NOVEL NEXT Ch. 37
Chapter 37: Greedy Nobility
Bai Lengci spoke lightly.
“Old Fashioned.”
When Bai Lengci said the name of this drink, she did not deliberately act pretentious and pronounce it in English, but instead used the Chinese name.
Xiao Ran did not care about such details, but when she heard Bai Lengci recommending this drink to her, she was surprised.
Old Fashioned.
Its recipe was extremely simple.
Whiskey, sugar cube, bitters, water, plus a slice of orange peel.
But precisely because of that, it had nearly demanding requirements for the quality of the base spirit, the degree to which the sugar dissolved, the ratio of bitters, the stirring technique, and even the quality of the ice sphere.
Any flaw would be magnified endlessly.
In an era that pursued fancy presentations and sweetness, ordering this drink often made people who didn’t understand think it was rustic or lacking in sophistication.
But true connoisseurs knew how rare a perfect Old Fashioned was.
“Oh?”
“Then I’ll have an Old Fashioned.”
When Xiao Ran heard this drink’s name, she grew a bit curious.
She indeed liked Old Fashioned, only that in an unfamiliar bar where she was uncertain about the bartender’s skill, she preferred safer choices like Gin and Tonic or Negroni.
Then she asked again.
“How did you know I was a seasoned drinker?”
Bai Lengci had already begun moving, taking out a fine block of aged ice, fixing it with tongs, then carving it.
Without lifting her head, she replied.
“That Gin and Tonic you ordered earlier, the lemon wedge was thoroughly squeezed and dropped into the glass, instead of simply being used as decoration.That’s the old-fashioned way to maximize flavor release, and it’s the first choice of seasoned drinkers.”
There was actually one more thing Bai Lengci didn’t say—she had seen the school doctor sister trick Lin Zheng into drinking two Zombie cocktails known as “the losing-virginity drink,” and it was obvious she knew that cocktail had a very high alcohol content.
Xiao Ran asked again.
“Eh, then why did you just recommend a Martini to our Zhu Zhu? She doesn’t look like the kind of person who would enjoy such a mature-tasting drink.”
Bai Lengci’s calm voice came through:
“Martini, ‘shaken, not stirred.’”
She first said that world-famous line, then added.
“But true connoisseurs would say, ‘stirred, not shaken.’ To avoid the ice over-cracking and diluting the drink, and to preserve its smooth, strong taste.”
Bai Lengci looked toward Yan Junzhu.
“This young lady earlier ordered a Mojito. The Mojito’s popularity was in large part due to Hemingway. That famous writer, during his time in Cuba, was extremely fond of it, even once saying ‘My mojito in La Bodeguita.’ Those who chose Mojitos perhaps subconsciously identified with a certain artistic, free, slightly unrestrained romantic imagination.”
“I guess this young lady might have ordered Mojito for the same reason.”
Bai Lengci continued.
“But this young lady… Her unrestrainedness was not superficial indulgence or eccentricity.
By choosing Mojito, what she appreciated perhaps was that restrained romanticism Hemingway wrote of, wandering at the edges of order, rather than pure sweetness or numb intoxication.
And the Martini I recommended to her—that was not the drink of the disheartened.
It was supremely simple, yet supremely demanding.
Unlike Mojito, which wore the refreshing guise of mint and lime, Martini was direct, austere, its brilliance hidden within.
Just like this young lady, she had no need to dress herself with sweetness or flamboyance.
Her inner intensity and principles were enough to uphold the purest flavors and the most essential tests.
The strength of Martini was a sober and restrained strength.
Its richness was a richness tempered through time.
This drink suited the character within her more closely.”
After finishing, Bai Lengci pushed a glass of Old Fashioned to Xiao Ran.
“Your Fashioned, Old Fashioned cocktail. Please enjoy.”
After listening, Yan Junzhu suddenly lifted her head.
In her always gentle and calm eyes, for the first time appeared a clear sense that under a stranger’s gaze, all disguises and protective layers were instantly stripped away.
This suddenly left her without a sense of security, and she couldn’t help but grow wary of Bai Lengci.
