I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 10

“Uh… I’ll go wash the vegetables in the kitchen first.”

Zhou Xi knew she had to step away in the current situation.

Han Shutong hummed. After Zhou Xi left, she put the phone to her ear and said, “She’s a person.”

“…” Luo Shuiqiu. “I’m not in the mood for your bad jokes right now.”

Han Shutong frowned, stating seriously, “I wasn’t joking.”

Luo Shuiqiu: “.”

If she ever died of a heart attack, the culprit would likely be a certain Han.

Luo Shuiqiu tried to relax her mind and calmly asked, “Let’s forget that. I’m asking you, what’s with the sudden extra roommate?”

“I told you before,” Han Shutong deflected the blame straight back to Luo Shuiqiu.

Luo Shuiqiu was confused. “When? How come I don’t know?”

“I said I had something to tell you, but before I finished, you immediately said ‘no problem’,” Han Shutong glanced toward the kitchen, then continued to Luo Shuiqiu, “And what I was going to tell you then was that I would have a roommate during the filming of the show.”

If Luo Shuiqiu had known Han Shutong was referring to this, she would definitely have refused.

But she didn’t even give Han Shutong a chance to tell her, just agreeing outright? What on earth was she thinking at the time?

Since things had come to this, nothing she said now would matter to Han Shutong.

Luo Shuiqiu sighed and asked, “Is she a non-celebrity?”

Luo Shuiqiu prayed in her heart: Please be a non-celebrity, please be a non-celebrity, please…

Her prayer was quickly answered. Han Shutong’s voice was cool. “No.”

Well, prayer failed.

Luo Shuiqiu lit a cigarette. “What’s her name?”

Han Shutong heard the sound of the lighter on the other end, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Zhou Xi.”

“Zhou Xi? That sounds familiar, but I don’t think I’ve heard it before. Wait, let me Google her.”

“Mhm,” Han Shutong asked. “Smoking again?”

Luo Shuiqiu took a drag and then immediately extinguished the cigarette. “No, you misheard.”

Just then, the Google search results appeared.

Luo Shuiqiu initially thought Zhou Xi was an actress who had worked with Han Shutong, which would explain the familiar name, but seeing the photo from the search result, Luo Shuiqiu had no recollection of her.

“Zhou Xi, female, born October 6, 1996, Class of 2014—” Luo Shuiqiu saw the following information and paused for a second. “She was your classmate?”

Han Shutong: “Yes.”

“Seems she hasn’t done very well,” Luo Shuiqiu said instinctively.

“She’s amazing,” Han Shutong said, pursing her lips, a hint of displeasure hidden in her tone. “Don’t say things like that in the future.”

Luo Shuiqiu sensed Han Shutong’s unusual sensitivity and realized Han Shutong cared deeply about how others evaluated this “Zhou Xi.”

Why is she so concerned?

Luo Shuiqiu couldn’t figure it out, and she decided not to dwell on it. “Okay.”

Then Luo Shuiqiu added, “What’s her character like? Shutong, you should be clearer than I am about what some people want when they approach you.”

Luo Shuiqiu had a reason for asking if Zhou Xi was a non-celebrity. If she was also in the industry…

If the two cohabited, a portion of the audience would inevitably be curious about who the other person was and why they were living together, which would divert a large amount of Han Shutong’s traffic. If she were a non-celebrity, Luo Shuiqiu wouldn’t worry much; appearing on the show would, at most, be a step toward entering the entertainment industry.

But if she was already in the industry, she might continue to leverage Han Shutong’s traffic after the show or incite fans to vote and have marketing accounts post suggestive content during the broadcast.

Luo Shuiqiu had seen this many times; some people would stop at nothing to gain fame.

The most crucial point was that Luo Shuiqiu, looking at Zhou Xi’s photo on the screen, already knew she would definitely capture the audience’s attention.

Luo Shuiqiu had worked in this industry for many years. She could tell with a glance who could become famous and who had the potential for fame, and she could also tell who wasn’t suitable for this industry and would never succeed.

And Zhou Xi was the former.

She was unknown now, but becoming famous was only a matter of time.

Han Shutong didn’t tell Luo Shuiqiu that she had proactively invited Zhou Xi. She only said, “If it weren’t for her, there would be no me today.”

Luo Shuiqiu’s gaze paused. After a few seconds, she understood and was slightly astonished. “She’s the one who recommended you to Director Ji?”

Han Shutong was silent for a few seconds. “Yes.”

The movie that brought Han Shutong overnight fame was called Deer’s Song. At the time, the director suddenly came to the school for casting. Han Shutong wasn’t at school then, so another student was initially chosen.

During the casting, the director first gave the students a different script. Only after the final person was selected did he give her the movie’s actual script.

But after the student read the script and the character profile, she stood in the center of the classroom and said to the director, “Hello, Director. I just read the script, and I feel there’s someone else who is even more suitable for this role than me. She’s currently off campus, but I’ll call her back now. Could the directors please wait a little longer?”

The director was first surprised, then smiled and asked, “Zhou Xi, do you know what you’re missing out on if I choose your classmate?”

Zhou Xi also smiled and said, “She should have returned earlier, but she delayed her return to school because she was helping me get something. So, she missed the audition because of me. My recommendation is partly to compensate for my mistake, and secondly, this role genuinely suits her. It’s practically tailor-made for her.”

