Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 82.1

After her heart-to-heart conversation with Song Yingshi, Li Taoran returned to the practice room.

Kou Lengyu and Chen Wan were torturing each other with back stretches, their feet pressed together, their hands pulling. When they saw Li Taoran returning, they promptly stopped what they were doing to look at her.

Li Taoran had already straightened her mood. Pretending that the previous argument never happened, she made a silly face at her two teammates and said, "Why are you looking at me? Continue with your stretches."

When Kou Lengyu saw Li Taoran's behavior, she hyped up and said passionately, "Ran—Ran—, to express my sincerest apology, let me help you stretch your back! It's very comfortable…"

"Stay away from me!" Li Taoran shouted.

"It's very comfortable," Chen Wan persuaded.

…

When Song Yingshi returned to the practice room and saw her three teammates fooling around, she didn't call for them to resume practice. However, her return was akin to a signal to the trio as they promptly stopped torturing one another and entered their stage positions. Seeing this, she naturally got into position as well.

Now, only Huai Xu's place remained empty.

After a glance at the empty spot, Song Yingshi retracted her gaze and resumed practice.

…

When it was nearing lunch break, a staff member suddenly visited Team Falling Asleep's practice room with an announcement:

"Please stay in this room a little longer. To minimize disruption to your practice, we will begin filming Instructor Liu's practice review immediately."

After Liu Ningxin took Zheng Qiyi's place as a mentor on the show, she only appeared on camera once during the second public performance. The second public performance was even a trainee-oriented event. So, to give her more screen time, the production crew decided to film a practice review, something the other mentors had already done before.

Liu Ningxin was a second-generation girl group member. Her understanding of girl group performances was unrivaled among the four mentors. Hence, a practice visitation was the perfect event for her to shine.

Liu Ningxin started her visit from the nearest practice room. For each team she visited, she would ask them to perform their best-prepared segment before critiquing them and giving them suggestions to improve.

For a time, the hallway echoed with the trainees' praises and exclamations, reaching all the way to Team Falling Asleep's practice room, located at the far end.

…

"What is Instructor Liu saying to them to get them so excited?" Chen Wan wondered as she curiously stared out the door.

In contrast to Chen Wan's calmness, Kou Lengyu was excited beyond recognition. While checking her makeup in the mirror, she shouted hurriedly, "Li Taoran, lend me your concealer! My acne scars aren't fully covered!"

Song Yingshi glanced at Kou Lengyu, thinking to herself that this straight girl behaved like a budding lesbian even more than a genuine budding lesbian. Kou Lengyu truly loved every beauty equally.

"Really? I can't tell," Li Taoran said, exasperated by Kou Lengyu's behavior.

"Hurry up!" Kou Lengyu urged.

"Here, here, here, take it," Li Taoran said, rolling her eyes as she handed Kou Lengyu her concealer palette.

The two girls who had nearly gotten into a fight this morning were so close now that they could share the same concealer palette again.

Song Yingshi chuckled at the two's behavior. When she heard footsteps approaching, she said, "Instructor Liu is coming."

Following the sound of the concealer palette snapping shut, Liu Ningxin and the stage director entered Team Falling Asleep's practice room together.

After greeting Liu Ningxin and the stage director, Song Yingshi explained, "Instructor Liu, as Huai Xu is sick today, our team will perform twice for you. I'll stand in Huai Xu's place for the second run."

This was the conclusion their team reached after a group discussion.

Liu Ningxin was informed about Team Falling Asleep's circumstances, so she naturally wouldn't refuse Song Yingshi's arrangement.

When "Falling Asleep" played, Liu Ningxin folded her arms and watched the performance before her attentively. In the middle of the second performance, she asked the stage director, "What do you think?"

In response, the stage director nodded satisfactorily and said softly, "Song Yingshi did a good job. If nothing else happens to their team, their performance on stage will not be bad."

Liu Ningxin focused her gaze on Song Yingshi, who was standing in the other center position. Then, she exchanged a few more words with the stage director.

