I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 60

“Why are you telling me what to do?”

The words hung in the air. Han Shutong herself was stunned when she heard them.

She opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but the words died on her tongue.

She clearly wanted to say “Okay.”

Why did she say that instead?

After a few seconds of silence, Han Shutong vaguely seemed to understand herself.

Before today, Han Shutong had been eagerly anticipating Zhou Xi’s answer, hoping to be with her.

But after the dream she just had, and impulsively kissing Zhou Xi, Han Shutong suddenly felt that perhaps being just friends with Zhou Xi… might be better.

It was like the phrase she cried in her dream when she couldn’t find Zhou Xi: I don’t like you anymore. Please come back, okay?

This way, Zhou Xi wouldn’t feel burdened by Han Shutong’s affection and wouldn’t have to worry about how much distance to keep when interacting with her.

The sound of water from Zhou Xi washing her hands echoed in the hallway. It suggested to Han Shutong: Your idea is correct.

Her washing the spot you kissed is her way of hinting that she dislikes you, loathes you, and finds you disgusting. Her purpose is to make you leave her side voluntarily.

Otherwise, when the contract expires, she will vanish from your world.

Han Shutong was scared.

She was terrified that the events of her dream would come true.

Afraid the lights would become circles, afraid everything else would be blurred by fog, and afraid that Zhou Xi… would leave her.

Thinking this, the brave step Han Shutong had taken forward ultimately retreated. She even took half a step back.

Han Shutong returned to outside the safety line of loving Zhou Xi.

She could move around freely, she could quietly look at the “tulip” outside the line. She no longer had to worry about her enthusiasm burning it, nor did she have to worry about losing control when she was very, very close to it.

Han Shutong draped the jacket over her arm, her eyes fixed on Zhou Xi, her expression blank.

Zhou Xi was stunned by Han Shutong’s question. She hadn’t expected Han Shutong to reply to her like that.

The current Han Shutong felt foreign, making Zhou Xi instinctively want to keep a distance from her.

An awkwardness permeated the air.

Zhou Xi forced a smile, her tone strained. “It was just a suggestion. I wasn’t lecturing you.”

Zhou Xi took a step back, moving further away from Han Shutong.

“I’ll head back now if there’s nothing else. I don’t want to bother you.”

Without waiting for Han Shutong’s reply, Zhou Xi turned and walked toward her room.

Seeing this, Han Shutong raised her arm, wanting to stop Zhou Xi, but in the next second, her raised hand slowly dropped to her side.

Thus, Han Shutong watched motionlessly as Zhou Xi walked away from her.

And there was nothing she could do.

Because their rooms were adjacent, Zhou Xi didn’t close the door immediately.

As Zhou Xi took a step into her room, she turned to look at Han Shutong, her voice soft. “Although your medicine is finished, it would be better to quit smoking and drinking before starting the second phase of the treatment. The effect will be better.”

Zhou Xi paused, then added, “Of course, that’s just a suggestion, too.”

Then Zhou Xi entered her room.

With a click, Han Shutong saw Zhou Xi’s door close tightly.

A minute later, Han Shutong withdrew her attention from the door and walked back into her room.

Han Shutong walked to the cabinet and pulled open the drawer again.

She looked at the box in her hand. The moment the warning text came into view, Han Shutong put the box back in its place.

After the commencement ceremony, many leaked photos appeared online.

After just two days, the majority of netizens knew about the existence of this drama.

In addition to this, Bai Mo discovered something else: Sister Zhou and Sister Tong had fought.

Why was she so sure?

Because it was painfully obvious.

For example, at mealtimes, normally, Sister Tong and Sister Zhou would definitely eat together, talking and laughing, exchanging food, pouring water for each other, and so on.

But for the past two days on the set, every time she asked Sister Tong if she wanted to eat with Sister Zhou, Sister Tong would refuse, saying, “This is rest time. We shouldn’t disturb each other.”

Considering their chairs were only a meter apart, close enough to hear each other unless they whispered, how could they “not disturb” each other?

And when she asked Sister Zhou, although Zhou Xi didn’t use the exact same words, her refusal carried the same meaning.

If she didn’t figure out something was wrong after all this, she had lived her life in vain.

Returning to the hotel from the set, Bai Mo sat in a chair, her eyes fixed on Han Shutong, who was reading a script on the sofa.

Perhaps Bai Mo’s gaze was too focused and too prolonged, making it difficult for Han Shutong to ignore her.

Han Shutong glanced at Bai Mo, put down the script, and took a sip of water to clear her throat.

Putting the cup down, Han Shutong slowly spoke, “What do you want to say?”

Hearing Han Shutong ask her, Bai Mo immediately stood up from the chair and walked over to Han Shutong. She cautiously suggested, “Sister Tong, the Mid-Autumn Festival is tomorrow. Why don’t you and Sister Zhou celebrate together and have a meal? I can book a restaurant for you.”

Yes, Bai Mo wanted to reconcile the two of them.

Although it was common for friends to have a big fight every week and a small one every three days, it was not normal for Zhou Xi and Han Shutong.

One was cold and unwilling to say an extra word, the other was all smiles and gentle as water.

Bai Mo genuinely couldn’t figure out how they had fought.

But Bai Mo couldn’t worry about that right now. She just wanted the two of them to return to normal. After all, she felt uncomfortable with the atmosphere where their combined dialogue was less than ten sentences over the past two days.

Mid-Autumn Festival?

Han Shutong had forgotten which day the Mid-Autumn Festival was. She picked up her phone and checked the calendar.

It was indeed tomorrow.

They should eat together.

