Axolotl Translations

Fang Li hadn’t said all that to lecture Qin Weidong or guilt-trip him. Their relationship wasn’t built on that kind of game—and didn’t need to be. He’d come here in a temper, yes, with all sorts of thoughts running wild in his head, and he’d just spoken from the heart.

Qin Weidong listened quietly. After a while, he looked up and said, “I understand.”

“You do?” Fang Li asked. “What exactly do you understand?”

Qin Weidong repeated, “I won’t let things like this trouble you again.”

Fang Li hadn’t expected that. It was as if something had clicked in Qin Weidong. The irritation in his expression faded, and he said calmly, “This isn’t about whether or not you trust me. It’s not something you can solve. It’s something I have to deal with.”

Everyone naturally sees things from their own perspective first—Qin Weidong was no saint. His first reaction had been anger at Fang Li’s lack of trust. But after hearing him out, Qin Weidong was able to step back and shift his point of view. Like Fang Li had said, the problem wasn’t really Lin Huiru. It wasn’t about whether Fang Li trusted him or not. At the end of the day, trust alone wasn’t going to fix this.

Fang Li grabbed a clean napkin and gently wiped the leftover coffee off Qin Weidong’s face.

“Then why are you still frowning? Are you mad at me?”

“No.” Qin Weidong leaned in and gave him a light kiss on the lips. Kissing was something they did often—regardless of whether they’d just argued a moment before. It never changed anything between them. He furrowed his brow and said, “I just haven’t figured out how to fix this yet.”

Qin Weidong wasn’t perfect. He was still young—actually younger than Fang Li—and some things were just hard to figure out on the spot. Besides, he was thinking about it on a deeper level. This thing with Lin Huiru hadn’t come out of nowhere. The signs had been there for a while now, even as early as the past year. There was more to consider, more to weigh.

Whatever fire Fang Li had felt was now thoroughly snuffed out by Qin Weidong’s unwavering affection. Looking at his damp hair, he felt a wave of guilt. “I shouldn’t have just shown up like that without saying anything… And was that President Jiang from Jianjing just now? It must’ve been so embarrassing for you in front of a business partner.”

Especially since Qin Weidong was someone who cared a lot about appearances in public.

“If it had been about anything else, I’d have chewed you out.” Qin Weidong took the napkin from Fang Li. His shirt was soaked with coffee, and the most he could do was dab away the worst of it—it wasn’t going to get clean. “But because it’s this, I’m not mad. If I’d seen someone sending you photos and messages like that, I would’ve been even angrier than you. I’d drag you home no matter where you were, and make you explain everything.”

Fang Li couldn’t help twitching the corner of his mouth. For a moment, he had no idea how to respond. Did Qin Weidong seriously think what he’d just said made perfect sense?

Qin Weidong wiped his hands a final time and tossed the napkin onto the table. “Come upstairs with me—I need to change.”

By the time Fang Li followed him to the suite upstairs, where Qin Weidong showered and changed clothes, President Jiang was already waiting.

The man made no mention of the little scene earlier. Instead, he politely shook Fang Li’s hand and said, “Mr. Fang, my younger brother is a big fan of your albums.”

Fang Li couldn’t quite tell if the man was being sincere, but compliments are always nice to hear. He couldn’t help but feel pleased.

After that, Qin Weidong and the man got into business talk. Fang Li had no intention of joining them. On the way back, to his surprise, Tong Na—the one person who never had anything nice to say about him—actually gave him a call.

The moment he answered, Tong Na snapped, “My aunt already knows about Huiru and my cousin. Fang Li, if you have any dignity left, pack up and leave now!”

He’d gained some popularity on the mainland lately, so Jiang Bofeng didn’t feel comfortable letting him return on his own and arranged a driver for him. Sitting in the car, Fang Li held the phone a little farther away and asked mildly, “What exactly are you talking about?”

“You mean you don’t know?!” Tong Na nearly shouted. “Last night, my cousin got drunk and ended up in the same room, the same bed, as Huiru! Do I really need to spell it out for you? Don’t tell me you didn’t know about this!”

Fang Li replied, “Maybe we don’t know the same version of the story.”

Tong Na was at the Qin family’s house. Lin Huiru must’ve reminded her of something because she suddenly switched gears and snapped into a new tone. “Don’t play dumb with me! How could you not know? My aunt already knows you stormed over to my cousin earlier. This is just like you, Fang Li—completely classless! If you don’t want this to get ugly, just break up with my cousin. He and Huiru are going to be together anyway.”

Fang Li felt the headache creeping back. Even someone like him, who didn’t care much about social drama, had to wonder—how come every single time something like this happened, Tong Na was always the one on the frontlines?

“My style? I think your cousin knows exactly what kind of person I am,” he said coolly. “And since you all clearly know I went to find him, maybe you should just talk to him directly.” With that, Fang Li hung up.

