Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 32

When Lu Xuewen lent out her Star Card to the waiting trainee, she asked the other party to pass on a message to Class E's dormitories.

Meanwhile, Lu Xuewen borrowed a megaphone from a staff member and began shouting from the fourth floor to the sixth floor, "Hear ye, hear ye! Those who need Star Cards, come to the fifth-floor lobby! The fifth-floor lobby!"

Then, after pausing for a moment, she added, "Those with too many Star Cards to spend, come join the fun too!"

Desperate for Star Cards, Class E's trainees gathered on the fifth floor in no time. Class D's trainees also trickled into the fifth-floor lobby to join the excitement.

Lu Xuewen, Wan Jiao, Li Tinghan, and other trainees of Class C, as well as Class B's trainees like Yu Sheng and Tao Qin, were already waiting in the fifth-floor lobby when Class E's and Class D's trainees arrived. The way everyone conversed with curious and excited expressions made it look like they were hosting a tea party; all that was missing was beverages and snacks.

Shortly afterward, a few of Class A's trainees also wandered down to the fifth floor.

Those in the know warmly greeted the Pink "Millionaires," saying, "Hello, Ma'am. Did you bring your Star Cards?"

Rong Yi, being young and shy, blushed from their teasing.

After some playful banter, some of the Class E's trainees asked with nervousness and anticipation:

"We heard we could get Star Cards. What do we need to do to get them?"

Everyone turned to look at Huai Xu.

Although Huai Xu remained untalkative as ever, Lu Xuewen and the other "organizers" clearly centered themselves around her. Hence, everyone assumed she was the host of this gathering.

Moreover, Huai Xu always had a certain charisma that made her the center of attention. Nobody could ignore her presence even if she stood still and did nothing.

—Most notably, Huai Xu held a stack of Star Cards in her hand!

A whole stack!

Huai Xu did not disappoint the crowd's expectations. With a flick of her wrist, she fanned the Star Cards between her fingers. After scanning the gathered crowd, she met the eager gazes of Class E's trainees and said, "I have five Star Cards here. Anyone who can sing an original song for me will get one. If you don't have an original, but think you didn't perform well during your Initial Rating, you can sing again. As long as you move me with your singing, I'll lend a Star Card to you.'

The announcement caused a minor stir among the trainees.

Huai Xu was giving away Star Cards!

Moreover, even if they couldn't win a free Star Card, they could still borrow one by redoing their Initial Rating Performance.

Immediately, the trainees who were confident in their vocal abilities perked up at this announcement. After all, Huai Xu's conditions favored them.

Wu Wei stared at the Star Cards in Huai Xu's hand with determination in her eyes. During the Initial Rating Performance, her vocals alone had earned her a spot in Class C. Unfortunately, not only was she among the trainees chosen for a three-way battle when Classes B, C, and D filled up, but she was also among the unlucky few to have lost the three-way battle and got sent to Class E.

Wu Wei was normally withdrawn and didn't like talking. When she saw her classmates going around borrowing Star Cards, she would be lying if she said she wasn't anxious. If she hadn't heard Lu Xuewen's announcement, she would've gritted her teeth and swallowed her pride to borrow a Star Card from others. But now that she could rely on her own strength to earn a Star Card, why should she bother begging from others?

Wu Wei wanted to rely on herself.

"Are you really giving them away?" Wu Wei asked, raising her voice.

Huai Xu followed Wu Wei's voice and looked straight at her.

The others also followed Huai Xu's gaze and looked at Wu Wei.

Wu Wei started anxiously rubbing her hands together from being stared at by so many people. However, she knew her blunt personality could sometimes be off-putting, so she quickly explained, "I'm not trying to doubt your words—"

"I remember you," Huai Xu interrupted.

Wu Wei froze.

"You sang 'Adoration' at the Initial Rating," Huai Xu added.

That was all Huai Xu said on this topic. She neither commented on Wu Wei's Initial Rating Performance nor offered any praise or encouragement.

After a slight pause, Huai Xu asked, "Do you have an original song? Why didn't you sing it during the Initial Rating?"

"I wanted to save it for later, but…" Wu Wei let her words trail off with a wry smile.

Some opportunities only come once in a person's lifetime, and one misstep could lead to a person losing everything.

