Jealousy in the Pool

Ling Yan, Xiao Lu, and Ai Xi all stared at me in shock, but I could sense something different in their gazes. What exactly lay behind those eyes, I had no time to dwell on.

“Senior Zhou Chen, don’t you think that’s going a bit too far?” one of the bolder girls spoke up, displeasure clear in her voice.

“That’s right!”

“Exactly!”

“…”

That one girl’s outburst gave the others courage, and they all began venting their grievances at me.

I picked at my ear, then blew the imaginary dust right in front of them.

They scattered like leaves in the wind, terrified that some filth might land on them.

“Wait, I’m pretty sure I heard that Junior Ai Xi wanted to visit our swimming club. You guys were the ones stopping her. So aren’t you the ones in the wrong here?” I shrugged helplessly and turned to the girls, who now looked a bit guilty.

“But…” they tried to protest.

“Everyone, Xiao Xi really does want to visit the swimming club more. So, I’m truly sorry.” Ai Xi hesitated for a moment, glanced at me, and her troubled expression hardened into determination. She cut off the lead girl and bowed to them in apology.

I nodded from the side. If she had just said no from the start, none of this would have happened. If you don’t want to do something, just refuse directly. Hesitating only makes things more complicated.

“Since Junior Ai Xi clearly wants to come to our swimming club, I think we should drop it.” To my surprise, after Ai Xi’s refusal, Xiao Lu stepped up and spoke in her defense.

The girls who had been hoping to salvage the situation quickly shut their mouths when they saw Xiao Lu intervene.

“Since Senior Xiao Lu says so, we’ll let it go.” “Yeah, plus Xiao Xi wants to go to the swimming club anyway.” After exchanging some awkward pleasantries, the girls dispersed.

“Thank you, Senior Zhou Chen.” Afterward, Ai Xi followed us to the swimming club. At the entrance, she bowed earnestly in gratitude.

“No need to thank me. You were coming to our club anyway—I wasn’t about to let anyone steal you away.” I rubbed the back of my head, feeling a bit awkward, and looked off to the side.

This was the first time anyone had thanked me so seriously. It made me strangely shy.

“Senior— Ah! Senior Xiao Lu, what are you doing?!” Just as Ai Xi was about to say something more, Xiao Lu suddenly wrapped her arms around her and started rubbing her cheek against Ai Xi’s.

“It’s always ‘Senior Zhou Chen this’ and ‘Senior Zhou Chen that.’ Junior Ai Xi, don’t forget about me—I helped you too, didn’t I? Besides, you’re so cute, like a little doll.”

“S-sorry, it’s Xiao Xi’s fault. But please, Senior Xiao Lu, could you loosen your grip a little? I can’t breathe…”

“Ah, sorry, sorry! Junior Ai Xi, please forgive me.” Xiao Lu quickly let go and clasped her hands together in apology to the gasping Ai Xi.

Watching Xiao Lu and Ai Xi’s little yuri moment made my nose itch. I quickly turned my gaze to Ling Yan.

As expected, Ling Yan is my healing balm. That’s what I thought—until I actually looked at her. She was pursing her lips, her brow furrowed, her dark eyes fixed intently on Ai Xi.

“Um, Ling Yan, are you okay?” I approached her cautiously.

Come to think of it, Ling Yan hadn’t spoken at all since we met Ai Xi. Since she was always quiet, I hadn’t noticed her unusual behavior.

Ling Yan flinched slightly. She tore her gaze from Ai Xi and met mine, then looked away flustered, her fingers gently brushing the hair at her temple.

“I-it’s nothing.” Her bashful gesture made me freeze for a moment—I’d never seen her act like this in all our time together.

“Chenzi, Little Yan, what are you two doing? Hurry up and get inside.” Xiao Lu walked over, looking at us with confusion.

I snapped back to reality. “Ah, right. Where’s Junior Ai Xi?”

“What, you miss your precious Junior Ai Xi already?” Xiao Lu eyed me sidelong with a cold smirk.

“Of course not! I was just wondering what to do next since she’s never been to the swimming club before.” I waved my hands frantically in defense.

What’s gotten into Xiao Lu? Why does she turn so sarcastic every time Ai Xi and I are involved?

“Oh, she’s already inside. I told her to find a spare swimsuit, change, and get familiar with the water. No need for a half-ass like you to worry.” With that, Xiao Lu pulled the now-icy Ling Yan into the pool area.

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Was she jealous because Ai Xi seemed closer to me than to her? Then just get along with her already! Why take it out on me? Besides, Ai Xi and I aren’t even friends.

I sighed helplessly and followed.

Nothing much happened after that. After Xiao Lu, Ling Yan, and I set up the training equipment, Ai Xi had already been paddling in the water for a while.

She had swallowed quite a bit of water, but at least she was no longer terrified of the sensation of being in the water. That made it easier for the club members to teach her.

“Xiao Xi, come on, hold my hand. Relax your body and push your legs outward from the inside, like a frog.”

I sat on the bench in the rest area, watching three beautiful girls in school swimsuits swimming in the pool.

Ai Xi’s head was tilted back as she desperately clung to Xiao Lu’s hands, while Ling Yan swam alongside them, ready to intervene if Ai Xi panicked and started drowning.

After teaching Ai Xi to swim, Xiao Lu and Ling Yan had warmed up to her. At least they were calling her by her nickname now.

Three beautiful girls together—what a treat for the eyes. Ling Yan had the best figure, Xiao Lu was well-proportioned, and Ai Xi was small and delicate.

It was like they catered to every possible aesthetic preference. Of course, I loved them all—the long, shapely thighs, the firm, balanced thighs, the tiny, slender thighs.

As I secretly admired their beautiful silhouettes, the club members began trickling in.

When they spotted Ai Xi in the pool, they got as excited as if they’d found a tasty treat, rushing over to surround her.

Surrounded by enthusiastic members, Ai Xi shot me a pleading look, but I just smiled slightly. Unlike those girls earlier, the club members didn’t have any serious ulterior motives—they simply couldn’t resist something cute.

So until the teacher arrived, Ai Xi endured the attention with a forced smile while shooting me resentful glances. It was quite amusing.