Axolotl Translations

Suddenly, Shangguan Yu’s hand was enveloped by a broad, warm palm. The heat radiating from it was undeniable, seeping into his fingers and bringing them back to life. His once cold and numb fingertips seemed to stir, as if infused with renewed vitality.

It was the kind of warmth no one could reject—an undeniable, life-affirming force. It was an instinctual yearning for survival, a natural craving for warmth in the face of cold.

And so, Shangguan Yu indulged in it.

But only for a moment.

Almost immediately, reality intruded. He became acutely aware of the physical contact—realizing that he, who hated being touched, was allowing such closeness.

Expressionless, he withdrew his hand and, feigning composure, let out a quiet “Mm.”

Zuo Zhou studied his face for a few seconds before breaking into a light smile. “Brother Yu, are you hungry? Want to grab something to eat?”

It was mealtime. Shangguan Yu hadn’t eaten much earlier, and now, he did feel a slight hunger. But as his eyes swept over the nearby restaurants, all crammed with people, his appetite quickly vanished.

After all, for someone like him, the moment he entered a crowded place, all eyes would inevitably turn toward him.

And that was the last thing he wanted.

Zuo Zhou noticed Shangguan Yu glance toward the small restaurant beside them—just for a second—before quickly looking away. Instantly understanding his hesitation, Zuo Zhou suggested, “Why don’t we just head home? We still have those spare ribs from last time. I can make braised pork rice—it’ll be ready in thirty minutes with the rice cooker.”

“Mm,” Shangguan Yu replied, a hint of relief in his voice. “Let’s go home.”

Back at the house, worried that Shangguan Yu might be too hungry, Zuo Zhou quickly brought out some pastries for him to snack on. Then, after washing his hands, he got straight to work in the kitchen.

Shangguan Yu took a bite of the soft, sweet taro and purple yam cake, and almost immediately, a sense of ease washed over him.

No wonder people say sweets can improve your mood, he mused. There’s truth to that—something about them soothes the soul.

In the kitchen, Zuo Zhou, wearing his ridiculous red apron—the one patterned with sausages—moved busily, his back to Shangguan Yu. He seemed to be in a great mood, humming an unfamiliar tune. For some reason… it sounded slightly off-key.

Shangguan Yu’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Once again, he felt a quiet sense of gratitude for having chosen Zuo Zhou as his caretaker.

As if sensing his gaze, Zuo Zhou suddenly turned around. Their eyes met, and Zuo Zhou’s face lit up with an easy, radiant smile.

Shangguan Yu gave a slight nod, unaware that the faint smile still lingering on his lips had been fully registered by Zuo Zhou’s observant eyes.

Zuo Zhou quietly committed that rare smile to memory before grinning. “Dinner’s almost ready!”

“Mm.”

The next day, Shangguan Yu slept until nearly noon.

Perhaps it was the relief of finally resolving a matter that had been weighing on his mind, but he had slept unusually well. When he checked the time upon waking, he was startled by how late it was.

After freshening up in the bathroom, he maneuvered his wheelchair toward the living room, ready to ask Zuo Zhou for something to eat. Sleeping in until midday—without breakfast—had left him quite hungry.

But just as he turned the doorknob and pulled the door open, a tall figure suddenly collapsed toward him.

!!!

Shangguan Yu’s breath hitched, his hands instinctively tightening around the wheelchair armrests. He knew he should maneuver backward, but it all happened too fast—he had no time to react. Frozen in place, he could only watch as Zuo Zhou’s body tumbled toward him.

Zuo Zhou was equally stunned. He had been leaning against Shangguan Yu’s door, secretly listening for any sign of movement. Shangguan Yu had never slept this late before, and Zuo Zhou couldn’t help but worry.

But before he could discern anything, the door suddenly swung open. In an instant, his eavesdropping was exposed.

Fortunately, Zuo Zhou had quick reflexes. The moment the door, his only support, disappeared, he instinctively grabbed the doorframe, preventing a complete face-plant.

The problem was… his center of gravity was off. He managed to steady his upper body, but his legs continued their forward momentum.

The next second, in an absurdly awkward twist, he landed squarely in Shangguan Yu’s lap.

!!!

…

Shangguan Yu’s mind went blank. The air around them froze.

