153: Chapter 153 Teaching Girls to Swim

Shin Se-kyung looked at the splashes she had made, and the corners of her mouth finally curved upward.

Song Tianhao caught this micro-expression. He didn't offer verbal encouragement, nor did he point it out deliberately; he simply maintained his relaxed, leaning posture and calmly proceeded to the next step: "How does it feel? Water isn't scary, right?"

Shin Se-kyung nodded gently, her gaze still fixed on her lower legs submerged in the water, watching the ripples sway with her subtle movements. "It's, it's a little cold, but... it's okay."

Her voice was slightly louder than before, though it remained faint.

"Very good. Now, try holding onto the poolside, slowly stand up, and take a few steps in the shallow water. Plant your feet firmly on the pool floor; it's very shallow, only reaching your knees." Song Tianhao gestured with his eyes toward the ladder in the shallow area and the smooth pool edge beside her. "Hold on tight, take it one step at a time, no rush."

Shin Se-kyung took a deep breath. One hand was still clutching the yellow kickboard, while the other tentatively reached out to grab the cold but sturdy tiled pool edge behind her. Carefully, she stepped one foot into the water and stood up straight. The pool water indeed only reached slightly above her knees.

The buoyancy and resistance of the water made her body sway, but the support from the poolside gave her a sense of security. She hesitated for a moment, then slowly lifted her other foot, and finally, she was standing completely in the shallow area.

Ripples gently swayed around her waist. She looked down at her lower body surrounded by water, then looked up at Song Tianhao, who was still leaning there calmly a few steps away. A strange emotion, a mixture of fading fear and surging novelty, made her chest feel slightly tight.

"Yes, just like that. Hold onto the pool edge and try taking two steps forward." Song Tianhao's voice was like a steady anchor, guiding her.

Shin Se-kyung pursed her lips, her fingers digging firmly into the smooth edge of the pool, and moved sideways one step at a time, extremely slowly. The sensation of the water brushing against her skin was strange, and the feel of the tiles under her feet was a bit slippery, but it wasn't unbearable. She moved another step.

"CEO Oppa! Shin Se-kyung Unnie can walk!" Kim Sae-ron had been playing in the water by herself; seeing Shin Se-kyung's movements, she excitedly splashed the water, spraying Shin Se-kyung in the face.

The cold water droplets made Shin Se-kyung instinctively close her eyes and turn her head, but this time, she didn't scream in panic. She simply raised her hand to wipe her face and actually gave Kim Sae-ron a somewhat helpless, yet more genuine, faint smile. "Sae-ron, stop messing around." Her voice carried a hint of reproach she didn't even notice herself.

"Sae-ron, just play with your own things and don't disturb President Song teaching Unnie." Kim Sun-mi's voice came from by the glass door.

She had put down her magazine at some point and was leaning against the doorframe, holding a glass of water. Her posture looked relaxed, but her gaze was like a precise searchlight, falling on the two people in the pool, lingering for a moment on Shin Se-kyung's hand holding the pool edge.

"Oh." Kim Sae-ron stuck out her tongue and obediently turned around, playing with the water by herself, but her little head couldn't help but look over here.

Song Tianhao seemed not to have heard Kim Sun-mi's words, nor did he pay any attention to that scrutinizing gaze.

All his attention seemed focused on this cautious student, who was treading on thin ice. "Very good, you're walking steadier than I imagined. Now, try letting go of one hand, support yourself with only one hand, and slowly turn your body around to face the center of the pool."

This was another challenge. Shin Se-kyung hesitated, her fingers gripping the pool edge tightening and loosening, loosening and tightening. The ripples swayed gently, carrying an uncertain temptation and threat. She looked at Song Tianhao; his gaze was calm and determined, offering no urging, only waiting.

Finally, she slowly let go of the hand holding the kickboard; she tucked the kickboard under her arm, and then, with that hand, she tentatively and slowly released the tightly gripped pool edge.

Shin Se-kyung's body swayed slightly from losing support on one side, so she quickly grabbed the pool edge even harder with her other hand to steady herself.

Her heart was beating fast, but fortunately, she didn't fall.

"Very good." Song Tianhao nodded, giving clear affirmation this time. "Now, turn around and face me. Go slowly, keep your center of gravity low, and if you feel unstable, grab on immediately."

