Snow-Kissed Rose (GL) Chapter 96.1

After Song Yingshi finished speaking, she casually brushed Huai Xu's earlobe with her hand.

The faint scent of jasmine and the lingering warmth from her shower softened Huai Xu's usual coldness. She appeared stunned, perhaps from Song Yingshi's touch or something else. A light blush rose on her earlobe, but she quickly hid it by pressing her ear against the pillow. Then, something stirred on her serene face, and in a natural tone, she said, "I do."

Immediately after Huai Xu gave her answer, Song Yingshi sat up straight and looked around.

"What are you doing?" Huai Xu asked.

"Checking for hidden cameras," Song Yingshi replied.

Song Yingshi spoke with a straight face, her serious demeanor momentarily fooling Huai Xu. However, realization immediately dawned on Huai Xu when she noticed the slight tremble in Song Yingshi's shoulders.

Huai Xu, annoyed and amused, raised her leg and tried to kick Song Yingshi, only for her ankle to be caught halfway.

Huai Xu's ankle was delicate and slender, with bluish veins spreading like branches from the joints and running along the cold, white instep. It was like a small ink painting, exquisite and graceful, and Song Yingshi couldn't help but spend some time admiring it.

Song Yingshi held Huai Xu's ankle tightly, yet her face showed an aggrieved look as she leaned in intimately, asking, "Didn't you want this?"

Song Yingshi moved her hand up from Huai Xu's ankle to her perfectly proportioned calf, then over her bony, firm knee, finally stopping just above the knee, at the edge of a dangerous zone.

Song Yingshi leaned in once more, bringing her face close enough for her eyes to reflect Huai Xu's face, and Huai Xu's eyes to reflect hers.

As they faced each other, nobody knew who initiated the kiss.

In the quiet, fragrant bedroom of the riverside villa, words were fragmented by kisses.

"So, are there any cameras?"

"I don't know."

"What if there are?"

"They won't dare… They've already…mm…offended us once."

Hearing this, Huai Xu's eyes flashed as she suddenly remembered her original intention in visiting Song Yingshi's room. She gently bit Song Yingshi's lower lip, then lightly pulled back when Song Yingshi tried to retaliate, curbing her growing desire.

While Song Yingshi was catching her breath and wondering what was going on, Huai Xu said, "About what happened today, I'm sorry."

Earlier, in front of the cameras, everyone had to downplay the incident. Between them, Huai Xu still owed Song Yingshi an apology.

Song Yingshi sat up, propping her leg up beside the half-reclining Huai Xu. When she looked down, she saw that Huai Xu's brows were furrowed slightly, her usual coldness nowhere to be seen, and her eyes filled with endless affection.

Song Yingshi covered Huai Xu's eyes and chuckled, saying, "What that girl said doesn't matter. I didn't take it to heart at all."

Song Yingshi couldn't care less what her haters thought of her. If she did, she would've long since gone crazy in her previous life. Rather than herself, she felt that a certain Instructor Huai might be feeling worse over this situation.

Song Yingshi didn't want Huai Xu to place her focus on toxic solo fans. The possessive child within her even hoped Huai Xu would stop caring about outsiders completely. Thus, she covered Huai Xu's eyes and kissed her.

Song Yingshi kissed Huai Xu again and again.

"Since Instructor Huai apologized personally, I'll accept it. Let's turn the page on this matter."

"..."

"I'm kissing you, yet you're thinking about other things?"

"..."

"No more thinking."

After speaking her mind to Huai Xu, Song Yingshi's fiery tongue brushed Huai Xu's lips and teeth, igniting wave after wave of lingering afterglows.

Comfort, solace, understanding, and concern.

Song Yingshi imbued her emotions into her actions and conveyed them to Huai Xu. As someone who had dealt with such matters before, Song Yingshi deeply empathized with Huai Xu.

Even though Huai Xu's mental fortitude surpassed Song Yingshi's initial expectations, she remained fiercely protective, wishing Huai Xu no harm. Yet, some situations proved unavoidable despite her best efforts, leaving her only able to offer her companionship.

Song Yingshi didn't think companionship was useless. At least, during her darkest moments, she had always longed for someone to talk to. Unfortunately, she had no one.

Song Yingshi ran her fingers through Huai Xu's hair, gently cradling Huai Xu with her palm. At this moment, she could taste a hint of sweetness amidst life's bitterness.

The more Song Yingshi thought about it, the more convinced she became. Eagerly, she shared her unique insights, "I've heard people say that it's bad for lovers or spouses to be in the same profession because it's easy for arguments to occur, and there won't be a sense of admiration between the couple. But I think our situation is pretty good.

