Axolotl Translations

Jiajia, get ready—we’re almost there!”

Qiao Haoyu looked at his wife’s tired face and felt a pang of sympathy. Gently, he reached out and stroked her hair.

“Hmm? Oh… okay…” she mumbled sleepily, slowly sitting up.

Afraid she might lose her balance, Qiao Haoyu quickly reached out to steady her.

“Sit for a moment and wake up properly. I’ll get you a damp towel to freshen up,” he said before turning and heading out.

Wei Jiajia sat on the edge of the bed, still groggy, listening to the rhythmic clatter of the train wheels. It took a moment for her mind to fully return.

She glanced out the window—the sky was completely dark.

Lifting an arm, she hesitantly took a sniff—

The scent was far from pleasant.

She had really endured a lot this time!

Just as she was frowning in distaste, wrinkling her nose at herself, Qiao Haoyu walked back in and caught her in the act—sniffing herself left and right before pursing her lips in dismay.

Amused, he watched as his little wife—so particular about cleanliness—pouted in dissatisfaction before handing her the damp towel.

To him, she always smelled fresh and pleasant.

And it wasn’t mere flattery—every night, she insisted on washing herself as best she could in the cramped train restroom while he stood guard outside. Every time she came back, she had a faint, refreshing scent.

He had never seen her take anything special into the restroom—just a plain bar of scented soap. He could only assume her natural scent was simply that pleasant.

Wei Jiajia: …

Worried she might give herself away, she stopped using body wash entirely. From then on, every time she went to the restroom, she quickly slipped into her space, wiped herself down as fast as possible, and returned immediately.

When the train finally pulled into the station, she had to endure another round of being jostled in the crowd. Fortunately, Qiao Haoyu shielded her as best he could, guiding her through the throng.

Thankfully, they had shipped most of their belongings ahead of time. They only brought the essentials for the trip, and she had also smuggled a few items into her space. If they’d had to carry everything themselves, she would have been overwhelmed.

As soon as they stepped out of the station, Qiao Haoyu spotted his comrade in the distance. Taking Jiajia’s hand, he led her toward him.

The man saw them as well and strode over quickly, giving Qiao Haoyu a firm pat on the shoulder.

“Not bad, man! You go home to get married and come back looking like a new man!”

He couldn’t help but think—marrying the right woman really could melt even the coldest of hearts.

From afar, he had already noticed how attentively Qiao Haoyu protected his wife. It was almost hard to believe that this was the same man infamous in their regiment as the “Cold-faced King of Hell.”

Then again, after getting a good look at his wife, it was easy to see why he was so indifferent to other women. There really was no comparison.

After finishing his silent observations, he turned to Wei Jiajia and said, “So this is your wife? You must’ve had a rough trip!”

“Not at all!” Wei Jiajia smiled. “Haoyu took great care of me, so it wasn’t difficult at all. But thank you for coming to pick us up!”

“No trouble at all—it’s my duty! Now that Captain Qiao is back, I can finally relax a little. I’ve been counting the days for him to return and whip those troublemakers back into shape!”

Seeing how naturally friendly his comrade was, Qiao Haoyu could only shake his head with a helpless smile as he introduced them.

“This is our battalion’s political instructor, Zheng Kaixuan. And this is my wife, Wei Jiajia.”

After exchanging introductions, they began loading their luggage into the car parked by the roadside.

Zheng Kaixuan had managed to pick them up purely by coincidence—he had been at headquarters on official business. Otherwise, given how scarce vehicles were, he wouldn’t have been able to borrow one.

Once they were on the road, Qiao Haoyu sat in the front seat, discussing the battalion’s training progress during his absence. In the backseat, Wei Jiajia, gently rocked by the uneven road, soon drifted off to sleep.

“Shh! Keep it down!” Qiao Haoyu suddenly said, motioning for him to pull over.

Although he had been engrossed in the conversation, he had kept an eye on the backseat. The moment he noticed Jiajia had fallen asleep, he immediately lowered his voice.

