Axolotl Translations

After finishing their meal, Xiao Shi stood up to collect the food containers, preparing to take them outside to wash.

“Comrade Shi, leave it to me,” Wei Jiajia quickly stopped him from taking her bowl. “You already helped by getting the food, and now you’re washing the dishes too? What does that make me? Please, don’t worry about it. Your job is to assist me when I’m taking care of your commander. If things get too overwhelming, you can lend a hand—that’s all.”

She was already grateful that he had stayed to keep her company. If she let him do everything, she’d really be acting like some pampered lady who expected to be waited on. He wasn’t family, nor was he obligated to take care of her—what right did she have to make him do all this?

“It’s no trouble at all, sister-in-law. It’s just a few dishes—won’t take more than a couple of minutes. Besides, didn’t the doctor say the commander could wake up at any moment tonight? You should stay by his side. Imagine how happy he’ll be to see you the moment he opens his eyes!” Xiao Shi said thoughtfully. He felt that the commander’s wife was overly considerate—too polite, even. His duty was to take care of Commander Qiao. Now that his wife was here, he wasn’t needed as much, so he had to find other ways to be useful. He couldn’t just sit around doing nothing.

Wei Jiajia hesitated. Xiao Shi had a point—what if Qiao Haoyu woke up while she was out? She wanted his first sight to be of her. She wanted him to know that she was there.

“Then I’m sorry for troubling you again,” she finally said, offering Xiao Shi an apologetic smile.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s my duty.” Xiao Shi grabbed the food containers and quickly left the room.

Wei Jiajia stayed by Qiao Haoyu’s side, watching him closely. Once he was awake, she could finally step out for a bit. She was already planning to sneak out and buy some better food, maybe even find a place to cook something herself.

He had suffered such severe injuries—he needed proper nourishment to recover. And while she was at it, she’d make sure Xiao Shi got some extra food too. The young man was still growing, and given the current food shortages, even though military hospitals received priority rations, the meals here weren’t exactly luxurious.

In the military base the food wasn’t anything special, but at least it was filling. The hospital meals, on the other hand—she had just tasted them—were nothing more than bland, watery broth, completely devoid of flavor. They barely qualified as a meal.

Just then, Xiao Shi pushed the door open and walked in, looking rather mysterious. “Sister-in-law, I just ran into a nurse in the washroom. She was asking about you.”

“The same nurse from earlier? What was she asking?” Wei Jiajia frowned. She wouldn’t still be hung up on this, would she?

“She asked me what your relationship was with the man in the hospital bed.” Xiao Shi scratched his head, confused. “Do you know her?”

“No, I just met her for the first time a moment ago. What did you tell her?”

“I told her you were our commander’s wife, of course! After that, she didn’t say anything else—just turned around and left. Why do you think she was asking about you?”

“She probably got suspicious when she saw me alone in the room while you were gone. Maybe she was worried I wasn’t who I claimed to be and could be a threat to your commander,” Wei Jiajia explained, choosing her words carefully.

What else could she say? That the nurse might have taken a liking to Qiao Haoyu and was wary of any woman around him? That would only stir up unnecessary trouble!

He was still unconscious, yet there was someone interested in him. If the rumor spread, who knew how far this story could spread? People loved to twist words, and gossip could easily take on a life of its own. If someone actually believed it, it could damage his reputation.

And what if the nurse, feeling cornered by baseless rumors, actually did something reckless? That would be a real disaster. Better to shut this down before it even started. That way, everyone could walk away from this unscathed.

If she didn’t handle this properly, rumors could spread like wildfire. Sure, the truth would eventually come out, but by then, it wouldn’t be a pleasant memory. And if, ten years later, someone decided to bring it up again, it could be disastrous. That was exactly why she had been so tight-lipped about it when talking to Xiao Shi—she hadn’t expected the nurse to go to him for confirmation.

But did the young nurse really have such strong feelings for Qiao Haoyu? Was she truly set on marrying him and no one else? Wei Jiajia doubted it. After all, Qiao Haoyu had been unconscious since the moment he was admitted to the hospital. How could anyone fall in love at first sight with someone who hadn’t even opened his eyes? More likely, the nurse was simply drawn to his handsome face, his high rank at such a young age, and the idea that marrying him wouldn’t be a bad deal.

And, in truth, Wei Jiajia’s guess wasn’t far off. The nurse wasn’t madly in love with Qiao Haoyu, nor was she determined to marry him at all costs. She just found him attractive, admired his position, and saw an opportunity. If she could take care of him while he was recovering, perhaps he’d develop feelings for her. If that happened, marriage would be the natural next step.

Military officers had good benefits, high social status, and a strong sense of responsibility. No matter how you looked at it, they made great husbands—especially someone like Qiao Haoyu, who was not only accomplished but also undeniably handsome.

Just look at the women in their hospital who had married soldiers—weren’t they all pampered by their husbands? They had financial security and a stable life.

