Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 59.1

Drip—

As Huai Xu's words fell, water dripped from the faucet, creating an ethereal echo in the bathroom.

Song Yingshi kept her gaze focused on the ripples in the water as if there was something for her to see. Her mind, though, was filled with annoyance—both at Huai Xu and herself.

How could she shrink back at this critical juncture?

Not to mention, she was straight. Even if she bathed together with Huai Xu, the one to suffer would be Huai Xu.

Yet, when Huai Xu appeared as she desired, her first reaction was to shrink her head like a turtle.

It was truly embarrassing to be forced into such a state by Huai Xu.

After Song Yingshi calmed down, she decided to be more open. It didn't make sense to retreat now that the enemy was at her doorstep.

The only problem now was…whether it was because of the hot water or some other reason, Song Yingshi's face had grown slightly warm, and it refused to cool down no matter what.

Even without looking in the mirror, Song Yingshi was certain her face must look like a tomato right now. If Huai Xu saw her current state, Huai Xu would think she was feeling shy and behave even more arrogantly.

This reason gave Song Yingshi another excuse not to look at Huai Xu directly.

With her profile facing Huai Xu, Song Yingshi silently submerged her body into the water, leaving only her head on the surface. Then, while pressing her body against the farthest end of the bathtub, she stretched out an arm to Huai Xu, saying, "Give it to me."

However, even after a while, Song Yingshi didn't feel any weight being added to her empty palm. Instead, she saw an arm with snow-white skin, its white and pink fingertips holding a mandarin like a precious jewel.

Song Yingshi: "..."

Song Yingshi folded her outstretched arm to grab the mandarin.

Huai Xu didn't make any more trouble this time, letting the mandarin roll steadily into Song Yingshi's hand.

Song Yingshi clenched the mandarin, feeling its slightly rough peel for a moment before letting it float in the water. Then, while watching the mandarin bob up and down the water, she said, "Don't just stand here. Go and wash up."

Just as Song Yingshi thought she would finally get some peace, Huai Xu said leisurely, "I did many squats today. I also practiced the entire day. My legs can't stand anymore, so I also want to use the bathtub."

Song Yingshi: "?"

Song Yingshi nearly choked on her own saliva.

Upon hearing words being packaged and returned to her, Song Yingshi was successfully reminded that the woman before her wasn't just beautiful but also thorny.

"No," Song Yingshi blurted out. Then, she added teasingly, "It'll be too cramped with the both of us inside. Also, you're dirty."

As Song Yingshi said so, her rationality had mostly returned. Her tone showed no turbulence or panic; she even glanced at Huai Xu from the corner of her eyes while talking. However, she stopped her eyes as soon as they fell on Huai Xu's collarbone, firmly preventing them from going any lower.

"What a pity," Huai Xu sighed.

What's a pity? Song Yingshi wondered. However, she wisely swallowed the question that shouldn't be asked and splashed some water in Huai Xu's direction as she said, "Shoo-shoo. Stop bothering me."

Droplets landed on Huai Xu's belly as the water's surface broke. Though initially warm, they quickly chilled as they slid down her cold skin.

Song Yingshi never sat up straight. As Huai Xu stood beside the bathtub, her gaze rested on the snowy valley submerged in the water. After a while, she swept her gaze to Song Yingshi's crimson earlobes before quietly stepping away.

The bathtub's curtains were drawn once again, creating two isolated spaces in the bathroom.

When Song Yingshi heard the sound of water coming from the shower, she finally released the breath she had been holding. Her body also loosened up, and she leaned her back against the bathtub wall, feeling exhausted.

Contending with Huai Xu felt even more exhausting than practicing dancing for a day.

"Congratulations, Host. You have completed the Hidden Mission and received 24 hours of Life Points."

At the system's rigid, electronic announcement, Song Yingshi's gaze fell on the mandarin restlessly rolling around the water's surface. Immediately, she grabbed the mandarin and began peeling it vengefully.

