American comics: I am full of martial virtues and I love to be kind to others.

“This meal was a work of art,” Emily said as she ate. “Not only did it taste delicious, but the presentation was also beautiful.”

“Yes,” Lynn agreed, “and dining in this environment feels particularly different.”

As the meal progressed, their conversation became more relaxed. They talked about their hobbies, travel experiences, views on life, and even shared some interesting childhood memories.

“I was terrified of water when I was little,” Emily said with a laugh. “I would cry for ages every time I went to the swimming pool.”

"And now?" Lynn asked curiously.

“I’m much better now. Although my swimming skills are so-so, at least I’m not afraid of water anymore,” Emily said. “Speaking of which, I’m a little nervous about tomorrow’s diving activity.”

"Diving?" Lynn asked. "Are we going diving tomorrow?"

“Oh, I forgot to tell you,” Emily said excitedly, “when I was researching the itinerary, I saw that the hotel offered diving services, including beginner courses. I’ve always wanted to try diving, and I thought this was the perfect opportunity.”

Lynn thought for a moment, "I've dived a few times before, but not in tropical waters like this. That sounds interesting."

“That’s wonderful!” Emily exclaimed happily. “We can explore the underwater world together. I’ve heard that the waters around Maui are full of beautiful coral reefs and tropical fish.”

“But are you sure you’re okay?” Lynn asked with concern. “Diving requires a certain amount of skill and courage.”

“I know there are risks, but I believe it should be safe with professional guidance,” Emily said. “Besides, after experiencing so many dangerous things, I felt it was time to try something new and wonderful.”

“You’re right,” Lynn nodded. “Then let’s go diving tomorrow. I can help you keep an eye on things.”

“Thank you, Lynn,” Emily said gratefully. “With you by my side, I feel fearless.”

These words warmed Lynn's heart. He realized that Emily's trust in him had gone beyond that of ordinary friends.

After the main course, the waiter recommended local specialties for dessert—macadamia nut ice cream and a tropical fruit tart. The desserts were refreshingly sweet, providing a perfect ending to this sumptuous dinner.

"Do we need to prepare for tomorrow's dive?" Emily asked.

“The hotel should provide all the necessary equipment,” Lynn replied, “but we can learn some basic safety information first.”

They decided to visit the hotel's activity center after dinner to learn more about the diving program. The activity center, located on the first floor of the hotel, had dedicated staff responsible for arranging various water activities.

The person on duty was a local man in his thirties named Kai, with tanned skin who looked very healthy and energetic. He told them that the hotel's diving program was taught by professional diving instructors and suitable for tourists of all levels.

“For beginners, we have a special introductory course,” Kai explained. “First, you learn basic skills in the swimming pool, and then you go to the shallow water area for actual diving. An instructor is present throughout, so it's very safe.”

"What qualifications are required?" Emily asked.

“You only need to know basic swimming,” Kai replied. “We’ll provide all the equipment, including wetsuits, masks, snorkels, fins, and so on.”

"How deep can you dive?" Lynn asked.

“For beginners, we usually keep the depth between 10 and 15 meters,” Kai said. “This depth is both safe and allows you to see a lot of beautiful marine life. The waters around Maui have rich coral reefs, and you can often see tropical fish, sea turtles, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot whales.”

“That sounds amazing,” Emily said excitedly. “Can we book a class for tomorrow morning?”

“Of course,” Kai checked the reservation list. “There’s a beginner’s course tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., and there are still spots available. The course lasts about four hours and includes theory, pool practice, and ocean diving.”

They booked a diving lesson for tomorrow on the spot. Kai gave them a booklet with some precautions and advised them to get some rest early tonight to ensure they had enough energy for the next day.

“Also,” Kai cautioned, “don’t drink alcohol within 24 hours before diving, as it will impair your judgment and reaction time.”

“No problem,” Lynn said. “We only had a little bit of alcohol tonight.”

