I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 53

After turning off the comments, Zhou Xi put the remote control back in its place.

As she turned back to the sofa, her steps faltered. Before pouring water, a StellaLou doll separated her and Han Shutong. Although they were sitting close, they weren’t entirely touching.

But now, Han Shutong had the doll in her arms at some point. If Zhou Xi sat back down, there would be no barrier between her and Han Shutong. If she didn’t sit back down, it would look deliberate.

“Come sit down and watch.”

Just then, Han Shutong “coincidentally” spoke.

Zhou Xi had no time to hesitate and could only sit back down in her original spot.

Now, there was no doll separating her and Han Shutong, only a short ten-centimeter gap, making the two look very intimate.

Soon, their segment ended. Next was Su Jingxing, then the Bai Lu couple, and Wu Yingran was last.

Before Wu Yingran’s segment, Han Shutong had remained seated next to Zhou Xi, watching the show with her.

When Wu Yingran’s segment started, Han Shutong thought of the hair tie.

Glancing down at the accessory on her wrist, Han Shutong got up and said, “I’m going to wash up first.”

Zhou Xi got up as well. “I’ll go too.”

Han Shutong was surprised for a moment, then smiled. “Then I’ll turn off the TV?”

Zhou Xi didn’t hesitate. “Yes, yes.”

Zhou Xi got up, not because she saw Wu Yingran.

Rather, she felt sleepy shortly after sitting back down on the sofa.

But seeing Han Shutong watching so intently, she felt embarrassed to say she wanted to go to bed, especially since she was the one who invited Han Shutong to watch together.

Han Shutong watched Zhou Xi follow her into the bathroom. She naturally squeezed toothpaste onto Zhou Xi’s brush and ran water into the cup.

Seeing this, Zhou Xi reached out. “I can do it myself.”

Han Shutong had already finished. She handed the items to Zhou Xi. “Here.”

Zhou Xi looked down. Han Shutong’s gesture made her feel obligated to be polite. She said, “Thank you.”

Han Shutong smiled quietly, not speaking.

Zhou Xi stepped back toward the door, preparing to give Han Shutong space.

Previously, they always staggered their washing up times; they had never brushed their teeth together. Zhou Xi assumed Han Shutong would return to her bedroom’s bathroom to brush her teeth, but Han Shutong didn’t show any sign of leaving, even as she started brushing.

Zhou Xi looked at Han Shutong. Han Shutong, in turn, subtly motioned toward the sink with her chin, indicating they should use it together.

Zhou Xi hesitated for a few seconds, then took a step forward.

Now, she and Han Shutong stood on opposite sides of the sink. Their reflections were visible in the wall mirror.

There were two of them, but it didn’t feel crowded at all.

Zhou Xi brushed her teeth, looking into the mirror.

Han Shutong also looked into the mirror.

Inevitably, their eyes met in the reflection.

Han Shutong’s gaze in the mirror was focused on her, her eyes curved in a smile.

Something struck Zhou Xi suddenly.

This feeling…

It’s very peculiar.

The next day, the first thing Zhou Xi did upon waking up was check the time on her phone.

Quarter past eight.

She had slept for eight hours.

Her sleep was full, yet Zhou Xi still felt drowsy. She hugged the blanket and closed her eyes again.

But she couldn’t fall back asleep.

Zhou Xi reluctantly got out of bed. Just as she turned the doorknob and pulled the door ajar, the voice of a mature woman entered Zhou Xi’s ears.

The voice, both strange and familiar, banished Zhou Xi’s sleepiness.

“Be gentle. Don’t wake up Xiao Xi.”

After the woman spoke, the sound of Han Shutong’s voice replying followed. “Why are you buying fish?”

“To eat, of course. I’m going to make fish soup tonight to nourish Xiao Xi.”

“…Mhm.”

Hearing this, Zhou Xi gently closed the door she had just opened. She went back into the room, changed out of her pajamas, smoothed her hair, and then opened the door again.

Stepping out of the room, she met the woman coming out of the kitchen.

“Auntie,” Zhou Xi called out.

The speaker was Xue Yun; Zhou Xi had guessed it when she heard her second sentence.

Xue Yun responded, then quickly walked up to Zhou Xi, her tone soft. “Xiao Xi, are you awake? Did we wake you up? I’m so sorry, I must have been loud.”

Zhou Xi shook her head and smiled. “I woke up on my own.”

“Good, as long as I didn’t wake you,” Xue Yun took Zhou Xi’s arm and guided her toward the coffee table. “Did you sleep well?”

“Very well,” Zhou Xi followed up with a question. “What time did Auntie arrive?”

Xue Yun replied, “Just arrived not long ago.”

As they reached the coffee table, Xue Yun untied several plastic bags placed on top. “Auntie bought some food for you two. See if there’s anything you like.”

Zhou Xi looked at the array of items in the bags and smiled. “Thank you, Auntie. That’s too much trouble.”

Xue Yun waved her hand. “You weren’t here the day I came back. This is my compensation for you.”

Zhou Xi: “Actually, I should be the one visiting you, Auntie.”

“It’s all the same, as long as we meet,” Xue Yun smiled. “I’m heading back to G City this afternoon, so I came to see you and have a reunion. I figured you’d both be busy during the Mid-Autumn Festival, so we’re celebrating it early today.”

Zhou Xi asked, “Auntie is leaving?”

Xue Yun hummed. She had other things to attend to.

Xue Yun picked up a box from the floor. “Look, I bought you mooncakes, too. Do you want a piece?”

Xue Yun’s smile was warm. Zhou Xi didn’t want to disappoint her and nodded in agreement.

