Axolotl Translations

Shangguan Yu’s drowsiness vanished almost instantly. He blinked, glancing between the tiny snowman and Zuo Zhou before asking, “How did you even know it was snowing?”

“I got up to use the bathroom and heard something outside. When I looked out the window, I saw the snow!” Zuo Zhou said excitedly. “Brother Yu, it’s really snowing heavily.”

Shangguan Yu sat up in bed, steadying himself with one hand. He turned his head toward the window, but all he saw was darkness.

A thought flickered in his mind, and he asked, “Where are my clothes? I want to go see.”

Zuo Zhou handed him his clothes with a smile. “Let’s go!”

Trying not to wake Grandma, Shangguan Yu dressed quickly, and they slipped quietly out into the courtyard.

The snowfall was indeed heavy. In just a short time, a thick, pristine blanket of white had settled over the ground.

Outside, the light was slightly better. The sky remained a hazy gray, but against the luminous snow, the world felt peaceful—almost otherworldly.

The air was crisp and fresh. Cold, yes, but in a way that was invigorating, making Shangguan Yu feel awake and alive.

“It’s really coming down,” Zuo Zhou murmured.

“Yeah.” Shangguan Yu gazed at the swirling snowflakes, taking a few deep breaths to savor the moment.

Then, in the next instant—

“Cough, cough…”

A sudden cough escaped him, shattering the quiet moment.

Zuo Zhou immediately turned to him, patting Shangguan Yu’s back with concern. “Brother Yu, are you alright? It’s too cold out here. Maybe we should go back inside.”

“Cough, cough… I’m fine, really,” Shangguan Yu waved him off. “I just inhaled too much cold air.” He took another breath and added, “It’s been so long since I’ve watched the snow up close like this. I don’t want to go back in yet.”

“…Alright. I’ll stay with you.”

Seeing Shangguan Yu finally being more approachable, Zuo Zhou didn’t want to risk ruining the moment. So, he simply nodded and agreed.

They sat side by side in the courtyard for nearly half an hour. Eventually, after Zuo Zhou’s persistent attempts to get him to go back inside, Shangguan Yu finally relented, though reluctantly.

Of course, he insisted he was fine the entire time.

But by noon, reality had proven him very, very wrong.

In addition to his coughing, he now had a runny nose and a sore throat—the unmistakable signs of a nasty cold.

Lying in bed, Shangguan Yu looked at Zuo Zhou, who sat beside him, intently focused on the thermometer in his hand.

“Xiao Zuo, I feel a little hot,” he murmured.

He tried to push away the two thick blankets covering him, signaling for Zuo Zhou to do something about it.

“Brother Yu, just bear with it. You caught a cold, and I don’t want you to get a fever, so you need to stay warm.”

“What kind of logic is that? I’m seriously overheating here—”

“36.8°C,” Zuo Zhou muttered to himself, completely ignoring Shangguan Yu’s protests. “Your temperature is a bit high…”

“…That’s because you buried me under too many blankets. I’m overheating,” Shangguan Yu muttered in frustration. “Just take one off.”

“Alright.”

“And I just have a cold. There’s no need for me to stay in bed all day, right?”

“Hmm, I suppose not. Let me help you sit up.”

“…”

Shangguan Yu didn’t have the energy to argue with Zuo Zhou’s excessive concern, so he resigned himself to sitting half-upright in bed, idly scrolling through his phone.

Zuo Zhou, meanwhile, hardly left his side. When Shangguan Yu wanted to talk, he engaged him in conversation. When Shangguan Yu preferred silence, he quietly read and took notes from a professional book. And whenever Shangguan Yu felt hungry or thirsty, he promptly fetched food and drinks.

He also made sure to administer medicine and water at regular intervals, personally ensuring Shangguan Yu took each dose.

Shangguan Yu had tried to resist a few times, but Zuo Zhou shut him down every single time. In the end, with his body feeling weak and nothing urgent to do over the holiday, he simply gave in and followed Zuo Zhou’s care routine.

Two days passed peacefully, yet his condition showed no improvement. In fact, his cough and sore throat had worsened.

Shangguan Yu didn’t think much of it, but Zuo Zhou grew increasingly anxious—practically taking his temperature every five minutes.

“You’ve been taking medicine for three days, and there’s still no improvement. This isn’t right. We need to get you checked out at the hospital.” Standing beside the bed, Zuo Zhou looked visibly concerned. “Brother Yu, how about we go back?”

Shangguan Yu had assumed Zuo Zhou was taking him to a local clinic. He hadn’t expected the suggestion of a hospital visit, and it caught him off guard.

“The medical facilities here aren’t ideal. I’d feel much better if we went to a top-tier hospital.”

“…” Shangguan Yu was speechless. “It’s just a common cold. Do we really need to go to a major hospital for this?”

“Yes,” Zuo Zhou replied with unwavering seriousness. “You can’t take any illness lightly. Even minor symptoms should be treated with caution.”

Shangguan Yu couldn’t help but remember how, not long ago, Zuo Zhou had casually dismissed a fractured arm, opting for a quick check-up at the school infirmary. When he’d suggested going to a central hospital back then, Zuo Zhou had acted like he was facing imminent doom. The sheer hypocrisy was astounding.

“It’s settled then.” Zuo Zhou, oblivious to Shangguan Yu’s incredulous gaze, made the decision unilaterally. “We’re leaving today. I’ll go tell Grandma.”

And with that, before Shangguan Yu could even voice an opinion, he spun around and dashed out of the room.

Shangguan Yu: …

Zuo Zhou wasted no time. He prepared lunch, packed their bags, and informed his grandmother—all within a few hours. Over lunch, he explained that they’d be going straight to Luocheng’s central hospital for a thorough check-up.

