Peach-Orange! – Chapter 107 – When She’s Well-Behaved, She’s Adorable and Warm

The moment Chi Xiaocheng’s gaze shifted there—

The inky-black Xiaocheng sat with hands folded elegantly on her lap, leaning gracefully against the sofa in a black evening gown like aristocratic nobility.

Only her playful smile gradually morphed into mockery.

Noticing Chi Xiaocheng’s dazed expression, Su Tao followed her line of sight toward the sofa. “Xiaocheng, what are you looking at?”

Meeting Su Tao’s gaze, the blackened Xiaocheng cheerfully waved hello.

Chi Xiaocheng gulped before asking slowly, “Tao-Tao… doesn’t it look like there’s someone over by the sofa? Do you see her?”

“Someone?”

Su Tao frowned, looking again. “There’s nobody there.”

Her eyes held growing concern as she studied Chi Xiaocheng.

Blinking, Chi Xiaocheng watched the blackened Xiaocheng wave at Su Tao before vanishing.

She exhaled, rubbing her temples. “Probably just tired from last night’s nightmares. I’m fine.”

“Glad to hear it.”

Su Tao reminded her, “Remember to take your medicine after breakfast. Those cosmetics smeared on your face could cause complications.”

“Got it~”

Reassured, Su Tao began eating her porridge.

The medication wasn’t just for potential skin damage. It secretly contained supplements to stabilize Chi Xiaocheng’s mood and mental state.

She couldn’t reveal this, but treatment couldn’t be delayed.

Breakfast concluded uneventfully until Su Tao received a message from Chen Qian.

Their early-morning professor had taken attendance. Chen Qian and Xiaowei tried to fool him but failed, and now their names graced the dreaded “little black book.”

Rеaⅾ οո KαtRеаdіոgCαfе

Su Tao sighed resignedly.

Chi Xiaocheng glanced up. “What’s wrong, Tao-Tao?”

“Nothing. Got marked absent for skipping class.”

Hearing this, Chi Xiaocheng hung her head. “I’m sorry.”

Rather than blame her, Su Tao asked, “Speaking of which, you’ve skipped weeks of classes. Aren’t you going to fail multiple subjects?”

It was early December. Midterms had passed.

Chi Xiaocheng stiffened, turning away guiltily. “Don’t want to go.”

Classes bored her in her past life, and making friends proved impossible. This lifetime, she couldn’t be bothered.

Such a waste of time.

Su Tao propped her chin on a hand. “Then what do you do instead?”

“Watch Dongfang Yang’s café.”

Su Tao raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“Sometimes… read books.”

Mostly psychology texts.

Noticing her evasiveness, Su Tao pressed further. “Dongfang Yang wouldn’t care if you skipped the café entirely. With all that free time, what else?”

Cornered, Chi Xiaocheng slumped lower. “Some time was… hospital stays. Some was… figuring out how to make money.”

Hospital stays….

Those words silenced Su Tao’s interrogation.

Now that she thought about it, Chi Xiaocheng had spent nearly as much time hospitalized as outside.

Read oո KatRеаԁiոɡСafе

Frequent checkups were routine.

Pursing her lips, Su Tao changed topics. “Never mind that. The snow’s lighter now. Let’s go out.”

“But your class….”

“Already skipped. You’re more important than lectures.”

Warmth blossomed in Chi Xiaocheng’s chest. She immediately dashed to her room. “I’ll change clothes!”

Su Tao felt a similar sweetness.

This was what she wanted. The adorable, well-behaved Xiaocheng.

If only she could stay this innocent forever, without the yandere episodes.

A relaxing outing counted as therapy too.

Mainly, she just wanted to be with her.

Soon, Chi Xiaocheng emerged bundled in a fluffy white coat with fox-fur trim at the collar and cuffs.

Thick wool socks disappeared into brown snow boots adorned with ankle bows.

A sky-blue scarf nestled around her neck, matching the pom-pom hat whose tassels swayed, half-concealing her cute face.

Su Tao’s eyes sparkled. “New clothes?”

Chi Xiaocheng shyly adjusted the oversized coat. “Big brother bought them. The coat’s a bit large.”

Its looseness only accentuated her petite frame.

Unable to resist, Su Tao patted her head. “Adorable.

“But where are your gloves? It’s freezing outside.”

Chi Xiaocheng extended bare hands, flexing fingers. “I don’t need gloves. Holding Tao-Tao’s hand keeps me warm.”

Reаԁ οո КatReαԁіnɡСαfе

“You’re impossible.”

Su Tao took out a single glove from her pocket. “Wear one of mine.”

“And the other hand?”

“That one holds yours.”

The ploy was transparent, yet Su Tao didn’t mind.

Ever since those skin-softening gummies, Chi Xiaocheng’s hands felt impossibly smooth. Su Tao never wanted to let go.

Umbrella raised, they ventured out.

“Tao-Tao, where are we going?”

“That cat café we mentioned.”

Resuming their interrupted date plans.

This time, no emergencies arose.

After pleasant wandering, they arrived.

Closing the umbrella, Chi Xiaocheng noticed: her shoulders bore no snow, while Su Tao’s coat was dusted white.

Shivering, Su Tao held the door open. “Come in, Xiaocheng. It’s really cold out.”

Leaning against the doorframe, she waited like a maid attending her lady.

Personality reveals itself in details.

Su Tao’s thoughtfulness never felt performative.

The longer they spent together, the more Chi Xiaocheng noticed these quiet gestures.

Smiling, she stepped inside.

Rеaⅾ on КαtReаԁіngСafе

A bell chimed. Warmth enveloped them as a voice called, “Welcome to Yang-Yang Cat Café~”

Three girls lounged with various cats, studying or reading.

“Not many visitors in this weather,” one remarked, approaching with a tabby. “Would you like drinks? Complimentary coffee if you’re just warming up.”

Su Tao checked the price list.

30 yuan per hour with cats.

100 yuan for all-day access including snacks, outlets, and unlimited coffee.

She pointed at the sign. “This location’s remote. Can these prices sustain the business?”

The girl chuckled. “Young Master says it’s just for fun. Profit doesn’t matter. All cats here are adoptable too.”

Essentially, a stray cat rescue operation.

Taming strays before matching them with loving homes.

Yang-Yang Cat Café… Dongfang Yang truly lacked naming creativity.

Su Tao had always wanted a cat, but dorms forbade pets.

Tempted, she turned to Chi Xiaocheng. “What do you think?”

Only to find Chi Xiaocheng scanning their surroundings. Waving a hand, Su Tao asked, “Xiaocheng?”

“Huh?” Chi Xiaocheng blinked. “Sorry, what did you say?”

Su Tao tilted her head. “You weren’t listening. What are you searching for?”

Searching for what?

Naturally, that intermittently appearing figure, the pitch-black, gown-clad doppelganger.