Peaches and Plums Don’t Speak – Chapter 115
by Little PandaMeeting (Part 2)
Nighttime.
Anzhi couldn’t sleep due to jet lag. Deep into the night, when the Yan Family Old Residence was completely quiet, she got up and went downstairs to the kitchen.
She heated a glass of milk.
She sat in the dining room.
She browsed the internet on her phone for a while, then rested her head on her arm in boredom. Naturally, she thought of the scene earlier when they were washing dishes, and thought of the way Yan Xi smiled.
How could there be someone who looked so beautiful when they smiled?
Besides…
Anzhi bit her finger in thought. Her figure didn’t seem to have changed at all, her posture and everything were maintained so well. She wondered if her V-lines were still there?
Even her walking was more beautiful than others—approaching slowly, graceful and delicate.
Anzhi suddenly blushed.
She rubbed her face and quickly sat up straight, taking a sip of milk.
She let out a soft sigh.
It was already much better than she had imagined. Their meeting hadn’t been too awkward, and Yan Xi hadn’t avoided her like she did during the video call last Spring Festival.
She had waited and waited, but didn’t hear her speak, so she had ended the video call herself.
Perhaps Yan Xi simply hadn’t figured out how to face her at that time.
Things were already much better now than they were back then.
She was lost in thought when someone walked in. It was Yu Shengnan’s voice: “Anzhi, can’t sleep?”
Anzhi snapped back to reality. “Third Aunt.”
Yu Shengnan walked in slowly, her hand resting on her belly. She sighed and said, “I finally managed to fall asleep, only to wake up hungry again.” Now in the mid-to-late stages of her pregnancy, she could only sleep on her side. With her belly so large, her movements were somewhat restricted.
Anzhi went over to help her sit down and poured her a glass of water. “Is there anything you want to eat?”
Yu Shengnan thought for a moment and smiled sheepishly. “I suddenly really want some fried rice.”
Anzhi’s eyes curved in a smile. “Okay. Just sit here for a moment, I’ll go to the kitchen.”
“Oh, no, no. How could I ask you to do that? Don’t start cooking in the middle of the night.”
“It’s fine, it’ll be quick.” Anzhi smiled at her and hurried into the kitchen.
Yu Shengnan stroked her belly and smiled, feeling a warmth in her heart.
A mutter came from the dining room entrance. She looked over to see Liu Yiyi walking in, rubbing her shoulder.
“You can’t sleep either?”
Liu Yiyi let out a woeful sigh as she walked in. “…Who would have thought that such a handsome man would one day start snoring…”
“Pfft, hehe…”
The two of them laughed. Liu Yiyi went to grab a few plates of nuts and brought them over. “Smells so good, who’s in the kitchen?”
Just as Yu Shengnan was about to answer, another voice chimed in, “Who is making fried rice?”
It turned out to be Xiao Yutong; she had walked in too.
The women laughed together. “Is everyone suffering from collective insomnia tonight?”
“It’s Anzhi in the kitchen. I wanted some fried rice.”
“Ah, Little Anzhi is so sweet.”
They sat around the table, poured themselves drinks and water, and began cracking open nuts and sunflower seeds.
By the time Anzhi came out with the fried rice, they were already chatting away merrily.
Assorted fried rice. Anzhi had added diced carrots, corn kernels, green peas, cucumber, eggs, and ham.
The rice was fried until every grain was distinct, giving off a mouthwatering aroma.
Anzhi handed Yu Shengnan a spoon. “It’s only a small bowl of rice, you shouldn’t eat too much.”
Yu Shengnan beamed and patted her cheek.
“Oh my, just looking at it makes me want to eat some,” Xiao Yutong said.
“Mmm, do you aunts want some too?”
Liu Yiyi waved her hand. “No, no, I’ll get fat if I eat this late.”
“Sit down,” Xiao Yutong beckoned to her.
“Mmm… this is delicious.” Yu Shengnan fed a spoonful of rice into her mouth, unable to hold back her praise.
“Sigh, you’ve had it tough. If you want to eat, have a little more.”
“Twins really take a toll. Could it be another pair like Da Pang and Xiao Pang?” Liu Yiyi said.
As soon as these words came out, both Yu Shengnan and Xiao Yutong stiffened.
“Sigh, I want girls,” Yu Shengnan said with a headache.
“Our family cannot have another set of twin boys…” Xiao Yutong pressed her temples.
