I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 40

Overnight, the number of fans in the Super Topic surpassed five thousand, and its ranking was steadily climbing.

The CP fans were happy again.

The next day, Han Shutong gradually woke up to the sound of kissing and a wet feeling on her face. Opening her eyes, she saw Lele leaning over her, pouting and kissing her.

Lele’s hair rubbed against her face, tickling Han Shutong’s nose.

Han Shutong gently brushed the hair aside. Turning and seeing that Zhou Xi was still sound asleep, she lowered her voice and asked Lele, “What’s wrong?”

Lele made a gesture Han Shutong couldn’t understand and said, “Lele… pee-pee. Lele needs to…”

Hearing the word “pee-pee,” Han Shutong knew she meant the restroom. She got up and carried Lele. “I’ll take you.”

They managed to leave the room without making any noise to wake up Zhou Xi.

After taking care of the needs, Han Shutong took Lele to wash up. As it was her first time looking after a child, Han Shutong was inevitably a bit flustered.

Fortunately, she was the only one flustered.

Lele stood obediently on the small stool, waiting for Han Shutong to put toothpaste on her brush.

While the two were washing up, Zhou Xi, still half-asleep, reached out her hand. When she realized she wasn’t touching anything, Zhou Xi opened her eyes and looked beside her.

Empty.

Neither Han Shutong nor Lele were in bed.

Zhou Xi’s mind was blank for a few seconds. After a quick reaction, she got out of the bedroom.

She saw Lele sitting alone on the carpet playing with toys. Zhou Xi looked left and right and found Han Shutong’s back in the kitchen.

Han Shutong was still wearing the pajamas from yesterday on her upper body, but her lower half was now covered with wide-leg pants instead of being bare.

Her hair was tied up in a bun, giving her a very casual look.

Zhou Xi didn’t alert Han Shutong. She tiptoed to Lele and picked her up.

Lele, having just washed up, had a fragrant oil applied to her face.

The oil was Han Shutong’s custom blend, suitable for children as well.

As Lele hugged Zhou Xi’s neck, the scent filled the air around Zhou Xi.

“Older Sister Xi,” Lele called.

Zhou Xi hummed and asked, “Lele, why did you wake up so early?”

Zhou Xi’s voice was soft and gentle, still carrying the blurriness of just having woken up.

Lele kissed Zhou Xi’s face, then replied, “Go potty~”

Zhou Xi asked in surprise, “Did Lele go alone? Why didn’t you wake Older Sister Xi to help you?”

Lele spoke slowly, word by word. “Older sister was sleeping. Lele called Older Sister Tong for help.”

Zhou Xi hadn’t known Han Shutong was woken up by Lele. Hearing Lele’s words, she laughed. “Lele cares about Older Sister Xi so much! Older Sister is so touched! Did you thank Older Sister Tong?”

“I said thank you~”

While Lele was explaining to Zhou Xi why she woke up early, Han Shutong walked out of the kitchen with the prepared milk powder. Hearing Lele’s words, Han Shutong paused her steps.

She had thought Lele was calling her for help because they had become closer. She never expected the child to know not to disturb Zhou Xi’s sleep.

Are children really this considerate? Han Shutong looked at Lele with added tenderness.

Seeing Han Shutong emerge from the kitchen, Zhou Xi looked up and said, “Thank you. I troubled you to look after Lele.”

Han Shutong didn’t say much, only a faint “You’re welcome,” then told her to wash her hands and eat.

Han Shutong made simple sandwiches.

After eating, the two drove Lele back to the orphanage.

The rain had stopped in the early morning, and there wasn’t much standing water on the roads, making driving safe.

At the orphanage, Zhou Xi and Han Shutong spent some time playing with the other children. After leaving the orphanage, the two didn’t go straight home but headed to the company.

After hanging up the phone with Han Shutong the night before last, Luo Shuiqiu only asked yesterday morning if they had gotten together. When she saw Han Shutong’s negative reply, Luo Shuiqiu smiled, thinking, I knew it.

Actually, after recovering from the shock of hearing Han Shutong intended to confess, Luo Shuiqiu had anticipated Han Shutong wouldn’t go through with it.

For no other reason than this: If Han Shutong was going to confess, wouldn’t she have done it anytime in the past five years?

She must have thought about it.

But nothing had happened until now.

