Water Park

"My cries of helplessness have already drowned in the ending~"

"My heart has been torn apart, scattered into the air, like withered flowers that can never be reclaimed~"

Inside the moving car, Ye Shuang and the others swayed along to the music. The DJ remix of "Mask" was surprisingly hype for driving—something Ye Shuang used to think was tacky. Now, he had to admit he’d been a bit too loud with his opinions back then.

Plus, it kept him from getting drowsy behind the wheel.

"Brother, looks like we’re almost there," Tang Keke pointed at the water park in the distance.

"Got it."

Since water parks tended to draw crowds, hygiene was always a concern. Ye Shuang had chosen a newly opened one, figuring the sanitation standards would be better at a fresh establishment.

"Doesn’t seem too packed now, but who knows once summer hits." Ye Shuang parked in the surface lot instead of heading to the underground garage.

"Huh? 5 bucks an hour? Pretty reasonable."

After getting out with the two girls, they scanned their tickets and entered. A massive pool and a dizzying array of slides, lazy rivers, and other attractions immediately came into view—plenty to choose from. Ye Shuang paid the deposit for lockers and told Tang Keke,

"Keke, take Yuyou to the women’s changing room over there. We’ll meet up after."

"Hehe, got it! I’ll take Yuyou to change first." Tang Keke grabbed Bai Yuyou’s hand and led her away.

Ye Shuang headed to the men’s changing room. For guys, it was straightforward—stuff everything into a locker, rinse off quickly, and swap into swim trunks. He was out in no time.

Bai Yuyou and Tang Keke took longer. Ye Shuang waited by the entrance for over ten minutes, even ducking out to buy a few things, before they finally emerged.

"Brother!"

Tang Keke wore a pink two-piece swimsuit, while Bai Yuyou had on a white one-piece. Both looked adorable, and the moment they appeared, they drew stares from all directions.

"Eek, kinda embarrassing…" Tang Keke’s "assets" were a bit too powerful—the way they jiggled like jelly even made Ye Shuang feel a strange pressure, as if daring him to look directly at them.

"Here, put this on." Ye Shuang coughed awkwardly, averting his gaze as he pulled out a sheer shawl from his bag.

"Oh?" Tang Keke took it and draped it over her shoulders.

"Brother, you’re so thoughtful! I was feeling a little self-conscious just now." She instantly seemed more at ease.

"That one’s… a bit bold for public," Ye Shuang admitted.

"Had no choice! They didn’t have my size," Tang Keke grumbled.

Ye Shuang then glanced at Bai Yuyou. The white swimsuit hugged her slender frame perfectly, though the one-piece looked a tad tight in places.

"Do I look nice?" Bai Yuyou asked.

"Yeah, suits you well."

At that, Bai Yuyou’s "ahoge" (stray hair) perked up happily.

With the pool still relatively empty, Ye Shuang had rented a swim ring and a kickboard—tools to teach Bai Yuyou how to swim. Tang Keke, meanwhile, claimed she was already proficient in the "doggy paddle."

"Let’s settle here, our spot."

The pool area had several smaller sections. Ye Shuang picked one with almost no people and set their things under a sunshade nearby.

"Alright, time to get in the water," Ye Shuang said. "Question—what’s the first thing you do before entering?"

"What to do…" Bai Yuyou pondered, then answered, "Wear a swimsuit."

"Not wrong, but what do you do right before getting in?"

"Not wear one?" Bai Yuyou tilted her head.

"That’s not what I meant!" Ye Shuang bonked her lightly on the head. "It’s warm-up exercises."

"Ohhh, right! Gotta stretch first, or you might cramp up or pull something," Tang Keke chimed in.

"Exactly. Pool water’s usually colder than body temp, so the sudden chill can cause issues," Ye Shuang explained. "Unlike a hot bath, where it’s fine to just hop in."

We?

Tang Keke’s gossip radar twitched at the keyword.

After the quick lesson, Ye Shuang led the girls through warm-ups before heading into the water.

"I’ll go first." Ye Shuang leaped in, the cool water enveloping him instantly, washing away the summer heat in one refreshing wave.

Haizhu City was a great place for a water park—short-sleeve weather nearly year-round. Up north, pools would probably freeze into ice sculpture exhibits by winter.

Tang Keke followed, though she didn’t jump like Ye Shuang. For one, she hated the cold shock. For another… too much movement risked a wardrobe malfunction.

She sat on the edge, dipping her feet in first before sliding in gingerly.

"Brrr! So cold!" She squealed for a moment before adjusting. The initial chill always faded fast once her body acclimated.

Bai Yuyou, however, hesitated at the water’s edge.

"Yuyou…" Ye Shuang reached out. "Don’t worry, I’ve got you. It’s shallow here too."

With a tiny nod, Bai Yuyou suddenly splashed forward, launching herself at Ye Shuang. Water droplets sparkled in the air as he caught her firmly.

"……"

"Cold…" She clung to him, shivering slightly.

Ye Shuang didn’t rush her. After half a minute, Bai Yuyou finally relaxed—her damp hair clinging to her face, making her look even more delicate.

"Ready?" Ye Shuang asked.

"Mm."

"Alright, let’s start with swimming basics." He thought for a second. "First, practice holding your breath."

He adjusted a pair of goggles and fitted them onto her head.

"Ye Shuang… too tight…"

"Loosen up a little, or water’ll leak in."

Even with the goggles on, her wide eyes blinked up at him.

"Okay, let’s begin. Come up for air when you can’t hold it anymore."

Bai Yuyou stared at the clear water, an inexplicable fear flickering in her chest. But she took a deep breath and submerged.

The world fell silent.

Slowly, she opened her eyes—and saw Ye Shuang underwater too, smiling at her with a thumbs-up.

In that moment, the fear melted away.