However, Wu Wei now had a second chance.

While it might not seem worthwhile to brandish her original work in this internal exchange among trainees, the Initial Rating had taught Wu Wei that—

She had to seize every opportunity with all her might so she would not be left with regrets.

Wu Wei borrowed a guitar from the staff, sat on the floor, and inspected the tuning. Then, she looked at everyone before her and stated, "I'll be claiming the first Star Card."

To everyone's surprise, Wu Wei sang a cute and lively song. The notes bounced cheerfully off the guitar strings, and the song evoked images of sixteen-year-old youths, a clear blue sky reflected in a clear stream, and golden sunlight shining on mint leaves. A smile had also appeared on Wu Wei's usually sullen face.

The song's arrangement wasn't complex, but its lively rhythm was infectious. In no time, many of the trainees present began bobbing their heads to the melody and revealing delighted expressions.

As Huai Xu listened to Wu Wei's singing, she suddenly wondered what Song Yingshi had been like in high school.

Huai Xu imagined Song Yingshi dozing lazily behind a textbook during morning study, stealing glances at the world beyond the window during class, darting between classrooms to greet her friends, wandering along tree-lined paths, and stepping on patches of sunset after school.

Above all, Huai Xu pictured Song Yingshi smiling like the wind, without a care in the world…

Was that what Song Yingshi was like?

Perhaps.

When Wu Wei finished singing the verse of her song, Huai Xu placed a Star Card before her, causing Wu Wei's guitar to stop playing.

Meeting Wu Wei's gaze, Huai Xu gently applauded, "Save the rest for the stage."

Wu Wei grabbed the Star Card and jumped in excitement. She was so thrilled that she was momentarily lost for words. Eventually, she blurted, "Do you think I can continue surviving after tomorrow?"

Wu Wei's question amused the crowd. Some trainees even shouted at her:

"Be confident, you're a queen!"

"Return your Star Card to Huai Xu, then! There are only five available! I'm still waiting to win one!"

Return her Star Card?

Not in a million years!

Wu Wei glared at her peers like a wolf cub guarding her food. Facing her smiling classmates, she subconsciously lowered her voice, saying, "I got mine by singing. You should sing, too." Why do you want mine?

As Wu Wei said so, she even put on an aggrieved expression, the sight causing everyone's maternal instincts to flare up.

Immediately, Wan Jiao hugged Wu Wei, saying, "Aww, how can you be so adorable? Sing the rest for big sis too, okay?"

Like a helpless lamb being dragged off into a lion's den, Wu Wei was dragged into the crowd to be "devoured" by a bunch of "lionesses."

With such a good start, everyone's eyes burned as they looked at the remaining four Star Cards with increased voracity.

While there might not be many trainees who had original songs and also happened to need Star Cards, there were plenty who were unsatisfied with their Initial Rating Performance.

In the blink of an eye, Huai Xu's five Star Cards were gone, some given, some lent.

When all five Star Cards were distributed, the trainees who didn't get a chance to perform couldn't help but be disappointed.

Nonetheless, everyone knew there was a limit to Huai Xu's Star Cards, and no one dared to ask her to take out any more. Huai Xu had already been incredibly generous by sharing five of her Star Cards.

Meanwhile, Yan Ran looked around, thought about the Star Cards in her room, and hesitated for a moment. However, before she could make a decision, a sweet voice rang in the lobby:

"Why are you only giving them to vocalists?"

Everyone was familiar with this sweet voice. Immediately, everyone turned to greet the owner of this voice:

"Little Shi!"

"What took you so long? We're already done here."

Huai Xu didn't speak. She merely watched as Song Yingshi approached.

Song Yingshi walked over with her hands behind her back, looking around like a supervisor on inspection. Once she moved closer, Huai Xu finally answered her earlier question:

"Because I'm a vocalist."

"That's favoritism," Song Yingshi said, casting Huai Xu a sidelong glance. "As someone who's not particularly good at singing, doesn't that mean I won't get to borrow any Star Cards from you?"

At Song Yingshi's question, Huai Xu was immediately reminded of last night's "Orange Jasmine." Her lips curving slightly, she said in a lowered voice, "Don't you sing quite well?"

