Peach-Orange! – Chapter 314 – Su Tao’s Gradual Descent into Madness

But in Chu Lingfeng’s current state, how could they possibly make him eat Chi Xiaocheng’s strange apple?

Si Chen had seen the frenzied state of those who had been injected with the needles.

Now Chu Lingfeng had done the same to himself. Though he hadn’t transformed into a monster, he was still far from normal.

Si Chen was no match for him.

Su Tao had lost nearly all rationality.

While he was still pondering, a large group of security personnel quickly surrounded them. The leader was none other than the security captain who earned a monthly salary of 100,000.

Holding a pistol, he felt his scalp tingle at the sight of bloodstains littering the grass.

The sight of a twisted arm discarded to the side made him suck in a sharp breath. “Everyone, stop!”

Having worked in such a place, he was no stranger to violence. Instead of immediately siding with Chu Lingfeng, he shouted, “The head of the Si family is already on his way! Anyone who dares to act recklessly will face the consequences!”

Several security guards stepped forward.

Some aimed their guns at Su Tao, others at Chu Lingfeng.

But under the captain’s orders, those pointing at Su Tao were merely for show. Their muzzles were actually aimed at the grass beneath her feet.

Being stared down by the dark barrels of guns was like having a blade pressed to one’s throat. The threat of death finally brought some rationality back to Su Tao.

She still clutched the fruit knife tightly, but her gaze slowly shifted toward the unconscious Chi Xiaocheng.

Seeing Si Chen sitting beside her, reaching out to adjust Chi Xiaocheng’s position so she wouldn’t be lying flat against the bodyguard, Su Tao’s eyes, which had just begun to lose some of their crimson hue, suddenly flooded with blood again.

“Don’t touch her!”

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Su Tao glared at Si Chen with the same intensity she had directed at Chu Lingfeng moments ago.

Having studied psychology, Si Chen recognized that Su Tao was having a stress reaction.

He immediately raised his hands and scooted away, explaining, “I just wanted to adjust Chi Xiaocheng’s position to make her more comfortable. Lying flat like this while unconscious could cause blood to flow backward into her brain, leading to irreversible damage.”

Whether it was the words “damage” or “unconscious,” something in Su Tao’s mind registered.

Her crimson-brown eyes cleared slightly, though the fury in her expression remained. She rushed to Chi Xiaocheng’s side, ignoring the guns still trained on her.

Gently lifting Chi Xiaocheng, she cradled her in her arms.

“Xiaocheng… Xiaocheng….”

There was no response.

The hand pressed against Chi Xiaocheng’s cheek trembled uncontrollably.

Remembering her mistake from last time, Su Tao quickly moved her fingers to Chi Xiaocheng’s neck, checking her pulse.

Only when she felt the strong, steady beat did she finally exhale slowly.

When she looked up again—

Chu Lingfeng was howling like a rabid dog, screaming at one of the guards, “What are you standing around for?! How dare you point guns at me?! Do you have a death wish?! Kill Su Tao and the others! Shoot them now!

“Useless! All of you are useless!”

His shrieks and undisguised hostility only fueled Su Tao’s rising agitation.

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From Si Chen’s perspective, it was as though Su Tao, who had just begun to regain some semblance of calm because of Chi Xiaocheng, was being provoked back into fury by Chu Lingfeng.

Suppressing a groan, Si Chen forced himself to stand despite the pain, limping forward to position himself between Su Tao/Chi Xiaocheng and the security team.

He fixed the captain with a piercing stare. “Do you recognize me?”

“Young Master Si Chen.”

The captain bowed slightly, then gestured for his men to lower their weapons.

Si Chen scoffed. “Seems you’re not completely stupid. How about working for me instead?”

The captain’s expression shifted.

He lowered his head further, hiding his face.

Of course, he had noticed Si Chen earlier. He had also guessed that the girl with the fruit knife was the rumored martial artist.

As the head of security for this estate, his allegiance had always been to Si Zhenliu.

Or rather, as a small fry, he simply sided with whoever held more power.

But now….

The captain stole a glance at Si Chen.

The second son of the Si family.

His gaze then flickered to Su Tao and Chi Xiaocheng behind him.

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Gritting his teeth, the captain order his men, “Lower your guns! You four, restrain that Chu bastard!”

Chu Lingfeng flew into a rage. “You mutt! How dare you lay hands on this Miracle Doctor?! Do you have a death wish?! This isn’t Si Chen’s territory! Si Zhenliu is the one in charge here!”

Speak of the devil.

No sooner had Chu Lingfeng been pinned down than an elderly voice sighed, “That’s enough.”

Si Zhenliu had arrived.

The elder who managed the Si family’s affairs in Jiuzhou appeared completely different from the vibrant old man at the banquet.

His face was pale, age spots mottling his neck. The wrinkles at his temples had sunken in, and his atrophied facial muscles made his eyes bulge grotesquely.

Seeing him, Si Chen said coolly, “Elder, the dog you raised has forgotten his place. He even dared to bite me, a young master of the Si family.”

Si Zhenliu smiled faintly. “My apologies, Second Young Master. I’ll discipline him properly later. Perhaps we can let this matter rest for now? A prolonged scene would only invite ridicule.”

“Let it rest?!”

Si Chen’s voice spiked with fury. “My two sisters were beaten half to death by Chu Lingfeng! I nearly lost an arm myself! And you’re telling me to let it go?!

“Are you blind to the blood on my lips? Or did my shattered glasses reflect light straight into your eyes?!”

He exuded the authority of a true leader.

But Si Zhenliu wasn’t fazed. He had always been loyal to Si Chen’s elder brother.

“Second Young Master, calm yourself. The Miracle Doctor has already lost an ear. Moreover, he has done our Si family many favors. If this escalates to your elder brother, it would be… inconvenient.”

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Si Chen let out a self-deprecating laugh. “Old man, so you’re dead set on protecting him.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Si Zhenliu’s tone was polite, but he didn’t bow. “Since you wish to take command of the villa’s security dogs, they’re yours. This farmhouse will also be transferred to your name.”

He wanted to protect Chu Lingfeng but didn’t wish to escalate the conflict.

Though this captain had sided with him, far more of Si Zhenliu’s men had arrived.

Taking a deep breath, Si Chen reached into his pocket.

“I’ll let this go on one condition.”

Si Zhenliu raised an eyebrow. “Condition?”

“Exactly.” Si Chen produced the poisoned apple, looking at Chu Lingfeng. “He eats this apple, and the matter ends here.”

Si Zhenliu’s brow furrowed in confusion.

Amidst this standoff, with the situation so tense, Si Chen’s demand was… for Chu Lingfeng to eat an apple?

He couldn’t make sense of it. But the confrontation had already gone too far. No matter how disfavored Si Chen was, he was still nominally a young master.

Besides, it was just an apple. And Chu Lingfeng was a Miracle Doctor. Even if it were poisoned, he could handle it.

So Si Zhenliu nodded. “Agreed.”

He gestured for a bodyguard to retrieve the apple, but Si Chen stopped him.

“Hold him down. I’ll feed it to him myself.”