Axolotl Translations

To be honest, Huo Yunyan wasn’t even sure if Little Feather was messing with him on purpose. Maybe it was just his own guilty conscience making everything feel more suggestive than it really was.

That kid had always been a handful—even back when he was a tiny bird, bugging Huo Yunyan was his favorite thing to do. He probably still thought of it as “playing.” And now, even all grown up, he hadn’t changed a bit.

What had changed was Huo Yunyan himself. That thought hit him hard, and his face got all complicated. So, this was why he’d never dated before? Because no one had ever really been his type?

Elegant, sweet, clever—none of that mattered. What really got to him was the brat he’d been spoiling rotten, the same one who teased him non-stop without an ounce of mercy.

Huo Yunyan didn’t want to admit it, but if Little Feather ever stopped messing around and became all quiet and obedient… he’d probably hate it.

He asked himself: What the heck do you even want?

All these messy feelings? That was his problem alone. Meanwhile, the cheeky teenager wasn’t overthinking any of this. He just went with his gut and did whatever he felt like, without digging too deep into why.

Huo Yunyan’s life had been calm, like a still lake. If no one stirred it, it would’ve stayed that way. Shen Jingque, though, just thought a little chaos made their house feel more like a real home.

As for that strange, fuzzy feeling growing quietly inside…

After dropping off the snacks, the usually energetic teen was surprisingly mellow on his walk home. His lively face was unusually still, almost like the sea at rest.

His bright eyes drifted into the distance, his gaze soft and faraway. Maybe he thought—some things were just meant to be out of reach. You didn’t have to chase after everything. Sometimes, just admiring it from afar was enough.

“I’m back!” came Little Feather’s cheerful shout from downstairs. “The uncles were so nice! They gave me a ton of fruit. Want some?”

He was already planning to make a fruit salad with whipped cream.

“…Did you go drop off snacks, or rob someone?” Huo Yunyan mumbled as he walked into the kitchen. The teen was wearing an apron, standing at the island counter, chopping fruit.

“Careful with that knife,” he added.

“Got it. First, peel the skin, then grab my tools… how’s this shape?” Shen Jingque picked out a heart-shaped cutter from the pile and pressed it into a kiwi slice. A perfect little kiwi heart popped out.

Huo Yunyan blinked, caught off guard. Then he let out a quiet laugh. “Childish.”

“It’s cute, okay? Come here. I’ll eat the scraps, you eat the heart.” Shen Jingque popped the rough edges into his mouth, then held out the heart-shaped piece to Huo Yunyan. “Come on. Open up.”

Staring at the hand in front of him, Huo Yunyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily. He hesitated just a moment before opening his mouth—and the boy immediately stuffed the fruit in.

Was the fruit sweet? Huo Yunyan didn’t even notice. His whole attention was on Little Feather’s fingers.

Pale, slim, flawless.

“Ugh, the edges are really sour,” Shen Jingque winced. “I’ll make myself another heart.”

He leaned back over the counter, totally focused.

“Don’t eat too much. Dinner’s soon,” Huo Yunyan said, his voice low, trying to calm the storm of thoughts in his head. He turned away from the counter.

Late that night, Jiang Ye—the resident night owl—got a call from Huo Yunyan.

“You still up? Want to grab a drink?”

Jiang Ye was surprised. “Wow, rare sighting! You’re actually asking me out for a drink?”

Honestly, ever since Huo Yunyan took in Little Feather, and later started looking after Shen Jingque, the guy had totally given up his nightlife. Tonight, though? He actually asked to go drinking.

Huo Yunyan’s voice was relaxed. “It’s been way too long since I got out.”

He figured maybe hitting the nightlife would help clear his head.

On Jiang Ye’s end, things sounded lively. “Sure! I’m already out. What about your little chick?”

Huo Yunyan sighed. “He’s asleep.”

Otherwise, there’s no way he’d dare leave the house.

Jiang Ye laughed. “He loves a good crowd. If he finds out you snuck off for drinks without him, he’ll definitely make a fuss.”

