Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 71.1

Ever since Jing Xuan learned about SSDL's livestream, she had been eagerly waiting for its arrival, even wishing she could travel into the future.

Jing Xuan invited Shang Yan to watch the stream together. After getting off work on July 3rd, she visited Shang Yan's house with pizza, and the two of them ate as they waited for the 8 PM livestream.

However, despite the current harmony between Jing Xuan and Shang Yan, their underlying incompatibilities were bound to disrupt it.

For instance, when the stream started, Jing Xuan frantically took screenshots while spamming "Snow-Kissed Rose Forever," whereas Shang Yan typed a simple "Good evening, Huai Xu." And when Jing Xuan spammed "rerorerorero (tongue-licking)," Shang Yan took screenshots of her idol and aunt.

Initially, Jing Xuan and Shang Yan still minded their own business. However, when the stream entered a lull period, Jing Xuan crossed her legs and shouted, "Yanyan, your aunt's husband sure is beautiful."

In response, Shang Yan reflexively kicked Jing Xuan and said, "The Song clan doesn't take in sons-in-law[1]. My aunt must be the one on top."

"Hahaha, but wouldn't you have to address Huai Xu as 'aunt' in that case? Maybe brother-in-law?" Jing Xuan teased.

Shang Yan rolled her eyes at Jing Xuan.

Suddenly, Jing Xuan exclaimed, "Huai Xu's going to apply hand cream for Little Shi!"

This news dismayed Shang Yan, and she said disgruntledly, "It's only a marketing tactic to get you CP fans to spend money."

Despite her words, Shang Yin still promptly turned to look at her phone's screen.

In the livestream, Hu Wan stopped promoting products when she noticed the actions of her fellow "sales associates." She propped up her face on the table and watched Huai Xu applying hand cream for Song Yingshi as she said, "Mhm…I smell white tea. This is my go-to cream year-round."

Subsequently, Song Yingshi offered her beautiful hand to Huai Xu, to which Huai Xu responded by squeezing some cream onto the back of her hand. Although the two had yet to share any physical contact, this sight was enough to send Jing Xuan squealing.

When Huai Xu began kneading Song Yingshi's hand, Jing Xuan jumped onto the sofa while holding her phone, shouting, "Ahhhh!!!! My CP is touching hands! That's practically lovemaking!"

Angered by Jing Xuan's behavior, Shang Yan threw a pillow at her friend and shouted, "Jing Xuan, get down from there! Also, stop making things up in your mind! They're still innocent!"

In response, Jing Xuan laughed and said, "The impotent rage of you solo fans is laughable. If they're so innocent, why are they maintaining physical contact for so long?"

Shang Yan quickly calmed down and retorted, "They're just working."

After saying so, Shang Yan pointed at her phone's screen and continued, "If this isn't friendship between teammates, what else could it be? Besides touching hands, nothing else is happening between—"

Suddenly, Jing Xuan, staring at her phone, screamed, "Little Shi's blushing, right?! She's definitely blushing!"

Shang Yan: ?

Impossible! Shang Yan was briefly stunned before she quickly scrutinized Song Yingshi's face on her phone. However, her screen went dark before she could get a better look, and she was notified that the stream had been disconnected.

Besides Shang Yan and Jing Xuan, everyone watching the stream was confused by this situation, as evidenced by the question marks (bullet comments) flooding the screen.

Just as everyone thought the stream was suffering from network connections, the stream reconnected. However, Song Yingshi and Huai Xu had long since concluded their cream-applying procedure and returned to their seats.

Huai Xu looked as calm as ever, but Song Yingshi's cheeks were slightly pink. There was also a faint glimmer in Song Yingshi's eyes, making her appear even more radiant and alluring than usual. She looked just like a succubus who had just been satiated…

Although the camera and lighting dampened the change in Song Yingshi's appearance, many among the audience had sharp eyes, so they still noticed it:

"What did I just miss???"

