Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Do You Really Like Her?
Chapter 112 Do You Really Like Her?
Over the next two days, Chi Xiaocheng distinctly felt Su Tao's visits becoming shorter. Previously, even if Su Tao didn't stay the night, she would linger until just before curfew, returning to her dorm only then. Chi Xiaocheng would have a whole evening to spend with her. They didn't need to do anything special; simply sitting quietly beside each other, holding hands, or sharing a brief hug was enough. Now, even that had gradually become a luxury.
On December 22nd, Su Tao came for two hours in the evening.
On December 23rd, Su Tao merely came for a meal, barely had time to talk, and then hastily left after taking a call.
On December 24th, Su Tao didn't come.
Gazing at her phone, Chi Xiaocheng bit her lower lip hard, her spirits sinking.
Peach: "I'm so sorry, Xiaocheng. I really couldn't get away today. Just get some good rest at home. I've got my driver's license now, so I'll drive to pick you up tomorrow. We can go shopping together."
The words held no warmth, yet Chi Xiaocheng felt an overwhelming chill.
What exactly was Peach so busy with? Why did she have so many things to do, day after day? Chi Xiaocheng couldn't understand. Having resolved to be a good child, she dared not ask too many questions. She cherished Su Tao's smile when she would pat her head and praise her, saying, "You're such a good girl."
Even without Dark Xiaocheng emerging to whisper, influenced by their previous encounters, Chi Xiaocheng found herself recalling the words she'd spoken. Acting obedient would never truly win Su Tao. Su Tao had friends, mentors, colleagues, and all sorts of things that enriched her life. She had so many things going on that she couldn't possibly prioritize Chi Xiaocheng.
"What, have you finally understood what I've been saying?"
Her skirt swirled as Dark Xiaocheng leaned gracefully against the armrest of the sofa, arms crossed over her chest. Chi Xiaocheng cast a glance at Dark Xiaocheng, then pursed her lips. "It's just that she's been busy today. Peach needs to get her driver's license, so it's... it's normal for her to be busy. I can understand... Yes, I do understand!" Chi Xiaocheng added the extra line, as if to shore up her own wavering resolve.
Dark Xiaocheng sighed. "You're so stubborn. It's perfectly clear, yet you still insist on deceiving yourself. Are you afraid to accept the truth that Su Tao doesn't actually care that much about you?"
Chi Xiaocheng's eyes reddened, and the vertical pupils that hadn't appeared for half a month suddenly flared with a crimson glow. "Who says she doesn't care about me? She's always telling me how wonderful I am! She must be preparing a surprise for me tomorrow!"
Dark Xiaocheng let out a soft scoff. "Oh, please. Look at yourself. If this isn't self-deception, what is? What kind of 'surprise' could it possibly be? Holding hands? Shopping? Or perhaps her insincerely murmuring, 'I like you'?" Dark Xiaocheng, her heels clicking, walked step by step towards Chi Xiaocheng. "She's said 'I like you' countless times, right? How about we put her to the test?"
"Test her?"
"Precisely." Dark Xiaocheng snapped her fingers. "Since she likes you so much and has even prepared a surprise for you, how about this: tomorrow, when you receive her surprise, you confess your feelings and ask her to be your girlfriend? What do you say?"
Chi Xiaocheng had also spoken of her 'liking' many times. Whether coerced or for other reasons, Su Tao would always respond with similar words. Leaving aside other factors, the mere utterance of "I like you" had occurred between them no fewer than ten times. Yet despite this, when it came to a romantic relationship, neither had ever taken the initiative to define it. Or to formalize it.
Dark Xiaocheng showed no haste whatsoever. She extended an index finger, clad in a black lace glove, and poked Chi Xiaocheng over her heart. "And you, too, claim to like her. But you're just pretending to be good, begging for her pity, suppressing the possessiveness in your heart. Is that truly love? Are your feelings for Su Tao truly born of affection? It's completely different from how you felt about your ex-girlfriend, isn't it? Surely your feelings for your ex-girlfriend were stronger than what you feel for Su Tao? If you don't truly love Su Tao, yet you crave her affection, why run from it? Just take possession of her directly. Her world would revolve around only you, and your world around only her. With time, affection would naturally grow, and you would become each other's sole focus."
Dark Xiaocheng's words were logical and persuasive. They struck Chi Xiaocheng's very core. Had her actions all this time, her feelings for Peach, truly been love? Was it merely a desire to have someone love her, and yet her current feelings for Peach were undeniably different from how she'd felt about Yiran, her ex-girlfriend, in her previous life?
"That's not right!" Chi Xiaocheng suddenly reacted, her gaze fixed intently on Dark Xiaocheng. The latter merely offered a faint smile, utterly composed.
Chi Xiaocheng clenched her teeth. "You're trying to mislead me! I would never treat Peach as a substitute for Yiran! After all, Yiran can't even hold a candle to Peach!" Two years of memories had long since dissolved into foam. In the past month, Su Tao had already claimed the deepest affections within Chi Xiaocheng's heart.
"No affection? No love? You're just my inner demon; how could you possibly know I don't love Peach! She gently strokes my head; she affectionately tells me she likes me; she holds an umbrella for me to keep the snowflakes from falling on me; when we hold hands, she never lets go; when we kiss, she seeks more from me; she's so busy every day, yet she worries I can't cook, so she comes over every day to make me dinner, afraid I'll eat too much takeout and become malnourished! No one can compare to her! How could I not love a girl like that!"
Chi Xiaocheng glared fiercely at her. "Just you wait. The surprise Peach has prepared for me tomorrow will absolutely leave you speechless!"
Her last sentence was practically a roar. She was still panting heavily when she came back to her senses, only to find no elegant figure in a black gown stood before her. It was as if the inner demon that sometimes bewitched her had never existed at all. On the sofa, only the usual arrogant King remained, curled up with his tail tucked around him, fast asleep. The empty room seemed to grow immeasurably deep and cold.
Chi Xiaocheng parted her parched lips, but no words came out. She eventually walked quietly to the sofa, drew her knees together, wrapped her arms around them, and rested her head on her knees, silently waiting for time to pass.
"Peach... I miss you."
For half a month, she had consistently played the role of the obedient Xiaocheng, never once using her obsessive tendencies to threaten the girl. And the girl had indeed responded as she'd hoped. Patting her head, offering praise, whispering sweet nothings. Like family, they ate together every day, relying on each other.
But why then? Why did she still feel so utterly alone? A thread of unease, then another, seeped into Chi Xiaocheng's body with the chilling air. In her torment, the second hand pushed the minute hand forward, and the hour hand, with painful slowness, crept along.
Finally, the time came for December 25th. The day Chi Xiaocheng had long awaited.
Early that morning, Chi Xiaocheng had already changed into her clothes and sat obediently on the sofa, waiting. The sound of the lock turning finally echoed at nine o'clock. As the door opened, a pleasant voice rang out, "Xiaocheng, good morning. I'm here to pick you up."
Chi Xiaocheng immediately jumped off the sofa, her eyes lighting up. "Peach, you're finally here! We're going on a date today, right?"
Su Tao paused, then offered a faint smile. "Mm, today we'll go shopping together!"
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