Xiao Ran, seeing Yan Junzhu’s instantly taut profile and the flash of panic in her eyes, immediately understood that Bai Lengci had guessed correctly.
Suppressing her inner astonishment, she picked up the Old Fashioned, and lightly took a sip.
The mellow bourbon aroma, perfectly balanced sweetness, and the complex herbal notes of bitters blended seamlessly.
With the slow melting of the aged ice, the taste maintained a strong yet rounded force.
“Mmm…!”
Xiao Ran couldn’t help letting out a satisfied sigh.
“It really is delicious.”
This Old Fashioned’s level far exceeded her expectations, even comparable to some head bartenders of top bars.
She set down her glass, her gaze burning as she looked at Bai Lengci.
These past few days, Bai Lengci had indeed crammed a huge amount of knowledge about spirits, cocktail history, classic recipes, and even drinking culture.
Her nearly photographic memory after her mutation and her powerful logical analysis ability allowed her to digest and master theoretical knowledge in a very short time.
At this moment, aside from lacking years of hands-on experience, her theoretical understanding and knowledge reserve had already surpassed most ordinary bartenders.
She would not allow herself to make any ignorant mistakes in this temporarily chosen field.
“Little beauty, what’s your name? Is it really Aria? Your real name or a stage name?”
“Mm……”
Bai Lengci hesitated for a moment, not answering.
“Hehe~ Shy? Fine, fine, then another one.”
“How old are you?”
Bai Lengci spoke calmly.
“Miss, I think I’ve already answered many of your questions. What you’re asking now has gone beyond what a bartender should answer.”
“Oh? Beyond?”
Xiao Ran raised an eyebrow.
Not only did she not feel offended, she actually found it even more interesting.
Her red lips curled.
She drew five crisp hundred-yuan bills from her handbag and placed them into the tip tray beside Bai Lengci’s hand, where there were already some scattered notes.
“Now, can you answer? Elder sister here is very curious.”
Bai Lengci’s gaze lingered on the five hundred yuan for less than half a second before moving away.
She thought to herself: The school doctor sister’s money really was easy to earn.
“Eighteen.”
Xiao Ran: “……”
She froze for a second, staring at Bai Lengci’s delicate face that showed not the slightest guilt, and couldn’t help but sneer.
“Heh… I thought you were so aloof, but turns out you’re just someone with eyes set on money.”
When Bai Lengci heard this, her face showed neither displeasure nor embarrassment.
She didn’t even look at Xiao Ran again, simply turned around calmly to prepare the next order, her movements smooth and natural.
Xiao Ran watched Bai Lengci’s silent, seemingly indifferent demeanor.
Instead of getting angry, she actually felt as if every cell in her body had been jolted by a weak current, a hard-to-describe thrill rising from her spine.
Why?
Why was she so excited?
It was like… like… whips? Candle wax?
No!
Startled by the terrible associations suddenly appearing in her mind, Xiao Ran’s cheeks flushed slightly.
She hurriedly picked up her glass and drank heavily, trying to suppress that inexplicable restlessness.
Xiao Ran then took out another five hundred yuan and placed it into the tip tray, letting out a cold snort.
“Still in school? Senior year?”
Bai Lengci answered.
“Mm.”
“Where? No.1 or No.2 High School?”
“…No.1.”
“No.1?! Which class?”
“…You’ll know later.”
“We know each other?”
“……”
“Tsk~”
“Blood type?”
“…O.”
“Zodiac sign? Ah, let me guess, must be Scorpio or Capricorn, right?”
“…Capricorn.”
While answering these meaningless questions, Bai Lengci continued handling her orders.
But Xiao Ran’s questions grew more personal, faster, carrying the determination to dig everything out.
“Hobbies? What do you usually like doing?”
“Reading.”
“What kind of books? Don’t tell me it’s ‘The Complete Book of Cocktails’?”
“…Anything.”
“Got a boyfriend? Or a girlfriend?”
“No.”
“What kind do you like?”
Bai Lengci answered flatly.
“Rich.”