Axolotl Translations

The table was laden with hearty dishes, all Zuo Zhou’s handiwork. Shangguan Yu, well-acquainted with his cooking, could identify each one with a single taste. Grandma had also contributed a selection of vegetarian dishes, and to his surprise, they were remarkably good—far superior to anything he could have managed himself.

Initially, mindful of his role as a guest, Shangguan Yu remained disciplined, sitting upright with impeccable posture. He was meticulous with his manners, taking small, restrained portions. But as the meal progressed, whether it was the rich flavors or the warming effect of the grain liquor, he began to relax. Before he knew it, he was as comfortable as if he were dining in his own home.

Midway through the meal, Grandma raised her cup and turned to him. “Xiao Yu, as Zuozhou’s grandmother, I’d like to propose a toast.”

“!” Shangguan Yu was startled, caught off guard. He instinctively lifted his own cup. Normally, he would have stood for an elder’s toast, but since that wasn’t possible, he straightened as much as he could to show his respect.

“That year was the hardest our family ever faced,” Grandma began, her voice thick with emotion. Her eyes, clouded with age, began to fill with tears. “I wasn’t strong enough to properly care for my grandson. We barely had enough to eat. Xiao Zhou, not wanting to burden me further, agreed to a matchmaker’s arrangement with someone from the village, planning to leave for another province to work in the mines.

“Sigh… of course, I knew it wasn’t right. It was a short-sighted decision. It would have ruined Xiao Zhou’s future. He was so bright—destined for a promising life. But what could I do? What could I possibly do?” Grandma’s voice trembled. “At that time, we had nothing. Not a single penny. We couldn’t even afford school, let alone put food on the table. If Xiao Zhou had stayed, he might have starved.”

“I had no choice… none at all,” she murmured, shaking her head. “So I agreed. I failed Xiao Zhou. I failed his parents…”

Overcome with emotion, tears streamed down her wrinkled cheeks.

Shangguan Yu glanced at Zuo Zhou, unsure how to react. But Zuo Zhou remained calm, his expression gentle and composed. He listened silently, then quietly handed Grandma a tissue and gently patted her back.

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Grandma sobbed for a few moments, then composed herself. Wiping her eyes, she continued, “And then, just when we were at our lowest, you came. You came to our home, held Xiao Zhou in your arms, and said you were willing to sponsor his education. You have no idea what those words meant to us…”

She raised her cup slightly towards Shangguan Yu.

“If it weren’t for you, Xiao Zhou wouldn’t be where he is today. I wouldn’t be where I am today. Our family would have fallen apart. Thank you, Xiao Yu. Truly, thank you…”

“Grandma, please, you’re giving me far too much credit,” Shangguan Yu said quickly, lowering his cup to touch hers. “Xiao Zuo is incredibly talented—he would have succeeded regardless. The life you have now is what you both deserve, and I wish you nothing but happiness.”

Grandma opened her mouth, as if to say more, but before she could, Zuo Zhou gently took her wrist.

“Grandma, that’s enough. It’s New Year’s—let’s focus on happy things. The past is behind us, and getting too emotional isn’t good for your health.”

“Yes… you’re right.” Grandma wiped her eyes and finally smiled. “The hard days are over—only good days ahead! It’s New Year’s, after all. We should be celebrating! Look at me, an old woman spoiling the mood.”

Zuo Zhou patted her back reassuringly and said with a light tone, “That’s nonsense, Grandma. It’s New Year’s—we’re all happy. Now, let’s have a toast!”

With that, he raised his glass, waiting for the others to join him.

“Alright, alright!”

Grandma chuckled, her eyes still glistening with tears, and clinked her glass against his. Shangguan Yu, moved by the moment, followed suit, and the three glasses met with a soft chime.

The rest of the evening was filled with warmth and laughter. The meal was particularly enjoyable, and, unsurprisingly, Shangguan Yu drank quite a bit.

