Peach-Orange! – Chapter 256 – Is the Distance Really Getting Closer?

“By the way, Si Chen.”

Just as Si Chen was still lost in thought, Su Tao suddenly turned her gaze toward him. “I have a question for you.”

Si Chen snapped back to reality. “What is it? Go ahead.”

Su Tao glanced at Chi Xiaocheng from afar and asked first, “You… used to have that agreement with Dongfang Yang and Ye Liang, right? So now, you shouldn’t like me anymore, right?”

Si Chen didn’t quite understand why Su Tao was asking such a vague question now.

He replied, “Of course I don’t like you. I’ve always seen you as a friend. Besides, I know about you and Chi Xiaocheng. How could I possibly still like you?”

‘You’re beautiful and cool, with a great personality.’

‘But testing a comrade with such a simple question?’

‘Do you even understand the weight of the premium-gold edition ‘Eternally Never Love Tao’?’

What was strange, though, was how blunt Su Tao’s question was today. In the past, she would have been too embarrassed to ask something like this directly.

No sooner had this thought crossed Si Chen’s mind than Su Tao followed up with another question.

“Do you like Xiaocheng?”

Si Chen: “?”

He had always prided himself on staying rational.

Standing on Chi Xiaocheng’s side gave him the advantage of information asymmetry, making it easy to fool Su Tao.

But this question was the first one in a long time that he found hard to answer.

Especially when he recalled how, during the banquet, Su Tao had kicked Lin Fangya five meters away with a single strike.

Standing straight, one kick, five meters.

This wasn’t some running flying kick, and the other party was a normal-weight adult.

It terrified him.

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But he couldn’t not answer. Si Chen knew Su Tao was starting to develop possessiveness over Chi Xiaocheng, which was exactly what they had planned for.

After some hesitation, Si Chen finally replied softly, “Like I said, I know about you two. Chi Xiaocheng is cute, sure, but I don’t really like her that way. You know, just like Dongfang Yang, I only see her as a little sister.”

Su Tao narrowed her eyes and nodded lightly. “Okay, got it.”

Her indifferent tone made Si Chen break into a cold sweat.

But then again, he realized he didn’t actually have to sweat it.

He really didn’t like Chi Xiaocheng. Sure, the plan involved pretending to like her, but it never specified having to confess or anything.

Acting was acting. Just creating the illusion was enough.

‘I’m loyal to Xiaocheng, and she’ll protect me later anyway. No need to feel guilty!’

However, his purpose here wasn’t just small talk. After Chi Xiaocheng finished taking photos with the kids, she continued wandering around the arcade with Su Tao.

Si Chen shamelessly tagged along, pretending to be socially clueless but still joining in on the games.

Meanwhile, Chi Xiaocheng deliberately chatted more with Si Chen, subtly cold-shouldering Su Tao.

The two of them acted out this charade to nurture Su Tao’s possessiveness.

Poor Sister Su tao, always being played like a fiddle by Xiaocheng~

It wasn’t until 10 p.m., after leaving the arcade, that Si Chen found an excuse to leave with his younger brother, Si Lai.

Su Tao herself found it strange. Logically, she should be nothing but grateful to Si Chen for all his help.

Yet, for some reason, she couldn’t help feeling a little annoyed with him.

At least he didn’t overstay his welcome, but now it was time to head back to the hospital.

The night’s outing was pretty much over.

Still, Su Tao wished she could spend more time with Chi Xiaocheng.

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Blocking the wind, she asked the girl beside her, “Xiaocheng, where do you want to go next?”

Chi Xiaocheng smiled faintly. “I’m a little tired. Let’s just take a casual walk for now.”

“Okay.”

But the night wind grew stronger, making Su Tao worry about whether Chi Xiaocheng’s delicate body could handle it.

She stood on one side, trying her best to shield her from the wind, but gusts still slipped through.

