Chapter One: Crossing the Ocean

On the ocean of a parallel world, a 'creature' floated. Not far from the shore, that 'creature' seemed to move. It was the first time in many days that anyone had seen it make a physical motion. Though the movement was rather indecent, at the very least it confirmed that it was alive.

It was summer, the perfect season for seaside vacations. The waters nearby had been leased by a famous hotel, making them a unique feature for guests who could enjoy this exclusive stretch of sea.

A girl with a graceful figure swam freely in the water, while the unidentified 'creature' headed in her direction.

At first, the girl didn’t notice anything amiss. But when she suddenly saw the unknown object beside her, she stared in bewilderment at the shameless boy before her.

Though this was an open-minded era and she was very much a product of the times, such blatant behavior angered her. Swimming without clothes was one thing, but what infuriated her most was that the unruly boy, after flashing her a lewd smile, began to slowly sink below the surface.

Was she being harassed? In broad daylight, beneath the clear sky…

The girl felt instantly unsettled, thinking this person was a degenerate. Yet, she hadn’t shouted, her composure remarkable.

Just as she was about to deliver a sharp kick, she noticed the boy slowly sinking, deeper and deeper. If she remembered correctly, he wasn’t wearing anything—not even a breathing apparatus.

She decided not to bother; he was probably mad, and she wanted nothing to do with lunatics. She swam back to shore, and when she turned to look, there was still no sign of him resurfacing.

Had he drowned?

That seemed unlikely. Maybe he’d swum away somewhere else. Yet the odds were slim, since this was the hotel’s private sea, separated from the outside waters. It was impossible for him to leave from below. She wondered how he’d even gotten in, given the strict management.

Perhaps he was a hotel guest. In today’s society, there were plenty of nouveau riche. Swimming naked in such a setting hardly spoke to high character.

In his sleep, Fang Yuan felt increasing pressure all around him, as though countless things were crowding in, pushing against him.

Fang Yuan finally managed to open his eyes, only to find himself underwater, his body sinking slowly.

Was he dreaming? Why would he wake up in the sea? Worse yet, he didn’t even know how to swim.

He cried out in anguish inside, insisting this had to be a dream—a dream, nothing more. He quickly shut his eyes, hoping that, upon reopening them, he’d be back in his own room, lying on his bed.

But reality proved harsh. When Fang Yuan opened his eyes again, his predicament hadn’t changed; instead, he was sinking even faster.

He wanted to shout in panic, but as soon as he opened his mouth, salty seawater rushed in. The descent sped up, and terrified, Fang Yuan clamped his mouth shut to keep more water out.

Seconds ticked by. Though the girl had taken a dim view of the boy, her kindness prevailed, and she didn’t leave immediately. She stood quietly on the shore.

Today’s weather was perfect, without a breath of wind. The calm surface showed no trace of disturbance. She wondered if he might be a skilled diver. Nearly five minutes had passed, and still he hadn’t appeared.

The water was so clear that she couldn’t even see his shadow below. He must be an expert. If he was reasonable, she might forgive him and ask to learn his diving technique.

Though she was already an accomplished swimmer, her breath-holding skills were lacking. She’d hoped to find a good coach, but such instructors were rare, and few met her standards.

Today, she’d finally encountered one—though judging by his manner, he didn’t appear to be a good... person. Still, if he could teach her how to hold her breath, her status would ensure he didn’t dare misbehave.

So she waited on the shore, counting the minutes, quietly watching for his return.

Meanwhile, the miserable Fang Yuan was dog-paddling for all he was worth, though it did him little good. Still, it was a struggle for survival. Amidst his frantic efforts, he remembered that he shouldn’t even be here.

Wasn’t he supposed to be on a field expedition with his biology professor? And the site was supposed to be a thousand-year permafrost zone—whereas here...

Suddenly, Fang Yuan realized something and looked down. That explained why he felt so refreshed—like he’d returned to the womb.

As he was lost in thought, his body began to move on its own, with a rhythmic grace.

Wait... When did he learn to swim?

But then he thought—no, this couldn’t be right. He wasn’t moving at all.

He glanced down at his body, ignoring the fact that he was now exposed. His limbs were working together, swimming powerfully and effortlessly.

Was he sleepwalking?

Wasn’t it said that you don’t feel anything when sleepwalking? Yet it felt as though he was watching a live broadcast of himself—so harmonious.

Who could disagree? Didn’t everyone swim in their mother’s womb before birth?

Soon, Fang Yuan felt himself nearing the surface, finally seeing hope. But as he broke through the water and saw a tall, slender girl standing on the shore, he remembered his current state and felt utterly mortified.

Perhaps he should just drown himself—he was a very conservative young man, after all.

To be seen so exposed by a girl—how could he ever face anyone again?

But then again, were all those books lying? Why did the girl before him not match their descriptions? According to the plot, shouldn’t she have covered her eyes and screamed?