After completing the formalities, they decided to take a walk on the hotel's beach. The beach at night was different from the daytime; the moonlight cast silver streaks on the sea, and the waves gently lapped against the sand, making a rhythmic sound.

“It’s so quiet here,” Emily said as they walked. “It’s such a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of New York.”

“Yes,” Lynn took a deep breath of the sea-salt-scented air, “this tranquility feels like a purification of the soul.”

They walked slowly along the coastline, occasionally stopping to observe the seashells and seaweed washed ashore by the waves. Emily was as excited as a child, bending down every now and then to pick up some unusual seashells.

“Look at this,” she said, holding up a spiral-shaped seashell, “it has such a unique shape.”

“It’s beautiful,” Lynn said. “You can keep it as a souvenir.”

After walking for about half an hour, they sat down to rest in a pavilion on the beach. The pavilion was made of bamboo and had a tropical feel, with comfortable rattan chairs inside.

"What will we see when we go diving tomorrow?" Emily asked expectantly.

“Coral reefs, tropical fish, and maybe sea turtles,” Lynn replied. “I’ve heard that the underwater world in Hawaii is incredibly beautiful, with many creatures you can’t see anywhere else.”

“I’m a little nervous, but mostly excited,” Emily confessed. “This is my first time diving, and it feels like entering a whole new world.”

“You’re always nervous the first time,” Lynn reassured her, “but I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Being underwater is a special feeling, like floating on another planet.”

"How long have you been diving?" Emily asked curiously.

“Not very long, about five or six years,” Lynn replied, “mainly in the waters off Florida and California. But the waters around Hawaii are clearer and have more marine life.”

“Then you can be my guide tomorrow,” Emily joked.

“Of course, I will always be by your side,” Lynn said sincerely.

This sentence created a subtle tension between them. In the moonlight, Emily's face appeared exceptionally beautiful, her eyes sparkling with tenderness. "Lynn," Emily said softly, "thank you for bringing me here. This is the happiest day I've had in a long time."

“Me too,” Lynn replied. “It’s so nice to share these wonderful moments with you.”

They sat quietly, listening to the sound of the waves and the Hawaiian music drifting from afar. The sea breeze caressed their faces, bringing the salty scent of the ocean and the faint fragrance of flowers.

“We should go back and rest,” Lynn finally said. “We need plenty of energy for tomorrow’s dive.”

“Yes,” Emily nodded in agreement, but was clearly reluctant to leave this beautiful place.

They slowly walked back to the hotel, and in the elevator, Emily was still excitedly talking about tomorrow's plans.

"What time do we get up?" she asked.

“Class starts at ten, we should have enough time if we get up at nine,” Lynn said. “We can have breakfast first.”

“Okay,” Emily said, “see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Emily,” Lynn said. “Sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight, Lynn,” Emily replied. “See you tomorrow.”

The next morning, Hawaiian sunlight streamed into the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows, naturally waking Lynn to the gentle sounds of waves and birdsong. He glanced at the clock by his bedside; it was 8:30 a.m., exactly half an hour earlier than planned. He went out onto the balcony, took a deep breath of the fresh ocean air, and the view before him once again left him in awe.

The Pacific Ocean at dawn is a pristine blue, with wisps of clouds on the distant horizon. The sea is as calm as a mirror, occasionally punctuated by seabirds skimming the surface. This tranquility and beauty are invigorating, completely washing away any tension from the previous night about the upcoming diving experience.

"Good morning!" Emily's cheerful voice came from the neighboring balcony. "You're up so early too?"

Lynn turned her head and saw that Emily had already changed into her swimsuit, with a thin white cover-up over it. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she had an excited smile on her face, clearly looking forward to today's diving activity.

“The sound of the waves woke me up,” Lynn replied with a smile. “You look ready.”

“I’m so excited, I woke up at six,” Emily said frankly. “I couldn’t sleep because I was thinking about seeing the real underwater world soon.”

