Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 50.1

Wan Jiao fetched her guitar from the dormitory, and Wu Wei, leaning against the railing, sang and played the guitar.

As the singing drifted in the air, some quietly listened, some whispered in small groups, some played tag, and some shot hoops with empty cans.

Meanwhile, Song Yingshi watched as Huai Xu drank from the can she had drunk from, Huai Xu's lips imprinted on the spot where hers had been. Then, she watched those lips separate from the can, glistening with residual liquid.

After staring for another second, Song Yingshi looked away, took a deep breath, and said nonchalantly, "You finished it? Why didn't you leave me some?"

Huai Xu shook the can. When she heard sloshing sounds coming from the can, she said in amusement, "There's still some left. Do you want it?" Do you dare to drink it?

Song Yingshi: "..."

Song Yingshi yawned and stretched strategically. Massaging her shoulders, she said, "I'm going back. I'm tired after working all day. Throw it away if you're not going to finish it."

After saying so, Song Yingshi walked away.

Huai Xu stood in place holding the can, her lips curving into a smile when she saw Song Yingshi's footsteps rapidly accelerating. Once Song Yingshi was out of sight, she drank the remaining beer in the can.

...

After Song Yingshi returned to the dormitory and stood under the shower, her thoughts had already calmed down considerably.

Song Yingshi was initially annoyed at herself for forgetting to restrain herself and handing Huai Xu the beer she had drunk. However, after thinking it over, wasn't it normal for girls to share food and beverages? If Huai Xu didn't mind, why should she?

Sometimes, over-caring could be counterproductive. Song Yingshi understood this principle. But for some reason, she had forgotten about this principle as soon as she stood before Huai Xu.

It must be the internet poisoning her mind. Surfing the internet was indeed harmful.

While harboring such thoughts, Song Yingshi rinsed the shower gel off her body.

At this time, the system's voice suddenly sounded, "Host, do you need assistance?"

"Assistance?" Song Yingshi echoed.

Did she have anything she needed help with? Song Yingshi subconsciously glanced at her Life Point balance.

Song Yingshi had recently used some of her Life Points to fill the Exchange Gauge. She had also been doing only daily missions the past two days. Although the missions were easy, their rewards were limited. As a result, she only had 43 hours of Life Points remaining.

Seeing this, Song Yingshi said politely, "Then, please be merciful and shower me with some daily missions that are easy to do."

Ever since Song Yingshi learned the truth and got angry at the system, the system had become much kinder. Even its electronic voice sounded much sweeter, "Host, please rest assured. Although the new mission is a special mission, it is one that you can do easily."

"What is it?" Song Yingshi grew alert.

"Haven't you noticed? You forgot to bring a change of clothes," the system replied.

Song Yingshi: "..."

Song Yingshi glanced at the countertop where she usually put her clothes and saw that it was empty.

Without waiting for the system to say anything else, Song Yingshi turned off the shower, disregarding the fact that half her body was still covered in soap bubbles, and dashed for the door, hoping to retrieve her clothes before Huai Xu returned.

However, halfway through opening the bathroom door, Song Yingshi heard a click coming from the bedroom door—

Bang!

This was the sound Huai Xu heard upon opening the bedroom door.

Huai Xu turned toward the source of the sound and saw the tightly shut bathroom door. It appeared untouched, and there wasn't any sound of water coming from the bathroom.

Raising an eyebrow, Huai Xu called out, "Little Shi?"

...

Inside the bathroom, Song Yingshi leaned her back against the door and responded with a soft hum.

"Are you taking a shower?"

Huai Xu's voice sounded clearer, as if she had walked closer to the bathroom.

Then, no more sound came from outside, seeming as if Huai Xu only wanted to know if Song Yingshi was in the bathroom and nothing more.

Song Yingshi relaxed and returned to the shower. In any case, she needed to rinse off the remaining shower gel before considering her next move.

Amidst running water, the system said, "Special Mission: Please eagerly solve your dilemma of being trapped in the bathroom, Host."

Compared to before, the system had restrained itself significantly these past two days. Even the mission requirement had become more lax. Why, though, Song Yingshi didn't know.

Regardless of the reason, Song Yingshi knew the system wasn't trying to trick her into a trap. It was purely her negligence this time that put her in this situation.

After Song Yingshi finished showering, her gaze fell on her dirty clothes. If push came to shove, she could wear them out, grab her nightdress, and come back in to change.

Having made up her mind, Song Yingshi dried her body with the towel and reached for her dirty clothes. However, just as she was about to change into them, a knock on the door interrupted her...

When Song Yingshi turned to look at the door, Huai Xu's indifferent voice came in, "Did you forget your clothes? I see your nightdress on the bed."

Song Yingshi: "..."

Song Yingshi's throat tightened, and she looked at the dirty clothes in her hands. Eventually, she put them down, refusing to show weakness again and again before Huai Xu.

Relying on the fact that Huai Xu couldn't see her through the door, Song Yingshi put on a dead-pan face and feigned surprise, "Ah, it seems that I forgot to take it with me."

"Mhm." Huai Xu responded with a hum.

Song Yingshi heard Huai Xu walk away before returning to the door, saying, "Open the door and take it."

The bathroom ceiling light was very bright. When Song Yingshi approached the door, she walked past the mirror and inadvertently glanced at her reflection.

Am I supposed to meet Huai Xu like this?

Even though Song Yingshi knew Huai Xu couldn't see her, she still felt inexplicably embarrassed.

