Peaches and Plums Don’t Speak – Chapter 48

Stay By My Side

On the way back, Liu Yiyi kept glancing at Yan Xi out of the corner of her eye.

“Yan Xiao Wu, I never realized you were so good at arguing!”

            

“I thought you asked me to come along because you needed my help with the argument…”

Yan Xi, who was driving, shot her a look. “No, I was afraid I might hit someone. I brought you along to stop me.”

Liu Yiyi said, “…Hehehe, you think I don’t know you’ve trained in boxing? I wouldn’t dare. No, wait, since when were you so domineering?”

            

“Look at you just now. You left that Tao Zhenzhen completely speechless.”

“You know now, right? I’m the most domineering one in my family. Even my brothers are afraid of me.”

Seeing the smile return to Yan Xi’s eyes, Liu Yiyi paused for a moment before asking, “Were you serious just now? If she hadn’t backed down, would you really have sued her?”

            

Yan Xi pursed her lips and shook her head. “No, I was bluffing. For Taotao’s sake, I wouldn’t sue her.”

“From what I know of Tao Zhenzhen, she always chooses the path that maximizes her own benefit when dealing with problems. She knows she wouldn’t have much of a chance of winning a lawsuit, and it would likely disrupt the stable life she has now. She wouldn’t dare.”

A slightly mocking smile touched Yan Xi’s lips. “If she had actually been willing to have a falling out and go to court with me, I might have believed she genuinely cared about Taotao.”

            

Liu Yiyi thought for a moment and couldn’t help but sigh. “I’ve seen plenty of women like her. Her life was a mess before, and now that she’s well-off, she’s returned to her hometown in glory​¹ and can’t wait to show off to the world. I don’t think she actually cares about little Anzhi. It’s because she’s back in Beicheng and is afraid too many acquaintances will find out she abandoned her daughter…”

“She didn’t dare answer your question just now, didn’t dare say how she planned to arrange things for little Anzhi. I bet she thinks that since Anzhi is older now, she doesn’t need much looking after. Just like you said, she’d just toss her in a boarding school and see her once a week…”

“How outrageous! The more I talk about it, the angrier I get…”

            

“But don’t mention tonight’s events to Taotao. I don’t want her to know this is Tao Zhenzhen’s attitude,” Yan Xi said, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. The light in her eyes was faint, soft, and resilient.

“Huh? Then… what will you tell her?”

“I’ll tell her that I don’t want her to leave me, and that I don’t agree to her going to Tao Zhenzhen’s place.”

            

“…” Liu Yiyi felt her teeth ache again. Something about that statement just didn’t sound right…

“…Oh, oh…” Liu Yiyi cursed herself for letting her imagination run wild. She wondered if it was because of her line of work—she’d seen so much that now she was starting to see romantic undertones between women everywhere.

“What if she resents you for it later?”

            

“Then let her resent me. I’ll be mentally prepared for it,” Yan Xi said at last after a moment of silence.

“Actually… Yan Xi… don’t you think you care a little too much about little Anzhi?” Liu Yiyi finally voiced the thought that had been brewing in her mind.

“Hm? What do you mean?” Yan Xi asked, puzzled.

            

“Look, when was the last time you had a life of your own these past few years? Any personal entertainment? Besides work, your life is all about little Anzhi. When you have time off, you take her out to have fun. She’s about to start high school now. Have you ever thought about maybe leaving a little space for yourself…?”

“I’ve always wanted to ask you, is it because of little Anzhi that you’ve been single all these years?”

Yan Xi raised an eyebrow slightly. “You think so too?”

            

She shook her head lightly. “Auntie Xin asked me that last time… No, it’s not that. I haven’t been deliberately single. I just feel very comfortable with my current situation and don’t see a need to change it.”

“Being with Taotao, taking her out, watching her grow up bit by bit—this is my life at this stage. I don’t feel like I’ve sacrificed anything for her.”

Hearing this, Liu Yiyi didn’t say anything more. She could understand. She had also been single for many years. She liked Yan Yixi, but frankly, she had never pestered him relentlessly. Both she and Yan Xi were the type of people who respected their friends, maintained boundaries, and didn’t interfere in others’ lives. Everyone had the right to choose the life they wanted, as long as it didn’t hurt others. Everyone had their own rhythm. You could show concern, but you couldn’t interfere.

            

“I know what you mean, but have you considered that at the rate she’s growing, she’ll be off to university soon? And soon she won’t need you to protect her like this anymore. She’ll have her own life, her own thoughts. I’m just worried that you won’t be used to it, that you won’t be able to adapt to the change all at once. So shouldn’t you start trying to let go, little by little, from now on?”

Yan Xi seemed to have never considered this question before. She froze.

