Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 2

The spring of life Song Yingshi yearned for was right before her. Yet, in her haste to dive into it, she missed her mark and landed on the edge.

Her impatience grew as her life ticked away. With half-closed eyes and ragged breaths, she tried to readjust her position, only to get pushed away before reaching her goal.

Song Yingshi was too weak to resist. She failed to grasp at her only lifeline and was helplessly pushed to the edge of the table. Let alone share a passionate kiss, she barely touched the corner of Huai Xu's lips.

Song Yingshi closed her eyes in despair. She could already see the Grim Reaper swinging its scythe at her.

However, the thought of death surprisingly calmed her down.

This was not her fault, and neither was it Huai Xu's.

She had done her best to live, so she had no regrets.

…Well, maybe I'm not completely without regrets.

More specifically, she regretted leaving this new world in such a hurry before getting to experience it.

At this thought, Song Yingshi wondered if another system would pop up to offer her a life extension after her second death. If that happened, she would definitely…

"Congratulations, Host, you have completed the special mission. Your life has been extended by 24 hours," the system announced.

…Hm??? Song Yingshi's eyes snapped open, wondering if she was hallucinating. I completed it?

What she did was nowhere near the system's requirement of "sharing a passionate kiss."

Was the system blind?

In response, the system sternly said, "I am published by jjwxc[1]. So long as you perform actions corresponding to your missions, the system can automatically complete the censored steps for you."

The transition between sorrow and joy happened so suddenly that Song Yingshi had trouble reacting.

Regardless, it was good news.

This was the first time she felt that jjwxc's extreme censorship was a form of art.

It seemed that she had been too narrow-minded in the past to realize this.

"You have received a new daily mission, Host. Please complete it as soon as possible," the system suddenly said.

Song Yingshi returned to her senses after digesting her emotions. Before she knew it, the pain that assaulted her entire body had disappeared without a trace. However, before she could celebrate her return from death's door, she was momentarily stunned when she laid eyes on Huai Xu.

As the stunning female protagonist that the author had put all her efforts into describing, Huai Xu's appearance was indeed unparalleled, and her temperament was outstanding.

Huai Xu had pupils as smooth as ink, thin eyebrows, porcelain-like skin, and well-defined facial features. Her eyelashes were also naturally curved, adding a sense of aloofness to her extremely beautiful face. Even though Huai Xu stood before her, Song Yingshi felt as if a world separated them.

After staring at Huai Xu for some time, Song Yingshi had only one thought in mind:

Is this really…the poor little female protagonist who was bullied since childhood?

However, the fact that she could complete her mission after sharing that "kiss" with the other party must mean she got the right person.

In that case, did Huai Xu get bullied into putting on an aloof facade? So that she could appear strong to others?

Song Yingshi didn't have much time to ponder. The person before her clearly had enough of her actions and scrutiny, the other party's cold expression seemingly freezing the reception room.

Song "I just kissed Huai Xu" Yingshi cleared her throat and called out, "Huai Xu?"

Song Yingshi hesitated when she called out to Huai Xu. After all, Huai Xu truly did not fit her image of the novel's female protagonist. She also couldn't help feeling like a scumbag for only thinking of verifying Huai Xu's identity after having done what she did.

"Please give me an explanation, Miss Song," Huai Xu said, sounding relatively calm.

"..." Of course, Song Yingshi would be a fool to think Huai Xu was anything but furious. She also realized how insensitive it would be to bring up her offer in this situation, so she decided to calm Huai Xu down before they got down to business.

Her eyes shifting with guilt, Song Yingshi reached for a tissue from the table and handed it to Huai Xu. Then, she said redundantly, "Don't worry, I didn't put on lipstick…"

"Miss Song," Huai Xu emphasized her tone, refusing to accept Song Yingshi's goodwill. She didn't even glance at the tissue.

Song Yingshi felt her scalp tingle, as if her mathematics teacher had called her to complete an equation on the blackboard. At the same time, she angrily berated herself in her mind:

Even you are bullying the poor little thing?! Are you even human?!

But for the sake of living, I have no choice but to stop being human!

Having made up her mind, Song Yingshi put her acting skills to work. With a sly smile, she set the tissue Huai Xu rejected on the table and casually said, "I like your face. I like it very much."

Crossing her arms in front of her chest, Song Yingshi circled Huai Xu and sized her up, as if measuring the other party's value. Then, she stopped and faced Huai Xu, saying, "Rather than Song Ming, why don't you follow me? Hm?"

