Peaches and Plums Don’t Speak – Chapter 58

The Right to Speak

Xu Jia’er and Anzhi’s insistence on staying after school for an hour of self-study every day yielded remarkable results. Both were strong test-takers with a knack for independent learning. When the results of the second monthly exam came out, they had reclaimed their spots as second and third in the grade. After the third monthly exam, Anzhi was first and Xu Jia’er was second. But they didn’t dare to relax; they were surrounded by masters, and the slightest slip would see them unseated.

They were in Experimental Class 1, still with Teacher Pang as their homeroom teacher, who kept them on as Class Monitor and Vice Monitor. Their diligence naturally spurred a competitive academic atmosphere in the class. From the end of the school day through the evening self-study session, there were always people in Class 1’s room, hard at work. The other Experimental and Key Classes were, of course, unwilling to be left behind. And so, this new cohort of first-years, just after being sorted into their classes, displayed a learning momentum that was proceeding with great intensity. The homeroom teachers all saw it and were delighted, especially Teacher Pang, who felt it reflected very well on her.

            

Things went on peacefully like this for over two months, until one day, something finally happened.

Xu Jia’er had long since become a celebrity on campus. From the start of her first year, she had never lacked for female admirers—girls from all across the high school. Even some of the female teachers had a soft spot for her.

The boys at the Affiliated High School couldn’t understand it. Some couldn’t contain their curiosity and asked the girls what the deal was. The girls’ reply was: Xu Jia’er is respectful, considerate, and polite to girls, and she’s an academic ace. Good grades, good at sports, tall and handsome—she has practically no flaws. With someone like that around, who would want to date a boy?

            

The curious boys were dealt a massive blow.

Anzhi felt Xu Jia’er’s popularity firsthand. During every break between classes, girls would bring her snacks: potato chips, jelly, ice cream, and all sorts of other food. Sometimes Xu Jia’er would accept with a smile, only to stuff it all into Anzhi’s hands a moment later. There were also countless gifts and notes.

Xu Jia’er tried to refuse them every time, but when she couldn’t, she had no choice but to accept. She made no effort to tone it down, however, often wearing a smug, proud grin. She smiled at every girl but never truly agreed to be with any one of them.

            

This invisibly pissed some people off.

One day after school, they were studying in the classroom as usual. Anzhi was drawing a physics diagram, a force analysis diagram. Suddenly, a loud shout came from the doorway. “Xu Jia’er!”

Everyone in the classroom was startled. Anzhi lifted her eyes to the entrance. A few boys from some unknown class had walked in. The one in the lead was dark and brawny. He swept his gaze over the room, then glared at Xu Jia’er, looking her up and down with contempt.

            

“So you’re Xu Jia’er. How come you look like neither a man nor a woman?”

Anzhi’s grip tightened on her pen.

Xu Jia’er’s train of thought was broken. Hearing the rude remark, she grew even more impatient. She had just started to stand when she heard another comment: “You look like a pervert.”

            

Xu Jia’er’s face went cold. “What mad dog is this? Get out!” she snapped.

“I think you’re the pervert. Right, no guy would like you looking like that, huh?” the boy said, sneering at her with a sidelong glance. The boys behind him snickered.

“You…” Xu Jia’er bit down on her teeth, about to explode, but Anzhi quickly stood up to block her.

            

She frowned at the boys. “Classmates, if you have no business here, please leave. We need to study.”

The boy stared at Anzhi, a malicious smile spreading across his face. “I know you. You two are always together. You’re her girlfriend, right? What’s the deal? You’re not bad-looking. Why are you being a pervert with her?”

“Psycho!” Xu Jia’er couldn’t take it anymore. She reached out and shoved him. “Get out!”

            

The boy stumbled back, bumping into a desk. Enraged, he swung a fist at her. “You damn pervert…”

A few boys from Class 1 were also in the room. Seeing their classmate get hit, they went up to break up the fight. The attacker’s friends also jumped in to help, and the result was an all-out brawl.

The classroom descended into chaos as the girls began to scream.

            

Ten minutes later, Teacher Pang rushed over.

Twenty minutes later, the other students had been reprimanded and sent home, leaving only Xu Jia’er and the boy who started it. Anzhi waited outside the classroom office, hesitating for a moment before deciding not to leave.

Thirty minutes later, the boy’s parent arrived—a fiery, formidable woman whose voice could be heard throughout the entire office. “This is pitiful! My son was beaten this badly! Apologize! You must apologize! And pay for his medical bills and psychological damages! Where are your parents? Teacher, you can’t be biased! Call the student’s parents over! Our child’s homeroom teacher is here too. You all can be witnesses. Come and see…”

            

Anzhi peeked through the window. The parent was pointing at her son’s face, shouting and making a scene. From Anzhi’s angle, she could only see some bruising. The boy was a sports specialty student. He had been chasing a girl from a Key Class, and that girl happened to have chatted with Xu Jia’er a few times and had also rejected him. This was clearly a case of misdirected anger.

