Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 5

What did it mean to have an average of 11 lessons a day?

According to the timetable, Huai Xu would have to immerse herself in knowledge from the moment she opened her eyes in the morning until she went to bed in the evening.

This was the unforgettable gift Song Yingshi had prepared for Huai Xu.

Song Yingshi was well aware of Huai Xu's potential. When the Star of Spring's chief director came across Huai Xu working part-time, Huai Xu's appearance captivated him so much that he took the initiative to invite Huai Xu to audition for the idol survival show.

At the time, Huai Xu held a natural interest toward the stage. Participation in the program also came with a generous appearance fee, so she readily accepted the invitation.

Prior to the audition, Huai Xu already had exceptional looks and decent vocal abilities. During the audition, it was surprisingly discovered that she had perfect pitch.

Heaven had practically given Huai Xu everything she needed to succeed in the entertainment industry. Unfortunately, all these gifts were rendered useless by the male protagonists in the novel.

When Song Yingshi learned about Huai Xu's circumstances, she decided she would not only keep the male protagonists out of Huai Xu's life but also thoroughly develop Huai Xu's potential. After all, it would be a waste not to let such a diamond in the rough shine in the entertainment industry!

Nurturing Huai Xu was also the idea Song Yingshi had come up with to repay the emotional debt between them. Once Huai Xu made her mark in the industry, they could part ways on even terms.

After praising herself for this brilliant idea, Song Yingshi happily got out of her car after arriving at a large shopping mall, the location that would aid her in completing her new daily mission:

Buy clothes for Huai Xu and have her wear them.

It was a simple mission.

Song Yingshi swept through the shopping mall, swiping her card with wild abandon as she bought every article of clothing that looked like it would go well with Huai Xu's appearance.

However, when it came time to buy underwear, Song Yingshi suddenly sensed something was off. This was most certainly a trap set by the system. Without a doubt, if she were to call and ask Huai Xu for her three sizes, Huai Xu would hit her with a mouthful of sarcastic remarks.

Calmly, Song Yingshi selected a free-size, vest-style bra.

I refuse to ask her! Take that, system!

…

Song Yingshi ended up filling her car's trunk to the brim with her purchases. Two hotel employees had to help her carry everything back to the suite when she returned to the hotel.

Nobody was in the suite when Song Yingshi returned. After asking one of the hotel employees, she learned that Huai Xu was taking a fitness lesson in the gym.

Most of Huai Xu's instructors only came here to meet and familiarize themselves with her today. Those with morning lessons were waiting in another room, so Song Yingshi returned to an empty suite.

The earlier talk about an "inspection" was a joke. When Song Yingshi saw nobody was around and had no other missions to complete, she headed home to spend time with her family.

…

At about 10 PM, Song Yingshi returned to the suite, expecting Huai Xu to have finished her evening cultural lesson and washed up. When she saw Huai Xu stretching on a yoga mat in the living room, she warmly asked, "Were the classes tiring?"

Huai Xu stared at Song Yingshi blankly for a moment before asking, "Why did you hire instructors for me?"

Song Yingshi felt a sudden pang of guilt. However, she quickly hid it, adopting a righteous tone, saying, "You'll undergo a training camp with the other trainees in a month. You need to study hard so you don't embarrass me, okay?"

"What happens if I embarrass you?" Huai Xu asked.

"..." Song Yingshi resisted her urge to punch a certain someone in the face. After a long silence, she deflated and muttered sullenly, "Just don't embarrass me."

"I'll try my best," Huai Xu said, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes.

Song Yingshi nodded, barely satisfied with Huai Xu's answer. However, as Huai Xu's magnanimous employer, she decided not to fuss over the details.

Remembering her half-finished mission, Song Yingshi went to get the shopping bags in the bedroom and said, "I bought you some clothes. Come try them on."

The system would only consider her mission complete once Huai Xu tried them on. It also had to be a complete set.

Huai Xu didn't refuse the clothes. After picking up a dress to examine, she said, "Deduct these expenses from my monthly 200,000 yuan."

Song Yingshi had promised Huai Xu a monthly salary of 200,000 yuan, so she knew what Huai Xu was referring to. After nodding in agreement, she asked curiously, "Do you intend to spend any of that money?"

It was a common trope for female protagonists not to spend the money of their domineering presidents. Some would even do the opposite—adding money into their domineering presidents' bank accounts!

Whenever Song Yingshi came across such plots, she would be deeply moved by these female protagonists' frugality. If she were in their position, she would bankrupt her domineering president in no time.

"I won't touch it unless I need money," Huai Xu answered.

"Oh."

After thinking it over, Song Yingshi decided against telling Huai Xu that the haul of clothes she bought cost more than 200,000 yuan.

Once Huai Xu selected an outfit, she turned around to look at Song Yingshi.

Song Yingshi instantly got the hint and left the bedroom, saying, "I'll go get a drink."

Even if they were the same gender, Song Yingshi knew they weren't close enough for Huai Xu to be comfortable changing in front of her.

Two minutes later, a gap opened in the bedroom door. However, Huai Xu did not emerge from the room.

"What's wrong?" Song Yingshi asked.

