Axolotl Translations

After the two families discussed it, they decided to hold the engagement the following day, as it was considered an auspicious day in the lunar calendar. Given his tight schedule, Qiao Haoyu had limited options for the engagement date. Fortunately, the Qiao family had made meticulous preparations, ensuring that Wei Jiajia felt valued and included throughout the process.

Zhang Wenjuan genuinely cared for Wei Jiajia and had prepared a very generous dowry. The cash gift alone amounted to 500 yuan, and there was also a pair of emerald green jade bangles, exquisite works of art, undoubtedly valuable heirlooms. When Wei Jiajia saw them, her heart skipped a beat.

“Aunt Wenjuan, this is too precious! I can’t accept it,” Wei Jiajia exclaimed, quickly closing the box and pushing it back towards her.

“This is the dowry I’m giving to my daughter-in-law, you can’t refuse, unless you don’t want to be part of our family,” Zhang Wenjuan teased, feigning anger. She took the bracelet out of the box and pulled Wei Jiajia’s hand to put it on her wrist.

“See, it suits you perfectly! I knew it would. This bracelet has been prepared for many years, ever since Haoyu was little, awaiting his future wife. Now that I see it adorning your wrist, my long-held wish is finally fulfilled.”

“Don’t feel pressured, though. I’ve prepared one for Haoxuan’s wife too, but that boy isn’t good enough—at his age, he still can’t find a wife.”

Hearing Aunt Wenjuan’s playful words, Wei Jiajia couldn’t help but smile. She turned to smile at Qiao Haoyu, who stood to the side, nodded, and graciously accepted the gift.

Since they weren’t planning to get married for several more years, the Qiao family hadn’t prepared the wedding gifts yet, intending to do so closer to the wedding.

Since the engagement was the next day, after discussing the details, both families went their separate ways to handle their respective preparations.

Zhang Wenjuan, noticing that the couple had nothing to do, suggested that Qiao Haoyu spend more time with Wei Jiajia.

Her son’s schedule was incredibly tight; after the engagement, he would leave for the military the next day. As a military officer herself, Zhang Wenjuan deeply understood the importance of a soldier’s duty to defend the country. However, as a military wife, she also intimately knew the hardships that came with that role.

Both of them were her children, and she sincerely hoped that their love would not be fractured by time or distance. She wished for their love to endure the trials of time, remaining unwavering and loyal, no matter what life threw their way, so they could protect each other and build a life of happiness together.

Wei Jiajia was still young and couldn’t fully grasp the realities of being a military wife, so Zhang Wenjuan decided to let her son spend as much time with her as possible. In the years to come, they might be separated for long periods, so it was crucial to cherish every moment they had now. Zhang Wenjuan understood this well—when young lovers are apart, every day feels like an eternity.

The more she reflected on it, the more content Zhang Wenjuan felt. She wasn’t the type of mother-in-law who would hinder her child’s happiness—she would never be an obstacle in her son’s life.

Qiao Haoyu found his mother’s expression both amused and understanding and didn’t contradict her. He paused, lingering in the room a little longer.

The rest of the Wei family did not object. They left for the market to gather ingredients for the next day’s feast, leaving the young couple to enjoy some precious time together.

Wei Jiajia felt a bit shy but didn’t object. In fact, she was eager to spend more time with Qiao Haoyu. They hadn’t seen each other for a year, and she missed him terribly!

Once everyone had left the house, Wei Jiajia led Qiao Haoyu into her room. As soon as they entered, he pulled her into a warm embrace.

Qiao Haoyu held the young girl tightly, resting his chin on her head and gently stroking her hair, trying to convey the depth of his longing for her.

When he had first seen her standing in the courtyard, smiling, her pale skin shimmering in the sunlight, she had seemed almost ethereal, like a fairy who could vanish at any moment.

Had there been no onlookers and reason not to succumb to his impulses, he would have immediately pulled her into his embrace, to quell the yearning that had been consuming him. God knows how hard it had been to resist the urge.

Wei Jiajia quietly nestled in his broad, warm embrace, finding solace in the love she had yearned for so long.

They hugged in silence for a while, and finally, Qiao Haoyu reluctantly released his hold on Wei Jiajia. He led her to the bed and sat down, pulling a small velvet box from his pocket and handing it to her.

“What’s this?” Wei Jiajia asked, her curiosity piqued as she took the box and gently lifted the lid.

“This is?” she exclaimed, surprised as she gazed at the elegant watch and the accompanying savings book inside the box.

Qiao Haoyu remained silent. He took the watch from the box and, without a word, gently slipped it onto her delicate wrist.

As he carefully fastened the watch, his face was etched with seriousness and focus, as if he were performing a sacred ritual. When the strap finally clicked into place, he let out a relieved sigh, as though he had completed a daunting task.”

He lifted his head. Though he remained silent, his eyes gleamed with a mixture of pride and anticipation as they fixed on Wei Jiajia. She couldn’t help but feel as if he were silently seeking her approval.

She raised her hand and admired the Patek Philippe watch with diamonds, smiling as she said, “I really like it. Thank you. How did you know what size to get? The strap fits perfectly.”

He looked at the watch on her slender wrist and casually remarked, “Because I haven’t forgotten. Over this past year, I often find myself remembering the feeling of holding your hand for the first time.”

“See? My intuition was right. It’s a perfect match for you.”

Wei Jiajia’s face flushed crimson at his casual words of affection, and she quickly changed the subject. She picked up the savings book from the box and looked at it, only to be astonished by the amount listed within.

“How… how could there be this much money? Did you save all of this yourself?” Wei Jiajia stammered, her voice barely a whisper as she saw the amount approaching two thousand.