But just as Xue Yun opened the mooncake box and split a piece for Zhou Xi.

Han Shutong, coming out of the kitchen, walked over, took the mooncakes from both their hands, and said coldly, “Eat breakfast.”

Xue Yun lightly patted Han Shutong’s arm, then smiled and whispered to Zhou Xi, “We’ll eat after breakfast.”

“Okay.”

Zhou Xi’s compliance with Xue Yun’s wishes made Xue Yun like her even more. During breakfast, she continuously added food to Zhou Xi’s bowl, making Zhou Xi very full from a simple breakfast.

After eating, Zhou Xi was arranged by Xue Yun to sit on the sofa and watch TV with her, while Han Shutong dutifully washed the dishes in the kitchen.

Hearing the rush of water, Zhou Xi got up and said to Xue Yun, “Auntie, I’ll go help Shutong.”

Han Shutong had made breakfast, so she should be the one to wash the dishes. But with Han Shutong doing the washing, Zhou Xi felt uncomfortable.

“Hey, you sit, you sit.” Xue Yun stood up, placed her hand on Zhou Xi’s shoulder, and gently pressed her back onto the sofa. “Don’t feel embarrassed. I have an ulterior motive.”

Zhou Xi was confused. “Motive?”

Xue Yun nodded, a playful look in her eyes. “Yes, I’m teaching Xiao Tong how to care for someone.”

“Ah?”

Xue Yun laughed. “When she eventually gets a girlfriend, shouldn’t she help her girlfriend cook and wash dishes?”

Zhou Xi looked at Xue Yun with a little surprise. She hadn’t expected Xue Yun to know that Han Shutong liked women.

Seeing Zhou Xi silent, Xue Yun cleared her throat, then asked as if it were an afterthought, “Xiao Xi, what do you think of Xiao Tong?”

Zhou Xi answered seriously, “Shutong is very good. She’s beautiful and capable, and she’s also caring.”

Caring?

Xue Yun mumbled to herself: How did she not know her daughter had this skill?

But Xue Yun soon understood that her daughter’s caring nature was reserved only for Zhou Xi.

Xue Yun dropped her smile and instantly sighed, lowering her head. “Alas.”

Zhou Xi heard it and immediately asked, “What’s wrong, Auntie?”

Xue Yun spoke in a disappointed tone. “What good is ‘good’ if she doesn’t bring me another daughter?”

Zhou Xi paused, then comforted her, “Auntie, you can’t rush these things. Take your time.”

Xue Yun hummed, then asked, “Do your family members pressure you?”

“Yes. When I go home, my family will arrange a blind date for me,” Zhou Xi said calmly, as if discussing someone else’s affairs.

“Blind date?” Xue Yun became anxious. How could the daughter she had her eye on suddenly be taken away? She grabbed Zhou Xi’s hand. “Then you must look carefully at the person. Don’t be fooled by appearances.”

Zhou Xi felt warmed by Xue Yun’s concern. She smiled. “Mhm.”

Looking at Zhou Xi’s smile, Xue Yun felt a pang of reluctance, as if her own daughter was about to be married off.

“Well, you watch TV here for a while. I’ll go check if Xiao Tong is done washing up.”

Xue Yun wanted to have a word with Han Shutong.

Zhou Xi heard Xue Yun was going to the kitchen. Feeling it was inappropriate for her to sit while both mother and daughter were busy, she offered to go instead.

She stood up. “I’ll go.”

Xue Yun took a piece of fruit from the fruit bowl and handed it to Zhou Xi. “Could you peel an apple for Auntie?”

When Zhou Xi took it, Xue Yun added, “Thank you, Xiao Xi~”

Then Xue Yun turned and walked toward the kitchen.

In the kitchen.

Han Shutong had already put the clean dishes and utensils away in the cabinets and was washing her hands when Xue Yun walked up beside her.

Han Shutong called out, “Mom.”

Then she continued washing her hands, not asking why Xue Yun had suddenly come to the kitchen.

Xue Yun looked back at Zhou Xi, who was peeling the apple, and then lowered her voice to ask, “Xiao Xi’s family has arranged a blind date for her. Did you know about this?”

The water was running, but the two hands in the water stopped moving. Water splashed onto the backs of her hands.

Han Shutong looked up at Xue Yun, then pressed her lips together, silent.

Xue Yun immediately understood. “Silent means you didn’t know?”

Han Shutong replied quietly, “Mhm.”

Han Shutong continued washing her hands. To remove the remaining grease, she applied soap.

She was rubbing her hands in circles, the soap lathering and disappearing.

“And did you and Xiao Xi…” Xue Yun saw her daughter’s expression wasn’t good and didn’t continue the question. “Never mind. I won’t ask. You handle it yourself.”

Xue Yun placed her hand on Han Shutong’s shoulder and added, “Seeing Xiao Xi’s reaction, she probably doesn’t like the idea of a blind date. Don’t be too sad. She’s just listening to her parents. We don’t know if anything will come of it.”

“If you ask me, this is a modern age. Arranged marriages are a thing of the past. As long as Xiao Xi doesn’t want it, it won’t matter how many blind dates her parents set up for her.”

Xue Yun didn’t know much about Zhou Xi’s family situation, but she could only comfort Han Shutong this way.

Han Shutong rinsed the soap off her hands, looked up, and smiled at Xue Yun. “Thank you, Mom.”

Han Shutong understood Xue Yun’s intention to comfort her.

Zhou Xi’s voice was heard from the living room. Hearing it getting closer, Xue Yun squeezed Han Shutong’s arm and repeated what Zhou Xi had said to her earlier. “Take your time. No need to rush.”