I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 33

Zhou Xi looked at Han Shutong. “Let’s go. I’ll take you to see where the children have their classes.”

Only children under seven had classes at the facility. Those seven and older attended a primary school very close by.

“Okay.”

Since arriving here, many questions had formed in Han Shutong’s mind for Zhou Xi. She wanted to know why Zhou Xi came here, why she was so familiar with the place, why…

But Han Shutong didn’t speak. She walked quietly beside Zhou Xi.

Her intuition told Han Shutong that the answers to her questions would likely cause Zhou Xi pain.

Walking south from the small warehouse, they saw a three-story building. Classrooms and dormitories were on the first and second floors. The third floor housed the staff offices and lounge.

After a brief introduction, Zhou Xi led Han Shutong outside a classroom on the east side of the first floor. Looking through the glass window, they saw over ten children, aged four or five, sitting on a cartoon foam mat, busy playing with origami.

Zhou Xi whispered an explanation. “This is the practical class, which develops the children’s thinking and hands-on abilities.”

Just then, the teacher inside the classroom spotted the two heads by the window. She initially thought older students were returning from school, but upon closer inspection, she saw Zhou Xi and an unfamiliar woman. Just as she was about to greet Zhou Xi, Zhou Xi stopped her.

Zhou Xi used sign language: “Continue the class first. I’ll come in after the bell.”

“The institution used to have deaf-mute children,” Zhou Xi explained after signaling. Knowing Han Shutong would be curious about her sign language skills, Zhou Xi answered softly before Han Shutong could ask, “Teacher Yang used to teach the children sign language. I learned it from her.”

Zhou Xi did not look at Han Shutong as she spoke. Her gaze was fixed on the children in the classroom. Being so focused, she failed to notice that the eyes of the person next to her gradually deepened, becoming intense and ardent.

Han Shutong looked at Zhou Xi’s profile. Hearing Zhou Xi’s words, her heart was instantly filled with admiration. She knew Zhou Xi was outstanding, but she hadn’t expected the real Zhou Xi to be even more exceptional than the one in her mind.

With less than twenty minutes left before class ended, Zhou Xi was about to find a place to sit and wait with Han Shutong. But just as she turned around, a child inside discovered Zhou Xi’s presence.

It was a five-year-old boy. The moment he saw Zhou Xi, he stood up and shouted, “Sister Zhou!”

Following the little boy’s cry, all the children in the room looked toward the glass window. They all stood up, running toward the door and shouting:

“Sister Zhou!”

“Sister… Zhou…”

More than ten children shouting and running toward the classroom door simultaneously made the scene immediately chaotic.

Teacher Yang, standing at the podium, smiled. “Quiet down, everyone. I’ll let Sister Zhou come in.”

The children stopped in place but continued to call out “Sister Zhou.”

Zhou Xi glanced at Han Shutong and smiled. “Let’s go in.”

As Teacher Yang pulled the door open, Zhou Xi and Han Shutong reached the entrance. The children instantly swarmed them.

“Slowly, everyone, slowly.”

Zhou Xi picked up the little boy who was the first to run to her and the first to spot her. Bouncing him slightly, she said, “Little Corn has such good eyes. You found Sister even though I was hiding so well. That’s amazing.”

Zhou Xi then turned to the other children. “The first person to sit nicely on the mat will get a reward from Sister.”

As soon as Zhou Xi spoke, the children immediately ran toward the carpet. The little boy in her arms quickly said, “Sister Zhou, please put me down.”

Han Shutong, who had been quietly watching Zhou Xi interact with the children, suddenly felt a tug on her jacket corner. Looking down, she saw a little girl.

She had curly hair and big, bright eyes, blinking like a doll.

Seeing Han Shutong look at her, the little girl let go of Han Shutong’s jacket, held out her arms, and said, “Sister… hug.”

Han Shutong was momentarily stunned. She bent down, wrapping her arms around the little girl’s waist. Just as she was about to lift her, Zhou Xi’s voice came over. “Putting your hands under the armpits makes it easier to lift.”

Han Shutong followed Zhou Xi’s advice and adjusted her grip, then slowly lifted the little girl into her arms.

The little girl’s body was very soft. Han Shutong tensed her muscles, deeply afraid the child would slip from her arms.

Zhou Xi saw this and her eyes held a smile. “Don’t be nervous. Relax. It’s fine.”

