Axolotl Translations

If there’s a secret to success, it’s this: Never give up, never slack off. And when it came to Operation: Get Huo Yunyan Married, this little bird was not backing down. Even if he got mad and fluffed up, he’d bounce back every time.

Huo Yunyan didn’t even notice the pretty girl on that flyer? Clearly, she just wasn’t his type.

Shen Jingque thought he’d cracked the code. Fired up, he immediately jumped up and started rummaging through drawers, closets, and boxes—hunting for anything with a beautiful woman on it. But to his dismay, there was nothing. Not even a single magazine model.

Apparently, Huo Yunyan’s taste was too clean and boring for that sort of thing. What a dull guy.

Crushed, Little Feather plopped down on the floor, totally worn out. That had been a lot of work.

Huo Yunyan looked over. “Hey, I’ve been asking what you’re looking for and you won’t answer. Now you’re sulking because you didn’t find it?”

Being a pet owner was rough—this man’s life now depended on the mood of a tiny bird.

“Chirp chirp chirp!” Little Feather let out a frustrated burst of scolding chirps.

“Oh? Giving me attitude now?” Huo Yunyan smirked. “Fine. I’ll go to the mall by myself and leave you here.”

The mall? Little Feather’s eyes sparkled like fireworks. He did a backflip and sprang to his feet—YES! Mall time! There are tons of pretty girls at the mall!

Huo Yunyan narrowed his eyes. “So just say the word ‘mall’ and you’re suddenly all fired up? What, do you have a switch in your brain that flips when I say ‘shopping’ or ‘go out’?”

And heaven forbid he changed his mind—this bird would throw an absolute tantrum.

Luckily, it had been a while since they’d stocked up on Little Feather’s essentials. Huo Yunyan kept his word, and half an hour later, they were strolling through a shopping mall.

As always, Little Feather insisted on picking his own stuff. His first stop? A row of milk cartons. He didn’t even like milk that much, but this carton had a smiling, breezy-looking girl on the front. Long hair, bright smile—chef’s kiss.

“Oooh?” Huo Yunyan raised an eyebrow. “You like this one?”

“You wanna drink milk? But you never actually drink it when we bring it home.”

Huo Yunyan knew him too well. He reached for a single bottle instead. “One bottle is enough.”

No! Not that one! The bird stomped over and blocked his hand with a firm little claw. He wasn’t budging.

“…”

Huo Yunyan gave in. How can something so small be this stubborn?

“You really don’t want the bottle? You have to get the big carton pack?” He sighed. “Are you even gonna drink all of it?”

Unfazed, Little Feather hopped up onto his shoulder and nuzzled his cheek in a show of exaggerated cuteness. Then he puckered up and chirped sweetly.

“I’m the one drinking it?” Huo Yunyan couldn’t take it anymore—his lips curled into a smile. “Alright, alright, you win. I’ll buy it.”

Little Feather quickly tricked his human into buying a whole pile of totally useless stuff—using the exact same method every time.

Back home, as Huo Yunyan was unpacking their haul, something finally clicked. He stared at the milk carton in his hand… then looked over at the rest on the table.

Every single one had a pretty woman on the packaging.

“Little Feather?” His tone was suspicious as he eyed the bird beside him. He was starting to suspect this featherball had a very specific motive behind all those shopping choices.

Little Feather lay nearby, absentmindedly scratching one foot, then the other. Huo Yunyan called him again, and this time he lazily looked up. “Hmm?” Why was he being called again?

Huo Yunyan walked over and waved the milk in front of him. “Do you know what this is called? This is what we call being a perv, you little flirt.”

“Look, buddy. Checking out pretty girls isn’t illegal—but this level of obsession? Even I’m struggling to defend you. It’s getting creepy.” Huo Yunyan clicked his tongue.

Shen Jingque jumped up in protest, furious. That wasn’t what he was doing at all!

“Don’t pull that again next time,” Huo Yunyan warned. “If someone sees you, I’ll be the one blamed for it.” Who would believe that his bird had a thing for hot girls?

Little Feather puffed up in anger. Fine! He didn’t care if this guy ever got married. It wasn’t his problem if Huo Yunyan ended up alone forever!

Of course, despite all his teasing, Huo Yunyan remembered what the little guy liked. Now and then, he’d still sneak in a product with a pretty lady on it—just to make him happy. Not that he knew the whole truth: the bird was only doing it for his sake.

“Here, your favorite,” Huo Yunyan would say.

Every time he did, Little Feather rolled his eyes so hard they nearly flipped out of his head. He was annoyed—ugh, this guy is hopelessly dense.

After giving up on matchmaking altogether, Little Feather returned to his chill, lazy lifestyle.

Worried he’d get bored and lonely, Huo Yunyan splurged on a fancy kitchen toy set—one that actually required a bit of thinking to use—and set it up in his office for Little Feather to play with.

While the three adults were discussing work, Little Feather was hard at work himself at a side table—stacking bowls, pretending to stir-fry like a pro.

One of the uncles laughed and joked, “Little Feather, you’re really getting good at this! Planning to cook for your owner?”

