Axolotl Translations

“How did it go?” Wei Jiajia hurried to meet her husband the moment he walked in.

Qiao Haoyu took off his hat and casually hung it on the wall hook. Seeing the expectation in his wife’s dewy eyes, he held back a smile and said nothing.

Seeing his reaction, Wei Jiajia grew anxious. She slapped his arm, stomped her foot, and said with a tone of frustration even she didn’t realize was coquettish, “Oh, come on! Just tell me already—how did Xiangyang and the others do? You’re going to drive me crazy!”

When he still didn’t respond, she stepped forward, hooked her arm around his neck, and tiptoed to plant a light kiss on his lips. Swaying gently, she coaxed him, “Please just tell me—won’t you?”

At thirty-six, she acted like a young girl begging for a treat, yet the gesture didn’t feel out of place at all. In fact, it seemed as if she was made for it. No one could resist her charm—not even her husband, Qiao Haoyu, who crumbled instantly under her affection.

He had only meant to tease her a little, but now that there was a “reward” on the table, how could he not enjoy it? Wrapping his arms around her waist, he bent down and sealed her lips with a kiss that left no room for further questioning—only to be answered with a wordless dance of lips and tongues.

Only when Wei Jiajia started worrying she might faint from lack of oxygen did he finally let her go.

She leaned into his chest, gasping for breath, her slightly parted red lips exuding a sensual allure. The sight made Qiao Haoyu tense with desire, and his grip around her tightened instinctively.

Wei Jiajia, having been married for so many years, knew exactly what that reaction meant. She pushed him away with a flustered expression and took a few steps back, her voice laced with indignation. “Don’t even think about it—it’s broad daylight!”

Then, as if realizing that wasn’t a valid excuse—after all, daytime hadn’t stopped them before—she quickly added, “The kids will be back soon, and I haven’t even started cooking. What if they come home hungry?”

Qiao Haoyu, watching her eyes darting around and her flushed cheeks, chuckled. “What am I thinking? I don’t know—what does that have to do with cooking for the kids?”

Wei Jiajia froze at his serious response. Wait—did he really not mean that?

How was that possible? She was sure she’d felt something pressing against her waist just a moment ago. But now with that calm reply, it somehow seemed like she was the one being overly eager.

Refusing to let him turn the tables, Wei Jiajia cleared her throat and abruptly changed the subject. “So, what did Xiangyang say when you called today? Which university did he apply to? Were his scores high enough?”

Ever since the announcement that the college entrance exam was being reinstated, society had been thrown into a frenzy. Families with aspiring students scrambled to find study materials. Long lines formed outside libraries overnight. Printing presses worked around the clock, yet exam prep books were still in short supply.

Some, more resourceful, searched through recycling stations for discarded books. So many people’s dreams had been buried for years—there were treasures to be unearthed, ready to launch someone’s future to new heights.

But that had little to do with Wei Jiajia. From the start, she had been mailing review materials to her younger siblings, hoping they could inch closer to their dreams.

The moment the exams ended, she began to worry about their results. A few days ago, her husband had mentioned calling Zeng Guoqiang to ask for an update. Communication was difficult in the countryside where Xiangyang had been assigned, and letters took too long. It was much more reassuring to send someone in person to check.

Actually, Qiao Haoyu trusted his brother-in-law’s abilities. But ever since the college entrance exam started, his wife had been visibly anxious, constantly worrying that her brother wouldn’t do well. She even tossed and turned all night in bed. He had held back for a whole week because of it. Now, unable to calm her any other way, he asked someone to check in—partly to ease her mind, and partly so he could finally enjoy a proper “meal.”

That was also why, the moment she showed him the slightest hint of affection today, he wanted to drown in it—because for the past week, she hadn’t given him even a hint of color, and he was feeling very deprived.

Taking off his coat and hanging it next to his hat, Qiao Haoyu chuckled and replied, “Guoqiang checked. Xiangyang said he did well this time. He estimated his score is quite high—he thinks applying to Huada or Jingda should be no problem. He said not to worry.”

“What about Qian Li?” she pressed.

“Qian Li’s score was a bit lower. But she always planned to apply to a teacher’s college, and with her current results, she should be fine. In any case, the two of them put down the same city on their application forms, so they won’t be separated no matter what.”

Hearing this, Wei Jiajia finally let out the breath she’d been holding for a week. She’d known her little brother would be fine. As for Qian Li—well, given that she hadn’t even gone to high school, it was impressive that she could get into a teacher’s college after just three years of hard work.

Qiao Haoyu: …Who was it again who acted like dumplings were falling on the bed every night and refused to let him touch her? He even had to sneak kisses while she was asleep.

With her mood lifted, Wei Jiajia walked over with a smile and gave her husband a quick kiss before heading to the kitchen to cook.

“And the kids? Why are they so late coming home today?” he asked, tugging her arm.

“Oh, they went to my mom’s place. They’re staying the night. It’s their vacation—figured they could spend more time with the grandparents,” she said casually, forgetting that just moments ago, she’d used cooking for the kids as her excuse.