Therefore, her assumption was correct.

When Zhou Xi and Han Shutong entered the office, Han Shutong was immediately met with a knowing look from Luo Shuiqiu.

She was laughing at her.

Han Shutong ignored it and spoke to Zhou Xi.

She had Zhou Xi sit on the sofa while she sat in the chair opposite her.

Seeing both of them seated, Luo Shuiqiu told them to help themselves to water if they were thirsty, then turned to Zhou Xi. “Xiao Xi, tomorrow is the recording for the observation room. Director Gao wants to invite you to join Shutong. Would you be willing to go?”

Although she had only signed a contract with Han Shutong before, Zhou Xi’s popularity was constantly rising. There was no reason for Gao Ming not to invite Zhou Xi.

Hearing this, Zhou Xi’s first thought was of Zuo Yuan.

Han Shutong had told Zhou Xi about Zuo Yuan’s consequences. Yesterday, Zhou Xi had also received several messages from Zuo Yuan, though Zhou Xi hadn’t read them carefully. They were probably unsavory words.

Seeing Zhou Xi remain silent, Luo Shuiqiu spoke again. “Your college classmate is no longer recording.”

Luo Shuiqiu’s voice pulled Zhou Xi out of her thoughts. She nodded and said, “I’m fine with it.”

Luo Shuiqiu said that was good. She flipped through her records and then called out Zhou Xi’s name again. “Dark City is about to premiere. They want to invite you to attend an event, but…”

Hearing that Dark City was about to premiere, a smile spread across Zhou Xi’s face. But upon hearing Luo Shuiqiu’s “but,” she thought she couldn’t go and asked, “Do the times clash?”

“That’s not it,” Luo Shuiqiu said. “The variety show recording is tomorrow. The event is the day after tomorrow, but the location is in M City. You’ll need to travel for business.”

Zhou Xi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it wasn’t a big issue. “It’s only M City. I have no problem with that.”

“Have Bai Mo go with you.”

Zhou Xi shook her head. “Isn’t Xiao Mo Shutong’s assistant?”

“Why are you two still distinguishing between yours and mine…” Luo Shuiqiu stopped talking when she was met with Han Shutong’s sharp glance. “Uh, I mean, the company doesn’t have an extra assistant to assign to you right now. You’re familiar with Xiao Bai, so let Xiao Bai accompany you for now.”

“As long as Xiao Mo doesn’t mind.”

“I already asked her. She’s fine with it.”

Zhou Xi had no choice but to nod in agreement. “Okay.”

With Zhou Xi’s work arranged, Luo Shuiqiu looked at the person staring at their phone and asked, “Xiao Xi is traveling for business. What about you?”

Zhou Xi smiled now. “You’re Shutong’s manager. Why do you need to ask Shutong?”

“I wear many hats. I’m her manager, colleague, and friend. I asked that question from a friend’s perspective. More importantly, even if I am her manager, I can’t control her…” Luo Shuiqiu even wiped away imaginary tears at the end of her sentence.

Zhou Xi was amused by Luo Shuiqiu’s dramatic contrast and instinctively looked at Han Shutong.

Han Shutong looked up, seeing both of them looking at her. She lowered her gaze and muttered, “Home.”

“That’s true. You can’t go with Xiao Xi.”

Luo Shuiqiu had mastered the art of rubbing salt in wounds.

Han Shutong put away her phone, stood up, and looked at Luo Shuiqiu. “Anything else?”

“No,” Luo Shuiqiu raised her arm, pointing to the office door with her finger. She smiled. “The two of you may leave.”

After leaving the office, Zhou Xi and Han Shutong walked one after the other. Zhou Xi looked at Han Shutong’s neck, replaying Luo Shuiqiu’s words in her mind.

Although she didn’t know what Luo Shuiqiu meant by saying Han Shutong couldn’t go with her to M City, Zhou Xi thought about it and took a large step to catch up with Han Shutong. She said, “If you don’t have work the day after tomorrow, how about you come with me to M City for fun?”

Zhou Xi looked at Han Shutong after speaking. Han Shutong stopped walking, remained silent for a few seconds, and then refused. “No, I can’t.”

After being refused, Zhou Xi didn’t seem bothered. She hummed and said, “Then I’ll bring you back some local specialties. It’ll be like you went too.”

“Okay,” Han Shutong replied.