“Let’s go have breakfast first,” Lynn suggested. “We need enough energy for diving.”

Twenty minutes later, the two met at the hotel's open-air breakfast restaurant. Facing the sea, with a gentle breeze and swaying palm leaves, it felt like a tropical paradise. The breakfast was plentiful, featuring fresh tropical fruits, freshly baked bread, local specialty coconut oatmeal porridge, and various fruit juices.

“This mango is so sweet,” Emily said, enjoying a slice of mango. “It’s better than any mango I’ve had in New York.”

“The local fruit is definitely different,” Lynn said, savoring a slice of pineapple. “It’s incredibly fresh and sweet.”

At 9:45, they arrived at the hotel's diving center. It was an open-air building located by the beach, filled with various diving equipment, and the walls were covered with beautiful photos of the underwater world and safety instructions.

Kai, whom I met yesterday, was already waiting there, accompanied by a female coach in her thirties named Lina. Lina looked very professional, with a healthy tan from the sun, firm muscles, and a confident yet gentle gaze.

“Good morning,” Lena greeted in fluent English. “I’m Lena, today’s diving instructor. Kay told me you’re beginners, especially this lady?”

“Yes, I’ve never been diving before,” Emily admitted nervously, “but I’m really looking forward to the experience.”

“It’s alright, everyone has a first time,” Lina encouraged. “I’ve been teaching diving for ten years, and I’ll make sure you’re all safe. Does this gentleman have any diving experience?”

“There are some, but not in tropical waters,” Lynn replied.

“Very good, let’s begin,” Lina said. “First, we’ll learn the theory, then practice in the pool, and finally, we’ll go diving in the sea.”

For the next hour, Lina explained in detail the basic principles of diving, safety rules, and emergency procedures. She explained the effects of water pressure on the human body, how to properly use a breathing apparatus, and the meaning of various hand signals in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

“The most important rule is never to hold your breath,” Lina emphasized. “You must maintain normal breathing underwater to avoid lung injury.”

Emily took careful notes and asked questions from time to time. Her attitude towards learning impressed Lina.

After the theory lesson, they went to the hotel's swimming pool for practical exercises. Lena helped them put on their wetsuits, masks, regulators, and fins.

“This gear is a bit heavy,” Emily said after taking a few steps on land. “It feels strange.”

“It’s much easier in the water,” Lina explained. “The buoyancy of the water will offset the weight of the equipment.”

In the swimming pool, they practiced basic diving skills: how to clear water from their masks, how to use a regulator, how to maintain balance in the water, and various emergency signals. Emily was a little nervous at first, but quickly got used to breathing underwater.

“This feeling is amazing,” Emily exclaimed excitedly as she surfaced. “Breathing underwater feels just as natural as breathing on land.”

“You learn very quickly,” Lina praised. “Now we can go to the sea.”

At 11:00 AM, they boarded a small boat and headed to the diving site. About ten minutes after leaving the bay, the boat arrived at an area called "Coral Garden." The water here was about twelve meters deep, crystal clear, and the coral reefs were visible from the boat.

“It’s so beautiful,” Emily exclaimed, leaning over the gunwale and looking down. “The water is so clear, I can see the coral at the bottom.”

“It’ll be even more beautiful once we’re down there,” Lina said. “Now check our gear and get ready to go in.”

Lynn went into the water first, followed by Emily, and finally Lena. Emily was a little nervous when she first entered the water, but with Lynn and Lena by her side, she quickly relaxed.

As they slowly descended, the underwater world gradually unfolded before their eyes. First to catch their eye were vast coral reefs, including brain corals, staghorn corals, and fan corals, all in vibrant colors and diverse shapes. Swimming among the corals were various tropical fish: yellow butterflyfish, blue tangs, brightly striped clownfish, and schools of silver snapper.

Emily's eyes widened as she witnessed this, her excited expression visible through the mirror. She pointed to a group of clownfish, gesturing to Lynn in delight. (End of Chapter)