Shin Se-kyung followed his instructions, inching her feet along like a clumsy penguin, slowly turning her body in the water until her back was against the pool wall and she was facing the center of the pool.

Now, she only had one hand gripping the pool edge behind her, and she was completely exposed to the open water. That feeling of suspension and having nothing to rely on surged up again, making her breath hitch.

"Look at me, don't look at the water." Song Tianhao's voice rang out just in time, pulling back her attention, which was about to scatter. "Yes, look at me. Then, slowly let go of that hand and try to stand in the water completely on your feet. The water will support you, and the kickboard will help you too. Trust me, you won't sink."

His voice wasn't loud, but it had a strange penetrating power that drowned out the sound of the water and even Shin Se-kyung's own thumping heartbeat. She looked at Song Tianhao a few meters away; he was still maintaining that relaxed posture, as if he were performing the most ordinary demonstration.

Sunlight slanted in from the floor-to-ceiling windows behind him, gilding his wet hair tips and shoulders with broken gold. He looked stable and strong, like a rock in the water.

For some reason, the tight string in Shin Se-kyung's heart loosened slightly. She took a deep breath, and then, extremely slowly, bit by bit, she released the last finger gripping the pool edge.

Shin Se-kyung's body tilted backward slightly as she lost her last fixed point, and the water immediately surged up to support her. She instinctively waved her arms, and the kickboard tucked at her side provided extra buoyancy, allowing her to quickly regain her balance.

She stood in waist-deep water, her hands spread out unconsciously, feeling a bit lost, but she really... was standing. She hadn't sunk.

An indescribable feeling instantly struck her. She was... really standing in the water. Without relying on any external objects, just by her own body and that small kickboard. The water gently wrapped around her, no longer a terrifying devourer, but a medium that could support her.

Although it still made her nervous, it was no longer pure fear.

Her eyes widened slightly as she looked at Song Tianhao, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say.

Song Tianhao's mouth curved upward almost imperceptibly; it was faint, but it was indeed a smile. "Very well done. Now, try taking one step forward without holding onto anything, just like walking on land, only slower and with a steadier center of gravity."

Shin Se-kyung nodded vigorously, a faint flush appearing on her face from nervousness and excitement.

She carefully lifted one foot, stepped out, planted it on the pool floor, stood steady, and then lifted the other foot.

Shin Se-kyung's movements were as clumsy as a baby just learning to walk, every step cautious. Her body swayed slightly from not being used to the buoyancy and resistance of the water, but she was indeed moving forward, step by step, slowly but firmly, inching toward Song Tianhao.

Kim Sae-ron found it interesting and imitated Shin Se-kyung, letting go of the ladder and hopping around in the water, splashing even bigger sprays and giggling.

Kim Sun-mi, by the glass door, watched this scene, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. There was love for her daughter's innocence, a hint of scrutiny toward Shin Se-kyung's clumsy efforts, and more importantly, her gaze fell on that young man who remained calm in the center of the pool, guiding everything.

His patience exceeded her expectations; his methods seemed simple, yet they accurately captured and soothed Shin Se-kyung's fear. This wasn't just a whim; it was more like... professional guidance. She picked up her water glass, took a gentle sip, and her gaze was thoughtful.

Shin Se-kyung finally "walked" in front of Song Tianhao, stopping about a meter away from him. In just a few meters, a fine layer of sweat had already beaded on her forehead, whether from exhaustion or nervousness, she didn't know.

"Are you tired?" Song Tianhao asked.

Shin Se-kyung shook her head, then nodded, her breathing a bit uneven: "I, I'm a little tired. Walking in the water is so strenuous."

"That's normal. The resistance of water is about eight hundred times that of air." Song Tianhao explained naturally, then reached out and gently tapped the kickboard she was holding under her arm. "Now, try lying on this. Hold the front of the board with both hands, relax your body, and let your legs extend naturally. I will support you so you can feel the sensation of floating. This is the most crucial step in learning Swimming—overcoming the fear of 'lying flat on the water surface'."

Shin Se-kyung looked at the bright yellow kickboard, then at Song Tianhao. Lie on it? Entrust her whole body to this board and... him?

