Axolotl Translations

Zuo Zhou finished speaking and smiled at Shangguan Yu, his eyes filled with admiration.

“I… I’m not as great as you make me out to be,” Shangguan Yu said, feeling a little self-conscious under Zuo Zhou’s gaze. He turned his head slightly, avoiding direct eye contact. “Most of the time, I’m just… afraid and weak.”

Sometimes, he even resented everything—both the world and his own existence.

And by “most of the time,” he really meant ever since the accident.

Zuo Zhou shook his head. “I think you’re being too hard on yourself. And you always bottle things up. If you keep everything inside for too long, it’s only natural to feel overwhelmed.”

Shangguan Yu pressed his lips together. He didn’t want to admit it, but Zuo Zhou was right.

“That’s why you need a way to release your emotions. Whether it’s sadness or joy, don’t keep it all to yourself. Sharing makes things easier to bear.”

As he spoke, Zuo Zhou leaned forward, resting both hands on the table, closing the distance between them.

“I don’t know what your past was like,” he said, his voice softer now, “but from now on, you can share things with me.”

His tall frame cast a shadow over Shangguan Yu, enveloping him. The fresh scent of shampoo lingered in the air, subtly invading Shangguan Yu’s senses.

They used the same shampoo, yet somehow, he could instantly distinguish Zuo Zhou’s scent from his own.

It was as if Zuo Zhou carried the warmth and brightness of sunlight with him, while Shangguan Yu, having spent too long in the shadows, was damp with the cold weight of solitude.

Instinctively, he wanted to move closer to that warmth. But the moment he realized it, he tensed and leaned back, creating distance between them.

Zuo Zhou noticed the hesitation and didn’t press forward. Instead, he simply propped himself up on the table, smiling gently. “Brother Yu, what do you think?” he asked softly.

“…”

“Hmm? What do you think?” Zuo Zhou blinked playfully. “We’re together all the time anyway, and honestly, you won’t find a better person to confide in than me.” His eyes gleamed with sincerity. “Besides, I’d love to listen. I really, really would.”

His gaze was open, earnest, and filled with quiet anticipation—like a big, affectionate dog wagging its tail, eagerly awaiting praise.

…Somehow, Shangguan Yu felt that if he refused, he would be nothing short of a heartless villain, cruelly rejecting an innocent, hopeful pup.

“Well?” The big dog wagged its tail expectantly.

“…Alright.”

Shangguan Yu agreed. After all, Zuo Zhou wasn’t wrong. Other than him, there was no one else willing to spend time with someone like him—someone broken, someone forgotten.

“Great!” Zuo Zhou slapped the table in excitement. “Then it’s settled! I’ll go make dinner now, and tonight we can start our heart-to-heart!”

Before Shangguan Yu could react, Zuo Zhou had sprung to his feet and dashed toward the kitchen, practically radiating excitement.

Shangguan Yu sat there, baffled. …Wait. Weren’t heart-to-heart talks supposed to happen naturally? Wasn’t it something that just… flowed? Since when could you schedule a deep conversation? Was this a deep conversation or a boardroom negotiation?

He wasn’t sure if he was imagining things, but ever since he’d agreed, Zuo Zhou had been in an unusually good mood. From cooking to dinner to washing the dishes, he hummed a cheerful little tune the entire time, his face glowing as if he’d just won the lottery.

Shangguan Yu: …

By 8 PM, after making the kitchen and dining area spotless, Zuo Zhou cheerfully carried two delicate glass plates into the living room.

Shangguan Yu was watching TV when he sensed movement nearby. Glancing over, he saw Zuo Zhou approaching with a plate of perfectly cut fruit and another plate of beautifully arranged pastries, his face beaming.

“Tonight is perfect for a little tea party,” Zuo Zhou announced, placing the plates on the coffee table. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he asked, “Brother Yu, will green tea keep you up this late? Should we switch to juice? But sweet drinks at night aren’t great for your teeth… How about I make a pot of jasmine tea instead?”

Shangguan Yu hadn’t even said a word, yet everything had already been planned out for him.

“…Fine.”

Once the jasmine tea was ready, Zuo Zhou turned off the bright overhead lights in the living room, leaving only the soft glow of the ambient lighting. Then, with a bright smile, he made his way to the sofa and sat down right next to Shangguan Yu—directly on the floor.

Shangguan Yu frowned. “The floor’s cold. Use a cushion.”

“Okay.” Zuo Zhou’s smile widened as he got up to fetch a cushion. As he did, he playfully added, “Brother Yu, you do care about me, after all.”

“…”

Once settled again, Zuo Zhou leaned against the sofa, his gaze fixed on Shangguan Yu. His eyes sparkled with anticipation as he asked softly, “Brother Yu, what do you think of my little tea gathering?”

