I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 30

Since Luo Shuiqiu was treating, Zhou Xi felt obligated to accept, both morally and logically.

Dinner was scheduled for six o’clock at a hot pot restaurant that had been open for many years.

Luo Shuiqiu and Han Shutong had dined there many times.

When Zhou Xi and the other two arrived, a waiter led them to the private room Luo Shuiqiu had reserved. Luo Shuiqiu hadn’t arrived yet, but she messaged Han Shutong that she would be there in about ten minutes and asked them to order first.

After they ordered, the waiter served tea, and Luo Shuiqiu arrived just in time.

“I’m sorry, there was a bit of traffic. Did you wait long?” Luo Shuiqiu directed the question at Zhou Xi, as Zhou Xi was the only one she wasn’t very familiar with. The other two wouldn’t mind waiting.

Zhou Xi looked at Luo Shuiqiu and said in a gentle voice, “Not long at all. We just finished ordering. You arrived at the perfect time.”

Luo Shuiqiu sat down next to Bai Mo, took off her coat, and said, “That’s good, that’s good.”

Then, Luo Shuiqiu glanced at the three of them and smiled. “Actually, this is just a normal dinner with no special intentions. I just felt it was inappropriate that I hadn’t treated Xiao Zhou to a meal since she signed with our company.”

Luo Shuiqiu’s gaze then settled on Zhou Xi. “Plus, the variety show premiered last night. I thought this dinner would, firstly, make up for the earlier lapse, and secondly, celebrate the show’s premiere and hope for good ratings.”

Although only five or six directors called to inquire about Zhou Xi’s situation today, it clearly indicated that Zhou Xi had entered the public eye and was being noticed.

After the show aired and Zhou Xi’s drama premiered later, Luo Shuiqiu believed Zhou Xi would have no shortage of opportunities, which, needless to say, would bring considerable benefit to the company.

Luo Shuiqiu had discussed this with Han Shutong, but Han Shutong had only replied with a faint “Mhm,” looking as nonchalant as if the outcome was to be expected.

Zhou Xi smiled and said, “Thank you, Boss.”

Luo Shuiqiu: “Why call me Boss? Just call me Sister Qiu, like Shutong.”

Zhou Xi hummed. “Sister Qiu.”

“Did you watch the show yesterday?”

Luo Shuiqiu wanted to know Zhou Xi’s reaction. She had watched the show herself yesterday, and now she wanted to discuss it with Zhou Xi.

Zhou Xi nodded. “I watched it with Shutong.”

“Really?” Luo Shuiqiu glanced at Han Shutong in surprise. Seeing Han Shutong remain silent and strategically take a sip of water, Luo Shuiqiu winked at Zhou Xi. “Only you could get her to watch it.”

“Why do you say that?”

Bai Mo interjected, “Sister Tong rarely watches variety shows.”

Seeing Zhou Xi’s confusion, Bai Mo explained, “It’s because variety shows sometimes edit the footage strangely for dramatic effect. Sometimes the humorous parts are patched together. It’s not realistic at all, just for the sake of the show’s effect.”

Zhou Xi looked at Han Shutong and smiled faintly. “Then Shutong is very accommodating to me.”

“She is, but there might be other reasons, too,” Luo Shuiqiu added.

Zhou Xi subconsciously looked at Han Shutong, only to see Han Shutong place a glass of water in front of Luo Shuiqiu.

Luo Shuiqiu knew Han Shutong was trying to shut her up, but she pretended not to understand Han Shutong’s intention. She said, “How did you know I was thirsty?”

Han Shutong said calmly, “If you’re thirsty, drink more.”

Luo Shuiqiu laughed and picked up the glass. After taking a sip of water, she lost the inclination to tease them further.

If the person involved wouldn’t confess, no amount of hinting or obvious gestures would be taken seriously; the other person would just assume she was joking.

Just then, the private room door was pushed open from the outside, and a waiter wheeled in a small cart.

Their ordered dishes had arrived.

As the waiter opened the door, a person walking past outside happened to glance inside and saw Zhou Xi sitting across from the door.

Yan Mengnuo stopped and leaned against the doorframe, her hand stopping the door from fully closing.

Zhou Xi quickly noticed the extra person at the door. When Zhou Xi looked up, her eyes met Yan Mengnuo’s.

Seeing Zhou Xi look over, Yan Mengnuo mouthed: “Zhou Zhou Darling.”

Han Shutong also noticed the person at the door. As she looked over, she clearly saw Yan Mengnuo’s lips form the words.

Han Shutong’s eyes flickered. She called out Luo Shuiqiu’s name.

After greeting Zhou Xi, Yan Mengnuo was about to leave—she had other matters to attend to. But as she turned, her peripheral vision suddenly caught a familiar profile. She wasn’t entirely sure until she heard the name Han Shutong called out.