“True… It wasn’t easy for those two brats to finally get girlfriends and move out. But Eldest Sister-in-law, don’t you miss them?” Liu Yiyi asked.
Xiao Yutong cracked open a sunflower seed shell. “I’m eager for them to stay out of my sight, the longer the better. Sigh, how wonderful would it be if I had a daughter…”
“Agreed, girls are much cuter.” Liu Yiyi leaned sideways in her chair and turned to Yu Shengnan. “Third Sister-in-law! You absolutely have to give birth to twin girls!”
Yu Shengnan’s smile was a bit stiff. “…The pressure is a bit high…”
“At least one of them has to be a girl!”
“Yes, don’t worry, we’ll help you look after the babies. All you have to do is give birth to them!”
“Exactly! Just have a girl and we’re good!”
“…”
Anzhi couldn’t help but press her lips together and laugh.
Suddenly, she caught a whiff of a familiar scent. Looking up, she saw Yan Xi. She was wearing an ink-blue button-up pajama shirt, standing sideways at the doorway with her long hair draped over one side. “None of you are sleeping this late?”
Her gaze swept around the room and landed on Anzhi.
“Oh, we all have insomnia. You can’t sleep either?”
“Mn… it’s hot.” Yan Xi stepped inside. The dining room lights cast a warm halo over her fair skin. She casually brushed her hair back, looking soft and lovely.
Anzhi lowered her eyes, her thoughts stirring. The dining table was long, and the aunts were sitting randomly. Whose side would she sit by?
Anzhi’s gaze darted to Yan Xi, lingering for a second before flicking back to her milk glass.
“Third Sister-in-law is hungry?”
“Yes, Anzhi made me fried rice. I’ve finished it all.”
“Mn…”
Anzhi heard Yan Xi give a low “Mn,” and the fragrance on her body drew closer and closer.
Anzhi stared so hard she nearly burned a hole through her glass. Yan Xi stopped right beside her. Her slender fingers grasped the chair, pulled it out, and she sat down.
Anzhi didn’t even dare to blink, afraid that a single blink would leak the racing of her heart.
“Yan Xiao Wu, why do you have insomnia? Don’t you have to work tomorrow?” Liu Yiyi asked with a light laugh.
“I told you, it’s hot.”
“Oh…” Liu Yiyi drew out the syllable.
After that, they chatted casually. The atmosphere was lively, filled with the continuous sound of crisp, moving laughter.
Anzhi pushed her glass away, then brought it back to her lips and took a sip. Her eyes peeked downwards. Yan Xi’s legs were crossed—shapely and straight, perfectly proportioned. Further down, it seemed she was even wearing nail polish.
Anzhi took another sip of milk.
Xiao Yutong let out a yawn and was the first to stand up. “Alright, I’m going to bed.”
Yu Shengnan stood up, holding her empty plate. Anzhi blinked, getting to her feet. “Third Aunt, let me do it.”
Liu Yiyi said, “Yeah, just leave it for Anzhi. Let’s go, we’ll head up together.”
Yu Shengnan smiled and pinched Anzhi’s cheek. “Thank you, Little Anzhi.”
“Come, come, Third Sister-in-law, I’ll help you walk.” Liu Yiyi smiled, linking arms with Yu Shengnan.
They walked out of the dining room, leaving only Yan Xi and Anzhi behind.
Anzhi paused for a moment before grabbing the plate and hurrying to the kitchen.
By the time she finished washing the plate and returned to the dining room, Yan Xi was still sitting in the exact same spot.
Looking at her from this angle, Yan Xi’s eyes glinted, the contour of her jaw delicate and smooth. Her gentle gaze collided with Anzhi’s. “Can’t sleep because of the jet lag?”
“Mn… I’m only here for a week, so I’m just sticking to the time zone over there,” Anzhi said softly.
Yan Xi nodded and said nothing more.
One second.
One minute.
Two minutes.
Neither spoke.
A small moth flew in, fluttering its little wings as it circled the living room light, occasionally landing on it.
“They’re going to worry me to death…” Liu Yiyi muttered softly, crouching low and leaning against the doorframe.
“Second Sister-in-law…” Yu Shengnan copied her posture from behind, asking curiously, “Why are we eavesdropping?”
“Shh… Sigh, I can’t say it. Just use your intuition.”
“Oh…” Yu Shengnan glanced at the standing Anzhi, then at the seated Yan Xi, looking thoughtful.
