Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 100.3

When Song Yingshi's group progressed their search to the dormitory floors, Lu Xuewen excitedly ran over to them with Huai Xu's envelope.

When all 40 ranking envelopes were discovered, the trainees gathered at the recording studio where Liu Ningxin awaited them.

The exact number of votes each trainee received was displayed on the large screen behind Liu Ningxin. Gazing at the 40 trainees before her, Liu Ningxin, as a mentor and a senior girl group member, said, "The stage will always reciprocate to the sweat you've shed on it."

The third public performance this season delivered results so remarkable that the production crew labeled it the "Miracle Stage."

Besides Song Yingshi's and Huai Xu's placements skyrocketing to first and second, the three other members of Team Falling Asleep also successfully made it into the top 15, evading elimination.

Moreover, the gap between Song Yingshi and Huai Xu was only 9,000 votes, a tiny difference compared to Huai Xu's 100,000-vote lead over the third-place Rong Yi.

"Even if you are to leave this place, do not be discouraged. The stage is fair, and it will always be here…" Liu Ningxin said, pointing at the stage she stood on. "It is waiting to continue testing you, so when you're ready, come back and try again."

Many trainees arrived with eyes already moist. At Liu Ningxin's words, their tears began to fall immediately.

Everyone longed to stay, but only 15 trainees were allowed to do so. Furthermore, in a little over a week, eight more of these trainees would be eliminated, and only seven would ultimately debut. This was a race where only those who reached the very end would emerge victorious.

In the final elimination before the grand finale, Yu Sheng, Tan Qianyan, Qiu Zhixin, Tang Panbo, and Yan Ran bid farewell to Star of Spring.

While clinging to Yu Sheng's arm and tears streaming down her face, Tao Qin said sobbingly, "Shengsheng, I can't bear to lose you…"

Lu Xuewen, standing nearby, offered her two closest friends tissues. As she struggled to keep her tears from falling, she said, "The three of us have been together since we arrived. I thought we would surely leave together as well."

At Lu Xuewen's remark, Yu Sheng stopped her tears for a moment to roll her eyes at her friend and say, "You two, do your best to leave on the flower-paved road, got it?"

"Wuwu, I'll try my best…" Tao Qin replied. "But once you're gone, Lu Xuewen is just going to go back to slacking off like a dead dog again. I won't be able to carry her alone."

"Who's a dead dog?!" Lu Xuewen retorted angrily.

"You are, you are," Yu Sheng said. When she recalled all the effort she had put into getting Lu Xuewen to practice, even when they were on different teams, she strongly agreed with Tao Qin's sentiment. "Qinqin, just cast her aside and shine by yourself."

"That's what I was thinking, too." Tao Qin nodded seriously.

Lu Xuewen: "..."

After crying enough with Tao Qin, Yu Sheng wiped away her tears and approached Huai Xu to say goodbye. Wearing a smile, she said, "Huai Xu, I'll be filming Producer Fu's MV once I leave! I'm sure it'll be done by the time you're done with the finals, so good luck!"

Huai Xu nodded and said, "You too. Producer Fu prefers working with people he's familiar with. If your collaboration this time goes well, you'll have more opportunities to work together in the future."

Yu Sheng's eyes sparkled with tears and hope at Huai Xu's advice. Bowing in gratitude, she whispered, "Thank you, Huai Xu. Truly, thank you."

Huai Xu shook her head, smiling faintly as she said, "It's nothing."

Perhaps it was because she had been helped before, but Huai Xu found helping others quite rewarding now, particularly when it required little to no effort at all. Honestly, she didn't believe Yu Sheng should thank her; if anyone deserved thanks, it was Song Yingshi.

Meanwhile, with her back facing Huai Xu, Song Yingshi was saying her goodbyes to Qiu Zhixin. Naturally, Bai Yuzhou was also by her side.

"Zhouzhou, I'll be cheering you on from behind the screen, so do your best!" Qiu Zhixin declared.

"Just as long as you stop making memes of me…" Bai Yuzhou sighed.

Even amidst the surrounding bittersweet atmosphere, Qin Zhixin and Bai Yuzhou's exchange almost made Song Yingshi burst out laughing.

…

Roughly two hours later, the 25 eliminated trainees moved out of their dormitories and left the White Tower. Following their departure, Star of Spring was left with just 15 trainees.

Besides Team Falling Asleep's five members, the other trainees who remained were: Rong Yi, Bai Yuzhou, Tao Qin, Dan Silan, Xing Huan, Wan Jiao, Hu Wan, Lu Xuewen, Quan Yuanyuan, and Wen Qingzi.

Class divisions were officially canceled, and dormitory arrangements were reconfigured. Now, everyone would stay in two-person units.

The group formation night was scheduled on July 31st. On that day, the remaining trainees would decide the seven debut spots based on their final popularity.

However, before the remaining trainees began practicing for their final performance, they had to film numerous vote-appeal videos and individual promotional materials on July 22. The scheduled materials were diverse and dazzling, including fashion editorials, personal vlogs, audio recordings, reading fan messages, and impromptu interviews.

The magazine company responsible for shooting the trainees' fashion editorial was located in B City. Hence, it was scheduled last, with the trainees only arriving at B City late in the afternoon.

Due to the diminishing outdoor light, the trainees were only able to shoot their evening scenes today, postponing their day scenes until tomorrow morning.

After the photo shoot concluded around 9 PM, the trainees could finally return to their hotel to catch their breath.

The production crew rented suites for the trainees, each suite housing three people. Song Yingshi and Huai Xu shared a suite with Lu Xuewen, but their roommate was currently off visiting another room.

"Thank goodness the sun decided to clock out early today," Song Yingshi groaned as she threw herself onto the sofa. As she buried her face into a pillow, she massaged her aching back and sighed, "We're essentially the manual laborers of the entertainment industry."

Huai Xu opened the mini-fridge, grabbed a juice, and offered it to Song Yingshi. Once Song Yingshi took it, she commented, "Give it a few years. Once you become 'Instructor Song,' it won't be so tough anymore."

"You wish. I might get paid more, but it'll be just as tough. And sadly, money can't buy happiness, and it certainly can't buy me a new back," Song Yingshi retorted.

Huai Xu paused, then moved to sit on the sofa across from Song Yingshi. Wearing a meaningful look, she said, "Just a few days ago, you were talking about my back. Now, you're the one who's no good?"

Song Yingshi squirmed a little and rested her head on her arm. Without looking at Huai Xu, she replied teasingly, "Yep, my back's a goner. By the time I get promoted from 'laborer' to 'instructor,' my back would've already worn down from overuse."

Huai Xu silently tightened her grip on her water glass.

Song Yingshi's playful jabs, which hinted at their intimate encounter, were becoming increasingly blatant. Her feigned innocence, combined with her past displays of skillful acting, made it impossible for Huai Xu to miss her underlying intentions.

Huai Xu couldn't quite discern the emotions coursing through her heart. After a while, she rose from her seat, reached out, and gently pressed her palms onto Song Yingshi's lower back, massaging it with a comforting force.

Song Yingshi shuddered slightly from having her back kneaded. Clutching the pillow beneath her, she asked softly, "What are you doing?"

Huai Xu moved her hands away from Song Yingshi's lower back, her fingertips teasingly tracing Song Yingshi's waist. Wearing an earnest expression, she said in a casual tone, "It must've been tough on you all these years, Instructor Song. Let me give you a back massage."