Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Perhaps Han Buji’s words had been too serious. Tao Hui slept poorly, plagued by nightmares all night.

She dreamed she was trending again, someone had posted photos of her with Han Buji, even arranged them in a nine-grid collage. Instead of summoning a divine dragon, the collection summoned a career-ending disaster. The entire internet clamored for her to be kicked out of the entertainment industry.

Then she dreamed of a call from the hospital, saying Miao Miao had a live crayfish in her stomach that had bitten through her intestines.

The chaotic dreams left Tao Hui drenched in a cold sweat. Finally, in her dream, she saw Han Buji.

He had her cornered against a wall, his large hand gripping her wrist, his thumb rubbing against her pulse. Leaning closer, he said gravely, “Damn it, you little fool! There are bad people out there! You need to be careful!”

Beep beep beep! The future Best Actress is about to start her day! Beep beep beep! Wake up, wake up!

Tao Hui startled awake at the alarm, squinting as she silenced it. She sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Miao Miao wasn’t there. Before leaving, Tao Hui cautiously applied concealer. Then she called Zhou Xun. “Sister Xun, how’s Miao Miao doing? I dreamed last night that a crayfish bit through her intestines.”

“… ” Zhou Xun paused, then replied wearily, “She’s fine now. Still on an IV drip. I’ll put her on the phone.”

After a brief rustling, Tao Hui heard Miao Miao answer the phone, sobbing, “Waaah, Sister Huihui, I feel so awful! Waaah!”

Tao Hui immediately pictured Miao Miao collapsing the night before and panicked. “You still feel bad? Sister Xun said you were fine! Does your stomach still hurt?”

Should I take her to Imperial Capital First Hospital for a specialist appointment?

Tao Hui frowned, her face etched with worry.

“I can’t eat spicy food anymore! I have to eat plain rice porridge all week—not even seafood porridge or preserved egg and lean pork porridge! Waaah, I’m so miserable, Sister Huihui!” Miao Miao wailed dramatically.

The anxiety drained from Tao Hui’s face, and she replied flatly, “Oh.”

Autumn in the Imperial Capital was usually dry, with rare rainfall. The production team always provided pear juice to combat the dryness. But today, Tao Hui, bundled in a thick coat, had barely stepped outside when a light rain began to fall.

Every autumn rain brings a chill, she thought as the weather turned colder.

Tao Hui walked to the set, her breath misting in the air. She spotted Han You, also wrapped in a heavy coat, her breath visible as she rehearsed her lines.

Han You turned at the sound of Tao Hui’s approach, her expression momentarily surprised before she leaned in warmly and pressed a Warm Treasure into Tao Hui’s hand. “Sister Tao Hui, you’re here so early! Take this Warm Treasure—it’s freezing today!”

Tao Hui took the Warm Treasure and suddenly asked, “Did you know Miao Miao’s been hospitalized?”

“What? Miao Miao’s in the hospital? I saw her just yesterday!” Han You looked anxious, her small hands, warmed by the Warm Treasure, gripped Tao Hui’s arm. Frowning, she murmured, “She has to stay in the hospital? What’s so serious?”

Tao Hui studied Han You’s face for a moment before shrugging. “She probably ate something she shouldn’t have. Food poisoning. It’s not serious. She’s just whining in the hospital about only being able to eat porridge.”

“I’ll text her later,” Han You said, her face still worried. She took a few steps, then turned back suddenly, her ears flushing slightly. “Oh, right, Sister Tao Hui, we have a scene together today! Hehe, please guide me!”

Tao Hui sighed. “I just got an NG five times yesterday. I was hoping you’d guide me.”

Han You waved her hands, her face turning even redder. “I got even more NGs! The Assistant Director said I’m the most NG’d person on the Production Team. I… I’ll try not to hold you back.”

Han You had started filming earlier and had already left for the location with the other actors. Tao Hui watched her retreating figure, a thoughtful expression on her face.

“Hey! I found her! Want to give her a call?” Wu Yue’s voice came from behind.

Tao Hui turned to see Wu Yue striding toward her, holding out his phone.

Puzzled, Tao Hui pointed at the device, her face a question mark.

Wu Yue glanced around before pushing the phone closer. “Answer it.”

Dazed, Tao Hui took the phone and heard Han Buji’s voice.

“Morning,” Han Buji said.