“I’m sorry!” Zuo Zhou blurted out, his apology immediate and sincere. “Brother Yu, I swear I didn’t mean to! It’s just that you never sleep in like this, and I was really worried. I just wanted to check on you—but I didn’t want to wake you up, so I thought I’d wait outside and—”

“…Enough,” Shangguan Yu sighed, cutting him off wearily. “Just get up first.”

“Oh, right, right.” Only then did Zuo Zhou snap back to reality, scrambling to his feet.

“Brother Yu, are you okay? Did I hurt you? Is your leg alright?”

“…I’m fine.”

Zuo Zhou fell silent, but the concern in his eyes was clear.

Shangguan Yu shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny. “Really, I’m fine. My legs… they don’t have any sensation.”

This was the first time Shangguan Yu had ever spoken about his injury to Zuo Zhou—the first time he had voluntarily mentioned it to anyone since the accident.

Even Wang Hao had only learned about his condition through hospital visits, not because Shangguan Yu had willingly shared it.

No sensation…

Zuo Zhou turned the words over in his mind, and a dull ache spread through his chest.

He knelt, gently placing a broad palm on Shangguan Yu’s knee. Tilting his head up, he asked, “If you get regular massages and physical therapy, will it improve?”

Shangguan Yu’s entire body tensed. The moment Zuo Zhou’s warm, solid palm touched his knee… the heat seemed to spread, burning through the numbness, igniting something long dormant.

For the first time in years, his numbed legs felt… faintly warm.

Shangguan Yu maneuvered his wheelchair back slightly, avoiding Zuo Zhou’s hand on his knee.

“It’s useless. My spinal cord was damaged—it’s irreversible.”

Zuo Zhou pressed his lips together, his gaze falling on Shangguan Yu’s injured legs. The quiet resignation in his expression made Zuo Zhou’s heart ache. But he knew he couldn’t let his emotions show. He was afraid that too strong a reaction might scare Shangguan Yu. Taking a slow breath, he forced himself to remain composed.

“…Alright, let’s not talk about this,” Shangguan Yu said stiffly, steering the conversation in a different direction. “Do you have any food? I’m hungry.”

By then, Zuo Zhou had regained his composure. He smiled warmly. “Of course, Brother Yu. I made your favorite—braised pork ribs and spinach soup. It’s still hot.”

“Mm,” Shangguan Yu replied. Just hearing that made him realize how hungry he was. “Then let’s eat.”

***

That afternoon, Shangguan Yu finished watching an episode of the suspense drama he’d been following. His eyes felt strained, so he turned off the TV and prepared to go to his room to lie down and listen to some music.

Zuo Zhou, who had been lounging on the sofa, noticed Shangguan Yu moving and spoke up before he could leave. “Brother Yu, want to play a game?”

“Hmm?” Shangguan Yu had already placed his hand on the wheelchair’s control panel, but he paused at Zuo Zhou’s words.

“Monopoly! Last time I went grocery shopping, I saw a sale in the toy section, so I picked up a set.”

Shangguan Yu immediately pictured Zuo Zhou—this tall guy—browsing through the toy section with a bunch of kids, eagerly rummaging through the shelves. The thought made him want to laugh. “Alright, let’s play for a bit.”

“Yes!” Zuo Zhou responded enthusiastically, jumping up from the sofa and dashing over to the TV cabinet to find the game.

Moments later, he returned to the dining table, holding a large, still-sealed box.

Patting the spot where Shangguan Yu usually sat for meals, he grinned and said, “Brother Yu, let’s play here. That way, you don’t have to bend down.”

“Mm.”

Zuo Zhou tore off the packaging and handed the game pieces to Shangguan Yu, letting him arrange them on the table. Meanwhile, he bustled around, bringing over freshly washed fruit, snacks, and a steaming pot of jasmine dragon well tea, pouring a cup for each of them.

Once everything was ready, he finally plopped down across from Shangguan Yu, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. “Alright! We can start now!”

Watching Zuo Zhou’s childlike excitement, Shangguan Yu couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Zuo Zhou’s eyes brightened at the sight of that rare smile, feeling an inexplicable warmth spread through his chest. He wanted to say something, but hesitated. He was afraid that if he spoke, he might make Shangguan Yu feel awkward.

Zuo Zhou picked up the dice and asked, “Brother Yu, who goes first?”

Shangguan Yu glanced at him, amusement in his eyes. “You go first.”

“Alright!” Zuo Zhou didn’t hide his excitement. With a smug little shake of his head, he cupped the dice in his palm, gave them a few serious shakes, and tossed them onto the board.