Hearing that, Shen Jingque perked up. Hey, that’s a great idea! After all that hard work, Huo Yunyan should definitely get a taste. He stuffed a toy basket full of plastic food and happily carried it over to him.

Fu Shaoheng chuckled. “It’s a sweet gesture. You better not let him down. At least take a bite.”

Little Feather: Yeah yeah! That’s right!

Who wouldn’t want to watch Huo Yunyan eat a plastic burger? Little Feather definitely did.

But Huo Yunyan smoothly dodged, pointing at someone else. “Give it to Uncle Fu. He’s hungrier than I am.”

Nope. Not happening. Little Feather wasn’t dumb—he knew Fu Shaoheng wasn’t someone you could mess with. He’d never dare force him to eat a fake burger.

Little Feather grabbed a plastic bun in his beak, hopped onto Huo Yunyan’s shoulder, and started shoving it into his mouth. Fu Shaoheng and Jiang Ye burst out laughing, egging him on with zero shame.

“Yeah, that’s it! Go on, Little Feather, feed him!”

With that kind of encouragement, Little Feather got even bolder—jamming the fake bread toward Huo Yunyan’s face with even more determination.

“…”

Huo Yunyan was starting to regret buying that toy kitchen set. Sure, the bird was having fun. But he was the one suffering for it.

“Thanks, but I’m not really a bread person.” He peeled the bird off his shoulder and turned to his friends. “Can you two not encourage him? You’re setting a terrible example.”

The two guys just snorted. Like Little Feather needed them to teach him how to cause trouble. That bird was born with a full toolbox of chaos.

To be fair, Little Feather had long lost his “pure and sweet” reputation. At this point, people talked about him the same way they talked about a hyper husky—super cute to look at, a total nightmare to raise.

But that’s what having a pet was like. It was like raising a toddler who never grew up. You needed tons of love, lots of patience, and the willingness to weather a not-too-short, not-too-long journey together.

After Little Feather turned two, Huo Yunyan had mostly stopped checking bird-owner groups. Maybe part of him was hoping that if he looked away, time would slow down. He wouldn’t have to face all the changes coming his bird’s way. But the harsh truths he’d been avoiding eventually slipped through—one private message at a time.

The first came from an old bird-owner friend named Travels a Thousand Miles a Day. They messaged to say their pet had passed away. It was a playful little budgie—sweet and silly. Huo Yunyan had even taken Little Feather to visit over a year ago. He hadn’t expected the news to hit so suddenly. His heart ached just imagining what that must feel like.

So he decided to bring Little Feather along to visit the grieving owner.

Shen Jingque had thought they were just going out for fun. But when they arrived and he realized it was the budgie’s home—and that his old playmate had passed—his mood shifted in an instant. That must hurt so much, he thought.

The tired face, the lingering sadness, the table full of framed photos and tiny toys once used by the bird—this was all that remained of a life once shared. But the one they loved most… was gone. Some things just aren’t meant to last forever.

Little Feather quietly scooted over, gently nudging the owner’s hand with his head. Don’t be sad, he was saying. The happy memories will always be with you. That’s enough to get you through the rest of life, isn’t it?

Every little creature is a gift from the universe—sent to heal us in their own way. They get all our love, and in return, we grow stronger, kinder, more whole. Two souls with no reason to love each other… and yet, somehow, they do. Having had that love—wasn’t that enough?

“He’s so sweet.” The owner stroked Little Feather’s head, voice soft. Maybe they were thinking of their own bird. Maybe they meant Little Feather. Or maybe… both.

When Huo Yunyan looked at the bird owner, it felt like he was seeing his own future. He let out a quiet sigh and pushed the thought away.

He and Little Feather stayed the whole day, keeping the grieving owner company. On the way home, something stirred in Huo Yunyan’s heart. He looked at the bird on his shoulder and said quietly, “I’m not someone who asks for too much. The moment I decided to bring you home… I knew.”

He gave a soft, self-deprecating laugh. “I basically planted a seed of sorrow in my own hands.”

Still, watching that seed grow day by day—how could someone like Huo Yunyan, calm and rational as he was, not indulge in a little wishful thinking? Maybe, just maybe, if he took good enough care of Little Feather… the bird could live longer than expected. Maybe even beat the odds. But deep down, he knew the truth. Someday, he’d have to bury him with his own hands.

In that moment, Huo Yunyan looked unusually vulnerable.

But that kind of future was still a long way off. Little Feather didn’t want his human getting stuck in those thoughts. He chirped loudly, snapping the mood in half. What’s the point of thinking that far ahead? Life’s meant to be lived! If you’ve got wine today, drink it today. Focus on living each day to the fullest—that’s the right way to go!

“Chirp chirp chirp!” Honestly, even the bird was getting emotional. If he had a choice, he’d want to stick around longer too. That’s why, for all his talk about freedom, he always came home. That’s why his plans to fly far away kept getting delayed. All of it—for his beloved human. All of it—for love.

Huo Yunyan gave a soft chuckle. “Never mind. You wouldn’t understand even if I explained it to you.” Death was still too abstract a concept for a bird. But one thing he was sure of—when the time came, Little Feather wouldn’t want to leave him, either.

