A Heartfelt Swim Lesson

Ai Xi and I continued sitting on the bench for a while, watching the club members training in the distance.

“Senior, everyone is so amazing!”

Ai Xi swung her fair, delicate little feet, her bright big eyes fixed on the members, her tone full of longing.

“Yeah, they are all amazing. They work hard every day.”

I looked at Ling Yan’s figure swimming like a fish underwater and said softly.

Since I started helping out at the swimming club, I’ve seen Ling Yan like this every day. She really works hard—harder than anyone—so I want to continue silently supporting her, even if the person she likes isn’t me.

“Hup! Seeing everyone like this makes me want to practice too. Senior, let’s start now!”

Ai Xi made an adorable sound, propped herself up with her hands, jumped off the bench, and looked at me impatiently.

“Ugh, can’t we just sit until training ends? I don’t know how to teach.”

I rubbed my head, helplessly looking at the excited Ai Xi. What a hassle—I just want to keep watching Ling Yan.

“Senior, how can you be like this? Teacher Xia and Senior Xiao Lu entrusted me to you!”

Ai Xi hung her arms weakly, looking at me with a wronged expression.

“Guess I’ll have to tell Senior Xiao Lu about your bad behavior.”

Ai Xi moped for a while, then, seeing me still unmoving on the bench, finally stomped off angrily toward the training members.

“Hey, wait a minute!”

I quickly stood up and called her back. Putting aside Xiao Lu, even Teacher Xia would give me a good scolding. Although Teacher Xia is usually easygoing, she’s very strict during training—probably a habit from her athlete days.

“What’s wrong? Senior, is there something else?”

Ai Xi stopped, turned around, and looked at me expressionlessly. I breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed she wasn’t really going to tell Xiao Lu. Otherwise, I would have reached out to grab her—since swimsuits are tight and slick, I couldn’t grab her clothes, so I would have had to grab her arm. I don’t know about other girls, but ever since Ling Yan was so resistant to me, I haven’t dared to be so rough with any other girl.

“Don’t be so impulsive. I was just joking. Let’s get in the water now, and I’ll teach you properly.”

I raised my hand, holding up three fingers, and swore to heaven.

“Pfft, Senior is really afraid of Senior Xiao Lu. I’ve felt like she’s always keeping an eye on you.”

Ai Xi giggled, covering her mouth with her hand, her eyes narrowing into cute crescent moons.

“I’m not afraid, I’m yielding. You don’t understand—it’s the way of a gentleman.”

I argued forcefully, then glanced guiltily at Xiao Lu training nearby.

“Is that so? I feel like Senior is really guilty!”

Ai Xi finished laughing and stared at me with her big eyes, making me flustered.

“Not at all! So, do you want to practice or not?”

I quickly changed the subject; otherwise, it would get troublesome.

“Of course I do! So, Senior, let’s start quickly.”

Ai Xi went along with me without bringing up the previous topic and got into the water first.

(Was it because she saw my embarrassment and deliberately stopped? Whether it was facing the girls’ somewhat forceful invitation earlier or handling my awkwardness now, Ai Xi always considers others’ feelings. Though people might like that, she must be tired inside.)

I shook my head, feeling sorry for Ai Xi, but I didn’t plan to interfere. Everyone has their own path; maybe Ai Xi likes living this way. If I stepped in with my own views, she might think I’m meddling. So I could only try to make sure she didn’t feel the need to constantly accommodate me when we’re together.

I took off my jacket, placed it on the bench, and then got into the water. Except for me, the swimming club members usually leave their jackets in the locker room because they train in the water and rarely need them; after training, they shower directly. But I was different—I only wore swim trunks and usually didn’t go in the water, so I had to wear a jacket.

“Senior, stop holding my hand all the time. I feel like I can’t move at all!”

I imitated Xiao Lu by holding Ai Xi’s hand to let her swim on her own, but it didn’t have the same effect. After a few strokes, she was still in the same place, and she looked at me with a complaining gaze, her mouth pouting high.

