Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Why? Tao Hui couldn’t understand why Han Buji was helping her.

The trending topic had left her so stressed that her mind felt like it had rusted over. At this moment, her brain was inexplicably filled with scenes from the third-rate drama she had filmed earlier:

[ Han Buji, the Domineering CEO: Woman, I’ll help you, but it won’t be free. Repay your debt with your body! ]

Tao Hui shuddered at her own thoughts, snapping back to reality as she met Han Buji’s deep, dark eyes. Taking a deep breath, she asked sincerely, “Excuse me, why are you helping me?”

[ Ding-dong. ]

The elevator reached Han Buji’s floor. As he stepped out, he casually said, “Thank you for the coffee.”

“Huh?” Tao Hui hadn’t expected that answer. Her steps faltered, and she nearly tripped over her own feet.

Staggering after Han Buji, she blurted out, “No, that coffee was bought by Xu Chang, not me. Neither time was it me!”

Han Buji didn’t turn around. “Mm, I know,” he replied coolly.

He knew, yet he still wanted to help her—to maintain his gentlemanly image and to foster unity among the cast of his drama!

Tao Hui had already interpreted Han Buji’s simple four words, convinced she had nailed the meaning perfectly.

As Han Buji walked ahead, Tao Hui mentally labeled him “rich and gullible” and “burdened by his gentlemanly image.”

No wonder half the entertainment industry is on good terms with him! He’s so generous!

For just two cups of coffee—that she didn’t even pay for—he’d splurge millions on trending searches and marketing account content.

The happiness of the wealthy is so simple and unpretentious!

Tao Hui adored this kind of friendship. She even temporarily set aside her previous 45 seconds of resentment and sincerely thanked him again, “Thank you, Teacher Han!”

Han Buji stopped, glanced back at her, and remained silent.

Tao Hui studied him, puzzled. Am I not being sincere enough?

She scratched her head and bowed deeply at a perfect 90-degree angle. “Thank you, Teacher Han! As soon as I receive my advertising compensation, I’ll repay you immediately! Thank you so much for your help this time.”

This was sincerity at its finest—more genuine than pure gold!

Yet Han Buji remained silent, his expression unchanged, simply gazing at her with detached indifference.

This guy is such a pain to deal with.

Tao Hui racked her brain, trying to recall how Han Buji and Xu Chang had interacted on set. Did they just pat each other on the shoulder?

She glanced down at her feet. In her haste to leave, her mind a mess, she’d slipped on a pair of flat white sneakers.

With my height, casually patting his shoulder might be a bit tricky, right?

Gritting her teeth, she edged closer, stood beside Han Buji, grabbed the hem of his shirt, and rose onto her tiptoes.

The Best Actor froze for a moment. In the next instant, Tao Hui forcefully slapped his shoulder and, in a rough voice, barked, “Thanks!”

Han Buji: “?”

Amused by Tao Hui’s antics, Han Buji pointed to the door in front of them. “I’ve arrived.”

“What?” Tao Hui blinked, confused.

“I said, I’m at my room.” This time, even the corners of Han Buji’s eyes crinkled with laughter as he tapped his index finger lightly against the door marked “808.” “Or, would you like to come in for a bit? I could offer you a cup of coffee.”

Tao Hui finally realized what was happening. She forced a dry laugh and waved her hands dismissively, backing away as she did so. “N-no, no need! I’ll just head back now.”

Tao Hui had initially braced herself for a second major career setback, but the crisis had been resolved so effortlessly that she was still reeling when she returned to her room.

Zhou Xun, carrying hot drinks and snacks he’d bought, went to thank each of the staff members who had retweeted Tao Hui’s Weibo post, leaving her alone in the room.

She sat quietly on the bed, Han Buji’s faintly smiling face flashing through her mind.

Tsk, when that man smiles, his deep eyes seem to glow, so captivating.

Tao Hui struggled to reconcile this Han Buji, who had so readily offered his help, with the hot-tempered man who had once cursed her in Sichuan-Chongqing dialect. Something felt off.

After pondering for a long time, Tao Hui suddenly slapped her forehead and muttered to herself, “Sigh, the power of money is truly immense. I’m even starting to doubt my judgment of Han Buji!”

