Peach-Orange! – Chapter 246 – Hating the Increasingly Dirty Self

In her line of sight, Si Chen circled around Chi Xiaocheng, stroking his chin as if offering opinions on her outfit.

Meanwhile, Dongfang Yang was completely in his element. His coolness never lasted more than three seconds. After the knightly bow earlier, he excitedly declared that the scene had been “too cinematic” and that next time, he’d do something even cooler.

He even wanted to bring a sword.

The boy’s chuunibyou soul was burning, making Chi Xiaocheng shake her head in amusement.

Didn’t it seem fine?

But to outsiders, even without any filters, this scene looked like two handsome young masters, Si Chen and Dongfang Yang, doing everything they could to please the little princess in the middle.

And this little princess clearly enjoyed the attention, smiling as she basked in their flattery and praise.

A soft click sounded beside Su Tao.

She turned to see an unfamiliar girl in a princess dress, her fair shoulders and long legs exposed. Aside from showing more skin, the dress’s quality was noticeably average.

The girl looked at the candid photo she’d just taken, her eyes filled with envy. “It must be nice to have that kind of atmosphere~”

Noticing Su Tao’s gaze, the girl chuckled. “Sorry, you must think I’m ridiculous. Honestly, there aren’t many girls here who don’t like Young Master Dongfang or Young Master Si. I’m just jealous of the girl being doted on by them.”

Su Tao pressed her lips together. “There’s nothing to envy. They’re obviously treating her like a little sister.”

“A sister?” The girl gave Su Tao a strange look. “If you said Dongfang Yang might think that way, I’d believe it. But Si Chen? He’s the type who wouldn’t lift a finger without benefit. Would he really be that attentive if he only saw her as a sister?”

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With that, the girl moved to delete the photo. Su Tao quickly stopped her. “Wait, could you send that to me?”

“You want it? Sure.”

After adding each other as friends, Su Tao received the photo.

Dongfang Yang and Si Chen stood on either side of Chi Xiaocheng, the light perfectly framing the trio. But since it was a candid shot, the lighting wasn’t ideal. Dongfang Yang and Si Chen were brightly lit, while Chi Xiaocheng, sandwiched between them, seemed slightly dim.

Su Tao absentmindedly opened a photo editor, adjusting the brightness before tweaking the contrast.

Her finger slid across the screen.

Suddenly, the entire photo became overexposed. Dongfang Yang and Si Chen were washed out, nearly unrecognizable, while Chi Xiaocheng in the center shone brilliantly.

As if she belonged to no one, untouchable.

Su Tao’s hand froze mid-edit.

Slowly, she exited the editor.

She stared at the photo.

Then lifted her gaze to Chi Xiaocheng, still surrounded by the two. Her lips moved faintly. “…Too dazzling.”

By the time Chi Xiaocheng finished chatting with Dongfang Yang and Si Chen and finally approached Su Tao, her steps were unhurried. “Well? What do you think?”

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Su Tao blinked, then smiled. “You look beautiful.”

‘—You don’t look beautiful at all.’

“Xiaocheng always used to dress so plainly. Seeing you like this for the first time is really stunning.”

‘—You were better off plain. No one would notice you. Only I could treasure you.’

“I’m happy you’re getting so much attention now. As long as you’re happy, that’s what matters.”

‘—Happy? What’s there to be happy about? The more attention you get, the further you drift from me!’

After days of studying acting, Su Tao had focused on controlling her facial expressions. She hadn’t learned much, but at least she wasn’t as transparent as before.

She knew exactly how filthy her thoughts were.

Yet her face still wore a smile, one that seemed genuinely happy for Chi Xiaocheng.

And because of these thoughts, she hated herself even more.

The banquet hadn’t officially started, but guests were arriving steadily. Due to her health, Chi Xiaocheng didn’t move around much. She found a warm spot and sat quietly, like a delicate doll.

So exquisite that every guest entering the hall couldn’t help but glance her way.

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Then the whispers began.

Who is this little princess? In all these years of banquets, we’ve never seen someone like her.

By now, Chi Xiaocheng was starting to regret her decision.

Wanting to create a dazzling image to give Su Tao the sense that “If you don’t hold onto me, I’ll slip further away,” she’d asked Si Chen to pick an elegant but modest outfit.

The result? She was radiant. The brightest presence in the room.

But Tao-Tao….

‘What the hell are you doing?! Standing off to the side like a block of wood like that…! If you care, then stand by my side and stake your claim!’

‘What’s with gossiping about me like some bystander? Aren’t you worried some other young master might snatch me away?’

‘Not that I’d let them, but I want you to make a move!’

Screaming internally, Chi Xiaocheng couldn’t exactly influence Su Tao’s thoughts now that all eyes were on her.

She was beginning to understand why, in the original 4-million-word novel, Su Tao had remained “pure” until the very end.

This girl was denser than reinforced concrete. With her combat skills, no domineering CEO could’ve broken through.

She’d been hoping Su Tao would act. But Su Tao, weighed down by self-loathing and insecurity, couldn’t bring herself to step forward when faced with a glittering Chi Xiaocheng.

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Scanning the crowd, Su Tao soon spotted her middle school friend, Tang Tang.

Still dressed like a tomboy, Tang Tang waved excitedly upon seeing her, then glanced around in confusion. “Where’s Xiaocheng? Why are you alone?”

“Over there.” Su Tao pointed at Chi Xiaocheng, sitting primly on a plush sofa.

Clang!

Tang Tang’s wine glass slipped from her fingers and shattered on the floor.

She gaped at the princess-like— no, angelic figure. “Wait, that’s Xiaocheng?! Your—”

Before she could blurt out “girlfriend,” Su Tao clamped a hand over her mouth.

The sound of breaking glass had already drawn everyone’s attention. If Tang Tang shouted that out, Su Tao wouldn’t know how to recover.

In a hushed voice, she hissed, “Don’t yell it out! We’re not even at that stage yet. Do you want to put Xiaocheng on the spot?!”

Tang Tang blinked, then clasped her hands in apology once Su Tao released her. “Sorry, sorry! I just got too excited. In my memories, back in middle school, Xiaocheng was always trailing behind you, clumsy, a bit scruffy, wearing that old jacket with messy hair.

“I never imagined she’d turn out this cute and adorable in just a few years!”

Taking a deep breath, Tang Tang turned to Su Tao with sudden seriousness. “Tao-Tao, if I didn’t know you two were a thing, I’d seriously try to win Xiaocheng over myself.”