“Let go already, aren’t you hungry?” she tried to wriggle free, laughing.

“Starving.”

“Then hurry up and let go so I can cook.” What was he planning?

“No need. As long as you lie down obediently and don’t resist, I’ll be plenty full.” With that, he scooped her into his arms before she had a chance to react and strode straight to the bedroom.

Wei Jiajia: …

So when he said he was “hungry,” he didn’t mean what she thought he meant?

Alright, she got it now. Based on past experience, she had been starving him.

Even though she often ended up so exhausted from being “overfed” that she couldn’t get out of bed the next day, it had been a whole week—she could probably take another round. Once that clicked in her mind, Wei Jiajia obediently lay in her husband’s arms, waiting for him to devour her whole.

Three hours later, the storm in the bedroom finally subsided. Wei Jiajia was so drained she couldn’t even lift a finger. She lay sprawled on the bed, her mind echoing with all the naughty words he’d whispered breathlessly into her ear. As if saying them himself weren’t enough, he’d even forced her to repeat them—and if she resisted, he’d punish her with wave after wave until she begged for mercy. Only then would he graciously let her go.

Silently, she pulled the blanket over herself and hid under it, full of regret. She shouldn’t have been so greedy. At the very least, she should’ve tried to negotiate instead of giving in so easily and unleashing this wolf—no, this powerful, tireless old lecher.

Qiao Haoyu walked in carrying a bowl, only to find her curled into a bundle under the covers. He set down the noodles and walked over, gently pulling back the blanket to reveal her flushed face. He scooped her into his arms and picked up the bowl of noodles.

“I made some noodles. You said you were hungry, remember? Come eat a little.”

Wei Jiajia gave him a weak glare, thinking: I said I was hungry after the first round, and you still wouldn’t let me go. You dragged it out for another two hours! If I die of hunger, it’ll be your fault…

“Be good. If you don’t have the strength, I’ll feed you,” he said. Still holding her with one arm, he used the other to pick up the chopsticks, lift the noodles, and bring them to her lips.

Without a trace of shame, Wei Jiajia opened her mouth and started eating, letting him feed her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Their awkward posture didn’t bother them in the slightest—he fed, she ate—and soon, the bowl was empty.

“Want more?” he asked.

She shook her head. Now that her stomach had something in it, sleepiness crept up again. “I’m full. You go eat. Otherwise the noodles’ll get soggy.”

Seeing the tear-tracks at the corners of her eyes, Qiao Haoyu knew she was completely spent. He didn’t press further—just laid her gently back on the bed, tucked her in, and walked out.

By the time he finished eating and tidying up, she had already drifted into dreamland.

Qiao Haoyu came back with a basin of water and a towel. He carefully wiped her clean, then took a quick shower himself before returning to bed and wrapping his arms around her, content.

The next morning, when Wei Jiajia woke, it was already bright outside. After a full night’s rest, she felt refreshed—aside from a slight soreness down below, she was in great shape. Even the sticky sweat that had clung to her body was gone. She got up, got dressed, and opened the curtains.

Outside, everything was covered in white—it was like stepping into a world of ice and snow.

In high spirits, she made her way into the kitchen, ate the breakfast her husband had left for her, then put on her coat and scarf, wrapping herself up tightly before heading out toward her mother-in-law’s house.

Although the apartment assigned to Qiao Haoyu this time was in the same compound as Father Qiao’s, it was actually quite a distance away—one in the north, one in the south—and took about twenty minutes to walk between them.

The house was a small two-story building, and while it wasn’t very spacious, it was enough. The first floor had a living room, bathroom, kitchen, and one bedroom; the second floor had three bedrooms. Overall, it was much smaller than the unit allocated to Father Qiao, but Wei Jiajia and her family liked it just fine. It was the perfect size for the three of them. After receiving the keys, she spent more than a week working nonstop to get everything set up before they finally moved in.

Still, since they lived in the same compound as Qiao’s parents, and not wanting the elderly couple to feel lonely, the triplets spent most of their time staying over with their grandparents, making up for all the years they hadn’t been around.

The kids were more than happy to be there. After all, going home meant watching their parents being all lovey-dovey—and sometimes even catching glimpses of things way too inappropriate. Not to mention being called an eyesore by their own dad. Before, they had no choice. But now that they did? Of course they’d pack their things and flee. It was a win for everyone!

Naturally, this move earned them a rare approving look from their father.

Although the snow on the road had been pushed to the sides, the path was still slick and hard to walk on. Wei Jiajia moved forward carefully, worried about slipping and falling on her backside. What was normally a twenty-minute walk ended up taking her nearly twice that long. By the time she reached the door, she had broken out into a light sweat.

Before she even entered, she could already hear the noisy chatter of the children from inside.

She stepped forward and knocked. After a moment, Aunt Hu—the housekeeper assigned last year to help care for Father Qiao—opened the door.

“Jiajia, you’re here! Come on in,” Aunt Hu said warmly, stepping aside to let her in.

“Sounds like a party in there! I could hear them from way down the street,” she said as she walked in.

