I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 39

Zhou Xi hung up the phone, leaned her head to the side, and asked the person next to her, “Lele is going to sleep with older sister tonight, are you happy?”

Lele nodded vigorously, her small head rolling around in Zhou Xi’s arms. “Happy!”

The two played on the sofa for a while.

Zhou Xi rubbed the little curly head in her arms. “Should we take a bath and go to sleep now?”

Lele retreated from Zhou Xi’s arms, shaking her head. “Lele won’t bathe, Lele won’t bathe.”

“You won’t smell nice if you don’t bathe,” Zhou Xi sniffed Lele. “Lele is going to stink soon.”

The typical nature of a little girl showed up immediately. Hearing she would stink, Lele instantly changed her mind. “Lele wants to bathe~”

Zhou Xi laughed, moving her hand away from Lele’s head. “Older sister will get your towel. You play here by yourself for a bit.”

“Okay~”

Zhou Xi got up and walked toward the bedroom. Just then, Han Shutong, who had finished washing the dishes, walked out of the kitchen. Seeing only Lele on the sofa, she walked over.

When Zhou Xi came out in her bathrobe, holding the towel she had prepared for Lele, she saw Lele sitting on Han Shutong’s lap, the two of them watching television.

Zhou Xi walked over with a smile and said to the little one in Han Shutong’s arms, “Let’s go, let’s go bathe first, and then we can watch TV after.”

Saying this, Zhou Xi reached out to hug Lele, but Lele dodged her just as her hand was about to touch Lele’s arm.

Lele flipped around, straddling Han Shutong’s lap. She wrapped her hands around Han Shutong’s neck and said, “Lele… wants to bathe with Older Sister Tong.”

Zhou Xi made a sound of surprise and turned to Han Shutong. “How about… you take Lele for a bath?”

“I have never bathed a child.” Han Shutong’s voice was steady, but it concealed a hint of panic.

Hearing this, Zhou Xi looked at Lele, intending to discuss it with her again.

Meanwhile, Han Shutong was also about to say she could try.

But before either of them could speak, Lele preempted them. “Lele wants to bathe with Older Sister Xi too.”

“Together?”

Zhou Xi and Han Shutong looked at each other simultaneously. Meeting Han Shutong’s eyes, Zhou Xi couldn’t help but think of what happened on the first day she moved in. Although a long time ago, Zhou Xi still felt awkward.

Lele nodded. “Mhm!”

Zhou Xi’s ears turned red. She quickly hugged Lele. “We can’t do that, sweetie. Older Sister Tong is an adult, and I’m also an adult, so I can’t bathe with Older Sister Tong. We’d be shy.”

Lele thought about it, then drew two fingers across her face, muttering, “Shy… shy.”

“Exactly. So how about Older Sister Xi bathes you alone?”

Lele nodded obediently.

Seeing this, Zhou Xi looked down at Han Shutong and said, “Then I’ll take Lele for a bath now.”

Han Shutong: “Mhm.”

As Zhou Xi turned away, she didn’t see the smile that flashed in Han Shutong’s eyes.

Bathing a child was quite simple. Zhou Xi only took fifteen minutes to come out of the bathroom with Lele.

Seeing Han Shutong still sitting on the sofa, she walked over with Lele. “Shutong, can you watch Lele for me? I need to take a shower.”

While bathing Lele, Zhou Xi accidentally wet her own hair. Some water ran down her hair into her clothes, making Zhou Xi uncomfortable. She wanted to clean up quickly.

Han Shutong took Lele and nodded.

Half an hour later, Zhou Xi walked out of the bathroom. She noticed that the two people were gone from the living room, but she heard children’s giggles coming from Han Shutong’s bedroom.

The bedroom door wasn’t closed. Zhou Xi walked to the doorway and saw Lele jumping happily on Han Shutong’s bed, clutching a toy.

Han Shutong had changed Lele’s clothes. Lele was now wearing the new pajamas they had bought today. Because they had planned to take Lele back to the orphanage tonight, Zhou Xi had washed and dried the clothes immediately upon returning home.

