Peaches and Plums Don’t Speak – Chapter 147

I’ll Go with You

After dinner, Eldest Sister-in-law was in the mood for mahjong. She dragged Liu Yiyi, Yu Shengnan, and Yan Xi over to form a four-person table in the living room. As the saying goes, three women make a market—gossiping while they drew their tiles, the atmosphere couldn’t be any livelier.

Anzhi sat beside them to watch for a while. Xiao Yutong was winning every round, and her triumphant laughter echoed through the room.

            

Just then, Yan Yixi gestured to her. Anzhi followed him to the second floor, only to freeze when they entered.

Inside the room, Yan Yidong sat with a solemn look on his face. Yan Yinan winked at her, while Yan Yixi walked over and took a seat.

A joint tribunal¹?

            

Anzhi nervously swallowed and greeted them one by one. “Eldest Maternal Uncle, Second Maternal Uncle, Third Maternal Uncle.” She was so tense that she subconsciously straightened her back, holding herself so upright she was practically stiff.

“Have a seat,” Yan Yidong said.

Anzhi silently took a deep breath, shuffled her feet forward, and picked the seat farthest away from them.

            

An uncanny silence hung in the room.

Since Yan Yidong remained silent, and both Yan Yixi and Yan Yinan were accustomed to letting their eldest brother speak first, they also kept quiet.

Naturally, Anzhi didn’t dare to break the silence first either.

            

The four of them remained locked in this strange standoff, with no one willing to be the first to speak and break the silence.

It wasn’t that Yan Yidong was at a loss for words; conducting formal talks was his area of expertise. In the past, he’d imagined that when Yan Xi eventually married, he’d have a serious talk with his future brother-in-law. It would probably consist of something like, “If you ever dare to treat my sister poorly, we three brothers will make you wish you were dead.”

But even if he were beaten to death, he’d never have imagined that he’d be saying these kinds of things to a young girl.

            

How was he supposed to begin?

For a moment, he didn’t even know how to start.

He hesitated for so long that Yan Yixi silently cast a sideways glance at him.

            

Anzhi’s small face was filled with unconcealed anxiety, her body language completely rigid.

Yan Yidong cleared his throat. “Ahem. We already know about you and Xiao Wu.”

He paused, quietly observing Anzhi’s expression.

            

Anzhi clenched her fingers, her dimples sinking deep. “I’ll take good care of her and love her!”

In front of the three elders who had watched her grow up, and in front of Yan Xi’s brothers, Anzhi did her best to prove her courage and love. It shone without reservation through her clear eyes—perhaps a little nervous and uneasy, but completely sincere and deeply moving.

It took a few seconds before Yan Yidong slowly nodded.

            

Xiao Yutong was right. He couldn’t do anything about Yan Xi anyway. If he pushed her too hard, it would only damage their sibling relationship and put the rest of the family in a difficult position.

More than once, Yan Yidong had wondered what Grandfather and Grandmother would’ve decided if they were still here. They surely would’ve agreed, right? After all, the two elders had always been incredibly forgiving and open-minded.

The words his grandfather had told him before passing away drifted back into his mind.

            

Now, he was the head of the household, and harmony in the family was of utmost value.

Besides, agreeing, did he have any other option?

Any other choice would mean being completely ostracized by his family.

            

While his mind was in a state of wild turbulence, Yan Yidong’s face grew increasingly solemn. Because he remained silent for so long, even the usually easygoing Yan Yinan stole a glance at him.

Anzhi swallowed again, speaking with panicked urgency. “I’ll listen to her in everything from now on, and I’ll give her all my salary… Yeah, I’ll do whatever she says…”

She didn’t know what else to say, so she could only repeat herself.

            

The three Yan brothers fell into a collective silence, each of their faces reflecting an indescribable expression.

Yan Yinan was the first who couldn’t hold it in anymore, slamming the table as he burst into loud laughter.

Yan Yixi rubbed his forehead. He didn’t quite know what to say either, simply shaking his head with a smile.

            

Sighing wearily, Yan Yidong waited a few seconds before letting out another sigh. He felt a headache coming on. “I really don’t know if my decision is right or wrong.”

