Peaches and Plums Don’t Speak – Chapter 69
by Little PandaRomance Film
For the next few days, Anzhi felt a bit uncomfortable around Xu Jia’er. Xu Jia’er, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened. She continued to joke and chat with her, poking her back when she was bored, without any hint of ambiguity. She continued to be liked by the other girls in their grade and continued to receive everyone else’s jealousy.
Anzhi gradually relaxed. With the final exams approaching, she focused on reviewing her lessons and temporarily pushed the matter aside. Someone as cheerful, lively, and outstanding as Xu Jia’er is probably just experiencing a momentary surge of youthful impulsiveness, she thought. Her feelings for me will likely pass very soon.
The weather this winter was not very good. Early in the morning, as Yan Xi went to work, it started to drizzle. After parking her car, she accidentally stepped into a small puddle by the side of the road. Then, her right eyelid twitched1 several times.
A bad premonition. Unease settled in her chest.
However, the entire morning passed peacefully. With the end of the year approaching, the television station’s Entertainment Channel was incredibly busy. She handled it all with ease, even finding the time to stop and drink a hot beverage. Even the weather did not worsen; the rain didn’t grow any heavier.
Yan Xi’s mood had just settled slightly, thinking she had just been overthinking things. Just then, a phone call came in. Before the caller even finished speaking, Yan Xi rushed out of her office. Her face was pale as she said, “Wait a moment. At your hospital? Okay, I’m heading over right now.”
She sprinted a few hurried steps before remembering she hadn’t taken her car keys. She hurriedly ran back to the office, grabbed the car keys from her desk, and left.
“Wait, Yan Xi.” Liao Chengyu chased after her. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
“Oh… please help me ask for a leave of absence. I need to go to the hospital,” Yan Xi said to him, struggling to maintain her composure.
“Wait, the hospital? Okay, okay, no problem. Don’t worry, go ahead.” Liao Chengyu nodded and walked into the office.
Yan Xi took a few quick steps. A moment later, Liao Chengyu caught up from behind and grabbed her arm.
Yan Xi turned back and looked at him in confusion. His expression was resolute. “I’ll go with you. You’re in no condition to drive right now.” He took the car keys from her hand. “I’ll take you.”
He took the lead, his footsteps very steady. Yan Xi stood frozen in place for several seconds until Liao Chengyu asked, “Which hospital?”
“Oh…” Seeing her looking blank, Liao Chengyu simply grabbed her arm again. “Let’s go.”
It was Yan Yinan on the phone. When Grandfather Yan woke up this morning, he had felt unwell—dizzy and tight in the chest. Just as he went to get his medicine and twisted the bottle open, he suddenly collapsed onto the floor and fainted. Fortunately, Auntie Xin had promptly notified everyone. He was currently being examined at the hospital, and they didn’t know the specific situation yet.
Yan Xi was terrified the entire way. She could remain calm no matter what she encountered, but her grandparents were her weakness. She was most afraid of something happening to the elders in her family, especially since Grandfather Yan had developed high blood pressure in recent years and his heart wasn’t doing well either. He was already eighty years old. An elderly person of his age was most vulnerable to accidents, most vulnerable to…
“Don’t worry. Don’t scare yourself before we know anything,” Liao Chengyu comforted her gently, driving the car steadily and quickly.
Yan Xi let out a breath.
Once they arrived at the hospital, Liao Chengyu told her to go inside first while he parked the car. Yan Xi didn’t stand on ceremony, jogging all the way in her high heels.
Yan Yinan was already waiting for her on the first floor. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Grandfather woke up and is undergoing an examination.”
“He’s really fine? Is his blood pressure normal now? And what about Grandmother? She must have been terrified.”
“We haven’t dared to let Grandmother know yet. Auntie Xin is keeping her company at home. I’ve already called First Brother to tell him the situation. When he fainted, he fell and sprained his leg a bit. But it’s okay, it’s okay. Calm down first, your face is completely white.”
“I have to go take care of a few things; I’ll come back in a bit,” Yan Yinan added.
Yan Xi arrived at the ward. Opening the door and walking in, she forced a small smile onto her face. “Grandfather…”
Grandfather Yan was sitting up in bed, his leg propped up.
“Why did Xiao Wu come over? Grandfather is fine.” Grandfather Yan smiled. However, because of his advanced age, his face was exhausted and his smile was weak.
“It’s nothing, really.” Yan Xi walked over and sat down. “How are you feeling?”
Yan Yixi and Xiao Yutong were both in the room. Xiao Yutong said to Yan Xi, “Xiao Wu, try to persuade Grandfather. The doctor wants him to stay in the hospital for observation and do a full-body checkup, but the old man just refuses.”
Grandfather Yan laughed. “There was nothing wrong in the first place. I just fell down. These old bones of mine are still okay—nothing broken, nothing fractured. Why should I stay in the hospital? Besides, didn’t I just have a full-body checkup last year?”
“That won’t do. You have to stay and get examined,” Yan Xi insisted.
“Your grandmother is still waiting for me at home. If she doesn’t see me, she’s going to throw a little temper tantrum later,” Grandfather Yan chuckled.
The younger generation fell silent. They all knew how deeply the two elders loved each other; they couldn’t bear to be apart for even a moment. This was especially true because Grandmother Yan’s memory had deteriorated severely in recent years. Most of the time, she only recognized Grandfather Yan.
“Just stay for one night and get checked out. I’ll go home and keep Grandmother company tonight,” Yan Xi pleaded.
Grandfather Yan patted her hand and was just about to say something when Yan Yinan’s voice drifted in from outside the door. “Huh? Who are you? Are you my Second Brother’s friend?”
