Peach-Orange! – Chapter 181 – The Feeling of Liking Someone Should Be Joy and Enjoyment

A familiar story, yet with completely unfamiliar characters.

A suffocating possessiveness, an overwhelming need for control that couldn’t be ignored. Even after being together, the love given was so heavy it felt crushing.

Could the girlfriend of this young man truly feel happy facing such distorted affection?

Before they were together, during the pursuit, it might have been tolerable.

But after getting together, she was still bombarded with his confessions and displays of love. He cared so much he left no personal space, clinging to her at every opportunity, treating her as his one and only, obsessively devoted.

He even wanted her to only like him in return.

It was like seeing an alternate version of Xiaocheng and herself.

Except Wei Feng was just an ordinary person with slight obsessive tendencies.

While Chi Xiaocheng was a full-blown yandere.

Yet, as the ones being confessed to, being loved, being pressured… both she and Wei Feng’s girlfriend had reacted the same way.

Feeling confused, unable to accept it, even frightened and burdened.

‘So, it wasn’t just me who felt this way, right?’

Xiaocheng was like that too. Her love was so heavy it stole her breath.

“I think….”

Wei Feng’s voice drew Su Tao’s attention back. “I think she must have liked me at some point, right?”

Su Tao parted her lips slightly. “But you said she couldn’t handle your suffocating love, so she broke up with you. How could she have liked you under those conditions?”

Wei Feng chuckled. “That’s not the nicest way to put it, but since I’m about to die, I won’t hold it against you.

“Here’s how I see it.”

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A breeze ruffled his hair, fluttering his clothes.

“When we were together, she had moments where she smiled, genuinely happy and enjoying herself. Isn’t that proof she liked me?”

Su Tao’s gaze grew distant. “Liking someone… feels like that?”

“I think so. If she didn’t like me, why would she want to stay by my side? Why would she dream about me? Why would she smile like that?

“But she never pointed out my flaws. Even after fights, we only reflected on ourselves, never addressing each other’s shortcomings.

“Gradually, I held on tighter and tighter until—”

Snap!

He clapped his hands sharply. “The balloon couldn’t hold any more air. It popped.

“But the truth is, if she’d told me my faults, I would’ve changed. I’d have become the person she wanted, because I liked her.

“It’s a shame. You only realize these things after it’s too late, after regret sets in. If I’d been a little wiser, she wouldn’t have left.”

Wei Feng smiled bitterly, then turned to Su Tao. “What about you? Why do you want to jump?”

“I….”

Su Tao hesitated, Wei Feng’s words still echoing in her mind.

Being together, smiling happily, feeling enjoyment and comfort… that was their version of “like.”

If she’d pointed out his flaws, he would’ve corrected them.

Because he liked her.

Come to think of it, wasn’t Xiaocheng the same?

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Back then, when she’d wished Xiaocheng would behave better, for those two weeks, Xiaocheng hadn’t shown a single yandere tendency. She hadn’t caused the slightest trouble, staying at home like a quiet kitten.

Easing Su Tao’s exhaustion after each day, listening to her vent about work or studies.

No matter when Su Tao glanced her way, Xiaocheng would sense it instantly, turning with a smile.

Meeting her eyes, Su Tao would inevitably be soothed by that smile, her heart swelling with joy.

But she hadn’t appreciated it at the time, and even assumed Xiaocheng was gradually returning to normal, freeing her to focus on other things.

Hadn’t she brought this on herself?

In this breakup, was the boy before her really at fault? Was it his lack of maturity?

She had never dared to discuss Xiaocheng’s yandere tendencies with her.

If Xiaocheng had realized her own abnormality sooner, would she have cooperated with treatment?

Then Su Tao wouldn’t have had to avoid her. Even if Xiaocheng had yandere episodes, she could’ve stayed by her side. If Xiaocheng felt happy, she wouldn’t have spiraled.

Because Xiaocheng loved her that much.

Because Xiaocheng listened to her that obediently.

The one at fault was never Xiaocheng. It was her.

From the day of their summer fight onward, she had never spoken honestly with Xiaocheng.

The only time she had was the day Xiaocheng took a bullet for her and died.

At the very end, when everything was over….

They had fought.

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They’d fought!

Xiaocheng hadn’t even heard her confession!

Even as she faded, even as she left—

At their final parting—

In the last moments—

She hadn’t gotten her wish, departing forever with regrets.

Memories blurred under the falling snow. Seeing Su Tao lost in thought, Wei Feng called out, “Miss?”

Su Tao snapped back, forcing a smile. “I’m fine. Just thinking about… her.”

“Also heartbroken?”

Su Tao nodded.

The young man sighed. “Never thought I’d meet a kindred spirit at a suicide spot. You can say what’s weighing on you. Having someone listen helps. And I’ll take your words to the grave. No one else will know.”

Perhaps she really needed to vent. Or perhaps she was seeking answers.

Su Tao turned. Darkness and snow obscured the boy’s face, but she still asked, “Do you know what a yandere is?”

“Yeah.” Wei Feng was a fellow anime fan. “Did you fall for one, or did one fall for you?”

“The latter.”

“Ah. A yandere’s love isn’t something just anyone can handle. But I envy you.”

Su Tao stared. “Envy?”

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“Yeah.” He leaned on the railing. “That kind of love is unwavering.”

“But isn’t the pressure too much?”

Wei Feng tilted his head. “Why would it feel like pressure?”

“I…” Su Tao hesitated. “She’d often cut herself, hurt others over small things. It felt… terrifying.”

“Like your girlfriend, she thought your possessiveness was too much, so she left, right?”

“Because she only wanted something casual, while I was thinking about spending our lives together. We wanted different things, no common ground.

“But you can’t deny there were times she was happy by my side.

“Don’t just focus on the scary, oppressive parts. If you’re about to jump, why dwell on the bad?

“Life flashing before your eyes should be the beautiful, cherished moments.”

His voice carried through the snow, reaching Su Tao’s ears. “Clear your mind. When she was with you, didn’t you feel any happiness? Any enjoyment?

“Yanderes aren’t scary. They act extreme because they lack security. No matter how extreme, it’s all for you, because they love you.

“Like how I, feeling insecure, unconsciously pressured my ex.

“But when you hold her hand, when your eyes are only on her—

“As a yandere, she’s sweet. And adorable.”

The words came with a gust of wind, lifting her ash-black hair.

And carrying away the glistening tear from the corner of her eye.