Relax. I'm just grabbing my clothes. It's perfectly normal, Song Yingshi comforted herself as she continued walking toward the door.

...

Meanwhile, Huai Xu patiently waited outside the bathroom, her hand holding Song Yingshi's nightdress.

Song Yingshi was a person who would never treat herself poorly. This could be seen from the extensive collection of nightwear she had brought with her to the White Tower. Some were made of soft cotton, and some from smooth silk.

Previously, as Huai Xu entered the bedroom, her eyes immediately spotted the light blue nightdress sitting at the foot of Song Yignshi's bed. The nightdress should be made of modal cotton, a material softer than pure cotton and warmer than silk. When she brought the nightdress over to the bathroom door, the faint scent of red roses and cardamom drifting from it tempted her to imagine Song Yingshi wearing it.

When Huai Xu looked up again, a small gap appeared in the door.

Song Yingshi extended her hand through the gap. With her palm facing upward, she said in a low voice, "Give it to me."

Huai Xu put the nightdress in Song Yingshi's hand. Just as the hand was about to retract into the bathroom, she lazily said, "One more thing..."

Song Yingshi stopped retracting her hand.

Huai Xu stared at the crack in the door, failing to see Song Yingshi through it. Sweeping her gaze across the door that obscured Song Yingshi's figure, she continued, "Your nightdress was the only thing I grabbed for you."

…

Inside the bathroom, Song Yingshi took a moment to process Huai Xu's words. When she finally understood what Huai Xu meant, her face instantly turned bright red.

As Song Yingshi remained silent, Huai Xu continued, "I don't think it'd be appropriate for me to touch your underwear, so I didn't take it for you."

Song Yingshi: "..."

Song Yingshi silently gnashed her teeth, hating herself for her negligence and giving Huai Xu an opportunity to mess with her. She also felt annoyed with Huai Xu.

Song Yingshi knew there was nothing wrong with Huai Xu's behavior. But for some reason, she still felt upset and got the urge to teach Huai Xu a lesson.

With reddened earlobes, Song Yingshi faked a smile and said, "Thank you for your consideration."

After saying so, Song Yingshi retracted her hand, slammed the door shut, quickly put on her nightdress, ignored the system's notification, and left the bathroom.

When Song Yingshi stepped into the bedroom, Huai Xu had barely walked away from the bathroom door.

Hearing the noise behind her, Huai Xu turned around to look at Song Yingshi.

Deciding to forgive Huai Xu for the time being, Song Yingshi walked past Huai Xu, grabbed the underwear at the foot of the bed, and slipped under her blanket.

Five seconds later, Song Yingshi reemerged and lazily glanced at the seemingly ignorant Huai Xu, thinking of a way to teach the impertinent child a lesson.

...

Huai Xu went into the shower after Song Yingshi. When she left the bathroom, she saw Song Yingshi waiting outside with a bottle of cold water and a mug.

Huai Xu: "?"

"You drank some alcohol just now, so you must be thirsty now, right? Here, have some water," Song Yingshi said sweetly before passing Huai Xu a mug full of water.

When Huai Xu looked at Song Yingshi's posture, it seemed as though the other party wouldn't let her go unless she drank the water. So, she silently accepted the mug and emptied its contents.

Immediately, Song Yingshi took the mug and filled it up again. Then, after stuffing it into Huai Xu's hands, she smiled and said, "You should also replenish your liquids after showering."

Huai Xu had no choice but to drink again.

Repeating the same trick, Song Yingshi poured Huai Xu a third cup of water and said, "Drinking more water is beneficial for your throat."

Huai Xu: "..."

After "considerately" pouring Huai Xu three cups of water and watching Huai Xu finish everything, Song Yingshi was finally satisfied with her payback. Making a timely retreat, she hummed cheerfully and praised, "A good child stays hydrated properly."

Huai Xu was rubbing her swollen stomach when she heard Song Yingshi's words. Glancing at Song Yingshi, she said, "I'm not a child."

Huai Xu's reply momentarily stunned Song Yingshi. Then, she corrected herself, saying, "That's right, you're 18 already. I can't call you that anymore."

"Aren't you the same?" Huai Xu asked.

"Hm?" Song Yingshi raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Aren't you also 18?" Huai Xu clarified.

Song Yingshi opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to agree. However, when she looked up and met with Huai Xu's resentful gaze, she subconsciously closed her mouth. When she opened it again, she held up the mug in her hands and said jokingly, "That's right. I'm 18 every year."

Huai Xu didn't say anything, but her eyebrows suggested she was thinking of something.

Meanwhile, Song Yingshi stretched lazily. Savoring the rare feeling of reconnecting with Huai Xu again, she pinched Huai Xu's nose and teased, "You are so sensitive. Little children don't have such sensitivity, so you must be an adult now, Huai Xu. But now that you're an adult, you'll soon find yourself missing being a child."

Huai Xu bumped her nose against Song Yingshi's fingertips like an animal trying to express intimacy. Looking at Song Yingshi's beautiful profile, she said, "I prefer being an adult."

In the past, Huai Xu yearned to become an adult because she could gain more freedom and a stronger voice.

Now, Huai Xu yearned to become an adult because she had seen what power she could wield once she grew up. It was also because she understood from looking at Song Yingshi that—

With her current abilities, she was far from being able to achieve what she wanted to become and obtain what she wanted to possess.

If she wanted the sun, she couldn't be dim.