Peach-Orange! – Chapter 287 – Departure (Bonus Chapter for Non-Yandere Chi Xiaocheng)

After a night of contemplation, Chi Xiaocheng decided to try the method Fang Ning had suggested.

In her current “amnesiac” state, she would give Su Tao a little love.

Then, taking advantage of a late-night bathroom break, she went to Su Tao’s door. She cracked it open slightly and peeked inside.

Su Tao was sitting on the bed, reading a book very intently.

Chi Xiaocheng pouted.

‘I thought Tao-Tao would be fantasizing about me and doing something weird in her room….’

Not seeing what she wanted to see, she was a little unhappy.

She pushed the door open anyway.

Noticing her, Su Tao immediately set down the book (Acting: From Beginner to Grave) in her hands and quickly said, “Xiaocheng, aren’t you sleeping yet? Are you hungry? I can make you a midnight snack.”

Chi Xiaocheng turned on the acting, asking timidly, “Tomorrow… the weather forecast says it’ll be sunny. We haven’t gone out in a while. Maybe… we could go shopping?”

Su Tao’s mouth fell open slightly, momentarily stunned by the suggestion. Clearly, she was shocked.

Blinking, Chi Xiaocheng “shyly” took a step back and closed the door. She secretly stood by the door, brushing aside the hair by her ear and pressing it against the cold surface.

Soon, excited noises came from inside.

“Shopping! Shopping!

“Xiaocheng actually invited me to go shopping!

“All my efforts these past few days really worked, hahahahaha!”

Chi Xiaocheng awkwardly rubbed her cheek with her index finger. Had Tao-Tao been suppressing herself for too long? She could already picture Su Tao laughing wildly on the bed while hugging a pillow and rolling around.

So unladylike….

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But… this proactive approach seemed to work well.

—

The next morning, Su Tao was fully prepared.

Well-rested, meticulously dressed, and armed with plans for every possible scenario. If Dongfang Yang hadn’t been away, she would’ve borrowed a car from him overnight.

By the time Chi Xiaocheng woke up, Su Tao was already ready to go.

Her signature high ponytail, a brown fur-lined down coat, a knit sweater underneath, and the long hem reaching her knees. Along with her crossbody bag and hands in her pockets, she had an indescribably cool aura.

Seeing her standing in the living room, Chi Xiaocheng yawned. “Even though we’re going out for breakfast, Sister Tao-Tao, isn’t it too early? It’s only 8 o’clock.”

A winter morning without sleeping in was soulless.

Su Tao chuckled sheepishly. “I was just too excited about going shopping with you.”

Without even taking off her bag, as if afraid Fang Ning might emerge from her room, she added, “Come on, Xiaocheng, let me do your hair. If you don’t feel like moving, you can just stand there and nap while I help you brush your teeth and wash your face.”

So energetic….

She was practically a different person from before.

Chi Xiaocheng didn’t refuse Su Tao’s attentiveness. After enjoying the pampering, she changed into warm clothes.

Then, Fang Ning, who had “slept in,” finally woke up. Stepping out of her room, she saw the two about to leave.

Su Tao was impatient, wishing Fang Ning had stayed asleep so she could whisk Chi Xiaocheng away for a whole day of just the two of them.

But now that the little one was awake, she couldn’t ignore her… and neither could Chi Xiaocheng.

She asked, “The weather’s nice today, and we’ve been cooped up at home for three days. We’re going out shopping, and I’ll stop by the hospital for a check-up. Ningning, do you want to come?”

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Chi Xiaocheng extended the invitation while subtly trying to blink rapidly at Fang Ning, signaling her to decline.

Her intention was to provoke Su Tao’s possessiveness.

But before her hints could land, Fang Ning shook her head with a faint smile. She clasped her hands behind her back and took a small step back. “I’ll pass. Yesterday, I promised King and Little Ranran I’d give them a bath and tidy up their little nests.”

“Oh, alright then. You’ll have to handle lunch on your own.”

“Mhm, have fun~”

Waving goodbye, she watched as the door closed, shutting out the sunlight along with them. The living room instantly felt empty.

