Peach-Orange! – Chapter 130 – An Unexpected Awakening

When anticipating death, people often feel panic, fear, and lingering dread, like standing atop a skyscraper.

The distant view may be breathtaking.

But looking down, most would recoil at the height, imagining their potential fall.

Instinctively stepping back, hearts pounding.

Chi Xiaocheng possessed pain resistance. Even self-inflicted wounds that would cripple others were endurable for her.

With intermediate acting skills, she could even feign illness convincingly.

Yet truly facing death changes one.

She’d assumed she could endure as usual, executing her fake death plan. But as her body chilled, regret and terror surfaced.

Body temperature dropping, weightlessness increasing. Her survival instincts screamed, but weakness immobilized her.

Helplessly feeling life ebb away.

Despite the decoy scarecrow and system safeguards….

Despite this being part of the plan….

In those final moments submerged in freezing water, fear won.

Fear that prolonged coma might let Xiao Ming steal Su Tao away.

Fear the world’s will might alter Su Tao’s storyline in her absence.

Fear her beloved Su Tao would grieve too deeply, her guilt overshadowing any budding affection.

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Would the sachet help?

Man proposes, God disposes.

Chi Xiaocheng could only plan, not guarantee Su Tao’s change of heart.

Still… wouldn’t this “death” make Su Tao cherish her more?

Regret rejecting her confession?

Finally focus on her again, not take her obedience for granted?

But alas—

“Did the fake death… fail?”

Lying hospitalized, Chi Xiaocheng struggled to open eyes. Weakness made even thinking laborious.

Yet spotting the tearful girl at the doorway, two words escaped instinctively: “Tao-Tao….”

Inaudible. Only lip movements visible.

But Su Tao understood.

Tao-Tao.

Even upon waking, she remained Xiaocheng’s first thought.

“Doctor Wang! She’s awake!” Su Tao shouted outside.

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Chi Xiaocheng closed her eyes again.

As consciousness returned, she mentally asked, “System?”

[Host, I’m here]

The emotionless voice carried palpable relief.

“How long was I out?”

“What’s the situation?”

[One night. Fake death failed. Doctors revived you. Decoy unused]

“Such developments….”

Non-medical knowledge limited her planning. She’d only known “biting one’s tongue” kills via blood aspiration, not pain or severance.

Peeking at Su Tao returning with doctors, she wondered: Should I feign amnesia?

Too late, she’d already called out “Tao-Tao.”

Submerged in that tub, only chanting “Tao-Tao” had sustained her.

Facing death isn’t for the faint-hearted.

Doctor Wang examined her. “Miss Chi, if you understand, blink twice.”

Attempting speech failed, so she blinked twice.

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Holding up three fingers: “How many?”

Three blinks.

Even blinking grew arduous.

Dongfang Yang arrived, theatrically extending thumb and pinky, forming the number six. “What number’s this?”

Chi Xiaocheng managed an eye-roll before resting again.

Dongfang Yang slightly panicked. “Doctor, is she… deteriorating?”

Doctor Wang mirrored the eye-roll. “She’s telling you to stop clowning. Please wait outside.”

Their banter eased tensions, but Su Tao’s heart ached seeing Xiaocheng’s pallid immobility.

She slipped both hands under the blankets, clasping Chi Xiaocheng’s icy fingers.

Whether heard or not, she whispered, “Xiaocheng, I’m so sorry. Please recover. Once you do… I’ll agree to anything.”

Su Tao was terrified now.

Not just of Chi Xiaocheng’s twisted love.

But of her giving up entirely.

With preexisting suicidal tendencies, refusal to heal would be catastrophic.

So….

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If confession comes, let it.

If acceptance is demanded, so be it.

Better a clingy Xiaocheng than the nightmare version who sent everyone across the Styx.

Clutching those cold hands, Su Tao missed the faint smile curling Chi Xiaocheng’s lips.

Failed fake death….

But not entirely pointless.

Tao-Tao….

‘Since you said that… I’ll never let go.’

By noon, Chi Xiaocheng still rested.

Su Tao finally stood… only to collapse, exhaustion overwhelming even her resilient physique.

The delayed cold and fever landed her in the adjacent room.

Considering Chi Xiaocheng’s psychological fractures and suicidal risks, Dongfang Yang summoned a renowned specialist.

Unlike gentle Doctor Wang, this professor stormed into Su Tao’s room scolding:

“I’ve heard everything. As her sister, how could you fail her so completely?”