Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 90.2

While Li Yining was making not-so-polite remarks about Fu Shu and his manager in her head, Song Yingshi recalled something and asked, "I recently had someone from your team investigate Zheng Qiyi's situation. Any news yet?"

At this question, Li Yining typed on her keyboard a few times and replied, "Why, yes. We initially came up with nothing because we took the wrong approach, but we eventually found what you wanted two days ago. I really didn't think Zheng Qiyi is…"

"What happened to him?" Song Yingshi asked, frowning.

"Didn't he use his poor health as an excuse to withdraw from Star of Spring previously? Well, it turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. While all of us assumed he was hiding at home or had gone abroad, it turns out he's been staying in a private sanatorium in B City."

"He's actually sick?" Song Yingshi sat up straight.

"I only know his sickness is real, and his current condition isn't good. For more details, you might need to investigate using your family's connections," Li Yining said, smiling wryly. She lacked the manpower and resources to obtain the detailed information Song Yingshi wanted.

"Alright, thank you, Big Sis Yining," Song Yingshi said, nodding.

After hanging up, Song Yingshi sat on the lounge chair, pondering for a while.

Previously, Song Yingshi wouldn't have given Zheng Qiyi a second thought if it weren't for what he had done to Huai Xu in the book and his persistent presence in this life. However, that changed a few days ago when she obtained an image relating to Zheng Qiyi from the system's gachapon machine.

As Song Yingshi pulled up that image in her mind, her gaze swept past Zheng Qiyi and landed on the high-heeled shoe that was only partially visible in the frame. As for the owner of this high-heeled shoe… If this was a premonition of future events, it was easy to guess who it was: either herself or Huai Xu.

Song Yingshi felt that the likelihood of it being herself was higher. After all, she indeed wanted Zheng Qiyi to face misfortune, and she also had the means to make it happen.

However, Song Yingshi didn't rule out the possibility that the scene depicted something Zheng Qiyi had experienced in the past.

In any case, Song Yingshi felt that there must be a secret about Zheng Qiyi that she didn't know but needed to know. Facing this predicament, she decided she would ask her parents to provide her with the necessary personnel to help with the investigation when she visited them today.

After making up her mind, Song Yingshi's eyebrows remained furrowed. She scrutinized the various information in her mind, such as her Life Point balance, the Exchange Gauge, etc. Then, for the first time, she asked the system, "System, did you bring me here for any other purpose?"

"I am only assigned to assist you in earning Life Points through missions, Host," the system replied rigidly as if reading from a script.

Song Yingshi narrowed her eyes at the response, asking, "Why have the mystery items in the gachapon machine, then? I don't give a damn about Zheng Qiyi. What does him kneeling before someone have to do with me?"

This was the most perplexing part.

The missions assigned by the system had always aimed to bind her with Huai Xu. Even if the difficulty of the missions varied, their theme and goal remained consistent.

The gachapon machine, however, disrupted this trend.

The gachapon machine offered rewards at the cost of Life Points, and so far, the ordinary items it provided seemed to be just fillers that she could easily buy with money. The only things worth exchanging Life Points for were the mystery items.

It wouldn't even be far-fetched to say that the system placed the importance of these mystery items above Life Points, which was highly inconsistent with the system's usual operational behavior.

Facing Song Yingshi's sharp question, the system responded with a rigid but deeply implied reply, "The gachapon machine exists for prize distribution. The plug-in runs automatically after installation, and the system has no oversight of its operations. You are free to choose whether to use it, Host."

A light bulb went off in Song Yingshi's head, and she asked carefully, "Then, who installed this plug-in for you?" More specifically, who was distributing the prizes?

After Song Yingshi waited for a moment, she heard the system's electronic voice replying coldly, "Question exceeds authority. Response denied."

…

On top of refusing to answer Song Yingshi's question, the system, seemingly out of spite, bombarded her with five new missions.

However, Song Yingshi didn't get angry at this retaliation. On the contrary, her lips curled into a smile. After all, the system was clearly telling her that it harbored secrets.

Song Yingshi possessed a strong desire to uncover all secrets, especially those that might involve her.

The key to uncovering the system's secrets lay in the gachapon machine. This was the only vulnerability Song Yingshi could currently find in the system.

To use the gachapon machine, Song Yingshi needed to spend Life Points. To obtain Life Points, she needed to complete missions. Now that the system had given her a bunch of missions, were the Life Points she needed really that far off?

When Song Yingshi looked at the situation from this perspective, she found the system quite amusing. It behaved like a tsundere who said no but whose actions said otherwise.

Shortly after her mental spar with the system, Song Yingshi's stomach started to rumble. She hoped that lunch would be delivered soon. Otherwise, she would have to find something to eat.

Just then, Song Yingshi remembered that she had included some croissants when she ordered the groceries. But before she filled her stomach, she got up, stretched, and made her way back to the gym, worried that Huai Xu might collapse from exercising on an empty stomach.

The gym had glass walls, so Song Yingshi gained an unobstructed view of Huai Xu before she even entered.

Huai Xu's on the treadmill?

