Axolotl Translations

As Zhang Huimin’s performance ended, the auditorium erupted in applause. Zeng Guoqiang clapped so enthusiastically that Qiao Haoyu glanced at him several times, wondering at his friend’s almost over-the-top excitement. It was as if he’d been given a shot of adrenaline.

“Let’s step outside for some air and a smoke,” Zeng Guoqiang suggested. “The performance is almost over anyway.”

Qiao Haoyu nodded, and they left the hall.

They walked along a quiet path, lighting cigarettes and discussing their training experiences. Qiao Haoyu and Zeng Guoqiang had been assigned to the same unit but different battalions. If it hadn’t been for the performance, they wouldn’t have had time to catch up. Training schedules were demanding.

As their conversation picked up, they heard the chatter of approaching women. The performance had ended while they were outside. The cultural troupe girls, including Zhang Huimin, were heading back to the dorm, and the path Qiao Haoyu and Zeng Guoqiang had taken was the main route.

Seeing the approaching female soldiers, Qiao Haoyu instinctively turned to leave, but Zeng Guoqiang grabbed his arm.

“Your cousin’s coming this way,” he said. “You haven’t seen her in a year—aren’t you even going to say hello? What kind of cousin are you?”

Qiao Haoyu had planned to visit her in the next few days, but Zeng Guoqiang had a point. He stopped and waited.

“Hey, hey! Look, it’s Captain Qiao!” one of the girls whispered excitedly, tugging her friend’s sleeve.

“Really? And the man next to him looks pretty good too! I don’t think I’ve seen him before—maybe one of the new officers?”

“You’re right! He might not be as handsome as Captain Qiao, but they both have a great presence.”

“What are they doing here? Waiting for someone?”

As soon as she said that, the girls instinctively began adjusting their clothes and fixing their hair.

Zhang Huimin, walking in the middle of the group, didn’t pay attention when the girls started talking about Captain Qiao. She hadn’t even thought of her cousin. But seeing their excitement, she craned her neck for a better look.

And there he was—her cousin, Qiao Haoyu, standing next to Zeng Guoqiang. Tall, confident, and striking, they were enough to make any young woman’s heart flutter.

“Cousin!” Zhang Huimin called out, pushing through the crowd and running toward them.

The other women froze, stunned. The revelation that Zhang Huimin was Captain Qiao’s cousin was shocking enough. But seeing Qiao Haoyu reach out and ruffle her hair was even more unsettling. They’d known her for almost a year, and she’d never mentioned it!

That girl sure knows how to keep a secret…

“You’ve grown a lot this past year,” Qiao Haoyu said, patting Zhang Huimin’s head. “Your performance was fantastic—congratulations.”

“You say I’ve grown up, but you’re still ruffling my hair,” she grumbled, but she didn’t move away.

Turning her head, she saw Zeng Guoqiang standing nearby, smiling. Her heart skipped a beat before returning to normal.

“Comrade Zeng, long time no see!” she said, her voice steady and composed. “I didn’t expect you’d be assigned here too.” If not for the way her fingers clenched her sleeve, it would have seemed like a casual greeting.

“Long time no see!” Zeng Guoqiang replied. “I didn’t expect to see you on stage. Maybe it was fate.” The meaning behind his last words was clear to him alone.

Zhang Huimin’s expression flickered for a moment before she looked away, feigning indifference.

Qiao Haoyu raised an eyebrow at his friend but said nothing. Whether he understood the underlying meaning or not, he gave no sign.

Just then, the other women from the troupe hesitantly nudged each other forward, awkwardly approaching Qiao Haoyu and Zeng Guoqiang.

Qiao Haoyu gave them his usual curt nod, his expression unreadable.

Zeng Guoqiang, however, was much more enthusiastic. “Hello, everyone!” he said. “I’m Zeng Guoqiang. Your performance was wonderful—thank you all for your hard work!”

“It’s no trouble at all!” the young women responded enthusiastically. “Serving the people is our duty!” They were clearly delighted by Zeng Guoqiang’s unexpected praise.

He turned to Zhang Huimin and, without warning, said something shocking: “You’ll have to look after Huimin. She’s a bit careless, has a fiery temper, and has probably caused you all plenty of trouble.”

The other women turned to Zhang Huimin, their gazes a mix of curiosity and surprise. So she was hiding something…

Zhang Huimin was stunned. She hadn’t expected Zeng Guoqiang to be so shameless, much less that their first conversation after so long would leave her so off guard. My own cousin is standing right here, and this guy is acting like he has the right to speak for me? she thought.

Qiao Haoyu, meanwhile, had his confirmation. His cousin had caught the wolf’s attention. He wasn’t surprised. In the past, every time he wrote to Jiajia, Zeng Guoqiang would steer the conversation toward Huimin, asking about her indirectly. Qiao Haoyu had suspected something, but when Zeng stopped mentioning her, he’d assumed his friend had lost interest.

He’d been wrong. Now that they’d reunited, Zeng Guoqiang wasn’t even trying to hide it.

As a friend, Qiao Haoyu had to admit Zeng Guoqiang was a good man—his character, abilities, and family background were all solid. If he and Huimin ended up together, he wouldn’t object.

But ultimately, it was Huimin’s choice. If she wasn’t interested, nothing else mattered.

Zhang Huimin stared at Zeng Guoqiang, who was now deep in conversation with her colleagues, completely ignoring her. She was speechless.