Huo Yunyan chuckled too. Just talking about Little Feather softened him up. “Exactly. So don’t say a word. This is top-secret.”

Luckily, Little Feather was a heavy sleeper. Huo Yunyan had never once woken him up at night and was confident he could sneak out and back without a trace.

But luck wasn’t on his side tonight. It was storm season in the south, and just an hour after Huo Yunyan left, a clap of thunder split the sky and jolted Shen Jingque awake.

Half-asleep, he reached over instinctively—only to find the other side of the bed cold and empty. He didn’t think much of it. Maybe Huo Yunyan had something urgent to deal with and didn’t want to wake him.

But once awake, he couldn’t fall back asleep. He tossed and turned until 3 a.m., when faint headlights lit up the curtain. Huo Yunyan was back.

Shen Jingque threw off the covers and rushed downstairs—his voice reaching Huo Yunyan before he did.

“Huo Yunyan! Why the hell are you running around in the rain in the middle of the night?”

Huo Yunyan stepped in through the light rain, brushing water off his shoulders. Hearing that voice, he froze.

Crap. Why is the little bird awake?

“Cough, something came up. Just took a quick lap outside. When’d you wake up?” he asked quickly.

“The thunder woke me,” Shen Jingque said as he stepped closer, scrunching his nose and sniffing him.

“You smell like cigarettes, alcohol, and… perfume. What kind of emergency involves coming back smelling like that?”

“….” Huo Yunyan froze. Damn, the kid had a nose like a bloodhound.

He gave up and told the truth. “I went out for drinks with your Uncle Jiang. Just talking, that’s all.”

That really was it—just some drinks. Nothing shady.

Shen Jingque frowned, then stared at him in disbelief. “You went to a bar?”

Huo Yunyan didn’t deny it.

Shen Jingque’s eyes went wide, like he’d been personally betrayed. “You don’t let me go, but then you sneak out in the middle of the night? Huo Yunyan, you hypocrite!”

He was clearly pissed. He stormed upstairs, slamming the bedroom door behind him—and locking it for good measure.

“Little Feather…”

Huo Yunyan winced and rubbed his temples. That thunder couldn’t have come at a worse time. Now everything had blown up.

Knock knock.

“Why’d you lock the door? Open up,” Huo Yunyan called from outside.

“Open what? Go live at the bar if you like it so much!” Shen Jingque snapped from the other side, his back pressed to the door.

It wasn’t just about him sneaking off. What really got to him was the perfume smell. The memory of that scent on Huo Yunyan’s clothes… For some reason, it made Shen Jingque feel weirdly miserable.

Huo Yunyan thought about it, and yeah, he could see why the kid was upset. From his perspective, it did look bad. But he really didn’t mean anything by it.

“I was wrong, okay? It’s not what you think,” Huo Yunyan quickly said.

Shen Jingque gave a cold snort. “Oh? Then what is it?”

He sounded like he was being difficult, but deep down, he knew Huo Yunyan hadn’t actually done anything wrong. He’s an adult—he can go wherever he wants, do whatever he wants. But still, why did it hurt so much?

Something tight and unexplainable welled up in his chest. He felt so wronged for no reason, his nose stung, and even his shoulders were trembling slightly. He didn’t understand it himself. His mind knew Huo Yunyan hadn’t crossed any lines. In fact, Huo Yunyan was nothing but good to him—ridiculously good.

Seeing how upset he was, Huo Yunyan didn’t dare make excuses anymore. If he could go back in time, he’d never have gone out drinking with Jiang Ye.

He’d just been feeling too pent-up lately. He needed an outlet, some kind of answer. But none of that mattered more than how Little Feather was feeling right now.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I won’t do it again. Can you please open the door, Little Feather? Don’t shut me out like this. If you’re mad at me, yell at me, hit me—just don’t disappear from my sight.”

“Please? Open the door?”

“Little Feather? My sweet, adorable Little Feather, let me in so I can apologize properly.”

He stood outside the door the whole time, his voice warm and full of regret. It was impossible to stay mad at him.

Shen Jingque could doubt anything—but never his place in Huo Yunyan’s heart. So his anger, though fiery at first, faded quickly.