Seeming to notice her hesitation, Song Tianhao added: "I will only support your back to ensure you won't flip over. If you feel scared, you can stand up at any time; the water is very shallow."

His tone was so calm, so ordinary, as if he were saying "The weather is nice today," which strangely dissolved the "gravity" of the situation.

Shin Se-kyung gritted her teeth, made up her mind, and as he said, positioned the kickboard. Then, she carefully lay her upper body on it, gripping the front of the kickboard tightly, her knuckles trembling from the effort. Her body was as stiff as a board, and her legs were still standing straight on the pool floor.

"Relax, Shin Se-kyung." Song Tianhao's voice was close at hand; he had left the poolside and stood in the water beside her. "Lift your legs gently, off the pool floor. Yes, go slowly... entrust your body to the kickboard; it's very sturdy."

His hand, dry and steady, pressed gently on the upper part of her lower back, carrying an unquestionable supporting force. "I will support you; I won't let you sink. Trust me."

That force came through the soaked swimsuit fabric, warm and firm. Shin Se-kyung's body trembled almost imperceptibly, not from fear, but from a strange sensation of being securely protected.

She closed her eyes, opened them again, and then, extremely slowly, bit by bit, lifted her feet off the pool floor.

Her body suddenly felt light, and the buoyancy instantly lifted her up. The sensation of weightlessness made her heart contract suddenly, and she almost screamed, but the hand on her back steadily supported her, maintaining her in a balanced posture.

Her legs were still slightly curled from nervousness, but her whole body was indeed already floating on the water surface, with only her face and upper body lying on the kickboard.

"Very good, just like that, hold it." Song Tianhao's voice was right by her ear, as calm as if he were reading an instruction manual. "Feel the buoyancy of the water, breathe, relax your shoulders and neck, yes... imagine you are lying on a very soft bed."

Shin Se-kyung breathed rapidly a few times, forcing herself to slowly relax her tense muscles. The water gently wrapped around her body, and the sunlight through her eyelids was a warm red. The presence of the hand on her back was incredibly vivid, but it was precisely this vivid presence that made her feel strangely safe.

She tried, extremely slightly, to relax her shoulders and turned her face to rest on the kickboard.

[part:gemini-3.5-flash]

She was really... floating.

Although she was still relying on the kickboard and still being held steadily by a hand, she had indeed overcome that deep-seated fear of lying flat on the water and losing the solid ground beneath her feet. A tiny, shivering sense of achievement crept up her spine.

"Yes, just like that. Keep your breathing steady." Song Tianhao's voice carried approval. The hand supporting her back was firm and steady, without the slightest hesitation or unnecessary contact, serving purely as instructional and protective support.

Shin Se-kyung lay there, gently swaying with the ripples. Once her initial nervousness passed, a strange sense of tranquility enveloped her. The gentle lapping of the water sounded in her ears, with Kim Sae-ron's playful laughter faintly echoing from afar, along with the blurry background noise of the city high above.

The sunlight shone on her back, warm and cozy. That steady, warm hand became the sole, reliable pivot connecting her to this element she feared.

She even, ever so slightly, tried to gently kick her calves.

Water splashed, and her body swayed slightly on the surface with the movement, but the support on her back immediately steadied her.

"Very good," Song Tianhao's voice seemed to carry a hint of a smile. "You can try kicking gently to feel the propulsion. No need to rush, just like how you were kicking your feet at the edge of the pool earlier."

Just as Shin Se-kyung was gradually relaxing and even beginning to try gently kicking the water with her calves under Song Tianhao's guidance, feeling that tiny, faint propulsion, the sky, without anyone noticing, quietly began to change.

The originally bright sunlight was obscured by thick clouds gathering from out of nowhere, and the sky darkened at a speed visible to the naked eye. A gust of damp, cool wind swept across the terrace, making the parasol flutter loudly, and the pool water rippled uneasily.

"Mom, it looks like it's going to rain?" Kim Sae-ron stopped playing in the water, looked up at the sky, and hugged her arms somewhat uneasily.

Kim Sun-mi also looked up at the rapidly darkening sky, her brow furrowing slightly. She put down her water glass, walked to the edge of the terrace, and rested her hand on the railing to gauge the wind speed. "The weather is changing so fast."

