I Joined a Fake Variety Show (GL) - Chapter 9

After blowing out her hair, Han Shutong came out of the bathroom and saw Zhou Xi sitting on the sofa looking at her phone. As she drew closer, she realized it was the long video she had edited.

Zhou Xi, having nothing else to do, had somehow clicked on it.

Han Shutong asked casually, “Did you go downstairs?”

She sat down on the sofa next to the one Zhou Xi was on, making her actions seem very natural.

Zhou Xi double-tapped the screen to pause the video, looked up at Han Shutong, and said, “…No.”

Han Shutong: “Not eating anymore?”

Zhou Xi nodded. “Too lazy to go down. I’ll buy it tomorrow when I go downstairs.”

Han Shutong: “Mhm.”

Silence descended between them again. Zhou Xi waited a few seconds, and when Han Shutong didn’t speak, she continued watching the video.

Han Shutong stood up and went into the bedroom.

Only the sound of the video remained in the living room.

Zhou Xi frowned slightly. Watching it now, she realized a few parts of her performance looked awkward.

Zhou Xi watched it repeatedly but couldn’t pinpoint the problem. Her peripheral vision caught Han Shutong’s figure, and joy sparked in her heart: Isn’t the professional right here?

But to be honest, Zhou Xi hadn’t fully recovered from the earlier embarrassment and was shy about speaking again.

Maybe I should ask in a few days?

Just as Zhou Xi was debating whether to speak, she looked up and saw Han Shutong, dressed in sportswear and tying her hair into a high ponytail.

“Are you going out?” Zhou Xi asked.

“Yes,” Han Shutong finished tying the hair tie, looking composed. “Going for a night run.”

After speaking, Han Shutong asked, “Do you want to join?”

Zhou Xi quickly shook her head and refused. “I’ll cheer you on from inside!”

Then, Zhou Xi asked, “But didn’t you just shower?”

“I’m used to showering before and after running,” Han Shutong offered a clumsy excuse.

But Zhou Xi didn’t find it strange. “Okay, then be careful!”

After Han Shutong left, Zhou Xi didn’t watch the video anymore. She dragged her tired and sleepy body for a quick shower and fell asleep the instant her head hit the pillow.

An hour later, Han Shutong returned from her run.

She entered the apartment to find the light on, but the living room empty.

“Zhou Xi?”

This time, too, she received no response.

She must be asleep, Han Shutong thought.

Han Shutong moved softly, putting the items she bought from the convenience store into the refrigerator. When she felt thirsty and wanted water, she realized she forgot to buy water.

Just as Han Shutong was about to go downstairs to buy water, she turned and saw a transparent glass electric kettle sitting on the kitchen counter.

Han Shutong was momentarily stunned. Looking around, she finally felt the difference.

The kitchen was filled with utensils, and various seasonings stood neatly organized.

Before this, the place was like a hotel, only providing accommodation.

Now, it felt more like a home.

The water was boiling, and Han Shutong leaned against the cabinet, quietly staring at the simmering water in the kettle.

Han Shutong had a secret.

And her secret was like the water in the kettle before her—boiling hot tonight.

When Zhou Xi woke up the next day, Han Shutong was already on the plane.

Zhou Xi opened her phone and saw a message from Han Shutong.

Han Shutong: [Breakfast is on the table.]

Zhou Xi turned her head and saw steamed buns and rice porridge.

Zhou Xi: [Thank you, Shutong~ How much? I’ll transfer it to you =^_^=]

No reply came after the message was sent. Assuming Han Shutong was busy, Zhou Xi put down her phone.

After breakfast, Zhou Xi went downstairs to buy vegetables and rice. On her way back, she passed the convenience store Han Shutong had mentioned.

As she entered, she heard the clerks inside discussing:

“Guess who I saw last night? You’ll never guess!”

“Who?”

“Han Shutong! The big star Han Shutong!”

“Really? Stop kidding, why would Han Shutong be here?”

“Believe it or not, she came in yesterday, bought a few things, and left.”

“…”

Zhou Xi took an ice cream out of the freezer. As she walked to the counter to pay, the clerk pointed at the ice cream and told the other person, “See, this is what Han Shutong bought last night.”

Zhou Xi’s eyebrows lifted.

Did she get it for me?

When Zhou Xi got home and opened the refrigerator, seeing the exact same ice cream in there as the one in her shopping bag, she would be lying if she said she wasn’t touched.

Han Shutong is so nice!

This was the most sincere thought that flashed through Zhou Xi’s mind when she saw the ice cream.

Not only did Han Shutong give the homeless her a place to live, but she even remembered to buy her something to eat while out for a night run.

Honestly, during her interactions with Han Shutong yesterday, Zhou Xi was reserved, polite, and tried to act casual.

Of course, Zhou Xi wasn’t insecure, but there was a sense of distance created by the disparity in their statuses and the unfamiliarity of three years without contact.

However, the moment she saw the ice cream in the refrigerator, all reservations, politeness, and distance vanished.

Zhou Xi wasn’t won over by food—ice cream was optional—but a person who remembers what you said about wanting ice cream is rare to find.

Zhou Xi put the ice cream she bought into the freezer, then took out the one Han Shutong bought. After taking a small bite, Zhou Xi snapped a photo and sent it to Han Shutong.

Zhou Xi: [Wuwuwu Shutong, you’re too good! The ice cream is delicious! Thank you, thank you~]

On the plane.