As he listened to Huo Yunyan apologize over and over, he finally sighed and gave in. Fine. I won’t be mad. I shouldn’t be mad anyway.

He rubbed his cheeks and tried to act calm as he walked over to open the door.

The moment the door opened, he was swept into Huo Yunyan’s arms. That familiar, gentle voice murmured right next to his ear, “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. I keep making you cry. However you want to punish me, I’ll take it…”

He meant every word.

The last time he made Little Feather cry was still fresh in his memory. Back then, Huo Yunyan had sworn to himself he’d never let that happen again.

“Look closely. I’m not crying, alright?” Shen Jingque leaned against his chest and touched his own face. What was this guy even seeing? “Which eye of yours saw me cry?”

Huo Yunyan looked down at his face and realized… yeah, not a single tear. He awkwardly chuckled, trying to save face. “Not bad. That’s progress.”

“You stink. Don’t hug me.” Shen Jingque wriggled out of his arms. Even if he knew Huo Yunyan hadn’t done anything shady, he still didn’t like the smell of someone else’s perfume on him.

“I’ll go change right now.” Huo Yunyan didn’t waste a second. Honestly, he didn’t like how he smelled either. And after Little Feather pointed it out, it felt even worse.

As he started to leave, he glanced back a little worried. “You’re not still mad… are you?”

What if when he came out of the shower, Little Feather locked the bedroom door again?

Shen Jingque shook his head. “I’m not mad. You’re an adult. You can go wherever you want, do whatever you want. I shouldn’t be angry about that.”

It sounded reasonable enough, but for some reason, it didn’t sit right with Huo Yunyan. No—it wasn’t just about freedom. Little Feather had every reason to be upset. Their relationship wasn’t that casual anymore.

“Go on then,” Shen Jingque said, puzzled by how the guy just stood there staring. “I’m not that petty. I won’t lock the door.”

“Mm…” Huo Yunyan turned away, pressing a hand to his chest where it ached. He might’ve soothed Little Feather’s emotions, but what about his own?

Drinking with Jiang Ye earlier had only made things worse. The more he drank, the more chaotic his thoughts became. So now he sat in the bathtub, soaking, a bitter, twisted smile tugging at his lips.

He hated himself. Hated how he liked Little Feather while pretending nothing was going on. Even if it hurt, he still selfishly enjoyed their close day-to-day connection.

He didn’t want to ruin that balance. There weren’t any complicated excuses—just pure selfishness. Every adult choice came with full awareness.

Half an hour later, Huo Yunyan returned to the bedroom, damp hair, bathrobe on, and sat down in front of Shen Jingque.

He cleared his throat. “Even though you said you’re not mad, I still want to make it up to you somehow.”

Shen Jingque was sprawled against the pillows, drained from all the emotional drama earlier. He lazily glanced over and said, “Take me to a bar?”

“No way. Bars are full of creeps and shady people.” Huo Yunyan flat-out refused. He didn’t want anyone staring at Little Feather with filthy thoughts.

“…” Shen Jingque didn’t even bother replying. He just turned away with an annoyed flick of his body. So much for sincerity.

“Alright, pick something else. I’ll definitely agree,” Huo Yunyan said, feeling cornered. Why did this kid always have to push his buttons on purpose?

“You won’t agree no matter what I say,” Shen Jingque shot back, his tone flat. His back practically screamed, Don’t waste your breath.

“You haven’t even said it yet! How do you know I won’t?” Huo Yunyan scrambled to clarify, quickly laying down his bottom line: “As long as it’s not clubbing, wearing see-through clothes, or dating someone else… basically, as long as it’s not dangerous, I’m in.”

Shen Jingque had expected that. As Huo Yunyan rattled off the “forbidden list,” his eyes rolled so hard they nearly got stuck. He muttered under his breath, “You might as well say the only person I’m allowed to date in this life is you.”

So the outside world was all dangerous. Home was safe. And the safest man? Huo Yunyan.

“What’d you say?” Huo Yunyan thought he heard something… but wasn’t sure.