Aunt Hu followed behind her, smiling. “Yuzhu brought the kids home yesterday. Right now they’re all crowded around asking their big brother about his college entrance exam plans!”

Wei Jiajia walked in and saw Mother Qiao and her sister-in-law sitting on the sofa, smiling as they watched the four older kids arguing amongst themselves without interfering. Meanwhile, the two younger children, having no clue what their older siblings were talking about, were lying on the dining table, each absorbed in their own picture book.

“Mom, sister-in-law!”

The sister-in-law waved her over. “Come on over! We were just talking about you!”

“Oh? Talking about me?” Wei Jiajia took off her scarf and coat, hung them on the coat rack, and changed into a pair of handmade cotton slippers from the shoe cabinet by the door before walking over to the sofa.

“We were just saying how you’re a college graduate, yet you’ve given up work these past few years to take care of Haoyu and the kids. It hasn’t been easy,” Mother Qiao said, patting her hand with a sigh.

Hugging Mother Qiao’s arm, Wei Jiajia snuggled against her like a daughter. “It’s not hard at all. Being able to marry into this family, become Haoyu’s wife, and have our three kids—I’m truly happy. Besides, you know I haven’t exactly been idle these past few years, even if I haven’t had a formal job. You don’t have to feel bad—I’m more than satisfied with life as it is.”

In her heart, Wei Jiajia thought, Once my book is published, the money will come rolling in—and it won’t be small change, either. Way more than those grinding away at a nine-to-five. A job that lets her earn money while staying home? You couldn’t ask for better. She truly loved the lifestyle she had now. And once travel gets easier, she could even take a few trips a year—that would make life just about perfect.

“Yes, yes! Our Jiajia is the best!” Mother Qiao said with a smile. She knew all about Wei Jiajia’s writing and had only brought it up with her eldest daughter-in-law out of passing sentiment.

“How did Youzu do on the exam?” Wei Jiajia glanced over at the kids, who had greeted her and were now deep in debate about which university they’d like to attend someday. She couldn’t help but think how forward-thinking they were—still not even in high school, yet already planning for college. If their father knew how motivated they were, he’d be proud beyond words.

“He did pretty well this time. Based on his estimated score, he should be able to get into either Jingda or Huada. But that boy’s bold—he only filled out those two schools on his application. What if he doesn’t get in?” Mother Qiao shook her head as she spoke, but the proud smile on her face told another story.

“How many points did he estimate?” Wei Jiajia asked.

“Four hundred and thirty points,” the sister-in-law replied. Like Mother Qiao, she also thought her son had taken a bit of a gamble with his college preferences, but she had confidence in him. After all, she had been supervising his studies for over a year—she knew exactly what he was capable of.

“That’s great! With a score like that, he’ll easily get into any university. Nothing to worry about now—we can just sit tight and wait for the acceptance letter.” This year, with a total score of 500 for the science exam, even those scoring in the 200s had university options. With Youzu’s score, he was well beyond that threshold.

Wei Jiajia’s words made both Mother Qiao and her sister-in-law beam with joy. In this era, being a college student was like being born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth. And if one got into a top-tier university, the future was virtually guaranteed. How could they not be thrilled that their child had such a promising future? If the acceptance letter had already arrived, Mother Qiao would’ve rushed out to tell the entire neighborhood.

Look at the two sons she had raised—both college graduates. The two daughters-in-law she had chosen—also college graduates. And now, even their children were smart, sensible, and eager to learn—sure candidates for future college students. Let all those people who had kicked them while they were down when her husband had fallen from grace see now: the Qiao family was rising again—and would only climb higher from here.

And as for that second sister-in-law of hers—always picking fights when they were young, stirring up trouble—she hadn’t just been a thorn in their side. She had brought ruin to the family. Because of her, their father-in-law had passed away early. Because of her, the eldest and second sons had left their hometown. Her own husband had suffered more than his share of silent indignities.

And what had she done in the end? Caused all that damage, then dusted herself off and left—marrying some old widower who already had grandchildren, and becoming little more than a servant in his home.

She hadn’t even raised her own two sons right. They cut ties with their biological father and hadn’t reached out once in ten years. Heartless—just like their mother.

Well, now that Qiao’s second brother had been exonerated and his property returned, she was curious to see what the woman and her sons would do. If they truly felt nothing, never reached out again, she could at least respect that. But if they came sniffing around like dogs chasing a bone, things would get messy.

Still, thinking of Qiao’s second brother’s character, Mother Qiao figured she might be worrying for nothing. That whole family of four—every one of them was trouble. None were decent people. Qiao’s second brother had spent his life scheming and manipulating, only to be undone by the person sleeping beside him.

What really worried her was if her husband, unable to bear seeing his brother suffer, reached out to help. If that happened, it would open a can of worms. Getting involved with that family again meant nothing but trouble.

“Ai…” The thought made Mother Qiao sigh. But when she looked over and saw the bright smiles on the children’s faces, she pushed aside the bitterness in her heart.

There was still time before any of that would happen. For now, she’d be better off thinking about how to celebrate when her eldest grandson officially got into college.

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