The water-soaked mandarin had a familiar oily and crisp feel. When her fingertips sank into the fruit's flesh, its abundant juices squirted out, filling the bathtub with a refreshing fragrance.

As usual, Song Yingshi set the mandarin aside once she finished peeling it. Unfortunately, with nothing to distract her mind, the running shower beside her began to sound deafening.

Song Yingshi stared out the window, emptying her mind of thoughts and ignoring the running shower. She tried especially hard not to associate the sound of the shower with any images.

However, despite Song Yingshi's best efforts, the constant sound of water droplets hitting the curtain made her unable to ignore the shifting silhouette on the other side. It also kept her wondering if Huai Xu might lift the curtain and smirk at her again…

…

After the uneventful yet frightening bath, Song Yingshi lay on the bed with a mask on, contemplating life. The mask thoroughly hid the heavy expression she wore.

The resolve Song Yingshi made during the day seemed useless. She couldn't act naturally at all before Huai Xu. At this rate, could she continue being a straight woman?

At the same time, another voice within Song Yingshi told her this wasn't her fault for behaving this way. On the contrary, she should be praised for being a straight woman with morals for not staring at a lesbian's body.

If other straight women like Tao Qin, Wan Jiao, and Kou Lengyu were to take Huai Xu's place, Song Yingshi could confidently say she wouldn't be afraid of bathing with them. At most, she would find it a little awkward.

This last thought comforted Song Yingshi significantly.

Not all challenges could be overcome overnight. Song Yingshi was certain she could build up more courage with a few more tries. Hence, she needed to maintain a strong mindset now.

After removing her facial mask and applying skin care, Song Yingshi went to sleep. Normally, she would've pestered Huai Xu for a midnight chat, but she wasn't in the mood today. Since she had already decided to return to the starting point of their relationship, she shouldn't stay too close to Huai Xu.

Having stayed up all night the night before, Song Yingshi slept dreamlessly until dawn this time.

It could also be said that having a soak in the bathtub was a great way to relax. Although the process of taking said soak was slightly tortuous, Song Yingshi felt comfortable and relaxed when she woke up the next day, which, in turn, put her in an excellent state to welcome the rehearsal.

…

June 27th, Star of Spring's second public performance's rehearsal:

It was time for another makeup rehearsal. On the way to the rehearsal venue, Wan Jiao held Wen Qingzi's hand and sighed, "It was here you told me about Little Shi's secret. It hasn't been long since that time, yet…there are hardly any straight girls left around me. Whenever I think of this, I feel very…"

"Uncomfortable? Awkward?" Wen Qingzi guessed.

Wan Jiao suddenly smiled the next moment and said, "I feel very happy! All my little sisters are cute, obedient, and know how to act spoiled. They are also respectful and understanding and have a sense of propriety. It's so easy to get along with everyone. Alas, this happiness doesn't come without its own set of problems. I have to restrain myself from hugging and kissing every cutie I come across… Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I'm checking to see if you're still straight," Wen Qingzi answered.

"What are you saying? I can tell at least that much. I'm merely shipping my little sisters with each other," Wan Jiao said, chuckling. "Jokes aside, how are your preparations coming along? I know you've been extending your practice sessions for the last two days. Do you think you can win? I don't want you to leave me too."

Wen Qingzi was in Class C. Although there was nothing she could do about spectator votes, it'd be dangerous if she failed to secure the mentors' votes as well.

At Wan Jiao's question, Wen Qingzi recalled the conversation she had with Xing Huan two days ago.

With her thoughts fixed on Xing Huan's charming eyebrows, Wen Qingzi smiled and said, "Whether I'll make it or not, we'll see tomorrow night."

Wan Jiao momentarily fell silent before she perked up and patted Wen Qingzi on the back, exclaiming, "Of course you'll make it! My little sister is so smart, how can you possibly not make it?!"

Shrinking forward with a groan, Wen Qingzi cried out in pain, "Big Sis, are you a boar?"

Wan Jiao: "..."

