Peaches and Plums Don’t Speak – Chapter 137

Her Taotao

Anzhi was not without some frustration of her own. Yan Xi only ever teased her, never daring to make a real move. It was simply too much, completely devoid of romantic sensibility.

First, she’d said she had to take responsibility and couldn’t tease her before coming out to the family. Then she’d said that holding Anzhi made her think of when she was a child—something Liu Yiyi had let slip.

            

Although Yan Xi had honestly confessed to taking advantage of her yesterday while she was fast asleep, now that she was awake, Yan Xi only dared to touch her. Her panties had clearly been changed, so she’d definitely done more than just touch her there. Yet she still claimed she was getting older and needed to rest.

She was truly hilarious.

What an incredibly over-cautious old lady!

            

Pouting, she stared at her emails in the living room. She hadn’t processed a single word after staring for ages, completely distracted. In the end, unable to help herself, she got up and headed to the bedroom to check on Yan Xi.

Yan Xi was fast asleep, lying on her side, her breathing light and shallow. In the dim light, a gentle, dewy glow radiated from her cheeks. Anzhi’s dimples showed as a smile spread across her face. She watched her for a long moment, and once she was sure Yan Xi was sound asleep, she leaned down to press a soft kiss against her cheek.

But what could she do when she loved her so much? For the sake of her being older, she would just indulge her. Since Yan Xi had so many reservations, she would take the initiative instead, just like that night. If anything, she was the one getting the better end of the deal.

            

Anzhi kissed her again. “Goodnight, ‘elderly Auntie’.”

The next day, she left breakfast and a note for Yan Xi before heading off to class.

Worried that Yan Xi would find the unfamiliar surroundings boring, Anzhi did her best to finish her schoolwork as efficiently as possible to squeeze out more time to spend with her.

            

But Yan Xi didn’t mind in the least. The Harvard University campus was vast, with libraries everywhere. While Anzhi was in class, she’d read in the libraries. When the weather wasn’t too cold, she walked outside, taking photos and enjoying the snowy campus views. She’d take a shuttle to H Mart to buy Asian groceries to cook, and when they were free, she and Anzhi would go to Tremont Street to watch a movie.

Yan Xi wanted to buy Anzhi a car, but Anzhi just laughed and said she didn’t go out very often. When she did, she could borrow her roommate’s car and just pay for their gas. Around campus, she either rode her bicycle or took the free university shuttle bus.

Yan Xi thought it over and agreed for now, deciding they could see how things went later.

            

On a day with good weather, they met up with Xu Jia’er. To avoid any awkwardness, Xu Jia’er had brought her girlfriend along as well. The four of them had a double date, which kept the atmosphere from growing cold.

Her girlfriend, Rachel, liked Anzhi very much. She had a bright, cheerful personality and got along well with her. As a result, the two of them chatted away while Yan Xi and Xu Jia’er sat in relative silence, sipping their respective drinks.

When Xu Jia’er first arrived, she’d quietly sized Yan Xi up. She’d met her two or three times many years ago, and in her memory, Yan Xi was a highly refined, exceptionally beautiful older woman. Back then, when she found out Anzhi liked her, her heart had felt incredibly sour with jealousy.

            

She’d originally thought it was impossible for Anzhi and Yan Xi to ever end up together, but she’d never expected that after all these years, they would actually make it.

Her feelings for Anzhi were long gone, but she was, after all, the first person she’d ever liked in her youth. Watching them sit face-to-face now, with silent warmth and understanding evident in their every look and gesture, Xu Jia’er couldn’t help but feel a tiny prick of discomfort.

But no matter how awkward she felt, she couldn’t let it show. After all, she was doing very well now and was deeply in love with her girlfriend. Still, she simply couldn’t bring herself to take the initiative to strike up a conversation with Yan Xi.

            

To be fair, this woman wasn’t actually that much older than her and Anzhi. In all honesty, Yan Xi didn’t look old at all; on the contrary, she was in fantastic shape, looking even more elegant and captivating than before.

Heh. Xu Jia’er silently took a large gulp of her drink.

