I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 20

“Amazing,” Zhou Xi praised sincerely.

After the praise, Zhou Xi tapped the video, which played the scene of her acting with the male lead.

Zhou Xi watched and said, “I actually didn’t know how to show that feeling here—that… I don’t love him, but I’m sad because I once did. I just couldn’t find the right point. I originally wanted to reshoot the take, but the director said it was fine, so I didn’t get the chance.”

Zhou Xi’s tone carried regret in the last sentence.

Then, Zhou Xi asked, “Is it because I haven’t been in a relationship? That I don’t understand the true feeling of love and lack of love? So the character I play is based on my imaginative idea of love, leading to a lack of authenticity—”

Zhou Xi paused, then looked at Han Shutong with bright eyes. “Yes, it’s authenticity! That’s the feeling this scene is missing!”

Looking at Zhou Xi, whose demeanor was completely different from her usual placid self, Han Shutong’s eyes were full of smiles.

She’s still the same as before.

Han Shutong sighed with emotion.

Getting excited over a good script, feeling happy after nailing a role, feeling delighted after discovering a flaw in her acting…

Zhou Xi was a born great actress.

This was what their counselor had once told Han Shutong.

It was because of this statement that Han Shutong tried to find a way to keep Zhou Xi when she heard Zhou Xi wanted to retire from the industry last time.

A born great actress needs to wait for the right script.

Han Shutong selfishly wanted to witness an era that belonged to Zhou Xi.

While Han Shutong was recalling the past, the suddenly enlightened Zhou Xi turned to Han Shutong and said, “Thanks to you, you enlightened me right away.”

Han Shutong smiled faintly. “I didn’t say anything. You figured it out yourself.”

“Don’t be modest.” Zhou Xi took the notebook from Han Shutong. “Let me quickly write down this feeling, or I’ll forget it soon.”

While Zhou Xi was taking notes, Han Shutong poured two glasses of water and brought them over.

After taking a sip of water, she saw Zhou Xi look up at her, her eyes wide.

It looked like she had something to ask.

Han Shutong asked gently, “What is it?”

Zhou Xi smiled. “There are two more parts I can’t figure out…”

Five minutes later, Han Shutong provided another detailed analysis of a character Zhou Xi played, so precise it was as if Han Shutong had written the character’s backstory herself.

And when Zhou Xi asked about it, Han Shutong still gave the same answer as before.

Zhou Xi didn’t become suspicious because she was too focused on Han Shutong’s analysis and didn’t pay much attention to those details.

At seven in the evening, the two began to study the last scene.

It was from a Republican-era drama.

This time, Zhou Xi played the female lead’s best friend, one of the few roles Zhou Xi had played as a young woman.

The part Zhou Xi found questionable was not a flaw in her acting but a potential error in the script.

Her character was leaving to study abroad. The female lead was supposed to go along, but ultimately decided not to due to family reasons.

The crucial point was the farewell scene between the best friends.

The script stated that the best friend should leave reluctantly after saying her goodbyes, but when Zhou Xi performed it, she couldn’t take a single step after saying the line. Her intuition told her the character should have said something more to the female lead, but the script wrote nothing else.

Zhou Xi played the problematic part for Han Shutong and said, “This part feels a bit off.”

“Why?”

Zhou Xi shook her head. “I don’t know either. If I had to say, maybe the script told me so.”

Zhou Xi continued, “I asked the director, but he said I was overthinking it. By the time I wanted to ask the screenwriter, I had finished filming, and the screenwriter wasn’t on set, so I didn’t get the chance.”

“Do you want to ask?” Han Shutong said.

Meeting Zhou Xi’s confused eyes, Han Shutong shook her phone. “I have Sister Hao’s contact information.”

Sister Hao was the screenwriter for that show.

Zhou Xi really wanted to know, but… “Won’t that bother her?”

Han Shutong nodded. “Send a message on WeChat. It won’t bother her.”

With that, Han Shutong first sent a greeting message to Sister Hao. After the other party replied, she sent the question.

One minute later, Han Shutong looked at the content sent by the other party. She couldn’t help but admire Zhou Xi in her heart. She looked up at the person next to her, strongly suppressing the surge of emotion in her eyes.

Han Shutong’s voice was hoarse. “…You were right.”

The script really did have a problem.

At that moment, Han Shutong felt something in her heart beat more intensely.

How should she put it?

This was why her affection grew stronger after she started liking Zhou Xi: Intelligent and sensitive.

Han Shutong had met many people, all kinds, each different.

But none of them could compare to Zhou Xi.

Hearing Han Shutong’s words, Zhou Xi leaned closer to Han Shutong.

“What was the problem?” Zhou Xi only felt the plot was strange but couldn’t figure out what was wrong.

Han Shutong handed the phone to Zhou Xi. Zhou Xi looked at the message from Sister Hao.

Sister Hao: [You mean Zhou Xi thought that part was problematic? That child is truly insightful.]

Sister Hao: [I did change the script.]

Sister Hao: [The reason Zhou Xi didn’t want to leave is that she had immersed herself in the character, and the character Wu Ruan has a unique affection for the female lead. But because the director didn’t want to film that kind of relationship, I had to delete her final confession to the female lead. It’s possible the original line wasn’t fully corrected, which is why Zhou Xi felt something was missing.]

Sister Hao: [I just remembered, you said Zhou Xi asked. Are you with Zhou Xi?]

[…]

“Unique affection?” Zhou Xi looked at the content sent by Sister Hao, slightly surprised. “The teacher means Wu Ruan likes the female lead?”

Han Shutong nodded. “Mhm.”

“…No wonder.” Zhou Xi murmured, realizing something.