"We just missed at least 1,000 words' worth of content."

"Little Shi, it's written all over your face!"

Facing the barrage of bullet comments, Song Yingshi calmly smiled and said, "We experienced an equipment problem just now. Anyway, everyone, take a look. This is the hand cream's effect; it's very moist."

After saying so, Song Yingshi held up her right wrist with her left hand, showing it to everyone.

However, the comments only cared about one thing and one thing only:

"I'll buy 100 tubes of hand cream, so please reenact what just happened!"

"I saw Huai Xu's mouth moving before the stream died! What did Huai Xu say to you, Little Shi?"

"Ahhhh! Song Yingshi, answer us! Don't pretend you don't see our questions!"

The comments were making a scene.

Amidst the fans' clamoring, Huai Xu communicated with a nearby staff member before she faced the camera and said calmly, "To make up for the livestream error just now, SSDL will hold a giveaway of 100 Summer Rejuvenation Sets and 1,000 tubes of hand cream."

Following up on Huai Xu, Hu Wan said, "The giveaway begins in three minutes. You can find the link on your 'Shopping Cart' page. SSDL rarely does giveaways, so do your best to seize this opportunity…"

Meanwhile, Song Yingshi put on a dignified smile, her transformation making her recent captivating allure seem like a mere illusion. Then, she said, "I'm falling in love with this smell. I'm definitely buying a tube for myself later."

"I'll buy it for you, Little Shi!" Hu Wan followed up.

"You're so kind to me, Huhu," Song Yingshi said.

…

Seeing as the trainees weren't responding to their demands and only made jokes around the brand, the audience eventually returned their attention to the cosmetic products.

Following this, the rest of the stream progressed without any surprises or interruptions. The three trainees cheerfully chatted with one another, responded to viewer questions, and engaged in product testing. Everything went according to plan without any mishaps.

At 9 PM, the livestream ended.

For the fans, this was the end of their daily dose of Snow-Kissed Rose—not!

After leaving the livestream, Snow-Kissed Rose fans promptly engaged in an excited discussion across Weibo and various other platforms.

"Microscopes, assemble! I've shared a clip of the stream I took here. I've rewatched this clip dozens of times, so I'm certain Huai Xu opened her mouth to say something before the stream got cut. But what does the shape of her lips say? Me? Kiss? I'm guessing that she said 'kiss me.' I know I'm probably daydreaming, but it's a fact that Little Shi was blushing! I have a screenshot of her face as proof!"

"Too sweet! Too sweet! Too sweet!"

"Send Hu Wan a million yuan and ask her what our CP said! #cry, why isn't my name Hu Wan?! Why couldn't it be me in her shoes?! I'm definitely not getting any sleep tonight, ahhhh!!!"

"How can Little Shi blush from simply having her hand touched? Could she be the innocent type of top? #heart #heart"

"Snow-Kissed Rose CG +1"

…

Unlike the CP fans, the Willows and Orioles were filled with worry after watching the livestream.

For girls, even hugging could be considered a normal expression of friendship, let alone touching hands...

But why did Song Yingshi?! And what did Song Yingshi say to her?!

Because of this situation…

Willows (Huai Xu's solo fans): Song Yingshi, why were you blushing? This is going to add more fuel to the CP fans' madness! #angry

Orioles (Song Yingshi's solo fans): Huai Xu, why did you have to speak for no reason? You just gave the CP fans another reason to let their imaginations run wild! #angry

When the Willows and Orioles did some reconnaissance and discovered that their respective enemies were talking smack about their idols, they cursed the CP fans in unison out of frustration while pouring all their energy into securing the center position for their respective idols in the third public performance…

…

At 10:23 PM, July 3rd, Song Yingshi's group passed the airport security check and entered a VIP lounge.

While the others went to secure a table, Hu Wan grabbed a bottle of orange juice for herself and filled a basket with snacks and drinks for her three travel companions.

