Axolotl Translations

The living room was cramped, barely enough for thirteen to squeeze in for the night. Still, Zheng Yijie was mindful of keeping men and women separate, so he cleared out the study, setting it aside for the three men. No beds, just makeshift bedding on the floor.

On his left, steady breathing. On his right, a loud, rattling snore. Gu Mengran lay sandwiched between them, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling, sleep nowhere in sight. They had barely settled down, and now they were already talking about leaving. Exhaustion washed over him at the mere thought.

Logically, an early departure was the right move. Staying out of trouble was the priority—he wasn’t about to drag his family and a bunch of kids into a mess this deep. But saying ‘let’s go’ and actually doing it were worlds apart. They needed transportation. The relentless heatwave had rendered most abandoned cars on the streets useless. That afternoon, when he and Liang Zhao were scouting for shelter, he’d noticed the vehicles. Not just a few, but nearly all of them, with flat tires. So where in hell were they supposed to find a working one?

Frustrated, Gu Mengran carefully turned over.

“Still awake?”

The moment he shifted onto his left side, a low, quiet voice sounded beside his ear. Liang Zhao. They were close, and Gu Mengran could feel his warm breath against his skin. He met Liang Zhao’s dark, reflective eyes, faintly shining in the dim light.

Softly, he murmured, “Yeah.”

“Thinking about the car?”

Lying on his side, arm propped under his head, Liang Zhao stared directly at Gu Mengran, his gaze sharp even in the darkness.

Gu Mengran hadn’t noticed at first, but when Liang Zhao spoke, he chuckled. “You sure you don’t have mind-reading powers, Liang Zhao? You always seem to know what I’m thinking.”

“Your thoughts are written all over your face—pretty obvious, really.”

“Good eyesight, huh? Can you see that clearly in the dark?”

Liang Zhao’s lips curled into a faint smirk, and a low chuckle escaped him. “If I already have mind-reading abilities, night vision doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch, does it?”

The lighthearted banter was a welcome distraction. Just a few words, and a good chunk of Gu Mengran’s worries had eased. Liang Zhao’s lazy, laid-back voice was almost hypnotic, like a lullaby whispered in the dark. Without realizing it, Gu Mengran stifled a yawn, covering his mouth.

“So, any good suggestions? Where do we find a car?”

Liang Zhao answered immediately, as if he had already thought it through. “Finding a car isn’t the problem. Malls, hotels, and residential complexes usually have underground parking lots. The temperature down there isn’t as extreme as outside, so there should still be plenty of usable vehicles. It’s just…”

“Just what?” Gu Mengran asked, puzzled.

Liang Zhao let out a knowing chuckle. “No keys.”

Most of the abandoned cars on the streets had been left in a hurry—many weren’t even locked, and some still had their keys inside. But the ones in parking garages? They’d undoubtedly be locked tight.

The way Liang Zhao casually brought it up, almost as if he had a plan, made Gu Mengran feel a little uneasy. He rubbed his nose awkwardly and muttered, “Well… I guess I can give it a try when the time comes. Just saying, though—I can’t guarantee anything.”

Liang Zhao smiled, but stayed silent, his deep eyes glinting in the darkness, as if he could see right through him. Gu Mengran felt unsettled under his gaze and awkwardly changed the subject.

“Same plan as today—we look for buildings that haven’t completely collapsed. We shouldn’t go too far, just stay close by. We don’t want to run into those people Zheng Yijie was talking about.”

“Tomorrow?” Liang Zhao asked. “After focusing on driving for so long, aren’t you exhausted? Maybe we should rest for a day or two.”

Gu Mengran, restless as ever, reached out and poked Liang Zhao’s arm with his index finger. Liang Zhao glanced down at the mischievous hand and gave a small shake of his head.

“No time to rest. We need to find a car and get out of here as soon as possible.”

After hearing that, something seemed to cross Liang Zhao’s mind. His gaze lifted slowly, meeting Gu Mengran’s eyes again. “Have you made up your mind? About Zheng Yijie—are we taking him with us?”

