Peach-Orange! – Chapter 189 – Love and Possessiveness

“If there’s a next life, if we can start over, Xiaocheng… I swear I’ll never let go again!”

A declaration heavier than any confession took Chi Xiaocheng by surprise.

Yet it delighted her.

‘That’s right, Tao-Tao.’

‘Hold onto me.’

‘Become possessive of me.’

‘I’ll never dislike this kind of love from you.’

‘Because my feelings have always mirrored yours. I want to possess you, keep you by my side forever, make you love only me.’

But excessive force rarely transforms into genuine affection.

Still… she had no intention of adding pressure now.

This dream existed to relieve Su Tao’s stress, and Chi Xiaocheng’s earlier words came from the heart.

—I want you to live happily.

‘Even if that means forgetting me, it’s fine.’

‘When I wake, I’ll find you again.’

‘At least forget me during these twenty-some days of my death and slumber. I won’t hold it against you.’

Yet how difficult is it to truly forget someone?

This moment of possession would remain just that, a moment.

Su Tao sniffled, speaking solemnly, “Xiaocheng, I promise you.”

Chi Xiaocheng tilted her head. “Hm?”

“I promise to live well from now on, to have a normal life, to neither degrade myself nor make you worry.

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“But!”

She emphasized the word sharply. “I won’t forget you. Never!”

Chi Xiaocheng’s expression turned hesitant. “But… wouldn’t that keep causing you pain?”

“For you, I’m willing!”

This was no longer pressure from Chi Xiaocheng.

Su Tao was pressuring herself.

‘Xiaocheng is gone. How could the anguish of her departure compare to the pain of that bullet when she pushed me away?’

‘She may have left this world,’

‘But she can still meet me in dreams like this!’

‘If another dream comes, I don’t want to lose myself in escapism like today.’

‘I want to enjoy it with peace of mind.’

Chi Xiaocheng rose on tiptoe, her shoes lightly scuffing the cabin floor. “Why go this far?”

Su Tao took a deep breath, gazing at Chi Xiaocheng with profound sincerity.

She opened her mouth, seemingly mustering all her strength to shout—

Because I love you!

Her lips moved emphatically with the words.

Yet no sound reached Chi Xiaocheng’s ears.

Even Su Tao clearly sensed it. At this crucial moment, she’d lost her voice.

It was no accident. The dream had reached its limit.

The surroundings had long shattered. Whether the Ferris wheel still turned was unclear; their cabin seemed frozen mid-air.

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The wind stilled. After sunset, no moon appeared.

Time in this world had stopped.

Her confession had failed again.

But….

“I know, Tao-Tao.”

Chi Xiaocheng tilted her head, smiling brightly.

‘Though unspoken, I understand.’

‘Right now, you love me.’

Yet at the end, reluctance lingered.

Even knowing she’d revive in twenty-some days.

Even knowing they’d reunite then.

Still….

‘Twenty days is too long.’

“Tao-Tao!”

Chi Xiaocheng shouted with all her might, “When we meet again, and you’ve fallen for me properly, confess to me properly then!

“I’ll definitely say yes.”

The words barely carried to Su Tao’s ears.

As she stepped forward, the cabin lurched. The floor disintegrated beneath her feet.

The loli smiled blissfully, dissolving into starlight.

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No vow or heartfelt words could withstand this moment.

Only longing remained.

All dreams must end.

As the starlight faded, the cabin collapsed. Su Tao gazed toward the Ferris wheel’s peak through the crumbling sky.

She suddenly recalled another legend about Ferris wheels.

The first: Couples who kiss at the top gain eternal happiness.

But there’s a second:

Those who ride together will ultimately part forever.

Because their happiness remains trapped within that tiny cabin.

And the wheel, after reaching its zenith, must return to the start.

Having failed to confess or kiss at the apex, without the sunset’s blessing—

‘Which legend will define our ending?’

Perhaps this dream’s conclusion was predetermined from the beginning.

The starlight vanished.

The dream shattered.

Eyes fluttering open, Su Tao found morning sunlight streaming through the window.

Last night’s snow had stopped. Today’s dawn was the warmest of the entire winter.

Like… a rebirth.

No drowsiness lingered, just numb fingers brushing tear-damp cheeks.

In her arms, alongside the large brown bear, lay King and a small straw doll.

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King had carried the doll over during the night, clinging to it. The doll’s once-lifeless eyes now radiated tenderness.

“Xiaocheng….”

Su Tao hugged King and the doll tighter.

Their faint warmth felt like embracing the one she yearned for.

“I won’t keep drifting through life aimlessly.”

‘I’ll live for you and for myself!’

After five final minutes in bed, Su Tao threw off the blankets with a deep exhale.

“Time to rise!”

Her brand-new day had begun.

As she turned toward the wardrobe, the straw doll stealthily retrieved the Status Glasses.

[Su Tao]

[Height: 166]

[Weight: 95]

[Size: C]

[Current Status: Hungry, moderate stress, low spirits, haggard, physically weak, self-blame]

[Ordinary Favorability Toward Host: 99 (She has fully recognized you as the most important person in her life. Even after your departure, she will live for your sake.)]

[Romantic Favorability Toward Host: 56→63 (She simplistically equates her care and longing for you with love. Though gender norms still linger, your death has made her overlook this. Memories of you now define her affection.)]

[Possessive Favorability Toward Host: 27→60 (Even if the world forgets you, she will remember. Your existence in her heart is indelible. Her regret over losing you has peaked—given another chance, she would claim you ruthlessly against any contender.)]

[(Even if that contender is the world itself.)]