"…"

Song Yingshi glared at Huai Xu. Seeing the subtle smile on Huai Xu's face, how could she not figure out what her dear employee was hinting at?

Meanwhile, Tao Qin, watching Song Yingshi and Huai Xu exchange "flirtatious" glances, eventually lost her composure. Standing up, she declared, "Little Shi, if you run out of Star Cards, just use Huai Xu's!"

Yu Sheng faked a violent cough and pinched Tao Qin's waist with all her might when she heard her friend's words. Then, desperately trying to cover up Tao Qin's matchmaking effort, she said to Song Yingshi, "Mhm, mhm. We're all friends here. You can use ours too, Little Shi."

"I was just joking. I still have some left," Song Yingshi said, chuckling as she regarded Tao Qin's and Yu Sheng's words as a joke. Then, she pulled out the three Star Cards she had brought.

Before coming here, Song Yingshi had heard from Tao Qin about what Huai Xu was doing, so she brought her Star Cards along. Thus far, she had spent three Star Cards to redeem her suitcases on the first day and two more to cover her daily expenditures for today and yesterday. She still had five Star Cards remaining, but after factoring in the Star Cards she would need for subsequent daily expenditures, she decided to keep two Star Cards for herself and share the rest with the others.

"Go on, continue. I'll add some stakes for the dancers," Song Yingshi said as she fanned herself with the Star Cards. "My rules for borrowing will be the same as Huai Xu's."

Then, after a slight pause, she raised her eyebrows proudly and continued, "I'll also give a Star Card to anyone who can outdance me."

These words carried a hint of provocation and instantly heated the atmosphere.

Some trainees cheered in response, while others playfully booed her, shouting:

"Little Shi, do you even have Star Cards to spare? Don't come crying to us for a loan tomorrow; we won't give you any."

With a click of her tongue and a tug on Huai Xu's arm, Song Yingshi announced proudly, "I'll use Huai Xu's."

As Huai Xu's sponsor and friend, Song Yingshi could freely use Huai Xu's Star Cards so long as she cast her shame aside. To get her point across, she even started glancing at Huai Xu repeatedly while making a face that said, "Jealous? I have Huai Xu while you don't," to the other trainees.

Initially, Huai Xu ignored Song Yingshi's antics. However, as Song Yingshi leaned closer, she eventually had enough, reaching out and gently turning Song Yingshi's delicate head aside.

"What are you doing?" Song Yingshi demanded, stubbornly turning her head back to face Huai Xu.

Huai Xu didn't answer, and Song Yingshi interpreted the silence as rejection. Preparing for the worst, Song Yingshi fiercely added, "You're not allowed to be mean to me."

Despite Song Yingshi's fierce expression, her crisp and sweet voice, combined with her mellow tone, made her sound like she was acting coquettish. As a result, the other trainees began coaxing and teasing her:

"How old are you, Little Shi?"

"Only Huai Xu would spoil you like this."

"Come, act spoiled for big sis, and I'll give you a Star Card too."

At this time, Song Yingshi just so happened to have completed the system's "super-easy mission" of acting coquettishly toward Huai Xu in front of others. This put her in a good mood, so she quickly joined the playful atmosphere.

Stepping toward the trainee who had offered her a Star Card, Song Yingshi smiled and said, "Are you really giving it to me? Then, here I come—"

Suddenly, Song Yingshi felt a tug on her elbow, as if someone had tied a rope and pulled her back.

Looking back inquisitively, Song Yingshi saw Huai Xu, gaze lowered and lips pressed into a straight line, holding her arm and looking down.

Avoiding Song Yingshi's gaze, Huai Xu spoke in her usual cool tone, but with a slightly hurried pace, "You said you'd add stakes. Everyone's still waiting."

Realization dawned on Song Yingshi. Indeed, there were still trainees waiting for the event to continue. She shouldn't draw out their anticipation any longer.

Reflecting on her behavior, Song Yingshi obediently returned to Huai Xu's side and stopped fooling around.

"Little Shi, why aren't you coming over? Big sis is still waiting," the trainee from before teased.

After returning to Huai Xu's side, Song Yingshi casually held Huai Xu's forearm, gave the trainee a sidelong glance, and smugly said, "I have Huai Xu."