At two in the afternoon, the Carnival set sail. Compared to the slightly quiet atmosphere in the morning, every deck was now bustling with people. The upper levels contained various sports courts, extreme-sport areas, swimming pools, snack bars, and shops… while the lower decks were equipped with a cinema, opera house, main dining hall, bars, cafés… a full range of entertainment and leisure venues.
In short, on this enormous Carnival cruise ship, passengers could enjoy every kind of luxury, fine food, and entertainment imaginable. Everything offered here—if not the best in the world—was certainly among the top. Those who had been aboard before always looked forward to the next sailing. Even extremely wealthy elites were eager to return.
Especially for the nighttime main event—thrilling enough to make one's heart race—they were willing to spend freely.
Besides the gambling games, the Carnival also hosted an auction on the third day. Passengers could put their valuables up for sale or bid on items they desired. The two things that attracted top-tier billionaires the most were the exhilarating gambling games and the unpredictable treasures that might appear in the auction. Having come this far, they didn't care about the money—money was nothing more than a number in their eyes.
Before night fell, all the women on the ship returned to their rooms to change into beautiful gowns, hoping to shine at the evening ball and draw the attention of outstanding men.
"Qin Xin, are you ready?" Su Wan had already changed into her dress and lightly knocked on A-Xin's door.
The door opened, and A-Xin stepped out wearing an off-shoulder black cocktail dress that reached her knees. A pair of white pearl earrings hung from her ears, matching her outfit perfectly.
Compared to her usual bare-faced appearance, she had applied a bit of makeup today. The makeup did not hide her cool, elegant temperament—if anything, it enhanced her beauty. Despite wearing all black, Su Wan couldn't shake the feeling that a little fairy had just stepped in front of her.
"You look beautiful."
Su Wan snapped out of her daze, recalling the moment A-Xin opened the door—that face that made her heart skip a beat. Her heart had actually jumped just now. She hurriedly looked away and accidentally noticed A-Xin's neck.
"You're missing something. A necklace would look even better."
"Wait here, I'll go check if I brought something suitable."
Su Wan tapped her own head in mild frustration. "I wasn't thoughtful enough. I asked the designer to tailor our dresses but forgot you probably didn't bring any necklaces."
"It's fine. I look good like this too," A-Xin said. She had checked the mirror earlier and was satisfied with her reflection.
Su Wan's blue gown practically brushed the floor—dignified, luxurious, and perfectly suited to her bright features. The matching heels made her figure appear even more elegant.
Soon she returned, still looking frustrated.
"I looked everywhere, but I don't seem to have anything that suits your dress. But it's fine—we can go check the jewelry store upstairs. They have top luxury brands. You'll definitely find something."
"Come on, let's go take a look."
The two headed to the jewelry area. As soon as they stepped inside, they were surrounded by glittering gemstones and sparkling diamonds. Usually, couples walked in hand-in-hand. Two beautiful women entering together like this was far less common. The jewelry here was expensive—on the Carnival, men often bought these pieces for their female companions, partly for show, partly to flaunt their wealth. The more elegantly dressed their companions were, the more face they gained.
Standing by the counter, the two browsed through diamond necklaces. Su Wan picked out several for A-Xin to try, helping her fasten them while saying,
"We have to buy the one that suits you best—only then can your beauty truly shine."
They were standing very close; each could catch faint traces of the other's scent. Su Wan inhaled the unique fragrance of the girl beside her, her cheeks flushing slightly. She quickly clasped the necklace around A-Xin and said,
"Qin Xin, take a look yourself. I'm going to the restroom to fix my makeup."
Before A-Xin could respond, she grabbed her purse and practically fled toward the restroom.
A-Xin paused briefly, then turned toward the mirror. She thought this necklace looked pretty good. Just then, a pleasant male voice sounded beside her.
"Miss, do you like that necklace?"
A-Xin turned and met the gaze of a young man standing not far away. He had decent looks. Seeing her look over, he immediately said,
"It's very beautiful. It suits you perfectly."
