Peach-Orange! – Chapter 210 – Hope and Anticipation

In the newly arranged hospital room, Su Tao sat by the bedside, gently holding Chi Xiaocheng’s right hand, which was connected to an IV drip. Her movements were tender and cautious.

Her expression carried less joy and more the relief of someone who had narrowly escaped disaster.

She wanted to clutch that hand tightly and never let go, yet she dared not squeeze too hard.

This boundless gentleness, under Dongfang Yang’s watchful gaze, transformed into whispered words of affection and longing.

“Xiaocheng, do you know how much I’ve missed you?

“From the very first day you were gone, I was drowning in endless regret. Because of my repeated mistakes, I… I ended up getting you killed.

“In the days that followed, everyone else was doing something for you, but I just kept hesitating, wallowing in memories, both happy and painful, too afraid to face your death.

“Do you think I’m useless?”

As she spoke, Su Tao suddenly laughed softly. “So many times, I’ve thought… if only you hadn’t taken that bullet for me. If only I had died instead.

“Of course, I know I shouldn’t think like that. It would make your sacrifice meaningless. But regret is human, isn’t it? How could I ever truly let you go and move forward?”

“Even in my dreams, when I see you, I’m still so pathetic, needing you to comfort and reassure me.”

Her gaze lingered on the small face beneath the oxygen mask, never once straying.

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“But thankfully, the heavens didn’t abandon you. Dongfang Yang, Si Chen… none of them gave up on you. You’re alive. I can see you again.”

Then, she fell silent.

‘They never gave up on you.’

‘But me? I thought about cremating you so many times, just so I could keep you with me forever.’

‘Does that count as giving up in another way?’

Su Tao wasn’t sure. She just wanted to voice the words bottled up inside. Her regrets, her guilt, her apologies.

The silence lasted only a breath before Su Tao exhaled softly and smiled again. “But you can’t hear any of this right now, can you? I really don’t want you seeing me like this… so weak like this.”

Her eyes suddenly sharpened with resolve.

“So when you wake up, I’ll hide all my regrets and mistakes away. I’ll make up for everything with actions, not words. So… you have to focus on recovering, okay?”

She pressed her forehead lightly against Chi Xiaocheng’s fingers, savoring their warmth for a moment before carefully tucking the hand back under the blanket.

Standing, she wiped the corner of her eye. “Sorry, Dongfang Yang. You must think I’m ridiculous.”

“Not at all. It’d be weirder if you didn’t react.” Leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, Dongfang Yang’s tone was flat, but his eyes held unmistakable gentleness.

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After a few seconds of staring at Chi Xiaocheng’s pale, peaceful face, he said, “Let’s go. Professor Su said we should keep the environment quiet. Don’t disturb her too much.”

Su Tao nodded. “Alright. But… don’t you have anything to say to Xiaocheng?”

“What’s there to say?” Dongfang Yang turned his face away with a cold snort. “She still owes me twenty thousand. I won’t let her play dead forever.”

His haughty expression and unyielding tone made Su Tao burst into laughter.

Dongfang Yang stiffened. “W-What’s so funny?!”

“I told you before, you’re terrible at acting cold.” Su Tao walked toward the door, flashing him a faint smile. “But just now, your tough-guy act was almost convincing. Thanks for caring about Xiaocheng.”

With that, she stepped out of the room first, leaving Dongfang Yang frozen in place, replaying that fleeting smile in his mind.

“‘Almost convincing’? What’s that supposed to mean? I wasn’t even wearing cologne, does she mean my natural musk?

“Does she… like my scent?

“Which means… she likes me!”

Rubbing his nose, Dongfang Yang exited the room with a foolish grin.

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—

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

After learning of Chi Xiaocheng’s “awakening” and “recovery,” many who knew her made time to visit.

Su Tao came most frequently. Every night after her shift at the café, she would return to the hospital, sitting by the bed, sometimes reading, sometimes watching videos with headphones on, careful not to make noise.

But when she couldn’t hold back, she’d whisper softly, sharing snippets of her life or reminiscing about the past.

During this time, Chi Xiaocheng kept her consciousness anchored in this body. Notably, Su Tao’s recollections now centered around events after her “yandere” awakening, not childhood memories like before.

She had finally realized: the person she loved was this version of Xiaocheng, adorable yet slightly twisted.

Even if the Status Glasses still showed Su Tao’s “like” affection below 70.

Aside from Su Tao, the second-most frequent visitor was Fang Ning.

After running into Su Tao during an evening visit, the girl deliberately adjusted her schedule, coming in the mornings before work and during lunch breaks.

She never spoke, just stood quietly by the door, watching.

Next were Dongfang Yang and Si Chen. Dongfang Yang checked in daily with Professor Su for updates.

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As for Si Chen? The hospital nurses secretly called him the “exhibitionist pervert.”

Even though February had brought slight warmth, winter hadn’t fully retreated. Most people still bundled up in down jackets, yet this young master insisted on sitting shirtless in the ward.

If not for his status, the nurses would’ve assigned someone to monitor him, just in case he tried anything perverted.

Finally, there were Chi Song and Brother Long.

The two silent men never said much, standing motionless in the room for two hours before leaving just as quietly.

But their pained expressions were impossible to miss.

Naturally, Chu Lingfeng, the “Miracle Doctor,” kept trying to find excuses to visit. The closer Chi Xiaocheng’s awakening loomed, the more agitated he became.

But as her condition stabilized, Dongfang Yang trusted his medical team and Professor Su more. Si Chen outright ignored the man.

And Su Tao’s instincts warned her against him. His “miraculous needles” sounded too mystical. What if his treatment backfired?

She preferred relying on Dongfang Yang and Si Chen; figures who felt like brothers and allies.

Countdown to Xiaocheng’s revival: Three days!