I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 41

The next day, Zhou Xi and Han Shutong drove themselves to the recording location.

In the parking lot, they ran into Wu Yingran, who had also driven herself.

Wu Yingran first saw Han Shutong, and then she saw Zhou Xi walking behind Han Shutong.

For the recording, Zhou Xi was dressed slightly more formally today: an off-pink shirt, white suit trousers, and a pair of beige high heels.

Wu Yingran’s expression instantly changed from emotionless to beaming with smiles.

She raised one hand, waving, and called out, “Xixi.”

Zhou Xi hadn’t noticed Wu Yingran at first. She was looking down at her phone, talking to Han Shutong.

Hearing the voice, Zhou Xi looked up and saw Wu Yingran a few steps away.

Zhou Xi walked to Han Shutong’s side and called out flatly, “Yingran.”

Wu Yingran didn’t pick up on the flatness in Zhou Xi’s voice. She quickly walked up to Zhou Xi, her tone filled with excitement. “Long time no see. I missed you so much! What about you? Did you miss me? Also, why didn’t you tell me you were recording today? I could have picked you up.”

Han Shutong, who had been automatically ignored by Wu Yingran, frowned after hearing her words. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Zhou Xi say, “I came with Shutong.”

Hearing Zhou Xi mention Han Shutong’s name, Wu Yingran couldn’t ignore her anymore.

She turned to Han Shutong and called out sweetly, “Sister Shutong.”

In Han Shutong’s eyes, the smile plastered on Wu Yingran’s face was incredibly fake.

Last time, she used her name. Now she’s calling me ‘Sister’?

Was she trying to show intimacy or emphasize her age?

“We’re…” Han Shutong parted her thin lips and said in a deep voice, “not very close.”

Logically, Han Shutong’s words would make anyone feel so awkward that they would want to leave the scene immediately.

But not Wu Yingran.

She clearly had an abundance of social confidence.

Wu Yingran laughed loudly twice, then said to Zhou Xi, “Sister Shutong loves to joke! Didn’t we chat last time? I even asked Sister Shutong to help me—”

Wu Yingran was about to say “help,” but her peripheral vision unintentionally caught sight of Han Shutong’s wrist.

There was a hair tie there: three strands of thread with a carrot charm.

Wu Yingran pointed to the hair tie, looking at both of them. “Why is this on Sister Shutong? Isn’t this Xixi’s?”

Zhou Xi didn’t know what Wu Yingran was referring to. She followed her finger and saw the hair tie. She was about to speak, but her words were suddenly cut off because her hand was unexpectedly held.

Han Shutong naturally knew what Wu Yingran was talking about. After Zhou Xi gave her the hair tie last time, she had worn it on her wrist constantly, only taking it off to shower. She sometimes used it to tie her hair, but sparingly, afraid of damaging it.

She had slowly grown accustomed to its presence; the hair tie had become a piece of jewelry.

Looking at Wu Yingran’s expression, Han Shutong felt a very childish urge—a desire to claim her territory in front of a rival.

Han Shutong naturally took the hand of the person beside her, slowly raising it, stopping mid-air.

The two slender wrists were displayed before Wu Yingran. The accessories on each wrist—a rabbit on Zhou Xi’s and a carrot on Han Shutong’s—were touching, looking exactly like a rabbit was eating a carrot.

A rabbit eating a carrot.

The smile on Wu Yingran’s lips froze.

Han Shutong was pleased with Wu Yingran’s expression, feeling a surge of delight.

“Teacher Zhou gave it to me.”

Zhou Xi didn’t understand the significance of the hair tie for the two of them. She looked at Wu Yingran and said, “If you like the style, I can send you the link.”

Wu Yingran’s smile became even stiffer. “…Okay.”

Han Shutong lowered her hand. The mission was accomplished, and there was no need for pleasantries.

“We’re leaving now.”

With that, Han Shutong pulled Zhou Xi, and the two walked side-by-side toward the elevator.

Wu Yingran didn’t chase after them.

A voice in her mind told her to catch up, or Zhou Xi would drift further away.

But watching the two walking away, their hands intertwined, Wu Yingran took one step but couldn’t take the second.

She suddenly felt that even if she did catch up, the person beside Zhou Xi would just push her aside.

Inside the elevator, Zhou Xi finally pulled her hand out of Han Shutong’s grip.

Zhou Xi felt a little guilty.

In truth, she had just used Han Shutong.

Han Shutong was holding her hand to show Wu Yingran the hair ties. After Wu Yingran saw them, she should have pulled her hand away.

But she didn’t.

Because she wanted Wu Yingran to misunderstand.

Misunderstand her and Han Shutong.

Zhou Xi knew this wasn’t right, but she couldn’t help it.

During filming, Zhou Xi thought Wu Yingran was humble and approachable. Since they had many scenes together, they got along well, and Zhou Xi’s first impression of Wu Yingran was excellent.

That’s why Zhou Xi went to pick up Wu Yingran when she was drunk last time.

But after Wu Yingran said that and made the gesture that made her overthink, Zhou Xi had been deliberately keeping her distance from Wu Yingran. Yet, Wu Yingran seemed oblivious, maintaining their previous level of interaction.

Facing Wu Yingran’s subtle expressions of intimacy these past few times, Zhou Xi confirmed her earlier suspicion.

Wu Yingran might have feelings for her.