Unsure why Han Buji was having her answer his call, Tao Hui replied politely, “Good morning?”

Han Buji chuckled softly on the other end.

Standing in the crisp morning air, Tao Hui’s heart skipped a beat as Han Buji’s intimate laughter reached her ear.

Tsk, the Best Actor’s voice is surprisingly sexy when he’s not cursing in Chuan Yu dialect.

The thought flashed through her mind, immediately followed by the image of Han Buji’s earnest gaze from her dream.

Tao Hui shook her head. “Tao Hui? Are you listening?” Han Buji’s voice deepened over the phone.

“Ah?” Tao Hui stammered guiltily. “Um, the signal was bad earlier. I didn’t hear you clearly.”

Han Buji paused for two seconds before speaking again, deliberately slowing his pace. “I said, I’ve been invited to an event today and won’t be at the base. Your assistant isn’t here either. If you need anything, contact Gao Meng.”

Han Buji’s original intention was simply, “I won’t be here to look after you. If you need anything, you can contact my assistant.”

But Tao Hui heard it differently, “Han Buji isn’t here, and his assistant Gao Meng is free. Since she’s already on salary and my own assistant is away, I can borrow her.”

Even with this interpretation, Tao Hui felt a little overwhelmed by the gesture.

Han Buji was being incredibly thoughtful, but was such an elaborate act necessary just to maintain his public image?

Tao Hui snapped out of her reverie and smiled. “Thank you for your kindness, Movie Emperor Han. I can manage on my own. There’s really nothing for Gao Meng to do here. When Miao Miao was here, she mostly just hung out in the lounge.”

Tao Hui was positioned in a corner of the set, and Wu Yue overheard Han Buji’s offer.

Personally, Wu Yue felt it was inappropriate for Han Buji to lend his assistant to Tao Hui. Everyone on set knew Gao Meng was Han Buji’s top assistant. If she were seen working for Tao Hui, it would inevitably spark rumors, which could harm both artists’ reputations.

Managers were always cautious and sensitive. As Wu Yue left, he specifically warned Tao Hui, “Be careful with anything you eat or drink here.”

Tao Hui glanced at Wu Yue and nodded. “Thank you.”

After seeing Wu Yue off, Tao Hui stood in her corner of the set, surveying the surroundings.

The past few days had been spent filming outdoor scenes. The set, a battlefield shrouded in frigid air and swirling dust, buzzed with the activity of hardworking crew members.

Yet even among these diligent workers, treacherous hearts lurked.

Tao Hui suddenly felt a chill. Though she clutched Han You’s hand warmer, her fingertips remained stubbornly cold.

That afternoon, Tao Hui and Han You began filming their confrontation scene.

Han You played Qian Lixue, the princess of the Western Xiang Kingdom, who aided her eldest brother in securing the throne and was the sworn enemy of Dongchuan, the third prince of the Dongxiao Kingdom.

When Dongchuan found himself in peril, Qing Wan rushed to rescue him, leading to a clash with Qian Lixue by a frigid pond.

Tao Hui, clad in white, faced Han You in pink. Their swords clashed intermittently. In the scene, Tao Hui’s character, Qing Wan, was wounded and struggling to match Han You’s stamina.

In one sequence, Han You’s character ambushed Tao Hui with a palm strike from behind. Tao Hui whirled around, stumbled back a few steps, and raised her sword to resume the fight.

The camera tracked their movements as the martial arts director gestured instructions from the sidelines.

Tao Hui thrust the prop White Jade Sword at Han You, who deftly dodged.

Immediately after, Han You swung her palm toward Tao Hui’s back. But her stride was too wide, and she accidentally stepped on the hem of Tao Hui’s robe. Tao Hui had been about to turn around, but the trapped hem restricted her movement, and Han You’s palm struck with considerable force.

Losing her balance, Tao Hui tumbled into the icy pond beside her.

“Stop!”

“Tao Hui!”

“Sister Tao Hui!”

Though called an icy pond, it was actually an artificial lake less than two meters deep, filled with dry ice that billowed white smoke across the surface.

The people on the shore couldn’t see Tao Hui’s position and panicked.

“Quick! Someone who can swim, get in there!” The assistant director’s face flushed crimson as he bellowed hoarsely, “Tao Hui! Tao Hui, can you hear me?!”