After they stopped, he got out, opened the rear door, and carefully adjusted Jiajia’s position, letting her rest her head against his shoulder so she could sleep more comfortably.

Zheng Kaixuan was genuinely stunned. He had never seen this side of Qiao Haoyu before.

If only the guys back at the battalion could see this! The fearsome Captain Qiao—who usually kept everyone in line with his strict and icy demeanor—was, in fact, completely smitten with his wife!

Despite his amusement, Zheng Kaixuan instinctively slowed his driving, steering carefully to avoid bumps, ensuring a smoother ride.

After nearly three hours of travel, Qiao Haoyu finally adjusted his posture as they arrived at the military district.

In her sleep, Wei Jiajia sensed the car coming to a stop. Still groggy, she mumbled, “Are we here?”

“We are,” Qiao Haoyu replied. “It’s already quite late. We’ll stay at the guest quarters tonight and check out our assigned housing tomorrow.”

Hearing Qiao Haoyu’s voice beside her, Wei Jiajia suddenly realized she had been resting against his shoulder.

“Why didn’t you wake me? Your arm must be numb!” she said, feeling a pang of guilt. She reached over and gently massaged his arm, wondering how he had managed to stay in that position for hours without complaint.

Although Qiao Haoyu thoroughly enjoyed his wife’s concern, he couldn’t in good conscience exaggerate the situation. Her weight was barely noticeable to him—remaining motionless for extended periods was second nature in their training.

Besides, Zheng Kaixuan was sitting right in the front, watching everything unfold.

The last thing he wanted was to add to his reputation—he was already stuck with the “wife-smitten” label; he didn’t need to be called “delicate” on top of it.

“It’s nothing. My arm’s not numb—see?” he said, lifting his arm and shaking it slightly to prove his point.

Seeing his relaxed expression, Wei Jiajia believed him and let it go.

After dropping them off at the military district’s guesthouse, Zheng Kaixuan took his leave.

Qiao Haoyu grabbed their luggage and led Wei Jiajia inside. At the front desk, he handed over his military ID, Wei Jiajia’s introduction letter, and their marriage certificate to the receptionist, requesting a room.

The receptionist had been discreetly observing them ever since they stepped out of the car. It wasn’t until they stood in front of her that she finally snapped out of her reverie.

Trying to maintain her composure, she took the documents from Qiao Haoyu, carefully examined them, and returned them after registering their stay. Then, she handed him a room key.

“Second floor, room 206. Take the stairs, turn right, and it’s down the hall. There’s water in the kettle. If you need hot water for a bath, you’ll have to come downstairs to get it.”

“Thank you!” Qiao Haoyu replied, taking the key and heading upstairs with their belongings.

As she watched the couple walk away, the receptionist couldn’t help but exclaim inwardly: Oh my God! The legendary Captain Qiao had actually brought his supposedly goddess-like wife to live with him on base! She could already imagine the shockwaves this news would send through the entire military district tomorrow.

Glancing again at Wei Jiajia, she thought to herself: Well, some people’s sense of superiority is about to crumble…

“Settle in first. I’ll go downstairs to get some hot water so you can have a proper bath before bed,” Qiao Haoyu said as he set down their luggage, noticing how Wei Jiajia was curiously inspecting the room.

“Alright!” she responded, immediately rummaging through their bags for a change of clothes.

Before long, Qiao Haoyu returned with the hot water. While Wei Jiajia bathed, he took her soiled clothes to the communal washroom to clean them.

When she emerged from the bathroom, intending to wash her clothes, she was surprised to find them missing. Just then, Qiao Haoyu walked in, carrying a basin filled with freshly washed clothes.

“Don’t just stand there—dry your hair properly,” he said, frowning slightly in disapproval.

Wei Jiajia watched as he meticulously hung up each piece of clothing to dry. Even when he picked up her more intimate garments, his expression didn’t change in the slightest—he handled them as naturally as if it were something he had always done.

Her heart filled with warmth and sweetness.

