Axolotl Translations

Early the next morning, the sounds of activity drifted through the Zhang family courtyard.

“Mmm~~” Wei Jiajia murmured softly, stretching languidly as she woke.

Then, she felt something distinctly unfamiliar against her lower back. Her body stiffened, and she was instantly alert.

She subtly shifted forward, feigning sleep. Only when she felt a safe distance between them did she exhale a quiet sigh of relief.

Curiosity piqued, she turned her head slightly, wanting to steal a glance at him while he slept. Would he still have that serious, composed expression he wore when awake?

But the moment she turned, she met Qiao Haoyu’s gaze—he was propped up on one elbow, a smile playing on his lips as he watched her.

She had no idea when he had woken, but he had clearly seen her little charade.

Wei Jiajia composed herself, meeting his eyes as if nothing had happened.

Qiao Haoyu, accustomed to waking early for morning runs during his time in the army, had naturally stirred at his usual hour.

Seeing her sleeping peacefully in his arms filled him with a profound sense of happiness—after four long years of yearning, he had finally married the woman he had waited for.

He had simply lain there, lost in watching her, forgetting even his ingrained habit of a morning run.

And when he saw her series of small, furtive movements as she woke, he couldn’t help but find her adorably endearing.

The more time he spent with her, the more he discovered these little quirks and habits she usually kept hidden from the world.

He was delighted that she never felt the need to hide her true self from him.

Whether she was cool and composed, poised and independent, or sweet and playful, every facet of her personality blended seamlessly, making her all the more captivating.

“Hurry up and get out of bed!” Wei Jiajia nudged him, feeling self-conscious under his intense gaze. “I can already hear people outside.”

She certainly didn’t want anyone thinking she was a lazy bride on her very first morning.

“Kiss me, and I’ll get up,” he replied, a smug grin spreading across his face as he tilted his head expectantly.

Wei Jiajia couldn’t help but laugh. He looked like a child begging for a treat. With no other option, she leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

“That’s it?” he teased.

“What else were you expecting?” she retorted, raising an eyebrow playfully.

“Alright, I’ll let you off the hook this time.” He lowered his head, stole a quick kiss from her lips, and then finally rolled out of bed.

When they stepped outside, the Zhang family courtyard was already a hive of activity.

Grandma Zhang had been beaming since dawn. Seeing them emerge from their room together, her eyes crinkled into a delighted smile.

“Haoyu,” she called out, immediately assigning tasks, “hurry and fetch some water for your wife to wash her face.”

“Grandma Zhang, you’re the best!” Wei Jiajia said, walking over and playfully clinging to her arm. She even shot a mischievous glance at Qiao Haoyu.

“You’re still calling me Grandma Zhang?” the old woman teased, pretending to be slightly offended.

Wei Jiajia’s cheeks flushed slightly before she softly corrected herself. “Grandma.”

“Yes!” Grandma Zhang responded, her voice filled with warmth and enthusiasm.

Jiajia was finally officially part of their family. She had always been such a well-mannered, intelligent, and beautiful girl, and Grandma Zhang had been looking forward to this day since Jiajia was a little girl. Now, her long-held wish had come true.

And if all went well… by this time next year, she might even be holding a great-grandchild! The thought brought a twinkle to her eye as she glanced discreetly at Wei Jiajia’s stomach.

Of course, Wei Jiajia was completely unaware of the grandmotherly musings going through the old woman’s mind. If she had known, she would have immediately protested, “I’m innocent! Nothing has happened yet!”

Instead, she happily greeted the rest of the Zhang family.

Meanwhile, Qiao Haoyu, ever the dutiful husband, went to fetch water and a fresh towel for his wife.

In the kitchen, First Aunt Zhang and Second Aunt Zhang, along with their daughters-in-law, were busily preparing breakfast. When Wei Jiajia finished freshening up and went in to offer her help, she was promptly shooed away.

In their family, it was simply unheard of for a new bride to cook on her first day.