Han Shutong: “Mhm?”

Zhou Xi gave an awkward laugh. “I was actually too embarrassed to tell you, but during the filming of this drama, I always felt uneasy around the actress playing the female lead.”

Han Shutong was silent for a moment after hearing this. If she remembered correctly, the female lead of this drama was the other female celebrity in the variety show, Wu Yingran.

The other party debuted as part of a girl group and had recently transitioned into acting in TV dramas.

Zhou Xi said, “I didn’t know why back then. Now that I think about it, it was probably the character’s influence.”

Han Shutong immediately agreed. “Mhm. The reason Sister Qiu accepted this variety show for me was also because I hadn’t fully stepped out of my last role for a while.”

“To let you relax by recording a variety show?”

Han Shutong nodded.

“Did you feel relaxed?” Zhou Xi asked.

Han Shutong pursed her lips and said softly, “I’m very thankful.”

“Thankful?” Zhou Xi repeated. “Why do you say that?”

Han Shutong choked. She hadn’t expected Zhou Xi to press her, finding Zhou Xi quite talkative today.

After a second of hesitation, Han Shutong said, “…Because I really did relax.”

Without waiting for Zhou Xi’s reaction, Han Shutong—realizing she had just stated the obvious—got up and walked away from the table.

Seriously…

My language system is malfunctioning.

Zhou Xi put away her notebook and other items. Seeing Han Shutong sitting on the sofa doing who knows what, she casually asked, “I’m going out for a walk with Xiao Bai. Do you want to come?”

Han Shutong looked at Zhou Xi. “When did you… arrange that?”

Zhou Xi thought Han Shutong was upset that she was taking her assistant, so she explained, “When Xiao Mo ordered food for me, she said the night view in L City is beautiful and she wanted to take some pictures, but she didn’t dare go out alone, so she asked me to keep her company.”

“Mhm.” Han Shutong put down her water cup and said as she stood up, “Let’s go.”

The two went downstairs to get Bai Mo, and the three left the hotel together.

The night view wasn’t spectacular, but there was a river. The neon lights of the tall buildings on the opposite bank shimmered, their light reflecting on the river surface, making it look as though the light was emanating from the river itself, drawing people in.

Zhou Xi and Han Shutong walked on one side, mostly enjoying the pleasure of a stroll. Bai Mo, on the other hand, was excited, pulling Zhou Xi’s arm and asking her to take pictures so she could send them to her best friend.

After Zhou Xi took a few pictures for her, Bai Mo asked Zhou Xi, “Sister Zhou, let me take a few pictures of you too.”

Zhou Xi was about to refuse, but seeing Bai Mo already raising her phone, she couldn’t bring herself to say no and agreed.

Zhou Xi leaned on the railing with both hands, the toe of her left foot touching the ground, her eyes looking at the camera, clear and bright.

After taking several continuous shots, Bai Mo said, “Sister Zhou, try another pose.”

Zhou Xi maintained her original posture but turned her head to the side. At that moment, a gust of wind blew, causing a strand of hair that Zhou Xi had clipped behind her ear to fall out and brush against her cheek. Zhou Xi raised her hand to tuck it back behind her ear.

In that instant, Bai Mo quickly pressed the shutter multiple times.

“Sister Zhou, stunning!” Bai Mo hurriedly opened her photo album and held the photos up to Han Shutong. “Sister Tong, look! Aren’t they beautiful!”

Han Shutong looked at the person in the photos, a glimmer of light passing through her eyes.

She had been standing there watching the entire time, witnessing the whole process, but she was still amazed by the final results.

Seeing Han Shutong remain silent, Bai Mo had to take her phone to Zhou Xi. “Sister Zhou, take a look.”

Zhou Xi looked at them and told Bai Mo, “They’re very beautiful. Thank you.”

Encouraged, Bai Mo was now even more eager to take photos. Seeing Han Shutong looking at them from the corner of her eye, Bai Mo smiled slightly and asked Zhou Xi, “Sister Zhou, how about I take a picture of you and Sister Tong together?”

Hearing her name called, Han Shutong paused. She still didn’t speak but looked at Zhou Xi, silently asking for her opinion.

Zhou Xi hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, “Sure.”

Then Zhou Xi patted the railing beside her. “Shutong, stand here.”

Han Shutong hesitated, then walked to Zhou Xi’s side, but didn’t get too close. There was a fist’s distance between them.

Along this railing, they could see many people taking pictures. Among them were families and friends.

But most of them… were couples.

A gust of wind blew, gently hitting Han Shutong’s face, as if encouraging her.

Just as Han Shutong mustered the courage to move two centimeters closer, Bai Mo’s cheerful voice rang out.

“Done!”

Han Shutong’s body stiffened, and her foot subtly returned to its original position.

The pretense was completely natural.

On the way back to the hotel, Bai Mo created a group chat and sent all the photos she took of them that day so they could save them.

After saving the group photo to her album, Han Shutong swiped left and saw Zhou Xi’s solo pictures.

After hesitating, Han Shutong didn’t press save. Instead, she exited the photo and long-pressed it for a few seconds.

It’s easier to keep them in ‘Favorites’ than in the album.

Back at the hotel.

Zhou Xi had asked the hotel staff for a blanket during the day. After washing up, Zhou Xi was about to spread the blanket on the sofa but was stopped by Han Shutong.

Han Shutong said, “Many people sat on the sofa today. It’s dirty.”

Zhou Xi looked at the sofa, then at the blanket in her arms. “It’s fine. I—”

Before she could finish, Han Shutong interrupted, “The bed is wide. It’s not crowded for two people.”