His physiological preference

One day, Mu Cheng organized a gathering, and Qin Yuzheng was unusually free.

They met at the swimming pool in the city center. Mu Cheng and Zhou Zhanyu swam several laps in the deep end, while Qin Yuzheng leaned against the edge of the pool, water droplets running down his shoulders.

When Mu Cheng returned from swimming, he took off his swimming goggles. "Ah Zheng, why didn't you bring your wife with you? It would have been so much better to teach her to swim."

Qin Yuzheng glanced at him. "She's afraid of water. She fell into the river and choked on it when she was little."

Mu Cheng leaned closer and lowered his voice, "That's why we need to teach you, right? Think about it, it's just the two of you in the pool... what a great opportunity."

He patted Qin Yuzheng on the shoulder and said, "Brother, opportunities are for those who know how to seize them."

That evening, after returning home, Qin Yuzheng tentatively asked, "Baby, would you like to learn to swim?"

Yang Zhiyan was scrolling through her phone on the sofa, not even looking up. "I don't want to."

Qin Yuzheng sat down next to her. "Swimming is good for your health, and..."

"I don't like water." Her voice was firmer than before. Qin Yuzheng didn't continue.

But after a while, Yang Zhiyan came across a short video about the benefits of swimming, saying that it can improve posture, enhance cardiopulmonary function, and relieve back pain from sitting for long periods of time.

After reading it, she looked at it on her phone twice. She hesitated for a few days, then one weekend morning, sitting at the dining table drinking porridge, she looked up at Qin Yuzheng across from her.

"Does your promise to teach me how to swim still stand?"

Qin Yuzheng put down his chopsticks. "Of course it counts."

Inside the swimming pool, there is a private area that Qin Yuzheng has booked for many years.

The indoor temperature is constant, the floor-to-ceiling windows face the garden outside, and the water is warm, so you won't feel cold when you first go in.

The light gray tiled floor, shower room, and storage cabinets are all neatly arranged.

When Yang Zhiyan came out after changing into her swimsuit, she wrapped herself in a bath towel and walked very slowly.

Qin Yuzheng had already gone into the water and was waiting for her by the pool.

She walked to the edge of the pool, looked down at the water, and saw the shimmering surface rippling under the lamplight. "Is the water deep?"

"This is shallow water, it's not deep." Qin Yuzheng held out his hand to her, "Come down."

Yang Zhiyan placed the bath towel on the chair next to her, slowly squatted down, and put her feet into the water.

The water was warmer than she had expected. She stepped to the bottom of the pool, and the water reached her chest.

She held onto the edge of the pool with both hands, standing in the water, afraid to move, her face tense.

Qin Yuzheng swam over and stopped in front of her. Ripples spread out behind him, gently nudging her. She swayed slightly and instinctively reached out to grab his arm. "Don't be afraid,"

His voice was steady. "I'll support you."

She slowly released his arm after she had regained her footing in the water.

Qin Yuzheng taught her to start by holding her breath: "Inhale and bury your face in the water."

Yang Zhiyan took a deep breath and buried her face in the water. The underwater world was blurry, with blue and white light shimmering through the surface.

She held her breath for a few seconds, then suddenly raised her head, gasping for air.

Qin Yuzheng watched her from the side and said, "Not bad, try again."

Her fingers were still gripping his arm tightly. He took a step forward, letting her lean against him. "Relax, I'm supporting you."

His palms supported her waist, his fingertips touching the skin on her side.

She felt his hand tighten slightly on her waist, his fingertips pressing on the narrowest part of her waist.

"Okay, try floating on your back," he said. "I'll support your back."

When Yang Zhiyan lay down on her back, her body was stiff, and she dared not let her feet leave the ground.

Qin Yuzheng's hand slid from her waist to her back, supporting her shoulder blades and making her float.

"Relax, I won't let you sink."

She closed her eyes and surrendered her body to the water.

She felt the water flowing over her skin, warm and soft, completely different from the cold, suffocating sensation she had felt when she fell into the river years ago.

His hand remained supporting her the entire time, never letting go.

She floated on the water and heard his low voice coming from above her, "Yes, that's it."

That afternoon, Yang Zhiyan learned how to hold her breath and float on her back.

Qin Yuzheng held her waist and she swam slowly back and forth in the shallow water a few times. She lay on the float and kicked with her legs.

He stayed close by, keeping a distance so he could catch her at any moment.

Once, she used too much force to pull herself out of the water, and the float slipped from her hand. As she sank, Qin Yuzheng reached out from the side and caught her. He wrapped one hand around her waist and pulled her out of the water. Her face was pressed against his chest, and water droplets dripped from his chin onto her forehead.

She looked up from his arms and said, "You caught me."

Qin Yuzheng looked down at her. "I told you I wouldn't let you sink."

It was almost evening when they emerged from the water. Yang Zhiyan, wrapped in a bath towel, walked into the changing room, with Qin Yuzheng following behind.

He went into the same room and locked the door behind him.

Moisture still lingered in the air, dripping from her hair and running down her back.

Qin Yuzheng hugged her from behind, his lips brushing against her earlobe, his voice so low only she could hear, "You behaved very well today, sweetie, do you want a reward?"

Yang Zhiyan saw his eyes in the mirror. "This is the pool changing room..."

"It's a private pool." Qin Yuzheng turned her around by the waist. "The changing room is also private."

Yang Zhiyan felt that the humidity was unusually high that day. She could hear something dripping outside through the glass door, but she couldn't tell if it was the showerhead or her own heartbeat.

After returning home, Yang Zhiyan started sneezing. She didn't pay much attention.

Yang Zhiyan went to bed early today because she had exercised too much.

When Qin Yuzheng returned home after finishing his work that evening, he reached out and touched her forehead. "It's a little hot. Did you catch a cold?"

Yang Zhiyan wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, "I'm fine..." her voice was slightly nasal.

Qin Yuzheng took the thermometer and pressed it against her forehead. A number appeared on the screen: 38.2 degrees Celsius.

He frowned slightly. "He has a fever."

Yang Zhiyan curled up on the bed, the blanket wrapped up to her chin, watching him busily prepare cold medicine and bring it over, and then put a fever-reducing patch on her forehead.

She drank the medicine in a daze and was helped to lie down.

Qin Yuzheng pulled the blanket up to her chin. "You should take a nap first."

Yang Zhiyan grabbed his hand, "I'm not going to learn to swim anymore."

Qin Yuzheng sat on the edge of the bed looking at her. "Okay, I won't study anymore." Yang Zhiyan looked at him. "Why are you so nice to me?"

Qin Yuzheng lowered his head and kissed the back of her hand. "Because you deserve it."

Qin Zhiheng peeked half his head in from the doorway, "Is Mommy sick?"

Qin Yuzheng turned to look at him, "Mom has a cold."

Qin Zhiheng skipped in, climbed onto the bed, and kissed Yang Zhiyan on the cheek. "Mom, get well soon."

Then he ran off again.

Yang Zhiyan closed her eyes and felt Qin Yuzheng's hand still holding hers. It was so heartwarming to have someone by your side when you're sick.