Clutching his stomach, Yan Yinan finally managed to stop laughing. He shot a glance at Yan Yixi, as if to say, “As if he actually had another choice.”

Yan Yidong caught his silly face and let out a stiff, displeased snort.

            

Yan Yixi wanted to say something, but hesitated.

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After playing a few rounds, Yan Xi noticed that Anzhi hadn’t returned yet. She glanced back over her shoulder as she drew a tile.

Xiao Yutong said, “Your eldest brother probably called her over.”

            

Yan Xi asked in confusion, “What’d he call her for?”

“To talk, I suppose,” Eldest Sister-in-law said, feeling her tile. She cast a sidelong glance to observe Yan Xi’s expression.

“Pfft, is he having a talk with his future brother-in-law?” Liu Yiyi teased, discarding an Eight of Myriad.

            

Yu Shengnan smiled, her hands moving smoothly. “Pung!”

Xiao Yutong adopted a nonchalant expression. “Your eldest brother has to put on a show at least. Don’t worry, he won’t speak harshly to little Anzhi.” Her voice was filled with certainty.

“By the way, are you two… you know…” Liu Yiyi winked at Yan Xi, finally steering the conversation toward gossip. “…harmonious?”

            

Hearing this, Yu Shengnan raised an eyebrow. She paused her hand on the tiles and turned to look at Yan Xi.

Yan Xi had no intention of answering. Still feeling uneasy, she asked, “What on earth are they talking about that’s taking this long?”

Xiao Yutong continued to reassure her, waving her hand. “Your eldest brother is all bark and no bite. Don’t worry. And besides…” She paused, a bright smile spreading across her face. “What are you two actually like? You know, regarding that ‘harmony’ question…”

            

Liu Yiyi snorted with laughter. “Xiao Wu, look, even Eldest Sister-in-law is curious! You have to satisfy our curiosity!”

“Exactly. Let the men chat with Anzhi upstairs; we can have our own chat down here,” Yu Shengnan added, grinning.

“I get what you mean,” Liu Yiyi said, patting Yu Shengnan’s arm. “This means Yan Xiao Wu is the bottom, right?”

            

“Positions don’t really mean anything,” Yu Shengnan teased.

“That’s true. Sometimes I like being on top too,” Liu Yiyi murmured, looking rather pleased with herself.

Xiao Yutong laughed along as she listened. “I don’t really understand how it works between two women. I know a bit about how it works between men, though. Sigh, with how developed the internet is these days, it’s impossible not to know about these things.”

            

“Hey, Eldest Sister-in-law, how about we find a video to watch?” Liu Yiyi suggested, her eyes gleaming.

“Why don’t we let Xiao Wu tell us instead?” Xiao Yutong directed her gaze back to Yan Xi, refusing to let her off the hook.

Yan Xi stared at the three troublemakers in front of her, completely speechless. “…”

            

“Tell us!”

“Come on!”

“Please?”

            

The three women turned to look at Yan Xi in unison, their eyes burning with intense, gossipy curiosity that put immense pressure on her.

“…” Yan Xi held her ground. “No comment!”

“I’m going to find her.” Abandoning the game, she pushed back her chair and stood up. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, just before she walked away, she remarked in a casual tone, “If we’re really talking about tops and bottoms, I’m not the one who should be sitting on this side.”

            

The other three women stared at her retreating figure in stunned silence. Only after she had headed upstairs did they break into a flurry of excited chatter.

“What did she mean by that?” Eldest Sister-in-law leaned closer to ask.

“Eldest Sister-in-law, she means little Anzhi was completely devoured by Xiao Wu,” Liu Yiyi guessed, resting her chin on her hand before turning to Yu Shengnan for her opinion.

            

Yu Shengnan said in a low voice, “I think so too.”

“Oh my, oh my…” Xiao Yutong rubbed her aching cheeks, giggling continuously.

Yan Xi made her way to the second floor. She listened at the door for a couple of seconds, and hearing no sound from within, she pushed it open and entered.

