Peach-Orange! – Chapter 159 – The Beginning of Revenge

No matter how she called out or how many tears she shed, the person lying quietly on the hospital bed showed no signs of waking.

The thin blanket covering her and the attached medical equipment seemed to mock Su Tao’s helplessness.

She was already dead, yet they stubbornly clung to the futile attempt of sustaining that empty semblance of life.

It was laughable.

So laughable that Su Tao couldn’t help but hope that these cold, mechanical devices could somehow breathe life back into her.

Tears were useless. Pleading was futile.

Regret had long since filled her heart to the brim.

Su Tao sat silently by Chi Xiaocheng’s bedside for hours, unmoving like a lifeless doll.

It wasn’t until past noon that she finally stood up, gently tucking Xiaocheng’s small hand back under the blanket.

Her despairing eyes were clouded with confusion.

She had to accept reality.

Accept that Xiaocheng had died for her.

But if she left the hospital now, wouldn’t she just be abandoning Xiaocheng to loneliness once again?

Stepping out of the room, she saw Dongfang Yang sitting on a bench outside, legs crossed and eyes closed in light rest.

Clearly, he had been waiting for a long time.

Hearing her footsteps, Dongfang Yang opened his eyes and gave her a once-over. “Got your thoughts back in order?”

Rеαԁ on KаtReαԁiոɡСafe

Su Tao pressed her lips together and nodded lightly. “Sorry.”

Dongfang Yang sighed as he stood. “No need to apologize. You and Chi Xiaocheng are both my friends. You only ever showed that fragile side of yourself to her. Honestly, everything you’re doing now is within what Professor Su and I expected.”

“I just… feel terrible.”

“Even so, you have to keep moving forward. Right now, you should live carrying Chi Xiaocheng’s will, not waste away in stagnation.”

Su Tao tried to force a smile, but her lips only trembled weakly before she gave up. Instead, she asked, “When will Xiaocheng be cremated?”

“?”

Dongfang Yang shot her a strange look.

Biting her lip, Su Tao explained, “Even now… I don’t want Xiaocheng to be alone. I thought… at the very least, I could keep her ashes with me. That way, she won’t be so lonely.”

And neither will I.

But to her surprise, Dongfang Yang’s expression grew even more peculiar.

Confused, she asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Dongfang Yang decided against sharing Professor Su’s speculations.

It had already been two days since Chi Xiaocheng’s death.

Normally, after death, the body’s temperature would gradually drop while the skin turned pale or bluish-purple. Due to gravity, blood would pool in the lower parts of the body, forming what was commonly known as “rigor mortis.”

Reаⅾ οո KatRеаdіngСаfе

Without preservation, the body would also stiffen as internal bacteria and enzymes began breaking down tissues, leading to noticeable changes in odor.

And that was just the visible external changes. The internal decomposition was far worse.

Yet, miraculously, despite being dead for two days, Chi Xiaocheng showed none of these signs beyond a slight drop in body temperature. Despite her heart having stopped and her ECG showing a flatline, her cells remained unnaturally active.

It was as if some unseen force was slowly repairing her damaged body.

If they rushed into cremation now, any chance of a miracle would truly be lost.

But this was something only he and Professor Su needed to know. Until they were certain, there was no need to give Su Tao false hope.

Too much hope, only to be met with despair again, could break her far worse than her current state.

For now, it was best to let her gradually adjust to reality.

Clearing his throat, Dongfang Yang explained, “I understand how you feel, but there’s no need to rush cremation. Chi Xiaocheng’s parents are elderly and in poor health. They can’t handle such a devastating blow right now.

“For the time being, we can tell them she’s just seriously ill to soften the news.

“We’ll keep her body here for now, preserved with the best technology available. Don’t worry.”

As he finished, Dongfang Yang glanced at Su Tao, only to find her crying again.

Su Tao clenched her fists and punched her own left shoulder hard. “I… I’ve failed Uncle and Auntie… Wuwu….”

Memories of that night resurfaced.

Faced with Chi Xiaocheng’s yandere tendencies, she had wanted to run away, to abandon her.

That same night, Chi Xiaocheng’s mother had called, asking about her daughter before entrusting Xiaocheng to Su Tao’s care with complete faith.

Rеαd οո KatReaԁіnɡСаfe

She had even hinted that she wouldn’t object if the two girls became more than friends.

What Chi’s mother had entrusted to her wasn’t just Xiaocheng’s time studying in Jiuzhou City. It might have been the rest of her life.

Emotions surged once more, and now the list of people she had failed grew longer.

Chi Xiaocheng’s parents, who had helped raise her. Chi Song, her brother in all but blood.

They were her family too!

Realizing he had unintentionally twisted the knife, Dongfang Yang felt guilt but didn’t know how to comfort her.

In the end, he simply led Su Tao to the hospital balcony.

From the fifth floor, they had a clear view of a small park nearby.

Dongfang Yang spoke softly, “Don’t dwell on it too much. For now, focus on recovering, both emotionally and physically. Leave the rest to me.”

“No!”

Su Tao stared blankly at the snow-covered scenery before her voice suddenly hardened. “There’s something I still have to do!

“You said the person who hurt Xiaocheng is still out there. Who was it?”

Though her rationality had returned, Su Tao already had an answer in her heart.

It had to be either Ye Liang or Lin Fangya!

Xiao Ming was also a possibility.

Rеαԁ oո ΚatRеaⅾingСαfе

Aside from those three, no one else would target her, much less have the means to hire a sniper.

For now, her hatred for the culprit briefly overshadowed her guilt and regret.

If she was to live on carrying Xiaocheng’s will, she first had to eliminate the one responsible!

She would avenge Xiaocheng!

Dongfang Yang sighed helplessly. “In your current state, going after the killer would be suicide.”

“Then at least tell me who it is! Was it Ye Liang?”

Su Tao’s eyes burned with urgency.

Even in anger, people rarely stayed fully rational.

“Suppose it is Ye Liang, what’s your plan for revenge?” Dongfang Yang rolled his eyes. “Charge into his hospital? Stake out his company? He’s the legitimate heir of the Ye family.

“My family’s already intervened, ordering me not to get involved with Ye Liang. They even tried to recall me to Beijing. If I hadn’t argued my case, I wouldn’t even be here with you now.

“At most, I can assign you a team of retired combat veterans for protection. If you want to deal with Ye Liang, go discuss it with Si Chen.”

“But!” Dongfang Yang’s voice sharpened. “Only after you go home and recover! Don’t let yourself become a weakness for Ye Liang to exploit!”

“I understand.”

Su Tao closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.

As she forced herself to calm down, the flames of vengeance burned fiercely in her heart!