I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 6

Facing Zhou Xi’s low-voiced interrogation, Yan Meng Nuo just chuckled and said, “How could I? It’s just that the interviewers at those few companies you went to know me. They knew you were from my company, so they all came to ask me what you were like.”

Yan Meng Nuo then asked, “But do you want to guess what I told them?”

“Sorry, I’m not interested.”

Zhou Xi looked over the boxes on the floor, calculating which section to organize first. “I’ve decided not to pursue this line of work anymore, so whether they sign me or not doesn’t matter. But you—you were the one who initially said no to renewal, and now you’re the one who wants to renew. You get to say everything, so what is there left for me to say?”

Yan Meng Nuo hummed, “Just say you’re willing.”

Zhou Xi put down her phone, ready to hang up.

But the person on the other end said again, “Are you free? I’d like to treat you to dinner.”

“I’m busy.”

“Then…” Yan Meng Nuo turned to look at Qi Jie, “Qi Jie, go tell the finance department not to issue Zhou Xi’s salary for this month.”

In truth, this was Zhou Xi’s only remaining salary.

“…”

“I can sue you,” Zhou Xi said.

“Oh, is that so? But I suppose sending you two hundred dollars still counts as issuing a salary, doesn’t it?” Yan Meng Nuo laughed.

Zhou Xi was about to hang up the phone immediately.

But payday was just three days away, and she thought about her Alipay balance…

I’ll endure this for the sake of the money.

Zhou Xi kept a poker face but smiled as she spoke, “Boss, I suddenly remembered I don’t have anything planned for the evening and can have dinner with you.”

“Good. I’ll pick you up.” Yan Meng Nuo’s voice returned to its charming tone.

Zhou Xi refused, “No need. Just send me the address.”

Yan Meng Nuo laughed, “My darling is being so proactive?”

Zhou Xi simply didn’t want to expose Han Shutong’s home address. Yan Meng Nuo would find out once the show aired anyway.

“I have a name.”

“Alright, Zhou Zhou darling, see you at the usual spot then~”

Yan Meng Nuo had invited Zhou Xi twice before this, but Zhou Xi only went once.

And the reason for that time… was exactly the same as today’s threat.

Zhou Xi frowned. This time, she was truly going to hang up.

But to her surprise, Yan Meng Nuo beat her to it.

“Beep beep beep…”

Hanging up the phone, Yan Meng Nuo got up from the desk, tossed the phone to Qi Jie, and instructed, “Go tell the finance department…”

Qi Jie quickly spoke up for Zhou Xi, “Boss, Sister Zhou agreed to have dinner with you. Why are you still docking her salary?”

The smile Yan Meng Nuo wore while on the phone with Zhou Xi vanished. Her entire demeanor turned cold and aloof, making her unapproachable. She glanced at Qi Jie and said, “Tell the finance department that since Zhou Xi trended on the hot search, she brought a lot of potential collaborations to the company, so we’ll give her a bonus.”

Qi Jie’s eyes lit up. “How much should we give her?”

“I heard she’s looking for an apartment recently?” Yan Meng Nuo asked.

Qi Jie confirmed, “Yes, but she hasn’t found one yet.”

Yan Meng Nuo hummed, tapping her finger rhythmically on the desk. Amidst the faint clinking sound, Yan Meng Nuo’s voice rang out: “Reward her with 30,000 yuan.”

Zhou Xi spent the entire afternoon tidying up and finally organized all her luggage.

Han Shutong rarely stayed in the apartment after buying it, so there were very few items inside. Although someone regularly came to clean, the apartment felt cold and lacked the feeling of a home; it was more like a hotel.

However, once Zhou Xi finished organizing, placing her usual decorations in Han Shutong’s living room, and filling the previously empty kitchen with her pots, pans, and utensils, the place instantly transformed.

With the tidying complete, it was time for her appointment with Yan Meng Nuo.

Zhou Xi, dressed in simple casual wear, dragged her tired body to the restaurant where she was scheduled to meet Yan Meng Nuo.

But when Zhou Xi arrived, she realized she might have misunderstood Yan Meng Nuo’s definition of “dinner.”

Looking at the lit candle on the table and the bouquet of red roses, Zhou Xi tilted her head and asked, “Did you invite someone else?”

Yan Meng Nuo crossed her hands, looking at Zhou Xi, and said, “It’s just you, darling.”

“Then these…”

“They are for you,” Yan Meng Nuo said. “How do you like this candlelight dinner?”

Zhou Xi’s eyebrows involuntarily twitched. She sat across from Han Shutong, plucked a rose petal, and gently rubbed the soft petal between her fingers. Zhou Xi quietly asked, “So, what exactly do you want?”

Yan Meng Nuo didn’t answer immediately but tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “We can talk after dinner.”

With that, Yan Meng Nuo called the waiter over.

And as the waiter approached, another gaze followed them closely.

“Miss Han, this way please.”

Although the waiter tried hard to suppress her excitement while directing Han Shutong, her elevated voice betrayed her enthusiasm.

Hearing the waiter’s voice, Han Shutong withdrew her gaze. She had only glanced over casually, but when she saw a very familiar back, her eyes lingered a bit longer.

The waiter’s announcement interrupted Han Shutong.

But as Han Shutong walked behind the waiter, something suddenly occurred to her.

That familiar person…

looked a lot like Zhou Xi.

The distant Han Shutong didn’t notice that because the waiter’s voice was quite loud, most people in the restaurant had looked over at them.

And among those people was Zhou Xi.

