Peach-Orange! – Chapter 145 – Misunderstanding

“Hum hum hum~ hum hum hum~”

The vibration and ringing of her phone pulled Su Tao from her exhausted slumber.

The moment she heard the ringtone, she jolted upright in bed, her body tensing.

Unlike her WeChat notifications, this wasn’t just any song or melody. It was something much older, dating back to her early high school days.

One morning, she had accidentally overheard Chi Xiaocheng humming a few notes.

The voice was delicate and clear, instantly refreshing her spirits. Not wanting to disturb Chi Xiaocheng, she had secretly recorded the melody amidst the sound of the wind.

Ever since, this ringtone had become a source of comfort, reminding her of simpler, happier times in the countryside.

And of the best version of Chi Xiaocheng from those memories.

In the original novel, this very melody had given Su Tao the courage to persevere through hardships.

But now, hearing it only made her imagine Chi Xiaocheng standing before her, humming a farewell song while holding that blood-stained fruit knife.

It was terrifying.

After calming herself, Su Tao glanced around, confirming that Chi Xiaocheng wasn’t around, and answered the call.

The caller was a coworker from the snack store, another freshman like her. Timid and socially anxious, she was easy to get along with.

She had been the one covering Su Tao’s shift during her leave.

Su Tao had no idea why she was calling, but with Chi Xiaocheng absent, she had to answer quickly.

Before she could even speak, her coworker’s panicked voice came through:

“Tao-Tao! You finally picked up! Where are you? That ‘Orange’ of yours just caused a scene at the store. There’s so much red everywhere!”

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“Red?”

Su Tao’s mind buzzed. She threw off the blankets and rushed to the living room. Chi Xiaocheng was nowhere to be seen.

She had gone to Su Tao’s workplace?

“What happened?!” Su Tao demanded.

“I-I don’t know,” the coworker stammered. “She brought some people upstairs to see Manager Long. Then there were screams and fighting… I peeked and saw red all over the floor!”

“I… I didn’t know what to do. She is really important to you, right? Should… should I call the police?”

Su Tao’s thoughts flashed back to the phone call she and Chi Xiaocheng had taken earlier.

Even though it had just been a call, Long Mian had berated Su Tao right in front of Chi Xiaocheng.

And now, because of that, Chi Xiaocheng had gone to her workplace to make trouble?

“What’s happening now?” Su Tao pressed.

“She already left with those people, but she left one big guy behind. He… he warned me not to call the police. I… I don’t know what to do.”

“What about Manager Long? Does anyone else know?”

“The big guy took a mop upstairs. I… Aah! H-He’s looking at me! I gotta go!”

Before Su Tao could say more, the call ended with a sharp click.

Red stains everywhere. A man with a mop. And—

Su Tao’s gaze snapped to the coffee table in the living room.

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The fruit knife was gone, leaving only its sheath behind.

There was no doubt in her mind what the obsessive Chi Xiaocheng had done.

Her worst fears painted vivid images in her head. She grabbed her coat and headed for the door.

But as the icy wind slapped her face, she hesitated.

‘Can I really go out?’

The hallway had surveillance cameras. Would Chi Xiaocheng check them? If she left now and crossed paths with Chi Xiaocheng on her way back. What then?

Her thoughts tangled, and fear took hold.

The foot she had stepped forward with slowly retreated.

This apartment was like the protective circle Sun Wukong had drawn for Tang Sanzang. ¹ Another Journey to the West reference. Off the top of my memory, Sun Wukong drew a protecting circle for Tang Sanzang (his master), but Tang Sanzang was then tricked by a demon to leave the circle and get abducted (since his flesh supposedly grants immortality) She had every reason to stay inside.

But if she didn’t leave, what would Chi Xiaocheng do next?

Su Tao stood frozen at the door, her already pale face growing even paler in the cold wind.

Another call snapped her out of it.

This time, it was Chen Qian.

“Su Tao! Where are you?! Didn’t you keep an eye on Chi Xiaocheng? She went after your advisor! She’s causing a huge scene in the office, security’s there, even the higher-ups are involved!”

A thunderclap seemed to explode in Su Tao’s mind, the shockwaves reverberating endlessly.

She remembered something she had once read:

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An extreme yandere will interfere in their loved one’s life to possess them completely.

They’ll ruin their life, eliminate everyone else, until the only person left in their world is themselves.

Memories of that lucid dream flooded back.

In it, hadn’t Chi Xiaocheng systematically removed everyone from Su Tao’s life?

Secretly isolating her, ensuring she had no one else to rely on… until only Chi Xiaocheng remained.

All to create a world where the two of them depended solely on each other.

First, it was Long Mian and her advisor. Next, would it be Chen Qian, Xiao Wei, Si Chen, or Dongfang Yang?

Everyone she knew?

No matter how much Su Tao tried to deny it, a voice in her head screamed:

Chi Xiaocheng is already interfering in my life!

Su Tao clutched her head, agony threatening to split her skull apart.

If Chi Xiaocheng was already tearing her life apart, what would she do next?

Would she come home with that same innocent, cheerful smile, acting like nothing had happened?

Could Su Tao really do as Si Chen said, accept everything about her, love everything about her?

Even if it meant letting her hurt everyone around her?

Questions swirled with no answers in sight.

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Like? Love? Comfort?

Negative emotions gnawed at her sanity.

How could she possibly think straight now?

Instinct whispered that maybe she should just give in.

No matter how terrifying Chi Xiaocheng acted, if she obeyed unconditionally, maybe she could still find care beneath that twisted love.

Just as her thoughts threatened to consume her, Chi Xiaocheng returned.

Just as Su Tao had imagined, wearing that same harmless, adorable smile.

“Tao-Tao, you’re awake? I bought some fish. How about fish soup for dinner?”

Like a doting wife returning home to cook, her cute face brimming with anticipation.

Of course, that was if you ignored the glowing crimson slits of her pupils.

The Cat Eyes skill instilled fear and pressure in anyone who met her gaze. Even Su Tao wasn’t immune to its passive effect.

Who would believe this sweet-looking little girl had just been wielding a knife outside?

‘What happened to Long Mian?’

‘Is my advisor okay?’

‘How did the school handle this?’

‘Has Chi Xiaocheng’s yandere side gotten even worse?’