Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 49.2

TL Notes:
Made an edit to the "niece" explanation in Chapter 48.1's TL Notes. I think I interpreted the information wrongly. "Niece" should just be another way to refer to straight women in China's lesbian circle. There shouldn't be any deeper meaning.

While Song Yingshi and Huai Xu were still filming their promotional video, Wan Jiao and the others who had completed their filming happily ate in the trainees' cafeteria.

As usual, Wan Jiao shared a table with Wen Qingzi, one of her juniors from the same company. As for her other junior, the girl had opted out of visiting the cafeteria due to a lack of appetite.

When Wan Jiao saw nobody was near their table, she complained to Wen Qingzi, "I felt like a third wheel in last night's livestream."

"A sparkly wheel that sticks out like a sore thumb," Wen Qingzi calmly replied.

"Can't you be kinder to me?" Wan Jiao pouted.

Wen Qingzi chuckled.

Noticing more and more people appearing in the cafeteria, Wan Jiao tapped Wen Qingzi's food tray and asked, "Hey, look at them. Can you tell?"

"Tell what?" Wen Qingzi asked in confusion.

In response, Wan Jiao winked and said, "That! You said you could tell with just a glance, right? Also, weren't you the one who uncovered Little Shi's secret? Check and see if any of them are lesbians.

Wen Qingzi: “…”

Wen Qingzi finally remembered that to conceal the fact that she had overheard Little Shi and Huai Xu's conversation on the balcony, she had lied to Wan Jiao about having a "les-dar."

Like hell did she have a lesbian radar.

"This technique consumes too much internal energy. I can only inspect one person a day. I've already used up today's chance, and overuse will shorten my lifespan," Wen Qingzi replied perfunctorily.

"Wen Qingzi, do you take me for a fool?" Wan Jiao glared at Wen Qingzi.

"You found me out," Wen Qingzi replied in the same perfunctory tone.

Wan Jiao nearly flipped the table at the response. Then, she suddenly heard someone calling from behind, "Jiaojiao, what are you two talking about?"

Wan Jiao turned around and saw that it was Tao Qin's usual group of three. Not wanting to reveal her embarrassing conversation with Wen Qingzi, she made up a random excuse, saying, "We were talking about the filming just now..."

"Let's eat together, then," Tao Qin suggested.

Then, Tao Qin, Lu Xuewen, and Yu Sheng took a seat at Wan Jiao's table.

Meanwhile, Wan Jiao secretly glared at Wen Qingzi, swearing to herself that she would deal with this impertinent little sister once Tao Qin's group left.

Wen Qingzi responded to Wan Jiao's glare with an innocent look. Suddenly, she tapped the table and said, "Tao Qin."

"Hm? What's up?" Tao Qin responded.

"My Big Sis Jiao wants to see you spot lesbians with your naked eyes. Don't you have a les-dar? Please satisfy her," Wen Qingzi requested.

Wen Qingzi's casual words made the table quiet for several seconds.

Fortunately, Wan Jiao had experienced the "lesbians are all around me" scenario before, so she quickly accepted the fact that Tao Qin was bent. And upon learning that Tao Qin had a les-dar, she eagerly asked, "Really? Can you tell with just a glance? Then, can you see if anyone else in the canteen is bent?"

Tao "Walking Les-dar" Qin accepted the mission, and her first words were:

"Out of everyone at this table, you're the only one who's straight."

Wan Jiao: “…”

After looking around the cafeteria, Tao Qin faced Wan Jiao again and continued, "It'd be a little too tiring to name all the bent ones. Why don't I tell you who's straight instead? We'll get to start eating sooner that way."

Wan Jiao: “…”

Wan Jiao was flabbergasted.

As the only straight woman at the table and one of the few in the cafeteria, Wan Jiao silently hugged herself. It turned out that she was the endangered species all along.

Joining the conversation, Lu Xuewen and Yu Sheng poked fun at the only "niece" at the table:

"Hahaha! You never expected this, did you, Jiaojiao?"

"I never thought I'd see the day where you'd appear so weak and pitiful."

As Lu Xuewen and Yu Sheng laughed wildly, they suddenly heard Wan Jiao asking Wen Qingzi, "This proves you're a phony. Then, how did you know Little Shi and Huai Xu are together?"

Lu Xuewen and Yu Sheng: "Huh?"

Tao Qin: "Ah?!"

What did she just hear???

Tao Qin immediately grabbed Wan Jiao's hand before realizing her mistake and ruthlessly casting it aside. Then, in one swift motion, she grabbed Wen Qingzi's hand and pleaded with passionate tears, "What do you know?! Tell me!"