The staff member thanked Hu Wan before grabbing a pack of biscuits from the basket.

Meanwhile, Hu Wan took two sips of orange juice and looked at the evening sky beyond the glass wall. Then, she faced Song Yingshi and Huai Xu, saying, "You two have been awfully quiet on the way here."

Since the livestream ended, Hu Wan and the staff member had been the only ones talking on their way to the airport. It might be normal for Huai Xu to be so quiet, but something fishy must be going on if even Song Yingshi stayed silent!

Song Yingshi didn't immediately respond to Hu Wan's accusation. She grabbed a sugar-free Coke, leaving the mineral water for Huai Xu. Then, while opening the Coke bottle, she said, "I'm just a little tired."

Hu Wan pouted. She felt that Song Yingshi was treating her like a child. And when she saw that Huai Xu couldn't even be bothered to humor her, she grew even more aggrieved.

Huai Xu was facing the glass wall, her eyes seemingly locked on the landing plane outside.

However, when Hu Wan scrutinized Huai Xu's line of sight, she quickly noticed that it collided with Song Yingshi's reflection on the glass…

…

July 4th.

When the time was nearing 1 AM, Song Yingshi's group safely arrived at the White Tower.

Despite the late hour, the White Tower remained brightly lit, starkly contrasting to the rest of the resort grounds.

"The others should've just returned like us," Song Yingshi said sluggishly.

It was common for working artists to have abnormal work hours. Even trainees were no exception. Although Song Yingshi had spent countless nights on planes in her past life, her present body was still unaccustomed to working overnight shifts, so she was currently exhausted.

After confiscating the trio's phones, the staff member left to do her own thing.

The flight and car ride had made Hu Wan very drowsy. After yawning, she was about to lean on Song Yingshi before Huai Xu caught her. Then, while wobbling in place like a wobble doll, she rubbed her eyes and mumbled, "Let's hurry upstairs. I'm dead tired."

Song Yingshi glanced at Huai Xu's retreating hand, her lips instinctively forming a fleeting smile before she flattened them and said, "Let's go."

Song Yingshi walked behind Hu Wan, worried that the wobbling child might trip and fall while walking. Meanwhile, Huai Xu walked behind her with steady footsteps.

Despite the walk back being silent, Hu Wan was too tired to question the silent atmosphere this time. To her, the air was filled with sleepy particles, and simply reaching her dorm without falling asleep was a challenge.

However, for Song Yingshi and Huai Xu, the silence held something entirely different.

The past several hours of silence had cultivated something between them. This something resembled a young bud pushing through the soil, delicate but strong. And in anticipation of the moment where the two of them would be alone, it poised to break through to the surface.

As Hu Wan steadied herself with the help of the elevator's handrail, the elevator door closed, and the elevator headed for the seventh floor.

The glossy walls inside the elevator reflected Song Yingshi and Huai Xu's figures. Song Yingshi stood behind Huai Xu while secretly staring at Huai Xu's reflection.

Ding—

The elevator door opened.

Huai Xu did not move.

Song Yingshi pushed her suitcase out of the elevator. As she walked past Huai Xu, they bumped shoulders.

Song Yingshi subconsciously looked up and saw that Huai Xu was already looking at her.

Song Yingshi put on her usual smile and said calmly, "Let's go. Aren't you sleepy?"

Huai Xu hummed and nodded. In this context, whether she was affirming Song Yingshi's first or second sentence was unclear.

Song Yingshi slowed her pace and waited for Huai Xu to walk one step ahead of her. Then, she kept staring at Huai Xu's back as they returned to their dormitory.

TL Notes:
[1]The Song clan doesn't take in sons-in-law: This means that the Song clan doesn't have the tradition of accepting their daughters' husbands into the family.

I'm not qualified to speak on the subject of marriage culture in China, so please look it up yourself if you are interested in learning more about it.