But the young nurse had only been at the hospital for a few months. She was still young and inexperienced. The only side of military marriages she had seen was the good part—the proud, respectable husbands, the admiration they received, the stability they provided. She believed that if others could have that, so could she. She had been fooled by the illusion of happiness she saw on the surface.

What she failed to see was the loneliness that came with it—the endless waiting, the burden of running a household alone while her husband was stationed far away.

As for Wei Jiajia, she simply listened to Xiao Shi’s report and let it go. It was normal for others to find her husband attractive. His looks alone made it inevitable. She chose to overlook the nurse’s earlier rudeness—after all, the girl was young, and it wasn’t worth holding a grudge. Now that her identity had been confirmed, the nurse would surely keep her distance.

If she actually tried anything after this, Wei Jiajia wouldn’t be so forgiving. There was a world of difference between acting out of ignorance and knowingly crossing a line.

If she hadn’t known Qiao Haoyu had a wife, her actions could be excused as youthful naivety. But now that she did, any further behavior would be a question of morals.

Hearing Wei Jiajia’s explanation, Xiao Shi nodded in understanding. No wonder his sister-in-law had said the person who could confirm her identity had finally returned—it all made sense now.

What else could be said? Xiao Shi had never been in a relationship before. He was too innocent to understand the unspoken tensions and subtle calculations between women.

That night, Wei Jiajia insisted on keeping watch over Qiao Haoyu and told Xiao Shi to get some rest. Unable to argue with her, he finally relented and said, “Alright, but I’ll sleep on the chair outside. If the commander wakes up, call me.”

“Okay,” she agreed, then pulled a military coat from the bundle of belongings she had brought and handed it to him. “Cover yourself with this. The temperature drops a lot at night, and the hallway is especially cold.”

After Xiao Shi left, Wei Jiajia sat beside the bed, keeping a close watch on her husband’s condition.

She held his hand, staying alert for hours, but eventually, fatigue caught up with her, and she dozed off.

When Qiao Haoyu regained consciousness, he was momentarily disoriented. What day was it? What year was it? The last thing he remembered was the mission—capturing the spies, ensuring the experts’ safety.

Judging by his surroundings, he must have been taken to a hospital and treated.

Just then, he noticed an unusual warmth in his hand. Turning his head, he saw the small, fluffy head of his young wife.

She had fallen asleep beside him, one arm tucked under her head, the other stretched out with her delicate hand resting in his large palm.

He had no idea how long he had been unconscious, but she must have been worried sick.

Before passing out, he hadn’t had the chance to tell his comrades not to inform her about his injury until he was in stable condition. That way, she wouldn’t have been so frightened.

He could only imagine the torment she must have endured, watching him lie there unconscious, completely helpless.

The moment Qiao Haoyu’s fingers twitched, Wei Jiajia jolted awake. She immediately lifted her gaze to him.

And there he was—his eyes open, watching her intently, a quiet smile in them.

“You’re awake! How do you feel? Does it hurt? I’ll go call the doctor!” She was so overwhelmed with emotion that her words tumbled out in a flurry.

“I’m fine. Don’t call them yet—I just want to look at you for a moment.” His voice was gentle as he gazed at her, noticing the unshed tears she was trying so hard to hold back.

“There’s nothing to look at… Right now, the only important thing is you.” As she spoke, the tears finally spilled over. This was the first time she had cried since learning of his injury.

Before he woke up, she had forced herself to stay strong, telling herself he would be alright, that he would wake up soon. But now that he was finally awake, she couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Don’t cry.” Seeing her tears, Qiao Haoyu’s heart ached. He tried to lift a hand to wipe them away, but the movement tugged at his wound.

“Hiss—” He sucked in a sharp breath.

“Don’t move! I’m calling the doctor.” This time, she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Spinning around, she ran out of the room.

Moments later, Wei Jiajia returned with the on-call doctor and a few nurses.

Outside the door, Xiao Shi, who had been sleeping, was startled awake. Upon realizing that his commander had regained consciousness, he quickly followed them inside.

“It’s great that the patient is awake. Now, the focus should be on wound healing and the recovery process. Be extra careful not to strain the wound like before,” the doctor advised after checking Qiao Haoyu’s condition. He then turned to Wei Jiajia. “As for you, keep a close eye on him. He may develop a fever in the coming days, and if that happens, make sure to contact a doctor immediately.”

“Understood. Thank you, Doctor. May I ask if he can eat something now?” Wei Jiajia’s voice carried a hint of concern.Qiao Haoyu had gone a full day and night without food.

“He can, but stick to liquid foods for now. The hospital’s canteen should still have patient meals available. If possible, try to get him something nutritious—it’ll help with his recovery.” The doctor offered this advice kindly, though he knew it might not be easy. Supplies were scarce, and even the hospital couldn’t always guarantee enough food for every patient.

“Thank you, Doctor. We’ll take care of it.”