Fang Ning quickly walked to the balcony, crouching slightly as she waited. Soon, she saw Su Tao and Chi Xiaocheng walking closely together, exiting the building.

They chatted about something, their movements natural. A gust of wind tangled their loose strands of hair together.

Only when they completely disappeared from view did Fang Ning snap out of it.

Leaning against the balcony railing, she swept her gaze across the living room, as if memorizing every detail.

“It’s time to go.”

She had done what she needed to do. Though things hadn’t gone exactly as planned, seeing them walk out together and Chi Xiaocheng’s expectant smile this morning was enough.

Both of them had taken a step forward.

If she stubbornly stayed any longer, she’d just be in the way.

Fang Ning took a deep breath and headed to the storage room for a broom. She swept, mopped, and cleaned up the cat hair scattered everywhere.

Then, she bathed King and Little Ranran.

Working at a cat café had made her adept at pet care. She worked unhurriedly, but time flew by.

By the time she finished packing, it was already noon.

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…A little reluctant, a little lonely.

The sweeter the memories, the harder the farewell. Though she’d spent the past few days “vying for favor” with Su Tao and had only come as Chi Xiaocheng’s wingman, Fang Ning had genuinely felt… at home.

She had experienced what it meant to celebrate the New Year.

In her past memories of endless firecrackers, she had spent them wrapped in a thick coat, braving the snow.

She had followed Liu Guifang, but Liu had relatives and friends during the holidays. No one paid attention to a little tagalong.

Occasionally, passersby mistook her for a beggar and would toss her a candy amid the firecrackers.

“I don’t want to leave.”

But… this home was already crowded. There was no place for her.

Fang Ning reached the door but suddenly remembered something and dashed back to Chi Xiaocheng’s room.

From a pile of plushies, she dug out a straw doll with red eyes that somewhat resembled Chi Xiaocheng.

The doll had no life in it. Its chest had once been torn open, but she had stitched it up over the past few days.

‘This one looks like Sister Xiaocheng….’

‘If I sneak it away, no one will notice, right?’

Carefully, she stuffed the doll into her bag. After a moment’s thought, she left a note behind. First time stealing something… kind of embarrassing.

She chuckled softly and turned to leave.

Grabbing her luggage, she opened the front door—

Only to freeze at the sight of a tall figure outside.

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A one-armed man, seemingly about to barge in, startled her. Clutching her bag tightly, Fang Ning asked nervously, “W-Who are you looking for?”

“Uh…” The man took two steps back, scratching his head awkwardly. “I… I’m just coming home. I’m Chi Song, Xiaocheng’s older brother. Here to see her. And you are…?”

Fang Ning was still wary. “How can you prove it?”

Chi Song quickly pulled out his phone and showed his lock screen, which was a photo of him and Chi Xiaocheng together.

Relieved, Fang Ning replied, “I’m Sister Xiaocheng’s friend, Fang Ning. She went out shopping with Sister Tao-Tao. Sorry for assuming you were a bad person.”

“Hahaha, I’m used to it.” Uncomfortable talking to ordinary girls, Chi Song tucked his hands behind his back. “If Xiaocheng isn’t here, I won’t go in. Not sure how they’ve been keeping the place. I’ll wait till they’re back.

“By the way… where are you headed?”

“Back to work. I’ve stayed here for three days. I don’t want to trouble Sister Xiaocheng any longer.”

Chi Song raised an eyebrow. Despite his rough exterior, he was perceptive. This girl must be close to his sister.

Remembering why he’d returned and the recent incidents (like the fisherman who hooked a corpse), he awkwardly offered, “Lately… it hasn’t been very safe. Want me to walk you back?”

His tone was stiff.

A burly, tattooed, scarred man inviting a young girl somewhere?

Yeah, that’s not suspicious at all.

But Fang Ning could see the concern in his eyes. Tilting her head, she asked, “Won’t it trouble you?”

Chi Song grinned warmly. “Not at all.”

“Then… thank you?”

“Don’t mention it.”