Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 57.2

After eating, drinking, and playing to their heart's content, the trainees took a commemorative group photo before boarding the bus back to the White Tower.

Song Yingshi pretended to sleep as soon as she got on the bus.

Song Yingshi's dissatisfaction with Huai Xu on the terrace came and went quickly. After snatching five slices of beef and a peeled crawfish Huai Xu cooked, she generously let the matter go.

What Song Yingshi was still hung up about wasn't that "Huai Xu didn't look for her," but something more serious: Why did she care if Huai Xu looked for her, or if they had their meal together?

When Song Yingshi considered this question, her scalp tingled. Moreover, Huai Xu was sitting beside her shoulder to shoulder.

Song Yingshi decided to calm down her brain, which was about to explode, and digest what had happened that day.

Song Yingshi leaned toward the glass window away from Huai Xu, pretending to sleep very naturally.

It was about nine o'clock in the evening, and N City was brightly lit. As the bus traveled through the city, light flowed in from both sides of the bus like water. Huai Xu was originally looking at the night view outside the window, but her attention was quickly drawn to the faint light flowing on Song Yingshi's face.

When looking at Song Yingshi's face, Huai Xu suddenly remembered that when they first arrived at N City for their final promotional shoot, they had also sat side by side like this. At the time, Song Yingshi "snatched" one side of her earphones

And, under the flickering streetlights and moonlight shining through the window, blinked at her and whispered:

So you like this song too, huh?

For some reason, Huai Xu still vividly remembered this scene. She would even recall this scene whenever she rode in a vehicle.

While Huai Xu was lost in her memories, Song Yingshi suddenly stirred, frowning and puffing out her cheeks. Then, she shifted her face into the shadows behind the glass, as if to escape the outside light.

But once Song Yingshi fell asleep again, her posture returned to its previous state, and the bulges on her cheeks subsided.

Huai Xu smiled at this scene. She reached out and gently closed the blackout curtains, blocking the intrusive light.

…

The next time Song Yingshi opened her eyes, she saw that the curtains beside her were drawn, and the White Tower's silhouette was visible through the gaps. Despite her foggy mind, she immediately realized she had, at some point, fallen asleep for real.

Huai Xu quickly noticed Song Yingshi had awoken. Leaning closer, she whispered, "We're almost back."

Song Yingshi didn't turn to face Huai Xu. Instead, she looked out the window as if there was something to see in the darkness outside and replied flatly, "Oh."

Then, the conversation ended.

Suddenly, Song Yingshi thought of something and observed her reflection in the glass window, breathing a sigh of relief when she verified that her expression remained noble and cold, and her makeup was not smudged.

It was not Song Yingshi's fault for giving Huai Xu the cold shoulder. Although she had calmed down after her nap, her mind remained obsessed with the previous question.

While pondering over this, Song Yingshi started to wonder what Huai Xu was doing. Was Huai Xu looking at her, outside the window, or not looking in her direction whatsoever?

As if having her back against a dangerous object or a lovely cat, Song Yingshi felt terrified and curious. A voice within her also kept urging her to turn around and take a look.

Eventually, while subconsciously scratching the window with her fingers, Song Yingshi slowly turned around to look at Huai Xu.

Huai Xu's long hair draped over her shoulders. Her face, like white porcelain in the night, was directed downward as her hands fiddled with something. As her hands moved slowly, a vague smile played on her lips, giving her a charming appearance.

Song Yingshi silently observed Huai Xu for an unknown amount of time. She returned to reality only when Huai Xu stopped her fiddling and looked up.

Caught in an awkward situation, Song Yingshi made small talk, asking, "What were you fiddling with?"

After saying so, Song Yingshi looked down and saw her shoulder bag on Huai Xu's lap.

Hmm?

Song Yingshi carried a small, black shoulder bag with her today. Currently, there was…an ornament hanging on the edge of the bag.

Song Yingshi didn't remember attaching anything to the bag. After picking it up, touching it, shaking it, and squinting at it, she said, "A rabbit?"

Huai Xu flicked Song Yingshi's forehead, saying, "Guess again."

Song Yingshi took her bag off Huai Xu and held it up against the window to look at the ornament.

It was a keychain of a small animal sitting on a yellow crescent moon under a starry sky. The animal had a white body, light blue eyes, and rabbit-like ears…

Song Yingshi quickly recognized the animal. Turning to Huai Xu, she answered, "It's Cinnamoroll."

"How smart," Huai Xu praised without much sincerity.

Song Yingshi set the bag on her lap. As she touched the Cinnamoroll keychain with both hands, she narrowed her eyes at Huai Xu and asked, "Why did you hang this on my bag? It's so childish."

"Return it to me, then," Huai Xu said, extending an open palm to Song Yingshi.

Song Yingshi: "?" How can you ask for something you gave away?

Song Yingshi nearly threw the keychain back to Huai Xu in anger, but then she remembered how much she had spent on Huai Xu. What was wrong with taking a Cinnamoroll from Huai Xu? Even taking 10 such keychains wouldn't be excessive.

