I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 50

After one day of observation in the hospital, Lele was fine and was discharged.

After being discharged, Zhou Xi immediately took Lele back to the orphanage. After playing with Lele for two hours, Zhou Xi left.

When she spoke to Han Shutong on the phone yesterday, Han Shutong said she would probably be home this afternoon but didn’t specify the time.

Zhou Xi thought about it. There shouldn’t be much fresh produce left in the fridge, and even if there was, it was probably spoiled after being away for so many days. So, Zhou Xi stopped by the fresh market on her way home.

When Zhou Xi arrived home, she noticed while changing her shoes that only one of their two frequently used pairs of slippers remained in the shoe cabinet.

Then, the sound of slippers scraping the floor came from the living room. Zhou Xi looked over and saw Han Shutong appear before her.

Han Shutong looked at the person standing at the doorway with several large bags of vegetables and fruits on either side of her. She said softly, “Teacher Zhou.”

She then walked over and picked up the large bags. Feeling their weight, Han Shutong said, “Why did you buy so much?”

Zhou Xi was momentarily stunned by Han Shutong’s natural demeanor. Yes, natural. She had been worried that their meeting would be incredibly awkward after yesterday’s events, but it seemed it wasn’t.

Zhou Xi hummed. “I thought the vegetables in the fridge would be spoiled, so I bought some new ones.”

Han Shutong carried the bags to the kitchen and opened the fridge. The food inside was indeed spoiled.

It was then she realized that she had left in a hurry this time, and since picking up her mother, she hadn’t returned to this apartment, so she forgot to ask the cleaning lady to come.

Zhou Xi finished changing her shoes and also walked over.

“Let me see.”

Zhou Xi stood next to Han Shutong, looking inside the fridge. “I’ll take the spoiled vegetables out, and you put the ones I bought today in, okay?”

Han Shutong was happy to help. “Can do.”

Zhou Xi immediately began working, and Han Shutong squatted down to untie the knots on the grocery bags.

Suddenly, a few pink-wrapped flowers caught Han Shutong’s eye.

Her slender fingers slowly reached out, touching the petals of the pink tulip. A fondness flashed in her eyes.

Han Shutong took the tulips out of the bag. The matching colored wrapping made the flowers look even more delicate.

Zhou Xi took the spoiled food out of the fridge. As she turned to throw it into the trash can, she saw Han Shutong holding the flowers, her eyes twinkling with starlight. She looked genuinely delighted.

Zhou Xi had bought the tulips from the florist downstairs. Passing the shop, she remembered that the previous bouquet of roses had wilted, and she felt the coffee table needed a new burst of life.

She walked into the shop. The first thing she saw were the various colored tulips, the dewdrops on their petals glistening and clear.

Zhou Xi simply bought a random bunch of pink tulips.

Seeing Han Shutong holding the flowers, Zhou Xi was about to explain when she heard Han Shutong ask with a smile, “Are these for me? How did you know I like tulips?”

Zhou Xi hesitated. “Do you like them?”

“Mhm.”

She loved them.

Since first seeing tulips, she hadn’t liked any other flower, just like…

Seeing that Han Shutong genuinely liked them, Zhou Xi didn’t say anything further. She only said, “Then I’ll put them in the vase after dinner.”

Han Shutong immediately replied, “I’ll go put them in now.”

Five minutes later, all the ingredients were sorted.

After resting for a bit, Zhou Xi washed her hands and prepared to make dinner.

Han Shutong was her sous chef.

Han Shutong was in a fantastic mood today.

This was the conclusion Zhou Xi reached less than a minute after Han Shutong entered the kitchen.

Because she heard Han Shutong humming a song.

This was rare.

Han Shutong was humming a popular Cantonese song.

The song was beautiful.

Han Shutong’s humming was also beautiful.

Zhou Xi silently listened to Han Shutong hum. After the song ended, Zhou Xi said, “Shutong, have you considered becoming a triple threat—film, TV, and music? You sing very well.”

Han Shutong chuckled. “What else do you want to hear? I’ll sing it for you.”

“Nothing in particular. Just sing whatever you like.”

Han Shutong nodded and hummed another Cantonese song.

Zhou Xi felt that Han Shutong seemed to be in an even better mood.

After dinner, Han Shutong washed the dishes and sat on the sofa, while Zhou Xi sat on a small stool on the other side of the coffee table, trimming the tulips with scissors.

Zhou Xi had taken the roses out of the vase and placed them on her bedroom desk.

Zhou Xi didn’t want to throw the roses away. She planned to dry them and store them in a box.

To preserve them for a long time.

Han Shutong looked at Zhou Xi, then at the tulips.

The person she liked, the flower she liked. The person she liked was holding the flower she liked, right there in front of her.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t happy.

Just then, her phone chimed. Han Shutong looked down. It was a Bilibili message notification.

It was from a stranger.

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: Hello, Master Jian. I was referred by Han Shutong’s SweetCake. She said you taught her how to edit. Do you still accept apprentices?

Han Shutong frowned slightly.

@SimpleLove: Sorry, I don’t accept apprentices.

Although Han Shutong refused, the sender seemed to have prepared a countermeasure and quickly sent another message.

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: I’m guessing you’re a fan of Zhou Xi, right? I have an autographed photo of Zhou Xi here. Do you want it? Of course, the condition is that you guide my editing, okay? I’ve watched it several times, but it looks more awkward the more I watch it, and I can’t find the problem [Pleading.jpg]

@SimpleLove: An autographed photo of Zhou Xi? Where did you get it?

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: She gave it to me.

