Axolotl Translations

The end-of-term exam season finally came to an end amidst Zuo Zhou’s busy schedule. His last exam was on a Thursday afternoon. He finished early and went straight home, arriving a little past five.

Shangguan Yu was sitting at the dining table, peeling an apple. As soon as Zuo Zhou saw him, he hurried to the bathroom to wash his hands before running back to the dining room. Taking over the apple, he continued peeling while asking, “Brother Yu, the New Year is coming up soon. Do you have any plans?”

Shangguan Yu was momentarily stunned, only then realizing that the holiday was just over two weeks away.

With no family in the country and only one close friend—Wang Hao—besides Zuo Zhou, the New Year didn’t feel much different from any other day to him.

If there was one difference, it was that on a holiday meant for family reunions, solitude felt a little more pronounced than usual.

“Nothing special, I’ll just stay home,” Shangguan Yu replied casually. “Are you heading back home? Were you able to get a ticket? When are you leaving? I’ll prepare some New Year goodies for you.”

Zuo Zhou finished peeling the apple and carefully cut it into bite-sized pieces, then slid the porcelain bowl full of apple slices toward Shangguan Yu with a smile. “That works out perfectly! Since you don’’t have any special plans for New Year, why don’t you come home with me and celebrate?”

“…?” Shangguan Yu was caught off guard by the sudden invitation and didn’t know how to respond.

“What do you think? Want to take a nostalgic trip back to Jiuru Village?” Zuo Zhou coaxed. “You can visit the elementary school where you used to teach. Principal Dong is still there—you remember him, don’t you?”

The Principal Dong that Zuo Zhou mentioned was the same man who had been in charge when Shangguan Yu volunteered as a teacher in Jiuru Village’s elementary school. Back then, he had been a man in his mid-thirties. Nine years had passed since then—he must be close to fifty by now.

“Is Principal Dong still running the school?” Shangguan Yu asked.

“Yeah, we don’t have many educated people in our village. If he stepped down, there wouldn’t be many candidates to take over,” Zuo Zhou replied with a smile. “But if you don’t feel like running into people from the past, you can just stay at my place. It’s just my grandma and me—it’s really peaceful.”

“I think I’ll pass,” Shangguan Yu declined. “You go home and enjoy the New Year. Don’t worry about me. Just stop by the supermarket before you leave and pick up some of your grandma’s favorite snacks. I’ll be fine—stores will still be open, and I can always get food delivered.”

“But I don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone at home,” Zuo Zhou said, shaking his head. “And spending the New Year by yourself is way too lonely. Come home with me! I’ll take you around. Our village may be a bit remote, but it’s got mountains, rivers, and forests—the scenery is amazing. You could treat it like a little vacation.”

“I’ll cook delicious food for you every day, and the three of us can play cards, chat, and just relax. It’ll be fun.”

Shangguan Yu pressed his lips together, slightly tempted. He didn’t particularly like the idea of running into people from his past, but celebrating the New Year with Zuo Zhou… that didn’t sound so bad.

But there was still his grandmother. Shangguan Yu had a vague impression of her from years ago. Now, after all this time, he wasn’t sure if suddenly showing up with Zuo Zhou would make her feel uncomfortable.

Zuo Zhou noticed Shangguan Yu’s hesitation, but he misunderstood the reason behind it. Trying to ease any concerns, he said, “We don’t have central heating back home, but I’ve got a stove at my place. I’ll keep the fire going strong, so you won’t get cold. And I’ll heat water for you in the mornings and evenings—you won’t have to worry about anything.”

Realizing that Zuo Zhou had gotten the wrong idea, Shangguan Yu had no choice but to ask directly, “But your grandmother has been living alone all this time. If I suddenly show up, won’t it be a bit of an adjustment for her?”

“Of course not!” Zuo Zhou answered immediately. “She misses me so much, and she sees you as a great benefactor. If you come, she’ll be over the moon!”

“……”

“Just say yes, Brother Yu. I’d feel awful leaving you alone for the New Year. And how long we stay is totally up to you. If you don’t feel comfortable, we can come back early. How about it? Please?”

Zuo Zhou pleaded, reaching across the table to gently tug at Shangguan Yu’s sleeve, shaking it back and forth like a child asking for a favor.

“Brother Yu, just say yes, okay? Please? Otherwise, I won’t even be able to enjoy the holiday. I’ll just be sitting at home thinking about you, and I know I won’t last more than a couple of days before I run back to see you.”

His hand shook Shangguan Yu’s arm, but his words shook his heart even more.

The way Zuo Zhou smiled and acted all cutesy was downright lethal. Shangguan Yu could feel his cold exterior melting away, and if he didn’t agree, it was like he’d be the one ruining Zuo Zhou’s New Year, keeping him from celebrating with his grandmother.

“…Alright, alright.” Shangguan Yu heard himself agreeing before he had even fully made up his mind. “I’ll stay for a few days. When I head back, just drop me off at the station. You should stay a bit longer and spend more time with your grandma.”

“Great! Whatever you say!” Zuo Zhou answered so fast it was as if he were afraid Shangguan Yu might change his mind. “I’ll check the tickets right now—when should we leave? I’m already on break, so I can leave anytime. No, wait, we shouldn’t rush. We need to prepare first…”

Seeing how excited Zuo Zhou was—practically tripping over his own words—Shangguan Yu couldn’t help but curve his lips into a small smile, even before he realized he was doing it.