            

Anzhi was sitting with her back to the door. Hearing the sound, she turned around. The moment she saw Yan Xi, she let out a massive sigh of relief and beamed. The two of them exchanged a brief look, instantly putting each other at ease.

Yan Xi walked over and rested her hand on Anzhi’s shoulder. She slowly and solemnly swept her gaze over Yan Yidong and the others. “Are you done talking?” Although there’s a faint curve to her lips, there’s no warmth in her eyes.

Yan Yidong said, “We’re already done.”

            

Both Yan Yixi and Yan Yinan caught her warning glare.

Yan Yixi: “…”

Yan Yinan nodded hastily. “N-no, nothing else to say!”

            

“Taotao, go outside first,” Yan Xi said, gently patting Anzhi’s shoulder as she leaned down to whisper to her. “I’ll be right out.”

Anzhi nodded obediently. “Okay.”

Once Anzhi had stepped out, Yan Xi crossed her arms over her chest and looked coldly at her eldest brother. “Do you have something to say to me as well?”

            

Yan Yidong met her cold gaze. “I do have something to say to you, but I doubt you’ll listen.”

Yan Xi’s tone was far from friendly. “As long as you don’t oppose us, nothing else matters.”

Yan Yidong replied stiffly, “I’m not opposing you. I only want to remind you that you’re much older than she is. There’s no guarantee she won’t fall for someone else later and leave you.”

            

His words were just as harsh as his tone.

The atmosphere was too tense. Yan Yinan picked up an apple and offered it to Yan Yixi, who pushed it back. Clasping the apple in his hand, Yan Yinan nervously took a large bite.

The crisp crunch made the others glare at him in unison, instantly slowing down his chewing.

            

Yan Xi’s voice was flat, but her expression was resolute as she held her head high. “There’s no need for Eldest Brother to remind me of that. I prepared myself for it long ago.”

Yan Yidong remained quiet for a couple of seconds before letting out another snort. “Good then. I’ve got nothing else to say.”

Refusing to back down, Yan Xi replied, “Fine.”

            

Yan Yidong said coldly, “Fine.”

Reduced to mere background characters, Yan Yixi and Yan Yinan silently exchanged a look: “…”

Yan Xi swept her eyes over them one last time before walking out of the room. After she left, the brothers fell into silence.

            

Yan Yixi broke the silence. “With a temper like hers, it’s just as well she isn’t marrying a man.”

Yan Yinan took another bite of his apple, chewing slowly as he spoke. “It’s fine. It’s not a bad thing that she isn’t marrying. Eldest Brother, just look at it as Xiao Wu marrying a wife.”

Yan Yidong let out a long, heavy breath. “That’s the only way it can be.”

            

He added, “Fortunately, we watched Anzhi grow up ourselves.”

“We know her inside and out,” Yan Yinan agreed, following his lead. “Someone like her is hard to find—young and promising, good-looking, and we all like her, don’t we?”

Yan Yidong fell silent for a moment, his expression softening as if he found Yan Yinan’s words reasonable.

            

“Besides, she’s already at this age. She just wants a partner who understands her. If she hastily found some man, he’d definitely demand she bear children and serve his mother. It could easily turn into a chaotic mess,” Yan Yinan said, finding the scenario increasingly dire the more he spoke. “And who’s to say the man would even be reliable?”

“Eldest Brother, Second Brother, not to brag about the three of us, but I don’t think there are many men out there as reliable as we are!” Yan Yinan babbled on, concluding with a dramatic flourish, “Taotao really is Xiao Wu’s best option!!!”

Yan Yidong seemed genuinely swayed by his argument. After some serious thought, he slowly nodded. “Put that way, you have a point.”

            

Yan Yixi smiled, suddenly saying, “Eldest Brother, if Xiao Bei were still here, he would’ve agreed too.”

It had been a winter afternoon many years ago. The four of them had gathered around a crib where a tiny baby girl slept, sucking on her fingers and blowing little bubbles. Her fair, tender cheeks were round and chubby, and her hair was soft as down.

That was the first time they realized they had a little sister.

            

A young Yan Yinan had asked curiously, “Can I pull down her pants to take a look?”

