Objections Raised

I watched as Ling Yan returned to her usual demeanor, and the inexplicable pressure in my heart eased considerably.

“Gurgle, gurgle…”

Ling Yan picked up her water bottle, twisted off the cap, and finished the water. She wiped her dripping hair with a towel, then stood up and walked over to the clearing beside us, where she sat down.

“Zhou Chen, I’m counting on you again today.”

She stretched out her legs, casually sweeping her hair over her shoulder to reveal her back in her school swimsuit.

“…”

I hesitated. I didn’t respond as usual, nor did I move behind her.

“What’s wrong, Zhou Chen?”

Ling Yan tugged at her leg, and when she noticed I hadn’t moved, she turned back with a hint of confusion.

(What should I do? Should I help press her back? But I’m not her real boyfriend anymore!)

I looked at Ling Yan with complicated feelings, unsure what to say.

“Zhou Chen, are you alright?”

She brought her legs together, a worried look on her face, and began to stand to check on me.

That reminded me of Ling Yan and Xiao Lu this morning—I had clearly resolved not to let them worry.

“No, no, I’m fine. I’m coming. I was just thinking about something.”

I forced a stiff smile and quickly moved behind her. Seeing me approach, she didn’t get up.

(Yeah, she doesn’t care. I just need to help her like I would any normal club member. Thinking like that, there’s nothing to it.)

I let out a breath, but the gnawing discomfort in my chest wouldn’t let me deceive myself.

Afterward, I helped Ling Yan finish her stretches as usual and returned to the rest area.

“Chenzi, I’m sorry for what I said earlier.”

When I reached where Xiao Lu and Ai Xi were sitting, Xiao Lu stood up, moved away from Ai Xi, and apologized with a red face, looking to the side.

“Huh? No, it’s fine.”

Her sudden apology caught me off guard, disrupting my heavy mood. My mind went blank, and I waved my hands frantically.

“No, it really was my fault. But you can’t joke like that with Xiao Xi anymore. Otherwise, it’ll be… troublesome for everyone.”

By now, Xiao Lu had turned her gaze to me. Though her flushed face was adorable, her eyes were dead serious.

“Yeah, I understand.”

I scratched my head and nodded awkwardly, admitting that I had indeed gone too far.

“Alright, it’s almost time for training. I’ll head off.”

Satisfied with my response, Xiao Lu nodded, glanced back at Xiao Xi, and quickly walked over to Ling Yan.

“Hey, Ai Xi, did you say something to Xiao Lu? Otherwise, why would she act so out of character?”

I sat down next to Ai Xi and looked toward the club members who were already gathering.

I couldn’t remember the last time I saw Xiao Lu this shy—probably not since we became close.

“I didn’t say much. I just asked Senior Xiao Lu if she might be scaring you or something.”

Ai Xi was now wearing a fitted jacket, tilting her head and grinning at me.

“What kind of question is that?”

I shook my head helplessly and gently patted her head.

“But seriously, you and Senior Xiao Lu have such a good relationship.”

Ai Xi touched the spot I had patted, then looked up at me with big, blinking eyes.

“Yeah, she’s my friend. Plus, she’s Ling Yan’s friend, so we naturally hang out together.”

“Oh, I see.”

Ai Xi nodded, but her eyes held a strange glint, as if she were thinking about something.

After that, we sat properly on the bench and chatted aimlessly until training ended. Then I got up to collect the leftover water bottles and towels. Ai Xi was called over by Teacher Xia, probably to discuss joining the club.

Unlike the morning when I prepared alone, after afternoon training, everyone helped clean the pool and put things away, so we could start training right away the next morning.

In the mornings, all I had to do was bring water, towels, and some training equipment.

Once I had everything sorted, everyone had changed and left the pool area.

I locked the main door and headed to the advisor’s office. Outside, I heard Teacher Xia’s lazy voice.

(Is she still talking to Ai Xi? It’s been so long—are they not done yet?)

I opened the door and saw Teacher Xia leaning back in her chair, looking helplessly at Xiao Lu and Ling Yan beside her, while Ai Xi stood on the other side, her head lowered.

“What’s going on?”

I looked at them, puzzled.

“Senior~”

Ai Xi raised her head, her big, watery eyes gazing at me pitifully, her voice full of pleading.

“Zhou Chen, you’re finally here. Since you brought her in, you should talk to the captain and vice-captain.”

Teacher Xia’s eyes lit up when she saw me, as if I were a savior. But I had a feeling she just wanted to dump this troublesome matter on me.

I turned to Ling Yan and Xiao Lu. Xiao Lu glared back at me without hesitation.

“Um… what exactly happened?”

I asked cautiously.

“I oppose Xiao Xi joining the swim club.”

“Huh? But weren’t you really enthusiastic about Ai Xi earlier?”

I was surprised by Xiao Lu’s objection, given how much she seemed to like Ai Xi.

Xiao Lu shook her head and looked apologetically at Ai Xi.

“As a senior, I do like the idea of Xiao Xi joining. But as the captain, I have to say she’s not suited for this club.”

“I feel the same way.”

Ling Yan nodded lightly.

“Can you tell me why?”

Even Ling Yan opposed? She’s the vice-captain, but she usually never voices an opinion on club matters.

“I already said it, but since Chenzi asked, I’ll say it again. First, the swim club isn’t accepting new members. Even if we submitted Xiao Xi’s application, the school wouldn’t approve…”

I glanced at Teacher Xia, who nodded helplessly.

“…Second, you all know the training intensity here. We’re in the middle of the semester—we can’t take on a newbie and teach them slowly. And with the competition coming up, we can’t afford to wait for Xiao Xi to catch up, nor do we have anyone free to teach her. So this is for her own good. Wouldn’t it be better to join another club?”

Those reasons were more than sufficient. Even I had to admit that Ai Xi’s chances were nonexistent.

But then I thought about how the girls had half-forced Ai Xi and her troubled expression earlier, and I sighed.

“Ai Xi can’t join the swim club…”