Chi Xiaocheng was still holding the Grey Wolf plushie, but after walking for a while, she couldn’t help yawning twice, clearly struggling to stay awake. “Sister Su tao, maybe we should head back? Let’s take a taxi?”

“Mm.”

Su Tao nodded lightly, though they didn’t actually need a taxi. Instead, she sent Dongfang Yang a message.

At this hour, hailing a cab might not be the safest option.

This was something Dongfang Yang had repeatedly emphasized: safety first.

Su Tao looked at the girl beside her. “How about I carry you, Xiaocheng? Like I said before, if you’re tired, I’ll carry you.”

‘That way, I can feel that warm, soft little body again.’

But Chi Xiaocheng declined. “No need. Oh, look, there’s a flower shop over there. Let’s go take a look. I’ll buy you a flower, Sister Su tao.”

“Buy me a flower?”

“It’s a gift… for protecting me tonight.”

Without giving Su Tao a chance to respond, Chi Xiaocheng dashed to the flower shop and asked the owner to wrap a single white rose.

By the time Su Tao caught up, the rose was already being handed to her by that small hand.

Chi Xiaocheng smiled sweetly. “It’s not much, but… thank you, sister.”

This time, she dropped the “Su Tao” and just called her sister.

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The distance between them was shrinking, their bond growing stronger.

From being despised at first, to clearing up misunderstandings, to calling her Sister Su Tao, and now this.

The progression was plain to see.

‘Xiaocheng’s fondness for me is steadily increasing. She’s slowly starting to like me again.’

‘And our relationship will only grow closer, more intimate.’

Gifts for her didn’t need to be extravagant. As long as it came from Xiaocheng, Su Tao would love it.

Just like this white rose.

There were many kinds of flowers, but even with her scrambled memories, she hadn’t forgotten: her favorite was the white rose.

Accepting the rose, Su Tao responded with equal solemnity and affection, “Xiaocheng, you can keep relying on me from now on, too.”

Just like today.

Or even more than today.

Soon, Dongfang Yang’s car arrived.

Parked in front of the flower shop, the big boy in a trench coat rolled down the window and whistled playfully. “Your chariot awaits, princesses.”

“Boss, you’re being so cringe!”

Chi Xiaocheng burst out laughing, hugging the Grey Wolf plushie as she quickly climbed into the car.

Su Tao, meanwhile, gazed at Chi Xiaocheng with a hint of adoration. “Don’t rush getting in. Be careful not to bump your head.”

Clutching the white rose, she got in and closed the door properly. But before she could even settle into her seat, the show-off driver had already slammed on the gas.

The sudden jerk sent a gust of icy wind whipping against her face. Instinctively, Su Tao raised her hand to block it.

But the wind was too strong. The white rose slipped from her grip and flew out the window.

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Su Tao reacted immediately, twisting around to reach out. “My rose!”

Dongfang Yang glanced at her, unfazed. “Relax, it’s just a flower. I’ll get you a whole bouquet later.”

“But—”

But Xiaocheng gave that to me!

Before she could finish, Chi Xiaocheng chimed in, “Sister Su tao, sticking your head out the window is dangerous. Just let the flower go.”

Under the dim streetlights, the rose landed in the middle of the road. As the sports car sped away, the flower grew smaller and smaller, the distance between them widening.

Until another car drove past.

Crunch.

The white rose was crushed.

Its pristine petals fluttered into the air before vanishing as the sports car continued onward.

The scene lasted only a split second, yet to Su Tao, it played out in slow motion, reflected in her widening eyes.

She didn’t even have time to tell Dongfang Yang to stop.

That was Xiaocheng’s gift to her!

To her, it wasn’t just a flower. It was Xiaocheng herself, a symbol of their growing closeness.

But now, Su Tao could only stare blankly.

‘Xiaocheng does rely on me. She calls me sister so sweetly.’

But….

‘Is the distance between us really getting smaller?’