The other woman likely didn’t want to talk to her either, which suited her just fine and spared them both from making polite small talk.

            

The two of them remained quiet, wrapped in an eerie silence, occasionally looking over at the person they loved.

Later, during the meal, Anzhi noticed the tension and joined in, which finally made the conversation flow a bit better.

After they returned to the dorm, Anzhi asked her, “You don’t seem to like Xu Jia’er very much?”

            

Yan Xi smiled faintly, remaining silent.

She didn’t like her—she hadn’t liked her from the moment they first met many years ago. But she wouldn’t say that in front of Anzhi.

Anzhi walked over to the sofa, sat down right next to her, and stared at her with innocent eyes.

            

Yan Xi patted her head, still having no intention of speaking.

Anzhi tilted her head in thought, then suddenly smiled. Leaning close to her arm, she whispered, “Are you jealous of her?”

Yan Xi stiffened almost imperceptibly, saying nothing but giving her a look.

            

Anzhi stuck out her tongue and teased, “She has a girlfriend now. Besides, we were young back then—she just had a vague crush on me…”

Yan Xi pursed her lips as the memory of standing outside Anzhi’s dorm room, finally having gathered the courage to go see her, only to spot Xu Jia’er, flashed through her mind. Even though things hadn’t been what she’d assumed, the memory still left an unpleasant taste in her mouth.

But saying it out loud would make her seem petty, so she wouldn’t say it.

            

“It’s not just her. Didn’t you have a shijie¹ in college who was quite fond of you too?” Yan Xi redirected the conversation away from Xu Jia’er.

“Huh? Was there?” Anzhi thought about it. “But that’s all in the past anyway.”

“And that Japanese girl living next door to you now—she has feelings for you too, right?” Yan Xi glanced at her.

            

“Ah? You mean Duanmu?”

Duanmu Huizi was of mixed Chinese and Japanese descent. She was the neighbor who had brought over medicine when Anzhi was sick a few days ago, and she’d also knocked on the door to check on her, running into Yan Xi a couple of times.

“No, no, she has a boyfriend. She only moved in this year, and when she saw I was Chinese, she just felt a sense of familiarity,” Anzhi said, waving her hands in dismissal. “We’re just ordinary friends.”

            

“Oh…” Yan Xi had only mentioned it in passing, and now that she knew the truth, it was fine.

“Really! Truly, I’m not lying to you!”

“I never said you were lying to me.”

            

“But your expression…”

Belatedly catching the faint scent of jealousy in her tone, Anzhi let out a soft pfft and looked at her with a beaming smile.

Made self-conscious by the teasing look in her eyes, as Anzhi threw herself into her arms, Yan Xi instinctively wrapped her arms around her, pinching her cheek with mock annoyance. Anzhi wrinkled her nose slightly and snuggled against her, laughing.

            

Yan Xi poked her dimple and sighed softly, “You really are far too popular…”

There would likely be even more people who took a liking to this little rabbit in the future.

Yan Xi felt that this sense of crisis would probably follow her forever.

            

But Anzhi wrapped her arms around her neck and laughed, “It’s enough as long as you like me. Here, do you like me or not?”

Yan Xi was teased into a laugh. “I do, I do.”

“Don’t be half-hearted!” Anzhi cupped her face. “Look at me and say it!”

            

Such a domineering side was rare for her. Yan Xi was stunned for a moment. The young girl’s bright, beautiful smile revealed pearly white teeth and soft, rosy lips, yet her cheeks were blushing a deep red with embarrassment.

“Of course I do…” Yan Xi’s throat bobbed. She caressed her cheek, her eyes deep and intense.

“That’s more like it!”

            

Anzhi was more proactive than her. Leaning in, she captured her lips, her tongue playfully tangling with hers. Yan Xi narrowed her eyes and began to respond, her palm sliding down to Anzhi’s slender waist, stroking it gently.

The room was very quiet. Nestled softly against her, Anzhi panted weakly, “Don’t… touch me…”

Yan Xi tilted her chin up, kissing her over and over, their lips and teeth clinging. “…Mmh? You’re not letting me touch… anymore?”

