Peach-Orange! – Chapter 413 – Sister, You Smell So Good

Chi Xiaocheng had once read a news article.

It was about a botany expert explaining knowledge about grafting species.

Among it, there was an enthusiastic viewer who called in to consult the expert, asking whether oranges and peaches could be grafted together.

If following this enthusiastic viewer’s method, would there be a high probability of reducing Tao-Tao’s character weight?

After all, as you can see, developments that greatly deviate from the original plot can lower Su Tao’s character weight.

‘She confessed her feelings and got together with me. This is a huge deviation from the original plot, which is why the World Will wants to eliminate me, the outlier.

If a confession can lower character weight, then what about things even more significant than a confession?

As mentioned before, Chi Xiaocheng is the classic “high offense, low defense” type. Though she has some naughty thoughts and always wants to get close to Su Tao, she had never even considered “that” kind of thing.

Despite feeling utterly ashamed, she still shared her thoughts with the system, asking about the possibility.

If… if doing that could really lower Tao-Tao’s weight, preventing the World Will from targeting her and allowing her to survive, then….

‘Well, how should I put it….’

‘It’s not… not entirely out of the question.’

At this thought, Chi Xiaocheng’s face turned completely red. She turned her back to Si Chen, not daring to let him see her expression.

The system also fell silent for a while.

[Host, your method will definitely lower Su Tao’s character weight, but at most by 5%. After that, her weight will stall at 50%, not dropping below that value.]

[Just like the affection points shown by the Status Glasses before, every important stage requires a specific event or emotional impact to progress further.]

[The transition from 89 to 90 is the same idea as now.]

Rеαd οո КatRеαԁіոgСαfe

[If you want Su Tao’s character weight to drop below 50%, then the World Will must have an active reason to abandon her, or Su Tao herself must break free from the World Will’s control in some way. Which means her mindset has to become so strong that the World Will can no longer influence or control her.]

[Only then can it truly drop below 50%.]

‘In short, this is a threshold.’

‘It’s not like before, where doing a certain thing would steadily lower Su Tao’s weight.’

‘But can Tao-Tao really break free from the World Will’s influence through her own consciousness alone?’

Chi Xiaocheng wasn’t sure. But for now, before the World Will makes its move, she had no real countermeasures.

All she could do was keep a close eye on Su Tao’s condition.

Thinking this, Chi Xiaocheng quickly regained her composure, though her heart still fluttered with a mix of shame and restlessness.

She turned to Si Chen and said, “From now on, you can follow what I just said and try to act less like yourself. Also, for the near future.…”

Chi Xiaocheng pursed her lips, thinking for a moment.

“If Chu Lingfeng can’t be dealt with immediately, then Si Chen, you should investigate his helper first. I need to head back now, or else Tao-Tao will finish her bath soon.”

“Got it.”

Si Chen nodded, deliberately ignoring Chi Xiaocheng’s earlier blushing.

He wondered if he should also warn Dongfang Yang. After all, he was his good buddy.

But then, considering Dongfang Yang’s simple-minded foolishness, Si Chen felt it unnecessary as he’d probably just treat it as a joke.

Still….

Si Chen stared at the door after Chi Xiaocheng left, his pupils trembling with lingering shock.

Reαⅾ on KαtReаԁіոɡCаfe

The truth of this world, his own circumstances….

The more someone liked to think, the harder it was to accept such a reality.

If everything was influenced, or if certain things were predestined and unavoidable… then was he even himself anymore?

Si Chen sat on the edge of the bed, took off his glasses, rubbed the bridge of his nose, and took a deep breath.

The complexity in his eyes was unmistakable.

…

Chi Xiaocheng didn’t know what Si Chen was thinking. She had only spent about fifteen minutes with him and needed to return before Tao-Tao finished bathing.

The fact that Si Chen could sense something was wrong was a very good thing.

His support abilities would be stronger, and he’d think more deeply.

Not only had her teammate leveled up, but he’d also provided 500 Emotion Points in that short time.

Getting such a huge amount of Emotion Points from someone who usually barely contributed was no small feat.

What Chi Xiaocheng didn’t know was that Su Tao had been eavesdropping outside the door the entire time.

The room’s soundproofing was decent, so even with her ear pressed against the door, she could only catch fragments of the conversation. Occasionally, when Si Chen spoke louder, she could hear everything clearly.

As for what they were talking about—

Reαԁ oո ΚаtRеаⅾіnɡСαfe

Some parts were incomprehensible.

Some parts were inaudible.

But one thing was clear to Su Tao: when Xiaocheng left the room, her cheeks and ears were still tinged with a faint, lingering blush!

What on earth did that guy do to Xiaocheng in there?!

Teasing her?

Or… something even worse?

Su Tao badly wanted to barge in and interrogate Si Chen.

But Chi Xiaocheng had already returned to the second floor. To avoid exposing herself, Su Tao had to go back and take a bath to cover up her eavesdropping.

“Hah… I’ll settle this score next time.”

She could separate one matter from another.

Tiptoeing back to the second floor, she slipped into the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, she returned to the room.

Drying her damp hair while putting on her best acting, she asked, “Xiaocheng, I’m done~ I soaked for a bit, so it took a little longer. Do you want to bathe next?”

“Yeah~”

“Remember to wash your hair. After what happened today, it’s best to clean up properly.”

“Mhm.”

Reαd оn ΚаtRеаԁіոɡСafе

Their exchanged glances showed no signs of anything unusual. Both acted as they always did, with no hint that they had each gone downstairs earlier.

Washing her hair and filling the bathtub, Chi Xiaocheng stood under the showerhead, lost in thought.

Even if she couldn’t directly lower Su Tao’s weight below 50%, reducing it to 50% was still possible, right?

Every percentage mattered now. The lower, the better.

With that in mind, Chi Xiaocheng browsed through the System Shop.

Then, she spent 20 Emotion Points on a brand-new bottle of shower gel.

Light Orange Shower Gel for both skin and hair.

Making herself softer and sweeter-smelling couldn’t hurt.

Humming to herself, Chi Xiaocheng soon lathered herself in bubbles.

After another half-hour bath, she put on her blue-and-white striped underwear and then her pajamas.

“Si Chen’s taste in clothes isn’t bad. He knows I like hoodie-style pajamas with orange patterns. I approve.”

Opening the door, she returned to the room to find Su Tao sitting bored on the bed, playing with her phone.

Chi Xiaocheng called out softly, “Tao-Tao, come help me dry my hair!”

“Okay~”

Su Tao quickly moved behind Chi Xiaocheng. But before the hairdryer even turned on, her nose twitched slightly.

Today… Xiaocheng smelled especially nice.