Then Yan Xi heard Liao Chengyu’s voice. “I’m Yan Xi’s colleague. I heard her family member was hospitalized…”
Before he could finish, Yan Yinan raised his voice. “Xiao Wu’s colleague?! Ah, come in, come in! I’m her Third Brother!”
Before Yan Xi could say anything, Yan Yinan brought him inside. Now, everyone in the room—including Yan Yixi, who hadn’t spoken since Yan Xi arrived—turned to give him their undivided attention.
Liao Chengyu froze for a moment upon entering, looking slightly awkward. Fortunately, his years of professional experience came to his rescue. He revealed a polite smile and introduced himself. “Hello, everyone. My name is Liao Chengyu.”
Yan Xi smoothly picked up from his introduction. “This is my colleague. He’s the one who drove me here.”
Liao Chengyu said, “Yes. I parked the car and brought your keys over to you.”
“Ohhh…” the group drew out the syllable knowingly.
Left with no other choice, Yan Xi could only introduce them one by one. “This is my grandfather, my Eldest Sister-in-law, my Second Brother, and my Third Brother.”
Liao Chengyu nodded and greeted each of them in turn.
Grandfather Yan had clearly perked up, exchanging quite a few words with him. Watching this unfold, Yan Xi sighed inwardly.
“Grandfather!” Yan Xi tugged on Grandfather Yan’s sleeve. Unconsciously, she softened her voice, acting like a spoiled child2.
Grandfather Yan looked at her in amusement. “What are you doing? You must have learned this trick from Xiao Anzhi, hahahaha!”
Yan Xi paused, a flash of mild embarrassment crossing her face. “Grandfather!”
Grandfather Yan laughed heartily. “Alright, alright, this trick is still effective. I promise you, I’ll stay in the hospital tonight.”
“Then I’ll keep my word too. I’ll go back there tonight and keep Grandmother company. You don’t need to worry,” Yan Xi smiled.
This was the first time he had seen such a childish side to her. Liao Chengyu watched her in silence.
Having secured Grandfather Yan’s promise, Yan Xi relaxed. The younger generation divided up the tasks: she would go home first, Xiao Yutong would stay a bit longer, and the two Yan brothers would remain at the hospital.
Liao Chengyu walked her to the hospital parking lot. Before she could speak, he smiled and said, “I know. I’ll help you ask for the whole day off.”
Yan Xi looked slightly embarrassed. “Thank you.”
Liao Chengyu added, “You should head back now. I can just catch a cab.”
Feeling even more apologetic, Yan Xi nodded and thanked him again.
Liao Chengyu fell silent for two seconds before calling her name. “Yan Xi.” His voice was rich and mellow; when he said her name, it carried a natural depth of affection.
Sensing something in his tone, Yan Xi looked up at him.
Anzhi got off the bus and sprinted toward the hospital. She ran like the wind to the entrance of the registration hall, but suddenly retreated.
Out of the corner of her eye, she had caught a glimpse of a familiar figure. Stepping back to take a closer look, she confirmed it was indeed Yan Xi. But the person beside her…
Anzhi’s face darkened.
She was all too familiar with that man.
Anzhi pressed her lips together, watching them.
The man suddenly placed his hand on Yan Xi’s shoulder and said a whole bunch of things to her. Anzhi furrowed her brows. She couldn’t hear them, and she would be discovered if she got any closer. She stared intently at Yan Xi. Yan Xi wasn’t smiling. Her expression was vague; Anzhi couldn’t read it, but she seemed slightly shaken. She said something back to him. The man smiled dismissively, opening the car door for her with the utmost gentlemanly grace. As the car drove off, he stood there, seemingly watching it leave with deep affection.
Anzhi’s chest felt unbearably tight. It was as if she had swallowed a massive boulder whole—she could neither digest it nor spit it back out.
She absolutely refused to admit that the scene she had just witnessed looked exactly like a shot from a romance movie!
With great difficulty, she managed to collect herself. She entered the hospital and made her way to Grandfather Yan’s ward. Just as she was about to knock, Xiao Yutong’s excited voice slipped out through the partially open door. “That guy earlier said he was Xiao Wu’s colleague, but my guess is he’s her boyfriend.”
“Oh, really?” came Grandfather Yan’s voice.
“Isn’t it obvious? Grandfather, look at our Xiao Wu. She’s always been so independent and capable. But this time, this ‘colleague’ drove her here, and she even brought him upstairs to introduce him to us. If he isn’t her boyfriend, he must at least be someone extremely important to her!”
“Agreed! That guy clearly has intentions toward Xiao Wu. We’re both men; I understood it the moment I saw him!” Yan Yinan chimed in.
“Since Xiao Wu hasn’t said anything, I’ll reserve my judgment.” Although Grandfather Yan said this, even Anzhi, standing outside the door, could hear the deep sense of relief and gratification in his voice.
“I heard from Yiyi that this Mr. Liao has been pursuing Yan Xi for a long time. He’s quite steady, reliable, and overall a good guy.” Yan Yixi kept his words concise. Because he rarely ever voiced his opinions, his statement carried an incredibly high degree of credibility.
“Oh, see! I told you, Grandfather!” Xiao Yutong said gleefully.
Grandfather Yan laughed. “That’s wonderful, that’s wonderful!”
Anzhi bit her lip and sank weakly into a crouch.
Footnotes
- In traditional Chinese belief, a twitching eyelid—especially the right eye—is often considered an omen of impending misfortune or bad luck.
- Original: sājiāo. A culturally specific behavior where someone acts overly cute, pouty, or affectionately whiny to coax or charm someone into getting their way.
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