Han Buji’s actions were purely a case of “We’re not close, but I can use money to get closer.”

Lost in her confused musings, Tao Hui realized how expensive it had become to make friends these days. No wonder she could only conquer Little Fanboy through gaming and Miao Miao through fried chicken. Apart from them, she had no other friends.

After all, when making friends, she could only pat them on the shoulder and say, “If you’re short on cash, just let me know. I’ll tell you how I survived when I was broke…”

Best Actor Han’s declaration, “We weren’t destined to be together, but I bought my way in,” genuinely shocked Tao Hui.

The impoverished Tao Hui sat cross-legged and began calculating her assets. Last year, she had bought that ridiculously expensive apartment in downtown Beijing. Though it was only 98 square meters, it had left her completely broke.

Her Alipay account held a mere 120 yuan!

I’m a celebrity, for goodness’ sake! This is so embarrassing!

Once she received her endorsement and advertising fees from last season, she should be able to repay at least half of what she owed Han Buji.

But first, she needed to thank him properly. After all, he had done her a huge favor. Without his help, she might have been replaced by the production crew.

Back when her scandal broke, every production crew that had been considering hiring her vanished in an instant.

But how should I thank him?

Tao Hui racked her brains before calling Miao Miao, who claimed to be a social butterfly. “Miao Miao, how do you thank someone who helped you during a crisis but isn’t really a close friend?”

“Why would someone who’s not close to you help you out?” Miao Miao asked, puzzled, over the phone. “Why would they bother? Hey, Boss Lady, two pounds of crayfish, thirteen-spice flavor! … Was it a guy or a girl who was so helpful?”

Tao Hui nearly went deaf from Miao Miao’s shout of “Two pounds of crayfish!” She yelled back, “A guy!”

A strange silence hung in the air for three seconds before Miao Miao whispered conspiratorially, “Sister Huihui, let me tell you this: a guy who’s not even that close to you suddenly helps you out when you’re in trouble? He’s definitely trying to hit on you! Yeah, yeah, and a bottle of Arctic Ocean soda for my table, please!”

Tao Hui hung up in anger, convinced that Miao Miao’s mind had been completely seduced by those tempting, crimson crayfish. How else could she have reached such an absurd conclusion?

Han Buji trying to hit on me?

No! Impossible!

Since Miao Miao was unreliable, Tao Hui turned to her online friend, Little Fanboy, for advice.

“Hello?” Little Fanboy’s warm voice came through the receiver.

Tao Hui chuckled. “Teacher Tao’s got a problem. Say, if someone you’re not particularly close to suddenly helps you out when you’re in a tight spot, how should you thank them?”

“Oh, someone I’m not very close to, and our relationship isn’t great,” Little Fanboy repeated slowly.

Tao Hui’s face was a question mark.

She really wanted to ask Little Fanboy, “Has your ‘big aunt’s husband’ finally passed?”

“It’s not like we’re complete strangers,” Tao Hui clarified, wedging her phone between her cheek and shoulder as she counted on her fingers. “He’s a colleague who helped me with my career. I want to thank him. Should I get him a gift? Offer to make him tea or something?”

Little Fanboy considered for a moment before suggesting, “How about… inviting him to dinner?”

That’s it! Dinner!

Tao Hui’s eyes lit up. What problem couldn’t be solved with skewers of grilled meat? If one meal wasn’t enough, she’d treat him to two!

The production crew had halted filming due to the Weibo incident. The directors were in a meeting, reportedly discussing moving Tao Hui’s scenes up in the schedule. With no filming scheduled for today and tomorrow morning, it was the perfect opportunity to treat Han Buji to dinner.

“You’re right! I’ll invite him to dinner!” Tao Hui said, her face beaming. After a moment’s thought, she added, “When you guys hang out, what do you usually eat? Is draft beer and grilled skewers the most satisfying?”

The other end of the line fell silent. After a long pause, Little Fanboy hesitantly replied, “Teacher Tao, are you sure you want to go for barbecue?”

Tao Hui pondered for a moment. “You’re right, I can’t even leave the work area. I’ve got it! I’ll treat him to some Sichuan-Chongqing cuisine. He’ll definitely love it!”