This discovery came as an even greater surprise to Song Yingshi than the revelation of Zheng Qiyi staying in a sanatorium.

Song Yingshi had experienced first-hand Huai Xu's distaste for long-distance running. From the very first training camp, Huai Xu had never liked going on evening runs with her. And whenever they visited a gym, Huai Xu would rather use any other equipment than get on a treadmill.

Back then, Song Yingshi had asked Huai Xu why she disliked running so much. Although she initially frowned and refused to answer, under Song Yingshi's persistent staring, she eventually admitted, "Running makes me nervous."

Song Yingshi hadn't expected such an answer. But as they weren't very close then, she didn't press further. Nonetheless, that was enough to tell her that Huai Xu's aversion to running was long-standing. Hence, she was very surprised to see Huai Xu taking the initiative to go on the treadmill today.

Immediately, Song Yingshi strode into the gym, looked at Huai Xu from head to toe, and asked, "Did the sun rise from the west today?"

Huai Xu continued running with steady breaths. She cast Song Yingshi a glance but offered no verbal reply.

During this time, a bead of sweat rolled down Huai Xu's jawline, slid down her neck, and created a thin, elongated trail of moisture.

Song Yingshi's gaze followed the bead until it stopped on Huai Xu's chest, then quickly returned to Huai Xu's face as she blinked.

After looking around, Song Yingshi pulled a tissue from a nearby box, leaned toward the treadmill, and extended her hand to wipe Huai Xu's sweat. As she intermittently wiped Huai Xu's neck and chest, she asked with a smile, "Huai Xu, why did you decide to run this morning?"

Huai Xu: "..."

Song Yingshi replaced the wet tissue with a new one. As the dry, slightly rough paper brushed against Huai Xu's skin, she could feel Song Yingshi's fingers through the tissue, a subtle warmth passing between their bodies.

Song Yingshi stared at the second piece of tissue for a moment. Then, as if inadvertently, or perhaps deliberately, she said, "You've sweated a lot."

Song Yingshi's words shattered Huai Xu's steady breathing.

Suddenly, Song Yingshi triumphantly smiled and reached out to switch off the treadmill. Then, while tugging on Huai Xu's hand, she asked, "Aren't you hungry? If you want to run, you can do it after eating. In any case, I'm starving."

Huaixu allowed herself to be led, her long lashes trembling in embarrassment as she realized Song Yingshi had guessed the reason behind her uncharacteristic behavior.

Upon waking up from her sleep, Huai Xu immediately recalled what had happened earlier, and she couldn't help but feel as if she was floating on cloud nine. She felt she needed to do something to keep herself grounded, so she suggested coming to the gym.

Initially, Huai Xu was going to use the elliptical trainer to work up a sweat. But when she saw the treadmill, she thought of Song Yingshi and the times Song Yingshi would hold her hand and lead her on runs. Then, before she knew it, she was already running on the treadmill.

This unusual behavior naturally couldn't escape Song Yingshi's notice. Moreover, Song Yingshi must've figured out the cause of this behavior, hence the obvious delight on her face.

Huai Xu silently let Song Yingshi pull her along, which allowed Song Yingshi to complete her "Maintain any physical contact with Huai Xu for 10 seconds" mission. However, her mission wasn't the reason she wore a happy smile on her face.

Compared to the mission, what delighted Song Yingshi the most was discovering that Huai Xu wasn't as composed as she seemed.

You might be good at putting up facades, but you can't hide from me.

After Song Yingshi led Huai Xu into the living room, she suddenly paused, unsure of where to go. She also felt that anywhere was fine so long as she was with Huai Xu, so she turned around and asked, "Want some croissants?"

As Song Yingshi spoke, her hair tossed up and fell, her eyes filled with a spring breeze, and her complexion glowed like a spring dawn.

Huai Xu's gaze slid from Song Yingshi's full, peachy cheeks to her lips, recalling the soft, cool sensation of being between them.

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the living room started to shift.

…

Downstairs, Xu Conghan exited the car as the chauffeur lifted an insulated box out of the vehicle.

"Madam, shall I accompany you upstairs?" the chauffeur asked.

"No need. Just help me bring the box over to the elevator," Xu Conghan said, smiling.

Xu Conghan had visited this apartment complex during its renovation and had her fingerprint registered. When she saw the chauffeur getting ready to deliver lunch to her daughter, she decided to tag along so that she could spend more time with her daughter.

After the chauffeur placed the insulated box inside the elevator, Xu Conghan asked, "You mentioned Little Shi's friend staying here? Is it Huai Xu?"

"Yes, Madam, it's the girl you like," the chauffeur replied. "She's also the young miss's roommate from the show."

By now, everybody working for the Song family knew Huai Xu was Xu Conghan's favorite idol. Additionally, she was the young miss's roommate and CP partner. Hence, everyone made sure to commit Huai Xu's face to memory.

"Mhm, I'll go see her," Xu Conghan said, her smile softening.

Subsequently, the elevator doors closed, carrying Xu Conghan upward to her destination.

As they reopened, Xu Conghan quickly tidied her hair before looking out—