Peaches and Plums Don’t Speak – Chapter 26

Beginning to Grow Up (Part 1)

It was the height of summer, the summer light brilliant and vast. Along the road, parasol trees spread in a lush canopy, dappling the pavement with shimmering, oily patches of sun that filtered through the dense leaves.

An orange mountain bike glided down the street, its small pedals pushed by a pair of white sneakers. Above them, two slender, snow-white ankles peeked out from the cuffs of cropped denim-blue jeans.

A breeze swept past, sending a cascade of long, dark hair flying. It caught the sunlight, shimmering with a soft, downy glow. A few strands, pushed by the wind, clung to the girl’s pale cheek and the edge of the dimple that appeared when she smiled.

Anzhi squinted, tilting her head back to feel the warmth of the wind on her face. She gazed up at the deep azure sky and the clouds that drifted like thin gauze.

Another gust billowed her gray T-shirt, the cool air a pleasant relief against her skin.

Summer vacation was the best. The hands of the clock spun quickly; her first year of junior high was already over.

In early June of her second semester of fourth grade, she had taken the city-wide Primary School Promotion Exam.¹ Just as Yan Xi had predicted, she’d passed without any pressure. While she wasn’t the youngest among the students taking the test, her scores were the best. She earned perfect marks in math and English and lost only a single point in language arts, landing her in the city’s top ten. Shida Affiliated Middle School,² a half-hour trip from home, had been quick to recruit her.

But that wasn’t what made Anzhi happiest. During the summer vacation after the exam, she’d had a sudden growth spurt, shooting up from 130cm to her current 150cm. It was as if she had woken up one morning to find her entire field of vision had expanded.

She was now almost tall enough to reach Yan Xi’s shoulder—as long as she wasn’t wearing heels!

Happy! Excited! Thrilled!

Happy, excited, awesome!

Anzhi pushed herself halfway off the seat, pedaling hard to pick up speed. The bike felt like it was about to take flight. She let go of one handlebar, a wide, joyful grin spreading across her face.

“Be careful when you’re riding.”

Yan Xi had bought her the bike a few days ago. Anzhi had been ecstatic when it arrived. Even though it was brand new, she had spent ages wiping it down with a cotton cloth, decorating it with her favorite stickers, and whispering, “From now on, you’re my little bikey.”

Watching from the side, Yan Xi had to suppress a laugh. It seemed that even though she’d grown so much, she still called every vehicle “bikey.”

Remembering Yan Xi’s warning, Anzhi put her hand back on the handlebar. Junior high felt pretty good. She had her own bike, and…

Anzhi felt her pocket. Yan Xi had originally wanted to buy her a new phone, but Anzhi had insisted that her old one would be fine.

So, Yan Xi had given her the old iPhone 5.

Anzhi rode her bike to the mall and parked it.

Outside the hotel coffee shop, by the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Anzhi stood there for a moment, composing herself.

It was around the first semester of seventh grade when Chen Muqi³ had come to see her. He explained that the reason he hadn’t visited during her elementary school years was that he had gone to Japan and had only recently returned. They had met intermittently since then, but there was never much to talk about. He would either give her money, take her out to eat, or take her out to eat and then stuff money into her hands afterward.

This time, however, felt different.

Anzhi had seen it from outside. A woman was sitting next to Chen Muqi. They were leaning in, whispering to each other from time to time, their posture intimate. She walked inside. The cafe’s atmosphere was quiet and elegant, with a woman in a formal gown playing Liszt’s⁴ Liebesträume,⁵ the music intensely lyrical.

Chen Muqi waved her over.

“What would you like to drink?”

“Juice.”

Only after sitting down did Anzhi get a clear look at the woman beside him. Chen Muqi was almost thirty, but the woman looked several years older, her makeup mature and exquisite. Chen Muqi was still dressed casually, as unkempt as ever.⁶ He had gained some fame in recent years, and his paintings were sought after on the market. He himself seemed to have gained a bit more confidence and conviction. The woman, in contrast, wore a tight-fitting top and a high-waisted skirt, her perfume rich and heavy.

From the moment Anzhi sat down, the woman had been observing her with an unreadable expression.⁷

“Oh, this is Auntie Xu.⁸ My girlfriend.”

“Hey, I’m your fiancée, you know! This must be Anzhi, right? Hello.” The woman pouted playfully, her fingers lightly tracing Chen Muqi’s arm.

“Ha, right, right.”

“I could have been ‘Jiejie,’⁹ but now I have to be ‘Auntie.’ It’s all your fault.” The woman continued her playful pouting, drawing circles on his arm with her finger.

“Hahaha!” Chen Muqi didn’t seem to mind at all. He just laughed.

Anzhi took a sip of the juice that had been brought to the table. I would never call you Jiejie. And I don’t care about calling you Auntie, either. I have my own ‘Auntie,’ and she’s just like a big sister. She’s a hundred times prettier than you. No, a million times.

“So, here’s the thing. Auntie Xu and I are planning to travel for our wedding. She kept saying she wanted to meet you, so I asked you to come out. Why don’t you have dinner with us tonight?”

“Yes, Anzhi, you can decide for yourself. What would you like to eat? How about Pizza Hut?”