            

Anzhi pulled away Yan Xi’s hand resting on her back. “Right, I’m not letting you touch… anymore.”

This woman only ever dared to touch her through her clothes; she was nothing but a tease.

Anzhi puffed out her cheeks and simply swung her leg over to straddle her lap. She lightly tapped Yan Xi’s shoulder. “You’re not allowed to touch me ever again.”

            

Yan Xi stared at her in astonishment. How had her mood shifted so suddenly?

Anzhi’s entire face was flushed red. She was clearly incredibly nervous, yet she forced herself to stand by her words. “From now on, you… you can only be the bottom.”

She couldn’t bring herself to say the Chinese word for it, so she’d used the English word instead, a clear sign of her extreme nerves. Deciding to strike first, she captured Yan Xi’s mouth in a kiss, then boldly, unceremoniously slipped her hand under her clothes.

            

At first, Yan Xi was baffled, but hearing the end of it made her want to laugh. Then Anzhi’s kiss descended.

If not for the fact that her kiss was so frantic—missing her lips entirely on the first few tries—that grand speech of “not allowed” and “can only” might’ve actually sounded convincing. Yan Xi couldn’t help but chuckle.

She’d always had eyes that naturally curved into smiles. When she was younger, her laugh was bright and refreshing, but now, refined by time, her eyes held more depth. Her smile was deep and alluring, and because it was directed at Anzhi, it carried an added layer of romantic tenderness.

            

Anzhi was utterly dazed, her heart pounding wildly. Her hand was already resting against Yan Xi’s waist, where the skin was as smooth as jade.

With flushed cheeks, she quietly slid her hand up, up, and further up, while pressing her lips to Yan Xi’s cheek and neck.

Yan Xi’s laughter subsided, her breathing turning slightly heavy. She didn’t say a word, nor did she stop her. Only when Anzhi’s hands began to venture too far did she whisper, “I’m not allowed to touch you, but you can touch me?”

            

“That hardly seems fair…” Yan Xi’s nose brushed against hers. Only one lamp was lit in the room, and as her voice dropped, it became even more magnetic. Her light, fragrant breath fanned against the skin around Anzhi’s ears, turning them a rosy pink.

Anzhi was thin-skinned after all. Feeling guilty, she lost the nerve to keep exploring and sheepishly pulled her hand out, muttering, “I gave you the chance to tease me, but you didn’t go all the way… Since you’re ‘getting older,’ I’m just humoring you.”

Her face was incredibly red, yet she still stubbornly insisted, “I won’t give you another chance in the future!”

            

Only when several seconds passed without any reply did she quietly look up at Yan Xi.

Yan Xi gazed at her in silence, her expression hard to read.

Anzhi bit her lip, feeling incredibly awkward. She shifted her body, wanting to climb down from her lap.

            

Suddenly, Yan Xi leaned in close. “Since I won’t have any chances in the future, can I continue the ‘teasing’ we didn’t finish the other day right now?” she asked, her low voice steeped in intimacy.

Heat steamed Anzhi’s cheeks. It took her several seconds to process Yan Xi’s meaning, and she scrambled backward in a panic.

Yan Xi was always gentle and wouldn’t force her, but Anzhi tumbled sideways in her fluster, sinking into the sofa cushions. When Yan Xi reached out to catch her by the ankle, Anzhi jolted. Flailing around for purchase, her hand accidentally struck something.

            

Click.

Darkness flooded the room like a rising tide.

Anzhi lay frozen on the sofa. She’d just accidentally switched off the lamp.

            

Unable to adjust to the sudden, heavy darkness, she lost all sense of direction.

“Auntie, Auntie…” Before she could finish, a familiar, soft body leaned over. The only reply was Yan Xi’s hand pinning her shoulder. Her scent washed over her as she sealed Anzhi’s voice with a kiss.

Anzhi’s eyes widened, her ears ringing. Yan Xi’s kiss this time was sudden and dominant. She parted her teeth immediately, her tongue sweeping over Anzhi’s sensitive palate, capturing her tongue to suckle it.

            

What little remained of Anzhi’s rationality vanished in an instant.

The darkness magnified every sensory touch. The scorching kiss erupted like flying sparks.