“Sigh, these two are really going to worry this mother1 to death…” Liu Yiyi’s expression was one of sheer agony.
Yu Shengnan looked at her, suddenly narrowed her eyes, straightened up, and walked right in.
Liu Yiyi was startled by her sudden movement and couldn’t grab her in time. “Hey…”
She could only watch as Yu Shengnan, supporting her large belly, strode generously into the room. The two people inside jolted in guilty surprise and looked toward her.
Yu Shengnan grabbed a handful of nuts from the plate on the table and chuckled. “Ah, I suddenly wanted some pistachios again.”
“Oh…” Anzhi’s expression looked a little blank. She glanced at Yan Xi, who happened to be looking at her too. Their eyes met, and they both simultaneously looked away.
“By the way, Xiao Wu, you need to go for your follow-up appointment in a few days. Also, it’s best not to sleep too late. After all, you just had surgery…” Yu Shengnan rubbed her lower back and slowly walked out.
Yan Xi’s expression instantly froze. I’m done for…
She took a breath and turned her head to look at Anzhi. Sure enough, Anzhi was frightened, staring at her in shock.
“It’s nothing serious… just a minor surgery,” Yan Xi tried to comfort her.
Anzhi bit her lip, staring at her without blinking, as if her tears could fall at any second.
Yan Xi faltered for a moment, then stood up and walked over.
“I’m all better now…”
“When did this happen? What surgery?” Anzhi’s eyes were pooled with glistening moisture as she fixed her gaze on Yan Xi.
Yan Xi hesitated.
A single tear suddenly slipped down Anzhi’s cheek. “Auntie…”
“It was a benign tumor on my gastrointestinal wall. It’s fine now, I just need regular follow-ups.” Yan Xi arrived in front of her, lowering her eyes to look at her.
It took Anzhi two seconds to process this. She bit her lip, her tears falling in a steady stream, yet she made no sound.
“You… you’ve never even been sick before, and yet… you had to have surgery,” Anzhi sniffled, speaking through her tears.
Yan Xi furrowed her brow tightly. They were already so close; she only needed to raise her arms to pull her into an embrace.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Anzhi’s eyelashes were completely soaked.
“You had just arrived at school back then…” Yan Xi’s hands clenched at her sides.
The next second, Anzhi let out a sob. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t by your side. I wasn’t there to take care of you.”
Every ounce of Yan Xi’s willpower instantly surrendered. She wrapped her arms around Anzhi’s shoulders and pulled her into her embrace. “Stop crying, I’m all completely healed…”
By the dining room door, Liu Yiyi clutched her cheeks. “You’re still the most formidable one, Third Sister-in-law! But we can’t keep watching this…”
Yu Shengnan watched the two people hugging inside with keen interest. “Why not?”
Liu Yiyi grabbed her and started walking away. “Family members are forbidden from watching this kind of scene. It’ll cause psychological baggage.”
“Eh, I wouldn’t…”
Anzhi’s soft body trembled slightly; she was crying. This was exactly what Yan Xi had feared. She offered several words of comfort until Anzhi slowly stopped crying. Her cheeks were wet, and so were her eyes. Her eyelashes were clumped together from the moisture, and her gaze was filled entirely with worry and heartache for her.
No words were needed; her eyes had already told her everything.
Yan Xi cautiously raised her arm, extending her fair, slender palm toward her. Her fingertips hesitated for a moment before gently brushing the corner of Anzhi’s eye. Anzhi’s skin was fair and tender, covered in a thin layer of moisture. It was scorching hot, and her heart burned right along with it.
Even Yan Xi’s voice softened and lowered, containing a dense, lingering emotion. “Stop crying. Be good…”
She wiped away the droplets of water at the corners of Anzhi’s eyes, then the ones on her cheeks, and gently flicked her petite nose.
Anzhi stared blankly. As she blinked, another droplet slid down to the edge of her lips.
The movement of Yan Xi’s fingertips followed, wiping it away. The temperature of her finger remained on Anzhi’s lips.
Suddenly, Anzhi raised her hand and pressed down on Yan Xi’s slightly trembling hand. Her movement was firm and decisive, yet her eyes carried a hint of timidity, a touch of shyness.
Her lips puckered slightly, and she kissed Yan Xi’s finger.
Yan Xi’s breathing nearly stopped in that exact second. Her finger felt a burst of scorching heat—a scorching heat that reached straight into her soul.
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