Zhou Xi then stroked the little girl’s head. She said softly, “Lele likes the pretty Sister, doesn’t she?”

The little girl’s name was Lele.

Lele heard Zhou Xi’s voice. She held out her arms toward Zhou Xi. “Hug…”

Zhou Xi took Lele from Han Shutong’s arms. She whispered to Lele, coaxing her. “Sister is going to talk to the other children. I’ll come back and hug you later, okay?”

“Okay,” Lele was very obedient.

Zhou Xi placed Lele back in Han Shutong’s arms, stroked Lele’s curly hair, and kissed her little cheek. “Lele is so good.”

Han Shutong held Lele tightly. Afraid Lele would fall, she hugged her close, which meant Lele was very near her. As Zhou Xi leaned in to kiss Lele, Zhou Xi’s face magnified in Han Shutong’s view. As she drew near, their breaths mingled, almost as if… Zhou Xi was kissing her.

Watching Zhou Xi’s lips leave Lele’s face, Han Shutong nervously looked away, avoiding eye contact with Zhou Xi.

After kissing Lele, Zhou Xi went to play with the other children by the mat. Han Shutong, holding Lele, stood by the wall and chatted with Teacher Yang.

Teacher Yang found Han Shutong familiar. She thought for a moment and asked, “You’re… Han Shutong, right?”

Han Shutong nodded. “Mhm.”

Teacher Yang: “I don’t watch much TV, so it didn’t click immediately. Please don’t take offense.”

“Not at all.”

Han Shutong said little. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to talk, but with a child as soft as cotton in her arms, all her attention was focused on Lele, leaving her unable to focus on anything else.

“It seems you and Xiao Zhou have a very good relationship. This is the first time she’s brought anyone to the institution.”

“We are…” Han Shutong paused. “Friends.”

“I can tell,” Teacher Yang said, adding with a smile, “After all, even Lele really likes you.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Xiao Zhou brought Lele here. Lele has been closest to Xiao Zhou since the beginning, and she rarely lets strangers hold her. It’s very unusual for her to ask you for a hug the first time she meets you.”

Zhou Xi brought Lele… here?

Han Shutong frowned slightly. Just as she was about to ask why, a bell rang.

The dismissal bell had already rung. This was the class bell.

Zhou Xi walked over to Teacher Yang. “I won’t interrupt your class anymore. Can I take Lele out to play?”

“Go ahead,” Teacher Yang said.

After saying goodbye to the other children, Zhou Xi and Han Shutong walked out of the classroom with Lele.

After walking a few steps, Zhou Xi took Lele back into her arms and kissed her face twice. “Lele, Sister missed you so much.”

“Lele missed… older sister too.”

Lele’s words were still slightly broken, sounding soft and sweet, and extremely cute.

“Then give older sister a kiss.” Zhou Xi moved her face toward Lele.

Lele hugged both sides of Zhou Xi’s head and obediently kissed Zhou Xi’s face twice, making a noticeable smacking sound.

It made Zhou Xi laugh.

Seeing the scene, Han Shutong said, “Cute.”

The large and the small one were both cute.

Zhou Xi turned to Han Shutong, stopping their walk. She asked Lele, “Do you want to kiss this Sister?”

Lele also looked at Han Shutong. She opened her mouth. “Kiss… kiss…”

Han Shutong met Zhou Xi’s eyes. She heard Zhou Xi say, “Lean over a little, give her a kiss.”

Han Shutong was stunned for a few seconds, then slowly leaned toward Zhou Xi.

As Han Shutong closed her eyes, a soft lip pressed against her face. With a smack, the spot was damp.

Before Han Shutong could open her eyes, she heard Zhou Xi’s voice, full of laughter. “Oh dear, does Lele have drool on her mouth?”

Han Shutong opened her eyes this time. Just as she was about to say that wiping it off was fine, she saw Zhou Xi reaching out. Before she could react, Zhou Xi was already wiping the kissed area with her finger.

As she wiped, Zhou Xi said apologetically, “It’s not drool. Lele just licked her lips a moment ago.”

Zhou Xi still remembered Han Shutong’s cleanliness obsession.

But Zhou Xi was completely unaware that Han Shutong had forgotten all about cleanliness. This is what she was thinking:

Zhou Xi… is touching my face.

Well, not touching.

Zhou Xi… is wiping my face.

