Peaches and Plums Don’t Speak – Chapter 131
by Little PandaI Have Loved You for So Many Years
On a winter night, Yan Xi returned home late. Anzhi was not in the living room; a soft, warm orange light quietly spilled out from the bedroom.
Yan Xi took off her milky-apricot woolen overcoat, revealing a checkered blazer and a long skirt underneath. In winter, she didn’t like wearing down jackets; regular exercise kept her from feeling the cold too much, so she usually layered coats like this. She rarely wore bright colors, preferring cool tones. She only used her scarf, matching bag, or lipstick color to add a pop of brightness. The young girls at the TV station always praised her style and tried to copy her outfits, but they always lacked that touch of elegance and couldn’t quite pull it off the same way.
Yan Xi would smile and say that young girls looked beautiful in bright clothes, only to be teased in return that Yan-jiejie was still young herself.
With the living room lights dimmed, Yan Xi moved gracefully. Her figure was slender and elegant, her posture upright and exquisite—a unique allure brought about by her age and innate elegance.
Anzhi was lying on her stomach at the foot of the bed, wrapped in a quilt and reading a book.
“Reading without turning on a brighter light?” Yan Xi casually set her overcoat on the sofa nearby. On closer inspection, she realized Anzhi wasn’t reading at all; she was simply resting on a stuffed rabbit, her phone lying next to the book.
Hearing Yan Xi’s voice, Anzhi poked her head out of the quilt. A pair of bright, crystal-clear eyes looked up at her. She sat up, her lips turning up slightly, and stretched out her arms as if asking for a hug.
Yan Xi smiled softly, sat down beside her, rescued the stuffed rabbit sliding off the edge of the bed, and set it aside.
Anzhi nuzzled her way over to wrap her arms around her, complaining with a slightly aggrieved, coquettish pout, “You’re back so late!”
“I’m off tomorrow, so we had to pre-record some segments today.” The warmth in Yan Xi’s eyes softened, and she stroked Anzhi’s hair.
Anzhi leaned against her in silence, her lips still pouted. She mumbled, “I told Lao Chen1 today that I like girls.”
Yan Xi wasn’t surprised and gave a soft “Mn” in response.
Earlier, while she was busy at the station, Chen Muqi had called her several times. The moment she answered, Lao Chen started blathering, “Yan Xi, do-do-do you know that Anzhi likes girls? She told me she got a girlfriend. Oh my god, what are we going to do?”
Yan Xi: “…” She wanted to say something, but Chen Muqi didn’t give her a chance at all. “It’s not that I’m prejudiced. I just don’t understand—Anzhi doesn’t seem like the type! I know some artists who are like that, but they have so much attitude, always looking cool and ignoring everyone. But Anzhi isn’t like that. What are we going to do?”
“What kind of woman is she dating anyway? It looks like Anzhi really likes her. Do you know who it is?”
Yan Xi took a breath. “Actually, I—”
“Sigh, tell me, this kid… she really worries me to death. What if it’s a foreigner? What if she gets conned? Oh dear, oh dear, I’m worried sick, absolutely sick…”
He sounded completely frantic. Because Yan Xi was pressed for time and still had work to finish, she couldn’t explain things to him in detail. After a few more grumbles, he hung up.
“You sprung this on him so suddenly. He wasn’t prepared at all,” Yan Xi said.
Anzhi looked up at her with a trace of resentment for two seconds. “But I really do have a… girlfriend… It’s not like I have anything to hide.”
Yan Xi was taken aback, sensing that she was truly feeling wronged. Not quite catching her drift just yet, she simply held her close and coaxed, “I didn’t mean you should hide anything…”
“Lao Chen completely fell apart on the spot. He had to hold onto the door just to walk out.”
Anzhi’s voice dropped, laced with sorrow. “Do you think he’ll refuse to acknowledge me again just because I like girls? When I was little, he thought I was a nuisance, so he threw me to his family’s housekeeper. If I hadn’t made something of myself and done well in school so I could make him look good, he probably wouldn’t have acknowledged me at all…”
As Anzhi spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, which began to spill over and roll down her cheeks one by one.
Compared to Tao Zhenzhen, Chen Muqi had stayed in touch and kept caring for her over the years; it would be a lie to say Anzhi wasn’t moved by that.
She hadn’t realized it until she voiced it, but deep down, she had always hoped for another elder she could rely on. Especially now that her relationship with Yan Xi had changed—honestly, she felt incredibly insecure. Whether they stayed together or not depended entirely on a single thought from Yan Xi.