(Didn’t I say I don’t know how to teach? When I first joined the swimming club, no one taught me. I learned on my own. According to my method, I just had to watch you flounder, and then you’d learn by yourself.)

I helplessly watched Ai Xi kick the water clumsily. (Didn’t Xiao Lu teach you earlier?)

“So Senior really doesn’t intend to take this seriously. I think I’ll go tell Senior Xiao Lu after all.”

Ai Xi, hearing my words, huffed and straightened up holding my hand, then pulled away, intending to walk over to the members training.

(Damn, I was wrong earlier when I said she always considers others’ feelings—that’s not the case at all!)

“Hey, Junior Ai Xi, that area is all deep water. It’s dangerous.”

After I said this, I stood still and watched Ai Xi pause, then walk back, but she didn’t look at me; she planned to go around via the shore to the members.

“Alright, I was wrong, okay? Junior, what do you want me to do?”

Seeing that she really intended to go to Xiao Lu, I quickly surrendered.

(Why does it feel like I’m being completely controlled by a girl I just met? Is it because of my deep-seated fear of being dominated by Xiao Lu?)

“Then please teach me seriously, Senior!”

Ai Xi turned around, her cute face full of seriousness.

“Even if Senior doesn’t know how to teach, at least you can swim. So please point out my mistakes. I’ve decided to join the swimming club.”

I didn’t know if joining was her own will or if the girls forced her, but at least seeing her so serious, I didn’t dare to brush her off casually. Otherwise, I would be trampling on my love for Ling Yan, who works just as hard.

“I understand, but if I don’t hold your hand, how can a beginner keep balance and move her limbs?”

I grabbed my chin, thinking, not knowing what to do. Although I can swim, honestly, I just did it naturally.

“……Ah, I remember! Senior Xiao Lu was holding my hand, but Senior Ling Yan would sometimes support my belly with her hand. That was to help me balance, right? Then Senior can just support my belly. Senior Xiao Lu said I didn’t need to use my hands at first.”

Ai Xi also thought for a moment, then suddenly slapped one fist into her palm as if enlightened.

“Huh?”

Support Ai Xi’s abdomen? That’s impossible!

Even if Ai Xi doesn’t mind, I certainly do. How could she be so unconfident in her own charm?

I carefully looked at her petite figure wet with water and swallowed unworthily.

“What’s wrong? I said it so clearly, and Senior still won’t agree? Do you really not want to teach me?”

This time Ai Xi wasn’t huffy, but her expression wasn’t good either.

“No, I just think you don’t realize your own charm, Junior. If I support your belly, I can’t guarantee I won’t have impure thoughts.”

Seeing her somewhat sad expression, I helplessly told the truth.

“Ah? Because of that? I don’t mind, but it’s good that Senior considered me. You’re such a nice person.”

Ai Xi was stunned for a moment, then shook her head and gave me a cute smile.

“That makes me a good person?”

I didn’t quite understand her thinking.

“Of course. Look around, everyone is enthusiastic toward me, but no one ever considers my feelings.”

Ai Xi looked at me and said softly, lowering her head.

I suddenly realized. She’s right. Whether it’s Xiao Lu or everyone else, even the girls surrounding her, they all act on their own. Was Ai Xi troubled all along? My earlier assumption was completely wrong. No one would like that kind of lifestyle.

“Then why tell me this? This isn’t something you can tell just anyone.”

“Hmm, but for some reason, I feel like I can say it to you, Senior. You treat me like an ordinary person, so talking with you feels easy.”

After saying this, Ai Xi blushed and looked away.

I didn’t know what to say either, but I finally decided to continue teaching her to swim.

After that, we returned to normal. She would complain about my poor teaching, and I would make lame excuses, but I felt that we were a little less formal. And most importantly, with my palm constantly pressed against her abdomen, it felt incredibly soft—like warm cotton candy, soft and slightly bouncy!