" Tom! You're doomed!" Becky exclaimed, facepalming. Tom looked puzzled, and Becky explained, "Didn't you see that the couple was having a chat? And you just barged in and interrupted? Are you trying to get yourself into trouble? Didn't you see what happened to Jack?"
Tom then belatedly realized what was happening, scratched his head, and chuckled twice, "Um, sorry, sorry, I disturbed you!"
"It's alright, do as you please," Hermione said nonchalantly.
Tom's interruption conveniently rescued her from Draco's unsettling announcement of the tutoring session.
Draco, though interrupted, showed no displeasure. He politely replied, "I wouldn't call it instruction, just a friendly exchange. Since you'd like to try, I'll gladly oblige."
"Great! That's really kind of you!" Tom exclaimed, overjoyed to receive permission. "Then I'll go warm up on the field!"
He then ran excitedly towards the field.
It looked as if they weren't going to play ball, but to receive an award.
"Isn't this just asking for trouble?"
Becky looked at Tom's excited retreating figure and asked in confusion.
Hermione could only respond with a slightly sympathetic smile. She knew in her heart that Draco might not be angry, but Tom would definitely be in trouble if his good time was interrupted.
Sure enough, the ensuing sparring match was utterly disastrous. If Draco's fight against Jack was somewhat of a show of skill to avenge Hermione, then his fight against Tom was a completely different style: efficient, ruthless, and merciless.
As soon as he stepped onto the court, Tom imitated Jack, pretending to be modest and letting Draco serve first, saying, "Let me taste what your serve is like," Draco did as he wished.
Then, Tom experienced a more varied set of serves Jack. Draco still served with topspin, and Tom was better prepared and more focused Jack, but the result was the same.
He either couldn't touch the ball at all, or he barely managed to touch it, and his returns were high and floaty, allowing Draco to kill the ball with a single shot at the net.
The same thing happened when it was Tom's turn to serve. He didn't even have the chance to run around like crazy. Every return from Draco hit him in the most uncomfortable spot, let alone score.
After three rounds, Tom failed to score a single point, win a single round, and even failed to force Draco into a single decent defensive play.
The so-called experience is to fully experience what a power gap truly means.
When the last ball landed, Tom, supporting himself on his knees, gasped for breath, sweat pouring down his face. The expression on his face was no longer just one of defeat, but a blank stare of utter existential doubt.
When he looked at Draco across from him, who seemed to have just taken a stroll, he could only let out a weak sigh:
"I don't think I'll ever play tennis again..."
This blow was even more devastating than Jack's; at least Jack had a chance to struggle, but this guy didn't even have a chance to.
Silence fell over the audience once again.
If the previous match against Jack was breathtaking, then these three rounds against Tom were a suffocating massacre.
The two went down to the rest area.
For a moment, no one dared to step forward and challenge them anymore. It was a joke; going up there would only result in a bloody defeat, and it was simply asking for trouble.
But this can't go on forever. It would be too embarrassing if a perfectly good tennis event fell silent because one person was too strong.
At this moment, the last man Barty, stepped forward.
" Draco, your skill level is practically professional. If we fight you, we'll only get schooled."
Barty's words expressed everyone's feelings, and everyone nodded, showing expressions of helplessness and admiration.
However, he then changed the subject:
"I think I'll play the next round, but I'm not in a rush. You two can talk as much as you want."
His words elicited knowing chuckles from the crowd.
These words made Hermione's face heat up again. She thought to herself that Barty seemed quite composed, but he was actually a smooth talker. However, she could only pretend to examine the strings of her racket.
Then, with a touch of sarcasm, Barty added...
"Of course, when I go up, Draco, you'd better go easy on me since I'm a brave challenger. Let me touch the ball a few times and experience the fun of playing against a master, okay?"
It has to be said that Barty has a high EQ. He not only cleverly used jokes to defuse the tension of the challenge, but also subtly teased the sweet interaction between the couple, instantly enlivening the slightly stiff atmosphere. Everyone laughed and looked at Draco and Hermione with teasing eyes.
"Hey! Mr. Barty is already waiting, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and get on stage!" To avoid being stared at by everyone, Hermione had no choice but to urge Draco.
"Honey, can't you let me rest for a bit? I just finished three rounds with Tom, I'm exhausted."
Seeing Draco's performance of "I'm weak and need to rest," the crowd burst into even louder laughter.
"Hahaha." Becky laughed so hard she almost fell over.
" Draco, your acting was truly awful. You didn't seem tired at all when you were beating up Jack and Tom on the field!"
"You're so energetic on the court, your serves are like bullets, and your volleys are as easy as a stroll. You finish three sets without even panting, and there's hardly a drop of sweat on your forehead! What are you so tired about?" Hermione was both amused and exasperated by him.
But to onlookers, this little complaint sounded exactly like a wife playfully scolding her "lazy" husband—it was incredibly endearing.
This immediately sparked laughter from everyone.
"Are you in such a hurry to push me up there because you're afraid I'll have an in-depth discussion with you about basic grip techniques?" Draco leaned closer and said.
But under everyone's watchful eyes, Hermione immediately jumped back in fright, her cheeks instantly turning bright red; she was genuinely a little scared.
Who knows what this scoundrel will say or do that will make her heart race!
"Please excuse my poor performance," Draco said to the others, then turned to Barty with a smile. "Since my wife has urged me to, let's play a few rounds and exchange some tips."
"Alright," Barty laughed heartily, "Then I'll shamelessly ask the expert for a few pointers!" He understood Draco's implication—the other party would hold back, giving him a good time.
Amidst everyone's anticipation, Draco picked up his racket, winked at Hermione was still blushing, and walked back to the court.
Hermione, under the smiling gazes of everyone, sat back down on the sidelines, inwardly cursing Draco for being a scoundrel, while her gaze couldn't help but drift towards the figure on the field.
When Barty asked for leniency, Draco did grant it, but not by releasing water, but by releasing an entire sea.
Unlike the overwhelming dominance he displayed against Jack and Tom, the friendly match against Barty was much more amicable.
However, Draco still used the same two moves, but the intensity of the spin, the ball speed, and the angle were all significantly reduced.