Peach-Orange! – Chapter 190 – A Day Without Xiaocheng

Early in the morning, even in subzero temperatures, Su Tao washed her face with a small amount of cold water.

Only after feeling that bone-chilling cold did she fully wake up.

She then walked to another storage room, where there were boxes of unopened items.

Dongfang Yang, worried about her physical condition, had sent her nutritional supplements. Sichen, afraid she was neglecting herself too much, had sent various skincare products.

And then there was the instant noodles Chi Xiaocheng had mysteriously given her long ago, claiming they were “very nutritious.”

During her days of isolation, Su Tao hadn’t touched any of these things. But now that she had decided to live well for Xiaocheng’s sake, she couldn’t continue as before.

The skincare products and supplements needed no explanation. Coming from these two young masters, they were undoubtedly high-quality and likely exorbitantly priced.

But this box of instant noodles.…

Reason told her that given her poor physical condition, she shouldn’t eat instant noodles and should opt for something more nutritious.

Yet Su Tao remembered the pill Chi Xiaocheng had given her last time.

Xiaocheng had said, seeing her in such a bad state, that the pill would help her sleep well, reduce stress, and restore her energy.

Back then, she hadn’t believed it, afraid it would be like before, where taking the pill would leave her unable to resist.

Only after swallowing it in a fit of self-destructive despair did she realize, belatedly, that the pill was genuine.

That had been a wrong choice.

If she had chosen to trust Xiaocheng then, regained her energy the next day, she wouldn’t have lost control and argued with her.

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Wouldn’t have driven her to the edge of the balcony window.

And the death that followed wouldn’t have happened.

“Very nutritious instant noodles… I remember Xiaocheng said it’s even better paired with the eggs she left in the fridge.”

Su Tao opened the fridge and took out an egg.

“Let’s have this for breakfast, with a cup of warm milk.

“Although the snow has stopped outside, my current physical condition isn’t suitable for exercise. My body’s gotten sluggish these days. First, I’ll go to Dongfang Yang’s hospital to check my condition, and then….”

As she spoke, Su Tao’s hands, which were preparing the milk, paused.

She murmured the two words that weighed on her mind: “Hospital…”

She wondered how Xiaocheng’s body was doing now.

Fang Ning had gone to the hospital last night too.

Her mood dipped momentarily.

But then Su Tao took a deep breath and patted her cheeks. “Save regrets for bedtime, leave the pain for dreams. Right now, I need to look forward.”

After breakfast, she gave King a bath, then gathered up the blankets Chi Xiaocheng had spread on the floor, giving the house a thorough pre-New Year cleaning.

By noon, she went out to buy groceries and cook.

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In the afternoon, she headed to school. She had missed the final exams, failing four courses in total, both core and elective.

These were all subjects she’d have to retake next semester.

It would be exhausting, but she had no one to blame but herself. Certainly not Xiaocheng.

After packing up Chi Xiaocheng’s dorm belongings, she went to her own dorm.

Chen Qian had already gone home, leaving only Xiaowei asleep in bed.

Su Tao continued packing her personal items, preparing to leave for the holiday. The noise inevitably woke Xiaowei.

The round-faced girl yawned, rubbing her sleepy eyes. “Oh, it’s you, Tao-Tao. Are you leaving too?”

Su Tao gave her an apologetic smile. “Go back to sleep. I’ll clean up the dorm after I’m done packing. You can just leave whenever you’re ready. Sorry for the trouble this whole time.”

Xiaowei grinned. “No need to clean much. Chen Qian already swept before she left. But why do you have so much luggage?”

“Some of it’s Xiaocheng’s. I’m taking it back for her.”

“Oh, right. Last time you said Xiaocheng went back to her hometown early.”

Su Tao’s hands stilled briefly.

But unlike before, she didn’t let her mood drop or avoid the topic. Instead, she flashed a bright smile. “Yeah, she even chatted with me last night.”

She would face this reality head-on. No longer running from Xiaocheng’s death. No matter what, Xiaocheng would always live on in her heart.

After packing and saying goodbye to Xiaowei, Su Tao also dropped by to see her new academic advisor.

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Her former advisor had been arrested for academic plagiarism. Under the new advisor’s guidance, she even got credit for the paper that had been stolen from her.

Then, she returned home.

Though she maintained an optimistic demeanor, the pain in her heart wasn’t something that could just vanish.

Su Tao simply didn’t show it on her face. Occasionally, while doing something, she’d space out for a moment.

Imagining how things might be if Xiaocheng were still by her side.

But that was just wishful thinking.

Su Tao hadn’t disturbed Chi Xiaocheng’s room. She wanted to preserve it as it was in her memories. But most of Xiaocheng’s belongings had been packed away and stored by Su Tao.

Hair clips, handkerchiefs, the little accessories she loved, and that fruit knife Su Tao could never forget.

By evening, Su Tao put on her down jacket and went out.

At the entrance of the neighborhood, a red sports car was already waiting for her. The man in the driver’s seat flicked his bangs and raised an eyebrow at her. “Hop in. This is the first time you’ve called me without asking for help.”

Dongfang Yang seemed in decent spirits, though it was clear he was observing Su Tao’s energy and mood.

Seeing her able to smile that familiar smile, he finally relaxed. “Looks like you’re doing much better. Honestly, if there’d been no improvement, I was going to ask Dr. Chen to see you.”

Su Tao naturally took the passenger seat, teasing, “Dr. Chen specializes in Xiaocheng’s field. Isn’t he unsuitable for me?”

‘After all, I’m not a yandere.’

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Dongfang Yang started the engine and pressed the accelerator. “Dr. Chen knows a lot more than just the dissociative disorder field Chi Xiaocheng had. But judging by your current state, there’s no need to call him over.”

Su Tao leaned back in the seat, her gaze distant. “Last night, I dreamed of Xiaocheng. Even though it was just a dream, and she can’t come back, I still talked with her for a long, long time.”

Dongfang Yang glanced at her. “So you’ve come to terms with it now?”

“Yeah!”

Su Tao nodded firmly. “She saved me. If I kept wallowing like before, I’d only disappoint her. After hiding for a month, it’s time to face things.”

Her demeanor once again carried that unyielding resilience she’d always had.

Dongfang Yang’s lips curved up. “So now? Heading to the hospital?”

Su Tao nodded vigorously. “Is Xiaocheng still at the hospital? If she is, then yes. I want… to see her one more time.”

Dongfang Yang accelerated slightly, smiling. “Don’t worry, she’s still at the hospital. And… I’ve got some good news for you.”

“Good news?”

In their current situation, what good news could there possibly be?

But Dongfang Yang’s expression showed no deceit, only earnest anticipation.

“Just wait. You’ll find out when we get to the hospital.”