Peach-Orange! – Chapter 306 – The Invitation

The driver wasn’t a cowardly person by nature. Just last time, he’d risked being scammed by an old lady to help her up.

But this sudden turn of events still gave him a fright.

Especially when the cold blade tip pierced through his clothes and lightly pressed against his skin.

Terrified, the driver immediately raised both hands off the steering wheel. “Bro! I’m just a cab driver, I don’t have much money! It’s the New Year, harmony brings wealth!”

But the moment he let go of the wheel, the assailant panicked even more. “I’ll call you bro, okay?! Just fucking hold the steering wheel steady!”

Snapping back to reality, the driver quickly steadied the nearly skidding car, his smile frozen stiff.

The assailant spoke calmly, “Just drive properly. Don’t worry, you’re not my target.”

Then, with a somewhat gentlemanly demeanor, he turned to Su Tao and smiled. “Miss Su Tao, we couldn’t find a chance to invite you out properly. My young master had no choice but to resort to this method to request your presence.”

Su Tao narrowed her eyes. The moment her hand, clutching her phone, twitched, the man immediately warned, “I’d advise against any tricks like calling the police or shouting for help. We’ve done our homework before targeting you. Let me guess, that little sister of yours is probably in a car right now too?

“On the way to the hospital?

“I can’t guarantee she won’t get into an accident if you make a call.”

Hearing this, Su Tao’s expression darkened. She quickly set her phone aside and moved from the left seat to the right, proving she wouldn’t use it for any tricks.

Her voice turned icy. “I won’t call for help. But if you dare make a call that puts Xiaocheng in danger, even if it means perishing together in this car, I won’t let you off easy!”

Driver: “?”

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He mentally spat out a question mark, his foot on the accelerator trembling.

He didn’t want to perish together!

But he didn’t dare speak up. All he heard was the assailant’s calm reply, “Relax. As long as you come quietly, I won’t cause trouble. I’m just following orders.”

Su Tao: “Then tell me, who’s this ‘young master’ of yours who needs to invite me this way?”

The assailant merely smiled, refusing to answer. His lips were sealed tight.

Seeing this, Su Tao’s mind grew heavy.

She mentally ran through the list of people who might target her.

Xiao Ming was one, but as a mercenary back from abroad, he wouldn’t be called “young master.”

Ye Er had clashed with her before, but both Dongfang Yang and Si Chen had repeatedly warned her about him. Given his personality, would he strike on the very day both Dongfang Yang and Si Chen returned to Jiuzhou City?

But other than these two, who else could it be?

Su Tao couldn’t figure it out. All she could do was wait as the car followed the assailant’s directions.

She couldn’t let Xiaocheng get involved. For now, she’d have to handle this alone!

Her hand tightened around the fruit knife in her pocket. She was grateful for her habit of carrying a small knife for self-defense.

This was her greatest lifeline now.

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But what she didn’t know was that while she wanted to keep Chi Xiaocheng out of this, Chi Xiaocheng was always watching over her beloved Tao-Tao.

After tampering with Su Tao’s phone, Chi Xiaocheng had long installed a tracking bug. Originally, they were almost at the hospital, but when she habitually checked her phone—

She immediately noticed something was wrong. “Brother, Tao-Tao isn’t heading to the airport.”

“Huh??”

Chi Song, driving one-handed, glanced over. “How do you know?”

“Uh…” Chi Xiaocheng hesitated. “We share locations. According to the GPS, she seems to be heading toward the outskirts. Weird, why would she go there….”

“Wait— no!” Chi Xiaocheng’s eyes instantly turned crimson and eerie. Her “Darkening” skill activated at maximum intensity the moment the thought formed. “Tao-Tao’s in danger!”

“Brother, turn around! Head to the eastern outskirts!”

Without hesitation, Chi Song nodded. “Got it!”

Not only that, Chi Xiaocheng immediately messaged Si Chen: “Tao-Tao might have been kidnapped. She’s in a taxi heading toward the eastern outskirts. Exact location unknown. Send some people to help!”

There had almost been an accident last time it rained. These days, with Chi Song keeping watch, and after confirming the taxi driver was just an ordinary cabbie when Su Tao got in, Chi Xiaocheng thought the trip to the airport would be safe.

Who knew something would still happen!

Was this the world’s will targeting them?

Or an event triggered by the female lead’s halo?

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Chi Xiaocheng didn’t know. But she knew today’s treatment would have to wait.

Not only did Si Chen’s men mobilize, but the underlings Chi Song had brought back also sprang into action. Cars from different locations simultaneously headed toward the eastern outskirts.

Even though this was just Chi Xiaocheng’s speculation, no one doubted her words.

Soon, the taxi veered from the main road onto smaller paths, passing through low-lying areas before arriving at Lunan Farm: a large, remote agricultural base in Jiuzhou City.

Su Tao didn’t have many hobbies, but due to “Study to Strengthen the Nation,” she kept up with the news. She clearly remembered this agricultural base was invested in by the Si family.

Was Si Chen trying to kidnap her so he could make moves on Xiaocheng while she was away?!

But when she arrived at the farm and stepped out of the car, Su Tao realized she’d wronged Si Chen.

She clearly saw the Si family’s old butler from the last banquet waiting at the farm’s entrance.

He bowed respectfully. “Miss Su Tao, our apologies for inviting you in this manner. Young Master Chu is waiting inside.”

Chu! It was Chu Lingfeng!

Su Tao’s mind flashed to that somewhat unhinged “Miracle Doctor.”

Her guard shot up to maximum.

Of course, she didn’t know Chu Lingfeng had long colluded with Si Zhenliu, who’d ordered him to capture her by any means necessary.

Assuming Xiaocheng had already reached the hospital by now, and that Dongfang Yang and Si Chen would soon arrive there too, Su Tao steadied herself. Confident they couldn’t harm Xiaocheng, she coldly asked the butler,

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“If Chu Lingfeng wanted to invite me, he could’ve used other methods. This underhanded approach hardly counts as an invitation.”

The butler led her into the farm. “This was the Miracle Doctor Chu’s idea. We’re merely following orders. We hope you’ll understand.”

His words sounded polite, but given the near-kidnapping circumstances, Su Tao couldn’t possibly “understand.”

With a cold snort, she discreetly observed the farm’s layout and security, calculating her chances of forcing her way out if needed.

Xiaocheng was her weakness.

But with Xiaocheng safe and herself in danger, Su Tao wasn’t some ordinary girl who’d just cry in fear.

Calm, strong, rational… the unique halo of a female lead shone brightly around her.

Author Note

PS: The last day of 2024! Here’s a bonus chapter.

Since starting this book on August 24, four months have passed! 650,000 words without a single day’s break. It’s only thanks to everyone’s support that I’ve made it this far.

In 2025, I’ll keep working hard to bring you even better content.

Next month is a bonus chapter month, so that means at least one extra chapter daily, with explosive updates during the New Year. I hope you’ll continue supporting Xiaocheng and Tao-Tao!

Also, aside from repaying owed chapters, the new bonus rule is: one “Gift King” (500) = one extra chapter. No upper limit. I’ll write as many as you gift! Please consider supporting with tips and reminders!