Song Tianhao also noticed the change. He looked up at the rolling dark clouds on the horizon and the faint flashes of lightning in the distance, saying decisively, "It's going to rain, and it looks like it's going to be heavy. Let's call it a day, safety first."

Maintaining his posture of supporting Shin Se-kyung's back, he said to her, "Alright, Se-kyung-xi, slowly put your feet down, stand firm, and then we'll get out."

Shin Se-kyung was right in the middle of her excitement, having just overcome her fear and experienced a tiny bit of floating and freedom in the water. Hearing this, she felt a bit reluctant.

She turned her head, wet strands of hair clinging to her cheek. Her eyes, exceptionally bright from her earlier focus and current excitement, unconsciously carried a pleading tone she didn't even notice herself: "President, just let me try floating one more time! Just once! I feel like I'm about to get the hang of it!"

Her voice was clearer and brighter than usual, carrying a hint of urgency, and there was a childish, eager light in her eyes as if she wanted to grasp onto something.

Looking at her rarely vivid expression, Song Tianhao was about to say something when a sudden clap of thunder exploded directly overhead without warning, making the glass doors buzz.

"Rumble—!"

Immediately after, raindrops as large as beans came pattering down. At first, it was just a few sparse drops, but in an instant, they joined together, turning into a vast, noisy white sheet of rain that enveloped everything.

Wild winds whipped the rain across the terrace, splashing the pool's surface into countless violently dancing droplets. The shimmering blue water from moments ago instantly turned blurry and chaotic.

"Ah!" Shin Se-kyung shuddered all over, startled by the sudden thunder and torrential rain. She instinctively wanted to curl up, but lying on the kickboard, this shudder instantly broke her already unstable balance. She shrieked, her hand slipped, and the kickboard she had been holding tightly actually slipped from her grasp!

Losing her support, her body immediately fell backward! Cold pool water rushed in from all directions, instantly submerging her nose and mouth!

"Let go of the board! Don't panic! Stand up!" Song Tianhao's voice remained clear and calm amidst the deafening sound of the rain, carrying an absolute, decisive strength.

Almost the exact instant Shin Se-kyung lost her balance, he moved. The hand that had been steadily supporting her back instantly shifted forward, sliding under her armpit, and firmly caught her from her backward fall, lifting her upward!

Song Tianhao's other hand swiftly scooped through the water, accurately retrieving the drifting kickboard.

Shin Se-kyung choked on some water in her panic, her hands instinctively clawing the air, grabbing onto Song Tianhao's firm arm. The contrast between the cold fear and the suddenly close, powerful, and warm male body left her mind blank for a split second.

"Push off the ground! Stand up!" Song Tianhao's voice was right next to her ear, carrying an unquestionable tone of command, but the arm wrapping around her was firm and strong, holding her securely to prevent her from sinking again due to panic.

Shin Se-kyung choked and coughed, her feet scrambling frantically until they finally touched the bottom of the pool.

She stood firm; the water only reached her chest. The torrential rain poured down like a waterfall, beating wildly on her head and face, making it almost impossible to open her eyes. The cold rain mixed with the cold sweat from her recent fright. However, the supporting force coming from her waist and back was so clear, allowing her panicked heart to strangely find a sense of security.

Half-supporting and half-holding her, Song Tianhao moved quickly and steadily to the edge of the pool. "Give me your hand, get up! Slowly!" Supporting her waist, he pushed her upward.

Shin Se-kyung scrambled to grab the slippery edge of the pool, and with Song Tianhao's help, she finally climbed out. The torrential rain instantly drenched her completely. She slumped by the poolside, shivering violently from either the cold or the fright, her lips turning somewhat pale.

Song Tianhao followed closely behind, pushing off the edge of the pool with one hand and leaping up nimbly. He didn't even bother to wipe the rain from his face, immediately turning his head to look toward the lounge area.

Kim Sae-ron was already terrified by the sudden downpour and thunder, screaming as she threw herself at her mother.

Kim Sun-mi was also drenched and looked rather disheveled. Her expensive silk shirt was instantly soaked and clung to her body, and her carefully styled hair had collapsed. Guarding her daughter with her body, she retreated toward the covered outdoor kitchen area while anxiously looking over toward the pool.

