Peach-Orange! – Chapter 119 – Tao-Tao, Goodnight

The knife traced the position of the artery on her wrist twice, and Chi Xiaocheng nodded in satisfaction.

She had figured it out.

Just as Dark Xiaocheng had said, as a cannon-fodder side character, if she didn’t tightly control Su Tao, Su Tao would inevitably trigger various plotlines and cause all sorts of trouble.

Under the correction of the world’s will, she would eventually return to the original story’s ending.

And as for her, the cannon fodder, she would gradually fade from Su Tao’s memory.

Just like these past two weeks.

She thought that being obedient would keep Su Tao’s affection.

But she never expected that because she was so well-behaved, Su Tao went off to focus on other matters instead.

If that’s how it is, then she’ll just tie Su Tao firmly to her side!

‘If the normal me can’t make you love me, then surely you’d prefer the twisted version of me, right?’

Just like when I used my acting skills to play the yandere before, that love belongs only to you.’

“So, between me and your fiancé, who would you choose?”

Chi Xiaocheng didn’t act immediately. Instead, she first made arrangements for her “aftermath.”

Chen Qian, Fang Ning, and even her own persona as Dr. Cheng needed to go into seclusion for a while.

When Si Chen received Chi Xiaocheng’s message, he was utterly dumbfounded. “You’re planning to fake your death?”

Chi Xiaocheng: “Yes, is there a problem?”

Si Chen: “How are you planning to fake it?”

Chi Xiaocheng glanced at her wrist and slowly typed out two words.

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Si Chen sucked in a sharp breath, contributing to global warming while also feeling a chill run down his spine.

‘Sis… I’ll call you sis, okay?’

‘Are you sure this counts as faking your death?’

‘The chances of you actually dying are higher than faking it!’

He did want Chi Xiaocheng to act a little crazier so she could secure Su Tao faster and more effectively. Once Su Tao’s war-god father returned, she could immediately help him reclaim his position as the Si family heir.

But he never expected Chi Xiaocheng to go this far!

While he was still stunned, another file was sent over.

Chi Xiaocheng: “This is some information related to Ye Liang. With your methods, you should be able to handle it, right?”

This was something she had prepared long ago based on the original novel’s plot, intending to send it to Si Chen eventually.

Si Chen opened the file with confusion, only for his expression to shift to shock.

These were all loopholes in Ye Liang’s businesses!

Ye Liang’s enterprises were spread far and wide, and there were plenty of vulnerabilities to begin with. Si Chen had already been planning to slowly nibble away at them. Now that Ye Liang was hospitalized, those weaknesses would only grow infinitely larger.

Chi Xiaocheng… Could she actually be preparing for her own death?

If she really died, then this file would be her compensation to him?

Si Chen had originally thought that investing in Chi Xiaocheng was a risky move, and that he’d only see returns at the very end, depending on her mood. Never had he imagined this….

“I misjudged Chi Xiaocheng.” Si Chen lit a cigarette in his office, deeply moved.

His subordinate beside him was also reading the chat logs on the computer. “Young Master, should we adjust our plans sooner?”

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Si Chen stroked his chin, deep in thought. “Indeed. Do you think the words on my back could be gilded?”

If you want the horse to run, you can’t let it go without grass.

Since her relationship with Si Chen was purely transactional, Chi Xiaocheng understood this file was the “grass” to keep him motivated.

Originally, the best fake-death plan in Chi Xiaocheng’s mind was to draw a doppelgänger from the system. If she really died, she could flee to Lizhi City and use the system to help Chi Song and Brother Long expand their influence.

But now, that wasn’t necessary anymore.

“Only when she almost loses me will Tao-Tao cherish me, will she hold onto me tightly.

“Just like back on the rooftop that time.”

Chi Xiaocheng had always believed that out of all the times she had pretended to be a yandere, the rooftop incident left the deepest impression on Su Tao.

‘Since you don’t cherish me, since you don’t love me, then I’ll just leave~’

Chi Xiaocheng pulled out another sheet of paper and gently wrote three large words on it—

To Tao-Tao.

This was a suicide note!

After messing up the living room again, Chi Xiaocheng locked King inside the room and slowly walked to the bathroom alone.

She filled the bathtub with water and lay down in it.

“System, aren’t you going to try and stop me?”

With everything prepared, Chi Xiaocheng held the knife and curiously asked in her mind.

After a long silence, the system slowly replied.

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[Host, I am just a system. I cannot be your partner.]

[No matter what happens, I will always stand by your side.]

“Thank you.”

Chi Xiaocheng lay in the bathtub and slowly closed her crimson, slit-pupiled eyes. The corners of her lips curled into a bewitching smile.

“Well then, Tao-Tao, goodnight~”

Sssk—

Orange juice gradually dyed the bathwater crimson. ……

At that very moment, Su Tao, who had just arrived at the “Sky Pavilion” hotel with Dongfang Yang, suddenly felt a sharp pain in her heart.

She turned her head in panic, staring in the direction of Chi Xiaocheng’s apartment complex.

Dongfang Yang asked beside her, “What’s wrong?”

Su Tao pressed her lips together. “Nothing, just… my chest feels tight.”

She took out her phone and looked at a message sent half an hour ago: “Tao-Tao, when are you coming back?”

At first glance, Su Tao was instantly reminded of that terrifying, chilling scene on the rooftop. Back then, Chi Xiaocheng had also sent her a flood of messages like this.

She had been entangled with Ye Liang at the time and hesitated for too long, nearly causing a tragedy.

If Xiaocheng had mustered the courage to jump back then, everything would have changed.

Because of that, she had replied to the message immediately half an hour ago: she would be back in about an hour.

After what happened today, there was no way she wouldn’t go back to comfort her. She should have gone back with her right after leaving the police station, but she never expected Xiao Ming to seek her out again.

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The jade pendant.

Her father.

The betrothal letter.

And Xiaocheng.

Su Tao’s heart felt suffocating.

The only thing that gave her some relief was that Chi Xiaocheng’s message this time was just a simple question, not like last time when it felt like a horror story with the same phrase repeated endlessly.

Xiaocheng hadn’t replied to her response either. She must have fallen asleep, right?

Dongfang Yang watched Su Tao’s shifting expression and sighed. “If you’re worried about her, then let’s finish things here quickly so you can go back. It’s just a fight. It’s not like she’d do something stupid, right?”

To his surprise, Su Tao nodded seriously this time. “Do you remember what happened on the rooftop last time?”

Dongfang Yang frowned.

Of course he remembered. Chi Xiaocheng had shown self-harm tendencies before. Later analysis suggested it was due to the people around her.

But after the psychological evaluation came out, he realized Chi Xiaocheng herself wasn’t normal to begin with. With her mild dissociative identity disorder, there was no telling what she might do.

Su Tao stared blankly at the unread message from Chi Xiaocheng. “Last time, at Ye Liang’s banquet, it was the same. Xiaocheng sent me tons of messages. When I got back to school, she was already on the rooftop and almost jumped because of me.”

Dongfang Yang clicked his tongue. “You’re nothing like the Su Tao I used to know. Hesitating like this… I can’t even tell what you’re thinking anymore.”

With that, he flicked his coat and strode into the hotel with a dark expression. “Let’s go. I want to see what kind of person this Xiao Ming is, daring to pull out a betrothal letter like this!”