I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 54

Zhou Xi came to the kitchen to get a plate. After peeling the apple, she wanted to slice it, but realized she had nothing to put the pieces on.

“Auntie, can I slice the apple and put it on a plate? That way Shutong can eat it too.”

“Of course,” Xue Yun said. “Let Xiao Tong cut it for you.”

Han Shutong reached out for the fruit. “Give it to me.”

After Zhou Xi handed the apple to Han Shutong, Xue Yun took Zhou Xi’s hand and said softly, “Let’s go wait outside.”

When Han Shutong walked out with the plate, she saw Xue Yun and Zhou Xi chatting animatedly.

Looking at the scene before her, she suddenly felt that this was what a home should look like.

Her mother was healthy, and the person she loved was also liked by her mother. Watching them talk happily, listening to their casual chats, listening to the elder recall past events…

Past events?

Xue Yun was chatting with Zhou Xi about Han Shutong’s childhood. Han Shutong heard Xue Yun say, “You wouldn’t believe it, when Shutong was little, she—”

Hearing this, Han Shutong, afraid her foolish childhood stories would be revealed, quickly interrupted Xue Yun.

She asked, “Mom, what time is your flight?”

The question successfully diverted Xue Yun’s attention.

Zhou Xi, who had been listening to Xue Yun, looked at Han Shutong with a smile in her eyes, as if to say, I know why you did that.

Han Shutong just smiled back at Zhou Xi.

Xue Yun raised her wrist and looked at the time indicated by the hands. “Oh my, it’s time to head to the airport.”

Xue Yun took Zhou Xi’s hand, patted it affectionately, and said, “Xiao Xi, I’m leaving now. When you two aren’t so busy, have Shutong bring you to G City to see me. I’ll give you a proper welcome then.”

“Okay, Auntie. I’ll certainly visit you when I have the chance.”

Xue Yun winked. “Good, it’s a promise.”

Xue Yun turned to Han Shutong. “My luggage is already in the car downstairs. The car was driven out of your garage. Drive the car back home after you drop me off at the airport.”

“Mhm.”

Noticing Han Shutong was still in her pajamas, Xue Yun said with a slight hint of distaste, “Go change your clothes, then we’ll leave.”

Hearing this, Zhou Xi interjected, “Auntie, I’ll go too.”

“You stay home and rest.”

Zhou Xi shook her head. “I had a great time chatting with Auntie, and I’d like to chat a little longer.”

Xue Yun’s face lit up with joy. “That’s wonderful!”

“You wouldn’t believe it. Every time I ask Xiao Tong to drive me to the airport, she never chats. She only lets me listen to music.”

Xue Yun complained softly to Zhou Xi, but her tone held no real annoyance. “With you today, I finally won’t be bored.”

“…”

Han Shutong, who had just finished changing, heard every word her mother said clearly.

She walked up and said, “Let’s go.”

After dropping Xue Yun off at the airport and watching her head toward the gate, Zhou Xi and Han Shutong left.

On the drive back from the airport, Zhou Xi received a call from Luo Shuiqiu.

“Xiao Xi, Director Li called. He wants you to join the crew the day after tomorrow.”

Director Li was the director who had previously invited Zhou Xi to act, offering her two scripts: one for a villainess third lead, and the other also a third lead, but as the female lead’s best friend.

Zhou Xi was ultimately selected for the villainess role.

“The day after tomorrow? What about the variety show?”

“It’s fine. I’ve already talked to Director Li and Director Gao. We’ll have the production team travel to your location.”

Zhou Xi thought of the person next to her and asked, “What about Shutong?”

Luo Shuiqiu laughed. “Is she next to you?”

“Yes, she is,” Zhou Xi replied. “I’ll put it on speakerphone.”

Zhou Xi then held the phone between the two of them.

“Shutong, Director Li asked me to ask you if you want to join his crew and take a cameo role?”

Luo Shuiqiu paused, then continued, “If you go, I’ll have Director Li arrange your room and other matters. If you don’t go, I’ll tell Director Gao to keep some people at home.”

If Han Shutong didn’t go, their segment would have to be filmed separately—one part focusing on Zhou Xi and one on Han Shutong—and then edited together later.

Han Shutong was driving, looking straight ahead. Her voice was cool. “What about Xiao Qi?”

The last time Director Li invited her to act, Han Shutong refused, citing a prior engagement.

The reason wasn’t fabricated; she had to meet with a director named Xiao Qi.

“Xiao Qi is in the same city you’re going to. You can just ask for leave and go meet him.”

“Mhm, got it.”

“So you’re going, then? I’ll tell Director Li, and we’ll draw up the contract.”

Han Shutong: “Mhm.”

“Alright, I’m hanging up. Bye, Xiao Xi.”

With a beep, the call ended.

Zhou Xi put her phone away, her gaze drifting to the scenery outside the window.

As several buildings flashed past, Zhou Xi mentally reviewed her work status of the past few days.

Zhou Xi opened the car window slightly. As the wind blew into the car, she spoke slowly, “This is the busiest I’ve ever been. I came home from work, barely stayed a few days, and now I’m flying to another city to continue working.”

Zhou Xi seemed to be talking to Han Shutong, yet also to herself. “But I really like this feeling. It immerses me in work, pushing me to do things. It lets me stop thinking about what to do next, and I even feel like my wallet will grow fuller because of it. I have to say, it feels quite good.”