“Nothing,” Shen Jingque instantly denied, realizing he might’ve let too much slip.

It had been a chaotic, exhausting night. But as the gentle patter of rain continued outside, dawn finally broke.

The little bird and his brooding housemate had made up. Life carried on—mostly calm, sometimes noisy. But all in all, it had flavor.

Still curious about the world, Shen Jingque started thinking about trying part-time work. Maybe as a cashier at a convenience store or a clerk at a milk tea shop.

He wasn’t chasing a paycheck—just wanted to feel like he was contributing something. He wanted to try being a “creator.” And to get there, he had to start somewhere.

After hearing this, Huo Yunyan almost said, “You really think anyone would hire you?” But he swallowed it down. After all… hadn’t Little Feather already been scouted by a talent agent?

“Leave it to me, I’ve got it covered,” Shen Jingque said confidently. He already had his eye on the café near Huo Yunyan’s company. He’d been dropping by pretty often lately—definitely not a coincidence.

And working in a café meant he could learn to make coffee and try his hand at baking too. Not a bad deal.

“You’re a guy and you like this kind of stuff…” Huo Yunyan muttered without thinking. It wasn’t that he had anything against coffee or baking. He just didn’t want Little Feather out there working.

“Prejudice,” Shen Jingque shot back, tossing the word over his shoulder as he headed out, full of confidence for his upcoming interview.

He had the looks, the charm, and a cheerful personality. Even if the café just hired him to stand there and smile, the manager would be more than happy.

Huo Yunyan had already shut down so many of Little Feather’s ideas lately. If he kept this up, he was pretty sure the kid would explode.

Working at a café? Fine. Maybe he’d last two days, get tired, and come home to keep living his spoiled prince life.

“Alright. I’ll go with you to the interview—help you negotiate salary and review the contract,” Huo Yunyan offered.

“No need. Let me handle it on my own.” Shen Jingque was determined. If Huo Yunyan did everything for him, then what was the point of experiencing life for himself? “You should really reflect a little. If you’re always doing things for me, how am I ever supposed to grow up?”

Huo Yunyan frowned. “Are you in a rush to grow up? What’s so great about being an adult? It’s just one headache after another.” Like him—constantly juggling responsibilities. Shen Jingque, on the other hand, was carefree and happy. Who wouldn’t envy that?

“Not gonna argue with you.” Shen Jingque rolled his eyes. People can talk all they want, but he needed to experience things for himself. Otherwise, what’s the point of living?

“Alright then, I won’t help you. But I will drive you there,” Huo Yunyan said after a beat.

“Sigh… If I were still a bird, my bird wife would definitely say I’m a daddy’s bird,” Shen Jingque said dramatically. “Good thing I’ll never have a wife.”

“That’s a weird metaphor. I’m not your dad,” Huo Yunyan corrected.

He used to call himself that proudly. But ever since he realized his feelings for Little Feather weren’t exactly pure, calling himself “dad” just felt… creepy.

Shen Jingque glanced over with a look like, Didn’t you used to call yourself that when I was still an egg? Now suddenly he’s being modest.

“Fine. You can drop me off,” Shen Jingque finally said with a shake of his head. Sometimes it wasn’t that he lacked independence—it was that Huo Yunyan was just too protective.

Being good-looking really is a cheat code. Even with no prior experience, the café manager hired Shen Jingque on the spot. He was scheduled to start the next day.

They had uniforms, too. He took his home, washed and dried it carefully, and even ironed it himself.

Then he dove into coffee books and training videos, taking notes seriously like it was a college course. He was completely absorbed in his new mission.

That night, Huo Yunyan found him asleep in his own room, surrounded by notebooks and study materials.

Well, that’s how it starts. Everyone has a first time. Little Feather would grow up, eventually. He’d figure it out.

The next day at work, Huo Yunyan couldn’t stop thinking about him. Midway through the day, he gave in, walked downstairs, and headed to the café.

Through the large glass windows, he saw his Little Feather in a crisp café uniform, smiling as he took a customer’s order. He was using the pen Huo Yunyan had given him, and when he finished, he casually tucked it into his front pocket.