Yes. Despite the ease with which Song Yingshi could complete her missions by deceiving Huai Xu's feelings, she refused. She loathed the idea of manipulating another person's emotions, as it would not only weigh heavily on her conscience but also lead to a messy and twisted relationship.

Not to mention, she wasn't sexually attracted to women.

Song Yingshi preferred a pure monetary relationship, so she chose to adopt Song Ming's idea.

According to the novel, Huai Xu detested wealthy people who abused their wealth and power to bully others. This was evidenced by her disgust after being violated by "Miss Song."

However, Song Yingshi didn't have time to ease her relationship with Huai Xu. If she wanted to live past tomorrow, she could only rely on a more brute-force approach.

"Since you don't like Song Ming, why don't you look at me," Song Yingshi said, leaning forward with a serious look. "Aren't I more pleasing to the eyes than him?"

Disgust and contempt flashed in Huai Xu's eyes. Taking a big step back, she scoffed, "Please have some self-respect, Miss Song."

After saying so, Huai Xu turned around to leave.

"Even if you leave this room, Song Ming will still come after you," Song Yingshi shouted.

Huai Xu stopped and stared at the door just a few feet from her.

"Do you want to know what will happen if you go with him?" Song Yingshi continued. "He will force a contract upon you and give you a house and a car. But you won't have any use for the car, as he would have already withdrawn you from the audition on your behalf. You will be kept in your villa, with all your wants and needs taken care of. However, apart from him and the cleaning lady, you will get to see nobody else. Once a week, he might permit you to leave the house for two hours."

As Song Yingshi recalled the plot of the novel, her eyes fell on Huai Xu's back.

"Miss Huai, is this the life you want?" Song Yingshi asked, "If that's the case, go ahead. Song Ming is waiting for you outside."

Huai Xu did not turn around. In a tone that had neither ups nor downs, she said, "How are you any different from Song Ming? You are just birds of a feather."

Song Yingshi had anticipated this line, so hearing it being delivered loosened her nerves. Immediately, she answered in a casual tone, "Song Ming is only after your body and seeks to control everything about you, but I am different. I will let you do as you please. If you wish to take part in the survival show, so be it."

Song Yingshi did not intend to sacrifice Huai Xu's life to complete her missions.

"I'll even let you go once I'm no longer interested in you," Song Yingshi added. She had previously asked the system and learned there was an end to the missions. When that day arrived, she intended to give Huai Xu a proper farewell, including a car, a house, and even a pension.

After saying so, Song Yingshi, relying on the fact that Huai Xu couldn't see her, craned her neck and stared at Huai Xu's back expectantly, hoping to see some sort of reaction.

Well? Are you moved? Aren't the salary and benefits I'm offering better than that stinky man's? Song Yingshi smirked, nearly getting caught in her antics when Huai Xu suddenly turned around.

"What if I refuse?" Huai Xu asked with her back facing the door.

"Then, I'll pick you up from Song Ming's house tomorrow," Song Yingshi answered earnestly.

Huai Xu narrowed her gaze.

The girl before her looked to be of the same age as her, maybe even younger. Yet, the girl spoke about keeping her.

Huai Xu found all this ridiculous, but she could produce no laughter.

She was nothing compared to Song Ming and this girl who could freely plot against him. She merely had a choice that could hardly be considered a choice.

Suddenly, urgent knocks came from the door. Huai Xu stepped away from the door and took several steps toward Song Yingshi.

Before Huai Xu or Song Yingshi could answer the door, Song Ming opened it and entered the room with Little Chen following him timidly.

Song Ming didn't look too well, his expression somewhat grim. When he looked at Huai Xu, his eyes were mixed with greed and suppressed desire, as if a beast restraining itself from consuming the food before it.

Huai Xu frowned at Song Ming's gaze.

At this time, Song Yingshi stepped forward and shielded Huai Xu from Song Ming, demanding, "Song Ming, what are you doing here?"

"Aunt, you might not be aware, but Huai Xu is an artist my company is aiming to recruit," Song Ming said, his domineering aura unleashed at full power, and his words conveying a veiled threat.

Nobody could steal a domineering president's woman, not even his aunt.

Although Song Ming did not understand how the situation had developed to its current state, he knew he had to assert dominance immediately.

"I won't back down," Song Ming emphasized. Even if his family couldn't compare with Song Yingshi's, he refused to let go of Huai Xu!

As the two tigers from the Song family fought, Little Chen's heart pounded in his chest, and he tried to shrink his presence as much as possible. When he overheard the conversation between Song Yingshi and Huai Xu through the door, he panicked and quickly messaged Song Ming about it. However, after witnessing the confrontation between Song Ming and Song Yingshi, he began to regret his actions, feeling a pang of guilt and shame.