“Sister Tao Hui! Sister Tao Hui!” Han You’s face turned deathly pale with fear as she frantically reached into the water.

Just as several swimming crew members were about to jump in, Tao Hui suddenly resurfaced near the shore, holding up a lotus root. “Tada! Look what I found!”

Though her face was pale from the icy water, Tao Hui beamed. “A lotus root! The production team can have an extra dish tonight!”

The shore erupted in laughter as everyone scrambled to pull her out. The assistant director tapped Tao Hui’s shoulder with the script. “Go change immediately. It’s freezing out here.”

After scolding her, Tao Hui chuckled in exasperation. “Honestly, you child! You fall into the water and instead of scrambling out, you’re trying to grab lotus roots? This tiny piece isn’t enough for anyone’s snack!”

Even Director Chen, who had been maintaining a stern expression, couldn’t help but smile. “The ornamental lotuses have been treated with pesticides. They’re not edible.”

Tao Hui frowned slightly, looking a little disappointed.

Han You rushed over and tugged at Tao Hui’s dripping sleeve, pressing a tissue against her forehead to wipe away the water. “Sister Tao Hui, are you okay? Thank goodness! You have no idea how worried I was when you fell in. It scared me to death!”

“I’m so relieved you’re safe,” Han You said, patting her chest.

Tao Hui held up the lotus root, then suddenly gripped Han You’s hand, her gaze piercing. “Really?”

“W-what?” Han You stammered, startled.

Tao Hui burst into laughter, releasing Han You. She pointed at the lotus root in her hand, then cupped her mouth conspiratorially. “I mean, is Director Chen really telling the truth about it being inedible? Or is he just trying to keep it for himself?”

Han You hadn’t expected Tao Hui to say that. Her expression turned awkward as she urged, “Sister Tao Hui, you should go change quickly. You’ll catch a cold if you stay in those wet clothes.”

“Okay,” Tao Hui said, clutching the lotus root as she headed to the dressing room. She muttered to herself, “Maybe I should try growing this lotus root. If it survives, it might even bloom—preferably pink. Ugh, I hate those white lotus flowers!”

Behind her, Han You’s footsteps faltered, and she bit her lower lip.

Half the production team was focused on keeping the shoot on schedule, but the actors’ well-being was also a priority. The late autumn weather was bitterly cold, and Tao Hui’s recent ordeal had left her looking pale. Director Chen and the assistant director were considering postponing the scene until tomorrow to let her rest.

Even Han You offered Tao Hui a cup of hot water, sweetly urging, “Yes, Sister Tao Hui, you really should take a break.”

Yet Tao Hui was brimming with energy. Laughing, she splashed water on her face. “Let’s keep filming! I’m fine! I just can’t look naturally sweaty anymore—I’ll have to fake it with some water.”

When filming resumed, Tao Hui was in peak form, nailing every scene in a single take.

Han You, however, struggled, enduring countless retakes. By the time Tao Hui wrapped up for the day, Han You was still on set, the assistant director overseeing her reshoots of individual shots.

Watching the day’s footage, Director Chen suddenly remarked to Tao Hui, who was removing her wig, “Casting you as Qing Wan was absolutely the right choice.”

Tao Hui happily bowed to each of her senior teachers again, then skipped away.

The moment she entered the hotel, her smile vanished. She touched her burning forehead and leaned against the elevator bank, waiting.

Ding-dong.

The elevator doors opened, revealing Han Buji and Wu Yue inside, both dressed in navy blue suits.

Han Buji glanced up, his phoenix eyes lazily drifting over to her, a hint of tenderness in his languid gaze.

That gaze, the Han Meimeis raved about it endlessly, claiming, “Oppa’s passionate stare makes my knees weak.”

Tao Hui had always scoffed at such theatrics, but for some reason, seeing Han Buji now made her nose suddenly sting.

She slumped into the elevator and stood beside him, muttering aimlessly, “If I’d known, I would have asked Gao Meng to help me again today. I nearly ripped all my hair out trying to remove that wig.”

Her voice came out hoarse.

Han Buji frowned, his voice deep with concern. “Tao Hui, what’s wrong?”

“Huh?” Tao Hui looked up, meeting his gaze. “Nothing… just… when did you learn to make clones? I think I saw three of you earlier.”

With those words, Tao Hui collapsed, a faint scent of cedar and sandalwood brushing her nose before she lost consciousness.