Shangguan Yu wasn’t particularly interested in board games. In fact, since he started working, he’d barely even touched mobile games.

But today, luck seemed to be on his side. Within the first few rounds, he’d already acquired nearly half the properties on the board. Zuo Zhou, despite going first, somehow kept landing on Shangguan Yu’s properties, quickly depleting his funds.

“Ugh, what’s going on?” Zuo Zhou muttered in frustration. “This dice must be rigged. How come I never roll the numbers I actually need?”

Shangguan Yu chuckled. “You don’t have enough money to pay rent, do you?”

The Monopoly board lay between them, the game heating up. Once again, Zuo Zhou’s token landed on a property owned by Shangguan Yu.

The rent displayed: 5,000.

Zuo Zhou looked down at his money and started counting. “Uh… I’m short. By 4,900.”

Shangguan Yu couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Brother Yu,” Zuo Zhou blinked at him pitifully. “Let me take out a loan from the bank so we can keep playing a little longer, okay? I’ve lost so badly… Let me at least try to make a comeback before we end the game, please?”

Shangguan Yu had already won so decisively that it felt unfair to refuse. Besides, sitting there didn’t require much effort, and he had nothing else to do in his room. So, he agreed.

And so, the game continued.

After taking out a loan, Zuo Zhou’s luck seemed to improve slightly—at least he wasn’t landing on Shangguan Yu’s properties every single turn anymore.

Still, compared to Shangguan Yu, who already owned most of the board, he remained at a disadvantage.

Just as the game was reaching its climax, a sudden knock at the door interrupted them.

“Hmm?” Zuo Zhou glanced toward the entrance. “Brother Yu, were you expecting someone?”

Shangguan Yu shook his head.

“I’ll check.”

Zuo Zhou quickly walked over, peeked through the peephole, then turned back to report, “It’s Brother Hao.”

“……”

Ever since Wang Hao had shown up unannounced with Xu Jun last time, he had been keeping his distance—likely out of guilt. His unexpected visit today could only mean one thing: he was here to make amends.

And sure enough, Zuo Zhou’s next words confirmed Shangguan Yu’s suspicions.

“He’s brought a ton of stuff. It’s all over the floor.”

Shangguan Yu sighed softly, knowing he couldn’t do anything but relent. “Let him in.”

After opening the door, Zuo Zhou made several trips back and forth, helping Wang Hao carry in his so-called “apology gifts” until everything was finally inside.

Sitting in the living room, Shangguan Yu looked toward the entrance, where the floor was now covered in milk, fruit, and an assortment of ridiculously packaged health supplements.

Shangguan Yu: “…”

“Hey,” Wang Hao said, changing into slippers and following Zuo Zhou inside, looking a little guilty. “Shangguan, I didn’t think things through last time. But you know me, right? I didn’t mean anything bad by it. Can we just… let it go?”

‘That thing’ obviously referred to him bringing Xu Jun over without asking first.

Shangguan Yu had never been truly angry about it. He understood that Wang Hao hadn’t acted with ill intent. His strong reaction had been mostly because he had been completely caught off guard.

So, he gave a slight nod. “I know. It’s in the past—I don’t care anymore. You shouldn’t either.”

Wang Hao let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, his entire demeanor instantly relaxing. “I knew you wouldn’t actually hold a grudge! Alright, it’s settled. You don’t bring it up, I won’t bring it up, and we can all pretend it never happened.”

“Alright, since I brought all this stuff over, let’s put it away together. Come on, Xiao Zuo, give me a hand.”

“On it!”

And just like that, their Monopoly game welcomed a third player.

That evening, Shangguan Yu invited Wang Hao to stay for dinner, but Wang Hao said he had a date with his girlfriend, Xiao Qiu. The next second, he was out the door as if his life depended on it.

Once again, it was just Shangguan Yu and Zuo Zhou at home.

As Zuo Zhou cleared the table, he spoke casually, “If Brother Hao had seen how cool you were at the restaurant, he definitely wouldn’t have brought so much stuff today.”

Shangguan Yu raised an eyebrow, surprised by the comment. He hadn’t expected Zuo Zhou to bring this up—much less call him “cool.” Curious, he asked, “Why’s that?”

“Because, Brother Yu, when you talked about breaking up, you were so firm and composed. If you hadn’t already moved on, there’s no way you could have done that.”

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