As Qiao Haoyu washed his face, Zhang Wenbin—the second son of Zhang’s eldest uncle and Zhang Huimin’s second brother, a medical student—approached him hesitantly.

Zhang Wenbin’s expression was peculiar. He hovered nearby, pacing slightly, clearly struggling to speak.

“What’s up?” Qiao Haoyu asked, puzzled by his cousin’s behavior.

“Well… um… I…” Zhang Wenbin stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.

Qiao Haoyu waited patiently, but after a long, awkward silence, Zhang Wenbin’s face only grew redder, his demeanor increasingly unnatural—a stark contrast to his usual self.

“If you’re not going to say anything, I’m leaving,” Qiao Haoyu said, picking up the washbasin and making to leave.

“Wait! No, Brother, don’t go!” Zhang Wenbin quickly grabbed the other side of the basin. “I just wanted to ask… Yesterday, at your wedding, there was a young woman in a white blouse, with long braids and a sweet smile… What’s her name?”

Qiao Haoyu was slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected that. No wonder Zhang Wenbin had been acting so strangely.

It seemed his cousin had encountered his first crush. It was understandable—everyone experienced that first flutter of affection.

Thinking back to Wei Jiajia’s roommates, the ones with long braids were Su Pan, Yang Sisi, and Zhao Zhaodi. But which one had captured Zhang Wenbin’s attention?

As for what the girls had worn the day before, Qiao Haoyu truly hadn’t noticed. His entire focus had been on his bride—how could he have paid attention to anyone else?

“I’ll ask your cousin-in-law later,” he said, shaking his head with a touch of amusement. “I’m not sure which one you’re talking about.” Their family’s bookworm had finally emerged from his world of knowledge and noticed a girl!

Qiao Haoyu’s reaction was understandable. Zhang Wenbin had been obsessed with his studies since childhood. After entering medical school, his dedication had only intensified.

His world revolved around books and medical knowledge. Outside of his studies, he spent all his time reading, with virtually no other hobbies or social interactions. At twenty-three, he had never shown the slightest interest in dating. The family had tried to arrange introductions, but he had refused to meet anyone, leaving Grandma Zhang and Aunt Zhang at their wits’ end, fretting over his future.

But now? Finally, the two women could breathe a sigh of relief!

Hearing Qiao Haoyu’s promise, Zhang Wenbin practically beamed. “Thanks, Brother! You have to remember to ask for me!”

“I will,” Qiao Haoyu assured him.

As they walked over to where the others were, Zhang Wenbin was practically glowing, though Wei Jiajia had no idea why. She gave Qiao Haoyu a questioning look.

Seeing her expression, he silently mouthed, I’ll tell you later.

Wei Jiajia, understanding the unspoken message, didn’t press him further.

Back in their room, Wei Jiajia finally learned the reason for Zhang Wenbin’s unusual behavior.

“Huh. He’s got pretty good taste,” she commented.

After all, her roommates had already earned her stamp of approval.

No matter which one he was interested in, she knew they were all kind, respectable young women.

Based on Zhang Wenbin’s description, it was obvious he had taken a liking to Yang Sisi. Of the girls present yesterday, she was the only one who had worn a white blouse and sported two thick, long braids.

Yang Sisi possessed a delicate, refined beauty, characteristic of women from the river towns of Jiangnan. She was bright and vivacious, naturally charming.

She was more than a suitable match for Zhang Wenbin—in fact, Wei Jiajia thought he was the lucky one.

She had heard her grandmother and great-aunt lament countless times, worrying that Zhang Wenbin might end up a bachelor forever.

“My cousin and I share excellent taste,” Qiao Haoyu said smugly. “It’s just the way we are.”

He had already married the most wonderful woman, so, as a good cousin, he felt he ought to put in a good word for Zhang Wenbin as well.

His words made Wei Jiajia beam. When had he become so adept at sweet-talking?

Every day, it seemed, he had a new compliment ready, delivering it with such sincerity that it sounded like nothing more than a simple statement of fact.

