Peach-Orange! – Chapter 151 – This Time, I Can’t Obey You

Glass shards danced in the air, bright orange juice blooming like flowers. To Su Tao, everything around her seemed to slow down.

The glass hit the floor with sharp, clattering sounds. The gunshot still echoed in the air, and screams erupted from various parts of the apartment complex.

The glass door now had a large hole, with concentric cracks spreading outward like a spiderweb from the bullet’s impact.

Flying fragments grazed Su Tao’s cheek, leaving a thin cut, but she felt no pain. Her pupils, constricted from shock, trembled with horror and disbelief.

“Hey… Xiaocheng… This isn’t real, right? You… you’re okay, right?”

Her voice shook as she spoke. In that moment of mental shutdown, she didn’t even think to drag Chi Xiaocheng further into the living room.

Instead, she was forced onto the floor by Xiaocheng’s tackle, her hands propping her up while her knees supported Xiaocheng’s waist.

She reached out to hold Xiaocheng, but her trembling hand hesitated, too afraid to rest on her shoulder.

What was happening?

What was going on?

Why was there gunfire? Was this an assassination attempt or something else?

‘Shouldn’t I have been the one shot? Why did Xiaocheng push me away?’

‘What should I do now?’

‘And Xiaocheng… why aren’t you saying anything?’

A slight tremble ran through Chi Xiaocheng’s shoulders. Su Tao snapped back to reality and gripped her shoulders tightly.

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A flicker of relief flashed across her face as she pulled Xiaocheng up from where she lay on top of her. “Xiaocheng, you’re okay!”

But how could she be okay after taking a bullet for her?

As she lifted Xiaocheng halfway, Su Tao felt her clothes soak through. A blurry, bloody hole, whether near her heart or just above it, gushed orange juice like a broken faucet.

Her relief turned to stunned horror. She pressed her hand against the wound, but the orange juice kept spilling between her fingers.

“Xiaocheng… Xiaocheng, hold on! I’ll… I’ll call Dongfang Yang right now! I’ll get him to call a doctor!”

Her hair disheveled, Su Tao frantically searched for her phone, patting every pocket but finding nothing.

Outside, the security guard’s voice boomed through the complex, calming residents and urging them to stay away from windows and not leave their homes.

The building’s security team had already reached Chi Xiaocheng’s door, repeatedly ringing the bell while waiting for the property manager to bring a spare key. They shouted something from outside, but Su Tao had no mind to pay attention.

One hand pressed against the wound, trying to stem the flow, while the other cupped Xiaocheng’s face, supporting her body as she whispered, “Hold on,” over and over.

Suddenly, a small hand weakly grasped Su Tao’s wrist. Chi Xiaocheng struggled to open her eyes, her lips now stained red.

Her face rapidly paled, life draining from her at an alarming rate.

Yet, despite everything, she forced a frail smile.

“Tao-Tao~”

She tenderly called the name that filled her heart. There was no trace of her usual yandere tendencies. The earlier argument might as well have never happened.

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Her voice was barely a whisper, forcing Su Tao to lean in close to hear.

Su Tao squeezed Xiaocheng’s hand, tears streaming down. “Don’t talk, Xiaocheng. Stay awake, okay? The doctor will be here soon. They’ll save you again, just like before.”

“Tao-Tao….”

Another murmur. Xiaocheng tried to lift herself toward Su Tao’s ear but lacked the strength. Speaking and breathing had become agonizing.

‘Ah~ It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts….’

Even with pain-dampening skills, the agony was overwhelming.

‘But… it doesn’t feel bad at all.’

Being held like this, warm and snug… nothing like the cold bathtub last time.

Chi Xiaocheng struggled to smile. “Tao-Tao… listen to me.”

Her voice weakened, as if delivering last words.

But Su Tao shook her head, tears falling. “No, don’t speak! Save it for when you’re better. You can tell me anything then!”

“So demanding~”

Xiaocheng chuckled lightly before coughing violently, more orange juice spilling from her lips.

She could feel her body growing colder.

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If she didn’t say what she needed to now, she might never get another chance.

Summoning her last strength, she shakily reached up to wipe Su Tao’s tears. “Tao-Tao… I never blamed you… The orange juice thing… I’m sorry….”

“Stop! Just stop talking!”

“If I don’t… I might never….”

“No! NO!” Su Tao clutched Xiaocheng’s hand, shaking her head desperately.

She didn’t want to hear it. She refused to listen!

Last words.

Goodbyes.

Plans for the future.

None of it was acceptable. Say it after you recover! Say it when you’re standing in front of me again!

Beep.

The front door unlocked. The security team rushed in, the leader shouting, “Residents of Unit 502, are you okay?”

The security captain scanned the room before spotting Su Tao and Chi Xiaocheng partially hidden behind the counter. Relieved, he started toward them. “Thank goodness, you’re alr—”

“SHUT UP—!”

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Su Tao’s scream cut through the air.

Tears dripped from her chin. Beneath her messy bangs, her bloodshot eyes gleamed with streaks of red-tinged tears.

The security captain froze. Only when he got closer did he see Chi Xiaocheng lying in the girl’s arms.

The carpet beneath them was dyed red with orange juice, like blooming roses.

Silently, he nodded to the other guards, signaling them to secure the area. Then, phone in hand, he stepped outside.

Su Tao looked down again, watching helplessly as the light in Xiaocheng’s eyes dimmed. Her heart ached unbearably.

She wanted to do something.

But there was nothing she could do.

Chi Xiaocheng repeated, “Tao-Tao… listen to me.”

“I won’t! If you keep talking, I’ll leave you!”

Su Tao kept shaking her head, refusing, trying to snatch her Xiaocheng back from death’s grasp.

Normally, such a threat would make Xiaocheng quiet down and obey.

But this time, she had something she had to say.

With a faint, sweet smile, she whispered, “So cruel… But I’m sorry. Just this once… I can’t obey you.”