Peach-Orange! – Chapter 245 – The Distance Between Stars and Moon

“Tang Tang, seriously, why are you so excited about me and Xiaocheng?”

Su Tao looked at the barrage of messages eagerly asking when she’d arrive and helplessly replied to her friend.

Ever since she’d clarified that the person she liked was actually Xiaocheng, this friend’s personality seemed to have flipped. Once somewhat serious, now overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

Tang Tang replied, “Of course I’m excited! I’m just too curious about how you two grew up together, overcame all kinds of difficulties, and then transitioned from sisterly affection to romance.

“You’re too shy to talk about it, so I figured there’s no harm in getting to know Xiaocheng, right?

“By the way, what kind of formal dresses are you wearing today? Are they matching?

“And it’s been years since I last saw Xiaocheng. Back in middle school, I only caught glimpses of her hiding behind you occasionally, so my impression isn’t too deep. Is she even cuter now?”

For every sentence Su Tao sent, Tang Tang replied with paragraphs.

Su Tao covered her face. “Xiaocheng and I aren’t officially together yet. She… she had a minor issue after waking up in the hospital. Anyway, it’s not as fast as you think.”

“Oh, I can’t help being excited! In our circle, same-sex relationships aren’t rare, but most are just thrill-seeking flings. A pure love like yours is something fresh to me!”

“What do you mean by ‘fresh’?!”

Still, Su Tao caught the key phrase in Tang Tang’s words.

In her circle, relationships like hers and Xiaocheng’s weren’t uncommon.

Si Chen had once said that the upper-class circles were actually quite messy. The gender norms she worried about were just personal constraints. To them, it was completely normal.

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The lingering unease in her heart prompted Su Tao to ask Tang Tang, “Are relationships like mine and Xiaocheng’s really that common?”

“Hmm? You mean two girls?

“At least in my circle, it’s pretty common. Some young ladies who don’t want to marry off will pair up with someone similar to reject suitors from other families. Some are fake, but most are real.

“It’s pretty common in regular society too. I don’t think it’s strange, it’s just that your environment is the outlier. I remember your family’s from the countryside, right?”

“Yeah.”

Tang Tang: “Well, there you go. People in rural areas have more traditional mindsets, deeply rooted in marriage and childbirth. In big cities, you see it everywhere.”

Was she really overthinking it?

Tang Tang: “Honestly, Tao-Tao, you’re just too straight. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be overcomplicating things.”

Su Tao pursed her lips. “My emotional intelligence isn’t that low.”

Tang Tang: “Social intelligence and romantic intelligence are two different things.”

Before she could reply further, the car suddenly stopped, and Dongfang Yang’s voice reached her ears: “We’re here.”

Si Chen’s branch family residence in Jiuzhou, which was also the venue for tonight’s banquet.

Compared to last time, Su Tao’s outfit was much more understated.

A gray-black down coat, paired with a pure white knitted sweater, accessorized with hints of blue. The coat’s white fur trim was the most eye-catching detail.

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The sweater hugged her figure, the cotton pants were form-fitting, and the long boots accentuated her legs. With the coat’s open collar, Su Tao’s usually hidden curves became subtly noticeable.

Her smooth hair was still tied into a high ponytail.

With her expressionless face, she exuded both elegance and an icy aloofness.

Like a star, faintly shimmering but not overwhelmingly bright.

“Since it’s a banquet, will Xiaocheng be wearing a formal dress?”

Su Tao stepped out of the car and glanced at Dongfang Yang for confirmation.

Dongfang Yang nodded. “Yeah, I heard Si Chen prepared a dress for her. But with her petite frame, she’ll just look like a kid standing next to me. People might even mistake her for my daughter.”

Su Tao frowned, displeased by Dongfang Yang’s words.

What did he mean by “petite” and “small”?

She was delicate!

Si Chen was right that Dongfang Yang really was a bit dumb. He had no idea how comforting it was to hold Xiaocheng in your arms.

“Let’s go in first. If more people arrive later, they’ll probably drag me into small talk again.”

Dongfang Yang didn’t look back, leading Su Tao forward.

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This banquet was much smaller, attended mostly by the younger generation of various families. Compared to Si Zhenliu’s birthday banquet last time, it wasn’t as lavish, but there were noticeably more activities for the guests.

A large stage stood at the center of the main hall.

While still taking in the venue’s setup, Su Tao heard Si Chen’s voice: “Su Tao, your outfit’s really nice this time. Feels much better than the formal dress last time. That one made you look too fragile, not as striking.”

The moment she turned around, Si Chen added, “But tonight, you’re still no match for Chi Xiaocheng.”

Her gaze shifted slightly, and then her breath caught.

The familiar girl stood beside Si Chen like a princess.

Her pure white dress, tailored to perfection, accentuated her slender frame.

The neckline dipped slightly, the cuffs were fitted, and the waistline was cinched with a belt studded with tiny diamonds. Layers of tulle formed the skirt, and a semi-transparent train trailed behind her, reaching her ankles.

A delicate, ice-crystal crown rested atop her soft, tea-colored hair.

She looked like a fairy-tale princess.

Before Su Tao could fully process it, Chi Xiaocheng lifted her skirt in annoyance. “Si Chen, this dress is so annoying. I feel like I’ll trip if I take too big a step.”

Si Chen chuckled lightly. “A lady shouldn’t take big steps. Grace, understand? And if you fall, there’s a risk of flashing someone. Be careful.”

“I’m wearing safety shorts!”

Besides, the dress wasn’t even that revealing.

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The layered tulle skirt crossed in front of her calves, covering most of her legs. Only her lower legs would draw attention when she moved.

If she fell flat on her back, certain things would be exposed. But then again, no dress could prevent such a wardrobe malfunction.

As Dongfang Yang and Su Tao approached, Chi Xiaocheng flashed a faint smile and asked, “Dongfang Yang, do you think this outfit looks good on me?”

“Of course, my beautiful little princess.”

Dongfang Yang, for all his usual foolishness, knew how to act in formal settings. He placed a hand over his chest and performed a flawless European knight’s bow.

The simple gesture drew the attention of many young ladies from other families.

All eyes converged on Chi Xiaocheng.

If the entire banquet were the night sky, the other glamorously dressed girls would be the stars. But when the light fell on Chi Xiaocheng, she was the sole moon in the heavens.

Even the brightest star paled in comparison.

And right now, the brightest star was hiding in the dim clouds, standing where the light couldn’t reach.

Staring blankly at the radiant moon.

She wanted to reach out.

But every star was billions of light-years away from the moon.