Axolotl Translations

Wei Jiajia saw that figure moving swiftly in her direction, and in the blink of an eye, the group of thugs was sprawled on the ground.

The man in the military uniform turned to her and asked in calm yet firm voice, “Are you alright?”

Before she could respond, Wei Jiajia’s gaze caught the scar-faced man leaping up from the ground, a knife gleaming in his hand as he aimed for the man’s back. Panic surged through her, and she yelled, “Watch out!”

As if he had eyes on the back of his head, the man reacted with startling precision, spinning on his heel and kicking the knife from the thug’s hand before it could even graze him.

Zeng Guoqiang arrived just in time to restrain the scar-faced man’s arm. A pained cry escaped the thug’s lips as as he disarmed him.

Qiao Haoyu glanced at the groaning thugs, , his voice steady as he instructed, “Guoqiang, I’ll stay here and keep watch. Go to the nearest police station and report this.”

He then turned to Wei Jiajia, whose fear was still evident in her wide eyes, and reassured her softly, “Don’t be afraid. It’s over now.”

Wei Jiajia couldn’t quite put her feelings into words. She looked up at the man standing tall before her, clad in a green military uniform, his posture straight and unwavering.

His bronzed skin and sharp features were complemented by a pair of piercing eyes that exuded an unshakable resolve , leaving her unable to discern what thoughts lay behind them.

His face was strikingly handsome, the kind that could capture attention at first glance. His words, spoken in a low, raspy voice, carried a tone of care and gentleness that seemed to wrap itself around her. It reminded Wei Jiajia of the modern saying, “A voice so charming, it could make you fall in love just by hearing it.”

Wei Jiajia had never been in a relationship. In the modern world, she had been so absorbed in work and making a living that love had never been a priority. After arriving in this era, with the original owner being so young, the idea of romance seemed even more distant.

But hearing those two simple words, “Don’t be afraid,” spoken with a warmth that contrasted the man’s stern expression, it was as if a dam inside her had broken.

The fragile resolve she had clung to since arriving in this unfamiliar time finally cracked. The emotions she had suppressed, especially the near-traumatic experience of almost being kidnapped, broke free, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

After her parents’ death, she had learned to face the world on her own, never letting her guard down, no matter how scared she felt.

This new era had given her caring relatives, but deep down, the fear of the unknown lingered. It was a loneliness only she could understand.

Qiao Haoyu couldn’t look away from her. Her face, tear-streaked and vulnerable, was heartbreakingly beautiful. Seeing her like this, he couldn’t explain why, but a pang of pain pierced his chest.

The young girl had truly been frightened this time. Qiao Haoyu couldn’t even begin to imagine what might have happened if he hadn’t returned today, or if Huimin hadn’t found help in time. The possibilities were too grim to dwell on—especially given her striking beauty, which could only make her situation more precarious.

Through her teary eyes, Wei Jiajia caught sight of a perfectly folded handkerchief being extended toward her. Looking up, she met the man’s steady expression.

His hand hesitated in mid-air for a moment before he spoke, his voice awkward yet earnest. “Don’t cry anymore… you won’t look as pretty if you keep crying.”

Wei Jiajia had been crying to release all the pent-up fear and frustration in her heart. But hearing his clumsy attempt to comfort her, she couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

Qiao Haoyu stood there, watching her. Even with tears clinging to her lashes, her smile was radiant, like sunshine after a storm. The tight feeling in his chest gradually loosened, replaced by an unfamiliar sense of relief.

Embarrassed, Wei Jiajia reached out to take the handkerchief, quickly wiping away her tears. Just as she opened her mouth to thank him, Zhang Huimin’s wailing voice rang out.

“Wuuu~ Jiajia! Are you okay? It’s all my fault! If anything had happened to you, I wouldn’t want to live anymore!”

Zhang Huimin ran toward her, crying uncontrollably, her face streaked with tears and snot. Her hiccuping sobs made her words difficult to understand, her eyes were swollen and red, a clear sign she had been crying for quite some time.

Wei Jiajia looked at Zhang Huimin, who wrapped her arms tightly around her as if she might disappear at any moment. Huimin’s face was streaked with tears, and her clothes were smeared with dirt, likely from a fall during her desperate search for help.

A warm wave of emotion surged through Wei Jiajia’s heart. She could tell how frightened her friend was. In her memory, Huimin had always been cheerful and carefree, never once appearing this disheveled or distraught.

“Alright, alright, stop crying now. Look, I’m fine, aren’t I?” Wei Jiajia said softly, using her right hand to gently pat Zhang Huimin’s back in comfort.

“And this isn’t your fault. I was the one who decided to watch the movie, and I was the one who chose to take this shortcut. None of us could’ve predicted what happened.”

“But if I hadn’t insisted on going to the movies with them, none of this would’ve happened in the first place! You only came because you didn’t want me to be alone. I’m the one who dragged you into this mess,” Zhang Huimin retorted between sobs.

Hearing her friend’s tearful words, Wei Jiajia couldn’t help but feel deeply moved.