Han Shutong didn’t reply. Zhou Xi was not the type to voluntarily give autographed photos to people.

After a while, the person who didn’t receive a reply sent another message.

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: You don’t think I’m lying, do you? Wait a moment. I’ll find it and take a picture for you.

Seeing this, Han Shutong looked up at Zhou Xi, who was trimming the tulips. She called out, “Teacher Zhou.”

“Mhm?”

“Do you have autographed photos?” After asking, Han Shutong subconsciously added, “Xiao Bai asked me to ask. She said she has a friend who really likes you.”

Zhou Xi didn’t suspect anything. She lowered her head and continued trimming the tulips. “I don’t.”

She only signed on paper.

Han Shutong: “Mhm.”

Just then, Bilibili notified her of a new message.

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: [Image]

Although Han Shutong knew the photo sent was likely fake, seeing Zhou Xi in the image, she couldn’t resist tapping to enlarge it.

The person in the photo was indeed Zhou Xi, but it looked more like Zhou Xi from two or three years ago. At that time, her hair was long and curly.

The photo wasn’t a professional portrait but a polaroid snapshot of her daily life. Zhou Xi in the photo was sitting in a chair reading a book.

Classical and refined.

Han Shutong zoomed in on the image. The signature in the bottom right corner immediately came into view.

Han Shutong naturally recognized Zhou Xi’s handwriting. Two or three years ago, when Zhou Xi had just debuted, her handwriting was rounder, not heavily stylized, and every stroke was clear.

The signature in the photo was exactly like that.

A hint of confusion flashed in Han Shutong’s mind. This really looked like Zhou Xi’s authentic signature.

Zhou Xi finished trimming the tulips. She looked up and saw Han Shutong staring silently at her phone. Assuming Bai Mo was still asking about the autographed photo, she spoke. “How about I take a set of photos tomorrow? Actually, my fan club members have mentioned this before, but I always forget.”

Han Shutong calmly locked her phone screen and placed the phone aside.

“You can take them at the company’s photography department.”

“Really? Then I’ll check it out tomorrow.”

“Mhm, I’ll go with you.”

Zhou Xi paused while arranging the flowers. “Actually, no need. I can go by myself.”

“The photography department requires authorization from a superior before taking pictures for an artist.” Han Shutong looked at Zhou Xi. “Teacher Zhou, I also have other work at the company. Don’t be nervous.”

Zhou Xi’s expression froze for a moment, then she smiled. “I was overthinking.”

“I’m quite happy when you overthink.”

Han Shutong’s words reached Zhou Xi’s ears, making Zhou Xi want to change the subject. She said, “But speaking of which, I think I did give my sister an autographed photo.”

“That was when I first debuted. She kept nagging me to sign one for her, saying she would sell the photo for a lot of money when I became famous. Turns out, I still haven’t become famous.” Zhou Xi couldn’t help but laugh at the end. She remembered how Zhou Simei had nagged her for the signature.

Han Shutong listened, then picked up the phone she had placed aside.

If the photo @Doesn’tLikeStrawberries sent was real, then…

Tapping on the photo, Han Shutong confirmed the handwriting again. Thinking of the content of the photo—Zhou Xi’s personal snapshot—a sense of realization flashed in her eyes.

If her guess was correct, @Doesn’tLikeStrawberries was Zhou Xi’s younger sister, or her sister had given the photo to the person named Doesn’t Like Strawberries.

A new message popped up.

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: Master Jian, are you there?

@SimpleLove: I’m here.

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: Then do you want this autographed photo? Since you’re a fan, you should know this is a limited edition, the only one in the world. It could sell for a lot of money in the future.

@SimpleLove: I want it. But I want to ask, was this autographed photo given to you by someone else, or?

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: Don’t worry, it’s straight from the source.

Han Shutong’s eyebrow lifted slightly.

@SimpleLove: Then I’ll send you the address later. What do you want to learn? Can you send me the video that has problems so I can check it out?

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: Master Jian, I like people like you—direct and to the point. Wait a moment, I’ll send it to you now.

Two minutes later.

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: [Video]

Han Shutong didn’t click on it immediately because the video cover made her hesitate.

The cover was a compilation of photos of her and Zhou Xi gazing at each other lovingly, with a small inset image in the middle—the scene of her and Zhou Xi sharing an umbrella in the rain from the second episode of the show.

She had seen both these photos in her and Zhou Xi’s CP Super Topic.

@SimpleLove: Are you… a CP fan of the two of them?

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: Yes. Are you too? But SweetCake said you were just a solo fan of Zhou? Master Jian, when did you start shipping them?

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: It’s a coincidence, actually. I was originally a solo fan of Han. But I watched the show for Sister Zhou, since it’s her first variety show, and I wanted to support her. I started watching and then saw comments about Zhou Han CP. I followed the thread to the Super Topic. I was curious at first, then confused, but the more I saw, the more I became a true believer. I went from a solo fan to a CP fan, but I’m just an unofficial member. I just think they… really match [Cover face]

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: Actually, SweetCake edited this video. But she felt awkward asking you again, so she gave this glorious task to me and asked me to talk to you. Master Jian, you don’t mind, right?

Just then, Zhou Xi sat down next to Han Shutong. Seeing this, Han Shutong subtly leaned away, feigning indifference, afraid Zhou Xi would see her chat history.

@SimpleLove: No, I don’t. You can ask me next time too.

@Doesn’tLikeStrawberries: Really? Master Jian, you’re so kind! You can watch the video first. I’ll ping you again later.

@SimpleLove: Okay.

Author’s Note:

Video Editor: SweetCake. (Those who know, know.)