"You're so close with those two, yet you don't know?" Wen Qingzi asked, confused by Tao Qin's reaction.

Tao Qin & Yu Sheng & Lu Xuewen: "Don't know what?"

What exactly did they miss?

Wen Qingzi looked at the trio sympathetically and said, "You've been shipping them at such close proximity, yet you don't know your ship is real? Don't ask how I found out about it; I can't tell you. Believe me, they are a couple. It's something they admitted themselves. If you don't believe me, go ask Xing Huan."

Tao Qin struggled not to squeal like a guinea pig and faint from excitement.

When Tao Qin caught Xing Huan and heard the other party say the same thing, she suddenly felt like she was floating on clouds.

"Hehe... I only knew Snow-Kissed Rose existed... It turns out that it existed for real... Hehehe..." Tao Qin muttered to herself.

Next to Tao Qin, Lu Xuewen also replicated the expression of a fool.

Yu Sheng was the only one who maintained a semblance of sanity. Looking at Tao Qin, she asked, "Didn't you say Little Shi was straight? Could there be some misunderstanding?"

Without hesitation, Tao Qin said sonorously, "My ship must be real. If something's wrong, it must be me. My les-bar must've bugged out. Even if the world were to end tomorrow, my ship will, not, sink!"

Yu Sheng: "..."

Despite her words, Tao Qin still couldn't help but secretly observe Song Yingshi and Huai Xu the next time they met.

Wen Qingzi said the two didn't wish to publicize their relationship. To respect their privacy, Tao Qin couldn't ask them about it directly. It was also unlikely they would confess anything even if she did ask.

Hence, Tao Qin decided to suppress her les-dar ability and look for visual cues.

Little Shi and Huai Xu's interaction looked the same as usual. If Tao Qin had to point out something different, it would be the reduction in Little Shi's intimate behavior.

Little Shi was likely restraining herself to avoid exposing her true feelings.

However, this still wasn't enough to prove that Little Shi and Huai Xu were dating. Hence, Tao Qin deliberately steered their conversation to Lin Qinglu and Song Pianxian (the two guest celebrities who visited Star of Spring previously), bringing up all their intimate interactions caught on camera.

Sure enough, an awkward expression briefly appeared on Little Shi's face at the mention of this topic. Although she quickly reverted to her usual expression, Tao Qin still spotted the change.

This was definitely the sign of a lesbian!

Now, Tao Qin could almost conclude that her les-dar had malfunctioned!

Little Shi wasn't straight anymore!

Regardless of whether Wen Qingzi and Xing Huan were telling the truth, this fact would not change!

This was the greatest news for Snow-Kissed Rose!

…

After filming the advertisement, the trainees had to record some interactive materials, personal interviews, and a Star of Spring fashion show. When they were finally free, it was already late in the evening.

However, getting free time didn't mean the trainees got to unwind mentally. This was because they had to record the first public performance's official ranking announcement tomorrow.

This also meant that another batch of trainees would get eliminated from the show.

Because of this, a faint air of panic and anxiety permeated the White Tower.

With her Polaroid camera in hand, Lang Man demanded everyone take another group photo.

After the group photo, some trainees dozed off, some sang together, and some simply stared into space.

Some optimistic trainees took out notepads and gathered autographs from everyone. When approaching Song Yingshi and Huai Xu, one of these trainees said:

"Little Shi, Huai Xu, I'm definitely leaving tomorrow. Please give me your autographs. Once you make it big, I can sell them off for a fortune."

Wan Jiao and her roommates were much bolder than others, sneaking to the convenience store downstairs and returning with a backpack of beer.

However, just as the trainees gathered on the fifth-floor terrace to share the haul, someone noticed that they had forgotten to turn off the camera overlooking the terrace…

Everyone: “…”

Everyone's joy immediately disappeared, and they dejectedly hung their heads as they awaited the production team to come and confiscate their contraband.

Song Yingshi laughed in amusement before she calmly walked up to the camera, made a "hush" gesture, and unplugged the camera.

"The director's going to skin you alive!" Rong Yi exclaimed.

"It's fine. I already talked to Director Shi about this before," Song Yingshi explained.

Everyone: ? When did that happen?

Song Yingshi pretended not to see everyone's suspicious looks, saying, "Of course, that doesn't mean it's fine to get drunk. We still have a recording session tomorrow, so each person only gets half a can."

"I'm immune to alcohol."

"There are only a few cans, don't worry."

Song Yingshi smiled at the reactions. While she didn't object to some stress relief, she wouldn't have allowed the drinks if she hadn't known there weren't enough to go around.

