At the chosen spot, the three men chipped away at the ice for a while, finally carving out a hole just barely wide enough for one person to squeeze through…

I stood off to the side, bundled tightly in a thick padded coat, shivering uncontrollably as I stared blankly into the hole, my mind utterly empty.

Just then, Mom noticed my state and gave me a light pat.

“It’s not deep diving,” she said gently. “Don’t be too scared.”

“Can you… give me just a tiny hint about what we’re actually doing down there?” I whispered, muffling my voice with my scarf as I leaned closer to her.

Mom shook her head, stepped aside, and her gaze instantly shifted toward the three men preparing nearby.

Clearly, she still wasn’t going to tell me.

Feeling dejected, I watched Wu Datong pull a coil of nylon rope from his bag. He fastened one end to a thick black iron spike and hammered it deep into the ice. Then he shed his coat, revealing a sleek black wetsuit underneath. He swiftly secured his gear, strapped on the oxygen tank, and clipped the rope’s free end to his waist belt. Second Brother and Wei Qiuying finished suiting up at the same time. They turned and gave Mom a thumbs-up. She gave a silent nod.

Before I could react, Wu Datong dove in alone. Second Brother and Wei Qiuying followed right after.

“This…”

At this moment, I was truly caught between a rock and a hard place. Go down? The icy water felt unbearable. Stay back? Mom wouldn’t let me.

“Get ready. Do you still remember what you learned?”

Mom shed her coat, revealing her own black form-fitting wetsuit. She tied her hair up and began pulling gear from her bag.

“I… I think so…”

Years ago, my parents took me to HN Province—though “trip” was generous. It was really a week-long beginner diving course, with Dad as instructor. So I was somewhat of a novice diver. Seeing the gear again stirred faint memories. I glanced instinctively at Mom, then at the nylon rope slowly vanishing into the dark water. She handed me the diving mask and a black hair tie.

“Tie your hair back.”

No flippers. No heavy gear. They probably weren’t going deep.

A cold wind hit me, shaking me to the core. Honestly, even without wind, dressed like this in this cold—I couldn’t take it.

I put on the mask and regulator, strapped the compact air tank on.

Following Mom’s cue, I took a deep breath, crouched, closed my eyes, and dove headfirst.

The instant I hit the water, my breath caught. My whole body convulsed violently.

I gripped the rope tightly, descending inch by inch. Diving here was pure misery. Why would Mom make me endure this? If someone acts strangely, it’s either madness—or a reason that *has* to be. My parents weren’t indulgent, but they’d always cherished me. They’d push me through necessary hardships—late-night study sessions, basic fitness drills—but this icy plunge felt like an Ironman-level trial. Unless there was a truly compelling reason, Mom would never ask this of me.

Pitch black ahead. I could only follow the rope’s faint pull. The current felt off; the rope jerked wildly.

Mom followed behind—just knowing she was there eased me a little—but my shivers wouldn’t stop. I was nearing my limit.

Then the water around me turned turbulent, growing fiercer by the second.

Hesitant, I wanted to glance back at Mom. Should I keep going? And ahead—total darkness. No sign of Second Brother or the others.

Just as I shifted forward slightly—

A violent suction yanked me down. So sudden I couldn’t even grab the rope. I was swallowed whole.

Lost, I curled instinctively, clamping both hands over my regulator.

I felt like an ant flushed down a toilet, swept helplessly toward the drain.

My back slammed hard against rock—nearly knocking the regulator loose. Pain shot through me; tears welled behind my mask.

Then—a hand grabbed my waist strap, pulling me sideways. I tumbled endlessly in the current. The regulator slipped off. I swallowed mouthfuls of icy, briny water.

Just as darkness closed in—

I burst free of the water and slammed onto solid ground.

I collapsed, coughing violently, spitting out lake water. I ripped off the mask and curled into a ball.

Someone helped me sit up. I wiped my mouth, then my blurry eyes.

Through the haze, Second Brother grinned down at me. As he unclipped my tank, he rubbed my back.

“Not bad! Tumbled right out like a pro.”

“…”

It took ages to catch my breath. Ignoring him, I pushed myself up against the wall. My legs trembled fiercely.

Thankfully, this place wasn’t cold at all.

Mom emerged next—landing firmly on her feet.

She shed her gear and rushed straight to me, checking me over without a word.

Only after confirming I was okay did she let out a long sigh, then pulled me into a tight hug.

Her warmth seeped into me—deeply comforting.

In her eyes, I saw raw concern.

She really did have a reason. A painful one.