…

"Huanhuan?"

A voice brought Xing Huan back to her senses.

Xing Huan stopped looking at Wen Qingzi and Wan Jiao in the distance, turning to her teammate with a smile, "I'm listening, what's up?"

The teammate in question froze at the enchanting smile she received. A moment later, she snapped back to reality and said, "I was saying that I'm still not sure which of my two ending poses I should go with. Can you take a look and help me decide?"

"Of course. Let's look through both thoroughly," Xing Huan replied without hesitation.

"Yay! Having you as our team leader is the best, Huanhuan!"

At this time, another teammate joined the conversation, "Before getting to know Huanhuan, I thought she looked very fierce. But after getting to know her, I finally realize how easy our mother is to talk to."

"Me? Fierce?" Xing Huan asked, deliberately baring her fangs at the teammate who had just spoken.

"Hehe, of course, you don't look fierce to me now, Mother dearest!"

"Mom—help me see if my eyelashes have fallen off."

Xing Huan shook her head and laughed.

Thinking it over, Xing Huan would've preferred to have a fiercer personality. At least it would keep people like Wen Qingzi from calling her a fool.

Nonetheless, after Huai Xu's rejection, Wen Qingzi's bluntness, and her remaining in Class B after the first public performance, Xing Huan couldn't help but wonder if it was really necessary to involve herself with coupling.

The team Xing Huan chose for the second public performance didn't have any trainees from Class A. She also ended up becoming the team leader as the rest of the team's members were from Classes C and D. As all her teammates were younger than her, they followed her arrangements like baby chicks waiting for their mother to feed them.

Among the second public performance's 10 teams, their team had the lowest average ranking. Because of this, Xing Huan had her hands full mentoring her teammates, and the last thing on her mind was forming a CP with someone.

However, just when their team had finally overcome their hardships and was almost ready for the stage, rather than continuing to behave like serious trainees, someone had the bright idea to start addressing Xing Huan as "mother." According to them, it was their way of expressing their gratitude for her "nurturing."

As a result, calls of "mother" filled their practice room in the last two days. Xing Huan's five teammates even created a sibling order by age.

Originally, helping her teammates had already tempered Xing Huan's patience and gradually made her give up the idea of deliberately hyping up a CP. Following this "mother" incident, she completely became indifferent to the idea—

After all, who'd want to form a CP with someone who had five daughters? Even if she had never gotten married or pregnant before, she doubted such a CP could ever sell.

Now, the 22-year-old mother looked at her five daughters, straightened their clothes with a stern face, put on their makeup, looked at their ending poses, and said all the precautions she could think of, "You should treat this rehearsal as if it's the real deal. But don't be too sensitive and cry when criticized. Be confident…"

Xing Huan could tell that her teammates, beneath their cheerful demeanor, were deeply nervous.

Despite their team having an excellent atmosphere, it didn't change the fact that they were the worst in technical skills. Apart from Xing Huan, everyone else was either at the very bottom or near the bottom of the remaining trainees.

While other teams had already begun polishing their performances, they were still stuck learning their dance moves.

Hence, it was only natural for them to grow nervous when facing the upcoming rehearsal. Once Director Wu saw the other teams' performances, he would instantly know how terrible their team was in comparison…

After listening to Xing Huan's encouragement, her teammates didn't speak up immediately and kept looking at her.

"Whatever the director criticizes us for, we'll fix it immediately. All of us will definitely make it through tomorrow," Xing Huan emphasized.

The second daughter raised her hand and asked, "Can we really do it?"

The third daughter pulled the second daughter's hand down, saying, "Whatever Mom says goes. Don't start having a brain now."

The eldest daughter snorted, "Childish."

The fourth daughter laughed and ridiculed everyone but herself.

The youngest daughter spread her arms for a hug, seizing the opportunity to win her mother's affection, "Mommy, I'm the only one who truly believes in you. I'm your sweet little cotton jacket."

Xing Huan: "..."

Are you all here to become idols or compete for affection?!