“Honey, isn’t your stomach sensitive? Pizza is hard to digest. Let’s get something else.”

Auntie Xu smiled, and the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes were visible even through her makeup. “Oh, you…” This time, she poked Chen Muqi’s cheek with her finger. “You’re just too cute. But let’s listen to Anzhi.”

She deliberately lowered her voice, yet just loud enough for Anzhi to hear. “Teenagers these days are all about individuality. They hate it when adults plan everything for them.”

Chen Muqi’s eyes were filled with adoration. “You’re right. You’re just so considerate.”

Anzhi felt that the juice in this cafe was so sickeningly sweet it could make even her back molars sour.¹⁰

Thankfully, her phone rang just then. She picked it up and said she needed to take the call outside. As she turned to leave, she heard Auntie Xu say, “See? She’s so young and already has her own phone…”

Anzhi pursed her lips and walked to a quiet corner.

It was Yan Xi on the phone. “Taotao, where are you?”

Anzhi told her, then added a small complaint. “And they want me to have dinner with them…”

“Don’t pay them any mind,” Yan Xi said. “Just find an excuse and slip away.”

“Mmm…” Anzhi sighed. She shouldn’t have come in the first place. She had absolutely no interest in Chen Muqi. He was clearly head over heels in love. Is this what adults are like when they’re dating?

Yan Xi’s voice was gentle on the other end. “What do you want for dinner? Hmm?”

Anzhi’s lips curled up as she put on a cute, pleading voice. “Auntie, I want to eat pizza for dinner.”

After hanging up, Anzhi’s smile vanished in an instant. She put on a so-called “teenager with individuality” expression and returned to her seat. “I’m not staying for dinner,” she said stiffly. “I have to go home.”

Auntie Xu seemed more than happy to hear it. Chen Muqi started to say something, but the woman quickly changed the subject.

As Anzhi left, the two of them were still stuck together like conjoined twins.¹¹

She watched Chen Muqi from behind. The memory of the first time she met him, when he and Tao Zhenzhen were locked in an argument so intense it couldn’t be unraveled,¹² was still a vivid memory.¹³ Maybe it was because she was older now, but she no longer wasted time thinking about impossible things. She could also sense that Chen Muqi was still not comfortable in the role of “father.” When they were alone, there was always a degree of awkwardness. Perhaps this woman, older and more mature than him, was the one who was truly right for him.

The wind lifted her hair, and a pang of bitterness rose in Anzhi’s heart. She stood there for a moment before letting out a long breath.

The pizza parlor was filled with the rich aroma of cheese and savory meat sauce. The space was large, and though there were many customers, it wasn’t noisy. Yan Xi had ordered two combos.

Liu Yiyi chimed in from the side. “I want the durian one!”

“Taotao and I don’t eat durian. I’ll order a small one just for you.”

“Durian is delicious! Why don’t you and Taotao eat it?” Liu Yiyi said dismissively, setting down her shopping bags. She usually called Anzhi “Little Anzhi,” but this time she had slipped up and, following Yan Xi’s lead, called her “Taotao.” Yan Xi’s elegant brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, but she said nothing. With someone like Liu Yiyi, telling her not to say something would only make her say it more.

Just as the pizzas arrived, Anzhi ran in, her bangs damp with sweat. Her small, translucent face was flushed pink, and tiny beads of perspiration dotted her nose.

“Slow down,” Yan Xi said, pushing an iced Coke toward her. Anzhi took a long sip and beamed a huge smile at her.

“It’s just too hot today,” Liu Yiyi said, glancing at the blazing golden sun outside. The air-conditioned room felt like heaven.

“Eh, it’s not so bad.” The young Anzhi didn’t mind. The wind from riding her bike felt nice, and she was happy.

“Don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen,” Yan Xi reminded her.

“I know,” Anzhi chirped with a sweet smile before running off to wash her hands.

Liu Yiyi grabbed a slice of pizza and took a bite, her mouth filling with the fragrance of cheese. “You really are like her mo—” she mumbled.

Yan Xi shot her a look. “Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

Anzhi’s favorite was the restaurant’s Hawaiian handmade pizza, with Mozzarella cheese, pineapple, ham, and almond slices. For the best texture, the cheese was always grated by hand. Yan Xi liked it too, while Liu Yiyi focused intently on her Durian pizza.

Anzhi’s appetite had grown recently. Yan Xi had specifically ordered two pizzas, but she only ate half a slice before turning to chat with Liu Yiyi. Anzhi, however, ate piece after piece, her cheeks puffed out like a happy little rabbit. Eventually, the two adults stopped talking just to watch her eat.

“What is it?” Anzhi licked her fingers, her expression utterly innocent.

“Little Anzhi, if you keep eating like that, you’re going to turn into a little fatty! Your auntie just bought you new dresses! You won’t be able to fit into them!” Liu Yiyi teased, trying to scare her.

“No, I won’t! I’m not like you. I don’t get fat when I eat!” Anzhi picked up the last slice and stuck her tongue out at her. Then, with a loud om nom,¹⁴ she took a huge bite, stretching the cheese out just to show her.

Liu Yiyi was speechless.

Yan Xi chuckled softly.

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