Often, when you embark on a journey with nothing but raw courage, it isn’t the initial hardships that terrify you, but the moment you actually have something to lose.
But she couldn’t voice this deep-seated anxiety. Yan Xi already had enough reservations, and Anzhi couldn’t bear to pressure her further. Yan Xi had never been with a woman before, and Anzhi was so much younger, unable to offer her anything. Who knew when Yan Xi might regret her choices, leaving Anzhi with nothing at all?
A torrent of negative emotions suddenly flooded her mind, and she began to sob even harder.
Yan Xi was caught completely off guard by her tears. Instinct told her she had overlooked something, but she couldn’t figure out what it was. She could only pull her close, gently soothing her, “All right, Taotao… Don’t cry.”
“Don’t scare yourself. Even if he doesn’t accept it, you still have me. I’m right here by your side.”
Anzhi sniffled, “I don’t know… I only got you to be with me because I relentlessly clung to you…”
Yan Xi’s body stiffened slightly. Seeing how Anzhi’s nose had gone red from crying and hearing her nasal, muffled voice, Yan Xi’s heart ached. She embraced her tightly and stroked her hair. Anzhi nuzzled against her like a kitten, gradually calming down.
Yan Xi waited until she had cried it all out, then lowered her eyelashes and said softly and tenderly, “I didn’t get together with you just because you were relentless. Saying that is unfair to you.” She paused, then added, “And it’s unfair to me, too…”
She cupped Anzhi’s face, her fingers gently wiping away the remaining tears. “You’re not allowed to say things like that anymore.”
Anzhi sniffled twice, her wet eyelashes fluttering as she gazed at Yan Xi. Holding her close, Yan Xi murmured softly, “The things you worry about will never happen. I promise you.”
Anzhi froze as Yan Xi’s lips descended. She gently kissed and sipped at Anzhi’s lips, pressing sweet, intimate kisses to her cheeks.
Breathing in Yan Xi’s distinct, familiar scent, Anzhi closed her eyes and curled up in her arms, accepting her kisses and gentle comfort.
After resting in her embrace for a while, her emotions finally settled. Only then did she realize she had gone a bit too far with her words, and she sheepishly apologized, “I’m sorry…”
Yan Xi nudged her forehead against hers and chuckled softly. “It’s fine.”
Only now did Anzhi notice that Yan Xi had changed her hairstyle. Her hair used to be styled in long, voluminous waves, but she had cut it short. Soft, face-framing pieces curled naturally along her cheeks.
Blown out into a voluminous, subtly curled style, it was a haircut that demanded both a skilled stylist and striking features to pull off. It suited her beautifully—full of personality without being too sharp, gentle yet alluring.
“You cut your hair! It looks so good!” Anzhi stared, unblinking.
Yan Xi pinched her cheek, her tone teasing and slightly reproachful, “You’re only just noticing now…”
Under the dim indoor lights, she couldn’t quite make out the color, though it seemed she had dyed it. A faint citrus fragrance drifted from her hair.
She’d been too busy crying to notice.
Anzhi buried her face in her chest out of sheer embarrassment. This sweet, bashful display made Yan Xi’s heart skip a beat.
Just as her fingers brushed Anzhi’s cheek, Anzhi’s phone on the bed began to vibrate furiously.
Yan Xi glanced at the screen, intending to decline the call if it wasn’t anyone important, but she was surprised to see Chen Muqi’s name.
She handed the phone to Anzhi, who looked at her before putting it on speakerphone.
Chen Muqi’s voice came through, “Hello, Anzhi…” He suddenly stammered and coughed several times before continuing, “Dad is calling to tell you… girls are fine too. Dad supports you.”
“Girls… girls are okay, I guess.” It was obvious Chen Muqi had gone through an incredibly fierce internal struggle. “It’s just, cough, the standards are the same. Try to find someone Asian, though a Chinese woman would be best…”
Anzhi and Yan Xi both found themselves utterly speechless.
Chen Muqi babbled on, but receiving no reply from Anzhi, he thought the signal was bad and shouted, “Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?”
“I can hear you,” Anzhi said softly after a pause. “I understand, Dad.”
He answered with a warm “Ay!”—wishing he could pull his heart out for her. “Listen to me, liking girls is no different from liking guys. Just remember not to let yourself get tricked by someone older, and protect yourself.”
