I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 35

[Zhou Han CP Super Topic (58 Zhou Han Fans)

@FishFish: Look at what good thing I’ve found!

@LittleConch: I came from the hot search! Turns out I’m not the only one who finds these two shippable!

@HanShutong’sSweetCake: The autumn wind is bleak, so I invite two or three friends to eat hot pot to ward off the cold. No matter how drunk you get, I will hold your hand tightly. The breeze blows, and you and autumn arrive.

@ASparkle: Sisters, I don’t know if you noticed, but drunk Xixi looks so soft, and Sister Tong is hugging her so tight.

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: Zhou… and Han Shutong??? Why are they a CP?

SweetCake replied to Strawberry: Super Topic rules forbid using full names, oh. As for why they’re a CP, we just find the way they interact shippable; there’s no other meaning.

Strawberry replied to SweetCake: Oh, okay! I was just too surprised; no offense! After seeing what everyone posted, I also feel… they’re very shippable.

@Anniversary: The last second! Didn’t Han touch Xixi’s face?

Reply to Anniversary: Sister, did you install a microscope in your eyes?!

Reply to Anniversary: I re-watched it. She definitely touched her face!

Reply to Anniversary: Not only that, but Xixi rubbed against Han’s arm several times, like a cat.

@—: I’m so excited for the next episode!!

…]

This trending search, besides the bewildered general public, was also clicked on by their CP fans.

While the CP fans were wildly shipping them, the two people involved knew nothing about it.

After leaving the dessert shop, the two drove home, stopping for dinner on the way, and finally arrived home at six in the evening.

Thanks to Zhou Xi’s initiative this morning, the events of last night were as if they had never happened. Furthermore, the day’s time spent together had subtly brought the two closer.

For Zhou Xi, Han Shutong hadn’t commented on Zhou Xi’s actions over the years, which Zhou Xi saw as Han Shutong’s respect for her.

Because Zhou Xi was just doing something within her capability; she didn’t need praise or judgment.

From Han Shutong’s perspective, this simply added another layer to her affection.

A significant, yet secondary, reason to like Zhou Xi.

And this reason made Han Shutong feel proud.

Yes, proud.

Few people make their crush feel a sense of pride.

But Zhou Xi could.

As the two changed into slippers, Han Shutong asked Zhou Xi, “Are you going to read the script now?”

During dinner, Zhou Xi had received the script from the director who filmed the advertisement, so Zhou Xi needed to familiarize herself with it.

“Yes,” Zhou Xi nodded, then walked toward the bedroom. “I’ll go to my room now.”

Familiarizing herself with the script required a relatively quiet environment.

Han Shutong hummed. Watching Zhou Xi enter the bedroom, she also returned to her own room.

Once in her room, Zhou Xi initially planned to read the script, but she realized she should change clothes before getting into bed. While changing, she thought she should take a shower.

An hour passed. Zhou Xi finally opened her chat history, scrolling through the script the director had sent.

The director sent one script but asked Zhou Xi to read for two different roles, which meant two roles hadn’t been cast yet, and the director was deciding which one she was more suitable for.

Zhou Xi lay prone on the bed, a notebook by her side. When she was ready to read the script, she planned to write character analyses to determine which role she was more suited for.

While Zhou Xi was busy analyzing the characters, Han Shutong next door, after washing up and applying a face mask, sat on the sofa at the foot of her bed. She was holding a tablet, her slender fingers tapping on the screen.

Han Shutong was editing a video.

And the content being edited… was Zhou Xi’s more captivating moments from the first episode of the show.

It took Han Shutong half an hour to finish editing the video.

In that same half hour, Zhou Xi hadn’t even finished reading the first character. She was stuck on a certain stage of the character’s development, unable to figure out why the character would act that way.

If she couldn’t figure it out, she’d put it aside for now.

Zhou Xi got up and left the bedroom, taking an ice cream from the refrigerator.

After a thought, Zhou Xi took out another one and walked toward Han Shutong’s bedroom.

But as she walked past the coffee table, her peripheral vision caught sight of the vase standing there.

The roses in the vase were blooming vibrantly, showing no signs of wilting.

Zhou Xi stopped, bent over the roses, and took a gentle sniff, catching a subtle fragrance.

As the scent lingered, Zhou Xi suddenly understood why the character would make a choice that others didn’t understand.

More accurately, it wasn’t a choice; she had no choice but to be manipulated.

Just like the roses in the florist, once bought, whether they were thrown in the trash, placed in a vase, or dried to make potpourri, was not up to the flower.

Having figured it out, Zhou Xi took the ice cream, intending to give one to Han Shutong, then return to her room to continue her analysis.

As she got closer to Han Shutong’s door, she could hear a light, cheerful melody coming from the room.

It was lovely.

The moment Zhou Xi tapped on the door, the music abruptly stopped.

Zhou Xi retracted the hand that knocked. Without waiting for the person inside to ask, she spoke up. “Shutong, I brought you ice cream.”

The door opened. Han Shutong looked at the person in front of her. After taking the ice cream Zhou Xi handed her, Han Shutong asked, “How’s the script analysis going?”

“Pretty good,” Zhou Xi nodded and asked, “What were you listening to just now? It sounded nice.”

Han Shutong pursed her lips. “Watching short videos.”

Zhou Xi nodded. Not wanting to disturb Han Shutong further, she said she was going back to her room and turned to leave.

Han Shutong stood by the door. The cold emanating from the ice cream chilled her hand.

Han Shutong didn’t eat ice cream, but since Zhou Xi gave it to her, it was an exception.

