Axolotl Translations

Zuo Zhou’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word landed heavily on Shangguan Yu’s heart, making his mind a mess.

“Alright, Grandma, we need to get back to the kitchen and finish up.” Zuo Zhou lightly jingled the new bracelet on his wrist. “You’ve been running around all day—go to your room and rest for a bit.”

“Oh, let Xiao Yu rest instead,” Grandma countered. “I’m not tired. I’ll help with the cooking.”

Zuo Zhou called out, “Grandma,” then leaned in and whispered something in her ear, making sure Shangguan Yu couldn’t hear. Grandma hesitated, glanced at Shangguan Yu, and after a moment’s pause, nodded and agreed without further protest.

Once they were in the kitchen, Shangguan Yu couldn’t hold back his curiosity. “What did you say to Grandma that made her agree to rest?”

Zuo Zhou smirked mischievously, his expression full of mystery. “Oh, nothing much. Just told her you were dying for some alone time with me, and if she stayed, she’d be the third wheel.”

Shangguan Yu immediately recalled the look Grandma had given him earlier and was left speechless.

Zuo Zhou, enjoying the rapid changes in Shangguan Yu’s expression, watched in amusement. Just before Shangguan Yu could explode, he quickly held up his hands in mock surrender. “Haha, I’m kidding! As if I’d actually say that. I told her you’re really filial and didn’t want her, after a long day, to have to cook. She was really touched.”

Shangguan Yu shot him an exasperated glare. “If you keep messing around, you can cook by yourself.”

Zuo Zhou immediately adopted a pitiful puppy expression, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes. “Brother Yu, I’m sorry! Don’t be mad at me. I was just teasing—I’d never actually dare to take advantage of you.”

Shangguan Yu had a strong suspicion that Zuo Zhou’s so-called apology was deliberately phrased to be irritating. But he had a feeling if they continued down this path, the conversation would veer into something much more… inappropriate. So, he decisively changed the subject. “Enough talk. Hand me that bunch of scallions—I’ll peel them.”

“Got it!”

By 7:30 in the evening, Shangguan Yu was already seated at the large round dining table in the living room, watching Zuo Zhou bustle back and forth, carrying out the elaborate New Year’s Eve dinner they had spent the entire day preparing.

The old television was on, playing the lively pre-show for the Spring Festival Gala. Grandma sat at the head of the table, smiling as she watched the TV, occasionally chatting with Shangguan Yu.

“Dumplings are here!”

Zuo Zhou brought out the last of the dishes and then went back to the kitchen to fetch two steaming bowls of dumplings. Sitting down beside Shangguan Yu, he rubbed his hands together excitedly. “Ah, I’m starving.”

Grandma chuckled, handing him a pair of chopsticks with a doting smile. “Eat up, my good grandson. You’ve worked hard today, running around and taking care of everything.”

“It wasn’t hard at all,” Zuo Zhou took the chopsticks and casually leaned against Shangguan Yu’s shoulder, giving him a playful nudge. “I had Brother Yu helping me. He did all the real work.”

“That’s right, Xiao Yu worked the hardest,” Grandma said with a grin, picking up two plump dumplings and placing them in Shangguan Yu’s bowl. “Eat more, you’re too thin.”

Shangguan Yu immediately straightened his posture and held his bowl with both hands. “Thank you, Grandma.”

The table was filled with steaming, delicious food, and the warmth of people who genuinely cared for him. He couldn’t help but recall past New Year’s Eves when he had been alone, making do with a bag of frozen dumplings from the supermarket. The contrast stirred something deep within him.

The people around him now weren’t family by blood, but somehow, they felt even closer.

“What’s wrong, Brother Yu?” Zuo Zhou noticed his unusual expression and leaned in, dropping a large pork rib into his bowl as he spoke.

“Nothing.” Shangguan Yu quickly composed himself, turning to Zuo Zhou with a faint smile. “Let’s eat. I’m a little hungry too.”

Dinner was lively, filled with laughter.

