Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 52.2

Song Yingshi and Huai Xu remained clueless about the struggle over their top and bottom positions. This was because Director Wu had called them aside to a meeting room for a private discussion.

Besides Director Wu, Shi Zhi and the other assistant directors were also in the meeting room.

After asking Song Yingshi and Huai Xu to take a seat, Director Wu said, "I called you here to discuss something related to you."

As Director Wu said so, a staff member handed Song Yingshi two bottles of mineral water. Song Yingshi thanked the staff member, set the bottles aside, and looked toward Shi Zhi.

Catching Song Yingshi's signal, Shi Zhi smiled and said, "It's nothing problematic. You two must've seen it already during your short holiday, right? Snow-Kissed Rose has gained significant traction, and its popularity is still rising. We've noticed this matter and wish to know your thoughts."

Following up with Shi Zhi, Director Wu looked at Huai Xu and said confidently, "State whatever is on your mind. The production crew will wholly respect your opinions. We don't need to rely on coupling our trainees to improve the show's ratings."

After saying so, Director Wu chuckled and added, "Of course, if you wish to maintain the current situation, the production crew won't object to it, either."

Song Yingshi fell into thought when faced with this question.

Regardless of whether Song Yingshi wanted to have any relationship with Huai Xu, the existence of Snow-Kissed Rose wouldn't affect her thoughts in the slightest. If outside voices could so easily influence her, she would have long since grown depressed after so many years in the entertainment industry.

In any case, Song Yingshi wasn't in a serious relationship with anyone currently, so whether she was in a CP wouldn't change her essence as a single dog. She also didn't care about the popularity she could gain from being in a CP.

Glancing at Huai Xu, Song Yingshi said, "You go first."

Compared to herself, Song Yingshi cared more about whether Huai Xu was affected by Snow-Kissed Rose's existence.

Thus, everyone in the room turned toward Huai Xu.

Under everyone's gaze, Huai Xu lifted her gaze, looked at Director Wu, and said, "If it's possible to dissolve the CP, dissolve it."

Song Yingshi, who was originally messing with the bottled water beside her, froze when she heard Huai Xu's answer.

Shi Zhi was equally surprised by Huai Xu's response. Although the relationship between Song Yingshi and Huai Xu was slightly confusing, she knew for a fact that they had an intimate, private relationship. Otherwise, Song Yingshi wouldn't have appeared on the show, much less deal with Zheng Qiyi for Huai Xu.

Moreover, while others might not know that Song Yingshi was behind the company Huai Xu had signed with, Shi Zhi knew this information. This was her first time seeing an artist daring to suggest breaking their relationship with their employer.

After pondering, Shi Zhi said carefully, "Are you sure? If we dissolve the CP, your rankings will be affected. It might even affect your success in debuting."

"I understand these consequences," Huai Xu replied.

"I suggest you take some more time to consider this. In previous seasons, all CPs were created by the audience. The show has never mandated that trainees engage with these CPs, so even if we leave Snow-Kissed Rose be, you are free to continue as you have been," Director Wu said.

From the production crew's perspective, the existence of CPs was negligible. However, when Director Wu saw how quick Huai Xu was to dismiss Snow-Kissed Rose, he couldn't help but offer a few words of advice.

In response, Huai Xu nodded and replied calmly, "I don't mind whether Snow-Kissed Rose gets dissolved or not. But, given the choice, I'd prefer to dissolve it."

After saying so, Huai Xu turned toward Song Yingshi and continued, "Little Shi, you haven't spoken your mind yet."

As the ball was passed to Song Yingshi, everyone in the room turned to look at her.

After glancing at Huai Xu, Song Yingshi took a serious look and said, "Before I voice my thoughts, I would like to know how the production crew plans to dissolve Snow-Kissed Rose."

"We will limit showing you two in the same frame. We can also arrange for you to have more interactions with other trainees," Shi Zhi answered. "Calling it a dissolution is only a verbal convenience. Since we can't actually demand the audience to dissolve the CP, our next best option is to lower its popularity."

Song Yingshi responded with a slow "Oh" before saying, "Then, you might be too late."

"How so?" Director Wu asked, confused.

"We just finished filming the second public performance's grouping. Huai Xu and I..." Song Yingshi paused. Then, she pointed at herself and Huai Xu before she continued, "We're opponents in the second public performance. We are also roommates involved in the same CP. Not to brag, but I'm certain we will become one of the biggest highlights of the second public performance. Are you really willing to reduce our screen time together?"

The directors: "???"

"Although there is also the option of filming us separately, that will cause the show's quality to plummet," Song Yingshi analyzed rationally.

The directors: "..."

Looking at the directors' silence, Song Yingshi sighed, "So you guys didn't have a script? I thought you'd deliberately pitted me and Huai Xu against each other, but apparently not."

Suddenly, Song Yingshi started feeling a little sympathetic to the directors.

At Song Yingshi's words, Shi Zhi smiled wryly and said, "We did have a script for past seasons, but this year, we were told to let things progress naturally..."

After saying so, Shi Zhi sullenly glanced at Song Yingshi.

The changes to this year's Star of Spring were all due to the Song family's intervention. Of all the years Shi Zhi had hosted competitive variety shows, she had never seen such a "clean" one. Only the mentors were given scripts to follow this year, while the trainees received unprecedented freedom.