“Come on now, who’s dragging who into what? If anything, I should thank you for saving me. If it weren’t for you running off to find help, who knows what could’ve happened to me.”

She turned to look at Qiao Haoyu, who stood nearby, his posture upright but his gaze calm and patient. Feeling embarrassed for not acknowledging him sooner, she nudged Zhang Huimin and said, “Look, the soldier who saved us is still here. I haven’t even thanked him yet.”

When Zhang Huimin heard Wei Jiajia’s words, she suddenly remembered that her cousin was still standing there.

She quickly stepped back from Wei Jiajia’s arms, grabbed the handkerchief Wei Jiajia had offered, and began wiping her face in a hurried, clumsy manner. Then, pointing at Qiao Haoyu, she asked in disbelief, “Jiajia, you don’t know who he is?”

Wei Jiajia looked at Qiao Haoyu with a perplexed expression. She searched her memories, but no matter how hard she tried, there was no trace of this man in them. Confused, she leaned closer to Zhang Huimin and asked in a small, sheepish voice, “Am I supposed to know him?”

Zhang Huimin gaped at her, her voice rising in shock. “You don’t remember your own fiancé?”

The words hit Wei Jiajia like a thunderclap. Stunned, she turned her head toward Qiao Haoyu, only to meet his deep, inscrutable gaze. He didn’t say a word, but the seriousness in his eyes made her heart race with unease. Feeling a pang of guilt, she quickly lowered her head like a scolded child.

Wei Jiajia’s thoughts were spinning. She never imagined that the man who had saved her was none other than the original owner’s fiancé—the man she was supposed to spend her life with in this world. The sheer coincidence left her both flustered and overwhelmed.

Qiao Haoyu quietly watched her reaction. Her big, round eyes were wide with surprise one moment, and in the next, she looked down like a shy child caught doing something wrong. Her demeanor reminded him of an ostrich trying to bury its head in the sand, and an amused smile unknowingly appeared on his face.

It wasn’t surprising that Wei Jiajia didn’t recognize him. After all, back then, she had been just a little girl, and every time he visited, she would hide away in fear. The two of them barely had any real interaction.

As for him, it was only because of his sharp memory that he could recognize her now. Even as a child, Wei Jiajia had been exceptionally beautiful, her features so delicate they seemed almost ethereal. Now, as an adult, her beauty had only blossomed further, striking yet refined, her poise and charm setting her apart. Among her peers, few could match her elegance.

Moreover, he had known from a young age that Wei Jiajia was his fiancée. By the time he was old enough to understand what it meant, he had already committed her name and face to memory.

Wei Jiajia, though initially uneasy, soon realized that it was perfectly normal for her not to recognize him. After all, the original owner had only met him a few times during childhood. Forgetting someone after so many years wasn’t unusual.

Putting aside the matter of their engagement for now, she focused on the present. After all, he had just saved her life. Gathering her courage, she looked at Qiao Haoyu and said sincerely, “Thank you, Brother Qiao. If it weren’t for your timely arrival, I can’t imagine what might have happened.”

Before Qiao Haoyu could respond, Zhang Huimin, now fully back to her cheerful self, jumped in with an enthusiastic comment:

“No need to thank him! For a life-saving favor like this, the best way to repay him is to marry him!”

Zhang Huimin, watching the two of them—a handsome soldier and a beautiful young woman standing side by side—found the scene increasingly pleasing. They looked so perfect together that she couldn’t resist adding another teasing remark.

“Since you’re already engaged, isn’t this the perfect way to repay him?” Zhang Huimin teased, her voice brimming with mischief.

Wei Jiajia’s cheeks burned bright red. Embarrassed and flustered, she shot her friend a glare, silently scolding her for her shameless teasing. Zhang Huimin, however, laughed even harder.

On the other hand, Qiao Haoyu, though slightly embarrassed, found himself seriously considering his cousin’s words. He rubbed his nose awkwardly, stealing a glance at the blushing Wei Jiajia. For some reason, the idea didn’t sound bad at all—saving her life and then marrying her.

After all, they were already engaged to begin with. What better way to solidify their connection? However, Qiao Haoyu knew better than to act on impulse. Wei Jiajia was still young and had just gone through a terrifying experience. Now wasn’t the time to bring up such matters.

Still, somewhere deep in his heart, a seed had been planted. Qiao Haoyu couldn’t helpbut start forming a plan in his mind. The idea of marrying Wei Jiajia suddenly felt more appealing than ever. He conveniently chose to disregard his previous resolve to let Wei Jiajia make her own decisions about their engagement if she ever found someone she liked in the future.

Just as the atmosphere grew slightly awkward and tinged with tension, Zeng Guoqiang arrived, leading a group of officers from the local Public Security Bureau.

“Comrades, these are the ones. They’ve already been subdued,” he said, pointing to the group of ruffians lying on the ground.

The officers surveyed the scene, and looked at the group of injured ruffians writhing on the ground, their faces contorted with pain. It was clear at a glance that these men were nothing more than petty thugs.