"I think it's very pretty too," A-Xin said calmly, narrowing her eyes slightly at her reflection. She wasn't being modest at all, which shocked the man for a moment before he smiled.
"Miss, may I invite you to be my dance partner tonight?"
"If you like this necklace, I can buy it for you."
The young man already had his card out, ready to hand it to the sales associate, but A-Xin raised her hand to block him.
"No need."
"Please don't feel pressured. I only wish to invite you as my dance partner, nothing more. This necklace is beautiful, just like you, but it will only display its true value when worn around your neck."
When Su Wan came out of the restroom, she immediately saw a handsome young man talking to A-Xin. And for some reason, her chest tightened with anger. She strode forward in her heels, pulled A-Xin behind her, and blocked the man's sight.
"She's already rejected you."
"I only wished to invite her for a dance," the young man said with a polite smile. "Miss, you're overreacting."
Su Wan grew visibly irritated.
"She already refused you."
"The lovely lady merely refused my offer to buy the necklace. She has not refused to be my dance partner. Unless she says it directly—"
"I won't be your dance partner."
A-Xin stepped out from behind Su Wan. "Now is that clear?"
Su Wan watched the man's smile freeze on his face. So shameless—definitely Qin Xin's style. Her irritation melted away as she asked,
"You like this one?"
"Mm. This one is nice. You have good taste, Su Wan."
A-Xin praised her generously. The young man beside them could no longer force a smile.
Su Wan took her card out of her purse and handed it to the sales associate, only for A-Xin to stop her.
Seeing this, the young man gave Su Wan a mocking smirk, not bothering to hide it. \
See? She doesn't need your help either.
"My boss told me that on this ship, everything I eat or buy is free with fingerprint scanning," A-Xin said casually.
Before the young man could savor his victory, A-Xin placed her finger on the scanner. The sales associate immediately smiled.
"Miss Qin, would you like this packaged?"
"No, I'll wear it."
A-Xin touched the necklace around her neck. "Does it look good?"
The sales associate froze for a second, then nodded enthusiastically.
"It's very beautiful. It suits you perfectly—and it matches your dress even better."
"Thank you," A-Xin smiled, then added without forgetting, "Su Wan picked it out for me. She always has great taste."
The faint gloom in Su Wan's heart vanished. And seeing A-Xin openly asking for compliments made her want to laugh.
How had she never noticed this girl was this self-admiring? Maybe she had overlooked things before—she should take A-Xin out shopping more often. Judging from Yue Meiyun's behavior, A-Xin definitely hadn't been well cared for at home.
"Su Wan."
A-Xin turned. Su Wan met her clear, bright eyes, and her heart skipped again. Wearing a smile to hide her racing heartbeat, she stepped forward and linked arms with her.
"All done. Let's go."
Hand in hand, the two left, completely forgetting about the man behind them. Su Wan glanced back once, eyes filled with warning. The man's expression darkened instantly. To find such a clean, beautiful girl—only to have another beautiful woman snatch her away—it was unbearable.
"Qin Xin, you're only eighteen. Don't rush into relationships. Especially on the Carnival, men here love sweet-talking young girls. Don't trust their words. Understand?"
Su Wan couldn't help lecturing her—Yue Meiyun clearly wouldn't teach her these things.
"Especially those handsome, generous types who smile too much—they're the worst."
Her voice wasn't loud, but the young man happened to be walking behind them and heard every word clearly. His face grew progressively darker.
"Su Wan, keep your voice down. It's not good if people hear."
He already heard—all of it!
He stared at their backs, furious.
The pair arrived at the lively ballroom and found two seats at the bar, ordering cocktails. Men kept approaching to invite them to dance, but both refused.
Su Wan simply disliked men and had no intention of dancing with any.
A-Xin, on the other hand, avoided unnecessary interactions with anyone—man or woman—unless she had a purpose. Apart from Su Wan, she had no desire to engage with anyone.