Anzhi was kissed senseless, her consciousness blurring. Her entire world was filled with Yan Xi’s fresh fragrance.

            

After a long while, Anzhi finally muttered in a voice as thin as thread, “Something is digging into me, it hurts…”

Yan Xi felt her own clothes. It must’ve been the buttons poking her.

“It’s the buttons. Hold on…”

            

Yan Xi unbuttoned the troublesome buttons, caressed Anzhi’s cheek, and coaxed softly, “Darling… Where does it hurt? Auntie will kiss it better…”

Anzhi was momentarily distracted, thinking to herself how hypocritical this “old lady” was—she clearly adored the title “Auntie.”

Yan Xi’s raspy voice drifted down, “Now it’s your turn to not touch me, your turn to be the bottom…”

            

Her hot breath brushed against Anzhi’s cheek. Her body was also burning hot, seemingly on the brink of losing control.

Was it all because of her?

Anzhi’s eyes were hazy, as if shrouded in mist. She couldn’t see her surroundings; all her senses were locked onto Yan Xi’s kisses and touch.

            

Their breaths intertwined, drowning out the small space around the sofa in the darkness.

She was suddenly seized by fear, unsure of what lay ahead. She only felt an unprecedented, thrilling wave of tingling pleasure rushing over her, wave after wave. She called out helplessly, “Auntie… Auntie…”

The woman released her hands and pressed her head against her shoulder, coaxing her gently, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. You’ve experienced this before, just like last time…”

            

In the end, a series of broken, weeping sounds escaped Anzhi’s throat. She turned entirely to mush, her consciousness scattered, no longer knowing where she was. She could only yield to her movements, her cheeks burning like fire, her soles on the verge of cramping. She sobbed softly, “Auntie, wuwu… ah…”

Before drifting off, she felt as though she’d died, suffocated under her tender yet intense caresses.

A long while passed before Anzhi, resting in Yan Xi’s embrace, slowly gathered her strength. They nestled against each other, staying silent for a long time.

            

Anzhi felt shy for a bit, then snuggled against Yan Xi’s cheek with deep affection.

“Do you and Xu Jia’er meet up often?” Yan Xi asked suddenly, stroking her face.

“Huh? No…” Anzhi was startled, then laughed. “We’re all so busy, how could we? She has her own girlfriend to spend time with!”

            

“Mmh.” Yan Xi twirled a lock of her hair.

Anzhi looked up at her. “Why do you care so much about her? She and I can only be friends. Besides, her liking me was something from when we were kids. You can’t take that seriously.”

Yan Xi paused. “High school isn’t exactly childhood anymore. And besides…”

            

She cast her eyes down, her gaze lingering on Anzhi’s face with clear meaning.

Besides, didn’t you like me back then too? Was that not to be taken seriously either?

Anzhi understood her look instantly. Her eyes went round and her cheeks flushed even pinker as she blurted out, “I-I’m different! I’ve never changed. My drawings can be taken seriously—I’ve always only liked you!”

            

She leaned in extremely close, her breath fanning over her. Yan Xi’s breath hitched, her own cheeks warming up inexplicably as she slightly turned her face away. “…Mmh.”

Mmh. I know.

With that thought, she pulled Anzhi closer, tightening her embrace, and kissed the crown of her head.

            

Anzhi tilted her head up, and they naturally shared a warm, intimate kiss.

Anzhi pursed her lips and smiled, leaning in close to the woman’s ear to whisper, “Alright now, stop being jealous of Xu Jia’er. She’s actually going to marry her girlfriend!”

Yan Xi’s eyes flickered, and she gave a quiet hum. “Oh.”

            

Then there really was nothing to worry about. Not that she was worried in the first place.

“But the way you get jealous is so cute!” Anzhi laughed softly. “Super cute.”

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Yan Xi cleared her throat and pinched her cheek. “Not as cute as you…”

            

Anzhi wrapped her arms around her neck, her eyes curving with laughter.

Yan Xi laughed too. She wouldn’t bring up Xu Jia’er again in the future—it was too much trouble, and she simply disliked her.

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