“Thanks for your help,” Qiao Haoyu added.

“It’s my duty,” the doctor replied before instructing the nurse to change Qiao Haoyu’s bandages. Then, he turned and left.

“I’ll go get food from the canteen now.” With that, Xiao Shi grabbed a lunchbox and dashed out.

It was only then that Wei Jiajia noticed the nurse standing by the bedside—it was the same one from that afternoon. Earlier, she had been so focused on her husband that she hadn’t even registered the others around her.

The young nurse, however, didn’t look at Wei Jiajia at all. Holding the fresh bandages and medication with a composed expression, she walked straight toward Qiao Haoyu.

She might have looked calm on the surface, but the moment she saw him awake, she couldn’t stop her heart from racing. Just as she had thought, his presence was striking—elegant and commanding. What a shame… Why did he have to be married?

As she approached, Qiao Haoyu’s sharp gaze landed on her, making the young nurse feel as if his gaze alone could cut through her thoughts. The young nurse felt an inexplicable wave of shame—his eyes were simply too intimidating.

In truth, Qiao Haoyu didn’t want any other woman touching him, not even for something as necessary as changing his bandages. However, he couldn’t let his wife do it either—he was afraid that if she saw his wounds, she would cry again.

Suddenly, an idea struck him. Turning to the nurse, he said, “Leave the medicine here. You can go.”

“…What?” The nurse hesitated, not fully understanding his request.

“I said, you don’t need to change my bandages. Just leave the supplies and go.” His voice carried a stern edge as he repeated himself. Was this nurse incompetent? How had she even passed the hospital’s assessment?

Faced with his cold, serious expression—as if defying him would bring down his wrath—the nurse stiffened. With a sharp motion, she set the medicine tray on the bedside table and walked out without another word.

As she passed Wei Jiajia, she couldn’t help but cast her a sympathetic glance. How does she put up with someone so cold and intimidating?

And just like that, whatever lingering admiration she had for Qiao Haoyu vanished completely. Not even his strikingly handsome face could salvage his image in her mind—he was nothing but a rigid, emotionless “cold-faced brute” now.

If Wei Jiajia had known what the nurse was thinking at that moment, she would have laughed out loud. I didn’t even have to do anything—Haoyu himself crushed her hopes before she had a chance!

Once the nurse was gone, Wei Jiajia stepped forward, intending to help her husband change his bandages, but he immediately stopped her.

“No need. When Xiao Shi gets back, he’ll take care of it.”

“That won’t do! Your wound is bleeding—you need to change the dressing right away.” Wei Jiajia frowned, unwilling to back down. If they had to wait for Xiao Shi to return, then they might as well have let the nurse from earlier do it—at least she was a professional.

“Just listen to me, okay? I don’t want you to see it—I’m afraid it’ll scare you,” Qiao Haoyu said helplessly, revealing the truth.

“I’m not scared!” she protested. If anything, she felt nothing but heartache for him. How could she possibly be afraid?

“But I don’t want to see you cry.”

Faced with her husband’s unwavering gaze, Wei Jiajia had no choice but to compromise.

When Xiao Shi returned, Qiao Haoyu called him over to help with the dressing. Meanwhile, he reached out and gently covered Wei Jiajia’s eyes with his large hand, ensuring she couldn’t see anything.

Wei Jiajia tried to protest, but when it became clear he wouldn’t relent, she gave in. Fine, let him have his way. As long as his wound healed well, she didn’t mind. Besides, sooner or later, she’d see it anyway. Knowing him, he’d probably find a way to show her—even if she didn’t want to look.

Once Xiao Shi finished dressing the wound, Qiao Haoyu finally removed his hand from his wife’s eyes.

Wei Jiajia then told Xiao Shi to go rest, assuring him they wouldn’t need his help for the time being. Picking up the food container, she carefully fed her husband, one small bite at a time.

With a warm meal settling in his stomach, Qiao Haoyu started to feel a wave of fatigue wash over him.

“Go ahead and sleep. I’ll stay right here and watch over you,” Wei Jiajia said softly when she noticed his drowsiness.

“Come up and sleep here with me. Don’t lean against the bedside—it’s bad for your neck.” Qiao Haoyu patted the empty space beside him.

“No way! What if I accidentally touch your wound?” Wei Jiajia objected.

“You won’t. Look at this bed—it’s big enough for another person. Besides, you always sleep very still. You won’t press against me.” Seeing that she was about to refuse again, he continued, “If you don’t lie down and sleep properly, I’ll end up worrying about you, and that won’t help my recovery either.”

In the end, Wei Jiajia relented. She carefully took off her shoes and climbed into bed, lying on her side next to Qiao Haoyu, silently reminding herself to be extra cautious in her sleep.

Watching her settle in so obediently, Qiao Haoyu finally felt at ease.

For the past month, he had longed for this moment—for the person he cared about most to be right by his side. Now, at last, he could sleep peacefully…

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