Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 33

No one knew what Huai Xu thought of Song Yingshi's actions, but regardless of what she thought, all the budding lesbians in the room already had their minds in the gutter. They all wanted nothing more than to grab Song Yingshi by the shoulders and ask, "What do you mean by that?! Explain yourself!"

"I see nothing, I hear nothing, I know nothing," Lu Xuewen chanted, covering her eyes.

"Damn, who can resist this?" Yu Sheng quietly cursed under her breath.

As for Tao Qin…

Tao Qin bit down hard on her hand, afraid she might let out her shrill marmot scream if she let go.

After this minor interruption, the lending of Star Cards continued.

Following Song Yingshi, Yan Ran, Rong Yi, and other trainees of Class A also began adding stakes to the event. Some trainees from Classes B and C even contributed one or two Star Cards of their own.

At the same time, the conditions for obtaining Star Cards became bizarre and varied gradually. From judging skill and stage performance, it slowly evolved into crosstalk battles, cat-meowing battles, push-up battles…

In short, there was nothing these girls couldn't think of, their imaginations leaving even the production crew dumbfounded.

With everyone pitching in, the impromptu event initiated by Huai Xu remained lively and continued until it was mealtime. By then, every trainee had enough Star Cards to get through tomorrow.

As everyone left for the cafeteria in satisfaction, Director Wu called over Huai Xu for a discussion.

Waving the script in his hand, Director Wu looked at Huai Xu. Amused and helpless, he said, "We originally had something arranged for today. We never expected you to solve things so perfectly."

Initially, the production crew had planned to gather the trainees and assign tasks for them to earn Star Cards. However, not everyone would receive a share of the rewards. This meant there would still be trainees who failed to borrow Star Cards from others or earn any from completing tasks and would still face disqualification tomorrow.

It was the production crew's goal to eliminate trainees who lacked skill and couldn't adapt to the situation. According to their estimates, they should eliminate about five trainees tomorrow.

However, the production crew never expected their carefully planned process to be disrupted. Now, everyone in Class E wouldn't have to face elimination tomorrow.

"I didn't expect you to have a warm heart behind that cold expression," Director Wu sighed. He naturally wasn't angry at Huai Xu's arbitrary decision. After all, he had allowed it to happen without intervention. "Can you tell me what was going through your mind? Star Cards are an important resource. Yet, while others have been begging for them, you took the initiative to give them away."

It didn't surprise Huai Xu that the production crew had arrangements of their own. They wouldn't give the trainees a half-day off for no reason, nor would they watch an entire class get eliminated so soon into the program.

However, whether the production crew's arrangement would satisfy the trainees was debatable. Hence, even though she had anticipated the production crew's plans, she decided to dictate the pacing herself. At the very least, she needed to make the trainees understand that they couldn't obtain Star Cards simply by asking to borrow from others; they needed to put some effort into earning their Star Cards.

As for Song Yingshi and the others continuously escalating the scale of the event, that was something Huai Xu hadn't expected.

"I didn't expect it to get this big, either," Huai Xu admitted. As for Director Wu's statement of her having a warm heart…

Compared to herself, Huai Xu felt that her roommate was even more generous. She could easily imagine Song Yingshi handing them out generously. After all, for that person, these things seemed insignificant—she could confidently and casually give them to those who needed them more.

Huai Xu could easily imagine Song Yingshi generously giving away her Star Cards. After all, these things were insignificant to that person—she could confidently and casually give them to those who needed them more.

And if Song Yingshi were to run out of Star Cards? She would simply find a way to earn more.

As Huai Xu stood before Director Wu, she was astonished to realize that Song Yingshi seemed to have become a huge influence on her at some point. Otherwise, she would never have done what she did in the afternoon.

If this were in the past, even if Song Yingshi were to initiate such a charity event, Huai Xu doubted she would join in on the action. After all, she wasn't such a generous person. Yet, she still did it.

Noticing that Huai Xu had seemingly fallen into a daze, Director Wu called out, "Huai Xu?"

Huai Xu promptly snapped out of her thoughts and took a deep breath. However, she didn't intend to reveal her true thoughts, so she simply smiled and continued, "Star Cards are resources. It is never a loss to convert surplus resources into another resource or asset."

As Huai Xu said so, her expression remained as calm and detached as ever. Director Wu did not doubt her words, inwardly admiring intelligence and wisdom.

Had Huai Xu kept stockpiling her Star Cards, they would only make her appear ordinary to the audience. However, she instantly created a memorable highlight for the audience by sharing her Star Cards.

