Axolotl Translations

The next day, the entire performing arts troupe knew Captain Qiao had a fiancée—a beautiful university student.

By the time Li Linlin returned from the infirmary that evening, it was the main topic of conversation. The gossip intensified when they saw her.

“What nonsense is this?” Li Linlin demanded. “Captain Qiao has a fiancée? I haven’t heard a thing about it! You’re just jealous!”

Seeing a colleague who she’d recently argued with speaking mockingly, Li Linlin lost her temper.

“Jealous of you?” the colleague scoffed. “Don’t flatter yourself. The whole troupe knows. Unlike you, I have some dignity—I wouldn’t chase after a man like a fool.”

“Impossible!” Li Linlin snapped, frustrated. She was convinced they were trying to tear her down. They knew she liked Captain Qiao, so they’d made up this story to spite her.

“How is it impossible?” the colleague retorted. “Zhang Huimin said so herself—she’s his cousin. We all saw him looking for her after the performance last night.”

Li Linlin’s composure faltered. Without another word, she stormed off to confront Zhang Huimin, the others trailing behind, sensing drama.

Li Linlin found Zhang Huimin on the practice grounds, standing next to a young soldier under a tree.

That afternoon, after training, Zeng Guoqiang rushed to the performing arts troupe to find Zhang Huimin.

His motto was simple: if the conditions are right, go for it; if not, make them right!

Returning to the dorm the previous night, he’d heard his comrades discussing the solo singer. They praised her looks, her singing, and even speculated about her relationship status. Seeing their enthusiasm, Zeng Guoqiang felt a little uneasy. What if he missed his chance? He didn’t want to regret it.

So, as soon as he had free time, he went to the performing arts troupe to find Zhang Huimin. After all, she was his brother’s cousin. Since his brother was busy, it was only right for him to check on her! He conveniently forgot his brother didn’t even know he was coming. He also overlooked the fact that they’d just seen each other the night before.

Before they could even speak, they were interrupted.

“Zhang Huimin!”

Li Linlin approached.

Zhang Huimin saw Li Linlin storming over, followed by a group of people, clearly eager to watch the spectacle. Some of them, appearing confused, asked, “What’s going on?”

“Are you really Captain Qiao’s cousin?” Li Linlin demanded.

“Yes!” Zhang Huimin replied firmly. Li Linlin felt a twinge of unease.

“Really blood-related?” Li Linlin pressed.

“Paternal cousin, second cousin on my dad’s side!” Zhang Huimin answered, rolling her eyes.

Zeng Guoqiang, standing off to the side, couldn’t help but chuckle at Zhang Huimin’s cute, unpretentious behavior. He covered his eyes and shook his head, trying to stifle his laughter.

Zhang Huimin glared at him.

Li Linlin, hearing the confirmation, started to believe the rumors. But she wasn’t ready to give up hope. Maybe Zhang Huimin was lying? “Is it true Captain Qiao is engaged?” she asked, her voice wavering slightly.

Seeing Li Linlin’s nervousness, Zhang Huimin felt nothing. Why would I sympathize with someone trying to sabotage my cousin’s relationship? she thought.

“It’s true!” Zhang Huimin said. “My cousin and his fiancée are childhood sweethearts. Their families arranged the match when they were young.”

Li Linlin’s eyes, initially dull, flickered with a glimmer of hope. But Zhang Huimin’s next words extinguished it.

“My cousin likes Jiajia. No, I shouldn’t say likes, I should say loves!” she emphasized. “He really loves her. No other woman stands a chance.”

She paused, looking at Li Linlin. “Jiajia deserves his love! Their families are old friends, their parents are close, and my aunt adores her. And Jiajia is amazing—a top student at Shencheng University, beautiful as a fairy. What man wouldn’t love her?”

“My cousin is very protective of Jiajia,” she continued. “Their love is deep. No one can come between them… He’s never hidden Jiajia. If you’d spoken to him, you’d know.”

With that, Zhang Huimin tugged Zeng Guoqiang’s sleeve, signaling it was time to leave.

The onlookers watched Li Linlin, lost and dejected.

No one mocked Li Linlin. Even the colleague she’d argued with felt a pang of sympathy. There was nothing wrong with liking someone; her only mistake was not knowing he was taken.

Though her pride and disdain had earned her some resentment, no one wanted to rub salt in the wound. It took courage to repeatedly confess to someone, only to be rejected.

They exchanged glances and quietly left, giving Li Linlin space.

Pride kept her from wanting anyone to see her like this. Alone, Li Linlin crouched down, burying her face in her knees, her tears unseen.

Her heart ached. She’d always excelled. Beautiful, she’d never lacked admirers, but she dismissed them, believing her ideal man had to be perfect in every way.

Qiao Haoyu was the first man she’d noticed at first sight, the one she couldn’t forget. She’d seen him disarm a knife-wielding man in an alley, swiftly taking down the other thugs. She’d also seen him return lost items to an old woman in patched, dirty clothes, speaking kindly, without a hint of disdain. He was the image of a courteous young man.

Her heart had raced that day. She felt she’d finally met someone special. When they ended up on the same vehicle, heading back to the same military region, she was convinced Qiao Haoyu was meant for her. Who else in the district was more suited to him?

Even when she was turned away from his camp, he never coming out to see her, she reassured herself. It’s fine, take it slow, she’d think, seeing the soldiers’ knowing glances. She believed he was busy, or that he just didn’t understand her yet. If she persisted, he’d eventually reciprocate her feelings.

She’d never considered he already had a fiancée, that he loved her deeply, that his fiancée was even more outstanding than she was. How could she compete? What did she have to offer?

Li Linlin crouched there, mourning a love that had ended before it began.

How could he already have a fiancée? Why did he have a fiancée? she wondered. She’d assumed that, being new to the district, he wouldn’t have met many women. There were few who could match him, and she had all the time in the world.

How could it be over before it even began?

Li Linlin knew that once word spread, her position in the troupe would be awkward. She needed a plan.

Unconsciously, Wang Jianjun’s dark face flashed through her mind…

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