Thus, Song Yingshi pretended not to hear Huai Xu's last sentence.

As Song Yingshi looked away, she heard Huai Xu chuckling and whispering, "If you don't return it now, you'll have to keep it with you forever."

Song Yingshi: "..."

While pondering whether this deal was worthwhile, Song Yingshi asked nonchalantly, "Did you buy it in the afternoon?"

Huai Xu hummed and said, "I bought it with the salary from Boss Shi."

Song Yingshi's lips curled at these words, and even the imaginary tail behind her began to sway. Arrogantly, she said, "Then, it should be mine to begin with. How dare you want it back?"

Huai Xu laughed.

Listening to Huai Xu's laughter made Song Yingshi feel a little embarrassed. Pursing her lips, she pointed at the Cinnamoroll and asked, "How many did you buy? Did you buy Melody (My Melody) or something else?"

"Just this one," Huai Xu replied.

"Just this one?" Song Yingshi asked dubiously.

"There are no others," Huai Xu said. After a slight pause, she asked, "Do you not like Cinnamoroll?"

In fact, Song Yingshi liked Cinnamoroll quite a lot. However, she found it inexplicably difficult to speak without restraint in front of Huai Xu right now, so she replied indifferently, "It's okay."

Huai Xu nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

After a while, Song Yingshi, while feigning indifference, asked, "Why did you buy this for me?"

Although some trainees had taken their hard-earned money to buy gifts for others, Huai Xu wasn't usually one to do something unnecessary like this. Not to mention, she had bought a dispensable cartoon ornament of all things.

Huai Xu had even bought it just for her.

Did Huai Xu think that all girls liked cute things like this? Well…it wasn't impossible.

Just as Song Yingshi was feeling uncomfortable with the possible answer, she heard Huai Xu say, "Don't you think it resembles you?"

Song Yingshi: "?" Cinnamoroll? A dog? Resembles me?

The charming thoughts in Song Yingshi's mind were blown away cleanly by a gust of cold wind.

Wearing a blank face, Song Yingshi tossed the Cinnamoroll keychain and shoulder bag to Huai Xu, saying, "It suits you more. I may not be human, but you're a real dog[1]."

Coincidentally, the bus came to a halt, and the door opened, so Song Yingshi disembarked without hesitation, walking toward the White Tower with her head held high.

Huai Xu carried Song Yingshi's back in the evening breeze and followed slowly behind.

Halfway through, Song Yingshi looked back.

The pure black shoulder bag looked inexplicably pleasing on Huai Xu's back. The Cinnamoroll also moved with Huai Xu's steps, looking like it was flapping its ears while sitting on the moon.

After taking a few more looks, Song Yingshi felt her mood improving.

Whether Song Yingshi slowed down or Huai Xu sped up was uncertain, but they ended up walking side by side. Meanwhile, walking ahead and behind them were other groups of trainees, and surrounding them was the chirping of insects.

As Song Yingshi and Huai Xu were about to reach the White Tower, Dan Silan, Quan Yuanyuan, and several others caught up to them, saying:

"Leader, don't forget to get up tomorrow."

"I won't," Huai Xu replied.

"That's a promise! Whoever arrives at practice last has to do 50 push-ups!"

Song Yingshi was very confident in herself, so she said loudly, "Why not add another 50 squats?"

"Okay!"

After watching Dan Silan and the others walk away, Song Yingshi turned to Huai Xu with a smile. Just as she was about to say something, Huai Xu got ahead of her, saying, "Little Shi, I met a fan today."

The statement surprised Song Yingshi, but she quickly reacted and smiled, saying, "That's a good thing. You are liked by many people now."

Song Yingshi was genuinely happy for Huai Xu, seeing her going from knowing nothing about the entertainment industry to her current stature.

With a faint light in her eyes, Huai Xu looked straight ahead and said in a mellow voice, "It's a good thing, but I also feel the weight. Although there were many spectators below the stage in the first public performance, that was different."

At the time, Huai Xu was singing for herself, not for the audience.

"Today, I finally met a fan face to face, but all I could say was, 'Yes, I am' and 'Thank you.' I don't know what else to say. I also find it strange to be seen as…an idol. Maybe my worries are strange, too."

It was rare to see Huai Xu saying so much, so Song Yingshi listened attentively.

When it seemed like Huai Xu was done speaking, Song Yingshi said soothingly, "They recognize you, so they like you. There is no need to feel any pressure. You don't even have an established personality yet. You are completely worthy of their love, so continue to be yourself."

Huai Xu looked at Song Yingshi, her face radiating gentleness and firmness that blended with her temperament to create a dazzling beauty.

"Mhm, I'll be myself," Huai Xu said, pointing at her heart. "I want them to see a better stage and a better me. I don't want to disappoint them. Little Shi, do you think I can do it?"

TL Notes:
[1]I may not be human, but you're a real dog: This is a trending saying/meme on the internet in China. It's typically used in a non-serious context to tell a person to be more "human"/humane.