"Auntie! Take Sae-ron into the main house first! Watch out for the slippery floor, don't catch a cold!" Song Tianhao raised his voice and shouted. The sound of the rain was too loud, forcing him to yell.

Almost at the same time, with a sharp snap, the lights on the terrace and in the living room suddenly went out! A power outage.

The sudden darkness drew another shriek from Kim Sae-ron. But immediately after, several emergency lights embedded in the corners of the walls automatically lit up, casting a dim but sufficient warm yellow light. They barely dispersed the sudden darkness, enveloping the disheveled group in the heavy rain within a dim, hazy glow.

"Quick! Inside!" Song Tianhao said no more. He bent down to pick up a bath towel soaked by the rain, wrapped it haphazardly around the still-shivering Shin Se-kyung, and then, half-supporting and half-carrying her, rushed quickly toward the living room of the main house.

Kim Sun-mi also pulled the terrified Kim Sae-ron, splashing through the water on the ground as they stumbled inside after them.

With a thud, Song Tianhao shut the heavy sliding glass door leading to the terrace behind them, shutting out the wild sound of the rain and the damp, cold air. The house instantly became much quieter, with only the pattering of the rain against the glass outside and the faint hum of the emergency lights.

The four of them stood in the spacious yet slightly dim living room due to the power outage, completely drenched and dripping water, which pooled into small puddles on the polished marble floor. For a moment, the scene was quiet and awkward.

Kim Sae-ron tightly hugged her mother's waist, her small face pale and still shivering slightly. While Kim Sun-mi gently patted her daughter's back to comfort her, she quickly tried to tidy her wet hair and clothes, attempting to regain some decency, but with little effect.

Shin Se-kyung was wrapped in the wet bath towel, her hair clinging to her face and neck. Her lips were pale, and her body trembled uncontrollably, though she couldn't tell if it was from the cold or from the extreme fright earlier.

Song Tianhao wiped the rain from his face. His hair was also soaking wet, with water droplets sliding down his sharp jawline. His black swim trunks clung tightly to his body, outlining his lean and powerful physique.

He seemed to be the most composed of the four. After his gaze quickly swept over everyone to confirm they had all safely made it inside, he was the first to speak, his voice sounding exceptionally clear and steady in the empty living room.

"Se-kyung-xi, go take a hot shower in the first-floor guest bathroom first so you don't catch a cold. There are spare clean clothes in the wardrobe, and you can wear any that still have the tags on. The size might not fit perfectly, so just make do for now."

After speaking to Shin Se-kyung, he turned to the Kim mother and daughter, his tone equally calm. "Auntie, Sae-ron, there is another guest room on the first floor. You two should go tidy up as well and change out of your wet clothes. I'll go check if a breaker tripped."

His arrangements were orderly and clear, instantly dispersing some of the panicked and helpless atmosphere.

Shin Se-kyung hugged her cold, wet arms and gave a low response: "...Thank you, President."

Her voice was still trembling, and she didn't dare to look at anyone, especially Kim Sun-mi. Wrapping the wet bath towel tightly around herself, she lowered her head and walked quickly toward the guest room Song Tianhao had pointed out, her silhouette looking fragile and disheveled.

Kim Sun-mi watched Shin Se-kyung's hurried departure, then looked down at her still-sobbing daughter in her arms, and finally, her gaze fell upon the upright back of Song Tianhao as he walked toward the breaker box to check it.

Outside the window, there was no sign of the torrential rain letting up; instead, it poured even harder. The dense raindrops beat wildly against the glass window. The sky was pitch black, and though it was afternoon, it felt like the middle of the night. Faint thunder still rolled in the distance.

She sighed softly, a sigh containing too many complex emotions—helplessness toward this sudden rainstorm, a subtle awareness of their current situation, and perhaps a trace of evaluation of that young man who remained calm and composed amidst the chaos.

"This rain..." Kim Sun-mi looked up at the downpour outside. Her voice sounded very soft amidst the noise of the rain, yet it echoed clearly in the living room. "I'm afraid it won't stop anytime soon."

She paused, turning her gaze toward Song Tianhao, who was walking back after checking the breaker box, a complex smile mixing apology and a certain understanding appearing on her face.

"It seems I will really have to trouble President Song... for quite a while today."