Peach-Orange! – Chapter 429 – Lingering Faint Unease

The clothes were torn, the movements suave.

The already completed tattoo on his body was proof of Si Chen’s loyalty to “Cheng” and rejection of “Tao.”

Every time he looked in the mirror, stroked his chin, and then examined this somewhat abstract tattoo, he felt like he had become at least several times more handsome.

And now, the “Never Love Cheng” tattoo, which had been inked for so long, was finally coming in handy.

Just as Si Chen was about to calmly show off and observe Su Tao’s reaction, the girl instead pointed at his inked abdomen in agitation, “Si Chen, what do you mean by this? Not only do you like Xiaocheng, but you even wanted to carve her onto your body!”

Si Chen was dumbfounded, his triumphant mood instantly ruined.

He jabbed his own abs forcefully, watching as the girl seemed to grow even more unreasonable, and couldn’t help but shout, “Big sis, can you read properly? This says ‘Never Love Cheng’!”

“It means I’ll never love Chi Xiaocheng! Who the hell told you that carving the word ‘Cheng’ means I like Chi Xiaocheng?!”

As he spoke, he even flexed his stomach slightly to make the words clearer.

Su Tao finally saw it clearly, and her previously agitated expression calmed down. She gave Si Chen an embarrassed smile, “Sorry, I didn’t notice the other words at first. But this thing you carved….”

Si Chen rolled his eyes, “Of course it’s to show I have no interest in Chi Xiaocheng. Not just her, I have no interest in you either. I just see you both as friends.”

Then he turned around.

On his back, the words “Never Love Tao” were even more exaggerated, complete with gilded edges!

Si Chen leaned against the mahogany table with one hand, his expression melancholic, “I knew both of you had abnormal possessiveness, so I used this method to express my stance. As for your misunderstanding of me, that’s entirely your own overthinking.”

“Then….” Su Tao still seemed doubtful, “Why have you been going to see Xiaocheng so often these days, and deliberately avoiding me? Don’t you know we’re already together?”

“I know.”

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Si Chen replied, “What I discussed with her was about Chi Song and her parents. You were the one who didn’t join the conversation, yet you accuse me of avoiding you?”

“…”

‘Could it really be that I overthought it?’

‘But last time, when Xiaocheng came out of Si Chen’s room, her face was bright red. Why was that?’

Su Tao didn’t dare ask. After all, she had been eavesdropping at the time, which was already despicable.

Still, her suspicions had indeed lessened considerably.

After all, the words on Si Chen’s back looked like they had been carved into his skin with a knife, not just stuck on like a decal.

Seeing Su Tao calm down, Si Chen picked up his suit jacket, “Figured it out now?”

Su Tao scratched her head, “Sorry.”

“Hmph.” Si Chen let out another proud hum, “I knew you two were already together, and both of you have some possessiveness issues. Why would I risk my life meddling in your relationship? You should keep an eye on Dongfang Yang instead. He’s the one who actually likes Chi Xiaocheng.

“Good thing I carved these words in advance, or I might’ve really been stabbed by you one day.”

Truly, “Never Love Tao carved on my body, no one else like me in this world!”

Si Chen draped his jacket over his shoulder and calmly walked toward the door, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave now. I still need to investigate that head maid’s situation.”

Su Tao pressed her lips together and nodded lightly, “Mm. Si Chen, thank you.”

Si Chen waved his hand without another word.

Only his broad back and the words “Never Love Tao” shone even more blindingly.

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He stepped out and closed the door.

Si Chen lifted his head at a profound 45-degree angle, gazing at the ceiling, feeling more dashing than ever.

“Truly, no one compares to me.”

He sighed softly and walked into the living room, only to turn and see a petite girl in an orange hoodie drinking water.

Their eyes met, and both froze.

Before Si Chen could speak, Chi Xiaocheng furrowed her brows, her pupils faintly narrowing like a cat’s.

“Si Chen, why aren’t you wearing any clothes after coming out of Tao-Tao’s room?”

“???”

…

Back in her room, Su Tao stood by the window, gazing at the scenery outside. While she sighed in relief, a trace of melancholy lingered in her heart.

On one hand, it was frustration at her own weakness.

On the other, she still felt like Si Chen was lying about something.

Xiaocheng was also keeping something from her.

Dongfang Yang’s gaze toward Xiaocheng had always been off.

Somehow, it reminded her of the feeling she had after confessing by the lake at the amusement park.

Ever since getting together with Xiaocheng….

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It felt like the whole world was targeting her, trying to take Xiaocheng away.

Ye Liang died, and Chu Lingfeng appeared.

Chu Lingfeng died, and now there was the head maid.

And after the head maid, who else?

Even when she hugged Chi Xiaocheng, she couldn’t shake the sense of insecurity.

“I haven’t done anything wrong, and all I’ve been doing lately is waiting in the villa. Yet I still feel so tired.”

Su Tao pulled a chair to the window and sat down. When she saw Si Chen’s retreating figure outside, she suddenly froze again.

She smacked her forehead, “Right, I forgot to ask Si Chen about those glasses he gave me.”

Last time, she had taken them out to think about it, but after being interrupted by Chi Xiaocheng, she had forgotten again.

“Whatever. It’s just putting on the glasses and looking at Xiaocheng to understand everything, right?”

Since there was nothing else to do at the moment, Su Tao got up and went to the living room, where she found Chi Xiaocheng curled up on the sofa watching TV, a cup of hot tea in her hands, her legs swinging cutely.

Noticing the sound behind her, Chi Xiaocheng turned and immediately flashed a sweet smile at Su Tao.

“Tao-Tao, wanna watch TV together?”

Meeting her gaze, Su Tao also smiled warmly, “You go ahead, Xiaocheng. I’ll head back to my room first. There’s something I need to check.”

“Okay~”

Chi Xiaocheng obediently replied before turning her attention back to the cartoon on TV.

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Bored as she was, she usually just passed the time by watching anime.

But it was precisely this kind of mundane, peaceful life that made Su Tao feel at ease.

“Mutual love.…”

Su Tao’s smile deepened. Though life hadn’t changed much since they became a couple, the growing intimacy between her and Xiaocheng was undeniable.

At the very least, whenever Su Tao wanted a kiss, all she had to do was beckon, and that adorable little one would come running over.

If only this sense of security could last forever.

But no matter what, an unshakable unease lingered in her heart.

Maybe… it was all just her imagination.

Su Tao returned to her room and quickly found the old-fashioned black glasses stashed in the drawer, covered by a cloth.

She put them on immediately.

“Plain lenses? I don’t feel anything at all.”

The glasses seemed completely ordinary, nothing like the mystical item Si Chen had described.

But….

Did she need to look at Xiaocheng to see the effect?

Su Tao adjusted the frames and stepped out of the room.