Peach-Orange! – Chapter 286 – Possession and Love Are Not Mutually Exclusive

To be honest, after listening to Fang Ning’s account and secretly observing her expression, Chi Xiaocheng genuinely felt a twinge of guilt at that moment.

It wasn’t that she was being presumptuous, thinking that Ningning had feelings for her.

Rather, it was because she had always been asking Fang Ning to help her win over Tao-Tao, thereby neglecting Fang Ning’s own needs.

Thinking back, had she ever given Fang Ning anything in return?

But just as this thought surfaced, Fang Ning made her discard it. She brought up the issue of her relationship with Su Tao and then turned the conversation to Chi Xiaocheng herself.

Chi Xiaocheng was quickly drawn in and pointed at herself in confusion, “What’s wrong with me?”

Fang Ning pursed her lips. “You’ve been pressuring Sister Tao-Tao, forcing her to follow the path you’ve set. That’s a huge problem, okay? She cares about you and wants to possess you, but what about the mutual liking and love between you two?”

“Haven’t we talked about this already?” Chi Xiaocheng was well aware of the consequences of her actions. “First, get together with Tao-Tao. Once she can’t leave me, we’ll slowly nurture our feelings through daily life.”

“Besides, if we end up together, it’ll be because of mutual liking and love. After that, it’s just about solidifying that bond and turning it into something beautiful.”

The sequence wasn’t wrong.

When they were together, love wouldn’t be lacking. It just might not be as pure at first.

But once they were together, Tao-Tao’s possessiveness would grow, and both would avoid outside interference. They wouldn’t be affected by the will of the world and would never separate.

As time passed, their feelings would naturally deepen.

However, Chi Xiaocheng rarely saw Fang Ning argue like this. “This isn’t right, Sister Xiaocheng. If you keep doing this, it’ll take forever for you and Sister Tao-Tao to get together.”

“That’s exactly the problem! Time!” Chi Xiaocheng grew impatient. “Liking and love can be developed later. The most important thing now is to make sure Tao-Tao can’t leave me!”

Rеаd on KatRеαԁіngСαfe

To put it bluntly, it was her own insecurity at work.

She also wanted to embrace Su Tao right away.

But if her possessiveness hadn’t reached the required level, something unexpected could happen later.

Her current restraint was all for the sake of a smooth future.

Yet Fang Ning leaned in close to Chi Xiaocheng, shaking her head like a rattle-drum. “What I mean is, increasing Sister Tao-Tao’s possessiveness toward you and making her like you more aren’t mutually exclusive!”

“Huh???”

Fang Ning continued, “I’m not saying you should recover your memories now. What I mean is, even during this period of amnesia, you can still get close to Sister Tao-Tao.

“You can still show her your best side.”

“This….”

Chi Xiaocheng was momentarily speechless. She hadn’t considered this perspective before.

In her understanding, the way to increase Su Tao’s possessiveness was to distance herself from Su Tao.

To give Su Tao the illusion that “I might not like you anymore,” to create distance and make her anxious.

That way, her possessiveness would quickly rise.

In fact, Chi Xiaocheng had been following the script all along. With Fang Ning’s help, Su Tao’s possessiveness had already reached 80 points.

Seeing that Chi Xiaocheng still hadn’t fully grasped it, Fang Ning stood up in exasperation. “What I mean is, even with amnesia, as a younger sister, you can still openly like Sister Tao-Tao without hesitation.

Rеαԁ oո КаtRеαdіngСаfe

“There’s no need to hide it. Just keep pretending to have amnesia. As for increasing possessiveness, you can fake failing to recover your memories a few times.

“During this time, if Sister Tao-Tao grows to like you even more, then when she realizes she still can’t have you, won’t her possessiveness naturally increase?”

“But look at Sister Tao-Tao now. She looks like she’s about to explode from stress. You reject her, and she doesn’t dare to take the next step. It’s like you’re using the red string of fate for a tug-of-war!”

Chi Xiaocheng was speechless. Faced with such a forceful Fang Ning, she felt slightly unaccustomed.

She explained, “I gave her a sachet as a token of my feelings. It’s supposed to help relieve stress.”

“???” Fang Ning’s eyes widened as if she’d seen something shocking. “Sister Xiaocheng, you dummy! What she needs isn’t a sachet! It’s you!”

She didn’t expect them to embrace.

If even holding hands was too difficult,

they could start by just linking pinkies.

Fang Ning pulled Chi Xiaocheng to sit on the bed while she took the chair, careful not to overstep, and patiently explained.

Those involved are often lost in the fog, while outsiders see clearly.

As mentioned earlier, both of them had issues.

Fang Ning said, “Sister Xiaocheng, what you’re doing is actually successful. You’ve just taken the wrong path.

“Sister Tao-Tao already knows you’re a yandere. She understands that accepting your twisted love is the only way to receive it. She’s holding on to you because she wants to win you back.

“But you, Sister Xiaocheng, keep waiting in place for Sister Tao-Tao to come and claim you.

Reаd οո КαtRеаdіոɡСafe

“Your desire to stay with Sister Tao-Tao forever isn’t wrong, but the process is. Sister Tao-Tao’s current desire is more about ‘not wanting to lose’ you, not ‘wanting to have’ you. The essence is different.

“Sister Xiaocheng, you’ve given Sister Tao-Tao pressure, but that doesn’t mean you should withhold love.”

Chi Xiaocheng listened carefully, and Fang Ning’s explanation was crystal clear.

Before it was pointed out, she hadn’t realized how extreme her approach had become.

Her lingering insecurity had driven her to rush, to make Su Tao’s possessiveness grow faster, to make Su Tao claim her sooner.

She thought suppressing her own affection would help achieve that goal.

But she hadn’t considered that the two weren’t mutually exclusive.

Even with amnesia, she could still get close to Tao-Tao.

The reason for the amnesia was that the pain of Tao-Tao’s past rejection was etched into her subconscious.

But why should the subconscious only hold pain?

The happiness of the past was also in the subconscious. That was the more accurate answer.

“I don’t want to remember the past, but I still want to cling to her.”

That way, she’d enjoy it while growing anxious.

She’d love her while desperately wanting to possess her, ensuring that love stayed by her side forever.

Dispel the fog, and the dawn becomes clear.

Rеαԁ οn ΚatRеαⅾіnɡCαfe

Chi Xiaocheng let out a soft sigh, feeling her thoughts clear considerably. She teased Fang Ning, “Ningning doesn’t seem like someone who doesn’t understand love at all. You’re more like an emotion expert.”

Faced with the teasing, Fang Ning suddenly remembered.

Chi Xiaocheng had once asked her about “love,” but at the time, she’d played dumb and countered with a question:

—What is love?

Fang Ning reached up to adjust her bangs, hiding her flustered gaze. “I was just talking nonsense.”

Yeah, right.

Fang Ning did have her own ulterior motives.

But these past three days, she’d often seen Su Tao entering Chi Xiaocheng’s room.

In Su Tao’s eyes, she was the victor, the other “owner” of this room.

But Fang Ning knew better. Every time Su Tao entered and sat nearby, Chi Xiaocheng would forcibly suppress her emotions.

She’d pretend not to care, but her gaze would always linger on Su Tao.

When Su Tao turned to leave, Chi Xiaocheng would reach out but not dare to call out.

Conflict and sorrow intertwined, turning into a forced smile.

It was heartbreaking to watch.