Izun

1. Caleb's "Maturity"?

[ EN Version ]

Caleb: You're making me sound like a beanstalk in a fairytale. MC: Were you worried about not being taller than me? After all, it might make you seem less mature to me. Caleb: Was there ever a time you thought I was mature?

[ CN Version ]

Caleb: You make me sound like a spring bamboo shoot. [说得我像一根春笋。] MC: Back then, were you ever worried that you'd never be much taller than me and lose your dignity as a big bro? [你那段时间有没有担心过以后都不比我高多少，失去当哥的威严？] Caleb: When have I ever had the dignity as a big bro in front of you? [在你面前，我什么时候有过当哥的威严？]

The EN translation likely used "beanstalk" instead of "spring bamboo shoot" as the former is more common in a Western context, but this is just a small point.

The more significant difference is that the word "威严", which carries the idea of being dignified, stately, imposing and stern (think of the majestic aura exuded by royalty), is simplified to "maturity", which has a completely different word in Chinese (成熟). And as usual, the EN translation had to censor the reference to Caleb being a "brother" to MC 😂

2. Caleb's Retirement Plans

[ EN Version ]

MC: Caleb, you can be a farmer when you retire! Caleb: Workin' as a tutor, chef, and handyman... You already planned out my retirement. I'll be busy even as an old man.

[ CN Version ]

MC: Caleb, you might actually become an outstanding farm owner after retirement! [夏以昼，你退休以后说不定能成为一个出色的农场主！] Caleb: If I add this to what you said earlier about me becoming a tutor, chef, and handyman, you have already filled my post-retirement plans to the brim. [加上你之前说的家教，厨师和修理工，我退休后的规划已经被你安排的满满当当了。]

I find that the extra adjectives used in the CN version (e.g. "outstanding", "filled to the brim" injects more colour and vividness into their dialogue.

As a side-note, wouldn't you agree that the best post-retirement plan that Caleb could have is being a doting grandfather?

3. Casey's Chinese Name

[ EN Version ]

Caleb: The campsite manager said he named him Casey because the name's derived from a word that means "vigilant". Casey's always on top of everything, even catchin' field mice.

[ CN Version ]

Caleb: The boss of the campsite said that he gave Kuan Kuan its name because of how it oversees the wide field and can catch field mice. [露营地老板说，因为宽宽管得太宽会捉田鼠，所以才给它取了这个名字。]

Just a slice of trivia that Casey's name in Chinese is 宽宽 (Kuan Kuan), which literally translates to "broad broad" / "wide wide".

4. Caleb's Retirement Plans

[ EN Version ]

Caleb: I bought them because they're beautiful. also, beautiful flowers are meant for someone special.

[ CN Version ]

Caleb: Because they look very nice. And also because nice flowers are meant to be given to the person one likes. [因为它很好看。也因为好看的花要送给喜欢的人。]

To me, the phrase "the person one likes" comes across more intimate and direct (which is in line with Caleb's nature) than simply saying "someone special".

5. Bad and Good Results

[ EN Version ]

Caleb: There will always be a result. MC: What if none of them bloom? Will that still count as a result? Caleb: Yes, even if it's not what we're hoping for. Caleb: Regardless of whether the flowers bloom or not, they're the flowers we cultivated, protected and watched over together. Caleb: Even if none of them blossom, we can take what we've learned and plant new ones. Caleb: As long as you're willing to keep trying, our flowers will bloom someday.

[ CN Version ]

Caleb: Our flowers will bear results. [我们的花不会没有结果。] MC: A bad result where the flowers don't bloom also counts as a result? [开不出花的坏结果也算结果？] Caleb: Of course a bad result is also counted as a result. [坏结果当然也算结果。] Caleb: Regardless of whether it's a good or bad result, those flowers were cultivated by the both of us, protected by the both of us, and accompanied by the both of us. [但无论好与坏，都是我们一起耕耘，一起守护，一起陪伴过的花。] Caleb: Even if the flowers don't bloom this time round, we can carry this experience when planting the next round of flowers. [即便这一次没有开出花来，我们也可以带着经验去种下一次的花。] Caleb: As long as you're willing to keep trying, there will definitely be a time when our flowers bloom. [只要你还愿意继续尝试，我们总会迎来一次花开的。]

The CN version brings out Caleb's mindset towards results more clearly, where he sees purpose in the pursuit of something regardless of whether it ends badly or well.

Sprinkling in a little analysis: This dialogue is clearly layered, where you can replace the word "flowers" with "relationship" and it would be an accurate description of their pre-relationship dynamic. Caleb's tender care in cultivating the flowers, his patience in waiting for the flowers to bloom, having no expectations that the flowers would bloom (as we can tell by how shocked he was when the flowers actually bloomed), and him simply being content with being by MC's side is a mirror of what he has been going through so far with MC.

I also find it interesting that Caleb's says that the flowers will bloom someday "as long as you're willing to keep trying" instead of "we", and I'm glad that the EN version captured this accurately. Just like in his previous dates where Caleb holds himself back like the yearner he is, we once again see Caleb giving MC the space to take the initiative to make their relationship blossom. And she finally does that in the Floating Floraletter date ( ´ з `)🍎

6. The Little Assistant

[ EN Version ]

Caleb: It doesn't matter what role you pick after you retire. You'll still need your trusty assistant.

[ CN Version ]

Caleb: It looks like no matter whether I become a farm owner or handyman after retirement, I can't do without my specially hired little assistant. [看来退休以后无论是做农场主还是作修理工，都不能没有特聘小助理。]

This was unfortunately a mistranslation which changes the way this line is interpreted.

The official translation could be interpreted as Caleb wanting to become MC's trusty assistance regardless of what post-retirement hustle MC decides to take up.

However, in the original Chinese version, Caleb was actually referring to his own post-retirement plans and how MC is indispensable in his future.