I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 47

A gust of wind blew through, bringing with it a chill.

Zhou Xi, wearing only a short-sleeved top, subconsciously rubbed her arms.

Seeing this, Han Shutong took off her jacket and draped it over Zhou Xi. “Put it on.”

Zhou Xi said there was no need and moved to return the jacket to Han Shutong.

Han Shutong refused. “I’m wearing long sleeves. I’m not cold.”

Another gust of wind passed by them, causing goosebumps to rise on Zhou Xi’s arms.

She looked at Han Shutong and asked seriously, “Are you really not cold?”

Han Shutong didn’t speak. She simply took the jacket from Zhou Xi, then opened it up toward her.

Zhou Xi paused. As she slipped her arms into the sleeves, she said, “We look like we’re acting in an idol drama.”

Han Shutong pursed her lips and replied, “I’ve never acted in one.”

“I’ve acted in a few, but only as a supporting role. I just watched how the male and female leads did it.”

Zhou Xi pulled the jacket tight. It still held Han Shutong’s residual warmth, and her body instantly warmed up.

Zhou Xi turned, about to thank Han Shutong, but heard the person beside her say quietly, “You’re the protagonist now.”

It sounded like consolation, but also… something else.

Zhou Xi was stunned for a moment, then smiled gracefully, gently uttering the “thank you” she hadn’t said earlier.

The two words, thank you, were too formal.

In Han Shutong’s mind, they were a polite rejection.

A bitter taste filled Han Shutong’s mouth, but she still responded. She said, “Mhm.”

Bai Mo bought her food and came out. Seeing Zhou Xi and Han Shutong walking toward her, she quickly ran over and handed them their portion. “Sister Zhou, Sister Tong. Try it quickly, it’s delicious.”

Han Shutong shook her head.

Zhou Xi wiggled the half-eaten ice cream in her hand. “I have enough of this. I can’t eat any more.”

Zhou Xi refused and didn’t speak further. Han Shutong also remained silent.

Bai Mo withdrew her hand holding the food. “Then I’ll carry it for you.”

With that, Bai Mo took a step back and walked behind the two.

Her gaze on them, Bai Mo sensed that the atmosphere was very wrong.

It was one thing for Sister Tong to be silent, but why was Sister Zhou silent too?

Did they fight?

That shouldn’t be right.

Sister Zhou is still wearing Sister Tong’s jacket, isn’t she? Could it be… they fought over the jacket?

Bai Mo instantly imagined a scene where Zhou Xi wanted to wear Han Shutong’s jacket, but Han Shutong refused.

But the thought was fleeting; she quickly dismissed it.

Sister Tong wouldn’t be so selfish toward Sister Zhou, and Sister Zhou wasn’t that unreasonable.

Then what on earth happened?

Bai Mo couldn’t figure it out, but after thinking for a while, she gave up.

Both were mature and steady people. Any anger would only last a few minutes. At the very least, they would be back to normal tomorrow.

Because the atmosphere was stiff, the walk to digest the food ended quickly.

Back at the hotel, after exiting the elevator, Zhou Xi casually wished both of them a goodnight.

Once she was back in her room alone, Zhou Xi opened her arms, letting her body sink into the bed. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.

But her heart was anything but calm.

“I only sent them to you.”

“You’re the protagonist now.”

Even with Zhou Xi’s minimal understanding of romance, she could piece together something from Han Shutong’s words.

Her tone of voice, the subtle, unhidden micro-expressions on her face, and the genuine concern that couldn’t be faked after the wind blew.

All of it was noticed by Zhou Xi.

This was also the first time Zhou Xi had seen such expressions from Han Shutong.

Perhaps they had appeared on Han Shutong before, but she had never paid attention.

And those expressions all pointed to one thing.

It was something she often encountered when analyzing character profiles in scripts.

It was the reaction a protagonist has when they develop feelings for another protagonist.

In other words…

Zhou Xi bit her lower lip.

Zhou Xi wanted to say she might be overthinking it.

But then Zhou Xi remembered the holiday greetings Han Shutong only sent to her, the phrase “I will be there for you” spoken at the orphanage, and…

All the previously unnoticed details now flooded Zhou Xi’s mind.

Zhou Xi flipped the covers and rolled to the other side. She rolled herself into a burrito in the blanket, as if she could stop thinking about things and escape reality that way.

The next day, Zhou Xi was woken up by knocking.

Opening her eyes, Zhou Xi sat up. After composing herself for a few seconds, she shuffled in her slippers to open the door.

The door opened, and staff members from the production crew stood outside.

“Teacher Zhou, we’re here to install the cameras and give you a microphone.”

Zhou Xi never slacked on work. She rubbed her eyes and instantly became serious. “Okay, thank you for your trouble.”

The staff member smiled. “We sincerely apologize for disturbing your rest, Teacher Zhou.”

Zhou Xi moved the handle aside, stepping back to let them in. After they entered, Zhou Xi casually asked, “When did you all arrive?”

“We flew in last night. Just arrived not long ago.”

“That’s hard work,” Zhou Xi said. “Did you eat breakfast?”

“We’ll eat after we’ve installed everything.” The staff member was initially afraid of being scolded for disturbing a celebrity’s rest, but seeing Zhou Xi was down-to-earth and kind, he immediately relaxed. “Teacher Zhou, where are you planning to visit?”

“I don’t know yet. I’ll see how Shu… how Shutong arranges it.”

Zhou Xi paused when she mentioned Han Shutong’s name. She thought of what happened last night.

The staff member didn’t notice Zhou Xi’s unusual pause. He directed the others while saying to Zhou Xi, “A square in N City is quite fun. Teacher Zhou, you might want to check it out.”

“Okay, thank you for the recommendation.”

