After finishing their stretches, Ren led Yueyue to the edge of the pool, holding her hand and helping her step down the ladder into the water.
Though the water seemed full, it was only about 1.4 meters deep, making it relatively safe. However, Ren remained cautious. For Yueyue, the depth was significant. Ren recalled a story about two marine soldiers who drowned in 1.5 meters of water despite wearing life jackets. Whether the story was true or not, it was enough to make Ren cautious. If trained soldiers could drown in shallow water, the risk, however small, should not be ignored.
At first, Yueyue was enthusiastic about the new experience. But as she began to descend and her body gradually submerged, she suddenly panicked. She clutched the pool ladder tightly and looked at Ren with a worried expression, "Daddy... I'm a little scared..."
At that moment, she remembered seeing news reports about drowning on TV and wondered what would happen if she drowned.
"Don't be afraid. Daddy's here," Ren said, standing in the pool and clapping his hands encouragingly. "Don't you want to play with Bailey? Look at all the other kids..."
"Yeah, Yueyue, come play!" Bailey said, kicking her little legs in the water and smiling at Yueyue.
Encouraged by her dad and tempted by her friend's invitation, Yueyue hesitated but still didn't move.
Seeing her reluctance, Ren came up with an idea. He put on a disappointed look and said, "Well, if someone's scared, then we won't swim." He glanced at Bailey, "Bailey is so brave; she can swim at such a young age."
Bailey blushed and swam back to her dad, while Yueyue's face turned red with embarrassment.
She was easily provoked by such tactics and cared about her reputation. Hearing her dad say she was scared and not as brave as Bailey, Yueyue got angry, "I'm not scared!"
Hesitantly, she let go of the ladder and wobbled into the water, looking at Ren, "You have to hold me tightly, or you'll lose your little cutie!"
"Yes, yes~"
Ren held onto her waist, his grip making her feel safer. Once she was fully in the water, she waved her hands and then looked up at Ren with a big smile, feeling proud, "See! I'm not scared!"
Seeing her so pleased, Ren pretended to let go, making her cling to him like an octopus, punching his chest with her tiny fists.
"Daddy, you're so mean!"
"Okay, okay, Daddy was wrong. But if you learn to swim, you won't have to be scared," Ren reassured her, patting her back.
He took out a kickboard, "Here, hold onto this and learn to swim."
Yueyue looked at the kickboard with curiosity. Ren supported her stomach, helping her float while the rest of her body was in the water. At first, she cried out in fear, kicking her legs wildly, which made Ren hold her close again.
Feeling the warmth of her dad's embrace, Yueyue relaxed, curling up like a frightened kitten. "I... I don't want to learn anymore!" she said, her voice trembling with fear.
"Yueyue, it's easy, don't be scared," Bailey said, swimming over like a little fish, making Yueyue envious.
With encouragement from both her dad and Bailey, Yueyue tried again. Ren held her, and she floated, paddling awkwardly.
"Hee hee~" After a while, Yueyue found it wasn't so scary and giggled.
"Daddy, I can swim too!!" Yueyue said excitedly, showing off to Ren.
"That's not swimming." Ren chuckled, tickling her nose, "You're more like a Magikarp flopping around."
"I'm not a Magikarp!!!"
Yueyue pouted, thinking Magikarp was ugly. If anything, she should be a Milotic!!!
"Then watch Daddy swim!" she challenged, "You swim like a Slowpoke!"
"Oh really?" Ren's eyes widened, "Watch and learn from your daddy, the former swimming champion!"
Ren made sure Yueyue was safe, then dove into the pool to show off his skills.
Yueyue and Bailey watched closely. Soon, Bailey's dad came over with ice cream, "Bailey, here's your ice cream."
Seeing Yueyue's envious look, he smiled and handed another ice cream to her, "Here, Yueyue, you can have one too."
"Thank you, Uncle~~" Yueyue said, taking the ice cream happily.
"Where's your dad?" Bailey's dad asked.
"Swimming," Yueyue replied.
The two girls quickly started chatting and eating their ice cream. A while later, Ren surfaced, looking expectantly at Yueyue, "How was it? Was Daddy great?"
He saw Bailey's dad and the two girls eating ice cream...
He had swum a whole hundred meters for nothing!
With a resigned look, Ren decided not to show off anymore. "Alright, let's continue learning to swim." He took Yueyue's ice cream, "I'll hold onto this; you can have it back later."
"Okay..."
Reluctantly, Yueyue handed over her ice cream and resumed her swimming lessons under Ren's guidance.
And then...
"Ah!! My ice cream!!! Daddy, you're a big meanie!"
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