Chapter 180 - 105: First Passive Skill!
Li Younan is a landlubber.
This is actually quite reasonable.
People who can swim are always a minority, no matter the city or era.
Li Younan is just part of the majority.
However, unlike characters in literature or films, Li Younan hasn’t had traumatic experiences with water, such as drowning or encountering frightening water-related scenes.
The reason he can’t swim is quite simple—he’s never learned.
Before high school, he had to balance studying with keeping up with exercise habits, leaving no time or energy to learn this skill.
Moreover, the swimming pool in his county only opened when he was in middle school, just as the academic pressure increased.
In university, he splashed around in the school pool a bit, but it was purely for fun, and he still didn’t learn properly.
This is why, when he stares at the river, he feels like the river is staring back at him.
To be frank, Li Younan really wishes he possessed the skill to swim.
But it’s indeed not easy to learn on one’s own, at least not quickly.
Perhaps it’s time to seriously learn to swim; not everything can be left to chance.
Since boarding the ship, Li Younan hadn’t yet visited the cruise ship’s pool.
Not long after Liao Xinchun left, Li Younan went to the pool alone.
There weren’t many people at the pool on the ship, and the pool wasn’t very large, about twenty to thirty meters long.
There was a place on the ship selling swimsuits, so Li Younan bought a pair of swimming trunks and changed in the locker room.
As he came out, a smooth figure emerged from the water, wearing a swim cap and goggles, dressed quite conservatively in a one-piece swimsuit that didn’t show any cleavage.
But she had a great figure with beautiful lines, standing out among the rest.
Li Younan immediately recognized her as Liao Xinchun.
Liao Xinchun climbed out at the poolside, and Li Younan went over to greet her.
Liao Xinchun removed her goggles and looked Li Younan up and down, a flash of surprise in her eyes.
Li Younan chuckled and said, "What’s with that expression?"
Liao Xinchun looked a bit strange as she stood up, water dripping down her body.
Her gaze lingered on Li Younan’s abs for a moment, then gradually shifted to his chest. She nodded, "You’ve got a pretty good body. I wouldn’t have guessed you’re a muscular guy under those clothes during the day."
Li Younan’s build wasn’t large, but his lines were very defined, like they were carved.
He currently possesses three skills that enhance physical fitness: parkour, archery, and rock climbing.
Among these, parkour and rock climbing require a lot of wrist and core strength.
While archery does demand some muscle strength in the back and shoulders, modern compound bows don’t require the exaggerated muscles of ancient archers.
Besides, strength is also related to neural recruitment, not just having well-developed muscles.
There is a stark difference between Li Younan without clothes and with them on.
Liao Xinchun said, "I’ll teach you how to swim."
Li Younan nodded and said, "Then I’ll be in your care."
Liao Xinchun also nodded and said, "Let’s warm up first."
She demonstrated two stretching exercises, hesitated for a moment, then asked abruptly, "You’re not pretending again, are you?"
Li Younan blinked, "Pretending what?"
Liao Xinchun was a bit wary because before, Li Younan always said... Well, that he wasn’t skilled, just a beginner.
But when you truly thought he was a novice, he’d quietly outperform her in areas she was proud of.
Li Younan quickly understood what Liao Xinchun meant and chuckled, "This is something I honestly can’t do."
Only then did Liao Xinchun continue with the demonstration.
Subsequently, Liao Xinchun had him lie on the ground to practice the movements for breaststroke.
Li Younan lay down, and Liao Xinchun corrected his posture.
After about ten minutes, Liao Xinchun said, "Alright, into the water now."
Li Younan blinked, "We’re going in the water already?"
Liao Xinchun nodded.
Li Younan pondered for a moment, then slowly descended into the water using the ladder nearby.
Watching this, Liao Xinchun teased unreservedly, "Why are you so timid? Just jump in!"
With that, she leapt forward, becoming a sleek line, her hand slicing the water’s surface and her body following elegantly into the water, just like a dolphin.
To be honest, seeing Liao Xinchun’s ease in the water made Li Younan a bit envious.
In a way, swimming is the closest humans can get to flying without any tools, and the pursuit of flight has been ongoing throughout human history.
Once in the water, Liao Xinchun had Li Younan attempt the breaststroke movements they learned earlier on land.
Li Younan tried several times, failing to grasp the technique, splashing and nearly choking, standing up awkwardly.
Liao Xinchun laughed heartily.
Li Younan, with his hands on his hips, looked at Liao Xinchun in dismay, suspecting she was there just to see him make a fool of himself.
Perhaps Liao Xinchun also realized her reaction was inappropriate, so she coughed, put away her smile, and began instructing seriously: "You can’t open your eyes in the water, so it’s natural to feel a bit scared."
While speaking, Liao Xinchun removed her goggles, "Put on my goggles. If you can open your eyes in the water, it will be much easier. Here, crouch down a bit."
Li Younan squatted slightly, and Liao Xinchun helped him put on the goggles.