Although Grandma was reluctant to see them leave so soon, she understood that Shangguan Yu’s health couldn’t be ignored. To send them off properly, she even spent the entire morning steaming a large batch of meat buns, insisting that her precious grandson and Shangguan Yu take them home to freeze and eat later.

Shangguan Yu felt a pang of guilt. After all, Zuo Zhou only came home for the holidays every few months, and now, because of him, they were cutting the visit short before even a full week had passed.

Grandma was likely reluctant to let them leave, but with him there, she held back from expressing it.

“Xiao Zuo, I’m really fine.” Shangguan Yu tugged at Zuo Zhou’s sleeve, trying to reason with him. “You rarely get to come home. Stay a bit longer and spend more time with Grandma. If I keep taking my medicine, I’ll be better in a week.”

“It’s alright.” Zuo Zhou smiled, reassuringly squeezing Shangguan Yu’s hand. “Let’s go back home and get you treated first. Once you’re better, we can come back anytime. It’s only a few hours’ drive. We don’t have to wait until winter break. Even after school starts, we can visit on weekends.”

Shangguan Yu felt there was something off about that statement. He was clearly telling Zuo Zhou to stay longer with his grandma, but somehow, Zuo Zhou made it sound like he was the one insisting on returning with him.

Before Shangguan Yu could say anything, Grandma called out from the kitchen, asking Zuo Zhou to help bring the buns.

Zuo Zhou responded with a loud “Coming!” before giving Shangguan Yu’s palm a quick squeeze and saying, “Be good. I’m going to get big buns to feed you.” Then, he dashed off.

Shangguan Yu, sitting alone at the dining table: …

After lunch, Zuo Zhou loaded their luggage into the trunk, carefully placing the large bags of food Grandma had packed for them.

“That’s enough, Grandma, you don’t have to give us so much,” Zuo Zhou said. “We’re just going back to get Brother Yu treated. Once he’s better, we’ll come back when we have time—Brother Yu said so.”

Grandma’s eyes lit up as she turned to Shangguan Yu. “That’s wonderful! Xiao Yu, take good care of yourself. You’re always welcome here. Let me know in advance what you’d like to eat next time, and I’ll have it ready for you!”

Shangguan Yu: “…Thank you, Grandma.”

Grandma said, “Oh, let me give you a chicken to take with you. We raised them ourselves, all fed with grain. When you get back, Xiao Zuo can make chicken soup to help you recover.”

Shangguan Yu hesitated. “Ah… that’s really not necessary, I—”

Before he could finish, Zuo Zhou interjected, “Sounds perfect! I’ll go catch the biggest one!”

With that, he excitedly ran off with Grandma to the yard to catch a chicken, leaving Shangguan Yu alone in the living room: …

In the end, after filling the trunk with supplies, grains, and a large rooster with its wings and feet bound, Zuo Zhou finally helped Shangguan Yu into the car. After saying goodbye to Grandma, they set off for Luocheng.

By the time they arrived, it was past four in the afternoon. Zuo Zhou drove directly into the central hospital’s parking lot.

“Let’s go, Brother Yu,” Zuo Zhou said, pulling the handbrake and glancing at the time. “I booked an appointment while we were stopped at a red light on the highway. The timing is spot-on.”

“Mm.” Shangguan Yu unfastened his seatbelt but couldn’t resist glancing back. “That chicken… it’s not moving. Did it suffocate?”

“?” Zuo Zhou turned to look. “Nah, it got carsick and fell asleep.”

“??? How do you even know that?”

“I can tell just by looking,” Zuo Zhou replied calmly. “Come on, let’s go.”

The hospital was surprisingly less crowded in the afternoon than in the morning. From the moment they entered the hospital to the time they finished the consultation and picked up the medicine, the entire process took only an hour.

“The doctor said your body is weak, and you’ve caught a chill. You need to take it seriously,” Zuo Zhou reiterated the doctor’s words. “Brother Yu, when we get home, make sure to rest well. I really want you to recover quickly, okay?”

Shangguan Yu still felt Zuo Zhou was exaggerating, but seeing the genuine concern and urgency in his eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to argue. He simply nodded and said, “Alright.”

Only then did Zuo Zhou smile with satisfaction. He leaned over and reached to fasten Shangguan Yu’s seatbelt.

“Alright, let’s go home.”

Finally back in his much-missed home, Shangguan Yu felt an immediate sense of comfort and familiarity.

He wheeled himself around the house, watching as Zuo Zhou carried in their luggage, food supplies, and even the live chicken. Piece by piece, he organized everything neatly.

Zuo Zhou was fast and efficient, working with a natural rhythm. In no time, everything was in order. But instead of stopping, he immediately rushed off to the bathroom, looking like he was about to mop the floor.

Shangguan Yu, now idly roaming the living room, couldn’t help but smile as he watched Zuo Zhou bustling around like a homeowner taking charge.

Somehow, even though he was already in the hallway leading to the bathroom, Zuo Zhou must have caught that smile from the corner of his eye. He suddenly stopped, leaned back slightly, and peeked his head around the corner.

“Brother Yu, what are you smiling about?”

“Nothing,” Shangguan Yu said, the curve of his lips still lingering. “You’re just so busy—like a little worker bee. Stop mopping. The windows were closed while we were away, so the floors aren’t even dirty. Come sit for a bit.”

Zuo Zhou chuckled. “It’s fine, I’m not tired. I’ll be done in no time.”

With that, he disappeared behind the wall again.

But just as Shangguan Yu assumed he had gone to rinse the mop, Zuo Zhou suddenly poked his head back out from the corner.

“But, Brother Yu, the fact that you care so much about me… makes me incredibly happy.”

“…”

---

Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter