Peaches and Plums Don’t Speak – Chapter 126

Adoration

Anzhi wanted to have claypot porridge, so Yan Xi drove them to a famous Chaoshan-style porridge¹ shop in Beicheng. The restaurant spanned three entire floors. While the decor wasn’t particularly luxurious, it was bustling and lively with customers coming and going. Fresh seafood filled a corner of the first floor, and signatures from numerous celebrities who had dined there adorned the walls of each level.

Yan Xi had booked a table in the afternoon, and a server led them straight to a small private room on the second floor.

            

They ordered shrimp and crab porridge, stir-fried rice vermicelli, and their signature master-stock braised dishes. As soon as the door to the private room closed, Anzhi pulled her chair right up next to Yan Xi.

Yan Xi poured her a cup of hot tea to warm her up.

The young girl blew on the scalding tea and took a tiny sip. Her cheeks, rosy from the cold outside, didn’t look chapped or disheveled at all in the rising steam. Instead, they appeared youthful, soft, and tender.

            

Watching her, Yan Xi felt a wave of quiet emotion. Youth is truly wonderful, she thought, finding every little movement Anzhi made simply adorable. She couldn’t help but marvel that such a lovely girl was actually dating her.

Over the past few days spent alone together, she had felt with increasing intensity that she was truly in a relationship—a sweet, lingering, and deeply passionate romance.

It was a love that would melt away all her stubborn reservations, a love where she would risk everything and throw herself forward without a second thought.

            

It was far too late to retreat now. All she could do was forge ahead with courage and face whatever challenges came their way.

“Auntie, aren’t you a really famous public figure now?” Anzhi’s voice broke her out of her thoughts.

Yan Xi smiled. “Why do you ask?”

            

Anzhi pointed to the wall. “There are so many celebrity autographs here. Why didn’t the manager ask for yours just now?”

Yan Xi laughed in spite of herself. “I’m just an ordinary host. I don’t count as a celebrity, and I certainly don’t have that kind of star appeal.”

Anzhi looked doubtful. “Really?”

            

Yan Xi smiled. “No, it’s not like I’m some young, beautiful starlet…”

Her assistant’s words—”I really can’t tell you’re nearly forty”—still echoed in her ears. Deep down, Yan Xi did care about her age. The words died in her throat, and she fell silent, unable to finish the sentence.

Anzhi blinked, took another sip of hot tea, and suddenly beamed. “Auntie, you’re the absolute prettiest in my heart! You’re more beautiful than any movie star.”

            

If the younger Anzhi had said something like this, Yan Xi would have dismissed it as mere childish flattery. But looking at the Anzhi of today—resting her chin on both hands, her eyes pure and sincere—Yan Xi felt a sudden, unmistakable flutter in her chest.

She lowered her head to hide her reaction, though the corners of her mouth curved upward.

After they chatted for a while, the porridge and side dishes were served one after another.

            

The porridge in the modestly sized clay pot was beautifully simmered, the rice grains soft and yielding. Floating in the milky-white, silky rice broth were the vibrant red of shrimp and crab, the gold of preserved mustard greens and shredded ginger, and a scattering of bright green scallions. Beside it sat a dish of local pickled radish, the perfect accompaniment.

On a freezing winter night like this, a bowl of hot porridge was deeply soothing, warming them to their very core. The shrimp and crab porridge was so incredibly savory it practically made their eyebrows fall off².

The stir-fried rice vermicelli carried the savory, aromatic fragrance of soy sauce. Tossed with tender greens, slices of ham, and scrambled eggs, the noodles had a satisfying, springy bite. Mixed with a touch of mildly spicy garlic chili sauce, it was delicious.

            

Anzhi ate with absolute relish. Her table manners were as lovely as her face; even when eating the braised meats with her bare hands, she didn’t look the least bit unrefined. It turned out that “pleasing to the eye” was only half of it—watching a darling sweetheart enjoy her food was a delightful experience all its own.

After eating her fill, they walked out of the shop. Anzhi patted her stomach and said happily, “Nothing beats being back in the motherland—the food here is just too good.”

“What else do you want to eat?” Yan Xi asked, amused by her tone.

            

Anzhi’s eyes lit up. “I remember there’s a chestnut cake shop nearby that’s incredibly famous.”

Yan Xi walked with her to the bakery. As they pushed open the door, a chime rang out, and the staff greeted them warmly in unison.

Anzhi walked over to the glass display case. Under the warm shop lights, the cakes inside looked exquisite and lovely, making it hard to choose.

            

“We’ll have a chestnut cake. What else would you like?” Yan Xi asked her gently.

“Mmh, a strawberry xuemeiniang³, too.” Anzhi’s gaze lingered on the display. Although she knew how to bake, she wasn’t a professional, and there were many pastries she hadn’t mastered.

“What else?” Yan Xi asked, indulging her.

            

“Hmm… matcha mousse or mango mousse? You love mango.” Anzhi wavered.

Yan Xi smiled. “Let’s go with the matcha mousse. It’s good to try different flavors once in a while. Anything else?”

Anzhi was fully satisfied. “That’s enough!”

            

As the clerk packaged their order, Yan Xi asked, “Did you develop a bigger sweet tooth since moving abroad?”

“Most desserts in America are way too sweet and heavy on the buttercream. Or they’re just different kinds of pies. But if I don’t try them, I get curious,” Anzhi said. “It’s made me gain so much weight.” She pouted, her voice soft and sweet, her dimples sweet too.

Yan Xi felt as though she had already tasted something incredibly sweet, even before they had touched the desserts.

            

“Gained weight?” Her gaze inexplicably drifted down toward Anzhi’s chest. Realizing the impropriety, she quickly looked away.

“You’ve definitely called me chubby before.” Anzhi shot her a mock-resentful look.

Yan Xi nearly burst out laughing. “No, you’re not.”

            

Didn’t I tell you that I’d still hold you, no matter how much weight you gained?

Yan Xi didn’t say the words aloud, but the sentiment was clear in her shimmering, expressive eyes.

Anzhi’s face flushed red; she had clearly remembered too.

            

The clerk handed over the pastry boxes, smiling warmly. “You two sisters have such a wonderful relationship.”

Both Anzhi and Yan Xi paused, then looked at each other and smiled. As they walked out the door, Anzhi boldly took Yan Xi’s hand in hers, her heart overflowing with joy.

Not long after they got into the car, Anzhi opened one of the boxes and pulled out the matcha mousse to eat.

            

“…Didn’t you just finish dinner?” Yan Xi was astonished by her appetite.

“I just wanted a little something sweet.” Anzhi scooped up a bite with her small fork and popped it into her mouth.

“Mmh… it’s delicious. Do you want some?” Anzhi held the fork up to Yan Xi’s lips.

            

Yan Xi had no choice but to accept the bite. “No more for me, I have to drive.”

Snowflakes began to drift outside the window once more. The city lights shone like strings of pearls and scattered stars, illuminating the bustling metropolis.

Anzhi leaned closer to the window, her bright eyes taking in the snowy scene outside as she nibbled on her cake. Yan Xi drove smoothly, occasionally glancing sideways at Anzhi’s joyful face, a gentle smile gracing her own lips.

            

The traffic ahead began to slow to a crawl, and a thin layer of white started to accumulate on the road surface.

They didn’t budge for over ten minutes. Having finished her cake, Anzhi waited in sheer boredom.

She licked her lips, thinking that they must taste incredibly sweet right now. She stole a quiet glance at Yan Xi, feeling a pang of regret that they couldn’t kiss in public.

            

She checked her phone, suddenly wishing they were already home.

Noticing her restlessness, Yan Xi asked softly, “Tired?”

“I want to go home,” Anzhi murmured, pouting slightly.

            

“We’ll be there soon,” Yan Xi reassured her.

Just as she spoke, the cars ahead finally began to move. Yan Xi let out a sigh of relief and glanced at her. “Hold on, I’ll speed up a bit.”

Anzhi said with a trace of worry, “Maybe drive slower.”

            

Yan Xi replied casually, “It’s fine. I’m an old driver⁴ after all…”

Anzhi: “…”

She burst out laughing.

            

“Besides, I know this route like the back of my hand… What are you laughing at?” Yan Xi asked, thoroughly perplexed.

Anzhi figured Yan Xi had no idea what her own words had implied, but… it was just too funny…

She curled up in her seat, shaking with laughter.

            

Once they got back home, they busied themselves for a while, took their showers, and changed into pajamas before curling up on the sofa to watch a movie.

It was an old film.

Yan Xi kept a folder of her favorite movies, the ones she loved to watch over and over again.

            

Tonight’s choice was the Japanese film 《The Great Passage》.

It was a film about dedication to one’s craft, telling the story of people who poured twenty years of passionate effort into compiling a single dictionary. The cinematography was quiet and soft, the dialogue meaningful and evocative, and the characters simple and sincere. It had no dramatic, sweeping plot points; instead, it moved the audience by showing a group of people who spent their entire lives perfecting one single task.

Anzhi had seen the movie before and hadn’t found it boring back then. But rewatching it now—especially when her mind was brimming with the fresh, lively excitement of romance—made her a little restless.

            

She went from sitting politely to leaning against Yan Xi’s shoulder, then sprawling across her lap, and finally resting her head on Yan Xi’s thighs.

Yan Xi remained perfectly still, letting Anzhi do as she pleased, with only a faint smile playing on her lips.

Anzhi glanced back at the screen. Ah, it had only been playing for thirty minutes…

            

Finally unable to contain herself, she muttered a soft protest. “Do we really have to watch this?”

“Then what would you like to watch? Want to choose one yourself?” Yan Xi asked with a smile.

“…Not really.” Anzhi looked back at the screen listlessly.

            

“Just finish this bit. The interesting part is coming up.”

On screen, the male protagonist nearly fainted at work, acting completely out of it. His colleagues looked at him knowingly. “Are you in love?” “Is there a girl you like?”

The old chief editor remarked that a heart in love cannot be stopped, and then left the task of defining the word “love” to the protagonist.

            

After many days of carefully chatting with the female protagonist, writing complex love letters to confess his feelings, and navigating the ups and downs of his fluttering heart, the young man finally penned a definition for “love.”

“To fall in love with someone: a state of mind where, whether awake or asleep, your head is filled with the other person, leaving you unable to focus on anything else and utterly restless. And once your feelings are returned, you are overcome with absolute, rapturous joy.”

Yan Xi suddenly paused the movie, turning off the screen. “That’s enough for tonight,” she said.

            

Anzhi blinked. As she realized what was happening, she let out a delighted giggle. Was this Yan Xi’s way of confessing to her?

Even saying she liked her had to be done in such a roundabout way.

She was just too cute.

            

Considering Yan Xi was the older one, Anzhi decided she would gladly be the initiator.

She lunged forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Yan Xi.

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The author has something to say:

            

For those who follow my Weibo, you already know that I was in really bad shape last night. I couldn’t sleep at all and finally managed to squeeze out a few words at three in the morning. Today, my chest has been feeling tight and painful all day, and my limbs feel completely weak.

I’ll keep writing as long as I can push through, though updates might be late. I hope you can all understand. Sending hearts!

I’ve linked my Weibo in the synopsis. If you don’t mind, please give me a follow. I’ll post all my latest updates there. Thank you, everyone!

            

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