Peach-Orange! – Chapter 185 – Sweet Sweet Sweet Sweet Sweet (Bonus Chapter for Black Cat Cafe)

Unlike the snow-blanketed harshness of winter, the morning sun shone brilliantly, casting a golden-orange glow over the lush trees and distant skyscrapers.

It was as if nature itself celebrated the unraveling of her emotional knots.

Winter had passed; spring had arrived.

Sunlight filtered through dense foliage, scattering into dappled patterns on the stone steps, bathing the entire path in a tender warmth. Some of those luminous fragments landed on the girl’s bright orange hooded jacket.

The citrus-shaped hair clip, so vividly familiar in memory and still treasured in a drawer, adorned one side of her tea-colored hair, perfectly complementing her outfit.

Her delicate, adorable face wore that same smile from recollections.

A stark contrast to her cold, lifeless form on the hospital bed.

While Su Tao remained dazed, Lady Breeze ¹ Not a new character. Just a way of saying “wind.” considerately lifted a lock of Chi Xiaocheng’s hair, exhaled playfully, and let it dance like a ribbon in the morning air. Carried by a faint fragrance, it brushed against Su Tao’s face.

The tips tickled her nose; a tangible, slightly itchy sensation that finally snapped Su Tao back to reality.

‘Xiaocheng is alive.’

‘She’s really standing right in front of me.’

This sight, these words, even her scent! None were illusions!

Seemingly annoyed by Su Tao’s prolonged silence, Chi Xiaocheng pouted in mock anger. “Tao-Tao, really! Getting distracted during our date? What’re you even—”

Before she could finish, the girl abruptly lunged forward.

Without giving Chi Xiaocheng time to react, Su Tao had already wrapped her in a crushing embrace, her voice trembling with sobs. “You’re here… you’re really here, Xiaocheng… I… I… hic… wuuu….”

Emotions suppressed for so long burst forth in this moment, pouring out with each cry.

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Chi Xiaocheng smiled helplessly and gently returned the hug.

Her small hand patted Su Tao’s back in reassurance.

“There there, I’ve always been by your side, Tao-Tao.”

‘Death isn’t the end. It’s our new beginning.’

‘Counting the days, I’ll be back in less than a month.’

As if soothing a child, Chi Xiaocheng stroked Su Tao’s head. “Come on, didn’t I promise? I’ll never leave. Keep crying and you’ll soak my clothes.”

Yet her comfort had the opposite effect, intensifying the girl’s tears.

The accumulated stress, the guilt and regret toward her, even the temporary clarity after overcoming confusion all poured out now.

She needed this embrace. She missed it so much.

Like a weary traveler returning home to collapse into arms that would absorb all grievances and offer tenderness in return.

In Chi Xiaocheng’s mind, the System’s moved voice resonated.

[See, Host? You piled on so much pressure the poor girl snapped.]

“I messed up, and I’ll fix it. But you know my goal remains unchanged. I want Tao-Tao to love me, to claim me.

“So she has to change. Otherwise, we’d never have a future together.”

If two straight lines could never intersect, then bend them.

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One day, they’d cross again.

“But not right now.” Hugging Su Tao, savoring her softness and sobs, Chi Xiaocheng smiled. “Reality’s harsh enough. After all those knives, she deserves candy.

“No matter how urgent her growth is, it can wait until I wake up. Right?”

A flicker of something eerie passed through Chi Xiaocheng’s eyes before gentleness reclaimed them.

Eventually, Su Tao’s cries subsided.

She wiped her tears with a sleeve, sniffling. “S-Sorry, Xiaocheng… embarrassing you like this. I shouldn’t have….”

Chi Xiaocheng immediately frowned.

She seized the tear-stained wrist.

Looking up, Su Tao saw the petite girl puffing her cheeks. “Now that’s just wrong, Tao-Tao. Am I not your most trusted person?”

“No, I mean—”

“Shh!” Chi Xiaocheng pressed a finger to Su Tao’s lips. “If you’re hurt, sad, or bullied, or anything, tell me, okay? I’ll always listen.

“Seeing you cry makes me happy. Venting at me makes me happy. Because it means you see me as your one and only, someone so dear you’d show your weakest self.

“I adore you, Tao-Tao. Nothing could ever make me hate you.”

With that, her fingertip lightly tapped Su Tao’s lips before she spun around.

“Alright, if you don’t want me seeing you vulnerable, I’ll turn away. But hurry up. I’ve waited long enough!”

Su Tao stared blankly at Chi Xiaocheng’s back, hands clasped behind her.

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Then she smiled, radiant and content.

“Mm!”

Nodding vigorously, she hastily rubbed her eyes, eager to compose herself.

But before she could finish, a small hand extended a handkerchief toward her.

Still facing away.

Yet the orange-patterned cloth was within reach.

Su Tao accepted it. “Sorry… for worrying you, Xiaocheng.

“And about before… I….”

She tried apologizing for past avoidance and the pain it caused.

But the words lodged in her throat.

Chi Xiaocheng’s sigh carried exasperated fondness. “Next time, no ‘sorrys.’ I want to hear ‘thank you,’ got it?

“Don’t say ‘I messed up.’ Say ‘Thanks for not blaming me,’ then do better.”

Whirling around, she poked Su Tao’s damp cheek indignantly. “Today’s a date. A happy day. No gloomy talk, just fun with me. Understood?”

Wrapped in familiar warmth, Su Tao dabbed her eyes with the handkerchief.

“Okay!”

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She reached out, interlacing their fingers.

“Where to next?”

Unlike last time, she didn’t shy from calling it a “date” instead of “hanging out.”

To love actively meant breaking old habits.

Pain, regret, confusion, guilt, all discarded.

Around Xiaocheng, she’d focus only on joy.

And through it, learn to love her.

Chi Xiaocheng turned and shouted at a cat perched on a distant wall. “King! Get down here or I’m leaving without you!”

“Meow!”

The elegant, proud calico promptly trotted over.

Hand in hand, they strolled down the sunlit path, a tail-swishing feline ambling beside them.

Warmth lingered in their clasped palms; the spring breeze caressed their cheeks.

Su Tao tilted her head, gaze resting on Chi Xiaocheng’s cute face.

If only this weren’t a dream.

If only.