Han Shutong immediately opened WeChat and tapped on the pinned chat box. Just as she was about to type a message, her finger froze.

Locking the screen, Han Shutong looked up at Bai Mo. “Go ask Teacher Zhou… for her opinion first.”

Bai Mo’s eyes lit up when she heard this. This was the first time in two days that Han Shutong hadn’t refused the suggestion to eat with Zhou Xi.

Thank you, Mid-Autumn Festival. Thank you, Chang’e. Thank you, Wu Gang. Thank you…

With a hundred and eight thank-you thoughts flashing through her mind, Bai Mo turned around and said, “Roger that! I’m going now.”

Since Zhou Xi lived next door, Bai Mo decided not to call and planned to knock on the door instead.

Bai Mo walked out of the room. As she turned, her eyes habitually looked into the distance.

And with that glance, Bai Mo froze in place.

She saw Zhou Xi and a young woman standing by the elevator a few meters away, chatting and laughing.

That wasn’t the point. The point was… the woman had both arms linked around Zhou Xi’s arm, her head resting on Sister Zhou’s shoulder.

Sister Zhou had even affectionately brushed the girl’s bangs and playfully pinched her cheek, smiling as she said something.

Bai Mo instinctively felt that Han Shutong shouldn’t see this. She didn’t question why she felt this way. She was about to quickly close the door but hit a soft spot behind her as she swung her arm back, producing a muffled sound.

She glanced sideways and saw the spot she hit was someone’s waist.

Bai Mo turned and saw Han Shutong standing right behind her.

She hit Sister Tong’s waist?

Bai Mo immediately panicked.

“Sister Tong, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know you were behind me. I didn’t mean to hit you. I’m so sorry! Does it hurt? Let me rub it for you.”

Bai Mo’s voice was frantic, causing the two by the elevator to look back.

Zhou Xi’s eyes immediately spotted Han Shutong standing at the doorway, looking right at them.

In that moment, Zhou Xi and Han Shutong’s eyes met.

The person next to Zhou Xi, seeing Han Shutong, smiled even more widely. She let go of Zhou Xi’s arm and sprinted toward Han Shutong.

Zhou Xi called out her name, trying to stop her, but the girl ignored her.

Even so, Han Shutong’s eyes remained fixed on Zhou Xi, not shifting even an inch.

The girl ran up to Han Shutong, tilting her head slightly to look at Han Shutong’s profile. She smiled and said:

“Older Sister Han, I really, really like you. Although I have your autographed photo, merchandise, and posters, I want to ask now if I can take a picture with you?”

Bai Mo stepped in front of Han Shutong, firmly refusing. “I’m sorry, this is private time. No photos.”

“Ah?” The girl’s smile instantly vanished when she heard Bai Mo’s words.

The quick change in emotion showed the girl was very simple and had no ill intentions toward Han Shutong or Bai Mo.

Zhou Xi also walked toward them. Han Shutong, who had been locked in a gaze with Zhou Xi, finally looked away when she saw Zhou Xi moving. She looked down at the girl beside her and smiled faintly. “Of course, you can.”

Bai Mo froze beside her, thinking she was hearing things.

She can? Sister Tong actually said she can?

Why?

Is it just because this girl knows Sister Zhou?

No, it wasn’t. It was because Han Shutong heard it when Zhou Xi called the girl’s name.

Zhou Xi had called out: “Xiao Mei.”

Zhou Simei, Xiao Mei.

Zhou Xi’s younger sister.

Zhou Simei jumped up and down when she heard Han Shutong’s words. “That’s fantastic!”

Zhou Xi walked up to them. The girl saw Zhou Xi approaching and quickly handed her phone to Zhou Xi. She said, “Sis, Older Sister Han agreed to take a picture with me. Hurry and take the picture.”

“Sis?” Bai Mo asked in surprise. “Are you Miss Zhou’s sister?”

Zhou Simei looked at Bai Mo and nodded. “Yes. Why else would I call her Sis?”

The moment Zhou Simei finished speaking, Zhou Xi called out, “Xiao Mei.”

Her tone carried a hint of sternness.

Han Shutong, standing nearby, recognized the tone in Zhou Xi’s voice. She subconsciously frowned.

She suddenly thought: This… must be the tone she uses when she’s ordering someone around.

Zhou Simei instantly understood Zhou Xi’s meaning. She giggled. “I know, Sis. I’ll be polite next time.”

After apologizing to Bai Mo, Zhou Simei quickly stood next to Han Shutong, waved to Zhou Xi, and made a peace sign. “Sis, hurry up.”

Zhou Xi didn’t immediately lift the phone. She looked up and softly asked Han Shutong, “Is this okay?”

Han Shutong nodded. “Mhm.”

After getting Han Shutong’s confirmation, Zhou Xi took the photo for Zhou Simei.

After the countdown and “Cheese,” Zhou Xi handed the phone back to Zhou Simei. “Alright, the photo’s taken. Let’s go.”

Zhou Simei said “Okay” and then said to Han Shutong, “Thank you, Older Sister Han. My sister and I will be leaving now.”

As soon as Zhou Simei finished, Zhou Xi took her hand and walked toward the elevator.

The moment Zhou Xi turned her back, Han Shutong called out, “Teacher Zhou.”

Zhou Xi stopped walking, but she didn’t turn around.

Han Shutong had no choice but to walk up to Zhou Xi.

The reason Han Shutong appeared behind Bai Mo was because she wanted to ask Zhou Xi this question herself:

“The Mid-Autumn Festival is tomorrow. Shall we have dinner together?”

Zhou Xi looked up, meeting Han Shutong’s eyes. She said, “No, thank you. I already made plans with Xiao Mei.”