The staff members were busy installing the cameras, and Zhou Xi prepared to wash up.

Just then, her phone on the bedside table rang.

Picking it up, she saw it was a call from the orphanage director.

Zhou Xi answered. “Director.”

The director’s anxious voice sounded. “Xiao Zhou, where are you? Lele has a fever again. She’s crying and asking for you. Can you rush back to see her?”

Lele wasn’t very healthy; having fevers was common when she was little. But treatment had been effective these past few years, and she rarely got sick anymore.

Lately, however, the fever kept coming back.

The last time Zhou Xi rushed home from the apartment during the recording, it was because Lele was sick and looking for her. Another time, when Zhou Xi told Han Shutong she was going to the hospital to see a friend, it was also to look after Lele.

Hearing the director’s words, Zhou Xi became anxious immediately. She didn’t mention she was in N City. Instead, she told the director, “Director, please put the phone next to Lele’s ear. I’ll talk to her for a bit.”

“Okay, okay.”

Five minutes later, Zhou Xi hung up the phone and began packing her luggage.

Bai Mo knocked on Zhou Xi’s door with the takeout. After two knocks, she noticed the door was slightly ajar.

“Sister Zhou, why didn’t you close the door?”

Bai Mo said, pushing the door open.

But Bai Mo didn’t see Zhou Xi, only a few staff members.

“What are you doing?”

Bai Mo took two steps forward and finally saw Zhou Xi squatting by the bed, packing her luggage.

“Sister Zhou, what happened?”

“It’s nothing. I have something urgent, so I need to go back. I asked them to take down the equipment.”

Bai Mo exclaimed in surprise. “Go back? Go back where? Didn’t we agree to travel and relax for a few days?”

“You and Shutong can have fun. Just send me photos.”

Seeing she wasn’t getting any information, Bai Mo hummed and turned to leave, muttering to herself, Oh no, oh no. I thought it was just a simple fight, but Sister Zhou was so angry she’s running away?

What on earth is so serious?

Bai Mo took the food to Han Shutong’s door. As she knocked and the door opened, her first sentence was: “Sister Tong, I’m just an assistant, and some things aren’t my place to ask, but I really can’t hold it in anymore.”

Han Shutong gave Bai Mo a confused look.

“What happened between you and Sister Zhou last night? Sister Zhou hasn’t spoken since last night, and now she’s packing her bags to leave!”

“Leave?”

“Yes! I just went to bring Sister Zhou food, and I saw her packing her luggage while the staff were dismantling the cameras. I asked Sister Zhou what… Sister Tong, where are you going?”

Upon hearing that Zhou Xi was packing, Han Shutong’s hand on the doorknob slackened. She burst out the door, abandoning her post.

Bai Mo watched Han Shutong, still in her pajamas and slippers, run toward the elevator, completely discarding her celebrity image.

She ran after her, quietly reminding her as she ran, “Sister Tong, you haven’t changed yet.”

By the time Bai Mo reached the elevator, the door had already closed. She gasped for air, about to put her hands on her hips, but then noticed the food she was still holding.

Left with no choice, she turned and walked toward Han Shutong’s room, planning to drop off the food before chasing after her.

Zhou Xi was on the 21st floor. Han Shutong was on the 25th.

The elevator reached the floor quickly.

Han Shutong stepped out of the elevator, but her footsteps became heavy, lacking the lightness of when she bolted from her room.

Although the words I like you weren’t spoken last night, what she did say was akin to a confession.

The sentiment, suppressed for almost five years, was finally released. Instead of feeling relieved, Han Shutong felt a heavy burden that made every step difficult.

From last night until now, that single word, “Thank you,” kept echoing in Han Shutong’s ears.

She hadn’t slept all night.

In the few minutes in the elevator, Han Shutong thought a lot.

But no matter what she thought, she reached only one conclusion: Zhou Xi knew that Han Shutong liked her, she couldn’t accept it, and after a night of deliberation, she was preparing to leave.

Leave here, leave N City, leave her side.

Never to be seen again.

Although Han Shutong walked slowly, she reached Zhou Xi’s door.

The door was locked.

Has she… already left? Han Shutong thought.

She left so fast.

Han Shutong gave a self-deprecating laugh.

She stood at the door for a while, wanting to call Zhou Xi and ask why she left without saying goodbye. But when she reached for her phone, she realized she was wearing pajamas.

Forget it.

On what basis could she ask?

As a failure?

Han Shutong rested her hand on the door. Her shoulder trembled slightly.

Just as Han Shutong turned to leave, she heard a click.

The door opened.

After the staff packed up the equipment and left, Zhou Xi closed the door and changed out of her pajamas.

After packing her pajamas into the suitcase, Zhou Xi checked for any forgotten items, then pulled the suitcase toward the door, ready to leave.

Opening the door, she saw Han Shutong standing right in front of her.

“Shu—”

Zhou Xi barely managed to utter one syllable of the name before she was stunned by Han Shutong, who had turned around at the sound of the door opening.

Han Shutong’s eyes were red, tears clinging to her lower lashes. The next second, a tear rolled down her cheek to her chin.

Han Shutong saw the stunned look on the person’s face. She called out, her voice husky, “Zhou Xi.”

Zhou Xi had planned to go upstairs and tell Han Shutong after she had packed, but she hadn’t expected Han Shutong to come down.

What… what was wrong?

Hearing Han Shutong call her, Zhou Xi nodded. She intended to stand the suitcase upright and then ask Han Shutong what was happening.

But when Han Shutong heard the sound of the suitcase wheels scraping the floor, she reached out and grabbed the handle tightly, stopping Zhou Xi’s movement.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things last night. I take them back now. Please…” Han Shutong lowered her eyes, her voice choked. “Don’t leave, okay?”