"Vice-captain, dinner's ready. You can come out and eat now."
A crewman called from outside.
"Alright, I'll be right there. And prepare an extra set of bowls and chopsticks."
"Yes, Vice-captain!"
The crewmate didn't think much of it.
"You… you're taking me out there?"
Nami instantly sat up, arms crossing protectively over her chest, panic written all over her face. Clearly, she wasn't mentally prepared for this at all.
"Yes. I need to take responsibility. I'm going to tell the brothers on the ship that you, Nami, are my woman."
"T-this… isn't good, right? You should just go alone. I can stay here in the room."
Her face flushed red.
Just imagining it—this ship full of men, and she's the only woman suddenly appearing. Wouldn't everyone think she seduced Lucky Drake first? That kind of misunderstanding was mortifying.
"Don't worry. With me here, you can trust me."
Lucky Drake placed a hand on her head.
With that simple gesture, Nami suddenly felt an unfamiliar sense of security. She could sense that Lucky Drake genuinely meant it.
"T-then… okay…"
After struggling with herself, Nami finally nodded.
"Hehe, should I help you put your clothes on?"
Lucky Drake was trying to lighten the atmosphere so she wouldn't be so stiff and nervous.
"No! I-I'll do it myself! You turn around—don't look!"
She pushed him away, face burning.
"We're already husband and wife, you know…"
Lucky Drake muttered instinctively.
"S-sorry… I'm just not mentally prepared yet. Please give me some time."
"I understand."
"I'll be outside after I get dressed. Come out when you're ready."
Lucky Drake smiled, dressed himself quickly, and stepped outside to wait.
Half a cup of tea later, Nami came out. She wore her usual shorts—quick to put on, quick to adjust.
"Give me your hand. I'll hold it."
Lucky Drake smiled.
"Isn't that… a bit too much?" Nami whispered, embarrassed at the thought of everyone seeing.
"It's fine. I need to take responsibility. And this way, the brothers know at a glance that you're the woman I like."
"O-oh…"
She slowly extended her hand. When he held it, her ears instantly flushed red.
When they reached the deck, the crew was already seated—eating meat, drinking, laughing loudly.
Captain Captain Red and Alvida were already clinking mugs, seeming to get along surprisingly well.
"The vice-captain's here!"
Someone shouted.
Everyone turned their heads—
"Huh?"
"He's holding a woman!"
"Damn, there's a woman on this ship?"
"No one told us that!"
"Did he have someone all this time?!"
"Vice-captain really isn't honest, huh? So he likes this type!"
The crew burst into teasing.
Lucky Drake laughed. "Haha—sorry, brothers. I'm a bit late."
"Let me introduce you. This is my woman, Nami."
"Because of certain reasons, she was hiding in my room earlier. But I fell in love with her at first sight!"
The crew immediately roared:
"Vice-captain, you're awesome!"
"And it looks like Miss Nami accepts you too!"
"Yeah! Look how red her face is! Definitely love at first sight!"
Captain Captain Red grinned broadly and raised his mug. "Lucky Drake, brother—your old man here congratulates you!"
"Cheers!"
Lucky Drake handed Nami a mug of malt beer and took one for himself.
"Nami, this is our captain, Captain Red. He's a good man."
"Thank you, Captain," Nami said softly, giving Lucky Drake face.
The three clinked mugs and drank.
"Sister-in-law," Captain Red laughed, "feel free on this ship. From now on, it's your home too. If you need anything, just tell us."
"Thank you, Captain."
For a moment, Nami felt as if she suddenly had a warm, reliable home.
"Hey, Lucky Drake," Alvida suddenly complained dramatically, "a beautiful, charming woman like me… yet you don't like me? Seeing you with your little girlfriend makes my heart ache!"
"Hahaha!"
Before Lucky Drake could reply, the crew exploded with laughter.
"Big Sis Alvida, please stop tormenting the vice-captain!"
"Seriously! Vice-captain only likes small, cute beauties."
"Sis, your… uh… tonnage is at least two hundred kilos!"
"Hmph! You bunch of idiots with no taste! I, your Big Sis, am this beautiful and you can't even see it?"
"Pfft—Sis, don't be mad. We're blind, okay? Come drink!"
The crew kept laughing.
Lucky Drake shook his head. "Don't underestimate Alvida. She'll be an incredible beauty one day. If you still think like this, you'll regret it."
"See? Vice-captain understands me best!"
"Vice-captain, since you know I'll be a great beauty soon, why not consider pursuing me now? I'm easy to win over—only for you."
She even threw him a seductive wink—
"URGH!"
Several crewmates immediately gagged.
Vice-captain must be suffering internally, right?
"Big Sis Alvida, you're taking it seriously?"
"Vice-captain was just being polite!"
Alvida glared at them and then looked at Lucky Drake. "Vice-captain, you meant what you said, right?"
"I did," Lucky Drake smiled.
"HAHA! Hear that? He said it! All you blind fools, start chasing me now, or you'll have no chance when I become a beauty!"
"Vice-captain, congrats to you and sister-in-law! Long and happy life!"
"Miss Nami! Have a drink with us!"
~~--------------------------------
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