A young Yan Yidong had replied, “No, she’s wearing a diaper.”

A young Yan Yixi had added, “You can’t just touch a girl like that.”

            

A young Yan Yibei had said, “Mom told us we have to love our sister. It wasn’t easy for her to come to our family. We have to protect her.”

A young Yan Yinan: “Why did she have to come? She didn’t have to. Now the two of us aren’t the youngest anymore.”

A young Yan Yidong: “Xiao Nan, you can’t think like that. We are big brothers now.”

            

A young Yan Yinan: “But Eldest Brother, you were already a big brother!”

A young Yan Yixi: “And now you are one too.”

As they talked around the crib, the baby girl must have found them too loud. She kicked her short little legs in the air but didn’t wake up, continuing to sleep soundly.

            

A young Yan Yibei reached out to touch her cheek. “She’s so cute. But Mom says our sister has to go to someone else’s house in the future. I don’t want her to go to someone else’s house.”

He turned his head to tell his older brothers, “Let’s keep our sister at home forever.”

Xiao Bei never got the chance to grow up with them; his life stopped forever at nine years old. Over all these years, the three brothers had rarely spoken of him, but at this moment, they all recalled what he had said back then.

            

Yan Yidong didn’t say another word of opposition.

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Eldest Sister-in-law kept them playing mahjong until it was late, so she insisted they stay overnight at the old residence.

Inside Yan Xi’s bedroom on the third floor, the air conditioning was running, keeping the room pleasantly cool.

            

Having finished her shower, Anzhi rolled around on the bed, still basking in the joy of the family’s approval. She was so excited she couldn’t stop giggling foolishly.

Yan Xi, who was applying lotion nearby, was amused by her. “Are you really that happy?”

“Yes!” Anzhi’s eyes shone like stars as she smiled at her. “I’m truly so happy!”

            

Yan Xi climbed onto the bed and pinched her cheek. “You silly thing.”

Even after the lights were turned off to sleep, Anzhi was still snuggling in Yan Xi’s arms, playing with her buttons, twirling her hair, and playing with the hem of her clothes.

“Little Rabbit, aren’t you going to sleep?” Yan Xi caught her by the wrist.

            

“No, I want a kiss.” She puckered her lips and closed her eyes.

Yan Xi’s lips curved into a smile as she gazed at her.

With her eyes still closed, Anzhi lowered her voice. “My lips are getting sore.”

            

Yan Xi pressed her lips together, purposely holding back from kissing her.

Losing her patience, Anzhi opened her eyes and pounced forward to initiate the kiss. She cupped her face, “viciously” sucking on Yan Xi’s lips, before falling back onto her pillow with a look of pure satisfaction. “Enough. Now I can sleep.”

Yan Xi narrowed her eyes. Pressing down on Anzhi’s shoulders, she leaned over her, her voice dropping to a low murmur. “But I haven’t had enough yet…”

            

Her hand slipped inside Anzhi’s pajamas, caressing her lower abdomen, lingering there for a moment before slowly sliding upward, inch by inch.

Anzhi’s body shuddered. Just as she was about to say something, Yan Xi hitched up her top and slid her hand underneath, while her other hand found Anzhi’s waist, stroking it repeatedly before exploring further down…

Anzhi gasped, her pink lips parted. “Yiyi, we aren’t at our own home…”

            

They weren’t the only ones staying on the third floor; Yan Yinan and his family were here as well.

But Yan Xi seemed not to hear her. Her actions didn’t stop; instead, they grew increasingly passionate and intense.

Anzhi let out a succession of soft whimpers, biting down on her own fingers to keep from making a sound. Unwilling to stop Yan Xi, holding back was an immense effort.

            

Yan Xi closely watched her reactions, highly pleased with what she saw. With eyes full of warmth and laughter, she leaned down to whisper into her ear, “But I want it… doesn’t Taotao want it too?”

Anzhi shivered all over at her words. This didn’t sound like her closet-romantic² Yiyi at all; she was rarely this direct. A rosy flush bloomed on Anzhi’s cheeks as she realized she was on the verge of losing control. Her body lay bare, her clothes having slipped onto the carpet.