With this realization, Han Shutong chuckled and said, “It’s no trouble.”

Zhou Xi withdrew her hand just as Han Shutong finished speaking. “It’s all wiped away.”

Zhou Xi carried Lele and walked toward a room. “Let’s go play in the toy room for a while.”

Watching Zhou Xi’s back, Han Shutong followed her.

In the toy room, Zhou Xi played with Lele, while Han Shutong quietly watched from the side.

After five minutes, Zhou Xi walked up to Han Shutong.

The moment Zhou Xi approached, Han Shutong said, “Can you tell me the secret now?”

“How should I put this? I’m a… volunteer here,” Zhou Xi said, crossing her arms. Her eyes were fixed on Lele, who was playing, and her voice was soft. “Lele is the reason I became connected with this place.”

Zhou Xi became lost in her memory. She turned to look at Han Shutong and asked, “Do you remember the day you auditioned for Deer Cry? I told you I had something to do. I was actually going to the hospital to see Lele, but when I went to ask the academic advisor for leave, I was dragged to the audition instead.”

“The hospital?”

“Mhm.”

Zhou Xi nodded. She took a deep breath and recounted what had happened.

Half a month before the casting call for Deer Cry, Zhou Xi, who was preparing to return to school, happened to witness a car accident. A large truck lost control and crashed into a small car. The small car was instantly mangled.

Zhou Xi, standing a few meters away, immediately called the police. She then ran with the crowd to the car to help with the rescue. Although the rescue was timely, unfortunately…

The elderly person in the car died instantly, but Lele, who was protected in the elder’s arms, still had faint signs of life.

Zhou Xi followed the ambulance to the hospital and waited outside the emergency room until the police arrived to handle the accident. At that moment, the emergency room light dimmed.

The doctor delivered good news: Lele’s life was saved. She only needed a few days of hospitalization to fully recover.

The police brought bad news: Lele’s parents were only children, and her grandparents had passed away. With no immediate or extended family, Lele became an orphan and would eventually be sent to the orphanage.

Han Shutong knew about this incident.

Since it happened in the city, the local newspapers and the internet reported the story. The text mentioned the crowd, the doctors, the police, Lele, and specifically mentioned ‘a female college student.’ But since it was a long time ago, Han Shutong couldn’t recall exactly what the newspaper said.

Zhou Xi recounted the story calmly, but her slightly trembling shoulders told Han Shutong that her composure was an act.

Han Shutong placed her hand on Zhou Xi’s shoulder, offering gentle comfort.

Zhou Xi quietly said, “I’m fine,” then continued, “Since Lele was placed in the orphanage, I couldn’t stop worrying about her, so I came to the institution and became a volunteer here. That’s why I rarely stayed in the dorm during college; I lived here instead.”

Zhou Xi smiled faintly. “It was also during that time that Zuo Yuan falsely accused me of being a kept woman.”

Zhou Xi’s smile was like a needle, causing a dull ache in Han Shutong’s heart.

Han Shutong pursed her lips. The distress in her voice was unconcealable. “Why didn’t you tell anyone?”

Why did she shoulder it all alone?

“Tell anyone?” Zhou Xi gave a bitter laugh. “I did tell someone, but I was reprimanded by that person. I was so angry that I never told anyone else.”

Over the years, after deducting living expenses and miscellaneous costs, Zhou Xi had donated all the money she earned to the orphanage, using her meager salary to support Lele.

Even the tens of thousands of dollars she had in her bank account earlier were donated. She was now a poor person without a cent to her name again.

“You have me now.”

A single sentence, light as a feather, drifted into Zhou Xi’s ear.

Zhou Xi’s breath hitched. She looked over and saw Han Shutong gazing at Lele, who was playing with a doll in the distance.

Her look was gentle and full of love.

As if sensing Zhou Xi was looking at her, Han Shutong turned her head.

Their eyes met. The sentence echoed in Zhou Xi’s ears again.

“You have me now.”

It sounded like a formality, but also like… a promise.

Zhou Xi looked away, ending the eye contact with Han Shutong.

She was reading too much into it.

How could Han Shutong be merely speaking a formality?

“I’m going to play with Lele.”

Zhou Xi tossed the statement out and turned to walk toward Lele.

As she took a step, for some unknown reason, Zhou Xi stumbled slightly.

It was only a brief stagger, and she quickly recovered her composure.