Nonetheless, it remained a fact that Huai Xu had disrupted the show's pacing, causing the show's directors to work overtime. Hence, when Director Wu saw Huai Xu's calm and confident composure, he decided to get some payback, stating, "Star Cards have more than one use."

As expected, Huai Xu immediately looked over, her reaction giving Director Wu great satisfaction.

Since you've enjoyed your time in the spotlight, it's time to pay for it, Director Wu thought, leisurely sipping his tea. Then, he heard Huai Xu saying:

"You make a good point."

Of course. Who do you think I am? I'm the chief director, Director Wu inwardly responded.

"When did you plan to schedule the Star Card tasks?" Huai Xu asked.

"That script has already…" Realizing what Huai Xu was getting at, Director Wu immediately grew defensive. "Are you looking to squeeze the production crew's Star Cards to replenish your stash? Not a chance!"

Huai Xu chuckled at Director Wu's reaction. Then, she changed the approach, asking, "We haven't seen any of the mentors today. Does that mean the task arrangement is between the production crew and the trainees?"

Director Wu neither confirmed nor denied Huai Xu's speculation.

Patiently, Huai Xu continued, "If the mentors and trainees can have more varied and interesting interactions, the show can only stand to benefit from it."

Director Wu: "…"

As the saying goes, "hit where it hurts." What Director Wu cared about most was the show. So long as it was something that could improve the show's ratings, he would indulge the trainees in disrupting the program's script.

Likewise, Director Wu would be hard-pressed to reject any suggestion that could benefit the show.

Director Wu glared at Huai Xu with bull-like eyes as he realized how the other party had his thoughts under her clutches. However, despite having already fallen for Huai Xu's temptation and inwardly planning a new script, he remained dismissive on the surface, waving his hand as he said, "Alright, that's enough from you."

As Huai Xu stood up to leave, she reminded Director Wu, "The mentors will be returning tomorrow…"

"I don't need you to tell me that. Which of us do you think is the director?" Director Wu tutted.

After Huai Xu left, Director Wu took a sip of tea and carefully constructed his new script. He had to admit that this disturbance had made the show much more interesting than the production crew's original plan would have.

Then, Director Wu recalled the earlier image of Huai Xu.

She looks like a completely different person…

Compared to the time Director Wu persuaded Huai Xu to interview, the girl had become much more mature in behavior, speech, and temperament. Now, she was akin to a budding flower drenched in the spring rain, quietly blooming and exuding a faint, subtle fragrance.

At the same time, Huai Xu was no longer shrouded in a decrepit and gloomy air. She was gradually becoming livelier and showing a youthful spirit befitting her age.

It must be because of the influence of spending time with people her age day in and day out!

Yes! That must be it!

It seems I am quite the accomplished adult!

The more Director Wu thought about it, the more accomplished he felt. He also began treating Huai Xu as if she were his junior. Then, as he leisurely took another sip of tea, he sent a message to the director's group's WeChat group:

"Meeting. We're going to discuss adding new scripts."

…

While Huai Xu was away, Song Yingshi was having a tea party with the other girls, and the main topic of this tea party was none other than Huai Xu.

"I really didn't expect Huai Xu to take charge of such an event, much less contribute five Star Cards!" Wan Jiao exclaimed.

Lu Xuewen immediately chimed in, "My roommate has always been nice. She just looks cold."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

They had previously thought of Huai Xu as an unapproachable beauty. They never expected her to care about others to the point of giving away her Star Cards.

"See, I told you that you misunderstood Huai Xu," a trainee said as she nudged Li Tinghan.

Li Tinghan had a bad impression of Huai Xu because of the argument over who would go first in the theme song performance in the morning. But now, one of her friends managed to borrow a Star Card because of Huai Xu.

Although Li Tinghan felt complicated inside, she still stubbornly said, "So what? She got camera time, didn't she?"

Li Tinghan's friend was the first to disapprove, saying, "I got camera time, too. Are you dissing me as well?"

"That's not what I mean…" Li Tinghan was at a loss for words.

"Then what do you mean? Speak up," Li Tinghan's friend urged.

"I… Fine, fine, whatever you say," Li Tinghan said in submission.

Seeing that Li Tinghan was about to be pinned down and pummeled with cushions by newly converted Huai Xu fangirls, Song Yingshi stepped out to maintain order, "Everyone, don't fight, don't fight."