Of course, besides Lele’s, both she and Han Shutong also had a matching set.

Lele had suggested they buy them.

It wasn’t exactly a suggestion. After Zhou Xi bought clothes for her, Lele tugged at the adult sizes nearby and wouldn’t let go.

In the end, Han Shutong picked out a set for both of them.

Zhou Xi paid for Lele’s set, and Han Shutong paid for hers and Zhou Xi’s.

Thinking of this, Zhou Xi remembered she hadn’t transferred the money to Han Shutong yet.

Without disturbing the two playing in the bedroom, Zhou Xi returned to her room, picked up her phone, and transferred the money to Han Shutong.

While changing into her pajamas, she glanced at the clothes in her closet that matched Lele’s.

Zhou Xi had washed both her and Han Shutong’s clothes along with Lele’s. They were ready to wear now.

After a thought, Zhou Xi took the set out of the closet.

She then checked the time. It was time for bed.

Zhou Xi changed into the pajamas, preparing to go to Han Shutong’s room to bring Lele back.

Zhou Xi didn’t notice that the door, which had been open earlier, was now closed. She pushed the door open and saw Han Shutong changing her clothes.

Fortunately, the shirt was already pulled down to her waist. She didn’t see anything she shouldn’t have…

Except for the purple lace underwear on her lower body.

As the shirt dropped, the flash of purple disappeared.

Han Shutong turned to face Zhou Xi, and upon seeing the clothes Zhou Xi was wearing, her eyes deepened, but she quickly returned to normal.

Han Shutong said calmly, “Lele made me change.”

Han Shutong was wearing the matching pajamas bought at the amusement park, the same as Zhou Xi’s.

Zhou Xi snapped out of her contemplation of the color purple. She cleared her throat. “Mhm. I also saw you change Lele into this, so I thought I’d change into it too.”

After speaking, Zhou Xi looked at Lele, who was sitting on the bed. She walked over. “Lele, time to go to bed with older sister.”

Zhou Xi had only taken two steps when Lele backed off the bed herself. Zhou Xi thought Lele was coming to her and stood still, but to her surprise, Lele quickly ran to Han Shutong’s side, hugging Han Shutong’s leg. She looked up and called out, “Older Sister Tong.”

After calling her name, Lele took Han Shutong’s hand, which was resting by her side.

“What is it?”

Lele didn’t speak. Instead, she pulled Han Shutong toward Zhou Xi. Lele’s legs were short, so she walked slowly. Han Shutong gently walked beside her.

When the two reached Zhou Xi, Lele reached out and took Zhou Xi’s hand. Holding one hand of each person, she looked up at them both and said, “Lele… wants Older Sister Xi and Older Sister Tong to sleep with Lele.”

Zhou Xi froze.

Han Shutong sleeping in the same room as her yesterday was circumstantial. Han Shutong might not want to sleep with her tonight.

A child’s wish didn’t necessarily have to be fulfilled.

Just as Zhou Xi picked up Lele, preparing to refuse, she heard the person next to her quietly ask, “My room or your room?”

And so, Han Shutong slept in Zhou Xi’s bed again, but unlike last night, the pillow separating them was replaced by Lele.

The rain outside continued without stopping, but fortunately, the thunder was much quieter today, not sounding so terrifying.

Only the bedside lamp was on in the room. The warm yellow light made the room feel cozy and romantic.

The three lay in bed. From Lele’s perspective, Zhou Xi was on the right, and Han Shutong was on the left.

“Older Sister Xi,” Lele called.

Zhou Xi was patting Lele’s back, gently humming a song to soothe her. Hearing Lele call her, Zhou Xi stopped humming, but her patting didn’t stop.

“What is it?”

Lele: “Lele wants a story.”

“Okay, older sister will tell you one.”

Zhou Xi thought for a few seconds, looked at Lele’s face, and said softly, “Once upon a time, there was a goose, and it laid…”

Five minutes later, the story was finished. Besides the storyteller, everyone who was listening was asleep.

Including… Han Shutong.

Zhou Xi tucked Lele in. Since the bedside lamp switch was on Han Shutong’s side, she quietly got out of bed to go around and turn it off.