Then he sent a message to Qin Weidong: [Tong Na just called me from your family’s landline.]

A moment later, Qin replied: [Got it.]

Fang Li was starting to get irritated again. Tong Na was his cousin, not Fang Li’s. Why was she always coming to throw tantrums at him?

He typed: [Can you actually deal with this?]

Qin Weidong replied: [Yes.]

Fang Li felt like he must be the softest, easiest target around. Everyone seemed to think they could just squeeze him like a stress ball. He could already guess—Tong Na would never have dared to say those things to Qin Weidong. So was it just that he was easy to push around?

He typed: [If you can’t handle it, we’re moving into separate rooms. You take the guest room.]

This time, Qin Weidong replied instantly: [I can handle it.]

Fang Li didn’t respond again. If everyone else got to push him around, he’d push back—on Qin Weidong. Let’s see who wins.

Qin Weidong didn’t contact him again for the rest of the day. It seemed he was caught up not only with that unexpected incident but also with the visiting business partner from Jianjing.

Fang Li waited at home until after ten o’clock that night. Finally, he heard the sound of the garage door—Qin Weidong was back.

Qin Weidong walked in, and Fang Li immediately put down his lyric notebook to greet him.

“What happened?”

“It was a mistake,” Qin Weidong said, taking off his jacket and tossing it onto the sofa. “Last night, we drank too much. Huang Sheng took my watch and room card by mistake. Lin Huiru brought some hangover remedy in the middle of the night and accidentally entered Huang Sheng’s room.”

Fang Li sat down. Qin Weidong looked particularly exhausted after a long day, clearly having dealt with a lot of back-and-forth with the Qin family. Fang Li leaned over the back of the sofa and gently massaged Qin Weidong’s shoulders. “And then?”

“Huang Sheng had called for a lady to keep him company. He was drunk and mistook Lin Huiru for the woman he had invited.”

Fang Li gasped in disbelief. “It was really a mistake? But… but how did Lin Huiru know your room number?”

Qin Weidong opened his eyes. “It was You Yue who called Tong Na downstairs to book the room together.”

So that’s how it was…

Fang Li kept massaging him, though his mind was clearly elsewhere. His touch was light, more like a tickle than a massage.

“So this was what you were discussing all afternoon?”

“Mm.” Just recalling it gave Qin Weidong a headache. “Lin Huiru was convinced it was me. We argued for a long time. Ye Yunshan really likes her, too.”

“How did you prove it wasn’t you?”

“Hotel security footage,” Qin Weidong said. “Also, Huang Sheng’s back was scratched up by her.”

Fang Li couldn’t help but suck in a breath. “So what now?”

“The Huang family will have to give her an explanation.”

Lin Huiru didn’t have much backing herself, but she’d been Tong Na’s best friend since high school. With her friend’s reputation at stake, Tong Na wouldn’t let it slide. Even if Huang Sheng wanted to avoid responsibility, he couldn’t ignore the Tong family—especially since the Qin and Ye families stood behind them. So no matter how messy the incident was, the Huang family would have to tread carefully.

Fang Li stopped massaging and instead wrapped his arms around Qin Weidong’s shoulders from behind, resting his cheek against Qin Weidong’s. “So this has nothing to do with you… then why do you still look so troubled?”

Knowing Qin Weidong’s personality, this wasn’t something he’d normally concern himself with.

Qin Weidong grabbed Fang Li’s hands. “It’s nothing.” But as he spoke, his eyes darkened. When he rushed over that afternoon, still uncertain whether Huang Sheng was involved, he’d overheard Ye Yunshan and Lin Huiru talking.

Lin Huiru said she was afraid of being pregnant. He heard Ye Yunshan say—“If you really are, then keep it. I’ll find a way to make Qin Zhengrong step in. Weidong will listen to his father…”

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At that moment, standing at the door, a chill crept over Qin Weidong, his expression turning cold.

All these years with Fang Li—whether it was going to the U.S. or ignoring Ye Yunshan’s efforts to introduce him to daughters of noble families—he thought he had made one thing clear to her: he and Fang Li would never separate, and no one could ever replace him.

But now, the truth stared him in the face—it had all been in vain. His mother had never given up on the idea of him marrying and having children. If that day really came… and Qin Zhengrong got involved… As much as Qin Weidong hated to admit it, he stood no chance against his father.

Two days later, Fang Li wrapped up recording the final song of his new album. He finally got two days off. After sending off his vocal coach and taking a shower, the doorbell rang downstairs. On the video screen, he saw an unexpected woman: Ye Yunshan.

He opened the door.

“Aunt Ye…”

Fang Li was visibly surprised. He quickly ran a hand through his hair to fix the awkward cowlick. Ye Yunshan glanced around this home her son shared with another man. Traces of their shared life were everywhere—the breakfast dishes still sat on the table, untouched. She didn’t know which seat was her son’s, but she noticed the glass jug of soy milk and the two empty cups.

