Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Fish

The early morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the nearly empty public pool, casting a serene glow on the calm water. Zhēng Yù moved through the lanes with rhythmic strokes, each lap pushing him further and further until his muscles ached with that familiar burn that he liked to get lost in when his head felt too full to handle. He came to swim away from the weight of his thoughts, his worries, his doubts, and in this case, from his heart. Swimming had always been his refuge, a solitary escape where he could process his thoughts beneath the surface.

The rhythmic splashing of water echoed through the quiet space, interrupted only by the gentle lapping of waves against the pool's edge. Zhēng Yù's mind was a whirlwind of emotions, and the repetitive motion of his arms cutting through the water mirrored the internal turmoil.