Early that morning, Yin Feng got up, had a nutritious and hearty breakfast, then took a stroll around the family courtyard, did some warm-up exercises, and finally changed into a full set of globally top-brand swimming gear—swim cap, trunks, and goggles.
The house had a swimming pool, located just behind the villa. Usually, it was only used by a few of them, but today, Yin Feng was breaking precedent by using it, and no one was allowed to come and watch—except for Tuya, who was there to teach him how to swim, and Xiao Yan, who was standing by just in case. Of course, the pool was filled with temperature-controlled water today.
Though Tuya couldn’t understand why, with a strong man like him present and the pool depth only 1.8 meters, a man like Yin Feng, standing 185 cm tall, needed any "just in case" precautions.
Standing in front of the floor-length mirror in the changing room, Yin Feng examined his reflection. Over the past several months, he seemed to have tanned a bit, and although he reportedly hadn’t kept up with his fitness routine, his physique appeared even more solid and powerful. The image of that woman charging fearlessly to the forefront of a crime scene flashed through his mind. His expression cold and stern, he draped a towel over his shoulders and headed out to the outdoor pool.
Learning to swim today wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Ever since he’d learned about his grudge with Luo Yu—especially after being held underwater by Luo Yu’s lackeys and left half-dead—a fierce anger had burned inside Yin Feng. Even though he’d gotten back at Luo Yu right under the noses of the police at the station, Yin Feng still felt unsettled. So, after giving up swimming for several years, he found the motivation to learn again.
The dark organization targeting him was not far away, and scum like Luo Yu were countless. If he were to be held underwater and humiliated again, needing a woman to risk her life to save and protect him, he might as well put a bullet through his own head.
Today, the sun was out for a change, making the water surface shimmer and appear crystal clear. Xiao Yan, carrying a bright red lifebuoy, sat on a bench by the poolside, wearing sunglasses and smiling at him. Tuya had already shed his towel, revealing a sturdy, muscular build. Seeing Yin Feng come out, he grinned at him, then turned and dove into the water. For such a burly man, he moved with surprising agility in the water, swiftly swimming to the other end of the pool. With a turn, he swam back.
Xiao Yan clapped enthusiastically, "Clap, clap, clap!"
Yin Feng’s expression soured even more.
Tuya leaned against the pool edge, looked up, and smiled, "Teacher Yin, come on in." Honestly, he really didn’t want to do this job. He’d never seen anyone as afraid of water as Yin Feng. On land, Yin Feng was sharp and alert, with decent physical skills. But once in the water, he was like a rooster with its neck wrung—flailing and struggling clumsily, to the point of leaving one speechless.
Then, the two of them watched as their usually refined and brooding Teacher Yin removed his bathrobe, revealing a physique that rivaled that of a male model, and stepped into the water along the specially built poolside stairs.
Tuya, who had learned to swim in the wild but was an excellent swimmer, began teaching based on instinct.
"Teacher Yin, hold onto the edge of the pool with your hands and start by learning the leg movements. Just like this—kick, pull back, then kick again. It’s really simple."
Yin Feng gripped the pool edge tightly, nodded calmly, then submerged his head in the water and began kicking his legs as Tuya had demonstrated.Boundless water surged from all directions in an instant. The world suddenly fell silent, and you could no longer hear any sounds from the surface. Through his swimming goggles, Yin Feng saw only a shifting expanse of blue. He kicked his legs vigorously, yet he could feel his body sinking. Then he distinctly sensed his body tensing up—every inch of bone, every muscle—tightening like stone, gradually losing sensation.
No one knew why he was so terrified of water. And he would never tell anyone.
When you enter the water, when that seamless, soundless liquid rushes in from all sides, it’s like stepping into a confined space—one you cannot resist. You begin to struggle for breath, and soon your body loses feeling. You feel unbearably uncomfortable, suffocated, as if something you’ve always wanted to escape but couldn’t is entangling you, pressing down on you...
Yin Feng suddenly lost his balance and began choking on water. Tuya, quick-eyed and swift-handed, grabbed hold of him, but Yin Feng still swallowed a large mouthful, feeling utterly miserable. When his face finally broke the surface, he gasped for air in huge breaths. Tuya, also startled, dragged him toward the steps.
He waved his hand to indicate he was fine and said, "Let’s continue."
Tuya paused for a moment, watching as Yin Feng gripped the edge of the pool again and submerged his head.
Once, twice, again and again.
He choked and lost his balance; Tuya pulled him up. Then, pale-faced, he continued, a trace of cold determination even curling at the corners of his lips. It seemed like self-torment, yet also like a refusal to admit defeat. But indeed, after enduring such torment, the time he could stay afloat grew longer, and he even managed to lift his head occasionally to breathe.
"Teacher Yin, you’ve made great progress," Tuya said sincerely. Although his learning pace might be slower than a child’s, his starting point was so low and weak that Tuya genuinely admired him. Xiao Yan on the shore was also impressed, watching quietly, clapping, and offering words of encouragement.
Once more, Yin Feng sank beneath the surface, the suffocating sensation closing in from all sides. He felt the tension and weakness in his limbs, yet also his own fierce resistance. He curved his lips into a smile underwater. This weakness—this flaw that had once tormented him to the brink of death—had to be erased from his body.
He choked again, swallowing a large gulp this time. His throat, nose, and ears ached intensely. Just as Yin Feng was about to grab Tuya’s arm to end this session, a familiar scene abruptly surged forth—the swaying water surface, the bleak shimmer of light, and the sensation of water flooding his nose, ears, and throat.
It all came back in an instant.
Yin Feng saw a deep night, mountains lurking in the darkness. He saw the water surface violently shaking as someone grabbed his head, forced him under, and made him choke on mouthfuls of water. Just as he teetered on the edge of suffocation, he was pulled out. He heard himself gasping like a desperate, pitiful fish. He could even feel the immense panic and helplessness he had harbored then. And once again, he saw the cruel water surface closing in.
Then he saw that woman.
She was crouching not far away. Someone struck her back with a stick, yet she remained silent, her eyes filled with tears.Yin Feng suddenly didn't want to see those eyes anymore, nor did he want her to witness his current pained gaze, or let her see such a weak and useless version of himself.
He watched himself turn away, his face as pale as death.
...
Finally, the woman spotted an opening among the enemies, swiftly took down several people in an instant, and rushed toward him. He even recalled the scent from her embrace that day—damp, reeking of creek water, unpleasant and cold. Yet he also remembered the feeling of holding her tightly under the faint starlight overhead, as if the entire world had narrowed down to just the two of them.
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