But just as she was about to turn off the light, Zhou Xi noticed that Han Shutong’s blanket wasn’t pulled up all the way, so she helped adjust it.

Unintentionally, Zhou Xi’s gaze swept over Han Shutong’s face. Seeing Han Shutong’s closed eyes, her hand paused.

They had spent the day at the amusement park. Since she was carrying Lele, Han Shutong had handled all the queuing and ticket purchases alone. Zhou Xi thought that Han Shutong probably rarely did these things since becoming a celebrity, always letting her assistant handle them. But today, she spent the whole day working hard for her and Lele.

She must be tired.

Zhou Xi thought.

To avoid disturbing Han Shutong’s rest, Zhou Xi quickly turned off the bedside lamp and prepared to rely on the faint light of her phone screen to return to her spot.

As Zhou Xi turned, she didn’t notice that Han Shutong, whose eyes had been closed moments ago, opened her eyes when Zhou Xi turned off the light.

Han Shutong had indeed been sleeping.

But she was startled awake when Zhou Xi tucked her in.

When she woke up, she only slightly opened her eyes. Seeing Zhou Xi look at her through the slight opening, Han Shutong instinctively pretended to be asleep.

She didn’t know why.

But soon, Han Shutong closed her eyes again.

This time, a subtle smile played on her lips.

The blanket was warm.

Zhou Xi returned to her spot and didn’t fall asleep. Instead, she opened her phone to watch the show.

She wore headphones, so she wasn’t afraid of disturbing the others.

This episode of the show was broadcast a few days early due to scheduling issues.

It was the second episode.

Zhou Xi only watched half of it, finishing Su Jingxing and Wu Yingran’s segments. When she got to the third pair, the Bai Lu couple, sleepiness washed over her, and she decided to watch the rest tomorrow when she had time.

Zhou Xi couldn’t stay up late, but there were some night owl netizens who watched until the end.

When Zhou Xi and Han Shutong’s segment aired, it began with the scene where the two discussed going to the hospital:

[Here we go here we go]

[Going to the hospital? What’s wrong with my wife?]

[Wuwuwu I’m a woman too, Han, I understand you!]

[Was it really caused by filming?]

Zhou Xi and Han Shutong leaving the hospital:

[No way? The production team only prepared one umbrella? That’s so irresponsible!]

[Han Shutong’s shoulder is all wet?!]

[Are these two filming an idol drama? One minute, I’m sheltering you from the rain, and the next, the roles are reversed.]

Playing the scene where they spent the day out:

[I’ve been to that shop!]

[Which media outlet reported that Han Shutong doesn’t like to smile? Look at her, is this not smiling? She’s just not smiling at you.]

[The vibe between these two is too good, isn’t it?]

The next day:

[Ah! Mommy Zhou is out again, the left-behind child is back online!]

[Is Han Shutong throwing a tantrum?? Daring not to eat the food Mommy brought back?]

[Spoiled! Sister Zhou is spoiling her!]

[If my friend was angry with me and wouldn’t eat the food I brought her, I’d just say, ‘fine, don’t eat it.’ It’s truly rare to see someone like Sister Zhou, who even goes running with her.]

[Eating fried skewers after a run. Sister Zhou, you are something else.]

[That’s too much! Luckily I already ordered takeout!]

[Teacher Zhou… hehe… Teacher Zhou… hehe…]

[Everyone like the comment above so she gets embarrassed!]

[You are a mature progress bar; please behave yourself.]

[Ahhhh! I’m already looking forward to the next episode!!]

The scene cut to Han Shutong brushing the hair away from Zhou Xi’s face:

[Han Shutong, can you not make your movements so natural?!]

[Is my sister flicking away a strand of hair? No, my sister is tugging at my heartstrings!]

[Did I pay for a membership just to eat your dog food?]

[This believer is willing to sacrifice ten pounds of weight to pray that Zhou Han is real]

[Sisters, aren’t you shipping them yet?]

[Thanks for asking. I’m in the CP Super Topic and I’ve already passed out from shipping them.]

[What is Zhou Han?]