The air was filled with the fresh scent of fruit, and the warm, golden light created a comfortable atmosphere.

Shangguan Yu’s throat moved slightly as he swallowed. “It’s nice.”

Zuo Zhou smiled, a little shyly, as if he hadn’t expected the praise.

“There’s only so much we can do at home,” he mused. “But once spring arrives and the weather gets warmer, we can have our tea gatherings outdoors. We could go on a picnic, bring some good food and drinks, and enjoy it all under the open sky.”

“The park by Pu River would be perfect. There’s a soft spring breeze, the scent of flowers in the air, and plenty of sunshine…”

Shangguan Yu wasn’t particularly fond of parks. But in this cozy setting, with Zuo Zhou painting such a clear, inviting picture in that rich, magnetic voice of his, a strange sense of longing stirred inside him.

After his brief daydream about their future springtime gatherings, Zuo Zhou returned to the present. “Brother Yu, shall we start?”

“…”

“Hey, are you feeling a little shy?” Zuo Zhou asked, his tone warm and understanding. “How about this? Let’s make it fair—this won’t just be you sharing your thoughts with me. At our tea gatherings, I can share mine with you too.”

“I’ll go first, then you follow. One at a time. How does that sound?”

After saying that, Zuo Zhou looked at Shangguan Yu with bright, expectant eyes, full of trust and confidence—like a child eagerly offering to trade their most cherished toy. Pure sincerity, and nothing else.

“…”

Something in Shangguan Yu softened under that clear, childlike gaze. Before he knew it, he found himself nodding. “Alright.”

Zuo Zhou’s lips curled into a small, triumphant smile. “Then I’ll start.”

“Mm.”

“When I was little, I set my heart on getting into Luocheng University. I studied like crazy, putting all my time and effort into it, and in the end, I made it. I was so happy that I’d wake up smiling in my sleep every night.”

Shangguan Yu couldn’t help but chuckle. “Luocheng University is the best in the province. You did well.”

Something flickered in Zuo Zhou’s eyes. He hesitated briefly, then said softly, “But that’s not why I wanted to get in.”

“Oh? Then why?”

Zuo Zhou leaned lazily against the sofa, his bright eyes fixed on Shangguan Yu’s. After a moment of silence, he smiled and said, “Brother Yu, no cheating. That’s my second secret.”

Once he finished speaking, Zuo Zhou looked at Shangguan Yu with bright, expectant eyes that clearly said, Your turn now.

Shangguan Yu couldn’t help but laugh. At first, he had thought this whole heart-to-heart seemed a little too deliberate, but now, he found it oddly enjoyable.

After a moment of thought, he began, “When I was in high school, I really wanted to become an architectural engineer. That dream led me to apply to Luocheng University’s architecture program.”

“When I first got in, I was just as happy as you are now. I felt like my future was limitless, like I was standing at the beginning of a bright and promising path. After graduating, I started working. It was busy, but I was happy—I was doing something I truly loved. At the time, I saw my work as my lifelong career.”

“Then… I got into a car accident. The colleagues who were with me, along with the driver, didn’t make it. I was the only one who survived. I lost the ability to walk, but I lived. I suppose I should have been grateful to be alive, but when I was diagnosed with a spinal cord injury—when I was told I would never stand or walk again—there was a time when I wished I had died with them.”

Zuo Zhou’s body tensed instantly. His hands, which had been resting loosely on the couch, clenched into fists.

Seeing this from the corner of his eye, Shangguan Yu smiled slightly and reassured him, “Don’t worry, that was in the past. I don’t think like that anymore.”

But Zuo Zhou didn’t relax. His gaze was deep and unreadable as he looked at Shangguan Yu, as if he were trying to see straight through him.

“I mean it,” Shangguan Yu said softly. “Once you survive the worst, the rest becomes easier.”

Zuo Zhou held his breath, carefully studying Shangguan Yu’s expression. Only when he was certain that Shangguan Yu’s demeanor was calm and sincere—without any trace of falsehood—did he finally exhale deeply.

“Brother Yu,” Zuo Zhou reached out and tugged lightly at Shangguan Yu’s pant leg, like a child seeking comfort. His voice carried a hint of playful pleading. “I promise your life will only get better. I’ll be by your side, doing whatever you want to do. You can still become whoever you want to be. So please, promise me… from now on, you’ll be happy every single day, okay?”

Shangguan Yu found his words a little too idealistic, but he figured Zuo Zhou was only saying this because he had been shaken by what he had heard earlier. He didn’t take it too seriously, simply replying, “I’ll try my best.”

With this small but meaningful exchange, the conversation flowed more easily between them—especially for Shangguan Yu, who gradually relaxed. Their first tea chat session was a success.