Zhou Xi recognized Han Shutong in just one glance, but she wasn’t surprised by Han Shutong’s presence here. This restaurant was frequented by people discussing business collaborations, so Han Shutong’s work that afternoon must have been here.

Zhou Xi turned her attention back and saw Yan Meng Nuo looking at her.

Zhou Xi mimicked Yan Meng Nuo, crossing her hands and resting her chin on them. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she said, “There’s one thing I truly don’t understand. You were the one who suggested the non-renewal initially, so why the change of heart now? Is it just because I went viral on a hot search?”

Seeing that Zhou Xi seemed unwilling to wait until after dinner, Yan Meng Nuo had no choice but to say, “To be precise, I regretted it even before the hot search.”

Yan Meng Nuo’s words stunned Zhou Xi. She highly doubted the truthfulness of that statement.

Zhou Xi: “What?”

“Nothing, it’s just that I saw your cut on Bilibili and felt your acting was good. You just had bad luck—you filmed several projects that never aired…”

Zhou Xi agreed with a hum. While she wanted to argue about Yan Meng Nuo saying she had bad luck, it was, unfortunately, true.

“What is this Bilibili cut you’re talking about?” Zhou Xi didn’t use Bilibili and had no idea this video existed.

“My darling can search for it herself,” Yan Meng Nuo said, resting her chin on one hand and staring at Zhou Xi.

While Zhou Xi was downloading the app, Yan Meng Nuo continued, “If you re-sign with me, I will create a character persona for you. With a persona and your looks, how can you not become famous?”

“Tell me about it.”

Zhou Xi was curious about the persona Yan Meng Nuo had in mind and wondered what she thought would suit her.

Yan Meng Nuo’s eyes scanned over Zhou Xi, and finally, she purred two words: “Eye Candy.”

Zhou Xi: “?”

“You have outstanding charisma, you’re very attractive, and your figure is great. You are perfectly suited to be eye candy,” Yan Meng Nuo continued. “And once you become famous with the ‘Eye Candy’ persona, we’ll slowly reveal your talent. They’ll then see you as a diamond in the rough…”

[You think I’m interested in listening.jpg]

Zhou Xi stood up. “Dinner is just about over. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

“So, what is your answer?”

Zhou Xi crossed her arms and said softly, “I am clearly so talented, yet you want me to play the part of an empty vase? I’m sorry, my pride won’t allow me to accept that.”

“Hahaha.” Yan Meng Nuo’s shoulders shook with laughter at Zhou Xi’s remark. Covering her mouth, she said, “Darling, you are so cute.”

The waiter came over with the dishes at that moment. “Miss, your…”

Zhou Xi picked up her bag from the chair, waved at Yan Meng Nuo, and said, “I’m leaving. Thanks for the meal.”

Yan Meng Nuo looked at Zhou Xi, her eyes filled with even more amusement.

And Bai Mo, coming down from upstairs, just happened to see Zhou Xi’s retreating figure.

Zhou Xi walked down the street, one arm tucked across her chest, leisurely strolling.

“Zhou Xi?”

Hearing her name called, Zhou Xi stopped and looked up.

She saw a female student in a school uniform, with a low ponytail, standing a few steps away, holding a backpack.

Zhou Xi thought for two seconds and confirmed that she had never met this young girl before.

“Who are you?” Zhou Xi asked softly.

The girl walked up to Zhou Xi, pulling something out of her bag as she spoke. “I’m your fan. May I please have your autograph?”

“My fan?”

“Yes. My Weibo name is ‘Zhou Zhou Zhou’s Little Cotton Jacket.’ Do you remember me?”

Hearing the familiar name, the smile on Zhou Xi’s face deepened. “How could I not know you? I get ten likes on a Weibo post, and you’re in every single one.”

The girl shyly scratched her head, saying, “I can’t believe we met by chance.”

As Zhou Xi signed the autograph, she asked, “Why are you out on the street so late?”

The girl: “I just came out of tutoring.”

Zhou Xi looked up. It was already completely dark. Concerned, she said, “Then let me walk you home.”

“No need, my home is not far from here,” the girl said, pointing to the east.

Zhou Xi nodded, handed the signed paper to the girl, and said, “Then hurry back.”

The little girl took the paper, hesitated, and then looked up at Zhou Xi. “Sister, although you don’t have many scenes in the TV dramas you’ve been in, your acting is really good. Someone will definitely notice you. Just like the hot search yesterday, you gained over ten thousand fans. There are a lot of people in the fan group now. I believe you will shine brightly in the future.”

“So, I’m a space heater?” Zhou Xi instinctively quipped.

Fortunately, the little girl understood Zhou Xi’s humor. After a moment of pause, she said, “That’s right, you’re a space heater.”

With that, the two shared a smile.

After bidding the little girl farewell, Zhou Xi continued walking forward.

The gloom from the dinner with Yan Meng Nuo was completely swept away by the little girl’s appearance. Zhou Xi was in a cheerful mood, humming a tune.

Zhou Xi walked to the curb, looking down at a ride-hailing app, when she heard a voice beside her: “Sister Zhou, hop in quickly~”

Zhou Xi looked toward the sound and saw the same car that picked her up that morning parked about five steps away.

Bai Mo stood by the door, waving at her.

After Zhou Xi walked over and saw the person in the car, she smiled at Han Shutong and said, “I just saw you at the restaurant!”

Bai Mo heard Zhou Xi’s words. After Zhou Xi settled into the car, she asked, “Sister Zhou, who was that woman you were having dinner with at the restaurant? She was so sexy and beautiful~”