Yan Mengnuo stopped dead in her tracks.

“Why are you calling me? Xiao Zhou, do you want to order anything else? You can tell the waiter…” Luo Shuiqiu was initially looking at Zhou Xi, but seeing Zhou Xi’s eyes fixed elsewhere, she followed Zhou Xi’s gaze.

She didn’t know until she looked—

Luo Shuiqiu immediately wiped the smile from her face. “Waiter, please make sure you close the door on your way out. It would be a shame if certain strange people interrupted our dinner.”

The waiter panicked, thinking some odd individuals had actually entered the restaurant. He quickly turned to look, and in his haste, he bowed and called out, “Boss.”

Yan Mengnuo asked, “Are all the dishes served?”

Waiter: “Yes, they are.”

The waiter’s gut feeling told her this was no longer a place for her to stay. She quickly apologized to the guests, wished them a good meal, and told Yan Mengnuo she was going to another private room.

“Mhm, go on and be busy,” Yan Mengnuo said, stepping aside.

Luo Shuiqiu in the room said, “Xiao Bai, close the door.”

Bai Mo acknowledged her, but just as she stood up from her chair, Yan Mengnuo had already walked into the private room.

Yan Mengnuo pulled out the empty chair next to Luo Shuiqiu and casually rested her arm on the back of the chair. Her eyes were fixed on Luo Shuiqiu, who wouldn’t even spare her a glance.

Yan Mengnuo chuckled and initiated the conversation. “Qiu Qiu Darling, I missed you so much, but why did I become a strange person?”

Zhou Xi was surprised by Yan Mengnuo’s form of address for Luo Shuiqiu, finding Yan Mengnuo’s habit of addressing people odd.

Luo Shuiqiu sneered. “Since when did you become the owner here?”

In fact, besides Luo Shuiqiu and Han Shutong frequently visiting this place, Yan Mengnuo was also part of their group. The three of them used to come here for meals together.

Yan Mengnuo said composedly, “Since we broke up.”

Bai Mo, who was raising her cup to drink water, was so shocked that her hand slipped, and the cup dropped onto the table with a loud clatter.

However, Yan Mengnuo and Luo Shuiqiu were unfazed. They continued their conversation as if they hadn’t heard anything.

Han Shutong glanced at Bai Mo, but since they were sitting across the table, she couldn’t help.

Zhou Xi could only pick up napkins to wipe the spilled water for Bai Mo.

Bai Mo looked at the conversation between Yan and Luo, then gestured for Zhou Xi to lean down.

Zhou Xi was confused but complied.

Bai Mo also bent down and whispered to Zhou Xi, “Sister Zhou, did you hear that just now?”

“Mhm.”

Bai Mo: “Then why aren’t you surprised? Did you know?”

“I knew.”

Bai Mo: “Then why didn’t I know?”

Zhou Xi: “Well, you know now.”

As the two were talking, they were completely unaware that the attention of the other three had shifted to them.

Yan Mengnuo looked at the two people whose heads were buried under the table, only their backs visible, and chuckled. “Zhou Zhou.”

Hearing her name, Zhou Xi poked her head out from under the table. Seeing everyone looking at her, she smiled slightly, pulling Bai Mo up with her. “I was helping Xiao Mo pick up something.”

Yan Mengnuo hummed and waved at Zhou Xi. “I have things to attend to, so I’ll leave now. I won’t interrupt your dinner.”

As she opened the door, Yan Mengnuo added, “Eat all you want, this meal is on me.”

With that, Yan Mengnuo left quickly, not giving anyone a chance to react.

The next second, Luo Shuiqiu turned to the three of them and asked irritably, “Does she think I don’t have money to treat you all?”

The three of them remained silent.

“Well, it’s nice that someone is paying,” Luo Shuiqiu said, pointing at the dishes on the table. “Is this enough food? Order more if it’s not.”

Han Shutong glanced at Luo Shuiqiu. “Eat first. We’ll order more afterward.”

Luo Shuiqiu: “Han Shutong! Why didn’t you speak up for me just now?! Look at how obnoxious she was!”

“She only asked you one question.”

And that question was one Luo Shuiqiu brought up herself.

Han Shutong couldn’t find a single angle to help Luo Shuiqiu.

Besides… Han Shutong felt that Luo Shuiqiu was quite happy to see Yan Mengnuo.

Luo Shuiqiu called for a case of beer. After downing three bottles herself, she started to feel drunk.

The drunk Luo Shuiqiu took a bite of a mushroom from the broth base and complained with a look of distaste. “Why does this taste like mushrooms? It’s terrible.”

Seeing this, Han Shutong knew Luo Shuiqiu was genuinely drunk. She asked, “Are you full? I’ll take you home.”