"You don't need to stay with me. If you want to dance, you can pick a decent guy," Su Wan said. But even as she spoke, she felt uncomfortable inside.
She had already realized her feelings earlier in the jewelry store. Unlike her past feelings for Ye Xiaoge—which began as admiration—what she felt toward Qin Xin was sudden, overpowering, and uncontrollable. Just the scent of her was enough to make Su Wan's heart race. She had never felt this way around Ye Xiaoge.
She suspected—
This might be love.
But no.
It couldn't be.
Su Wan took a small sip of her drink and turned toward the dance floor, too afraid to keep looking at the girl beside her. If she did, she wouldn't be able to hold herself back. A bitter curve touched her lips.
She could fall for anyone.
Why did it have to be her?
This time, she would never confess her feelings again.
Soon, more people entered the ballroom. The moment Su Wan saw Ye Xiaoge enter arm-in-arm with Qin Feng, her expression shifted subtly. Thanks to the dim lighting, the pair didn't notice them and seemed to be here just to dance.
The lights dimmed further. Suddenly, a commotion rippled through the crowd as everyone looked toward a single spot.
Su Wan and A-Xin looked as well—toward Ye Xiaoge. A faint blue glow shimmered at her neck. In the dark ballroom, the gemstone stood out strikingly.
Su Wan pressed her lips together.
That was the necklace she had gifted Ye Xiaoge.
It was worth over a hundred million. It had been her final gift, meant to be part of her farewell. Even without those ten carefree days, she had already planned to slowly let Ye Xiaoge go. That necklace represented all the affection she once held.
Then she heard Ye Xiaoge's voice:
"In the auction three days from now, I plan to put this sapphire necklace up for sale. If anyone is interested, I hope you'll participate."
So that was it.
Su Wan's lips curved into a cold smile.
No wonder Qin Feng didn't mind her wearing something Su Wan gave—this was the plan all along.
On Cruise Night, such a necklace would surely fetch a high price—perfect for Qin Corporation's emergency cash flow. Though Su Wan was uncomfortable, it had been a voluntary gift. She couldn't take it back.
Ye Xiaoge had stomped her pride into the ground.
"Su Wan, are you upset?"
A-Xin had sensed her unhappiness. She always sensed it—Su Wan's joy was her joy; Su Wan's sadness became her sadness.
To prevent either of them from being sad, A-Xin typically dealt with anything that made Su Wan unhappy—by removing it.
"Su Wan?"
A-Xin took Su Wan's arm.
"Why are you unhappy?"
Looking into A-Xin's calm eyes, Su Wan felt an overwhelming urge to spill everything.
"A little… I spent a lot of money and time finding that sapphire necklace. I didn't expect it to be treated like that. I just feel sorry for the necklace. I hope it finds a good owner at the auction."
A-Xin glanced at the sapphire on Ye Xiaoge's neck, lost in thought.
"It's just a necklace. Qin Xin, do you like that kind of gemstone? If you want, we can visit the country of gemstones someday. We'll definitely find something even prettier."
Su Wan said it instinctively. Yes—prettier. Qin Xin should wear something better. That thought felt perfectly natural to her.
"No, I don't like those gemstones."
"Then what do you like?" Su Wan wanted to know more than anything.
A-Xin looked into her eyes. Perhaps feeling guilty, she quickly said,
"I'm just curious."
"I like sparkly diamonds like this one."
A-Xin touched the necklace on her neck. "Like stars. They're so pretty."
"Mm. Diamonds are beautiful."
Suddenly, Su Wan's mind filled with thoughts—pink diamonds, yellow diamonds, gray diamonds, black diamonds…
Which would suit Qin Xin best?
Should she go to the gemstone country soon and buy several, then ask Qin Xin which she liked?
Probably pink.
Girls under twenty looked best in pink.
"Would pink be good?" Su Wan blurted out before realizing it. When she saw A-Xin's puzzled look, she quickly grabbed her drink and took a sip.
"I mean—do you think pink diamonds are pretty?"