Peach-Orange! – Chapter 409 – The World’s Will’s Methods

Right or wrong, it couldn’t change the established fact.

Su Tao’s unusual reaction made Chi Xiaocheng realize that the World’s Will had already set its sights on her. Naturally, she felt fear toward the unknown, even the possibility of death.

But this time, Chi Xiaocheng didn’t regret accepting the confession.

After all the hardships, they were finally together.

That deep kiss just now was a happiness she would never forget.

As they walked toward the amusement park’s exit, Su Tao occasionally glanced at Chi Xiaocheng, whose face looked unwell, and couldn’t help but feel a trace of worry.

She wanted to ask Chi Xiaocheng, but didn’t know how to bring it up.

However, Su Tao understood that when she had told Xiaocheng about that spine-chilling feeling earlier, the girl’s originally happy expression had quickly turned uneasy and tense.

Now, that feeling had disappeared.

Yet, Su Tao inexplicably felt that the surrounding environment had become much more oppressive.

Perhaps… it was just because it was late at night, and most people in the amusement park had already gone home?

As for Chi Xiaocheng, her silence wasn’t because she didn’t want to talk to Su Tao, but because she was constantly asking the System for countermeasures. She was also wondering why her Alert skill hadn’t triggered, while Su Tao had been the first to sense that feeling of being watched.

Regarding this, the System also offered its own speculations.

[As for why Su Tao reacted while you didn’t, my guess is that the World’s Will uses Su Tao, the protagonist, as a coordinate to monitor the events happening around her.]

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[But it can’t directly observe every change between you and Su Tao like a surveillance system. It can only rely on “anchors” to vaguely understand what’s happening between you.]

[This time, it’s obvious that your relationship has drastically deviated from the original story, which is why the World’s Will became acutely aware of it.]

[As for why your Alert skill didn’t trigger….]

The System fell into rare silence, pondering.

[There are two possibilities. First, it knows you’ll definitely stay with Su Tao and assumes you’ll continue reincarnating to restore this world. Even if Su Tao dies with you, everything can still return to normal.]

[The second possibility is that the World’s Will simply doesn’t have the capacity to deal with you right now.]

For some reason, Chi Xiaocheng felt that the second possibility was more ominous.

She couldn’t help but think, “If it’s not dealing with me, does that mean it’s brewing some bigger scheme?”

[That is possible, but I lean more toward two other scenarios.]

[First, the rich female side character is about to appear, and the World’s Will is focusing on her. So even if it notices what’s happening here, it’s only observing through Su Tao as an anchor, not immediately trying to kill you.]

In most of the previous cycles, there had been few opportunities to be with Su Tao. Even when they did get together, Chi Xiaocheng would die within an hour afterward.

The fact that nothing had happened yet was indeed different from before.

The System continued.

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[The second possibility is that the World’s Will is consolidating its authority to influence Su Tao’s mind and thoughts!]

“Influence her thoughts?!”

Chi Xiaocheng’s eyes widened, finding this hard to accept.

[Yes. This is also why Su Tao’s character weight must decrease. The lower it is, the harder it is for the World’s Will to affect her.]

[The simplest example is when you first transmigrated here. Su Tao initially had some fondness for Ye Liang. Between you and him, she occasionally showed subconscious favoritism toward Ye Liang.]

[Aside from Ye Liang’s male lead halo, the World’s Will’s influence played a major role in making Su Tao overlook you and care more about Ye Liang. At that time, she could barely be considered a “person.” Her own thoughts struggled to break free from the World’s Will’s control.]

Many illogical aspects of the original story were due to the World’s Will’s interference.

The System’s voice carried a rare sigh of emotion.

[Now that she’s with you, Su Tao’s weight has dropped again, but it’s still around 55%. There’s a chance the World’s Will might go all-in to deepen its influence.]

After listening to the System, Chi Xiaocheng pressed her lips together and stole a glance at Su Tao walking beside her.

“If Tao-Tao is influenced by the World’s Will, will she start to hate me?”

[Theoretically, no. It can’t alter her fundamental thoughts, but it can amplify certain emotions like worry, fear, or extremes in certain aspects, guiding her toward what the World’s Will wants.]

But once her thoughts are influenced, can they easily be reversed?

For Chi Xiaocheng, the best-case scenario right now was that the World’s Will was focused on the incoming rich female side character.

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Even facing an overpowered rich rival was better than a direct, overwhelming strike.

An opponent like this, akin to the Heavenly Dao, was terrifying precisely because the entire world was under its control.

Fortunately, the World’s Will couldn’t intervene directly.

Nothing happened as they walked to the amusement park’s entrance, which made Chi Xiaocheng secretly sigh in relief.

Her current goal was clear: first, survive this hour where she might die.

Then, confirm whether Su Tao would truly be influenced or controlled by the World’s Will.

They would tackle each problem one by one.

With the System and Xiao Hei by her side, even if a truck came barreling at them, Xiao Hei should be able to stop it, right?

Xiao Hei: “…”

An awkward silence lingered nearby, followed by a voice only Chi Xiaocheng could hear, filled with resignation.

“While I’m happy you rely on and trust me, I’m not Superman. You’d be better off hoping a Darkened Su Tao could stop a speeding truck.”

Standing at the amusement park’s entrance, Chi Xiaocheng laughed awkwardly. “Xiao Hei, really, stop reading my thoughts!”

While they waited, Si Chen soon arrived in a rather special, almost absurdly cool off-road vehicle.

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When he stepped out wearing his glasses, both Su Tao and Chi Xiaocheng were stunned.

They blurted out in unison, “Si Chen, why… this kind of car?”

Si Chen adjusted his glasses and smiled calmly. “When you called, I guessed something unexpected might happen. This off-roader is a specially modified treasure. Its exterior is made of top-tier bulletproof materials. I can even handle a grenade.”

“Uh….”

Chi Xiaocheng was momentarily speechless but gave Si Chen a thumbs-up for his caution.

Given the possibility of danger, this was exactly the kind of vehicle they needed.

If it were Dongfang Yang, he’d probably show up in a sports car trying to look cool.

Si Chen, how reliable!

“So, what exactly happened?”

“Get in first. I’ll explain on the way.”

“Got it!”

Chi Xiaocheng and Su Tao quickly got in, only to discover that Si Chen’s car was like a hidden fortress. The front had seats for them, while the back was occupied by two fully armed special forces soldiers that were even carrying guns at their waists.

Su Tao, not feeling the same level of urgency as Chi Xiaocheng, couldn’t help but comment, “Si Chen, isn’t this a bit too much?”