Gu Mengran frowned. “You and Grandpa are always like this—leaving everything up to me. Aren’t we supposed to be a family? You should have a say too. Do you think we should bring him or not?”

“You’re the one in charge. It’s your call.” Liang Zhao neatly sidestepped the question.

Gu Mengran wasn’t having it. “No dodging this time. You make the decision.”

“Hmm… let me think.” Under Gu Mengran’s expectant gaze, Liang Zhao paused for a brief two seconds before answering in a calm, steady voice. “Take him with us. Outwardly, it looks like we’re running low on supplies, so if we don’t bring him along, we’ll have to waste time gathering more. Plus, he’s a local—he knows the area, where to find hotels and malls. That’ll make it easier for us to find a car.”

It was purely a matter of practicality, not sentiment. After stating his case, Liang Zhao deliberately added, “Just to be clear, we’re not bringing him onto the Windwing. We’ll drop off the kids and send him to a proper base along the way. He can help keep an eye on things during the trip.”

“Great minds think alike!” Gu Mengran grinned and clapped him on the shoulder twice. “See? Making decisions isn’t that hard. You should step up more often and help me out.”

It wasn’t that he needed Liang Zhao to take charge. What he really wanted was for Liang Zhao to take that step forward, to stop keeping himself at arm’s length, hesitating on the outskirts as if he didn’t belong.

In a way, their roles had reversed. In his previous life, it was Gu Mengran who had felt like an outsider, constantly on edge. It had been Liang Zhao who had slowly pulled him back—back into a world that, while far from perfect, still held people worth holding onto.

***

Having a proper place to stretch out and sleep was a rare luxury, so unsurprisingly, everyone slept in the next morning. By the time they finally got up, the sun was already high in the sky.

Gu Mengran was, without a doubt, the last to wake. When he finally opened his eyes, it was already noon. After washing up, changing clothes, and stepping out of the study, he found the others already seated at the dining table, enjoying a hearty lunch.

“Awake at last? Come on, we just started eating. Grab a seat.”

Zheng Yijie, seemingly aware that Gu Mengran was the backbone of the group, was especially welcoming. The moment he spotted him stepping into the hallway, he immediately put down his chopsticks and waved him over, gesturing to the empty seat next to Liang Zhao.

“Whoa, this is a feast!”

The rich aroma of various dishes filled the air, making Gu Mengran quicken his pace toward the dining table. It wasn’t particularly large, but it was nearly overflowing with food.

Yu Xiang Eggplant, Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetables, Curry Chicken, Tomato Scrambled Eggs, Seaweed Egg Drop Soup… Over ten different dishes, a perfect balance of meat and vegetables, bursting with color and fragrance. Compared to yesterday’s measly two dishes and watery porridge, this was practically a state banquet!

Gu Mengran stood frozen, staring at the table in disbelief. It took him nearly half a minute to tear his gaze away and turn to Zheng Yijie. Pointing at the spread, he asked slowly, “Wait a minute… where did all this come from? Where did you get so much meat?”

Had they gone scavenging while he was asleep? That didn’t seem right. With the ongoing heatwave, fresh meat would have long since rotted into a putrid mess.

“Ah, my friend, you clearly don’t understand.” Catching Gu Mengran’s puzzled expression, Zheng Yijie flashed a smug grin and leaned in conspiratorially. “Advancements in technology exist to make human lives easier. And today, I present to you… the greatest invention of the 21st century—ready-to-eat meals!”

Gu Mengran had heard of those before.

There had been a huge debate online, calling out shady restaurants for using pre-made dishes in takeout instead of fresh-cooked meals. “I ordered takeout because I was too lazy to cook, but turns out, the restaurants were even lazier than me.”

The backlash had been stronger than the praise, so Gu Mengran never paid much attention to it. When he was stockpiling supplies, the thought of ready-to-eat meals hadn’t even crossed his mind.

But now, looking at the steaming plates of food in front of him, he had only one thought—What a brilliant invention.

As for hygiene? Nutritional value? It’s the apocalypse. Who cares?

