Peach-Orange! – Chapter 110 – Accumulated Unease

Over the next several days, Chi Xiaocheng settled into a routine.

Chi Song had left, leaving her two thousand yuan for living expenses.

Her days consisted of visiting Dongfang Yang’s café in the mornings, returning home to idle in her room during afternoons, and having dinner with Su Tao in the evenings.

Choosing not to overplay her yandere persona, she used Dr. Cheng’s alias less frequently, citing busyness as the reason for reduced contact with Su Tao.

No longer actively interfering in Su Tao’s life.

No longer forcing certain choices upon her.

Occasional updates came voluntarily from Chen Qian.

The pitch-black Xiaocheng, whether hallucination or reality, only appeared in the quiet of night, always in that elegant gown.

Not speaking, not pressuring, not tempting.

Like adding warmth to an empty, cold house.

Or perhaps a constant reminder that Su Tao was drifting further away.

This mundane routine continued for nearly two weeks. With unavoidable high expenses even when staying home, Chi Xiaocheng began using her hacking skills to earn money.

Naturally, with just a basic hacker toolkit, she avoided illegal activities, only strengthening firewalls for companies or protecting individuals from doxxing.

Taking small online gigs.

Earning a few hundred to a thousand weekly.

Enough to sustain even daily takeout.

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December 20th.

Temperatures neared zero. Under relentless snowfall, frost etched intricate patterns across the windows.

News reports alternated between traffic accidents and gas explosions caused by the extreme weather.

A phone rang. Chi Xiaocheng, holding King, saw another message from Chen Qian.

“Damn, that Lin woman came for Su Tao again! This time even the dean got involved!

“If Dongfang Yang hadn’t backed Su Tao, the dean wouldn’t have helped! They almost came to blows this morning.”

Chi Xiaocheng quickly typed, “Is Tao-Tao hurt?”

Chen Qian: “No, but that Lin bitch was so aggressive. Kinda reminded me of my old self. So gross.”

Relieved, a fleeting crimson glint surfaced then vanished in Chi Xiaocheng’s eyes.

Familiar with the novel’s early arcs, she knew this “Lin” character.

Lin Fangya, an overlooked daughter from a mid-tier Jiuzhou family.

Unlike Chi Xiaocheng, who had complex ties to Su Tao even as an antagonist, Lin Fangya existed purely as cannon fodder for face-slapping scenes.

Initially aggressive, pulling stunts before getting thoroughly humiliated by the female lead.

Unfavored at home, Lin Fangya had once met Ye Liang at a banquet, hoping to climb socially through him.

Her pursuit failed. In the original plot, she targeted Su Tao out of jealousy.

Now, with Ye Liang hospitalized, Lin Fangya naturally fixated on Su Tao, harassing her daily.

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This was a romance novel world. The female lead’s path couldn’t be smooth.

The black-gowned doppelganger materialized nearby, asking curiously, “This Lin Fangya dares bully your Su Tao. Why not eliminate her?”

Before, Chi Xiaocheng would’ve raged.

To maintain her yandere act, she’d engraved “Tao-Tao is mine” into her psyche, flaunting pathological possessiveness to monopolize Su Tao’s attention.

But now, Chi Xiaocheng remained unmoved. “Tao-Tao didn’t tell me because she doesn’t want me worrying or involved.

“That side character can’t hurt Tao-Tao.”

That was key.

Just cannon fodder destined to be humiliated within fifty chapters.

Arbitrary interference would only upset Su Tao.

The specter chuckled lightly, not pressing further.

Instead, she studied the door Chi Xiaocheng hadn’t crossed in ten days.

Did she think staying home and playing the obedient pet could truly keep someone?

What if one day that door brought bad news?

Masks remain masks!

Evening, Su Tao arrived as promised.

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But unusually, she clutched her arm, crimson droplets staining her sleeve and dripping onto the floor.

Grimacing in suppressed pain, she leaned against the door after entering. “Xiaocheng, could you get the antiseptic and gauze?”

Rushing to fetch the first-aid kit, she asked, “Tao-Tao, what happened?

“Who hurt you?”

Her voice trembled with barely contained fury.

Su Tao blinked, forcing a strained smile. “The elevator was stuck upstairs. I didn’t want to wait to see you, so I took the stairs and fell.”

With Chi Xiaocheng’s help, she expertly disinfected and bandaged the wound.

Yet it looked nothing like a fall.

If she fell, why were her clothes clean?

Curious, Chi Xiaocheng asked directly. “This doesn’t seem like a fall. You can tell me anything.”

Su Tao shook her head, smiling. “Really, I’m fine. This won’t even scar. It’ll heal soon.”

“Okay….”

Chi Xiaocheng’s mood dimmed slightly.

The blackened figure reappeared, crouching beside her to examine Su Tao’s arm.

Without hearing, Chi Xiaocheng knew the taunts, “Hiding things from you” and such.

She chose to trust Su Tao.

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If Su Tao wouldn’t tell, she wouldn’t pry.

Su Tao swiftly changed topics. “Xiaocheng, are you free this weekend?”

“Weekend?”

“December 25th. I borrowed a car from Dongfang Yang. Once I get my license on the 24th, let’s go for a drive? I have a surprise for you.”

“Surprise?” Chi Xiaocheng perked up. “What is it?”

Su Tao waved a finger. “Then it wouldn’t be a surprise~ But I’ve prepared it carefully.”

Leaning in eagerly, Chi Xiaocheng asked, “Is it a reward for me being good lately?”

Su Tao paused.

Then smiled softly. “You could say that.”

Suddenly, renewed conviction suppressed the unease.

Chi Xiaocheng shot a triumphant look at the specter.

‘See? Tao-Tao still cares.’

Her spirits lifted. “Then Tao-Tao, will you stay tonight?”

Su Tao averted her gaze. “Sorry, Xiaocheng…. I have other things to do today.”