Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 49.1

The "disastrous" stream was finally over.

Song Yingshi didn't wish to recall anything about the stream whatsoever. However, as soon as she returned to the dormitory's common area, Yan Ran asked her:

"Did the live stream go smoothly?"

This situation forced Song Yingshi to think about the stream, and for some reason, the first thing that came to her mind was the scene of Huai Xu handing her the bottle of cultured milk.

Huai Xu's hand, which was wrapped around the milky white bottle, had distinct finger bones. Most importantly, her fingernails were bare, devoid of any nail polish.

Song Yingshi knew Huai Xu didn't have a habit of prettying herself up. Hence, it was normal for Huai Xu not to wear any nail polish. However, when she recalled this detail, she couldn't help but link it with the strange and useless knowledge she had learned in the past few days.

At this thought, Song Yingshi abruptly covered her face and breathed a long sigh.

Song Yingshi's behavior startled Yan Ran. Hurriedly, she said, "Was the stream so tiring? Quickly go and get some rest."

Song Yingshi was indeed exhausted. Mentally exhausted.

After breathing another sigh, Song Yingshi bid Yan Ran goodbye and dragged her weary heart back to her bedroom.

When Song Yingshi opened the door, she saw that, as expected, Huai Xu was already back.

Huai Xu should have just returned. She stood before the closet, looking like she was choosing her sleepwear for tonight.

Song Yingshi was familiar with this sight. She even knew what would happen next:

Once Huai Xu made up her mind, she would change into her nightwear in the bathroom and take her uniform outside to get it washed.

Everything was the same as always.

Song Yingshi felt a little better, knowing her day had finally returned to normal. Her lips curving into a smile, she filled her mug with some water. However, just as her lips were about to touch the edge of her mug, she suddenly saw Huai Xu removing her T-shirt, revealing her beautiful back and slender waist...

Cough! Cough!

Song Yingshi's teeth hit the edge of the mug, causing some water to splash into her throat and trigger a gag reflex.

Without bothering to catch her breath, Song Yingshi quickly wiped away the water on her lips and asked, "Wait, Huai Xu, what are you doing?"

Huai Xu turned around, causing her waistline to twist and appear even more seductive. Slowly, she replied, "Taking off my clothes."

"Why are you suddenly taking off your clothes?!" Song Yingshi retorted.

"To shower," Huai Xu replied.

Song Yingshi: "…"

Huai Xu's indifferent tone made Song Yingshi feel like she was the one being unreasonable and deliberately picking on her roommate.

But was that the case?

Of course not.

Thus far, Huai Xu had only ever changed her clothes in the bathroom. On top of that, she even required Song Yingshi to do the same, strictly forbidding Song Yingshi from changing in the bedroom.

Song Yingshi's heart, which had just been soothed, started growing weary again. Pointing at the bathroom, she said, "Change inside."

"Why?" Huai Xu asked, her hands still holding up the edges of her T-shirt.

Song Yingshi's eyebrows jumped at Huai Xu's question. Earnestly, she said, "You need to learn how to protect yourself."

As Song Yingshi said so, she couldn't help but grow a little confused. In her research, she had read about the hardships homosexual women had to go through when living with straight women. However, despite having proclaimed herself a lesbian, Huai Xu didn't seem to share the same problems as other lesbians.

Could Huai Xu be doing this on purpose? Song Yingshi thought suspiciously. After all, this was the first time Huai Xu was nonchalantly changing in front of her.

Seemingly knowing what Song Yingshi was thinking, Huai Xu smirked and said, "I don't even mind it, so why do you care?"

"You..."

Just as Song Yingshi was about to say something, Huai Xu ignored her and resumed stripping.

Song Yingshi's words got caught in her mouth, and she subconsciously looked away. Unfortunately, though her eyes were focused on the empty wall, her ears couldn't do the same.

In the quiet room, Song Yingshi could hear every noise Huai Xu made.

Ruffle, ruffle.

Ruffle, ruffle.

Amidst the ruffling of clothes, Song Yingshi heard Huai Xu saying, "I already came out anyway. Since you say you are straight and have no interest in women, I have no need to be shy around you."

As Huai Xu finished speaking, Song Yingshi heard a sound resembling falling leaves hitting thick snow, likely a result of clothes landing on the bed.

Then, Huai Xu continued, "The bathroom is too humid. It's more comfortable to change outside."

In Song Yingshi's peripheral vision, she saw Huai Xu kicking her shoes onto the carpet, followed by clothes falling limply on the shoes. She also saw a section of a flawless ankle.

Song Yingshi: “…”

Song Yingshi closed her eyes again and turned even further away.

Bathed in the room's golden light, Huai Xu sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed, her left hand propping up her chin. With her right hand, she gently combed the hair cascading down the left side of her face.

Turning slightly, Huai Xu quietly observed Song Yingshi, who stood about five steps away.

Song Yingshi's face was turned toward the wall, so her extended neck was exposed to Huai Xu's sight.

As Huai Xu's gaze lingered on this sight, her throat constricted, and her mouth grew parched.

Raising her gaze slightly, Huai Xu looked at Song Yingshi in amusement and asked, "Why don't you dare look at me?"

Song Yingshi: "..."

Song Yingshi felt that the information she found online needed an update. None of the research materials she read had ever mentioned that lesbians would persecute straight women in such a way.

Song Yingshi found that it was truly challenging to be a behaving straight woman.

In a voice that bordered on sobbing, Song Yingshi urged, "Hurry up and go in."

