Peach-Orange! – Chapter 140 – After Intersecting, Straight Lines Diverge

Su Tao’s ears were ringing, her mind echoing with Chi Xiaocheng’s shouted words.

‘Was I being dismissive?’

No.

Whether it was her psychological care for Chi Xiaocheng or racking her brains to find a solution to her yandere tendencies—

She had recorded every method suggested by multiple doctors, even from an online friend Chengcheng, along with precautions, in her phone.

Normally, she didn’t browse forums or discussion boards, but lately, she had even joined some online communities for yandere enthusiasts.

All to understand Chi Xiaocheng’s condition and find the right remedy.

When it came to this, she was utterly serious.

Even emotionally, she had never been dismissive.

What she had to force herself to do, she steeled herself to do.

Like drinking orange juice over and over.

She wasn’t being dismissive. She was avoiding.

She knew this well, but how could she explain it to Chi Xiaocheng?

Her lips parted, but no words came out.

Meanwhile, Chi Xiaocheng stepped closer, step by step.

The gleaming fruit knife in her hand looked terrifying. To an outsider, it might seem like she was about to slash Su Tao at any moment.

But Chi Xiaocheng would never do that.

She would never hurt her Tao-Tao.

She was just recalling the rejection on the broken bridge, pouring out her dissatisfaction and despair to Su Tao.

“How many times, Tao-Tao?

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“From the beginning until now, how many times have you said you liked me? And how many of those were sincere?

“You rejected my confession! You kept saying you liked me, but dodged my questions.

“And after leaving the police station? You knew I was scared, knew I was heartbroken, kept saying you cared, but what did you do?

“You went to your fiancé. The moment he came back, you went to him!

“You betrayed our promise. How can you still smile and say you like me?”

As she spoke, a tear rolled down Chi Xiaocheng’s cheek, her smile heartbreaking. “Tao-Tao, did you forget? We pinky-swore.”

The moment Dark Xiaocheng left, Chi Xiaocheng had realized.

This idea of slowly winning Tao-Tao over, pretending to be well-behaved to make her fall in love—

It was impossible!

If she didn’t hold onto Tao-Tao, she would leave for all sorts of reasons, eventually forgetting her.

“So, Tao-Tao.”

Chi Xiaocheng wiped her tears with the back of her hand, then smiled again. “After this incident, after nearly dying, I understood what I wanted. I want you by my side forever, and the best way to do that is….

“To possess you completely!”

Was she pressuring her?

No. She was just showing her true self and voicing her thoughts.

Chi Xiaocheng turned and picked up the cup of crimson orange juice.

Holding it out to Su Tao, she said, “Here, Tao-Tao. Drink this, and I’ll forgive you a little.”

Now, how will you avoid this?

Su Tao pressed against the kitchen’s glass door, her gaze complicated as she stared at Chi Xiaocheng, one hand hidden behind her back trembling uncontrollably.

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The feeling Chi Xiaocheng gave her now could be summed up in one word:

Alien.

If the well-behaved Xiaocheng still faintly resembled the girl from her childhood… then this Chi Xiaocheng, with crimson pupils and undisguised possessiveness, had completely severed ties with that past.

No….

Not just now. Since the basement, the her in memory and the her in reality had grown further and further apart.

Orange juice….

Was there really no escaping this curse?

Su Tao reached out, her hand shaking as she took the cup of bright red juice.

She had no choice.

All that talk about not provoking Xiaocheng….

She had already been on the path to darkness from the very beginning.

Fear and rejection surged in her heart again, just like—

“Not going to drink?”

A soft voice whispered in her ear.

Yes, just like on the rooftop that day.

Chi Xiaocheng’s knife was already raised high. No one could guess which part of her she’d release the next batch of “orange juice” from.

Su Tao gave a strained, near-breaking smile. “Xiaocheng, if I drink this, will you listen to me?”

“No.”

Chi Xiaocheng’s refusal was firm.

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Su Tao’s lips trembled. “Why? I’ve always preferred the more well-behaved you. That’s absolutely not a lie.”

“And it’s true.” Chi Xiaocheng chuckled. “But the well-behaved Xiaocheng is gone. You chose this, didn’t you, Tao-Tao?”

Yes, it was all her choice.

She hadn’t cherished those two weeks of Xiaocheng’s obedience.

Seeing Chi Xiaocheng raise the knife again, Su Tao gritted her teeth, lifted the cup, and gulped down the juice.

Gulp—gulp—

Her throat moved as the red liquid in the cup slowly diminished.

Su Tao’s brows furrowed tightly. Before she could even finish, her legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees, gasping for air.

Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting—

Hateful, hateful, hateful—

No matter how many times, the taste of this “orange juice” was nauseating.

Was there really any hope left for treating Xiaocheng like this?

Su Tao turned her head and saw Chi Xiaocheng kneeling beside her at some point, her voice filled with pity.

“Tao-Tao, you’ve always hated orange juice, haven’t you?

“I know. Every time you drink it, you look like you’re suffering, yet you force yourself to say you like it.

“I don’t mind the fake affection that comes from hatred.

Chi Xiaocheng cupped Su Tao’s face, her lips curling. “Good girls get rewards.”

“Mmph—!”

Su Tao’s eyes widened.

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But when that sweetness flooded in, washing away the taste of orange juice, she couldn’t resist.

She even closed her eyes instinctively and kissed back.

She had no idea how much time passed before Chi Xiaocheng finally pulled away, effortlessly lifting her limp body.

“If Tao-Tao is tired, rest for a bit.”

Chi Xiaocheng placed Su Tao on the sofa, then fetched the first-aid kit and casually stuck a few bandages on herself.

She paid no attention to Su Tao’s pained, conflicted expression.

Because Chi Xiaocheng had decided that no matter what sweet words Su Tao said, she wouldn’t change her mind.

She wouldn’t go back to being the obedient Xiaocheng.

‘If you’re going to like me, like me as I am now!’

‘No, you have to like me as I am now!’

Obsessive. Pathological.

Lost in it herself, Chi Xiaocheng had forgotten something fundamental.

Could such heaviness and pain really make someone fall in love?

She turned her back to Su Tao, putting the first-aid kit away. But when she turned around, she found Su Tao looking at her too.

Their eyes met briefly.

Then both looked away.

Like two straight lines that had once intersected—

After crossing, they could only grow further apart.