The car entered a brightly lit tunnel, and the sound of wind whooshed past. The car fell silent for a moment.

            

“I’ll take you home first. I understand what you mean…” As Yan Xi spoke, the car exited the tunnel, and the bright lights faded.

Just then, her phone rang.

Yan Xi glanced at it—it was the landline from home. She put it on speaker.

            

It was Grandma Liu. “Anzhi woke up for a bit. She ate something and went back to sleep. I just went to check on her, and she has a fever…”

“What?!”

“I’m coming back right now.”

            

“I took her temperature. It’s over 39 degrees…”

After hanging up, Liu Yiyi said sensibly, “I’ll get a taxi home myself.”

Yan Xi watched Liu Yiyi get into a cab before speeding home. When she arrived, Anzhi was in a deep sleep, her forehead covered in a cold sweat and her lips pale. Yan Xi carried her, and together with Grandma Liu, they went to the Community Health Center​² just outside their residential complex. After running around all day without eating, Yan Xi was feeling completely drained herself.

            

Once they arrived, a doctor took Anzhi’s temperature and immediately put her on an IV drip.

Yan Xi had Grandma Liu go back home first while she waited at the clinic. Before leaving, Grandma Liu reminded her that there was still some congee being kept warm in the kitchen at home and that she had to eat some when she got back.

Yan Xi nodded, took a piece of candy from her pocket, and popped it into her mouth before sitting down next to Anzhi. She pulled out a tissue to wipe the sweat from Anzhi’s brow and gently brushed her hair aside.

            

Anzhi suddenly murmured, “Auntie…”

Yan Xi whispered back, “I’m here.”

Anzhi only mumbled a few times, her brow furrowed. She sniffled, and her eyes grew red again. Even in her sleep, she only whimpered, just like when she was little, only ever crying in her dreams when she felt wronged. Yan Xi lowered her lashes, reached out, and naturally stroked the top of her head, comforting her.

            

When Anzhi woke up, she found herself on Yan Xi’s back. Yan Xi was carrying her, walking slowly and with some difficulty. Her breathing was ragged as she took one step at a time, seemingly worried about waking her, trying to let her sleep more soundly.

“Auntie… I can get down and walk myself,” Anzhi said. As she spoke, she realized her voice was still hoarse.

“You’re awake? It’s okay, we’re almost there,” Yan Xi panted. “Don’t move around, or we’ll both fall over.”

            

Anzhi obediently stayed still. She looked around. It was very quiet, and seemed to be quite late. There was no one else around. The summer night breeze was cool, punctuated by the chirping of a few unknown insects.

Anzhi could feel how truly exhausted Yan Xi was. The collar of her shirt was slightly damp with sweat around her neck. Under the faint lights of the residential complex, the sliver of exposed skin was a glistening, tender white.

“I can walk by myself, I’m fine now…” Anzhi’s heart ached for her, and she insisted on getting down.

            

“Alright, alright, we’re almost there… Are you still feeling unwell?”

“No, I’m much better.” Being carried on her back, Anzhi felt a little dazed, her head still a bit groggy, but she did indeed feel much more comfortable.

“I’m serious. I was going to carry you in my arms at first, but I figured I couldn’t. I wouldn’t have gotten very far. A nurse had to help me get you on my back. You were sleeping like a little piglet.​³ I’m running on fumes here, so don’t move…” Yan Xi was smiling.

            

Anzhi immediately stopped moving.

“Taotao…” Yan Xi chuckled softly. “Do you remember how you used to cry about not growing taller when you were little?” Her voice was soft and gentle, like a breeze by Anzhi’s ear.

Anzhi’s face turned red, and she let out a shy “Mhm.”

            

“But you said… I would grow to be as tall as you…” Anzhi touched her forehead to the fabric on Yan Xi’s shoulder, feeling the warmth of the skin beneath. She whispered, “I… haven’t yet.”

Yan Xi fell silent for a moment, then turned her head to the side and said to her, “Taotao, I want you to stay by my side. I don’t agree to let Tao Zhenzhen take you away.”

Anzhi’s heart trembled violently. The line of Yan Xi’s profile, from her forehead to her chin, was elegant and perfectly proportioned.

            

Her gaze shifted up from her jawline. Yan Xi’s lips were a little dry. She had never noticed before that her lower lip was slightly fuller than her upper one, and the line between them formed a beautiful bow. And those words had just come from such beautiful lips.

“Is that okay?”

Anzhi bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes, and nodded forcefully. “Mhm.”

            

Yan Xi thought of what Liu Yiyi had said earlier. Her chest rose and fell once, and she swallowed the other sentence she was about to say.

At least, I have to wait until… you’re as tall as me.

---

---