Peach-Orange! – Chapter 302 – I’m Sorry, Xiaocheng….

Unlike Dark Xiaocheng, who was alone in the dim room,

Chi Xiaocheng felt an indescribable sense of security in this space (though smaller than her own room) after being carried in by Su Tao.

Only when they lay down together, with an arm draped over her shoulder, did Chi Xiaocheng gaze at the girl beside her with complex emotions.

On one hand, there were the endless cycles in her dream where Su Tao had been influenced by the world’s will.

On the other, there was her genuine love for Su Tao. She cherished this moment, yet feared that one day, if she revealed her identity as a transmigrator, she might be rejected.

And….

Su Tao’s words at the end of the dream; “We’re both girls,” still lingered in Chi Xiaocheng’s heart.

The Status Glasses had previously shown that even with possessiveness and affection at 80 points, Su Tao still held reservations about their shared gender!

How could such reservations be erased?

Her conflicted expression didn’t go unnoticed. Su Tao, mistaking it for lingering fear of the thunder, hugged her tighter. “It’s okay, Xiaocheng. Don’t overthink it. There’s nothing to be afraid of.

“Close your eyes and sleep. I’ll always be by your side.”

Their interaction was quieter than usual.

But this misunderstood comfort struck a chord in Chi Xiaocheng’s heart.

She overthought everything, trapped in endless internal struggles.

Fear kept her awake more often than not.

Having been caught in the rain earlier and exhausted from the lucid dream, Chi Xiaocheng’s already frail constitution gave out.

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Buried in Su Tao’s embrace, contrasting sharply with the loneliness she’d felt earlier, she was soon lulled to sleep by the warmth and softness surrounding her.

But Su Tao couldn’t sleep.

The faint patter of raindrops against the window unsettled her.

Or rather, what truly disturbed her, tugging at her heart in the darkness, was the steady rhythm of breathing beside her.

Xiaocheng was in her arms.

They were sharing a bed again, just like before.

She’d even unconsciously called her “Tao-Tao” earlier.

Everything seemed to be moving in the right direction.

Yet, thinking of Dr. Lin’s estimated treatment timeline, a persistent thought gnawed at Su Tao’s mind:

Hold her tighter. Claim her. Don’t wait for her to recover her memories and love you as her obsessive self. That would take too long. Take the initiative now—make her fall irrevocably in love with you, whether she remembers or not.

Make her unable to leave you.

That way, even if ten Fang Nings or a hundred Dongfang Yangs appeared, Xiaocheng would never stray!

Remembering the days before Xiaocheng lost her memories….

Though her obsessive behavior had been troubling, even frightening, Su Tao now found herself craving that unreserved love and possessiveness.

The way Xiaocheng clung to her in sleep, as if afraid she’d vanish.

How her gaze never left Su Tao, always meeting her eyes with a smile.

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The daily, relentless kisses, the forced yet intoxicating intimacy that had once enthralled her.

Feeling the delicate warmth in her arms, Su Tao’s heartbeat quickened.

She didn’t dare move much, but couldn’t resist leaning down. In the near darkness, each flash of lightning briefly illuminated the room.

And in those moments, she could see that peaceful, sleeping face.

And those lips that had once driven her mad with longing….

Su Tao licked her own lips, her breathing growing heavier. Her mind buzzed with memories of that addictive sweetness.

Reason told her: “You’ve finally rebuilt your relationship with Xiaocheng. Just wait for her memories to return. If you upset her now, all your efforts will be wasted.”

But this was no longer the Su Tao who could face everything with calm logic.

The “white moonlight” persona forced onto her by the world’s will was being peeled away, layer by layer, by Chi Xiaocheng.

“Xiaocheng?”

Su Tao couldn’t resist calling out softly.

After a pause with no response, she reached out, lightly brushing Chi Xiaocheng’s cheek.

“Xiaocheng… can you hear me?”

This time, her voice was slightly louder.

Her breathing had grown heavier than her words.

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Getting no reaction, Su Tao grew more certain that Chi Xiaocheng was deep asleep.

Her barely concealed intentions began to surface.

Guided by the fleeting lightning, she adjusted her position, slowly leaning down.

“I’m sorry….”

An apology, though to whom, she wasn’t sure.

She only felt herself growing more despicable.

Yet when her lips met that familiar, intoxicating softness, Su Tao found, for the first time, she didn’t hate this version of herself.

…

When Chi Xiaocheng woke the next morning, Su Tao was already gone. The sound of the range hood in the kitchen told her Su Tao was making breakfast.

“My head hurts….”

Chi Xiaocheng sat up, still groggy.

Absentmindedly, she wet her slightly dry lips with her tongue, then frowned. “Weird. I didn’t eat anything sweet before bed… why does my mouth taste sugary?”

Shaking her head sent a fresh wave of dizziness and pain through her. She winced. “Xiao Hei, are you there?”

“I’m just a figment of your imagination. As long as you need me, I won’t disappear.”

The voice came from beside her. Turning, she saw the black-gowned Xiao Hei perched on the desk by the window, watching her.

The post-rain morning sun bathed her, accentuating her cool demeanor.

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Chi Xiaocheng grinned. “Just wanted some distraction from this headache.”

Xiao Hei rolled her eyes. “If you’re sick, just let your precious Tao-Tao take care of you. Don’t call me for no reason.”

“Don’t you like it when I call you?”

“I don’t want to hear your endless overthinking.”

Chi Xiaocheng smiled sheepishly, finally grasping her condition. Getting caught in the rain yesterday had inevitably led to a cold, given her frail health.

But….

Having spent so much time hospitalized, she was used to this sickly body.

After resting a while longer, she braced herself against the bed and stood. Confirming it was just weakness and a headache, she headed out to wash up.

Breakfast, cold medicine, rest, then the “special psychiatric medication” from Dr. Lin. With nothing else to do, Chi Xiaocheng spent the entire day glued to Su Tao.

By evening, after her bath, she lay on the sofa enjoying Su Tao’s massage. For the first time, she truly experienced what it felt like to have Tao-Tao’s “eyes only on her.”

‘I wish time would freeze here.’

‘Or at least pause when our relationship deepens further.’

Mid-massage, Chi Xiaocheng suddenly turned her head, meeting Su Tao’s tender gaze.

Feeling those hands kneading her thighs, a sweet warmth blossomed in her chest.

‘My Tao-Tao… is really becoming more and more like her old self.’