I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 52

Zhou Xi subconsciously glanced at Han Shutong. Seeing that her gaze was fixed on the television and she wasn’t paying attention to her, Zhou Xi looked away.

The four characters, “Zhou Han CP,” broke into Zhou Xi’s vision again.

Even though she rarely browsed the internet, she knew what “Zhou Han CP” meant.

But Zhou Xi wasn’t confused about why there was a CP; she was confused about why Zhou Simei would be looking at this kind of content.

Zhou Xi wanted to send a message to Zhou Simei, but when she opened the dialogue box, she didn’t know what to ask.

She couldn’t interfere with her sister’s preferences, and besides… this kind of thing was awkward to ask about.

She’d wait for a more suitable opportunity.

Zhou Xi put down her phone. Setting aside the matter of Zhou Simei, her mind now focused on the CP with Han Shutong.

It was very strange.

She had watched the first two episodes. Her and Han Shutong’s behavior was very proper, with nothing that could be used to promote a CP. So, how did this topic start?

Yes, Zhou Xi believed the CP status was bought by the company or the production crew.

Zhou Xi hadn’t considered that fans were shipping them entirely voluntarily.

Putting down her phone, Zhou Xi looked at Han Shutong, hesitating whether to tell her about this.

Being grouped into a CP meant that Han Shutong was now linked to her. It might be difficult to shake off later. Some CP fans were very passionate, and Zhou Xi was afraid it would negatively affect Han Shutong.

If they stopped this behavior now, they might still have a chance to salvage the situation.

Han Shutong noticed Zhou Xi was looking at her. She turned her eyes, chuckled softly, and asked, “Do I look good?”

“Yes, you do,” Zhou Xi replied instinctively.

This was the answer Han Shutong wanted. She chuckled again. “You look good too.”

Zhou Xi said “Thank you” softly.

Before Han Shutong could speak, Zhou Xi said, “I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Wait a moment.”

Zhou Xi finished speaking, opened Weibo, and searched for the words “Zhou Han.” The moment the results appeared, Zhou Xi held the phone out to Han Shutong.

“Look at this. I just found out we actually have CP fans.”

Han Shutong glanced at the screen, seeing “Zhou Han” filling the page. Realizing Zhou Xi had also discovered this, she looked away, meeting Zhou Xi’s eyes perfectly.

Han Shutong was surprised for a moment and asked, “How did you find out?”

“My sister.”

Zhou Xi briefly explained the conversation she had just had with Han Shutong.

Han Shutong: “So you looked through that UP host’s follower list and found your sister?”

“Mhm. She only uses that one username, so she was easy to spot.”

Han Shutong remained silent. It seemed her guess was correct: Little Strawberries was indeed Zhou Xi’s biological sister.

Seeing Han Shutong quiet, Zhou Xi asked, “Do you mind?”

“Mhm?” Zhou Xi’s question was sudden. Han Shutong didn’t immediately understand what she meant.

Zhou Xi pointed to the phone. “I mean the CP. Should we tell Sister Qiu to stop buying this topic?”

Hearing Zhou Xi’s words, the smile on Han Shutong’s lips gradually faded.

So…

She really didn’t like her at all.

She didn’t even want to see a CP topic related to them.

“Why?”

Han Shutong’s voice was light, almost inaudible. It took Zhou Xi two seconds to realize what she had asked.

Zhou Xi didn’t answer Han Shutong’s question. Instead, she asked Han Shutong, “You know Wang Yang and Mi Ci, right?”

Han Shutong didn’t know them personally, but she had heard of them because they were constantly trending recently.

They gained a certain level of CP fandom due to their drama. However, the CP fans became furious when they discovered that the couple’s chemistry and intimate gestures were all scripted and misleading. A public dispute broke out between the fans and the couple’s agencies, severely damaging their reputation and causing them to lose several endorsements.

In short: CP fans can be terrifying.

“I just feel that this kind of pairing and linking us together might affect you after the show ends.”

Zhou Xi spoke slowly.

Han Shutong was different from her. Zhou Xi had fewer fans and fewer resources, and she might gain popularity by using Han Shutong’s fame through the CP.

But forming a CP only benefited Han Shutong while the show was airing. Once the show ended, this would be a burden for her—all harm and no benefit.

Knowing that Zhou Xi was concerned about her, Han Shutong felt a warmth in her heart. The gloom she had felt instantly vanished.

She softly called out, “Teacher Zhou.”

Zhou Xi didn’t speak, just looked at Han Shutong.

Han Shutong whispered, “We are different from them.”

There was no love between them, only profit.

But we are different.

We have…

…love.

My love for you. So there will be no script; it won’t be fake.

Zhou Xi didn’t understand Han Shutong’s underlying meaning. She shook her head. “I’m not comparing us to them. I’m just talking about the consequences of promoting a CP, which could affect your career. Contact Sister Qiu and ask the company to stop buying hot searches related to us.”

Han Shutong followed Zhou Xi’s line of thought. “The company hasn’t bought any hot searches, except for a few the production crew purchased.”

“Really? Then these topics…” Zhou Xi paused. “How did netizens get the idea that we have CP chemistry?”

Seeing Zhou Xi’s disbelief, Han Shutong opened Weibo, tapped on the Super Topic she had checked a few times, and showed it to Zhou Xi.

[Zhou Han CP Fans: 25,000]

“The show has only aired two episodes, but the fan count has already surpassed ten thousand. The production crew couldn’t have bought that many.”