Anzhi’s gaze shifted to Xu Jia’er. She was pressing an ice pack to one side of her face. “My parents are on a business trip,” she said coldly. “They don’t need to come. I’m not going to apologize. Your son is a mad dog.”

The two homeroom teachers were trying to persuade them earnestly and repeatedly, but the parent wouldn’t compromise in the slightest, even starting to curse loudly.

            

Anzhi watched Xu Jia’er. Her expression was cold and stern, devoid of its usual cheerful smile. One hand covered her face, but her back was ramrod straight, her silhouette bleak and unyielding.

A pang shot through Anzhi’s heart. She didn’t know what to do; she knew going in would be useless.

Just then, her phone rang. It was Yan Xi. Anzhi let out a breath of relief and quickly answered. “Auntie, can you come over…?”

            

Yan Xi arrived quickly. She had only caught a few words on the phone and didn’t have the full picture. She first checked on Anzhi, and only after confirming she was unharmed did she relax enough to listen to the whole story.

“Auntie, please help her,” Anzhi said, tugging on her sleeve.

Yan Xi thought for a moment, then said in a gentle tone, “Alright. Don’t worry.” She knocked on the office door and then walked inside.

            

Anzhi watched her back, and her heart instantly settled.

She saw Yan Xi speak a few sentences, her voice calm, crisp, and unhurried. Then, Xu Jia’er and the boy were sent out, and the office door was closed.

Xu Jia’er looked a little dazed. The boy shot her a glare and turned to find a seat.

            

Anzhi went up to her. “Are you okay?”

Xu Jia’er walked over and took down the ice pack. Her lip was split, and half her face was swollen. “Who was that? Your…” The two of them leaned against the hallway railing.

“My Auntie. Does it still hurt?”

            

“Your what? Āyí? What kind of name is that? It’s so cringey…” Xu Jia’er started to laugh, then hissed in pain. “Sss.”

“It’s not Āyí…​¹ Just don’t talk if it hurts.”

“Hmph.” The boy on the other side of the hall scoffed.

            

“Hmph.” Xu Jia’er brandished a fist at him.

“Hey… just calm down, will you?” Anzhi said, pulling on her arm.

Xu Jia’er lowered her eyes and pressed the ice pack back to her face. “You don’t have to help me like this. I refuse to believe they can do anything to me if I don’t apologize!”

            

Anzhi could hear the displeasure in her voice. She was quiet for a moment before saying, “Stop trying to act tough.”

Xu Jia’er bit her lip and said nothing.

Anzhi sighed internally. What an undeserved disaster. Why did something like this have to happen? Setting aside the misdirected anger, how could a person be condemned just for who they liked? Xu Jia’er hadn’t broken any laws or hurt anyone, yet she had to endure such insults and slander.

            

Is liking the same sex being a pervert? Is that how the world sees us?

Anzhi felt as if those two words were being hurled at her, too, a vicarious, stabbing pain.

The two of them fell into silence. It was already past seven o’clock. The fluorescent lights in the hallway flickered on, attracting a few summer insects.

            

Xu Jia’er’s face was half-shrouded in shadow, outlining her sharp features. She began to speak in a low voice. “I knew I liked girls when I was very young. It took my parents a long time to accept it back then. They couldn’t accept my orientation, not really. What they couldn’t accept was the public criticism and condemnation their daughter might face. Just like what happened today…”

Anzhi listened quietly.

“Ever since I was little, I never dared to be anything but excellent. I took all kinds of tutoring classes, all kinds of hobby classes, because as a kid, the only way you can have even a little bit of a voice—a right to speak—is by having outstanding grades and special talents.”

            

“It’s the only way to get the respect you should have had in the first place.”

“Then why did you say it in public…?” Anzhi asked.

Xu Jia’er’s lips quirked into a smile. “Because I have to seize my right to speak.​² I have to stand in a place that’s visible enough, and I have to speak loud enough, so that everyone can hear me.”

            

“I just love the look on people’s faces when they can’t stand me but can’t do a damn thing about it.”

The smile at the corner of her mouth widened, but it clearly hurt. “Ah!” she cried, clutching her cheek again.

This person was just too willful, too full of character. Even with half her face swollen, her light was still dazzling.

            

Xu Jia’er held her face and saw the look of admiration in Anzhi’s eyes. She grew smug again. “I’m handsome, right?”

Anzhi was speechless. “…”

With that face right now, you actually look a little ridiculous…

            

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