Seeing Gu Mengran furrow his brows in silence for a long time, Zheng Yijie assumed he was worried about food safety. He quickly set down his chopsticks and rushed to explain, “I only stocked up on pre-packaged meals from well-known brands. They weren’t cheap, either—none of that shady, low-quality stuff. Hygiene isn’t an issue. Even kids can eat them.”

“I know,” Gu Mengran replied, chuckling as he pulled out a chair and sat beside Liang Zhao. “I was just thinking… why didn’t I buy some too? This stuff is seriously convenient.”

Zheng Yijie immediately beamed. “Right? I did a ton of research on stockpiling guides! There’s more in the fridge—I bought two big freezers just for pre-packaged meals. I could’ve lived off them for ages! The only downside is my generator isn’t powerful enough. Running both freezers means I can only turn on the lights. The air conditioning is basically useless.”

Not that it would’ve helped much anyway. In this kind of heat, an outdoor AC unit wouldn’t last long before breaking down. Gu Mengran just smiled but didn’t say it out loud.

The delicious meal lifted everyone’s spirits. The eight kids sat cross-legged on play mats, huddled around a tea table, shoveling food into their mouths. The two teachers took turns refilling their plates and pouring drinks. The mix of chewing sounds and laughter made it feel oddly like a daycare meal.

But good times never lasted long. After refilling his bowl with rice and settling back into his seat, Gu Mengran turned to Zheng Yijie, who was still busy stuffing his face. His tone broke through the cheerful mood. “Zheng Yijie, can we still access the underground parking lot in your complex?”

“Underground parking lot?” Zheng Yijie swallowed his food before replying, “Ours is an old neighborhood—been around for years. We don’t even have one.”

Gu Mengran picked up a piece of curry chicken. “What about malls or hotels? The ones that haven’t completely collapsed—are there any nearby?”

“Yeah.” Zheng Yijie nodded firmly. “Are you guys heading out to look for a car today? I know where there’s an underground parking lot. Just outside our complex, there’s an intersection. If you follow that road—”

“Wait, wait, wait—you’re not coming with us?” Gu Mengran interrupted.

Zheng Yijie’s chopsticks froze mid-air. He hesitated for a moment before mumbling, “I… I…” He let out a sigh. “Alright, fine. The truth is, I still haven’t decided whether I want to go with you guys.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to leave as soon as possible?” Meng Gaoyang looked at him in surprise.

Zheng Yijie set his chopsticks down, his head drooping. “I do. But… there are just too many of you. I thought about it again last night, and now I’m not so sure.”

He put it tactfully, but everyone understood what he meant.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Wei Qianlan pursed her lips, set down her bowl, and looked at him seriously. “Don’t worry, we won’t slow you down. The kids have been really well-behaved the whole way, and we—”

“That’s not what I meant.” Zheng Yijie looked embarrassed.

Yes, it is. Gu Mengran silently thought to himself.

In the end, it was his choice. No one could force him.

Finishing his last bite, Liang Zhao placed his chopsticks down and said calmly, “Think it over. In the meantime, just tell us exactly where to go. We’ll head out after we eat.”

“I’ll go with you.” Zhou Qin, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

Wei Qianlan quickly raised her hand. “Me too!”

“Then who’s going to watch the kids? Me?” The old man looked dumbfounded.

Gu Mengran burst out laughing. “What’s with you guys? We already agreed to keep a low profile, and now you all want to tag along? If we go in such a big group, we might as well send up a flare! Just stay here and rest. Liang Zhao and I will handle it.”

“You two have been driving for hours. You’re the ones who should be resting.”

“Ms. Wei, Ms. Zhou, we’re not great with kids. You two are the professionals here—this is your battlefield.”

Emotions were contagious. This ragtag group of survivors hadn’t known each other for long, but they were already looking out for one another, sticking together to get through this crisis.

Zheng Yijie felt something shift inside him. The hesitation, the second-guessing—it all faded away.

It’s just finding a car! He clenched his jaw, steeled his resolve, and said, “I’ll take you there!”

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