By the time 10 PM rolled around, Grandma started feeling sleepy, so she retired to her room, leaving Shangguan Yu and Zuo Zhou in the living room, watching the Spring Festival Gala.

“Should we turn the volume down a bit?” Shangguan Yu glanced toward Grandma’s bedroom and asked in a hushed tone. “We don’t want to wake her.”

“Nah, don’t worry about it!” Zuo Zhou waved his hand dismissively and handed Shangguan Yu a handful of sunflower seeds. “Grandma’s a little hard of hearing; she won’t notice.”

Shangguan Yu raised an eyebrow.

Only now did Shangguan Yu realize that Zuo Zhou had indeed been speaking quite loudly whenever he talked to Grandma these past few days.

So, the two of them sat there, cracking sunflower seeds while watching the show, waiting for the stroke of midnight.

As it neared 12 AM, Zuo Zhou suddenly said, “Brother Yu, let’s go to the courtyard. It’s time to set off the firecrackers.”

“Sounds good!” Shangguan Yu’s eyes lit up. “It’s been years since I last set off firecrackers or even heard them.”

Due to environmental regulations, fireworks and firecrackers had been banned in the city for years, so it had been a long time since Shangguan Yu had experienced the thrill of a proper New Year’s celebration.

“Alright, but let me get you an extra coat first.”

Two minutes later, Shangguan Yu found himself bundled up like a dumpling, thanks to Zuo Zhou’s insistence.

Zuo Zhou switched on the dim yellow courtyard light, then unwrapped the bright red firecrackers, arranging them in a spiral shape at a safe distance from the chicken coop.

“Brother Yu, keep an eye on the time for me.” Squatting near the starting point of the firecrackers, Zuo Zhou held a lighter, ready to go. “We have to light them exactly at midnight!”

“Mm.” Shangguan Yu glanced at his phone. “One more minute.”

“It’s time!”

Zuo Zhou responded cheerfully, swiftly lighting the fuse before dashing back to crouch beside Shangguan Yu.

The firecrackers erupted with a sharp crackle, their flickering flames illuminating the courtyard like daylight.

Soon, the entire village joined in, bursts of firecrackers going off one after another, filling the air with a deafening yet festive chaos.

Shangguan Yu covered his ears, waiting until the noise gradually subsided before finally lowering his hands.

Silence returned to the courtyard, as if the lively celebration had been nothing but a fleeting, dazzling dream.

“Brother Yu, happy new year!”

Zuo Zhou’s clear voice rang out crisply against the quiet night.

Shangguan Yu looked down at him, crouched at his side, and replied softly, “Happy new year.”

Zuo Zhou gazed up at him, eyes bright and earnest, watching until Shangguan Yu grew slightly uncomfortable under his stare. Then, he asked, “In this new year… can you and I have a fresh start too?”

“…” Shangguan Yu quickly averted his gaze.

Zuo Zhou fell silent, no longer pressing for an answer. Instead, he leaned toward Shangguan Yu, resting an arm on his knee before dropping his chin onto it as well.

Shangguan Yu wanted to pull away, but before his fingers could even reach the control lever on his wheelchair, Zuo Zhou caught his hand with perfect precision.

“Xiao Zuo!” Shangguan Yu struggled twice but couldn’t break free. Frustrated, he glared at Zuo Zhou. “Let go.”

“No.” Zuo Zhou’s tone was soft, but his grip on Shangguan Yu’s wrist remained firm. “Brother Yu, answer me first.”

Shangguan Yu sighed. “Xiao Zuo, I already told you—we’re not right for each other.”

“That excuse doesn’t hold up. You haven’t even tried, so how do you know we’re not?” Zuo Zhou argued. “Besides, we’ve been living together for so long now. If anything, I’d say we’re a great match.”

“Hey!” Shangguan Yu had reached his limit. “Watch your wording.”

“Oh, alright, I’ll be more careful next time.” Zuo Zhou paused briefly, then continued, “But still, I don’t accept that excuse. Brother Yu, don’t brush me off, okay?”