Thinking back now, Wu Yingran had been overly kind to her on set.

If Wu Yingran hadn’t revealed her feelings while drunk, Zhou Xi might never have realized, simply thinking Wu Yingran was a nice person.

She didn’t have those kinds of feelings for Wu Yingran and naturally didn’t want Wu Yingran to continue feeling that way for her.

That’s why she wanted Wu Yingran to misunderstand her, to make her give up.

She just hoped Wu Yingran would think as she did.

Thinking of this, Zhou Xi secretly glanced at Han Shutong and apologized silently.

Zhou Xi didn’t know that if Han Shutong knew her thoughts, she wouldn’t just not mind, but she might even take her hand again and say: That wasn’t enough. We need to go all the way with the act.

Zhou Xi pulled her hand away. Han Shutong’s hand remained in the gripping position for two seconds, then returned to normal after grasping at the air.

Only Zhou Xi and Han Shutong were in the elevator. It was very quiet.

Until Han Shutong called out, “Teacher Zhou.”

Zhou Xi said, “Mhm?”

Han Shutong’s tone was low and slow. She said word-for-word, “She likes you.”

Han Shutong had thought about this for a long time, hesitating whether to tell Zhou Xi.

She could tell that Zhou Xi wasn’t very sensitive when it came to romantic feelings. So, Zhou Xi probably didn’t know about Wu Yingran’s feelings.

If she didn’t tell Zhou Xi the truth, Han Shutong was afraid Zhou Xi might be taken advantage of by Wu Yingran without realizing it.

But if she did tell her…

She was afraid Zhou Xi might have the same feelings for Wu Yingran, keeping them hidden without Han Shutong noticing. Then, Han Shutong would just be playing matchmaker for the two of them.

After speaking, Han Shutong looked at Zhou Xi. Zhou Xi was only looking at her curiously, seemingly not surprised by the statement.

Sure enough, the next second, Zhou Xi asked, “How did you know?”

“Because I also like…” Han Shutong paused. “…women. So I knew right away.”

Indeed.

Otherwise, Wu Yingran wouldn’t have known she liked Zhou Xi and used such a childish trick against her.

Thinking of Zhou Xi’s choice of words, Han Shutong asked, “Then how did you know she… likes you?”

Zhou Xi hesitated for a few seconds, unsure if she should reveal it. But meeting Han Shutong’s eyes, she instinctively said, “She said some things to me when she was drunk last time.”

Han Shutong was silent for a moment, then asked casually, “What did she say?”

“She asked me to move in with her,” Zhou Xi said. “But I refused.”

“Why?”

Zhou Xi looked at Han Shutong and smiled. “Because I had already agreed to film the show with you.”

The elevator reached their floor. Zhou Xi said softly, “We’ve arrived,” then leaned toward the elevator door.

Just then, she heard Han Shutong whisper beside her ear.

“If…”

“…she had asked you to be roommates first, would you have agreed?”

Zhou Xi made a drawn-out sound of acknowledgment. But it only lasted for two seconds. As the acknowledgment ended, Zhou Xi quickly replied, “I don’t think I would have agreed.”

Hearing the answer, Han Shutong smiled and said a seemingly thoughtless, “Oh.”

The elevator door was now open, and Zhou Xi walked out.

Han Shutong followed behind Zhou Xi.

This time, Zhou Xi didn’t wait for Han Shutong to ask why. She explained on her own, “Actually, I agreed to film the show with you because, besides needing the paycheck, we were also college roommates. Although we didn’t spend much time together, we did live together, so I thought it wouldn’t be awkward. But cohabiting with anyone else? I think I’d have a hard time adjusting.”

“But your assumption isn’t valid, because besides Student Han, no one else seems to initiate contact with me.” Zhou Xi stopped and looked into Han Shutong’s eyes with full seriousness. “So, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity.”

Seeing this, Han Shutong’s eyes were full of tenderness. “Then I should thank you too.”

Zhou Xi was confused. “Thank me for what?”

“Thank you for accepting my invitation.”

For giving me a chance to…

…get close to you.

Zhou Xi looked at Han Shutong. Although Han Shutong had only said one sentence, Zhou Xi felt like Han Shutong had another unspoken sentence.

This feeling was so subtle that Zhou Xi didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

Just as the two were staring at each other in silence, Bai Mo walked out from around a corner.

She had arrived ten minutes before them.

Bai Mo saw the two and quickly called out, “Sister Zhou, Sister Tong, the show starts in two hours! Hurry up and get your makeup done!”

Bai Mo’s voice severed the line of eye contact between the two. Zhou Xi was the first to react. She said, “Let’s go get our makeup done.”

Then she looked at Bai Mo, her voice gentle. “Keep your voice down. Don’t disturb anyone else.”

Bai Mo immediately covered her mouth and whispered, “Okay, Sister Zhou.”

Then Bai Mo looked at Han Shutong, who was behind Zhou Xi. “Sister Tong, the boss said yesterday that I’m accompanying Sister Zhou to M City. Do you want to come with us?”

Zhou Xi interjected, “I already asked Shutong. She’s not going.”

“Why not?” Bai Mo asked.

Zhou Xi also looked at Han Shutong curiously.

Han Shutong pursed her lips. “My mom is coming back that day.”

Zhou Xi said “Oh,” and then joked, “I thought you just didn’t want to go out with me.”