Peach-Orange! – Chapter 128 – A Yandere’s Love Is Fatal

“I like you, Ye Liang.”

“Sure, I accept.”

Ye Liang’s wicked grin mirrored the moment he’d later revealed his true nature, attempting to devour them both in the snow.

Before Su Tao could react, Chi Xiaocheng continued, “Then Ye Liang, come to my place, okay?”

With that single “Okay,” the two walked off into the sunset, leaving Su Tao standing frozen in place.

Dumbfounded.

“No… this can’t be right?

“Why would Ye Liang agree? He told me before how much he despised Xiaocheng.

“Wasn’t Xiaocheng confessing to Ye Liang for my sake? Wasn’t she manipulated by Zeng Xiuhua? To make Ye Liang stay away from me?

“But why bring him home?

“That’s our place! Just ours!”

This deviation from reality sent Su Tao rushing after them.

She’d assumed Chi Xiaocheng was only playacting the confession and would clash with Ye Liang.

Instead, Xiaocheng chatted and laughed with him!

Hands behind their backs, radiating sweetness.

Meanwhile, Ye Liang’s expression grew increasingly possessive.

A preposterous sense of crisis seized Su Tao.

As if Xiaocheng might truly be stolen away.

‘That’s my Xiaocheng!’

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Moreover, her opinion of Ye Liang had been permanently tarnished by his betrayal in the snow.

Following them home with trepidation, Su Tao watched Ye Liang step inside—

Then the situation nosedived.

She’d expected Ye Liang to replace her in Xiaocheng’s life. Instead, the moment he entered, a knife greeted him!

Su Tao recognized it instantly—

Their household fruit knife. The same one Chi Xiaocheng had left in the bathroom that night.

“Schlick—”

Xiaocheng stood with her back to Ye Liang. The blade plunged in clean, emerged red.

She pinned him down, stabbing mechanically—

Once. Twice. Thrice.

His face rapidly became unrecognizable. An eyeball flew loose during the frenzy, rolling to Su Tao’s feet as if glaring accusingly.

“Tao-Tao is mine…”

“Tao-Tao is mine.”

“Tao-Tao is mine!”

Gradually, the words blurred into white noise. The visceral horror overwhelmed even Su Tao’s nausea at the crimson scene.

Eventually, Chi Xiaocheng stuffed Ye Liang into the freezer’s bottom compartment. After soaking in the bathtub, she reemerged with angelic innocence and ventured out.

The once-clear water now swirled with faint pink.

The pattern repeated when she approached Dongfang Yang: “Dongfang Yang, I like you!”

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“Hah? You think this young master would fancy some dumb shortstack? But since you’re inviting me over, I’ll humor you. Wouldn’t want rumors about me being unapproachable.”

Ye Liang’s fate replayed before Su Tao’s eyes.

Perhaps because Xiaocheng somewhat liked Dongfang Yang, she granted the tsundere a quick end without torment.

Another bath followed. The tub grew redder.

Chi Xiaocheng: “Si Chen, I like you!”

Si Chen calmly removed his shirt, revealing the words “Never Love Tao” branded glowing gold on his back.

Then he joined the freezer collection, one shelf above Ye Liang.

Three consecutive victims, all initially close to Su Tao, all once “liked” by Chi Xiaocheng.

As a spectral observer, Su Tao could only watch, petrified into silence.

Reason danced on fraying strings.

Yet the nightmare continued despite her terror.

Chen Qian was easily lured home.

Xiaowei slept eternally mid-nap.

Every friend, mentor, acquaintance, gradually erased or eternally separated.

Meanwhile, dream-Su Tao remained blissfully unaware, doted on by an ever-sweet Xiaocheng.

The bathtub’s water, after countless rinses, had deepened to the same crimson hue Su Tao witnessed tonight.

The only difference? No body occupied it.

By the dream’s end, no companions surrounded Su Tao.

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Yet she felt no loneliness, for Xiaocheng’s love filled the void.

Exactly as Su Tao had wished: Chi Xiaocheng became obedient, adorable, unproblematic, never jealous.

No more episodes. Just idyllic daily happiness.

Until the final moment.

From her detached vantage, Su Tao saw the murderous Xiaocheng suddenly turn—

And flash a grotesque, twisted smile directly at her.

“Tao-Tao, I love you!”

Terror spiked like needles down her spine. Su Tao jolted awake, bangs plastered to her sweaty forehead.

Gasping, she found every sensory detail horrifyingly vivid.

Dazed eyes scanned the room.

Only upon confirming reality did she collapse back onto the pillow.

Dawn hadn’t broken.

Sleep now seemed impossible.

Muffled beneath the blankets, endless “I’m sorry”s escaped her lips.

She understood now: the Xiaocheng in her dream represented the yandere’s fully realized form.

The real Xiaocheng still lay hospitalized, as if having entrusted this nightmare to her.

—I love you. Then and now, I’ve always loved you.

—So why did you abandon me?

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—Why? Why? Why?

Her whispered apologies provided meager comfort.

Exhaustion weighed heavily until Qian Qing knocked.

Disheveled, Su Tao asked, “Miss Qian? Is something wrong?”

Yawning, Qian Qing tossed an orange-patterned sachet onto the bed. “Your roommate Chen Qian came by in the middle of the night. Said this might help you sleep.”

After a hesitant pause, she added, “Don’t overthink it. Get some rest,” before leaving.

4 AM. Winter nights stretched endlessly.

Su Tao stared at the sachet before clutching it desperately, burying her nose in its familiar fragrance like a lifeline.

“Xiaocheng….”

Tears fell anew.

Now she understood why the sachet’s scent had always felt comforting, soothing, beloved.

It was Chi Xiaocheng’s essence.

Identical.

The person who terrified her was Chi Xiaocheng.

Yet ultimately, the one sustaining her was also Chi Xiaocheng.

How laughable.

With a self-mocking smile, Su Tao tightened her grip—

And never let go.