Chapter Thirty-Eight: Teaching How to Swim [Chapter Three]

“Hurry, teach me! How do I swim?” Guo Xiangqing, who had just entered the water, was instantly exhilarated. She began splashing and paddling vigorously, sending up foamy waves. Zhang Ye was momentarily dazed, and in that instant, Guo Xiangqing, carried by her momentum, drifted into the deep end. Lacking any technique, she suddenly sank, panic overtaking her as she screamed, her arms flailing even harder.

With a loud splash, Zhang Ye snapped out of it, gave a wry smile, and quickly lunged forward, diving underwater to lift her from behind and bring her head above the surface.

“Young lady, you can’t swim and yet you head straight for the deep end? Are you trying to get yourself killed?” Zhang Ye kicked his legs, one arm wrapped around Guo Xiangqing’s slender waist, the other propelling them toward the shallower side.

Coughing violently, Guo Xiangqing clung to Zhang Ye like an octopus, clearly having swallowed some water. “I didn’t know,” she protested, feeling wronged.

Patting her back, Zhang Ye brought her to a spot about a meter and a half deep and began teaching her some basic strokes.

“Teach me!” Wang Mengzi, who had been quietly standing by Zhang Ye’s side, finally spoke up, her tone somewhat stiff, tinged with jealousy.

“Alright, Xiangqing, practice what I just showed you for now, and I’ll teach my Aunt Wang.” Zhang Ye nodded, then turned to Wang Mengzi. “Try swimming for me. Let’s see how you do.”

“I can’t,” Wang Mengzi huffed, raising her chin defiantly. She stood rigidly in the water, not moving at all.

With no other choice, Zhang Ye demonstrated the motions for her. In truth, his own swimming skills weren’t great—he was good at holding his breath underwater, but actual swimming was another matter.

“It’s simple, just relax and follow my movements,” Zhang Ye instructed, reaching out to help Wang Mengzi lean forward into the water.

“Careful…” As soon as Zhang Ye let go, Wang Mengzi immediately sank without even causing a ripple. He had no choice but to hold her hand, letting her use his support.

In contrast, Guo Xiangqing proved to be quite clever. She quickly picked up the dog paddle, swimming back and forth with slow but steady strokes, splashing high waves but never sinking again.

“Zhang Ye, help!” Just as he was praising Guo Xiangqing, trouble arose once more.

He quickly released Wang Mengzi’s hand and dashed to the deep end, hauling Guo Xiangqing back to safety. “You just learned to swim and you’re already heading to the deep end? Do you think you’re a prodigy?” Zhang Ye didn’t mince words as he dragged her back to the shallow water. Suddenly, his expression changed and he spun around. “Where’s Aunt Wang?”

Spotting a flash of flesh beneath the water, Zhang Ye dove in and pulled her up. “My dear lady, the water isn’t even as deep as you are tall—how do you still manage to sink?” he said, half laughing, half exasperated, patting her shoulder to help her cough up the water.

“I’m done swimming,” Wang Mengzi snapped, wiping her face and brushing off Zhang Ye’s hand.

“Oh, come on, we’ve only just started. It’s rare to get out like this—let’s move to the shallow end, and I’ll make sure you both learn before we go.” Zhang Ye was reluctant to leave as well; this rare moment of leisure was something to be savored.

After glancing at Zhang Ye, Wang Mengzi thought for a moment and nodded.

They moved to a waist-deep section and resumed swimming lessons.

Guo Xiangqing, still a beginner but learning quickly, was soon happily paddling about in the shallow water. Within half an hour, she had more or less mastered it and wandered off on her own, though she now avoided the deep end, not wanting a repeat of the earlier mishaps.

Wang Mengzi, on the other hand, had the proper form but stiff arms and still hadn’t managed to swim. Zhang Ye’s mouth was dry from explaining, but all she ever replied was a series of dull “mm”s, and her swimming remained unchanged. She hadn’t swallowed any more water, but Zhang Ye didn’t dare leave her side for a second.

Just as Zhang Ye finally managed to teach Wang Mengzi how to stay afloat without clutching onto anything, a sudden cry rang out from the distance. Zhang Ye looked over and saw a group of three or four youths dragging Guo Xiangqing toward the deep end.

His face darkened at once. Among the group, he recognized the lecherous young man who had harassed Wang Mengzi earlier. He quickly said a word to Wang Mengzi and sprang into action. “What are you doing? Let her go!”

Zhang Ye had noticed earlier that this youth was trouble, and had kept an eye out, but after a long while with no sign of them, he’d let his guard down. He hadn’t expected them to make a move now, trying to drag Guo Xiangqing into the deep water. Fury surged in his heart.

Zhang Ye had always despised true hoodlums. Liu Guangxiang and his bunch were simply idle, unemployed men who occasionally brawled or picked up odd jobs—they weren’t inherently bad. But these people were genuine scoundrels: lazy, deceitful, preying on women, thoroughly repugnant.

Normally, Zhang Ye would ignore them if they stayed out of his way, but having targeted both Aunt Wang and Guo Xiangqing, his anger exploded.

With two swift blows, Zhang Ye shot forward like an arrow, closing the distance to the deep water, and landed a punch squarely on the face of the one still grabbing Guo Xiangqing’s leg.

Everyone knows that a punch in water hurts even more; a heavy blow can easily break the skin. Zhang Ye didn’t hold back, and blood instantly oozed from the cut on the youth’s face.

“Damn it, get him!” the short, sleazy youth shouted angrily, lunging at Zhang Ye.

But in the water, he couldn’t muster much force. The resistance slowed him, giving Zhang Ye the chance to grab his head and shove him under, sending a stream of bubbles to the surface.

The remaining two took this chance to close in, raining punches and kicks on Zhang Ye. In water, no one’s movements are nimble, and the resistance slows everything down. On land, Zhang Ye might have dodged easily, but here, even as he braced himself and tried to evade, he couldn’t escape entirely and took several heavy blows to the back, leaving bloody streaks.