After the trainees concluded their performance, Liu Ningxin smiled and said, "You guys must be starving after practicing the whole morning, right? You're the last team I'm reviewing, so let's talk over lunch."

Before even catching her breath, Kou Lengyu fixed her hair and muttered, "Instructor Liu is so considerate. On top of being a beauty, she's also kind."

Liu Ningxin appeared easygoing and didn't seem to find any problems with their performance. When Chen Wan and Li Taoran saw this, their expressions relaxed. Out of everyone in the team, only Song Yingshi, with her rich experience, sensed something strange.

If there weren't any problems with their performance, Liu Ningxin could've ended her review with a few sentences. There wouldn't be a need to "talk over lunch."

Rather than there being no problems, it was likely that Liu Ningxin found so many problems that she couldn't articulate them in just a few sentences.

With this in mind, Song Yingshi wasn't too surprised when Liu Ningxin, seated across the table, offered suggestions for their performance. She even politely set down her chopsticks to listen to the other party's advice.

When Liu Ningxin saw Song Yingshi setting down her chopsticks, she said, "Feel free to eat while I talk. You three as well; relax."

Song Yingshi hummed in affirmation but kept her hands off her chopsticks, saying, "Please speak, Instructor."

Meanwhile, Kou Lengyu and the others grew nervous.

To Song Yingshi's delight, Li Taoran seemed to have matured significantly over the morning. She didn't easily crumble under the current pressure and was able to patiently wait for Liu Ningxin's critique.

After a brief silence, Liu Ningxin faced Song Yingshi and said, "You've done a great job choreographing Lengyu, Taoran, and Chen Wan's parts. I can tell you've put a lot of effort into it. There is only one problem: your performance is a rare double-center performance. I don't know if you have experience choreographing double-center performances, so I'll tell you about one I've seen."

Song Yingshi poured Liu Ningxin a glass of water as she patiently listened to the other party.

Liu Ningxin admired Song Yingshi's fortitude and couldn't help but take a few extra looks at her. After thanking Song Yingshi for the water and moisturizing her throat, she continued:

"The performance took place several years ago at a music festival, and an incredible choreographer choreographed it; all of us here have probably danced the dances he choreographed before. At the time, he was asked to choreograph a dance for two artists, one male and one female. Both artists were equally famous, so it had to be a double-center performance.

"Long story short, the choreographer flawlessly showed everyone the difference between single- and double-center performances. The two artists neither fought for the spotlight on stage nor coexisted peacefully. Instead, they complemented each other, making each other shine more than they normally would."

Liu Ningxin paused after reaching this point. Although she could've stopped here, the cup in her hand was still transmitting warmth to her, so she patiently explained, "I am your audience today. After watching you dance both parts, I noticed both were choreographed in your style. Huai Xu's strong stage presence might be able to cover up the homogeneity of your choreography, but it remains a fact that you've accomplished a performance with two centers rather than a double-center performance."

"Is there a difference? I don't get it…" Kou Lengyu said, scratching her head.

Liu Ningxin glanced at Song Yingshi, who seemed to be in deep thought, and smiled, saying, "It's okay as long as your choreographer understands."

Then, everyone turned to look at Song Yingshi.

A moment later, Song Yingshi sighed, held her forehead, and said in annoyance, "Ah, why didn't I think of this…"

Song Yingshi fully understood what Liu Ningxin was trying to convey. It was a simple principle anyone could understand, and she couldn't help but wonder why she hadn't thought of it when choreographing.

As Liu Ningxin said, when Song Yingshi was choreographing the dance for "Falling Asleep," she only considered how to harmonize her and Huai Xu's different styles. She never thought of utilizing their respective strengths to complement each other.

"I only achieved a 1+1=2 effect, not a 1+1>2 effect," Song Yingshi muttered. Then, she stood up, bowed deeply to Liu Ningxin, and said, "I'm grateful for your advice."