Huai Xu's lips curved upward at this voice.

Huai Xu wanted to say something, but she ultimately decided to be merciful and enter the bathroom, sparing Song Yingshi from further agony.

The bathroom door closed with a crisp sound.

Relief washed over Song Yingshi, and she finally dared to turn around.

Despite sounding pitiful just now, Song Yingshi's expression showed no anxiety or panic. Instead, she stared at the bathroom door with a thoughtful look.

Although Song Yingshi couldn't tell if Huai Xu had decided to let herself go after acquiring her "key" or if Huai Xu had other intentions, she understood her assumption that their relationship would never change was ultimately just an assumption.

Like ripples on a still pond, the consequences of that day would likely haunt her for the foreseeable future.

Shifting her thoughts, Song Yingshi turned to look at the foot of the bed.

The clothes Huai Xu wore today were scattered there.

There was a messy dent on the bed, and it wasn't hard for Song Yingshi to imagine Huai Xu sitting there while talking to her.

At that time, Huai Xu had already stripped off her clothes. Hence, when she sat there, she likely wasn't wearing—

At this thought, Song Yingshi panickedly looked away from that section of the bed. Then, when her gaze landed on Huai Xu's T-shirt and trousers, her expression froze momentarily.

What is going on with me? Song Yingshi questioned. This was the first time she would think of a woman after looking at the clothes of said woman. Of course, this was, in part, Huai Xu's fault for talking to her while naked.

The more Song Yingshi thought about it, the more she felt Huai Xu was responsible for her current situation.

Grabbing the pajamas that Huai Xu didn't bother to take with her, Song Yingshi strode to the bathroom and knocked on the door.

The sound of splashing water coming from the bathroom stopped, and Huai Xu's voice, moistened by water vapor, flowed through the door, "Little Shi?"

Song Yingshi pressed down on the door handle and opened a tiny gap. Just as she was about to continue, the hot mist that escaped from the gap hit the back of her hand, causing her to pause in hesitation.

On second thought...

Forbearance was the key to avoiding trouble. Song Yingshi considered herself a generous employer. Hence, she decided not to nitpick about Huai Xu's behavior.

Taking two steps back with Huai Xu's pajamas in hand, Song Yingshi suddenly remembered she had yet to answer Huai Xu.

After calming herself as much as possible, Song Yingshi said, "I'm heading out for a bit. Take your time washing up, and wash up properly."

When Song Yingshi uttered her last few words, she couldn't help but reveal a hint of teasing.

The bathroom remained silent for a while.

There was no sound of water, nor was there any response from Huai Xu.

After returning the pajamas to the bed, Song Yingshi was just about to step out of the room when Huai Xu said with a laugh, "Then...take care not to return too soon."

…

On the 17th, trainees with endorsement shoots gathered under the production crew's arrangement.

Because of how effectively Star of Spring had dealt with the previous endorsement controversy, many brands started getting in touch with the show, which increased the trainees' job opportunities.

Song Yingshi took on a solo broadcast and a beauty advertisement clip that involved a joint shoot with four other trainees. Huai Xu had a different schedule from hers, receiving jobs from an earphone brand and a skincare brand.

When the skincare brand saw Huai Xu's skin condition, they promptly changed their advertising strategy, showcasing Huai Xu removing their product rather than applying it to emphasize their product's effectiveness.

...

On the 18th, as per sponsor requirements, all trainees filmed some daily life clips.

Song Yingshi and Huai Xu had to film two videos of themselves eating in their dormitory. After filming both clips, just as Song Yingshi was about to call it a day, someone from the production crew suddenly came over in a hurry, saying, "Dynasty Milk just contacted us. After seeing how popular the clip of you and Huai Xu drinking their cultured milk got, their boss asked for an extra segment of you two drinking their cultured milk in your dormitory."

Song Yingshi: "?"

"Why don't you have us perform cross-cupped wine while you're at it?" Song Yingshi asked in a gentle but sarcastic tone. No proper employee would be happy about receiving extra work, and Song Yingshi was no exception.

"Good idea!" the staff member exclaimed.

"In your dreams!" Song Yingshi retorted, her face instantly turning expressionless.

The staff member realized Song Yingshi was joking and couldn't help but grow disappointed.

Huai Xu was in the middle of packing when the staff member showed up. Without looking up, she glanced at Song Yingshi and said, "It's only an extra advertisement."

"I never said I wouldn't do it," Song Yingshi replied. She was a professional. Since she was getting paid, she naturally had to serve the client well.

Upon hearing this, the staff member quickly left to get things ready.

When only the two of them were left in the room, Huai Xu approached Song Yingshi and said, "Why does it feel like you've become more sensitive recently?"

Song Yingshi: "..."

"You're imagining things. I was only messing around just now," Song Yingshi said, denying the allegation.

"Is that so?"

Huai Xu's response was vague, and Song Yingshi couldn't tell what Huai Xu was thinking.

Instead of racking her mind, Song Yingshi faced Huai Xu directly and reached out to brush off the nonexistent dust on Huai Xu's shoulders. Smiling sweetly, she said, "Do I have any reason to be sensitive?"

In reality, they both knew the answer to the question. However, as their gazes intertwined, they tacitly agreed to feign ignorance.

Stepping back, Huai Xu smiled and said, "I guess not."

At this time, there was a noise at the door. Song Yingshi was the first to look away, asking the cameraman who had just come in, "Can we start shooting now?"