Then, their attention turned to the tall man in uniform standing nearby. Though Qiao Haoyu hadn’t spoken a word, his imposing demeanor instantly commanded respect. Standing beside him, Wei Jiajia and Zhang Huimin made a striking impression as well—the former exuding an elegant beauty, the latter radiating energy and liveliness.

“Tie them up and take them back to the station,” the Public Security captain ordered two of his subordinates. Then he turned to Wei Jiajia and the others and said, “You’ll need to come with us as well to assist with the investigation.”

“Of course,” Wei Jiajia replied. She also wanted to know who was behind the attempted kidnapping.

Qiao Haoyu and Zeng Guoqiang helped tie up the thugs before following the officers to the station.

At the station, the group sat on benches, waiting for the results of the interrogation.

Zeng Guoqiang glanced at his friend, who had been radiating a palpable aura of tension ever since they arrived. Even though Qiao Haoyu remained silent, the oppressive atmosphere surrounding him was impossible to ignore.

Knowing Qiao Haoyu wouldn’t bother with introductions, Zeng Guoqiang cleared his throat and took it upon himself to break the awkward silence.

“Hello, my name is Zeng Guoqiang. I’m a classmate and comrade of Haoyu. Are you acquainted with him?” After introducing himself, he couldn’t resist asking the question out of curiosity.

“Nice to meet you,” Zhang Huimin replied with a friendly nod. “I’m Zhang Huimin, and this is Wei Jiajia. Thank you for helping us today.”

Zhang Huimin responded first, then pointed to the silent Qiao Haoyu sitting nearby. “He’s my second cousin,” she said.

Then, with a slight tilt of her head towardWei Jiajia, who was sitting next to her, she added, “And he’s her fiancé.”

“What? Fiancé? Are you serious?” Zeng Guoqiang exclaimed, so shocked that he stood up, pointing at Qiao Haoyu in disbelief.

“What’s the matter? Is there a problem? Why wouldn’t it be possible?” Zhang Huimin shot back, her displeasure evident as she glared at him. Whatever goodwill she’d felt toward Zeng Guoqiang earlier for helping them today disappeared in an instant.

His reaction had been so over-the-top, as though she’d just announced something outrageous.

To anyone listening, his overreaction might make it seem as if her cousin had done something unforgivable to Wei Jiajia in school, which was far from the truth.

Wei Jiajia might not developed any real feelings for her cousin yet, but Zhang Huimin wasn’t about to let Zeng Guoqiang’s outburst tarnish her cousin’s image in Jiajia’s eyes.

Zeng Guoqiang, realizing he had gone too far with his astonishment, quickly noticed Zhang Huimin’s slight frown and his friend’s deathly glare. He immediately adjusted his expression and apologized to Zhang Huimin and Wei Jiajia.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude—I was just really shocked,” he said, trying to smooth things over.

“Haoyu’s the kind of guy who barely says two words to female comrades at school. I haven’t even seen a single female mosquito buzz around him. I never would have guessed that he had such a beautiful fiancée! No wonder he’s never spared a glance at other women. Honestly, we even thought he wasn’t into women at all!” Zeng Guoqiang blurted out, trying to lighten the mood.

But, to be fair, he wasn’t exaggerating. At school, Qiao Haoyu had a reputation for being reserved and aloof, yet reliable and trustworthy. He excelled in his studies, was skilled in combat, and was undeniably handsome. Though no one outright asked, his occasional mannerisms hinted that his family background was likely quite impressive too.

There were plenty of girls vying for his attention, but none ever seemed to pique his interest.

In fact, the guys in their dorm had a running bet on who might finally melt his icy heart. If it hadn’t been for Zhang Yifeng, none of them would have known he already had a fiancée.

Zeng Guoqiang figured that, as childhood sweethearts in an arranged engagement, both must have been from the capital. He hadn’t expected to meet his friend’s fiancée in Shencheng.

was simply because it hadn’t occurred to him that Qiao Haoyu’s fiancée would turn out to be Wei Jiajia—the very girl he had helped save tonight.

The coincidence was remarkable—they had just gotten off the train in Shencheng, and Qiao Haoyu had immediately ended up rescuing his own fiancée. The connection between these two was undeniable.

As Zeng Guoqiang studied Wei Jiajia’s features, he finally understood why Qiao Haoyu never spared other women a glance.

Even Liu Jiaojiao, the most persistent admirer back at school and undeniably beautiful in her own right, paled in comparison to Wei Jiajia. In both appearance and demeanor, Liu Jiaojiao fell short by a wide margin.

If his own fiancée were as beautiful and graceful as a fairy like Wei Jiajia, Zeng Guoqiang thought, he wouldn’t pay attention to other women either.

At that thought, Zeng Guoqiang couldn’t help but steal a glance at Zhang Huimin.

Zhang Huimin, realizing she had misunderstood the situation, caught Zeng Guoqiang’s gaze and offered an apologetic smile. Zeng Guoqiang, however, felt his face grow hot with embarrassment.

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