“Mmm…” Anzhi’s eyelashes were completely wet, her legs half-bent as she involuntarily let out a soft, weeping whimper.

            

Still, she did her best to bite her lip, her eyes brimming with tears. In the quiet of the night, even the slightest sound would carry, let alone with the fraternal twins sleeping on the same floor.

“Yiyi… don’t… Mmm…” Unable to bear Yan Xi’s movements, Anzhi’s face flushed crimson. Overwhelmed and terrified of letting a cry escape, she could only cup both hands over her mouth, staring up at Yan Xi with pleading, watery eyes.

Yan Xi had originally only intended to tease her. But now, seeing Anzhi barely clothed and looking up at her so pitifully—seemingly begging her to stop, while her physical reaction clearly begged her to continue, to not stop, and to take her even further—Yan Xi’s gaze darkened.

            

Leaning close, she kissed her cheek and whispered, “Taotao, you have to be very quiet…”

Anzhi let out a soft gasp, her eyes completely glazed with desire. The room was peaceful and still, the curtains hanging motionless in the absence of a breeze. On the floor, the patches of moonlight seemed to sway and tremble.

Under Yan Xi’s gentle, lingering touch, her legs couldn’t close at all; she could only accommodate her actions.

            

On this rainless, early summer night, all that remained was the gentle breeze and fine drizzle born of their skin-to-skin intimacy.

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The June heat was sweltering. Anzhi was flying back to Boston the day after tomorrow; this month had passed quickly and sweetly.

She was at home packing her simple luggage. Yan Xi went to the TV station, rushing back to eat dinner with her.

            

Because of the heat, the meal consisted of a light, smooth mung bean porridge, paired with pickled vegetables made by Auntie Xin and crispy, fragrant pan-fried saury.

After eating, they washed the dishes.

The rhythm they shared now felt incredibly comfortable; even the most mundane daily routines were filled with happiness. Every time they had to part, Anzhi hated to leave. She hated the thought of Yan Xi being home alone, eating meals by herself. Although they’d both adapted to their long-distance relationship, they still needed a plan for the future.

            

She asked, “Once I get my PhD, do you want me to come back?”

Yan Xi smiled and turned the question back to her. “What do you think?”

“If you prefer living in Beicheng, I can come back and look for a job here,” Anzhi said. True to her word, she was completely willing to defer to Yan Xi’s wishes.

            

“You don’t want to apply for a postdoc at Harvard anymore?” Yan Xi asked.

Anzhi replied, “In my heart, you’re more important.”

Amusement gleamed in Yan Xi’s eyes as she gazed at her. “What a coincidence. To me, you’re the most important.”

            

She pulled Anzhi into her arms and said softly, “I want you to pursue the career you love. You don’t need to worry about anything else.”

A sudden wave of tenderness washed over Anzhi. She nudged her shoulder against Yan Xi’s, tilting her face up slightly to look at her. “Then come with me. I want to stay in the United States, and I want to register our marriage with you.”

Anzhi took her hand. “Are you willing?”

            

Yan Xi looked back at her, gave a gentle smile, and said, “There’s something in my bag. Could you fetch it for me?”

Anzhi blinked, feeling a little disappointed at the interruption, but she obediently went over anyway. The moment she opened the bag, she froze. Sitting right inside was a Tiffany & Co. box. Dazedly, she picked it up and turned to look at Yan Xi.

Yan Xi was standing right behind her. She took the box and opened it, revealing a silver-white platinum ring resting inside. Petal-like accent diamonds clustered around a round central diamond, incredibly beautiful and full of ceremony.

            

Anzhi took a deep breath, completely stunned.

Yan Xi picked up the ring and slid it onto her finger. The fit was perfect, the diamond radiating a soft, gentle light. Satisfied, she nodded, then raised her eyes to look at Anzhi. Smiling, she said, “I do. I’ll go with you.”

(End of Main Text)

            

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The author has something to say:

I added a little bit to the Yan brothers’ conversation to make it flow more smoothly.

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