"No, no, this isn't my idea. I'm just sharing my experience," Liu Ningxin deflected. "You're not a professional choreographer, so don't be too harsh on yourself. The fact that you could achieve 1+1=2 in such a short time instead of 0 or negative already makes you much better than many choreographers in the industry. The production crew will have my head if you get discouraged because of me."

Song Yingshi stood up and put on a bright smile.

Did she get discouraged?

Of course not.

After learning that their performance still had room for improvement, Song Yingshi couldn't wait to discuss and make improvements with Huai Xu.

Filled with passion and fighting spirit, Song Yingshi humbly asked Liu Ningxin, "In that case, as our audience, do you have any other opinions about our performance?"

"Opinions?" Liu Ningxin tilted her head.

"Mhm. For example, do you have any effects you want to see? I'll see if I can find some inspiration," Song Yingshi said.

Liu Ningxin let out an extended "oh".

For some reason, Song Yingshi had a bad premonition when she heard this. Then, she remembered Liu Ningxin mentioning Snow-Kissed Rose during the second public performance.

Don't tell me…

The next second, Song Yingshi's premonition came true as the instructor, who had been serious just a moment ago, put on a teasing face and said, "As the audience, I naturally want to see Snow-Kissed Rose interacting on stage. Setting aside everything else, seeing you two together is very pleasing."

Song Yingshi: "..."

Song Yingshi immediately shut her mouth and pretended to be mute.

When Liu Ningxin saw Song Yingshi's reaction, she turned to Kou Lengyu and the others, asking, "Don't you want to see it, too?"

"Of course!" Li Taoran promptly nodded her head like a baby chick pecking at food. She desperately wanted to see her idol overflowing with sexual tension!

Before Chen Wan even spoke, her face had already turned red. While covering her blushing face, she said, "Just imagining the scene makes me… Ah, no, I mean, I'm really looking forward to it."

"Beauties cuddling is justice!" Kou Lengyu exclaimed.

Their loud voices quickly attracted the attention of others in the cafeteria. Upon learning that they were discussing whether Snow-Kissed Rose should give fan service in the third public performance, everyone immediately gathered around their table:

"What? You're not going to cuddle on stage? Then, what's the point of having two centers?"

"Don't tell me you'll repeat the 'avoid suspicion' act? I strongly recommend against it! Don't disappoint Mommy!"

"Please, I beg you, drown us with fan service!"

…

Song Yingshi was at a loss for words as the surrounding trainees bombarded her with nonsense. Eventually, she pointed out a problem she was concerned with, "If we add fan service to our performance, wouldn't it be unfair to the rest of you?"

It was an objective fact that individual popularity would affect a team's overall popularity. However, Song Yingshi didn't wish to win by relying on her CP's popularity. It would feel like she had taken a shortcut.

Because of this, Song Yingshi similarly avoided using this advantage when choreographing her team's dance. The fact that their CP was about to become a reality also made her have second thoughts about using it as a mere marketing tool.

Most importantly, Song Yingshi was concerned about how the little girls around her would feel. Hence, she asked this question in response to them making a fuss.

However, Song Yingshi never expected the surrounding trainees to react indifferently to her question and even start to educate her:

"What are you thinking in that little head of yours? This is the first time I've thought of you as cute and silly, Little Shi."

"Baby, have you never shipped a CP before? Don't you understand that being in the same frame means rolling in bed? Also, the more you try to evade suspicion, the easier it is for fans to ship you. You're still too young."

"So, for fairness's sake, you should be more generous at giving out fan service! We'll be more than happy to see it!"

Song Yingshi: "???"

After the trainees said their piece, Liu Ningxin said, "Snow-Kissed Rose isn't what created the idols known as Song Yingshi and Huai Xu. It's only because sexual tension occurs when Song Yingshi and Huai Xu stand together that Snow-Kissed Rose exists.

"Setting aside the secular concept of CPs, Snow-Kissed Rose is your greatest weapon. Don't let public opinion restrict you and make you waste this opportunity. Liberating it is the best way to show gratitude to the stage and your audience."