Wei Jiajia wasn’t unfamiliar with large sums of money. Not to mention anything else, she still had over five thousand in her own savings account. It had been given to her by her great-aunt one day, saying it was her parents’ insurance money and family savings, entrusted to her for the care of her siblings.

She simply hadn’t expected that Qiao Haoyu, fresh out of school, would have saved so much. In today’s world, this was no small feat.

Qiao Haoyu nodded, his gaze lingering on Wei Jiajia’s delicately parted pink lips, his Adam’s apple bobbing involuntarily. He quickly averted his eyes, answering, “This money comes from the allowances and rewards I’ve received over the years at school, as well as some savings I’ve set aside. I’ve gathered it all and am entrusting it to your care.”

“I’ll also regularly send you my monthly allowance, and whenever you need it, just let me know.”

Wei Jiajia, surprised, asked, “Why would you entrust the savings book to me? We’re not even married yet!”

“But we’re engaged,” he said with certainty. “One day we’ll get married. By entrusting this to you now, I’m also entrusting my future to you.”

Wei Jiajia looked at his expression, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Her heart immediately swelled with emotion, as if it had been filled to the brim.

He always had this effect on her, using the simplest, most sincere words to touch her heart deeply. With the delicate net he had woven, her heart slowly sank into it, ensnared with no desire to escape.

Not that she ever wanted to escape…

Suddenly, Wei Jiajia threw herself into Qiao Haoyu’s arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. Her peach blossom eyes sparkled mischievously as she teased, “Will everything be mine from now on? Will you listen to me, then?”

Qiao Haoyu froze, his body rigid, while his heart pounded uncontrollably. He had barely managed to tear his gaze away moments before, and now, he had completely lost his composure.

Wei Jiajia, not waiting for an immediate response, gently shook his arms, her voice unconsciously softening, almost purring, “I’m asking you a question! You… hmm…”

Before she could finish her sentence, she was startled by the sudden proximity of his strikingly handsome face. The rest of her words were lost, swallowed by the suddenness of his kiss.

The kiss was both innocent and passionate. After their teeth collided several times, they slowly found their rhythm, their movements becoming more natural.

She initially resisted, but he held her firmly. Soon, she was enveloped by his warm breath, and she ceased her resistance, cautiously responding to his kiss.

Noticing her clumsy response, Qiao Haoyu’s breath hitched. He lifted her and gently laid her on the bed, then…

After what seemed like an eternity, he released her and propped himself up slightly. Looking down at Wei Jiajia beneath him, his voice was husky as he asked, “Did you feel it?”

“Mm…” Her voice trembled, soft and weak, tinged with a vulnerability that seemed to further ignite his desire.

Her breath was heavy, and even through the clothes, it was possible to notice the gentle rise and fall of her well-developed chest.

Qiao Haoyu, captivated by the sight, felt a surge of desire course through him, his muscles tightening, and a shudder passing through his body. The desire he had struggled to contain began to consume him, his breathing growing ragged.

He quickly sat up, grabbing the blanket from beside him to cover Wei Jiajia. He then turned away, sitting on the edge of the bed to regain his composure.

Wei Jiajia, wrapped in the blanket, regained her senses, feeling mortified. She wished she could vanish into thin air, unable to fathom how she had made such an embarrassing sound.

Once Qiao Haoyu had regained his composure, he turned around to see a mound beneath the blanket. He couldn’t help but chuckle as he pulled back the blanket, trying to coax the person out.

Wei Jiajia, feeling like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, didn’t want to come out. As long as she didn’t face him, she could pretend what had just happened never occurred.

“Come on, don’t hide. I won’t tease you anymore. You’ll suffocate yourself in there,” he said gently, pulling her out.

Her face flushed slightly, and she let out a small hum of protest, but fortunately, she didn’t get angry with him.

The heat in the room made the blanket stifling, causing beads of sweat to appear on her forehead, and a few strands of hair clung to her cheeks.

Seeing this, Qiao Haoyu quickly grabbed a comb, preparing to fix her hair, worried that she might feel embarrassed later.

“Can you do it?” Wei Jiajia asked doubtfully.

“I don’t know, but I’ll learn,” he replied, his voice gentle. “Whenever I have time, I’ll comb your hair for you.”

Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, she didn’t protest, sitting quietly and patiently.

He gently began untangling her hair, his movements a bit clumsy at first, but never causing her any discomfort.

Neither of them spoke, simply enjoying the peace of the moment.

“All done!”

After a considerable amount of time, Qiao Haoyu’s voice finally broke the silence, carrying with it a sense of contentment, as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Wei Jiajia stood up and walked to the mirror in front of the wardrobe, checking her reflection. Not bad at all. It was worth the half-hour she had patiently endured.

“Your skills are pretty good. From now on, I’ll entrust my hair to you!”

“Delighted to do so!” he replied with a smile.

The next day was the day of their engagement, and both Qiao Haoyu and Wei Jiajia were up at the crack of dawn, preparing for the occasion.

Since the engagement banquet was being held at the Wei family’s house, Qiao Haoyu arrived early to lend a helping hand.

Although most of the Wei family’s relatives were from Beijing, Zhang Wenjuan’s side of the family was from Shencheng, and when combined with the Wei family, they had four full tables of guests!

As everyone saw the couple standing together, a picture of perfect harmony, the praises kept pouring in.

After a lively and bustling day, their engagement banquet finally came to an end.

The following morning, Qiao Haoyu, his belongings packed, set off for the place where he would forge his future.

Zhang Wenjuan and Qiao Mingli also had to return to Beijing for work.

After seeing them off at the train station, Wei Jiajia immediately immersed herself in the tasks that lay ahead.

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