Shangguan Yu took a deep breath. Of all the people in the world, the last one he ever wanted to brush off was Zuo Zhou.

“Xiao Zuo, you’re still young. And you’re healthy. You don’t need to waste your time on someone like me. One day, I’ll just become a burden to you. And I—I don’t want to be anyone’s burden.”

His words were restrained, but the weight in his heart was much heavier than what he let on.

He wasn’t avoiding the question, nor was he making excuses. His honesty was almost painful to witness.

Zuo Zhou’s heart ached for him. But what could he do? No matter how many times he tried, Shangguan Yu refused to accept him.

But he couldn’t just stand by and watch their relationship remain stuck in place either. If Shangguan Yu wouldn’t admit his true feelings outright, then Zuo Zhou would have to find another way—slowly, carefully—to make him face them.

“Brother Yu, I understand. Everything you’ve said—I understand it all. You’re afraid to open your heart, afraid of being abandoned, afraid of getting hurt. So you’d rather wrap yourself in layers of protection and reject any kind of closeness from the start…”

“But have you ever thought about this? If you never take the first step, you’ll never know just how far someone is willing to go for you.”

Zuo Zhou paused, loosening his grip on Shangguan Yu’s wrist. Instead, he took his hand, knelt on one knee, and looked up at him. “Shangguan Yu, be brave for me—just this once. All you have to do is take a single step. The remaining ninety-nine? Even if I have to crawl on my hands and knees, I will keep going until I reach your heart completely.”

In the quiet courtyard, the crisp evening breeze carried Zuo Zhou’s words straight into Shangguan Yu’s heart, stirring ripples across its surface.

At first, Shangguan Yu had only ever seen Zuo Zhou as a younger brother. He had thought the emotions Zuo Zhou claimed to have were just misplaced attachment, a dependency of youth. But now, he realized how terribly wrong he had been.

Zuo Zhou had grown up. And the way he looked at him now—there was no mistaking the desire and determination in his gaze.

“Brother Yu,” Zuo Zhou finally spoke again after waiting too long in silence. “Please, give me this chance.”

Shangguan Yu could never refuse Zuo Zhou. In fact, he had lost the ability to refuse him a long time ago. And now, with Zuo Zhou looking up at him, his eyes full of plea and unwavering hope, saying no felt even more impossible.

Yet, a final thread of reason pulled at him, reminding him that this was different. If he agreed, everything would change.

“Xiao Zuo,” Shangguan Yu took a deep breath, steadying himself. “I need time to think.”

For a moment, the light in Zuo Zhou’s eyes dimmed, but he quickly composed himself. Smiling as always, he said to Shangguan Yu, “Of course, I know I can’t expect you to give me an answer right away. I just hope that in the new year, you’ll be willing to give me a chance.”

“Mm.” Shangguan Yu nodded, his face feeling slightly warm as he averted his gaze. “I understand.”

“Then once you’ve made up your mind, let me know,” Zuo Zhou said, taking Shangguan Yu’s hand and pressing a gentle kiss to the back of it. “And if you’re too shy to say it… just kiss me instead.”

“…Zuo Zhou!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop,” Zuo Zhou laughed, dodging the topic with playful ease. “It’s cold outside—let’s go in.”

That afternoon, on the first day of the new year, Zuo Zhou asked Shangguan Yu if he wanted to take a walk.

“Brother Yu, there’s a small river and a forest behind the village. The scenery is really nice—do you want to go out for some fresh air?”

The weather was clear and perfect for a stroll, but Shangguan Yu hesitated. He knew that if he stepped outside looking like this, he’d instantly become the center of attention in the village.

Noticing his reluctance, Zuo Zhou quickly reassured him, “At this time of day, everyone’s busy playing cards and chatting at home. There won’t be anyone by the river.”

His grandmother chimed in as well, “That’s right. The villagers have seen that river so many times, nobody bothers going there during the New Year.”

Shangguan Yu paused, then sighed. “Alright, let’s go for a walk.”

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