them.

Even though Qin Ruoying hadn't lit the drink on fire yet, just seeing Chu Ge's calmness and observing the entire mixing process convinced them that this was indeed a glass of "Fleeting Clouds."

However, even still, they could not believe that this drink would be better than one personally concocted by Master Wu.

In the gathering gaze, Qin Ruoying flicked her thumb, and with a "click," the lighter ignited. Immediately, the glass of "Fleeting Clouds" prepared by Chu Ge began to exhibit the changes associated with the drink.

Five seconds passed, and someone whispered.

Ten seconds went by, and no one spoke. There was only the sound of gulping swallowing amidst extreme shock.

Thirty seconds later, the entire scene fell into complete silence.

Fifty seconds, fifty-one seconds, fifty-two seconds... fifty-eight seconds, fifty-nine seconds, one minute!

Above the glass, mist more brilliant than Master Wu's "Fleeting Clouds" was still swirling!

Finally, nearly a minute and a half later, that mist, colorful and swirling, completely dissipated. Everyone present had expressions like they were carved from the same mold or had been collectively petrified, utterly astonished in the silent moment!

After a moment, Qin Ruoying was the first to recover, turning her entranced gaze from where the mist disappeared back to Chu Ge's face.

There was no trace of smugness or pride, just a slightly helpless signature smile.

"Brother-in-law, you... you're too incredible!"

Qin Ruoying's excited voice broke the surrounding silence.

The young man who first questioned Chu Ge twitched his mouth a few times, frowning tightly and biting his lip in defiance.

"Hmph, so what if the mist lasts longer? Who knows how this drink tastes? Maybe the longer the mist lasts, the more of a failure it is!"

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