Even in modern times, many men still clung to superstitions, believing that touching a woman’s undergarments would bring bad luck. Others, driven by sheer machismo, insisted that laundry was solely a woman’s responsibility.

But Qiao Haoyu was different. Ever since they got married, he had always taken the initiative—cooking, washing dishes, even doing the laundry—without her even needing to ask.

How could she not love a man like this?

Wei Jiajia approached him from behind, wrapping her arms gently around his waist. Her voice was soft and tender. “Why are you always so good to me?”

A smile tugged at Qiao Haoyu’s lips. He enjoyed these little moments of intimacy. “If I’m not good to you, then who else would I be good to?”

Wei Jiajia stayed close to Qiao Haoyu, following his every step as he finished hanging the laundry. When he finally turned toward the bed, she followed him.

“Sit down. I’ll dry your hair,” he said, looking at her with indulgence.

“…Hehehe!” Wei Jiajia giggled, handing him the towel before obediently sitting at the edge of the bed.

“You…” Qiao Haoyu sighed, shaking his head. But despite his words, his touch was nothing but gentle.

Wei Jiajia realized she had become more and more relaxed around him. Sometimes, even she was surprised at this side of herself—so unguarded, so carefree.

Once her hair was dry, Qiao Haoyu told her to go to bed while he took his turn in the shower.

She had planned to stay awake and wait for him to return, but sleepiness overcame her before she could.

When Qiao Haoyu returned, he found his wife fast asleep, her breathing steady and peaceful. His heart softened as he walked over and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

The past few days had been tough—the sweltering heat, the uncomfortable train rides, the lack of proper food and rest. Yet she had never once complained.

At times, he had wondered whether bringing her along to live with him on base had been the right decision.

Perhaps she had sensed his hesitation, because she would always find ways to ease his guilt, playfully teasing and coaxing him into laughter, as if to tell him—I am happy here.

She had told him that no matter where they were, as long as they were together, life would always be good.

Qiao Haoyu hadn’t said much at the time, but the words had resonated deeply, leaving an imprint in his heart.

Moving carefully, he climbed into bed, only relaxing when he finally pulled her into his arms. A quiet sigh of contentment escaped his lips.

The next morning, Wei Jiajia awoke feeling refreshed. She instinctively glanced around, only to find the bed beside her empty. It wasn’t until she noticed the note left on the pillow that she realized Qiao Haoyu had already left for the base.

She lingered in bed for a little while before getting up to freshen up.

After washing up, she busied herself packing their luggage, waiting for Qiao Haoyu to return so they could go to their new home together. Just the thought of it made her a little excited.

“Awake?” Qiao Haoyu smiled as he walked through the door, seeing his wife kneeling on the floor, busy with their things.

“Put that aside for now. Come and have breakfast.”

“You bought breakfast?” Wei Jiajia’s eyes brightened as she walked over, lifting the lid of the food container to see what he had brought.

“Just a little something. Eat first—once we’re done, we’ll move into our new home.”

“I passed by the family housing area just now. The logistics team has already cleaned the house and set up the furniture. We can move in tonight!”

Hearing this, Wei Jiajia’s excitement grew, and she unconsciously ate faster.

After breakfast, Qiao Haoyu led her to the military district’s family housing compound.

As soon as they entered, Wei Jiajia could feel subtle but unmistakable glances directed their way.

She glanced at her husband, who walked ahead carrying their luggage, seemingly oblivious to the attention. Without hesitation, she followed him closely, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor while taking in her new surroundings.

After all, they would likely be living here for at least ten years.

Under a shaded area ahead, a group of women sat chatting. When they saw Qiao Haoyu approaching with a woman by his side, they immediately knew she must be his wife.

After all, everyone in the military district had heard about Captain Qiao’s extended leave for his wedding and his request for his wife to live with him on base.

“Look! That must be Captain Qiao’s wife! She really is as beautiful as they say. No wonder the rumors compared her to a fairy!”