Since train tickets were tight before the New Year, and there was no direct high-speed rail from Luocheng to Jiuru Village, they’d have to take a train to the city first and then a long-distance bus to the village. After discussing the logistics, they both agreed that would be too much trouble. In the end, they decided to drive instead.

“We should leave three days before New Year’s Eve. Traffic won’t be bad, and if we take the highway, it’ll only take about three hours. Sure, the tolls won’t be waived at that time, but avoiding traffic is worth the money.” Zuo Zhou studied the route on his phone and planned it out. “Brother Yu, what do you think?”

“Driving would definitely be more convenient. It’s just… you only just got your license. Your first time on the highway, and you’ll be driving that long…”

Shangguan Yu trailed off. Despite his past accident, he wasn’t particularly afraid of traveling by car. His concern wasn’t about the ride itself—it was about Zuo Zhou, a new driver, handling such a long trip.

But Zuo Zhou clearly misunderstood. He put down his phone, looked at Shangguan Yu with a serious expression, and said sincerely, “Brother Yu, I’m sorry. I didn’t think this through. Let’s just take the train instead.”

“…?” It took Shangguan Yu a moment to realize what Zuo Zhou was getting at. When he did, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “I don’t have any trauma about being in a car. I just don’t feel comfortable with you hitting the highway so soon after getting your license—especially for such a long drive.”

Zuo Zhou pressed his lips together, his gaze fixed on Shangguan Yu. Cautiously, he asked, “Really?”

“Yeah. People who’ve been in serious accidents usually carry some kind of trauma, and I do too. But for me, it has nothing to do with sitting in a car.” Shangguan Yu briefly pressed his lips together, clearly not wanting to dwell on the topic. “Anyway, do you think you can handle the drive? If not, we can just hire a driver.”

“I can handle it. I just… don’t want you to force yourself.”

“I’m really fine. As long as you’re confident in your driving, I have no problem being a passenger.” Seeing the guilt and frustration all over Zuo Zhou’s face, Shangguan Yu deliberately kept his tone light. “It’s not like I can avoid cars forever.”

Despite his best efforts to reassure him, Zuo Zhou’s expression only grew more troubled. The self-reproach in his eyes deepened, and before Shangguan Yu knew it, his eyes had reddened.

Those eyes, always full of warmth and laughter, were now damp and glistening with unspoken emotions. The weight of them was so overwhelming that Shangguan Yu found himself unable to meet his gaze—he had the unsettling feeling that if he did, he might be completely consumed by the emotions swirling within.

“What’s wrong?” Shangguan Yu asked softly. “Why are you crying?”

Zuo Zhou shook his head, quickly wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes. Then, without a word, he crouched down in front of Shangguan Yu, wrapping both arms around his injured leg and burying his face deeply between his knees.

“Brother Yu, you’re the best person in the world, I…”

His voice trailed off into a murmur, too quiet for Shangguan Yu to catch the rest.

Shangguan Yu lowered his gaze, looking at the man curled up against him, shoulders trembling slightly as he wept. He felt his heart soften, melting like snow in early spring. With a gentle sigh, he said, “Alright, that’s enough. If you’re sure you can handle the drive, we’ll take the highway back, just like you said—three days early, before the traffic hits.”

Zuo Zhou buried his face even deeper against Shangguan Yu’s leg, his arms tightening around him. He gave a muffled nod.

In the days leading up to their departure, preparations for the New Year kept them busy. Zuo Zhou made several trips to the supermarket, filling the car bit by bit until the trunk could hold no more.

Since they wouldn’t be returning until after the holiday, Zuo Zhou insisted on decorating before they left. With Shangguan Yu directing and him doing the work, they carefully put up the Spring Festival couplets and fortune symbols on the front door. Inside, they strung up five or six bright red ribbons, filling the house with a festive atmosphere.

In Shangguan Yu’s memory, it had been years—so many years—since his home had felt anything like this. The warmth, the festivity, the simple joy of preparing for the New Year. For someone like him, who had always spent the holiday alone, the difference was stark. To him, the New Year had never been anything more than an extended weekend, a brief break from work.

Sitting by the door, he watched as Zuo Zhou carefully put up the Spring Festival couplets. The tall man kept turning back to confirm with him, twisting this way and that to make sure everything was aligned just right. Watching him fuss over such small details, Shangguan Yu felt something stir in his heart—a sense of home he hadn’t experienced in a long time.

At noon on the twenty-seventh day of the lunar month, after finishing lunch, they shut off the water and electricity, tidied up the house, and finally headed out together.

In the elevator, Zuo Zhou carried two large bags on his back, grinning like a fool. He couldn’t stop sneaking glances at Shangguan Yu.

“……” Shangguan Yu, exasperated by his goofy expression, finally sighed and asked, “What?”

“Heh, nothing,” Zuo Zhou chuckled. “It’s just… having you come home with me for New Year’s feels like a dream.” He paused, then shook his head at himself. “No, actually, I wouldn’t even dare to dream of something like this.”

Shangguan Yu, feeling like he had walked straight into a trap and having no idea how to respond: …Seriously, what kind of dreams is this guy having every day?

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