Over the years, he had attended countless business banquets and had his share of premium liquor—white spirits, red wine, foreign whiskey—enough to develop a discerning palate. Based on his experience, the grain liquor they were drinking tonight had a smooth, rich flavor. It was well-made, not too strong, and given its alcohol content, drinking this much shouldn’t be a problem.

Initially, Shangguan Yu felt perfectly fine after dinner. He sat in the living room with Zuo Zhou and Grandma, chatting and watching TV, everything as usual.

But as time passed, a strange sensation began to creep in. His head grew heavy, his face and ears burned, and a dull buzzing filled his ears. Gradually, the sounds of conversation and the television became muffled—the alcohol was definitely taking effect.

How…? Shangguan Yu, now lightheaded, struggled to gather his thoughts. Did I only have three… four… five? How many glasses did I even drink? Why am I so dizzy…?

Instinctively, he tightened his grip on the armrest of his wheelchair, bracing himself against the spinning sensation.

Just as he gripped the armrest, a sudden warmth brushed against the back of his hand. A steady force wrapped around his fingers, guiding them to a firmer hold.

Zuo Zhou leaned in close, his voice low as he whispered near his ear, “Brother Yu, your face is flushed.”

Shangguan Yu was already struggling with the heat in his ears, the dizziness, and the faint ringing in his head. Now, with Zuo Zhou’s deep voice so close, it felt like adding fuel to a fire.

“Dizzy…” he muttered, tilting his head slightly to create some distance between himself and the human furnace beside him.

Zuo Zhou chuckled softly. “I told you that liquor was potent, but you insisted on drinking so much. Look at you now.”

Shangguan Yu, utterly defenseless against the teasing: “…”

Zuo Zhou watched Shangguan Yu, a smirk playing on his lips. Seeing him tipsy like this—cheeks flushed, eyes glazed—was oddly endearing. The more he looked, the more adorable he found him.

“Alright, stop trying to hold yourself together. I’ll take you back to your room to sleep it off.”

Shangguan Yu felt too wretched to argue. He had no idea what time it was, nor did he care. He simply nodded, “Mm.”

After saying goodnight to Grandma, Zuo Zhou wheeled Shangguan Yu toward the bedroom.

When they reached the bedside, Zuo Zhou stopped and asked, “Brother Yu, do you want to sleep on the inside, against the wall?”

Still dizzy, Shangguan Yu only wanted to lie down as quickly as possible. He gave another soft “Mm” in response.

Gripping the armrests, he tried to push himself up and onto the bed. But the moment he applied the slightest pressure, he felt his body suddenly lift from the chair.

“!” His eyes widened, a jolt of clarity cutting through the alcohol haze. “What are you doing?!”

“Carrying you to bed,” Zuo Zhou replied matter-of-factly, his tone firm and unapologetic. “You’re this drunk—what if you fall?”

“I’m fine, put me—”

Before he could finish the sentence, Zuo Zhou had already stepped onto the bed, one knee pressed against the mattress, still holding him securely.

Shangguan Yu’s body sank slightly as Zuo Zhou, still cradling him, moved them both toward the inside of the bed.

Unlike solid ground, the bed was soft and unsteady. Moving on it required extra balance—especially when carrying someone else.

Shangguan Yu instinctively stiffened. The last thing he wanted was for them both to tumble onto the bed together.

Zuo Zhou glanced down at him, noticing his sudden rigidity. A smirk tugged at his lips. “Brother Yu, why have you suddenly become so compliant? Let me guess… are you afraid I’ll drop you?”

Shangguan Yu: … Well, the floor might be fine, but the real issue is you landing on top of me.

Unaware of Shangguan Yu’s silent objections, Zuo Zhou chuckled, assuming he had guessed correctly. “Relax, I won’t let that happen.”

As he spoke, he carefully continued forward on his knees, effortlessly shifting his weight to maintain their balance.

When he reached the right spot, he paused and leaned forward slightly, lowering Shangguan Yu onto the bed with slow, deliberate care.

The entire process was smooth and controlled. His strong core allowed him to maneuver on the soft mattress without losing his balance.