“She looks a bit too alluring, not dignified at all,” muttered one woman, who had once hoped to introduce her own sister to Qiao Haoyu. As if that wasn’t enough, she curled her lips in disdain.

The others exchanged knowing glances. They understood all too well—she still hadn’t let go of her bitterness. Years had passed, yet she remained determined to find fault with the new bride.

Besides, everyone knew that years ago, when Captain Qiao’s direct superior—now Commander Qin—had wanted to introduce him to someone, Captain Qiao had made it clear he was already engaged. The only reason he hadn’t married yet was that his fiancée was still in university.

Back then, even Madam Qin herself had intervened when she heard people trying to set Captain Qiao up with someone, reminding them that he was already engaged.

And honestly, could that woman’s younger sister even compare to a university-educated fiancée? They weren’t even in the same league.

Now, looking at the woman walking behind Captain Qiao—setting aside her beauty—just her poise alone was far beyond what that so-called village beauty could ever achieve. Yet, that woman still refused to accept reality, blaming the captain’s wife as if, without her, Qiao Haoyu would have married her sister instead.

The other women in the group ignored her comment, shifting their focus to speculating about Wei Jiajia’s personality and the old rumors that had once surrounded her.

After all, they had eyes. They weren’t blind.

“Captain Qiao, bringing your wife to live on base?” someone finally asked.

“Yes. This is my wife, Wei Jiajia. She’s just arrived, so there’s still a lot she doesn’t know. I hope you ladies can help guide her,” Qiao Haoyu said, seizing the chance to introduce her.

“Hello, everyone! I’ll be relying on you all a lot in the future!” Wei Jiajia greeted them warmly, wanting to make a good first impression.

“Oh, no trouble at all! Feel free to come to us whenever you need help.”

“We all came from different corners of the country to follow our husbands. Helping each other is only natural.”

“Exactly! There’s no need for such formalities—it’s just a small matter!”

Several of the women reassured them, making Wei Jiajia feel welcome in the military district.

Of course, this did not include the woman who had been casting sidelong glances at her from the beginning. Though Wei Jiajia had no idea how she had managed to offend her upon arrival, she was not particularly concerned.

After all, there were always a few people like that, no matter where you went.

“Well then, ladies, we’ll head to our new home first. Once we’ve settled in, we’d love to have you all over,” Qiao Haoyu said with a polite smile.

“Go on, go on! Don’t let us keep you!” the women responded, encouraging them to hurry along.

“See you later, everyone!” Wei Jiajia called out before following her husband.

As the couple walked away side by side, the women couldn’t help but admire how well they suited each other—handsome and graceful, a perfect match.

Only the woman who had spoken ill of Wei Jiajia remained unimpressed, her expression indifferent.

When they arrived at a small courtyard, Qiao Haoyu took out a key and unlocked the front gate.

The house was modest but functional: a small courtyard led to the main building, which consisted of three rooms and a compact kitchen. A door at the back opened to a rear courtyard.

Two of the rooms were spacious, while the smaller one seemed more suited for use as a study.

Seeing Wei Jiajia curiously examining their new home, Qiao Haoyu set their luggage down and, somewhat apologetically, said, “By the time I applied, all the apartments were taken, so they assigned us a single-story house instead.”

As if afraid Wei Jiajia might be dissatisfied, Qiao Haoyu hurried to list the house’s advantages: “Even though it’s a single-story house, it’s actually bigger than the apartments. In the apartment buildings, everyone shares a communal kitchen, but here, we have our own. There’s even a well in the backyard, and we can grow some vegetables or flowers if we want…”

Seeing him rack his brain to come up with reasons she might like the house, as if worried she’d be upset the moment he stopped talking, Wei Jiajia couldn’t help but laugh and interrupt him: “This place is great. I really like it!”

“Really?”

“Really. It’s peaceful here. You know I don’t like crowded places.”

And it was true—she was genuinely pleased with the house. Although it was a bit more secluded, it also meant avoiding endless neighborhood gossip. Apartment buildings were packed with people, and privacy was nearly nonexistent.