Zhou Xi’s last sentence piqued the director’s curiosity. His character was one he created himself; it had never been “tailor-made” for anyone.

But the moment he saw Han Shutong walk into the classroom, the director knew that this person was his character. Han Shutong didn’t even need to audition with the sample script; the director immediately handed her the film’s real script.

The audition ended, and Han Shutong was successfully cast.

The director wanted to give Zhou Xi another role, but Zhou Xi refused.

And when Han Shutong learned that Zhou Xi had given up this opportunity for her, Han Shutong went to ask Zhou Xi why. Zhou Xi replied, “Because this role really suits you.”

Seeing the odd look on Han Shutong’s face, Zhou Xi added, “Also, I have something very important to do these few months that prevents me from leaving school. So, don’t think I’m doing anything great or anything; I’m doing it for myself too.”

Zhou Xi was very open about it, but Han Shutong didn’t believe her.

Otherwise, why would Zhou Xi even go to the audition?

And Han Shutong asked that very question.

Zhou Xi was stunned for a moment, then scratched her head sheepishly. “Actually, I was just dropping something off for the counselor when he pulled me in to audition. And well… I accidentally got selected.”

Memories flooded back. Han Shutong still remembered Zhou Xi’s expression at that time.

Luo Shuiqiu cleared her throat. “I certainly overreacted.”

Someone who could give up an opportunity for overnight fame would hardly cause trouble over a small variety show.

Luo Shuiqiu: “In that case, could you hand the phone to her? I’d like to say a few words.”

Han Shutong: “About what?”

Luo Shuiqiu actually heard a hint of ‘fierce protectiveness’ in Han Shutong’s tone. It must be a delusion, Luo Shuiqiu thought. She said, “Don’t worry, I’ve realized I judged her unfairly. I won’t say what I said earlier.”

Han Shutong stood up and walked to the kitchen. Looking at the person busy washing vegetables, she approached her. “She wants to talk to you.”

Hearing the voice, Zhou Xi immediately turned off the faucet. Just as she was reaching for a towel to dry her hands, Han Shutong held the phone to Zhou Xi’s ear and said, “I’ll hold it for you.”

One minute later, the call ended with a “bye-bye” from Zhou Xi.

Immediately afterward, Zhou Xi looked up, her eyes full of smiles. “I thought your manager would make me move out. I was even planning to look for an apartment after dinner while washing the vegetables just now. But she just explained that her reaction was so strong because she was out of the loop, and she even said…”

As Zhou Xi was talking, she realized the person in front of her was staring at her without blinking, lips pressed together, and a serious expression.

“What’s wrong?” Zhou Xi asked cautiously. Did I say something wrong?

Han Shutong stepped forward and embraced Zhou Xi. Amidst Zhou Xi’s surprise and confusion, she heard a low whisper.

“I’m sorry,” Han Shutong said.

Han Shutong was simply heartbroken.

She hadn’t expected Zhou Xi to be so sensitive, thinking she might be kicked out just because of Luo Shuiqiu’s initial questioning on the phone, yet she was beaming with joy over Luo Shuiqiu’s apology.

And yet…

“Huh?” Zhou Xi gently patted Han Shutong’s back, inexplicably starting to comfort her. “It’s okay, it’s okay. But… why the sudden apology?”

Han Shutong’s nostrils were filled with the clean scent of Zhou Xi’s shampoo. Although she used the same shampoo, the scent of Zhou Xi’s hair seemed sweeter than hers.

Hearing Zhou Xi’s question, Han Shutong didn’t answer. She slowly withdrew her arms from Zhou Xi and finally said, “It’s nothing. Do you need any help?”

“You don’t look like it’s nothing,” Zhou Xi said directly.

“Is it that obvious?” Seeing that changing the subject didn’t work, Han Shutong raised an eyebrow.

“Yes. I could tell from how tightly you hugged me just now,” Zhou Xi said half-jokingly.

Seeing the sincerity in Zhou Xi’s eyes, Han Shutong said, “Alright, I’ll tell you.”

Zhou Xi nodded, turning back to wash the vegetables. Against the rushing sound of the water, Zhou Xi said, “Go on, go on. If something’s bothering you, tell me so I can feel happy.”

Han Shutong said in a deep voice, “While talking to Sister Qiu just now, I thought again about the audition that day in our sophomore year—”

“Huh? You still remember that? I told you not to worry about it; I did it for myself, too.” Zhou Xi sighed, thinking, Why is this Han Shutong so burdened with worry? I thought I had made myself clear, but she’s remembered it until now.

“But…”

Han Shutong wanted to say more, but she was interrupted by water flicked at her by Zhou Xi’s finger.

“Come over and wash the vegetables.”

Zhou Xi regretted her past actions. Had she known Han Shutong was going to bring this up, she wouldn’t have let Han Shutong speak, even if it meant her death.

To Zhou Xi, it was a minor incident, but Han Shutong had held onto it for so long.

If you were to ask Zhou Xi if she regretted it? She didn’t.

Because if she had starred in that movie, it might have been shelved and still unreleased now.

Thinking about her luck, Zhou Xi silently shed two streams of tears.