Zhou Xi smiled and turned her head, looking at Han Shutong’s profile. She asked, “You said Sister Qiu gave you this variety show to rest. Does that mean that before filming the show, your schedule was always packed like this? Full of work, with no free time?”

“…Mhm.”

Zhou Xi opened up. “Then when you suddenly had free time after starting the variety show, you must have been very unaccustomed to it.”

“No.”

The unexpected answer made Zhou Xi instinctively pause. “Mhm?”

Han Shutong replied, “Because my attention was diverted, I wasn’t too focused on my own issues.”

“Diverted? By what?”

Just then, they reached a red light.

Han Shutong stopped the car and turned to Zhou Xi. Her gaze rested on Zhou Xi’s eyes and eyebrows—the faint curve of her brows, the long, curling eyelashes, the eyes that had experienced the world yet were still full of affection.

Han Shutong traced every feature, gently drawing what she saw onto the canvas of her heart.

The person drawn on that canvas was, without exception, always the same.

There was Zhou Xi smiling, Zhou Xi pursing her lips, Zhou Xi contemplating, Zhou Xi being adorable, and even Zhou Xi’s rare playful expressions were there.

After drawing a confused Zhou Xi, the sound of a car horn blared in her ear.

The light was green.

Han Shutong looked away from Zhou Xi. As the car drove forward, she said, “By you.”

Han Shutong’s voice was even, and she spoke calmly, just like an everyday conversation.

Four years ago, because of Zhou Xi’s appearance, a spark of light entered Han Shutong’s black-and-white world. She followed Zhou Xi, watching the world light up with color because of her.

Perhaps because she had watched Zhou Xi for so long, she slowly, slowly started wanting to grasp that color in her hands. She wanted to see if she could also turn colorful.

But the thought was too bold. She hesitated for four years, never having the courage to touch it.

The only thing she could do was connect with a single thread.

Until the day she saw a darkness on the colorful Zhou Xi—she didn’t know if it was gray or something else—she only wanted to help wipe that darkness away.

She sent that message.

The color came to her side, giving color to everything around her.

She hadn’t seen such a bright world in a long time.

As a result, all her attention was focused on Zhou Xi.

This time, she had the courage and began slowly, slowly drawing closer.

But today, she was told that the other person might leave.

After hearing about Zhou Xi’s blind date, Han Shutong seemed calm on the surface, but her heart was in chaos.

“Take your time, don’t rush.”

She had already been slow enough.

If she slowed down any further…

How could a person who didn’t already have her in their heart wait for her to slow down?

Zhou Xi didn’t respond to Han Shutong’s answer.

A strange tension filled the car.

For a few minutes, the only sound in the car was the music.

Han Shutong held the steering wheel, tapping her index finger on it. “Are you going home for the Mid-Autumn Festival?”

Zhou Xi slightly shook her head. “No.”

Han Shutong glanced at the rearview mirror. “Then when are you planning to go back?”

“After filming.”

Her scenes weren’t numerous; she estimated she’d be done in about half a month.

Han Shutong estimated the time. She guessed the filming would take half a month. By then, the variety show recording would be nearing its end, with only the group activities left to film.

And by that time, their contract would also expire.

Han Shutong was suddenly very grateful that she had managed to keep Zhou Xi earlier.

Remembering the house in Chengnan, Han Shutong realized the orphanage was in Chengnan. Zhou Xi planning to move there must be to look after Lele.

Han Shutong felt a warmth wash over her.

How could someone be… so endearing?

“Then when you get back from home, let’s move into the Chengnan house,” Han Shutong said.

Zhou Xi paused.

A voice told her that she should refuse.

But the refusal that reached her lips turned into: “Let’s talk about it later.”

Before today, Han Shutong would have remained silent upon hearing this, nodding and agreeing with Zhou Xi. But today, Han Shutong, realizing the pressure, didn’t want to leave any room for future regret.

She said, “Why talk about it later? Didn’t we already agree?”

Zhou Xi felt that Han Shutong was acting strangely now. She hummed. “I’m afraid of unforeseen changes.”

“That unforeseen change is me, isn’t it?”

Han Shutong knew what Zhou Xi was thinking.

Zhou Xi didn’t like her, so Zhou Xi thought Han Shutong’s kindness was calculated to make Zhou Xi fall for her.

And this thought made Han Shutong’s kindness a burden—an unethical act to accept kindness while rejecting affection.

It was like a scenario where someone accepts a birthday gift from a secret admirer but rejects their confession. Some people would call that person a “player.”

Zhou Xi was thinking exactly that.

She felt that accepting Han Shutong’s kindness while rejecting her confession was tantamount to “using” Han Shutong.

“Teacher Zhou,” Han Shutong called out.

Zhou Xi looked at Han Shutong.

Han Shutong saw Zhou Xi looking at her in her periphery. She pursed her lips and said in a low voice, “Don’t reject me because I like you.”

Her tone carried an underlying plea that was hard to detect.

“I’m not,” Zhou Xi instinctively denied.

And that was exactly the answer Han Shutong wanted.

Han Shutong only smiled and said, “That’s good,” then asked again, “Then when you get back from home, can we move to Chengnan?”

The denial a few seconds ago forced Zhou Xi to give an answer that was no longer ambiguous this time.

Zhou Xi said, “Okay.”

Author’s Note:

Zhou Xi sniffed: That’s the smell of a trap.