Just as Han Shutong opened the lid and was about to take a bite, Zhou Xi quickly walked up to Han Shutong from the next room.

“Sorry, I forgot you can’t have cold things because you’re taking medicine.” Zhou Xi reached out to Han Shutong, signaling for her to hand over the ice cream.

Han Shutong had also forgotten, but she didn’t hand the item to Zhou Xi. Instead, she said, “A little bit is fine.”

“That’s true,” Zhou Xi said with a smile. “Except you’ll probably have period cramps like before the next time you get your period.”

Han Shutong: “…”

Taking the ice cream Han Shutong handed back, Zhou Xi asked, “Are you almost done with your medicine? Let’s go back to Uncle Wu’s place after you finish it.”

Han Shutong noted Zhou Xi’s use of language. Her eyebrows lifted slightly, and she nodded in agreement.

After putting the ice cream back in the refrigerator, Zhou Xi turned and took an apple from the fruit bowl on the coffee table and gave it to Han Shutong.

“Eating this is fine.”

At 11 p.m., Zhou Xi finally finished reading the entire script and was ready for bed.

Just then, a notification popped up on her phone screen.

[@SimpleLove, whom you follow, has posted a new video…]

Zhou Xi remembered this was the creator who edited her video. Without hesitation, Zhou Xi tapped on the notification.

[A Day’s Time – Zhou Xi Cut]

Zhou Xi saw the title, and a look of tenderness flashed in her eyes.

Zhou Xi had previously wondered why the creator @SimpleLove only had two videos on their page. Now, seeing this, she realized it was because she had so few works available.

Zhou Xi first liked the video, and then clicked play.

Five seconds into the music, Zhou Xi found it familiar. She paused the video but couldn’t recall where she had heard it. She resumed playback, and when the music reached its climax, Zhou Xi remembered why it sounded familiar.

Wasn’t this the light music she had heard outside Han Shutong’s door just now?

However, Zhou Xi simply dismissed it as a coincidence, assuming the music was a currently popular background track.

At the same time, Han Shutong saw the notification that Zhou Xi had liked her post. She smiled quietly to herself.

Then, she received a new message notification.

Han Shutong exited the like notification and instinctively tapped on the new message box.

[Sister! I searched for Zhouzhou’s name on Bilibili and saw your video! I watched all three! They’re great! You’re so talented! Are you a fan of Zhouzhou?!]

Han Shutong hadn’t planned to reply, but she glanced at the sender’s ID: @HanShutong’sSweetCake.

It was her own fan.

Han Shutong tapped on the keyboard:

@SimpleLove: Mhm.

@HanShutong’sSweetCake: Then, sister, do you follow Han Shutong?

Han Shutong frowned slightly. She was just talking about Zhou Xi. Why is she talking about me now?

Han Shutong initially didn’t intend to reply. Just as she was about to exit the interface, she saw the sender’s ID again.

@SimpleLove: Mhm.

@HanShutong’sSweetCake: That’s great! Well, sister, I was hoping to learn Bilibili editing because my own finished videos are terrible. I saw your edits and had a crazy idea.

@HanShutong’sSweetCake: I want to hire you to edit a video for me. You can set the price. Would that be possible?

[I don’t take commissions.]

Han Shutong had typed the content into the message box and was about to send it when she saw a new message from the other party.

@HanShutong’sSweetCake: The video I want is related to Zhou, a Zhou Han CP video. Are you interested in editing that, sister?

?

The question mark clearly jumped out at her.

Han Shutong paused, deleted the content in the dialogue box, and typed again.

@SimpleLove: Zhou Han CP?

@HanShutong’sSweetCake: Yes! We even have a Super Topic! You should check it out if you’re interested, sister.

Han Shutong silently exited Bilibili and searched for the Super Topic name on Weibo.

The content posted in the Super Topic during the daytime trending search was now all visible to Han Shutong.

Five minutes later.

@HanShutong’sSweetCake: Sister, did you see it? What do you think? Are you interested in editing the video?

Han Shutong lowered her gaze.

@SimpleLove: I apologize, but unless Teacher Zhou personally agrees, I will not edit CP videos involving her and anyone else.

This was a sign of respect for Zhou Xi, and also… her self-respect.

@HanShutong’sSweetCake: That’s a shame.

@HanShutong’sSweetCake: But I can tell, sister, you really like Zhou /thumbs up

Han Shutong didn’t reply this time.

But a while later, she received a new message from SweetCake.

@HanShutong’sSweetCake: [Video]

@HanShutong’sSweetCake: Could you guide me, sister? Help me review this and tell me how I can improve it. My editing is terrible, and I’m afraid of embarrassing myself if the real person sees it later.

SweetCake didn’t know that she was currently being judged by the person herself.

Han Shutong tactfully refused SweetCake’s request, recommending a few video editors and books that she had used to learn editing. She was about to exit the interface, but after hesitating for a few seconds, she clicked on the video.

That night, besides SweetCake, who was fighting to learn video editing, Han Shutong was also awake.

She really wanted to know why this seemingly ordinary video contained a bedroom scene.

Glancing at the camera, which she had obscured when taking a shower, Han Shutong confirmed that her actions were not being recorded. She rolled over, ready to sleep.

And then…

…she got up and walked into the bathroom.

The next morning, Zhou Xi looked at the dark circles under Han Shutong’s eyes and asked, “Did you not sleep well last night?”

“Mhm.”

Han Shutong replied faintly, completely avoiding the reason why she hadn’t slept well.