Chapter 146 Chapter 146: Where The Dream Began
Chapter 146: Where The Dream Began
Su Tao couldn't understand, nor did she have time to think deeply, as Chi Xiaocheng, with the groceries she'd bought, was already standing before her.
"What's wrong, Taotao? Why are you spacing out? Didn't you sleep well?"
Su Tao snapped back, quickly forcing a smile. "Sorry, Xiaocheng, I really am a bit tired. How about we just… order takeout tonight?"
She no longer had the heart to cook.
To her surprise, Chi Xiaocheng pursed her lips and smiled.
She looked down at Dawang, who was already at her feet, seemingly intent on ambushing the fish.
With one hand, she effortlessly picked up Dawang and tucked him into Su Tao's arms. "Taotao, you just sit back this time. I've actually been secretly watching videos to learn how to cook. Watch me show you what I can do!"
Chi Xiaocheng rolled up her sleeves and, beaming, walked into the kitchen.
At the same time, she methodically opened a cooking tutorial video, playing it loudly on the side.
She had always known how to cook; she just found it more endearing to act a little clumsy in front of someone she liked.
Su Tao watched Chi Xiaocheng's busy figure, lost in thought.
This scene, it felt like she'd seen it somewhere before.
Like before…
No, the current Xiaocheng was completely different from before.
All the affection she had kept hidden in her heart was now expressed in their everyday life.
Su Tao instinctively moved to hide her phone and said to Chi Xiaocheng, who was busy in the kitchen, "Xiaocheng, I'm going to rest a bit more in my room. Can you call me when dinner's ready?"
"Of course!"
After Chi Xiaocheng replied, Su Tao quickly rushed into her room, simultaneously sending a quick message to Si Chen to understand the situation.
Long Mian had been rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment; her life didn't seem to be in danger.
The mentor sustained minor injuries. Although the school tried its best to suppress the incident, rumors were still circulating.
Ye Liang also seemed to have learned about Chi Xiaocheng's involvement quickly and was secretly fanning the flames.
In terms of public reputation and discussion, Su Tao could say she hadn't been affected at all. It was Chi Xiaocheng who was.
If these two incidents weren't handled properly, she could face serious trouble.
Although it was surprising that Su Tao could get her phone at this time,
Si Chen still said, "You'd better keep an eye on Chi Xiaocheng. As we discussed this morning, embrace and love everything about her. This time, you can't pretend; even if you don't like her, you have to force yourself to love her."
"Chi Xiaocheng's yandere tendencies are very severe. Only you can find a way to appease her, otherwise, if she drifts further away, she'll never recover."
That was easier said than done.
But after thinking about it all day, she still couldn't make up her mind.
She knew her own situation; instinctively, she was afraid of Chi Xiaocheng's current state.
Just as it had been said from the start, yandere love was too heavy.
Si Chen: "You haven't sent me any updates. Have you finally made up your mind?"
Seeing that message, Su Tao's breath caught.
With a trembling index finger, she typed, "I… I'll try."
Si Chen sent a question mark: "?"
Si Chen: "If you're still hesitant and avoiding it even now, don't contact me anymore. I'm afraid Chi Xiaocheng will take a knife to me and I'll lose a kidney."
"You're conflicted and afraid to act, and you don't dare to be open with Chi Xiaocheng. Are you still the Su Tao I know? Why don't you just send Chi Xiaocheng to a mental hospital?"
His words were identical to Dongfang Yang's, but it truly was Si Chen's opinion.
Back then, when Chi Xiaocheng's dark side emerged, it still needed an activation code.
Now it's constant, so what's the point?
It's even hard to communicate now. Doesn't that mean he, Si Chen, won't even have the chance to be a helpful go-between?
He felt he had to push Su Tao harder.
As for whether she could handle it…
Well…
Never love Tao, but trust Tao.
After saying all this, Si Chen truly stopped replying.
Even her "advisor," who had always offered strategies, said so, and Dongfang Yang shared the same opinion. Did Su Tao have any other choice?
There was none!
Then… she would try!
She bit the tip of her tongue hard, even raising both hands to forcefully slap her cheeks, forcing herself to pull herself together.
Her breathing slowly grew hurried, yet she continually gave herself psychological hints, truly wanting to force herself to love Xiaocheng.
She didn't know how much time had passed until the aroma wafted into the room and Chi Xiaocheng called out loudly from outside, "Taotao, dinner's ready!"
Only then did Su Tao snap back to reality, her eyes now slightly bloodshot.
She rose from her chair and walked towards the living room.
She didn't even notice that her steps felt light and unsteady.
She kept giving herself psychological hints, but what she didn't know was that unless it reached the level of hypnosis, this forced resolve born of fear was merely a protective shell draped over her.
And incredibly fragile.
Perhaps it was because of the fish soup, but after this meal, Chi Xiaocheng gave Su Tao only pulp orange juice to drink, not the fresh, crimson orange juice extracted from her.
This left Su Tao, who had mentally prepared herself, feeling like she was punching cotton.
As a result, she ate the meal Chi Xiaocheng had prepared so diligently, completely distracted.
It was delicious, but she no longer had any desire to savor it.
Until night approached.
Chi Xiaocheng took out a stress-relief pill and handed it to Su Tao. "Taotao, take this before bed. It'll help you get a good night's sleep. Your complexion looks really bad right now, and that would break my heart."
Su Tao was indeed on the verge of breaking down.
Chi Xiaocheng, who had already acknowledged her own illness and regained a good deal of sanity, noticed this.
The stress-relief pill given by the system's gacha pull came at just the right time.
She set the pill down and then walked towards the living room. "Taotao, wait a moment, I'll pour you a glass of water."
As she turned, she didn't notice that Su Tao's complexion had turned terrible, and the resolve she had painstakingly built up shattered explosively.
The pill…
Hahaha… hahahaha…
"Stress-relief pill"? It must be a trick, right?
Just like last time in the dark room: take it, fall into a stupor, become completely powerless, unable to do anything, and then repeat the dark room scenario.
Fake! That stress-relief pill is nothing but a lie!
How could she possibly take that? Absolutely not!
While Chi Xiaocheng hadn't returned yet, Su Tao quickly hid the stress-relief pill. When Chi Xiaocheng came back with the water,
she immediately snatched the water. "This pill is actually bitter, it's so awful!"
She pretended to have already put the pill in her mouth, brushing off the matter.
Chi Xiaocheng didn't think much of it, gently embraced Su Tao, and lay down on the bed. "Well… goodnight?"
"Mm, sweet dreams."
Su Tao lay slightly on her side, parting her lips but unable to say anything more.
The person in her arms was so warm, a hundred times more comfortable than the warm air from the air conditioner.
But in her heart, she had no desire to enjoy it.
By the faint moonlight, she turned to gaze at the figure of the two of them, lost in thought.
She couldn't help but wonder again, apart from that terrifying ending in her dream, was there truly no other way?
Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Su Tao could no longer fight it and gradually fell asleep.
But when she opened her eyes again, she found herself not in the room.
But in the familiar basement.
Before her, "herself" was tied to the bed, while Chi Xiaocheng sat nearby, holding the familiar fruit knife.
"Is this another dream?"
And this time, she was back where it all began.
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