After ending the call, Tao Hui immediately ordered takeout. Treating someone to a meal was the simplest way to show hospitality, even if you knew nothing about their preferences. As long as you knew their hometown, choosing their regional cuisine was always a safe bet.

And Tao Hui happened to know Han Buji’s secret: he was from Sichuan-Chongqing!

“I won’t be coming over today, Gao Meng. Remember to order something light—absolutely no organ meats! And tell the restaurant to go easy on the salt, oil, and chili. Yesterday’s sizzling beef with Hangzhou peppers made President Han barely touch his dinner…”

Wu Yue’s voice droned on through the phone, fussing over details. Gao Meng held the phone, her cheeks flushed, and hesitantly whispered, “Um… the boss seems to be eating out today…”

“Eating out? With whom?” Wu Yue’s tone sharpened, suspicion creeping into her voice. “Didn’t Director Chen say the actors weren’t allowed to leave the Film and Television Base? Where’s he going?”

Gao Meng glanced up at Han Buji. The man, who never wore accessories, was fastening a Patek Philippe watch around his wrist.

Hearing Wu Yue’s booming voice over the phone, Han Buji gently shook his head at Gao Meng.

Gao Meng understood immediately, suppressing her excitement to gossip. She concealed the fact that Tao Hui had knocked on the door fifteen minutes earlier, inviting Han Buji to dinner. Clearing her throat, she lied with wide eyes, “Uh… it seems like Xu Chang from next door is having dinner with the boss.”

“Xu Chang, huh?” Wu Yue said reassuringly from the other end of the line. “Alright then. Tell Xu Chang’s assistant to keep an eye on him. We don’t want him getting drunk again and singing ‘Me and My Motherland’ out the window. How embarrassing.”

Managers were always cautious, guarding their artists like wolves against contact with opposite-sex celebrities, but they actively encouraged gatherings with same-sex peers.

Gao Meng, however, was different. She spent the entire call gritting her teeth to keep from screaming.

She hadn’t told Tao Hui the truth that day. She wasn’t just Tao Hui’s personal fan; she was also a dedicated shipper of Tao Hui and Han Buji. Every day, she secretly squealed in their CP group, “Aaaah! Our Rabbit and Best Actor Han are such a perfect match!!!”

When Gao Meng saw Tao Hui knocking on Han Buji’s door and whispering, “I’ll definitely make tonight unforgettable for you,” she frantically rummaged through her bag, pulled out a nitroglycerin tablet, and popped it into her mouth.

Mom, my OTP is actually happening! It’s real! It’s sugar! My ship is finally getting some sugar today!

Han Buji, in high spirits, straightened his cuffs as he stood before Tao Hui’s door, about to raise his hand to knock.

The door suddenly swung open. Tao Hui grabbed Han Buji’s wrist and yanked him inside, slamming the door shut behind them.

Han Buji glanced at the small hand gripping his wrist and chuckled, “Good evening?”

Tao Hui patted her chest, “Whew, that was close! Did you run into anyone on your way here? You have no idea how nervous I was inviting you to dinner. I was terrified someone would snap a photo. If that happened, your Han Meimei fan group would probably hang me by my own tie!”

Leaning against the doorframe, Han Buji, seeing Tao Hui speak so animatedly for the first time, grinned and asked, “Eating out?”

“No way!” Tao Hui’s face twisted in horror. “We can’t eat out! If we get photographed, it’ll be trending again. You have no idea how terrifying your Han Meimei fan group can be!”

Han Buji rubbed his nose, suddenly catching a spicy aroma. He looked up. “Did you… order dinner?”

Tao Hui tilted her chin triumphantly, her expression mysterious and her smile wide. “To thank Teacher Han for his generous help, I’ve prepared a special dinner just for you! You’re going to be super satisfied!”

“Ta-da!” Tao Hui gestured dramatically. “Extra spicy crayfish, authentic Sichuan-style beef tallow hot pot, duck intestines, gizzards, pig brains, tripe—everything you could want! And for the main course, we have genuine mala noodles from a truly authentic shop!”

Han Buji stared in silence.