As his body finally settled onto the bed, Shangguan Yu’s tense muscles gradually relaxed.

Zuo Zhou remained seated beside him, his gaze soft and gentle. “Brother Yu, rest here for a moment. I’ll fetch some water so you can freshen up.”

Shangguan Yu had always preferred to handle personal matters himself—he hated troubling others. But tonight, with alcohol clouding his mind and a dull ache throbbing in his temples, he could only surrender, weakly sinking back against the bed.

“…Mm, sorry for the trouble.”

Zuo Zhou chuckled. “It’s no trouble at all. I enjoy it when you trouble me.”

As if it were the most natural thing in the world, he reached out and brushed aside the stray strands of hair that had fallen across Shangguan Yu’s forehead. Before Shangguan Yu could react, Zuo Zhou had already hopped off the bed with effortless grace.

Left behind, Shangguan Yu felt his heart pound wildly in his chest. His face burned as he instinctively raised a hand to cover it. Perhaps it was the alcohol, but his entire body felt hot—especially the spot where Zuo Zhou’s fingers had barely grazed his skin. It was like a fire had ignited there, smoldering beneath his skin.

Zuo Zhou returned quickly, carrying a bowl of warm water. With practiced ease, he wrung out a clean towel and began wiping Shangguan Yu’s hands, his face, his neck.

The warmth of the cloth was soothing. Drowsiness settled over Shangguan Yu like a heavy fog, and he let Zuo Zhou move him as he pleased, cooperating without a word. It was rare for him to be this docile—like a delicate porcelain doll resting quietly in Zuo Zhou’s hands.

Just as he was about to drift off completely, he suddenly felt his legs being lifted.

Shangguan Yu’s lower legs had long since lost sensation, so he didn’t notice when Zuo Zhou took hold of his ankles. It wasn’t until he felt the tug of his socks being removed, followed by the warmth of a damp towel against his skin, that realization struck him.

His drowsiness vanished instantly. His body tensed.

“—What are you doing?!”

“I’m cleaning your feet,” Zuo Zhou said, tilting his head as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “I’ve already wiped your face, hands, and neck. Your feet should be cleaned too, right?”

“……”

Shangguan Yu’s mind went blank for a moment.

It wasn’t until he looked down that he fully registered what was happening—Zuo Zhou was kneeling beside the bed, his head bowed, carefully cradling Shangguan Yu’s feet in his lap. His movements were patient, meticulous, as he wrung out the warm towel and wiped every inch of skin with careful precision.

“…That’s enough,” Shangguan Yu’s voice was tight, his cheeks burning a furious red. Half-sitting up, he grabbed at the fabric of his pants, trying to pull his feet away from Zuo Zhou’s hold.

But he had been drinking. His strength was nowhere near Zuo Zhou’s. Even when sober, he wasn’t entirely sure he could overpower him.

After struggling for a while—his breath coming in short, embarrassed gasps—his feet still remained firmly in Zuo Zhou’s lap.

“Hold still, I’m not finished yet,” Zuo Zhou chuckled, tightening his grip around Shangguan Yu’s ankle to keep him in place. He glanced up, a teasing glint in his eyes.

“Brother Yu, are you shy? Your face is so red.”

“…No, it’s just the alcohol,” Shangguan Yu muttered stiffly, turning his head away.

“Oh,” Zuo Zhou chuckled. “Brother Yu, there’s no need to be embarrassed. Your feet are part of your body too—I just want to make sure you’re completely clean.”

As he spoke, he didn’t just wipe—he carefully took each of Shangguan Yu’s toes, rubbing them one by one with the warm towel. His other hand, still resting on Shangguan Yu’s ankle, moved in slow, rhythmic strokes, as if instinctively massaging the area.

The touch was gentle. Attentive.

…Shangguan Yu couldn’t bear to watch.

His breath hitched as he squeezed his eyes shut, lifting an arm to cover his face.

For years, his lower legs had been numb, devoid of sensation.

But right now—right now, he swore he could feel everything.

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