Then he turned and spotted him outside, his face lighting up with the brightest smile.

“Welcome!” Shen Jingque said, then glanced at his watch in confusion. “Why are you out here in the middle of the day?”

“I came to buy coffee,” Huo Yunyan said.

“Yeah, right,” Shen Jingque rolled his eyes. “You’re here to see me, admit it.”

Huo Yunyan pinched his cheek, sighing. “If you already know, why bother asking? Let a guy keep a shred of pride.”

Shen Jingque laughed and waved the order slip in his hand. “Okay, I’ve got work to do. Go find a seat. I’ll bring you a coffee in a bit—my treat.”

“Oh? Feeling generous today? Then pack up two more for your uncles,” Huo Yunyan added shamelessly.

“Well, there goes my paycheck for the day,” Shen Jingque grumbled playfully but turned around and got to work without hesitation.

The café was busy, but after catching a glimpse of Shen Jingque smiling and buzzing around, Huo Yunyan left with a full heart and three cups of coffee.

And the coffee did its job—he felt wide awake again.

Later that evening, Huo Yunyan offered to pick Shen Jingque up after work, only to be told there was a staff hangout and not to bother.

Despite risking sounding overbearing, Huo Yunyan still asked, “Where is it? Just dinner or other activities too?”

There was no reply for a while.

In truth, Shen Jingque had been swamped, and by the time he got changed after work and saw the message, he didn’t feel like explaining everything. Maybe he was going through a rebellious phase.

Or maybe, he was just feeling… restless.

Even though Huo Yunyan had been nothing but good to him, why did it still feel like something was missing?

There was a longing buried deep in his heart—easy to ignore when life was calm, but once stirred, it surged up like a wave.

And since Shen Jingque didn’t answer directly, Huo Yunyan ended up calling him.

“I don’t know either,” Shen Jingque said, a little evasive. “Wherever the manager takes us, I guess. I don’t think there’s a solid plan.”

“That sounds a bit unsafe. How about this—ask your manager if you can bring a guest.”

“…” Shen Jingque went quiet for a long moment, then finally said, “Alright… I’ll ask.”

A few minutes later, he called back, “Ahem, my manager said I can bring someone—but only if it’s a girlfriend.”

Huo Yunyan froze, his face heating up. “…Your manager’s joking, right?”

Shen Jingque’s girlfriend?

Not in this lifetime. Not while Huo Yunyan was still breathing.

“Well, I guess I’ll just tell them you’re my boyfriend,” Shen Jingque said breezily. “The manager grew up abroad, super open-minded. We even have a couple of lesbian coworkers—totally normal here.”

“?” Huo Yunyan opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out. His brain short-circuited.

By the time he recovered, Shen Jingque was already saying happily, “Okay, he said it’s fine. Where are you?”

“I… I’m still at work. I’ll head down now and meet you,” Huo Yunyan said, clearing his throat and getting to his feet, suddenly unsure of what to do with himself.

“Great, I’ll wait. Can you give a ride to a few of my coworkers too? I’ll bring them to the parking lot.”

“Sure…”

After hanging up, Huo Yunyan grabbed his things, still in a daze, and waited by the car.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when he finally saw Shen Jingque leading three coworkers toward him.

It was the first time he’d ever felt this nervous.

“Sorry to keep you waiting!” Shen Jingque jogged over, still full of energy despite a long day. He chattered on, “These are my coworkers—this one is, that one is…” He’d clearly already gotten on well with everyone on his first day.

“Nice to meet you,” Huo Yunyan said, shaking hands and greeting them with more warmth than he ever showed his own business partners. “Thanks for looking after Jingque.”

Then Shen Jingque introduced him with a grin: “This is my boyfriend—his last name’s Huo.”

He left the first name out. Safer that way.

“……”

And just like that—despite knowing it wasn’t real—Huo Yunyan felt a wave of happiness wash over him. He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face.

Boyfriend. That was the role he truly wanted. Not guardian, not some elder figure, not family, but the one standing right beside him, as his partner.

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