Zuo Zhou shared quite a bit about his academic struggles since starting university. Initially, Shangguan Yu wasn’t sure what to say, but Zuo Zhou’s enthusiasm led the way, and he naturally followed along, reminiscing about his own college days.

Since they had attended the same university and studied the same major, the conversation became increasingly engaging. As they talked, Shangguan Yu found himself recalling many fond memories—memories of a time when he was full of ambition and youthful confidence, almost as if he were seeing his past self again.

Time passed unnoticed. Nearly two hours had slipped by, and the clock was approaching ten.

Shangguan Yu glanced at the time and inwardly sighed at how quickly it had flown by. Stretching his arms slightly, he said, “I’m feeling a bit tired.”

Only then did Zuo Zhou check the clock. Realizing how late it was, he immediately felt guilty. “I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t mean to keep you up so late.”

“It’s fine. It’s rare for me to talk this much,” Shangguan Yu said with a small smile. “Besides, I’m not really sleepy. It’s just that my shoulders feel a little stiff from sitting too long.”

Zuo Zhou immediately stood up, moving behind Shangguan Yu’s wheelchair. Leaning down slightly, he spoke softly near Shangguan Yu’s ear. “I’ve got strong hands. Want me to give you a shoulder massage?”

Shangguan Yu didn’t answer immediately.

“I promise it’ll feel great!”

“…Alright then.”

A moment later, Zuo Zhou’s warm, firm hands settled on Shangguan Yu’s shoulders.

He started with a few light squeezes before asking, “How’s the pressure?” Once Shangguan Yu responded with a simple “It’s fine,” Zuo Zhou gradually increased the pressure, kneading his shoulders with focused attention.

The tension in Shangguan Yu’s shoulders and neck soon melted away. He leaned back against the wheelchair with a contented sigh and tilted his head slightly. “Thanks, that feels really good.”

Zuo Zhou brushed off the gratitude with a casual “No need to thank me,” but his ears turned suspiciously red.

His gaze drifted downward, landing on the soft, neatly trimmed ends of Shangguan Yu’s hair at the nape of his neck. The sight stirred something in his chest—a strange, warm itch he couldn’t quite name.

“Ahem…” Zuo Zhou cleared his throat a little too forcefully. “Uh, Brother Yu… I was looking at my bookshelf earlier, and I saw a suspense novel. It looks interesting, but I haven’t opened it yet…”

“It’s fine,” Shangguan Yu replied simply. “If you want to read it, just open it.”

“Thanks, Brother Yu.” Zuo Zhou smiled, a hint of mischief flickering in his bright eyes where Shangguan Yu couldn’t see. Casually, he continued, “By the way, I noticed a lot of beautifully crafted ornaments on your bookshelf. Did you collect them during your travels?”

Shangguan Yu didn’t think much of the question and answered honestly, “Yeah, back in the day… I used to travel to new places every year during the holidays. Whenever I found something interesting, I’d bring it back as a keepsake.”

“That’s a wonderful tradition. You should keep it up—travel to a new place every year. I’ll go with you.”

Shangguan Yu remained silent.

Zuo Zhou continued, “Oh, and there’s this one wooden carving, about the size of my palm. The craftsmanship is a little rough—it was probably less expensive than the others, right?”

Shangguan Yu paused, surprised that Zuo Zhou had mentioned that particular piece. He hesitated before answering.

Zuo Zhou waited patiently, outwardly calm, though his increasingly warm palms betrayed his mounting anticipation.

“No,” Shangguan Yu said softly but firmly, shaking his head. “That one is priceless.”

“Priceless?” Zuo Zhou’s voice trembled slightly, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he’d heard.

“Yes,” Shangguan Yu confirmed. “Someone gave it to me. It’s not something you can buy.”

Zuo Zhou parted his lips, instinctively wanting to ask more, but Shangguan Yu had already shifted slightly and turned his head toward him. “Alright, I feel fine now. Thanks.”

“N-no need to thank me,” Zuo Zhou stammered, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. He took a deep breath, suppressing the questions that had risen to his lips, and changed the subject. “Well… Brother Yu, you should get some rest. Goodnight.”

The following Wednesday morning, Zuo Zhou left for school. After getting up, Shangguan Yu went to the living room, intending to heat up the lunch Zuo Zhou had prepared for him.

Just as he reached the dining area, his phone rang.

He paused, pulled out his phone, and saw an unexpected caller—IKEA Home Services.

He had previously used their cleaning service and had also expressed interest in finding a caretaker.

“Hello,” he answered.

“Hello, is this Mr. Shangguan?”

“Yes, speaking.”

“Good morning. Our records indicate that you inquired about hiring a male caretaker. We’ve found a suitable candidate and would like to schedule a meeting.”

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