And that was precisely what made his words so irresistible—they weren’t contrived or exaggerated, just natural, genuine sentiments that resonated deeply.

Seeing Zhang Wenbin’s eagerness, Wei Jiajia decided to help. She genuinely hoped her good friend Yang Sisi would find a suitable partner.

Sisi would be working in Shencheng in the future, and Zhang Wenbin, as a doctor from a respectable family, seemed like a promising match.

Of course, whether it worked out between them depended entirely on Zhang Wenbin’s efforts.

All she could do was facilitate an introduction—whether he could win her heart was up to him.

Naturally, before doing anything, she would write to Sisi first to gauge her feelings on the matter. She had no intention of meddling in a way that might backfire.

Qiao Haoyu’s leave was brief, especially considering travel time.

Tomorrow, they would be taking the train to Beijing, so today was the ideal time for her to return to her parental home, now as a married woman.

Carrying the carefully chosen gifts for the occasion, the two left the Zhang family home and, with a mere turn of the corner, entered the Wei family courtyard.

Moments like these truly underscored the advantages of marrying close to home—if any difficulties ever arose with her in-laws, her family could be there in an instant, ready to offer their support.

Of course, she was confident that such a situation would never arise.

As soon as they stepped through the gate, the younger children rushed to greet them. Wei Jiajia soon found herself with a little one clinging to each arm, while the boys eagerly trailed behind Qiao Haoyu, offering to help carry the gifts.

The aunts also hurried over to greet them. Everyone understood the circumstances, so no one stood on ceremony.

After chatting for a while in the main hall, Great-aunt took Jiajia aside to a private room.

“How are you feeling?” she asked, her brow furrowed with concern. “Are you alright?” She hadn’t slept well the previous night, worried that Jiajia, being so delicate, might have been… well, might have been hurt if Haoyu had been too enthusiastic.

“What do you mean? I feel perfectly fine!” Wei Jiajia replied, completely bewildered by the question.

Clearly, the deeper meaning behind her great-aunt’s words had flown right over her head.

Great-aunt scrutinized her carefully, noting her rosy complexion and overall well-being. There didn’t seem to be anything amiss.

Still, with the long train journey to Beijing looming the next day, she felt compelled to offer some… preemptive advice.

“Don’t be too… accommodating,” she began delicately. “Young men… they have a lot of energy and don’t always consider a woman’s needs. We women must look after ourselves.”

She hadn’t intended to be so blunt, but Jiajia’s well-being was paramount. If she didn’t impart this knowledge, who would?

Finally, the penny dropped. Wei Jiajia understood the implication.

She was speechless, utterly unprepared for such frankness.

Who said women of this era were reserved? This was as direct as it could get—no preamble, no sugarcoating. Zero time to mentally prepare!

Unbidden, memories of the previous night and this morning surfaced in her mind. While they hadn’t… consummated their marriage, things had already felt quite… intimate.

“…No, he didn’t…” she finally managed, her voice barely a whisper.

Seeing Jiajia’s flushed cheeks and downcast gaze, as if she wished the floor would swallow her whole, Grand-aunt decided not to pry further.

Judging by Jiajia’s demeanor, it seemed Haoyu had been considerate of her. That reassurance eased Great-aunt’s worries.

When they emerged from the room, Wei Jiajia avoided Qiao Haoyu’s eyes, afraid her thoughts might betray her.

Qiao Haoyu, however, was perplexed by her behavior. He mentally replayed their interactions, wondering if he had inadvertently done something to upset her.

Even after they finished their meal and prepared to return to the Zhang residence, he was still at a loss.

It wasn’t until they were back home, when he playfully teased her for an explanation, that she finally relented. Her face crimson, she confessed the concerns Grandaunt had shared.

Hearing the whole story, even Qiao Haoyu—rarely one to be embarrassed—found himself momentarily speechless.

That night, mindful of his wife’s comfort, he was impeccably behaved.

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