Besides, the extra space meant that once everything was settled, she could bring her younger siblings to live with them without worrying about cramped quarters.

Seeing that she truly meant it and wasn’t just saying it to reassure him, Qiao Haoyu finally relaxed.

The two of them grabbed some cloths and started cleaning. There wasn’t much to do—just a bit of dusting, since the house was already furnished with the basics.

By the time they finished tidying up and putting away their belongings, it was already lunchtime. Just as they were wondering what to eat, someone knocked on the front gate.

Hearing the sound, Qiao Haoyu went to check. Standing outside were the same women they had met earlier, each holding something in their hands.

As soon as Qiao Haoyu stepped outside, the women greeted him with warm smiles, handing over the food they had brought. “We knew you just arrived and probably don’t have much to eat yet. We made a little extra while cooking—it’s nothing fancy, but it’ll at least fill your stomachs. Please don’t feel embarrassed to accept it.”

“Oh, we couldn’t possibly accept this! Please, take it back for your children. We brought food with us,” Qiao Haoyu firmly refused, his expression serious.

One of the women, undeterred, simply pushed her basket into his arms. The other two followed suit, each placing their share into his hands.

Qiao Haoyu, caught off guard, suddenly found himself overwhelmed with food, his hands full and his composure momentarily shaken.

Hearing the exchange outside, Wei Jiajia quickly set down what she was doing and came out.

“Oh, sisters, please come in! Haoyu and I were just wondering what to eat for lunch, and here you are like a blessing sent from heaven!” she said warmly, reaching out to invite them inside.

“Oh no, no need! We just came to drop this off. The kids are waiting for us back home.”

Hearing this, Wei Jiajia didn’t insist. Instead, she took a bowl from one of the women and smiled. “Then just give me a second—I’ll empty the bowls and bring them right back to you.” With that, she turned and headed inside.

Watching his wife handle the situation so smoothly, Qiao Haoyu followed her, carrying the rest of the food. “Is it really okay for us to just accept all of this?” he asked, a little uncertain.

Wei Jiajia rolled her eyes at him. “So, you’d rather send everything back the way it came? That would be even more inappropriate. People might misunderstand and think you’re rejecting their goodwill!”

With that, she turned and walked into the main room, opening one of her bundles. Inside, wrapped in oiled paper, were some pastries she had secretly brought from her personal stash.

These women had only just met them today, yet they remembered them and even set aside food from their own rations to bring over. That kindness was something she wouldn’t forget.

She carefully placed six pieces of pastry into each of their bowls and added a handful of milk candies—for the children to enjoy. Only then did she and Qiao Haoyu take the bowls back outside to return them.

At that moment, Qiao Haoyu finally understood why his wife had accepted the food in the first place. He felt a swell of pride—his wife was clever.

This way, they could accept the goodwill of others without taking advantage of them.

If it had been up to him, he wouldn’t have come up with such a thoughtful approach. He would have simply refused outright and unintentionally offended them.

If Wei Jiajia had known what he was thinking, she would have just sighed. This is just basic social etiquette. But given his blunt and straightforward nature, he was completely clueless when it came to these everyday exchanges…

The women, seeing how they had only offered some simple home-cooked food, yet the young couple had given them such nice treats in return, stood there for a moment, momentarily taken aback.

Wei Jiajia smiled. “Come on, sisters, don’t refuse. I already accepted your food, didn’t I? Besides, in this heat, these treats won’t last long. Take them home for the kids—they’ll enjoy them, and you’ll be doing me a big favor!”

Seeing how firm she was, with no intention of backing down, the women hesitated for a moment before finally taking the bowls, their cheeks flushing slightly.

This young woman had left them at a loss for words…

But in their hearts, they all made a mental note—this was a family worth befriending. They resolved to strengthen their ties with Wei Jiajia, offering help whenever she might need it.

Once the women had left, the couple exchanged a knowing smile before heading back inside. Picking up the homemade dishes their neighbors had brought, they dug in with hearty appetites…

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