Did her son like soy milk? She had always thought he preferred milk. At home, he would always finish his glass—just like when he was a child.

Fang Li stood there awkwardly. Ye Yunshan carried a few clothing bags. “Weidong told me you’ve signed with an agency now and you’re working as a singer. I bought a few outfits for the two of you. I’m not sure if they’ll fit.”

Fang Li accepted them. “Thank you, Auntie…”

Ye Yunshan had aged remarkably well. She looked almost exactly the same as when he’d seen her four years ago in the hospital. Time had barely left a trace on her. There wasn’t a single new wrinkle around her eyes.

He invited her in and, using tea as an excuse, rushed into the kitchen to message Qin Weidong: [Auntie just showed up! She’s in the house right now—what do I do? Did she come to see you?]

Almost instantly, Qin Weidong replied: [I’m on my way.]

Fang Li and Qin Weidong rarely drank tea. Most of the tea in the cupboard had been gifts. Fang Li picked out a box of pu-erh, but it turned out to be a tea cake and he didn’t know how to brew it. After opening two more boxes, he finally found some black tea and made a pot.

He brought it out. Ye Yunshan sat in the living room, her eyes taking in the scattered sheet music on the rug, the guitar propped in the corner, and the half-finished soda on the coffee table.

Her son had always been neat and orderly. His room was always spotless whenever the housekeeper cleaned it. But now, he allowed a boy to break that pattern.

A surge of indescribable bitterness rose in Ye Yunshan’s heart, as if this was her son’s real home—the place where he could truly relax.

“You’ve been back for a while now, and I still haven’t come to visit. How’s your recovery since the surgery?”

“Much better. It’s basically all fine now.”

Fang Li smiled slightly. Ye Yunshan looked at him. After four years, he was much as she remembered—still looking like someone who’d been well protected. Those clear, smiling eyes of his seemed untouched by the world, as if no impurity had ever entered them. But that only made Ye Yunshan’s heart ache more. Whenever she thought about how this boy and her son had fought their way out of those harsh mining camps together, Fang Li’s purity became a thorn lodged deep in her heart. It made her ache all the more for her son—for everything he had borne over the years, for this boy.

“Fang Li,” she began softly, “I came today to talk to you about something.”

Fang Li’s fingers tensed against the sofa cushion. His gut told him—this wasn’t going to be anything good.

Ye Yunshan hesitated for a moment, then said, “I know how close you two have been since childhood… and I know Weidong doesn’t want to be apart from you.”

Fang Li’s voice tightened. “Auntie…”

Ye Yunshan put down her teacup. “I only have one request. Could you allow Weidong to have a proper family? Let him get married, have children—give us something to hope for, to look forward to.”

“…You don’t have to leave him. But now that Weidong’s business is doing so well, he needs someone by his side—a wife, standing next to him.”

Fang Li was stunned by her words, unsure how to respond. Just then, Qin Weidong rushed back home.

“Mom.”

Seeing her son—both unexpected and expected—Ye Yunshan glanced at Fang Li.

Qin Weidong had rushed over so fast, he’d run three red lights. Trying to steady his breath, he walked over and said, “It’s about to rain. Let me take you home.”

How could Ye Yunshan not understand his meaning? Her heart ached like it was being sliced apart. “I just wanted to come see you. You’re always so tight-lipped with me at home…”

She had lost her son for fifteen long years. During those years, each day had felt like a lifetime. There were moments when she’d even thought of ending her life to be with him. Countless times, she had imagined what it would be like if her son were found. Would he have turned bad? Or grown up to be painfully ordinary?

Then came the day Qin Weidong was found. She looked up at her tall son and listened to her husband speak of his accomplishments. In that moment, she was filled with pride—and a deep, aching sorrow.

Was Qin Weidong a good son? Undoubtedly, he was. He was sharp, capable, and exceptional. Even her husband’s high-ranking colleagues couldn’t help but praise him. He never missed a holiday without preparing gifts for his elders. At breakfast, when the whole family sat together, he would chat with his father and always finished every bite on his plate before leaving the table.

And yet… despite all this, though mother and son were tied by blood, Ye Yunshan sometimes felt she could not truly reach his heart. His heart—it was tied to this place. Tied to this home outside their home, tied to this boy… so much so that he would give up a “normal” family, give up having children of his own, all for this.

He was her only son. How could she ever accept this?

“This is your home… but aren’t your father, your sister, and I also your family?”

Qin Weidong closed his eyes, then opened them again. “We can talk about this at home. But not here.”

His words cut into Ye Yunshan like a knife. Her eyes turned red with tears. Fang Li watched as Qin Weidong escorted her out, an uneasiness rising in him.

Sure enough, later that evening, just as they were having dinner at home, Qin Weidong was called away by a phone call.

It was from Qin Zhengrong.

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