Song Yingshi got Shi Zhi's hint and couldn't help but rub her nose with a guilty conscience. Her heart also warmed at the thought of her family's support.

After a while, Director Wu looked at Huai Xu and sighed, "How about...we just let things be? Otherwise, the show will not only lose talking points, but unnecessarily removing screen time will also be unfair to you and your teammates."

Huai Xu pursed her lips.

In her peripheral vision, Huai Xu noticed Song Yingshi wearing a relaxed expression. Her employer even had the mood to play with a bottle cap. She couldn't tell if Song Yingshi's remarks just now were intentional or unintentional.

Returning her gaze to Director Wu, Huai Xu said, "Okay, Director."

After coming out of the meeting room, Song Yingshi breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she and Huai Xu made their way to the elevator.

As Song Yingshi pressed the down arrow, she asked, "I'm going to practice. What about you?"

"I'm going, too," Huai Xu replied.

When the elevator arrived, Song Yingshi entered first, and Huai Xu followed, choosing to stand slightly behind Song Yingshi. Then, the doors closed.

As the elevator descended, Song Yingshi crossed her arms and leaned back slightly, looking at Huai Xu through the corners of her eyes.

Huai Xu's eyelashes were slightly drooped, her delicate lips were light red, and her nose was narrow and high. Huai Xu had a strong jawline, but it was often overshadowed by her overly stunning facial features and ethereal aura.

Just standing here, Huai Xu had created a silent landscape.

After observing Huai Xu for a while, Song Yingshi suddenly wanted a better look at her eyes. However, her eyes were always covered by her long eyelashes, her thoughts hidden from others.

"Do you want our CP to be dissolved?" Song Yingshi suddenly asked.

"Mhm," Huai Xu replied.

"Why?" Song Yingshi asked. Realizing Huai Xu might hit her with a "Don't you want to?" response, so she quickly added, "I'm fine either way, but as your employer, I need to hear your thoughts."

Huai Xu turned to look at Song Yingshi.

Huai Xu had beautiful pupils, clear and speckled with light, like a cloudless night sky. When Song Yingshi looked into these pupils, she saw a tiny but vivid reflection of herself.

Despite Huai Xu saying nothing, Song Yingshi felt as if her eyes had already said everything.

Suddenly, Song Yingshi's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously averted her gaze.

As the elevator arrived on the second floor, the doors opened, and Huai Xu was the first to step outside. Song Yingshi paused for a moment before quickly following Huai Xu out.

The second floor was currently enveloped in a lively atmosphere.

With the new teams and team leaders decided, everyone eagerly sought to determine their team's center. However, this excitement would soon fade, as once teams began watching the practice room version of their respective songs, they would enter the "torturous" practice phase.

When Song Yingshi and Huai Xu arrived on the second floor, some trainees were still loitering in the hallway.

When one of these trainees spotted Song Yingshi and Huai Xu, she quickly came over and said to Song Yingshi, "Little Shi, you must win!"

Song Yingshi had just soothed her emotions, so she was a little bewildered to be encouraged so suddenly. However, she quickly reacted and replied politely, "Okay, thank you."

When the trainee left, Song Yingshi glanced at Huai Xu and felt something amiss—

Didn't rooting for her success mean hoping for Huai Xu's defeat?

Song Yingshi disapproved of such behavior. Although she appreciated the sentiment, it would've been better to say these words to her when Huai Xu wasn't around.

Worried that the trainee's words might get to Huai Xu, Song Yingshi said to Huai Xu gently, "Don't take it to heart. That girl's one of the little sisters I'm close with. I'm sure she's also hoping for you to do well." And then lose to me.

"Little sister?" Huai Xu echoed.

Nodding, Song Yingshi said, "She's younger than me."

Huai Xu didn't say anything.

Just as Song Yingshi was about to say something else, another trainee suddenly approached them. After glancing at her, this trainee turned to Huai Xu and said, "Huai Xu, you can do it! You mustn't place lower than Little Shi!"

Song Yingshi: ?

After thanking the trainee, Huai Xu leisurely looked at Song Yingshi and said, "It seems that this little sister has a better relationship with me."

Song Yingshi: "..."

You're only 18 this year! Don't be making little sisters everywhere!

As if this was just the beginning, the two continued receiving encouragement as they walked down the hallway. All in all, seven trainees came to encourage them. Moreover, all of these trainees would only encourage one of them.

Three encouraged Song Yingshi, while the other four encouraged Huai Xu.

These "little sisters" were typically skilled at balancing things. But today, they had seemingly become masters of stirring up trouble.

Song Yingshi was originally already eager to compete with Huai Xu. After this incident, her fighting spirit grew even stronger.

The practice rooms had already been labeled with the names of the new songs. Song Yingshi wasn't sure if the production crew had set things up on purpose, but her team's room just so happened to be directly across from Huai Xu's.

As Song Yingshi stood before her team's practice room, she looked back at Huai Xu and said solemnly, "Huai Xu, I want to win."

Huai Xu smiled. In a clear voice, she replied, "I don't want to lose either, Song Yingshi."

"Good luck."

"Good luck."