Coincidentally, there was just enough beer for each person to receive half a can.

Everyone seemed to assume that Song Yingshi and Huai Xu would share a can. When Song Yingshi reached into the backpack for her share, there was nothing left inside. She also saw that Tao Qin's group, Wan Jiao's group, and even her first public performance teammates already had their respective drinking partners.

Only Huai Xu remained alone, leaning against the terrace railing and enjoying the evening breeze.

Song Yingshi didn't shy away from this situation, boldly walking over to Huai Xu. Resting her arms on the railing, she pointed at the unopened can of beer in Huai Xu's hand and said, "Not drinking? Give it to me, then."

Song Yingshi remembered that since Huai Xu's instructors taught her how to protect her throat, she rarely drank anything besides water.

Huai Xu looked at Song Yingshi, popped open the can of beer with one hand, and handed it to her.

Song Yingshi accepted the can and took several sips.

Meanwhile, Huai Xu stared at Song Yingshi's throat and observed the flow of her neckline.

As Song Yingshi removed the can from her lips, she gazed at the night sky longingly and said, "The stars are out tonight."

After a pause, Song Yingshi added, "Only three, to be precise."

Upon hearing this comment, Huai Xu recalled that Song Yingshi had similarly looked out the window with such a longing gaze when the other party had visited her house, as if there were always beautiful things worth looking forward to and discovering in the sky.

"There's also one moon," Huai Xu said as she gazed at the sky.

Song Yingshi laughed at the comment, saying, "How many moons do you think there are?"

Huai Xu also laughed, replying, "Two."

Song Yingshi looked at Huai Xu, the evening breeze blowing a strand into her hair. As she removed the strand of hair from her mouth, she propped her head on the railing and looked at Huai Xu, saying, "You're not going to say I'm the other moon, right? Big sis, can you get any more cheesy?"

The words "big sis" gave Huai Xu pause. Looking at Song Yingshi, she suddenly asked, "Are you drunk?"

"From just this little bit of beer? Pfft. Don't look down on me," Song Yingshi replied.

When Huai Xu saw that Song Yingshi's expression and speech were the same as usual, she felt that she might have been overly sensitive.

However, just as Huai Xu was putting her mind at ease, Song Yingshi suddenly hooked her arms around her neck.

Song Yingshi hung her entire weight on Huai Xu as she leaned closer. Although her eyes showed no signs of intoxication, they shone like a vixen's eyes in the dark.

Opening the lips stained with liquid, Song Yingshi huffed, "I only...get a little excited when I drink alcohol. It's no biggie."

Huai Xu: “…”

"Go get excited with Tao Qin," Huai Xu said, prying Song Yingshi from her body.

However, Song Yingshi refused to budge, her arms exerting greater force as she said, "You still haven't answered me. What's the other moon?"

Huai Xu couldn't be bothered to answer Song Yingshi. Looking up, she saw Tao Qin looking in their direction, so she called out to the other party, "Tao Qin, take Little Shi to—"

"I don't know anything! You two have fun!"

Huai Xu: “…”

Meanwhile, Song Yingshi kept pestering Huai Xu, muttering, "I'll let go once you answer me. You make it seem like I want to cling to you."

After taking a deep breath, Huai Xu pointed at the beer can with her chin, saying, "The moon's reflection is the other moon. Happy?"

Song Yingshi looked down. However, the can's opening was so small that she couldn't see anything. Nonetheless, it didn't stop her from imagining the reflection in the beer, and she giggled as she said, "Then, it should be a scattered moon."

After this, Song Yingshi finally removed herself from Huai Xu and handed Huai Xu the remaining half can of beer, saying, "Want a sip of the moon?"

Huai Xu didn't accept the beer can. Sorting out her messed up T-shirt, she looked at the giggling Song Yingshi and asked, "Not trying to avoid suspicion anymore?"

Huai Xu remembered that Song Yingshi dared not drink from her bottle of cultured milk during the livestream.

Stuffing the can into Huai Xu's hands, Song Yingshi said, "You can drink without letting your lips touch the can, dummy."

Huai Xu smirked.

Who exactly was the dummy now?

In one swift motion, Huai Xu placed the can on her lower lip, pausing momentarily as if to make a silent announcement. Then, she began consuming the sweet liquid, drop by drop.

Song Yingshi looked over in a daze, their gazes meeting as Huai Xu consumed the sweet liquid pouring past her lips.

Drop by drop, the liquid containing hardly any alcohol flowed into Huai Xu's body, setting off a prairie fire in the evening breeze.