The entire conversation revolved around her, yet no one had asked her opinion. Was she supposed to just stand there and be ignored? Worse, her own cousin wasn’t stopping him—just listening as Zeng Guoqiang won over her comrades.

“Alright, alright!” Zhang Huimin interrupted, cutting through their chatter. “Enough talking—back to the dorms, lights out is soon!”

“Ge, we’ll catch up another day!” she called to Qiao Haoyu, grabbing her two closest friends and dragging them away.

Seeing their main topic of conversation leave, the other women sighed but still said goodbye to Qiao Haoyu and Zeng Guoqiang before heading off.

As the women disappeared down the path, silence settled between the two men.

Zeng Guoqiang finally broke it. He hesitated, then nervously admitted, “Haoyu, I like Huimin.”

Qiao Haoyu said nothing, just looked at him.

“We’re brothers,” Zeng Guoqiang continued. “You know what kind of person I am. I’ve liked Huimin since I first met her last year.”

“I used to think there was no chance for us,” Zeng Guoqiang said. “But the moment I saw Huimin on stage today, my heart told me—I want to marry her! Just like how you feel about Comrade Wei.”

Hearing Zeng Guoqiang lay bare his emotions, Qiao Haoyu felt a stirring in his own heart. That kind of love—a single glance lasting a lifetime—he understood it well. He only hoped he wasn’t misjudging him. That he would truly cherish Huimin.

Qiao Haoyu snuffed out his cigarette. “It’s not my approval you need,” he said steadily. “It’s Huimin’s. If she agrees, nothing else matters.”

“All I ask is that you mean everything you’ve said tonight,” he continued. “That you’ll love and protect my sister wholeheartedly. If not, we’re no longer brothers.”

He patted Zeng Guoqiang’s shoulder and turned to leave, not waiting for a response.

Zeng Guoqiang stood there, grinning, unfazed by the implied warning. How could he not treat her well? He adored her. The thought of hurting her was unbearable. Haoyu was overthinking it.

But he was also genuinely happy for Huimin. She had a brother who truly cared, someone willing to protect her—even at the cost of his closest friendship. Even if that friend was him.

Back at the dorm, Huimin and the other girls rushed to wash up before lights out. Once they were ready, they immediately surrounded Zhang Huimin, peppering her with questions.

“Huimin, is Captain Qiao really your cousin?” one of the girls asked, still incredulous. “How come you’ve never mentioned him?”

Qiao Haoyu had always been so mysterious. Since arriving at the base, his looks had made him the center of attention. For months, the women in the troupe had gossiped about him endlessly, yet Zhang Huimin had never said a word.

As soon as the question was asked, the others chimed in.

“He’s my biological cousin,” Zhang Huimin confirmed. “I had no idea he’d been assigned to our district. Today was the first time I’d seen him here!”

She didn’t think she was at fault for not mentioning him. Who would have expected this? Even she had been shocked to see him!

“Is he from Shencheng too?” another girl asked. “How old is he? Does he have a girlfriend?”

Seeing their eager expressions, Zhang Huimin suddenly realized something. So that’s why I’ve been hearing his name so much…

No wonder they kept talking about “Captain Qiao” this and “Captain Qiao” that. Thinking about her cousin’s looks, she wasn’t surprised. He was bound to attract attention.

But now that their paths had crossed, she knew what she had to do—shatter their illusions. She wouldn’t let anyone come between her cousin and Wei Jiajia. Not even a hint of competition.

“Oh?” she teased. “Why are you all so curious?”

“Yes! Yes! Tell us!” one of the girls said, half-joking, half-serious. “Does he have someone or not? If not, we’re all ready to pounce!”

“Well, you’re all out of luck,” Zhang Huimin declared. “He’s already engaged!” She didn’t care if they were serious or joking. She was determined to burst their bubble.

“What? No way!” someone cried.

“So, what’s his fiancée like?” another girl asked eagerly.

“Alright, alright, one at a time!” Zhang Huimin said, holding up a hand. “If you all talk at once, I can’t answer anything.” It sounded like a flock of ducks quacking.

Once they quieted down, Zhang Huimin spoke. “My cousin and his fiancée grew up together. Their families have known each other for generations.”

“Wow!” one of the girls sighed dreamily, resting her chin in her hands. “Childhood sweethearts! How romantic!”

Zhang Huimin shook her head, amused. If she knew it started as an arranged marriage… she thought. But since it had worked out, there was no need to share that. Better to let them keep their illusions. Otherwise, someone might start entertaining unrealistic hopes.

“His fiancée is my best friend,” Zhang Huimin continued. “She’s incredibly beautiful—I don’t even compare. And she’s a university student at Shencheng University!”

The group fell silent.

From her description alone, they felt defeated. If Zhang Huimin, who was stunning herself, described the woman that way, her beauty must be extraordinary. And a top student too? They couldn’t compete.

No wonder Li Linlin, one of the most beautiful women among them, had tried to get close to Captain Qiao, only to be ignored. They’d speculated he wasn’t the type to judge on looks, but now it made sense. With a fiancée like that, how could he be interested in anyone else?

Thinking of Li Linlin, the other women who’d secretly admired Qiao Haoyu felt a strange relief. At least they hadn’t confessed. Unlike Li Linlin—now that his engagement was public, she’d be mortified.

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