After saying so, Song Yingshi shook her head toward the camera, jokingly sighing, "Do you all see this—Huai Xu is just too much of a femme fatale."

Nonetheless, Song Yingshi was genuinely happy for Huai Xu after seeing how much everyone's impression of her dear employee had improved. At this rate, not only would Huai Xu have good relations with the other classmates, but their relationship as roommates would also surely improve step by step. Once she completed the transformation from a "kept" relationship to that of best friends, wouldn't she be able to complete any mission easily?

Take today's coquettish mission, for example. Before, Song Yingshi was sure Huai Xu would regard her behavior as a mental illness. But now, Huai Xu could tolerate her strange behaviors without question.

Song Yingshi felt she had done a perfect job.

However, as soon as Song Yingshi was done praising herself, the system suddenly threw another mission her way:

"Special Mission: Embrace Huai Xu and feed her mouth-to-mouth for at least 10 seconds."

"?"

Song Yingshi's smile gradually disappeared. Immediately, she demanded, System, what in hell's name is this mission?

What kind of sane person would eat using such a method? What type of relationship could possibly justify such intimate behavior?

"Missions will be updated according to your current relationship with Huai Xu, Host," the system answered.

Song Yingshi mulled over these words and asked hesitantly, "So, the better my relationship with Huai Xu gets, the more explicit the missions will become?"

The system let out two electronic chuckles, sounding very sarcastic, "You can put it that way."

"…"

This was just too…freaking…much!

Unfortunately, Song Yingshi didn't have a choice. After glancing at her dwindling Life Points, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and do the mission.

After the tea party, Song Yingshi returned to her dormitory to find that Huai Xu still hadn't returned.

While waiting for Huai Xu to return, Song Yingshi idly began her skincare routine. Halfway through it, Tao Qin joined her, and they both strove to become "refined women" while sharing mundane discussions.

During a lull in the conversation, Song Yingshi began to wonder about the future. If, one day, her relationship with Huai Xu were to develop to a point where they could French kiss and even grope each other's breasts like super close girlfriends, what more difficult missions could the system assign?

There must be a limit to the missions' lewdness, right? The system must be trying to scare her, right?

Song Yingshi sniffed, feeling a little comforted in her heart. In her wage-slave life of battling wits with the system, she finally found a glimmer of hope for the future.

After finishing her skincare, Song Yingshi looked at Tao Qin, who was moisturizing.

There were only fruits and vegetables in the kitchen. Song Yingshi had initially considered preparing some fruits for her mission, but recalling Tao Qin's presence, she asked, "Do you guys have any snacks in your dorm? Preferably something long and thin, like Pocky…"

Tao Qin pondered for a moment before she answered, "As it so happens, we do have something like that."

"Get it for me, get it for me!" Song Yingshi pleaded eagerly.

"Okay!" Tao Qin agreed without hesitation before rushing out of the apartment.

Two minutes later, Tao Qin returned with a bag of Weilong spicy sticks[1] in her hand.

"…"

Song Yingshi fell into deep thought.

To be fair, these spicy sticks were indeed long and thin. Heck, they were even longer than Pocky. Thus, they fit her requirements perfectly.

But to eat spicy sticks mouth-to-mouth… Wasn't this a little too bizarre?

"A friend of mine brought half a box of spicy sticks, Old Godmother (Laoganma/chili sauce), and Lee Kum Kee soy sauce to go with meals. This is her favorite go-to spicy stick brand," Tao Qin said, enthusiastically introducing the origin of this pack of spicy sticks. However, when she saw Song Yingshi remaining silent, she thought Song Yingshi was dissatisfied, so she hurriedly added, "If you don't like spicy sticks, should I get you something else?"

Song Yingshi immediately perked up at this question, asking, "What else do you have? Tell me, I'll choose."

Song Yingshi wasn't going to let fate decide for her this time. She'd be safer asking to be sure.

In response, Tao Qin began listing a variety of Weilong products, "We also have 'Kiss Burns,' 'Kiss Bars,' 'Kiss-Tofu Skins'…"[2]

"?"

TL Notes:
[1]Weilong(卫龙) spicy sticks(辣条 - la tiao): It's a popular stack in China. (I personally don't like it and wouldn't recommend anyone try it. I bought this brand of spicy sticks in the past, and it tasted primarily of oil.

Here's an example:https://www.amazon.com/Weilong-Chinese-Delicious-Handmade-Snacks，Spicy/dp/B0BTW2WM61