Luo Shuiqiu shook her head, pointing at the beer on the floor. “I haven’t finished the beer yet.”

Then, Luo Shuiqiu remembered that the other three hadn’t had any alcohol. She asked Bai Mo if she wanted some. Bai Mo declined. She asked Han Shutong. Han Shutong also declined.

Luo Shuiqiu’s gaze moved to Zhou Xi. “Xiao Zhou, you and I will drink.”

Han Shutong spoke first. “She can’t drink.”

Bai Mo quickly explained, “No, Boss, I really can’t drink. I took an antibiotic earlier. If I drink today, it will be the anniversary of my death.”

Luo Shuiqiu: “Why are you taking antibiotics when you’re having hot pot?”

Bai Mo said weakly, “The doctor made me take them…”

Luo Shuiqiu shifted her gaze to Han Shutong. “Why can’t Zhou Xi drink?”

Bai Mo was confused. “Boss, Sister Zhou is sitting right here. Why are you asking Sister Tong?”

Han Shutong pursed her lips, and finally said, “I’ll drink with you.”

“You’re the kindest to me.” Luo Shuiqiu said, opening a bottle and handing it to Han Shutong.¹

Just as Han Shutong was about to drink, Zhou Xi first tugged at Han Shutong’s sleeve, then moved her chair closer and whispered, “You’re taking Chinese medicine. You can’t drink.”

Saying this, Zhou Xi took the bottle. “I’ll drink instead. Your situation is much more serious than mine.”

Then Zhou Xi leaned closer to Han Shutong’s ear and whispered, “It’s the last day of your medicine. A little won’t hurt.”

Zhou Xi’s sudden closeness made Han Shutong’s heart tense up. Zhou Xi’s soft breath against her ear as she whispered tickled Han Shutong’s ear.

Han Shutong was momentarily speechless.

Given Luo Shuiqiu’s current state, if no one drank with her, she might literally flip the hot pot restaurant tables.

Out of sympathy, the only thing Zhou Xi could do was drink with Luo Shuiqiu.

Han Shutong tried to stop her, but Luo Shuiqiu saw Zhou Xi holding the bottle and said, “Zhou Xi, from now on, you are my friend, Luo Shuiqiu’s friend.”

Luo Shuiqiu stood up, extended the bottle toward Zhou Xi. “Come on, let’s clink bottles.”

Half an hour later.

Luo Shuiqiu was passed out on the table, muttering Yan Mengnuo’s name.

Zhou Xi, who had been drinking with her, was holding onto Han Shutong’s arm, rubbing her head against it.

Of the case of 12 bottles, Luo Shuiqiu drank 11 bottles, and Zhou Xi… drank one bottle.

Actually, it wasn’t even a full bottle, as Han Shutong had secretly poured some out of her cup when Zhou Xi wasn’t paying attention.

Han Shutong was surprised by Zhou Xi’s low tolerance for alcohol. She was completely tipsy after just half a bottle of beer.

Leaving the hot pot restaurant, Han Shutong helped Zhou Xi and Luo Shuiqiu stand on the roadside. Bai Mo had gone to the parking lot to get Luo Shuiqiu’s car.

Han Shutong supported one person with each arm. Zhou Xi was on the left, and Luo Shuiqiu was on the right.

The person on the left was quiet, nestled in Han Shutong’s embrace. The person on the right… if Han Shutong hadn’t been pulling on her collar, she would have wandered off somewhere.

Zhou Xi was very quiet when she drank, unlike Luo Shuiqiu, who was loud like a husky, constantly cursing Yan Mengnuo, drawing the attention of many onlookers.

Just as Han Shutong was about to lose her grip on Luo Shuiqiu, feeling like Luo Shuiqiu might drag her down, a car pulled up in front of them.

“Boss.” Bai Mo quickly got out of the car and helped stabilize Luo Shuiqiu. Then she looked at Han Shutong. “Sister Tong, I’m taking the boss now.”

Han Shutong’s right arm was freed. She slightly shook it and told Bai Mo, “Be careful on the road.”

After Bai Mo drove away, Han Shutong helped Zhou Xi walk toward her own car.

After taking two steps, a blonde, blue-eyed woman walked up to Han Shutong and said something in English. Seeing Han Shutong shake her head, the woman left with a look of regret.

Zhou Xi heard the woman’s words. Groggily, she pulled herself out of Han Shutong’s embrace, stood in front of Han Shutong, and asked confusedly, “Why did she think you’re a lesbian?”

Although the woman spoke English, Zhou Xi understood every word clearly.

The woman had asked Han Shutong: You’re the most beautiful person I’ve seen in China. I would really like to get to know you. Is there a chance we could be a couple?

Author’s Note:

Woman: I have lesbian radar. Would you like a copy?