Ever since he’d removed the leg ring, Little Feather had plenty of chances to fly off for good. But he never did. That alone made Huo Yunyan feel incredibly lucky. Because love that needs to be chained down isn’t love. If keeping someone by your side takes control instead of care, then what you’re doing isn’t mutual—it’s just selfish.

Maybe it was the visit that changed him, but from that day on, Huo Yunyan developed a new habit: He started filming Little Feather whenever he could, taking little videos of his daily life.

Little Feather, living under the constant gaze of the camera: “…”

He knew exactly what his human was doing—trying to collect memories to hold onto later. But if he could be honest? He didn’t think that was a good idea. The more you look at those videos, the sadder you’ll get. Wouldn’t it be better to leave those memories soft and untouched in your heart?

“Oh, come on,” he grumbled. Stop filming already. So annoying.

The bird was fed up. Every little thing he did, Huo Yunyan had a camera pointed at him. Eating, playing? Fine. He still looked cool. But did his human really need to film his baths? His poops? Was that necessary? Couldn’t he just keep the dignified footage for posterity?

“Mhm. That angry little face is great—so expressive. I can tell you really don’t want to be filmed,” Huo Yunyan said, totally unfazed.

Little Feather: “?”

He stared in disbelief. So you do understand—then why are you still filming?!

“Hahaha, what are you so shocked about?” Huo Yunyan laughed.

Little Feather: I’m shocked someone this shameless actually exists in the world.

To avoid getting sneakily filmed by his pervy owner, Shen Jingque had started hiding even when he had to poop. He used to poop right in front of Huo Yunyan—sometimes even deliberately got close just to show off a fresh pile of bird droppings. But times had changed.

Eventually, Huo Yunyan got the message: the bird didn’t want him recording anything “unflattering”—like his spiky, messy look after a bath. The second the camera came out, Little Feather would squawk like he was under attack.

Someone’s got a bit of an ego, Huo Yunyan thought, amused. Still, to him, even a soaked, scruffy bird was cute. It never looked pitiful or silly—just endearing.

“Wait… do you have a public image to maintain?” he teased.

Nailed it. Little Feather froze like a statue, pretending to meditate.

“Hey. Don’t fake sleep—I’m talking to you.” Huo Yunyan knew full well the bird wasn’t tired yet. “It’s totally normal to care about appearances, you know. But you should have more confidence in yourself, Little Feather. Even if you’re flying across the bed with poop stuck to your foot, you’re still the cutest thing in the world to me.”

“Chirp!!” LIES!

He would’ve believed it… if it weren’t for the time he got hit! Okay, it wasn’t really a hit—just a light tap on his paw. But Little Feather had decided he was assaulted, and that was that.

“Why are you mad again? We were having such a nice chat!” Huo Yunyan sighed, racking his brain over which word might’ve hit a nerve. “What, I’m not allowed to bring up your embarrassing moments?”

“Fine, fine, I won’t talk about it.” He tossed him a peace offering. “Let’s watch one of your ridiculous soap operas. No idea where you got your taste, but it’s definitely not from me.”

Little Feather was briefly pleased—then immediately annoyed. Why praise me and insult me in the same breath? So annoying!

He sat by Huo Yunyan, watching melodrama unfold on the screen. Meanwhile, Huo Yunyan buried himself in work. Every now and then, the bird would waddle over to keep him company—usually when the soap opera was in a boring phase. But the second a dramatic plot twist hit, Little Feather would rush back to the screen like his life depended on it.

Just then, something tricky came up at work. One of them had to travel for business. Huo Yunyan was in a group chat, discussing with his friends who should go. Everyone else had solid reasons for staying put, which meant… he was probably the best option. He didn’t mind. Little Feather could stay behind with one of the staff members to take care of him.

“You’ve been annoyed with me nonstop lately, huh?” Huo Yunyan said with a smile, pressing a kiss to the top of his bird’s head while multitasking. “Well, looks like you’ll get your wish. I’m heading out of town for a few days.”

Little Feather’s first reaction was excitement. His second reaction? Curiosity. As a bird with very little life experience, “business trip” sounded mysterious—like something only smart, important people did. Could he go too? Just to see what it was like?

He chased after Huo Yunyan, chirping nonstop. But it seemed like the man didn’t get what he was trying to say. So Little Feather grabbed his favorite toy and a few daily essentials, and proudly dropped them into the suitcase Huo Yunyan was packing.

“No, no, Little Feather, this isn’t a vacation.” Huo Yunyan chuckled as he gently picked him up and carried him out of the suitcase. “Not this time. I won’t have time to take care of you.”

“Chirp…” Little Feather’s eyes were full of disappointment, sitting beside his small pile of toys.

“Be good, okay?” Huo Yunyan crouched down, setting aside his packing to talk to him seriously—and very gently. “I promise I’ll be back soon.”

“Chirp.” It sounded like he was saying, Okay then.

On the morning Huo Yunyan left, Little Feather stood on the steps, watching him head off. From inside the car, Huo Yunyan glanced back through the window—and that single look made his heart ache with homesickness.

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