"Look, we became trainees together, we'll debut together in half a month, and we can even be together during group activities. The more I think about it, the more it sounds like an office romance."

Song Yingshi's train of thought had, at some point, gone off on a huge tangent. But before she could get lost too deeply in her thoughts, Huai Xu pinched her chin.

"What?" Song Yingshi tilted her head and looked at Huai Xu.

"What did you say just now?" Huai Xu asked, gently stroking the area below Song Yingshi's lips. Without waiting for an answer, she continued, "Lovers? Spouses?"

Song Yingshi blinked, realizing what Huai Xu's attention was on.

Looking back, Song Yingshi realized that neither she nor Huai Xu had explicitly defined their relationship. They had just allowed things to unfold naturally and left everything implied. Now, Huai Xu must be seeking a formal title.

Tsk, tsk. What an insecure partner I have. Oh well, I guess I'll have to shoulder this important task, Song Yingshi thought, mentally shaking her head.

Just as Song Yingshi was clearing her throat and about to clear her anxious partner's doubts, she saw Huai Xu giving her a cool, assessing glance and saying, "We're just friends. We don't share any special relationship."

"???"

"You little liar."

"..."

Even after all this, you're still hung up over those two lines?! Can you be any more unreasonable?!

…

On the first floor…

Chen Wan had just finished preparing some braised prawns, the fragrance of the dish released causing Kou Lengyu and the others to loudly clap and praise her. While they were at it, they also hyped up the dishes made by Zhu Zi and Hu Feng.

After the applause subsided, Zhu Zi, exuding an aura of elegance in his apron, looked around and asked, "Are we missing some people?"

They were, of course, missing some people. Two people, specifically.

After silently cursing Zhu Zi for his lack of consideration, Li Taoran calmly said, "I'll go call them."

"We made dinner, and now we have to call them too?" Zhou Chun asked, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

Hu Feng pretended not to notice Zhou Chun's snide remark, saying to Li Taoran, "Go call them. Those two kids are probably discussing something in private."

[Zhou Chun's right. If those two trainees want to be unsociable, let them.]

[They just got involved in a bad experience, so, of course, they need to talk privately. Do you commenters have any brains? Or are you as brainless as Zhou Chun?]

[Hu Feng's like a caring mother watching over those two lovebirds. Could it be…she's a CP mother fan?!]

Before Li Taoran even went upstairs, Song Yingshi and Huai Xu appeared at the top of the staircase together.

"The smell drew us out. Are we having a feast tonight?" Song Yingshi said playfully.

Hu Feng smiled and waved them over, saying, "Hurry over. Let's eat while the food's still hot."

Song Yingshi and Huai Xu descended the stairs and sat down with the others at the dining table.

Meanwhile, Zhou Chun watched wide-eyed as Fu Shu deliberately slowed his pace, falling behind Zhu Zi to secure the seat across Song Yingshi. Then, when she saw Huai Xu taking the seat next to Song Yingshi, a sudden realization dawned on her.

She got it!

The request Fu Shu made in the morning was his attempt at getting closer to Song Yingshi. Meanwhile, Huai Xu's intervention this morning and her current seating beside Song Yingshi must be her way of subtly getting closer to Fu Shu. While doing so, she could also market some Snow-Kissed Rose fan service, killing two birds with one stone.

Zhou Chun felt that she had uncovered the truth of this love triangle. Simultaneously, she realized that she was actually the fourth party in this tangled relationship.

Fu Shu might not remember her, but Zhou Chun did. She had briefly been on the same set as him in the past, but that fleeting moment was enough to make her infatuated with him. Even now, she still recalled how he looked when he got into his role.

However, other than following Fu Shu on social media, Zhou Chun never dared approach him. Only when she learned they'd be on the same show did she decide to be brave and fight for her love.

…

After dinner, Hu Feng suggested going to the rooftop to enjoy the evening breeze. Thus, the livestream cameras followed her upstairs.

Song Yingshi volunteered to clean the kitchen, with Fu Shu and Huai Xu following her. When Zhou Chun saw this, she promptly grabbed her mug, gave an excuse that she wanted to make herself some lemonade, and dashed off to the kitchen.

Two cameramen sat on bar stools near the kitchen entrance, their cameras off and resting by their feet. When Zhou Chun saw them, she stopped and asked, "Why aren't you two going in?"

"Instructor Fu said he had something to discuss and asked us to wait outside," a cameraman answered.

Zhou Chun subconsciously held her breath, asking, "Then, can I go in?"

"Sure. Instructor Huai also just went in," the other cameraman said.

I knew it!

After getting an answer, Zhou Chun immediately walked over to the kitchen. Through the door, she faintly heard voices.