At this, Yan Xi’s expression grew a little strained, and Anzhi was left tongue-tied too.
“Oh, right, you said you have a girlfriend. Is she in Beicheng? Can you two meet with Dad?… Well, wait, wait, let’s do that later…” Chen Muqi’s voice trailed off as if he were still mentally preparing himself. “I’m not ready yet… cough, cough. My meaning is, as long as you’re happy, Dad supports you… Anyway, it’s late, so Dad won’t keep you… Wait, Anzhi, when you’re dating, just focus on dating. Don’t move in together too quickly, okay? Cough, do you understand what Dad means?… You still have to be careful.”
Chen Muqi rambled on and on. Feeling that he had said everything he needed to say, he let out a huge sigh of relief and finally hung up.
Anzhi remained silent for a few seconds before slowly murmuring, “I think… we shouldn’t tell him about us just yet. I’m afraid he won’t be able to handle it…”
Yan Xi’s expression was still somewhat awkward. She gave a quiet “Mn” in response.
Anzhi smiled, pursing her lips, and threw herself back into Yan Xi’s arms. “But he’s taking it pretty well. In a little while, I’ll tell him you’re my girlfriend.”
Yan Xi fell silent for a moment, then nodded. Thinking she was just being shy and trying to hide it, Anzhi looked up and planted a quick peck on her cheek.
Anzhi added, “It’s much better than how you reacted back then.”
Yan Xi recalled that time. She had indeed been incredibly shocked—and back then, Anzhi hadn’t even told her that she was the one she loved.
She gently caressed her hair with deep tenderness.
Anzhi couldn’t help but act spoiled. “Look at how many years I’ve loved you…”
The girl’s soft, sweet complaint acted like a magnet, pulling Yan Xi’s body, her mind, and her lips closer. Anzhi beat her to it, wrapping her arms around Yan Xi’s neck to guide her lips down onto her own.
The girl’s lips were softer and sweeter than her voice. The center of her lips was tender, and the tip of her tongue was sweet and warm. Yan Xi’s eyelashes brushed against hers as she murmured, “I know, I know…”
A kiss between women was like tasting a delicate flower on the tips of their tongues and fingers.
It wasn’t rough or rushed, yet it felt as if her entire body had been set ablaze.
Yan Xi held her in her arms while Anzhi clutched her sleeve, their kiss growing deeper and deeper.
As they shifted, Anzhi gasped for air. Yan Xi’s hand parted her collar, brushing away her hair to press kisses against her fair, tender shoulder.
“Oh? You changed your body wash…”
The woman’s lips moved along her shoulder and the back of her neck. Anzhi replied with a shiver, “Wu…”
“It smells nice.” Yan Xi wrapped her arms around Anzhi’s incredibly soft waist, pressing closer against her.
Anzhi’s slender legs slipped out from beneath her nightgown, resting softly against the woman’s long skirt.
Holding onto a final shred of lucidity, Anzhi slid her palm over Yan Xi’s blazer and slipped it inside her shirt.
A shiver ran down Yan Xi’s spine as she met Anzhi’s bright, watery eyes. “I haven’t…”
“Taken a…”
The girl’s hand had already reached its destination, and the woman’s final word finally drifted in the air: “…shower.”
The light in the room was a dim, warm orange.
On a spacious two-seater sofa lay the milky-apricot overcoat. On the low table sat a few scattered books, a green potted plant, some dried baby’s breath, and an open MacBook. The polished wooden floor reflected a glazed sheen. Further ahead lay a gray rug, with two white slippers discarded one after the other… and further still lay the checkered blazer, a slightly rumpled pencil skirt, then a white shirt, and a white nightgown…
Everything was strewn in an orderly fashion, like a silent gongbi painting2.
A brown checkered throw pillow tumbled off the white sheets, bringing with it the soft, delicate moans of those wrapped within the quilt.
The static gongbi painting suddenly surged to life, like dark, swelling tides, a boat tossing on the open sea, an endless and beautiful wave of passion.
Footnotes
- Lǎo: 老, literally 'old'. When prefixed to a surname, it serves as a familiar, respectful, and affectionate form of address among family members, close friends, or long-time associates.
- Gōngbǐhuà: 工笔画, a classical Chinese painting technique characterized by highly detailed, realistic brushwork, which stands in contrast to the freer, more expressive brushstrokes of the 'xiěyì' style.
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