I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 34

Han Shutong didn’t notice Zhou Xi’s abnormality; she was looking down and searching for the news about the accident.

The news article read:

[On the 7th, a traffic accident occurred in our city…

…

Besides the public’s unity in rushing to the scene immediately for rescue, we also saw a woman accompany the ambulance to the hospital. In the car, Lele successfully survived the danger. After learning that Lele’s parents were tragically killed and Lele was left alone, the woman covered all of Lele’s medical expenses and stayed to care for Lele at the hospital.

The truck driver who caused the accident is currently…]

Han Shutong spent five minutes reading the less than 600-word news report.

As her eyes scanned the content, Han Shutong’s mind drifted to the year the accident happened.

Just as Zhou Xi had said, she rarely stayed at school after that day. Not only that, but she also took several days off from classes.

She remembered asking Zhou Xi what she was doing when Zhou Xi returned to the dorm to pick up things, seeing Zhou Xi look unwell. Zhou Xi had only said she had family matters.

At the time, Han Shutong thought someone in Zhou Xi’s family had passed away. She offered her condolences and didn’t ask further.

She never expected…

Han Shutong put away her phone. Her gaze fell on the two figures, one large and one small, playing happily in the distance.

Sunlight streamed through the glass window and onto the classroom. Zhou Xi, afraid Lele would get sunburned, moved to stand in front of Lele, shielding her.

“Lele, did you miss your older sister?”

Lele looked up at Zhou Xi. “Miss… but older sister… hasn’t come to see Lele for a long time.”

Zhou Xi stroked Lele’s small head. Her curly hair was soft and springy, making Zhou Xi unable to resist rubbing it twice. Then, she said with a tone full of apology, “I’m sorry, older sister has been a bit busy with work recently.”

“No… no work.”

“How can older sister afford to raise Lele without working? What will we do if Lele gets skinny from hunger? Older sister promises Lele to definitely make time to come and spend time with you, okay?”

“Okay…” Lele said, standing up.

Zhou Xi thought Lele was going to get a toy, so she asked, “Which one does Lele want? Older sister will help you get it.”

To her surprise, Lele walked around behind Zhou Xi. Her two small hands were balled into fists, landing one after another on Zhou Xi’s back.

“Giving older sister… a back massage…”

Zhou Xi was warmed by Lele’s words. Although she loved Lele giving her a massage, Zhou Xi still said, “No need, you’ll be sunburned…”

Zhou Xi was about to say Lele would get sunburned, but she turned around and saw that the curtains had been pulled closed at some point, and Han Shutong, who had just been standing on the other side, was now standing behind her.

“Lele is very smart,” Han Shutong said when Zhou Xi looked over.

Hearing Han Shutong praise her, Lele repeated, “Lele… is smart.”

Zhou Xi smiled and turned, hugging Lele. She pinched little Lele’s cheek. “Lele is the smartest baby.”

After playing with Lele for another half hour, Zhou Xi took her to the classroom.

At the classroom door, Lele tugged on Zhou Xi’s shirt, looking up at her.

“Be a good girl, Lele. Older sister will come back to see you after work the day after tomorrow, okay?”

Lele’s watery eyes stared at Zhou Xi. Finally, with a cry in her voice, she said, “Okay… Lele… Lele will wait for older sister.”

Zhou Xi squatted down and kissed Lele’s face. “Good girl.”

Then Zhou Xi stood up, preparing to send Lele into the classroom.

But Lele quickly turned her small head to Han Shutong, opening her little arms. “Hug… hug…”

Han Shutong used the posture Zhou Xi had taught her earlier to lift Lele. Practice makes perfect. This time, Han Shutong didn’t hold her as stiffly as before and was much more relaxed.

“Mwah.”

Lele kissed Han Shutong’s cheek.

“Lele will also wait for older sister.”

Han Shutong froze, then also kissed Lele. “Good. Then your older sister and I will come together to see you.”

After Lele went back to class, Zhou Xi took Han Shutong to say hello to the director of the orphanage, then returned to the car.

After getting in the car, filming continued.

Once the car reached the city, Zhou Xi spoke. “I know a dessert shop that’s really good. Are you interested?”

“Good.”

Seeing Han Shutong agree, Zhou Xi told her the location and opened the navigation app, afraid Han Shutong wouldn’t know where it was.

Half an hour later, the car parked in front of a storefront.

As she opened the door, Zhou Xi told Han Shutong, “This place isn’t on the commercial street. Otherwise, we’d have to wait in line for a long time.”

It was a shop with pink decor. Hello Kitty stickers were on the door. Inside, there were Cardcaptor Sakura cards, and Pink Panther plushies were placed on the seats.

All kinds of pink cartoon characters were piled in the shop, making it warm and full of childlike innocence.

After going in and ordering two drinks, Zhou Xi and Han Shutong found a corner to sit in.

Once seated, Zhou Xi picked up her phone, which she hadn’t opened all morning, and clicked on Weibo.

She subconsciously tapped on the Weibo trending search, wanting to see what news was circulating today. The very first item on the trending list was:

#HanShutongTakesDrunkWomanHome#

Zhou Xi glanced at Han Shutong, then clicked on the trending search.

She found out that the drunk woman was her.

Zhou Xi: “?”

@TheStrongestGossipEater: Last night on the 16th, someone photographed Han Shutong having dinner with several people. After one person was picked up, Han Shutong took another woman into her car.

Comments:

@XiaoXiaoXiao: Isn’t this Zhou Xi?

@25: Marketing account, your news is outdated. Don’t you know Zhou Xi is Han Shutong’s roommate?

@Ming: A huge moment of speechlessness has occurred.

@MissWilliam: You scared me. I thought my relationship with Han Shutong was exposed.

Zhou Xi held her phone up in front of Han Shutong. “Did you see this?”

“Mhm.”

Zhou Xi was about to ask a question when Han Shutong signaled her to look at her phone. Zhou Xi looked down and saw a message from Han Shutong:

[The trending search was bought by the production crew. Don’t worry about it; it will drop soon.]

Zhou Xi: [I’m not worried. I just think the title…]

Zhou Xi: [Is very unfriendly to you.]

It was true.

Taking a drunk woman home could easily lead to misunderstandings.

Han Shutong: [It’s fine.]

Seeing Han Shutong say it was fine, Zhou Xi didn’t dwell on it.

However, in another peaceful corner of Weibo—the [Zhou Han CP Super Topic]—the discussion was once again lively because of this trending topic.