Han Shutong had just taken off her eye mask when Bai Mo handed her the phone. “Sister Tong, your phone lit up twice just now.”

“Mhm.”

Han Shutong took the phone, opened it, and saw Zhou Xi’s message, instantly shaking off all sleepiness.

Han Shutong: [Was it a surprise?]

Zhou Xi: [It’s a gift.]

A gift is even better than a surprise.

Han Shutong returned two days before the show’s filming began. When she arrived home, Zhou Xi wasn’t there.

But before Han Shutong could rest, the production team, arranged by Luo Shuiqiu, arrived.

They were there to set up the cameras in advance.

After coordinating with Han Shutong, the staff began their setup. Bedrooms, living room, kitchen—every corner was covered, except for the bathroom and walk-in closet.

When Zhou Xi opened the door and saw several extra people in the apartment, she thought she had entered the wrong room. Turning to leave, she saw the cameras mounted on the wall.

Okay, I’m in the right place.

A staff member near the entrance noticed Zhou Xi. He politely asked, “Hello, who are you?”

“Hello, my name is Zhou Xi, and I live here.” Zhou Xi walked past the staff member and entered the living room.

Han Shutong was sitting on the sofa. Hearing the voice, she looked up. “Did you go grocery shopping?”

“Yes, I saw the message you sent me. I figured we were out of vegetables, so I went to the market,” Zhou Xi said.

During Han Shutong’s business trip, the two hadn’t chatted every day, but they exchanged a message or two occasionally, asking about each other’s schedules.

Oh, only Zhou Xi was asking about Han Shutong’s schedule.

Because since Han Shutong left on her business trip, Zhou Xi had been taking it easy at home, planning what to do after the show finished filming.

Her final month’s salary had been paid. Zhou Xi initially thought of returning the extra 30,000 yuan to Yan Meng Nuo, but upon hearing from Qi Jie that her trending on the hot search brought the company much more profit than that, she immediately abandoned the idea.

With her salary paid, Yan Meng Nuo had no way to threaten Zhou Xi anymore. So, Zhou Xi had ignored the several messages Yan Meng Nuo sent her these past few days, asking her to come back and re-sign.

Today was the last day of her contract, and it was also the day Han Shutong returned, so Zhou Xi bought a lot of ingredients, planning to cook several dishes to celebrate.

After greeting Han Shutong, Zhou Xi carried the groceries toward the kitchen. She didn’t see the undisguised surprise on the faces of the staff in the room as she and Han Shutong conversed.

H-Han Shutong has a roommate!

The team leader walked up to Han Shutong and asked, “Miss Han, who is that?”

“My roommate.”

“How come we didn’t hear that Miss Han had a roommate before?” the team leader blurted out.

He immediately realized how inappropriate his question was.

Han Shutong lifted an eyelid and asked, “Is the setup finished?”

The team leader quickly nodded. “Yes, it’s finished.”

“Mhm.”

The team leader thought about the question he had just asked, embarrassed enough to mentally dig a hole to China, and seeing Han Shutong’s cool expression, he just wanted to leave. “In that case, Miss Han, we won’t bother you anymore. We’ll be on our way.”

Before Han Shutong could speak, Zhou Xi came out of the kitchen, having overheard. “Are you leaving? It’s hot today. Let me get some popsicles for everyone. Please wait a moment.”

Zhou Xi said this as she opened the refrigerator and brought out some popsicles she had stocked up over the past few days.

While Zhou Xi was getting the popsicles, Han Shutong’s gaze was fixed on her.

During college, in Han Shutong’s mind, gentleness was synonymous with Zhou Xi.

She hadn’t expected that after so many years, that word would still accurately describe Zhou Xi.

After handing one to each staff member, Zhou Xi said, “Thank you for your hard work, everyone. Please travel safely.”

The group looked at the popsicles in their hands, thanked Zhou Xi, and left.

The room, which had been noisy moments ago, returned to quiet.

Zhou Xi reopened the refrigerator, took out the ice cream she bought that morning, placed it in front of Han Shutong, and said, “I feel a bit unsafe with so many cameras in the house. How about you?”

“I’m fine.”

Han Shutong took the spoon Zhou Xi offered and dug a tiny piece into her mouth.

It was very cold and very sweet.

Han Shutong wasn’t a big fan of eating things that were too cold.

But seeing the person in front of her eating so happily, Han Shutong’s hand, which was about to put the spoon down, dug another scoop into the ice cream container.

This time, after swallowing it, only the “very sweet” part remained.

Putting the spoon down, Han Shutong looked at Zhou Xi and said, “If you don’t like it, I can get some clothes to cover them up.”

Zhou Xi shook her head. “No need. We’ll get used to it. What will we do during filming otherwise?”

“But is it really okay for me to film the show with you? I just saw that those staff members didn’t seem to know I was your roommate,” Zhou Xi remembered something. “That contract was given to me in your name. Does that mean…”

“Your manager doesn’t know about this?!”

In stark contrast to Zhou Xi’s shock, Han Shutong only gave a faint “Mhm.”

“She…”

Zhou Xi had just started speaking when Han Shutong’s phone rang, interrupting her.

The call connected, and Luo Shuiqiu’s roar blasted into both their ears. “Han Shutong! What is this ‘roommate’ they’re talking about?!”