"It's too small," Huai Xu answered vaguely.

"But you're so slim, how could it be too small…" As Song Yingshi spoke, she came to a sudden realization that horrified her. "But I bought a one-size-fits-all!"

"Mhm, it is a one-size-fits-all, but it's only for A to C," Huai Xu said calmly. Then, after a short pause, she added, "It's too small."

"..."

Song Yingshi swore she heard a hint of teasing and mischief in Huai Xu's calm voice. Holding back her jealousy, she said, "Just make do for now. I'll buy you a new one."

"Alright." Huai Xu readily agreed.

A moment later, Huai Xu came out of the bedroom fully dressed and looking even more ethereal than before. Despite coming from an impoverished background, she had the appearance of a fairy, and all it took were some decent clothes for her to achieve perfection.

As Song Yingshi admired the results of her mission amidst the living room's warm lighting and the pitter-patter of the light rain outside, the system's voice rang in her mind:

"Congratulations, Host, you have completed your daily mission. Your life has been extended by 24 hours."

A second later…

"You have a new mission—have Huai Xu undress before you."

??? The abrupt mission caught Song Yingshi off guard, but she quickly scoffed, I refuse. Are you out of your mind?

They were having a pleasant moment. If Song Yingshi were to tell Huai Xu to undress before her, Huai Xu would likely think something was seriously wrong with her.

"This is a hidden mission. If you abandon it, 48 hours of life will be deducted. Are you sure you want to abandon it, Host?" the system asked.

?

She might have completed three missions and earned 72 hours of life thus far, but she had already expended 28 of those hours. Now, she only had 44 hours remaining!

She'd croak on the spot if she were to take on this penalty!

Song Yingshi gritted her teeth and clenched her fists at this unreasonable mission.

"Please review the hidden mission's details. You must follow the specified lines and recreate the required atmosphere for your performance to count."

"..."

After reading the utterly embarrassing requirements, Song Yingshi felt like dragging the system out into reality and beating the living daylights out of it.

The only consolation was that this was a jjwxc system that emphasized the art of censorship. Hence, she wouldn't need to follow her mission requirements to a tee—just some superficial acting would suffice.

Nonetheless, even the thought of delivering the line, "I bought these clothes for you so that I can see you take them off," in the tone of a devilish and charming president was enough to make her blush with shame.

While doing her best to stay calm, Song Yingshi said to Huai Xu, "Undress."

Huai Xu's originally gentle expression instantly turned cold.

As Song Yingshi mentally recited her lines, her professionalism as an actress kicked in, and she began committing to her role—though not completely—as one of her feet was still digging its toes into the floor in embarrassment.

"Remember your place. You know why I bought you these clothes, don't you? You look great in them, but I haven't seen you without them…"

Song Yingshi mumbled through the rest of her lines. Then, she smiled and said, "It's time you show me."

After saying so, Song Yingshi glanced at Huai Xu's outfit.

Huai Xu had chosen a pearl-white long dress with short sleeves. The dress had a square neckline that highlighted her collarbones without being overly seductive.

When Song Yingshi recalled how loosely the system had interpreted her "passionate kiss," she gauged that pulling a sleeve and exposing a shoulder should suffice. The vest-style bra Huai Xu wore should also prevent any accidental exposures.

After completing her mental calculations, Song Yingshi stepped forward and reached for Huai Xu's right shoulder, only to have her hand evaded.

Song Yingshi had expected such a reaction, so she extended her hand and firmly pressed down on Huai Xu's shoulder, holding the other party in place. Then, she leaned forward and whispered into Huai Xu's ear, "Behave, and I'll leave it at that tonight."

Sorry, sis! But don't worry! The system is easy to please! All I need is for you to expose a shoulder! I'll treat you to a meal later!

As Song Yingshi mentally apologized to Huai Xu, she steeled herself and slowly moved to pull down Huai Xu's sleeve.

However, as soon as Song Yingshi began pulling, Huai Xu suddenly caught her wrist and cast it aside forcefully.

Song Yingshi winced and gasped at the aching sensation coming from her wrist, and she momentarily wondered how Huai Xu's slender arm could exert such strength.

However, Song Yingshi didn't dwell on her aching wrist for long, quickly looking toward Huai Xu for fear the other party might storm out of the room.

Unexpectedly, Huai Xu didn't move. She even met Song Yingshi's gaze without backing down an inch.

Alarm bells sounded in Song Yingshi's mind. Something was off. Very off.

"You want to watch me undress?" Huai Xu asked.

Song Yingshi thought for a moment and nodded.

Huai Xu stepped forward, coming within an arm's length of Song Yingshi.

Song Yingshi panicked a little.

Indifferent to Song Yingshi's ragged breaths, Huai Xu reached down to her side, where the zipper of her dress was, and the sound of a zipper being pulled echoed in the silent room.

As Huai Xu slowly pulled on her dress's zipper, she smiled and said, "You could have just told me."

Huai Xu's smile stayed on her face, never fading, as if she found this whole situation amusing.

"How could I let you do it yourself? I'll do it."

"..."

Song Yingshi took a large step back, her mind blank except for one thought:

I've driven the female protagonist crazy! What now?!