Zhou Xi wasn’t listening to Han Shutong’s explanation. She had realized something else.

“This Super Topic…” Zhou Xi paused. “You’ve known about this for a while?”

Han Shutong’s search action was quick and natural; she didn’t seem like someone who didn’t know about it.

Han Shutong: “…”

Exposed.

It’s fine. She could come up with an excuse.

For example: I was trying to search for something else, but it just popped up, so I clicked on it…

That probably wouldn’t work.

Han Shutong was flustered.

She knew why.

It was the feeling of a secret hidden in a secret base being discovered by an adult.

And no matter what nonsense a child invents, they ultimately can’t fool the adult.

“…Mhm.”

After a thought, Han Shutong didn’t deny it.

Seeing Zhou Xi’s expression looking slightly off, Han Shutong explained, “I didn’t think it was a big deal, so I didn’t tell you.”

Before Han Shutong said that, Zhou Xi had wanted to ask a few more questions. But since Han Shutong thought the Super Topic and the CP were “no big deal,” Zhou Xi couldn’t ask anything else. She simply hummed softly.

However, as she turned to continue watching television, Zhou Xi asked, “When did you find out?”

Han Shutong also looked away from Zhou Xi. Hearing the question, she said in a deep voice, “Not long ago.”

Zhou Xi: “Oh, okay.”

“Mhm.”

The two fell into silence.

After a while, Zhou Xi asked, “Does Sister Qiu know?”

“Yes.”

“What about Xiao Mo?”

Han Shutong looked at Zhou Xi, and she saw Zhou Xi was looking at her too.

Han Shutong: “What is it?”

Zhou Xi recalled her previous behavior and found it amusing. She offered a gentle smile. “Just confirming if I was dreaming, because I never thought I’d be paired with you as a CP. It’s like…”

Zhou Xi suddenly stopped talking.

Han Shutong waited a few seconds, and when no further words came, she asked, “Like what?”

Like how I never thought you would like me.

“It’s nothing,” Zhou Xi shook her head and changed the subject. “The show looks like it’s about to start.”

Han Shutong looked at the movie that was about to end. “Let’s finish this first.”

It seemed she also started liking this kind of movie.

Or perhaps she liked the relaxed atmosphere while watching the movie.

Because the person watching the movie beside her was Zhou Xi.

Zhou Xi hummed. “Okay.”

When the two finished the movie and started the variety show, they found that the production crew had placed their segment first this time.

The comments section was already filled with messages.

[Filming an advertisement? Can I say I watched the show specifically because of this advertisement?]

[I watched the commercial too. I can only describe it in four words: Full of GL chemistry!]

[Wait a moment, isn’t the outfit Zhou is wearing in the commercial the same one Han is wearing?]

[They’re close enough to share clothes now?]

[I’m speechless. They changed clothes because Zhou’s clothes were too big, so Han gave her hers. Can CP fans stop overthinking everything they see?]

[Seriously, I have the same cleanliness obsession as Han. If it were just a casual acquaintance, I wouldn’t lend my clothes to anyone else, not even a roommate. I would throw away clothes others wore. If I’m not mistaken, Han was wearing that outfit just a few days ago.]

The comments scrolled by, and Zhou Xi read them.

Han Shutong would wear that outfit because Zhou Xi had washed it for her.

[We’re not reaching. The individuals themselves are literally showering us with sweet moments—no, they brought us a whole sugar factory. We would be doing them a disservice not to ship them.]

[I’m tired of saying the word compatible]

[When are the two of them going public, just saying]

[My wife is so soft]

[One in historical costume and one in modern. The two of them feel like a destined romance across thousands of years. The scene at the end with the modern backdrop, where they sit together watching TV and eating chips, makes that feeling even stronger.]

Zhou Xi looked at the chips on the coffee table, then glanced at Han Shutong next to her.

“…”

She picked up her cup, stood up, and said, “I’m going to get a glass of water. Do you want some?”

Han Shutong hummed.

Zhou Xi carried the cup toward the kitchen.

Before tonight, Zhou Xi might not have felt anything seeing these comments, assuming they were just joking.

But now, she and Han Shutong both knew about a mysterious organization called “Zhou Han CP,” and her sister might even be a member…

And Han Shutong confessed to her yesterday…

This made it impossible for Zhou Xi to pretend everything was normal.

Fortunately, after taking a sip of water, Zhou Xi relaxed.

The content aired was what the production crew wanted people to see. It was inevitable that they would edit their normal interactions to look “abnormal,” and the audience was commenting based on the edited footage.

Therefore, some of the comments were “fake” and driven by the show’s effect.

She didn’t need to care.

But when Zhou Xi carried her water cup back to the living room and unintentionally caught a glimpse of a new comment, she started caring again.

The TV was currently showing the segment where Zhou Xi and Han Shutong were taking photos.

[Beautiful, beautiful women!]

[Any pose is a masterpiece.]

[I would write a blood letter begging the production crew to release the original footage!]

These comments were fine, but one, in particular, stood out:

[They look like they’re taking wedding photos.]

This comment was followed by many others agreeing with it.

They were watching the show on TV this time. Zhou Xi picked up the remote control beside her. She muttered that the sound was too loud, lowering the volume a notch, and very accidentally turning off the comments as well.

Han Shutong, sitting on the sofa, silently watched Zhou Xi’s every move, a deep smile in her eyes.

When Zhou Xi put down the remote and turned to sit back on the sofa, Han Shutong hid the smile in her eyes, pretending not to notice anything.