" Draco, you think too highly of us..."
"Several million? We can only look on."
"You definitely need to be rich to get on this cruise ship, but we can't compare to your outrageously extravagant lifestyle."
"I'm just living off my parents," Draco admitted frankly.
Everyone laughed, thinking to themselves, "Who isn't?"
For everyone here, the capital for doing business and the cost of this luxury cruise vacation, to some extent, relying on one's parents or family wealth is not a derogatory term in this circle. On the contrary, it is a kind of unspoken confidence and sense of security.
"You two are such a perfect match! One of you can afford to give gifts, and the other can afford to wear them, yet you're still being modest!" Becky laughed.
"That's right, Hermione, stop hiding it, your beauty can't be hidden," Kate chimed in.
"I really don't have a Versailles! I'm just not used to wearing such expensive things out in public..." Hermione explained, waving her hand.
However, no one believed it, but they stopped worrying about it and focused on enjoying their lunch.
Lunch ended in a pleasant atmosphere.
The conversation shifted from jewelry to the afternoon's tennis schedule and their experiences with other entertainment facilities on the cruise ship.
In the afternoon, the group arrived at the tennis court on time.
Having witnessed Draco's strength, everyone focused on having fun. Draco maintained an equal level and fought back and forth with everyone, making the afternoon's matches more relaxed for all.
After a mixed doubles match, everyone was slightly out of breath, but in high spirits. "With your skill level, it's a shame you're not playing professionally!" Jack said to Draco, wiping his sweat.
"Just a hobby, just a hobby," Draco said with a smile, waving his hand. "Mainly to help my wife exercise."
"No way, I was doing just fine on my own." Hermione denied it outright, but the corners of her mouth curved up almost imperceptibly.
As evening fell, everyone went back to take showers, had dinner, said goodbye, and went to their rooms to rest.
Back in her cabin, Hermione eagerly settled into the comfortable cradle, finally able to quietly open " Dream of the Red Chamber ".
Draco lay lazily on the bed, idly flipping through a cruise ship guide, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the little witch.
"Wife~ Look at me, look at me~ No book is as pretty as me~" he said deliberately in a slightly coquettish tone.
Hermione didn't even look up, just waved her hand dismissively.
"Wife~ Look at me~" Draco persisted, wriggling on the bed in an extremely seductive pose.
"Ugh~" Hermione only glanced at it before feeling a wave of nausea. She waved her hand in disgust, "Don't make me sick..."
Although he was rejected, Draco had achieved his goal. He then Apparition and instantly appeared beside Hermione's chair, leaning close to her. "What did you say? I didn't hear you~"
"Sweetie, let me read for a while." Hermione sighed helplessly, ruffled Draco's blond hair, and quickly pecked his cheek, coaxing him like a child.
This tactic of stroking her hair worked perfectly. Draco hummed contentedly twice and rubbed his palm against hers. "That's more like it." Then he obediently retreated to the bed and stopped causing trouble.
Hermione shook her head, refocusing her attention on her book, but a subtle smile crept onto her lips.
Lying back in bed, Draco gazed at the gently swaying cabin ceiling, enjoying the cruise ship's smooth voyage. Boredom began to creep in again; he was tired of the casino games, and nothing else seemed particularly appealing.
I can't keep bothering Hermione while she's reading, can I? Although she looks cute when she's focused, she'll get annoyed if I keep interrupting her.
Suddenly, Draco seemed to remember something and asked:
"Honey, shall we go see a movie?"
"No, I haven't read a book all day. Let's go tomorrow. You can have some peace and quiet too," Hermione refused outright.
"Okay~" Draco's voice sounded quite aggrieved.
However, he understood. Hermione was forced to work most of the day, with very little time to read. If she didn't read by nightfall, it might be the end of her...
"I'm going out for a walk!" Draco said.
Go ahead, and come back soon.
"Okay!" Draco grinned, kissed her cheek, and said, "I'm going to take a walk on the deck, I'll be right back."
"Uh-huh!"
Having received a response, Draco changed into a light jacket, left his cabin, and went to the open-air observation deck in the middle of the ship.
The night breeze was cool, carrying the salty scent of the sea.
He walked to the railing, placed his hand on it, and gazed at the boundless, dark sea, before which lay an abyss that swallowed everything.
Just then, a figure quietly approached and leaned against the railing next to him. Draco glanced at it.
It was that woman. Draco was somewhat surprised, but out of politeness, he simply nodded and turned back to continue looking at the sea.
"Young master, don't you recognize me?" the woman asked playfully.
"I don't even know you!"
"You really don't recognize me?" the woman asked again.
"Do you think I should get to know you?" Draco retorted.
" Collard, are you still pretending?" the woman scoffed.
" Collard?" Draco feigned confusion, then, as if recalling something, said, "Miss, you've mistaken me for someone else."
"You're such a good liar!" The woman clearly didn't believe her.
"Let's get acquainted. My name is Draco, and yours is Draco.
Draco turned to look at her and smiled.
"Finally admitting it!"
"I admitted it again?" Draco spread his hands innocently.
" Draco, Collard, they're the same person, just the same name backwards. Height, temperament, even the expression in their eyes are exactly the same. You can fool others, but you can't fool me!" The woman wanted to see him panic.
"Whatever you say goes." Draco shrugged indifferently, showing no embarrassment at being exposed.
"It's not just my opinion; it's the truth," the woman said firmly. "Otherwise, how do you explain the ' Star of the Ocean '? That gem was in Collard's hands last night, and today it's your 'wife's'? That's incredibly fast, unless... you're all part of the same group."
"Of course someone sold it to me, and that person is very likely the Collard you mentioned," Draco said calmly.
"Still trying to argue with me, huh?" The woman, annoyed by his stubbornness, gritted her teeth and frowned, "I've already checked, there's no one named Collard on this cruise ship!"
"Perhaps he used an alias, or perhaps you didn't investigate thoroughly enough, Miss. Don't be so absolute."
"Looks like you won't give up until you see the Yellow River." Seeing his stubbornness, the woman was truly exasperated. She decided to go all out and threatened in a low voice, "You don't want your wife to find out you touched my butt, do you?"
He thought these words would make Draco obediently comply, but to his surprise, Draco laughed even harder upon hearing them.