As for Huai Xu, she didn't want to look at Song Ming, so she turned her gaze toward Song Yingshi.

As for Song Yingshi…

She lowered her head and pulled out her phone.

"What are you doing?" Song Ming asked with a frown.

While scrolling through her contact list, Song Yingshi said carefreely, "You are my nephew. As your aunt, what do you think I would do after learning that you're trying to abuse the unspoken rules of the entertainment industry?"

Song Ming: "..."

"I'll call your mother first," Song Yingshi decided.

"You!" Song Ming's eyes went wide.

Ignoring Song Ming's shout, Song Yingshi continued, "Then, I'll share it around in that 300-member main family chat of ours, give them a little heads-up, just in case they stumble upon scandalous news of you keeping a female celebrity one day."

Song Yingshi paused to look at Song Ming for a moment. Then, she continued in a disappointed tone, "An embarrassment! What an embarrassment! You have truly embarrassed the Song family's name!"

Song Ming: "..............."

The war between the domineering present and his aunt ended with Song Ming's complete and utter defeat.

After all, if Song Yingshi went to his mother and said, "Sister-in-law, look at how my wonderful nephew is messing around outside," or announced in the family chat, "I saw my nephew, Song Ming, forcing someone to be his lover," Song Ming might not live to see tomorrow.

Not only could he not fight Song Yingshi for Huai Xu, but he even had to plead with her nicely not to share his deeds with others!

Song Ming couldn't bring himself to go through such a humiliating situation. When he saw Huai Xu standing behind Song Yingshi, his face darkened even more, so he ultimately chose to leave the room, avoiding this situation altogether.

That's right! Run away! Don't even think about competing with me! Song Yingshi smirked with her head held high.

"Little Chen."

After mentally parading her victory, Song Yingshi recalled she still had something important to deal with. Turning to Song Ming's cowering secretary, she called out, "Little Chen."

Little Chen looked at Song Yingshi, trembling in fear.

Song Yingshi beckoned to Little Chen and casually demanded, "Give me the document pouch. Your boss doesn't need it anymore, so lend it to me. And throw in a signature pen."

Song "still nearby" Ming: "..."

Ignorant of Song Ming's lingering presence, Song Yingshi pulled out the contracts in the pouch. However, she quickly returned the artist contract, kept only the lover's contract, glanced through its terms, and muttered, "What is all this nonsense? Regulations for female virtues? What a terrible contract… Whatever, it'll do for now."

Song Yingshi signed her name on the contract before placing it on the table. Then, she looked at Huai Xu with candid eyes, saying, "Sign this. We'll just use it as a statement."

Song Yingshi originally thought she'd need to convince Huai Xu to comply. Surprisingly, Huai Xu didn't fuss about it and simply placed her long and slender signature on the contract.

Happiness came so suddenly that Song Yingshi couldn't help but grin. However, she quickly restrained her smile when Huai Xu looked up.

"You are quite sensible," Song Yingshi faked a cough before taking a seat to look at the contract. Mhm. Her signature is quite good. At least she won't have to worry about giving autographs in the future.

When Song Yingshi first started gaining recognition in her past life, she had secretly practiced her handwriting for two years before she dared to publicly offer autographs. This was because the first time she gave an autograph, her ugly handwriting caused her to be mocked for being arrogant.

The more Song Yingshi thought about it, the more jealous she became of Huai Xu. By the time she returned to her senses, Huai Xu already stood before her.

When Song Yingshi tried to raise her head, her chin was grabbed halfway up, sandwiched between Huai Xu's thumb and index finger.

Song Yingshi's eyes turned into saucers as she was forced to look up at Huai Xu.

An arm's length separated them, and Huai Xu merely stared at Song Yingshi with indifference, behaving as if she wasn't the one forcing Song Yingshi to look at her.

Then, Huai Xu slid her thumb heavily across Song Yingshi's lower lip.

Before Song Yingshi could process what had happened, Huai Xu retracted her hand and looked at her unblemished fingertips.

"What… What are you doing?" Song Yingshi asked in confusion.

"It seems you weren't lying," Huai Xu said, smiling.

This was the first time Huai Xu had smiled, and it was so beautiful it could make people lose their minds.

However, this smile was not friendly at all but full of malice and provocation.

This wasn't an ambiguous action but a show of power by Huai Xu. She was making it known that she was a rose with thorns.

Song Yingshi pursed her lips, feeling the burning sensation coming from her lower lip.

…

TL Notes:

[1]jjwxc: This is the platform on which the novel is published.