Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

In Imperial Capital City, at Red Maple Villa, guests mingled amidst clinking glasses and lively conversation.

Han Buji dabbed his lips with a napkin, glanced at his phone—it was four in the afternoon—exchanged a few polite words with those around him, grabbed his coat, and quietly slipped out the villa’s back door.

He had barely stepped onto the crisp, autumn-dried leaves when footsteps sounded behind him.

“Brother Han, leaving already? I was hoping to share a couple more drinks with you!” Gu Yi, red wine in hand, emerged from the villa and playfully blocked Han Buji’s path. “Brother Lu left early to be with his wife. But you… you don’t even have a girlfriend. Why not stay and have a few with us?”

Gu Yi was the youngest son of former Best Actor Gu Yuan. A jewelry designer, he was hosting an exhibition for his publicly traded jewelry company that day and had invited Han Buji, who held an 8% stake, to attend.

Han Buji turned, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Are you mocking your Brother Han for not having a girlfriend?”

“Oh, Brother Han, how dare I!” Gu Yi clapped his hands together, feigning innocence. “Speaking of which, I’ve been feeling inspired lately. How about I design a necklace for you? I watched your latest movie the other day and got some great ideas!” He paused deliberately. “But… the concept I had was for a couple’s necklace. Since you’re always alone, I’m not sure how to proceed.”

Gu Yi was a chatterbox, and Han Buji hadn’t intended to listen to his rambling. But when he heard the words “couple’s necklace,” Han Buji stopped, turned his head, and asked with genuine interest, “Couple’s? One for men and one for women?”

Gu Yi grinned teasingly. “If you have any special requests, I can make two men’s necklaces into a couple’s set too.”

“Get lost,” Han Buji chuckled, gesturing to his lower abdomen. “Make it this length. Something that doesn’t scream ‘couple’s necklace’ at first glance, but when you put them together, you can tell they’re a set. A subtle couple’s design.”

“Holy shit…” Gu Yi, who was sipping red wine, nearly spat it out. “No, man! Brother! You’re making things tough for your little bro!”

After his outburst, Gu Yi suddenly realized something and let out a startled yell. “Brother Han! You—you—you have a girlfriend?!”

Han Buji’s handsome phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, as if in contemplation. “Not yet. She doesn’t seem to be interested in me.”

“…Who is it? Damn it, if I were a girl, I’d want to marry you! Someone’s not interested in my Brother Han?” Gu Yi stared at Han Buji in disbelief, then noticed the helpless yet indulgent expression on his face and shuddered. “R-really? Is this for real?”

Han Buji chuckled. “Really. She doesn’t even want to see my face. She wants a chance encounter with me in the vast sea of people.”

Gu Yi didn’t quite understand what Han Buji meant, but that didn’t stop the young master from unleashing his mischievous ideas. “Brother Han, leave this to me. Don’t worry, I’ll design a one-of-a-kind necklace for you. That girl with the questionable eyesight won’t be able to take her eyes off you, even in a crowd!”

“Alright, it’s in your hands.” Han Buji chuckled lightly and waved dismissively. “I’m off.”

Despite his gentlemanly demeanor, Han Buji drove back to the Film and Television Base from Imperial Capital City at breakneck speed, repeatedly flirting with the edge of speeding.

The black Maserati left a blurred trail in the night as it smoothly parked in the hotel’s underground garage.

Han Buji expertly turned off the engine, closed his eyes, and sat in the car, recalling a certain night, the salty sea, and the girl who had pulled him relentlessly toward the surface.

“Back so early?” Wu Yue knocked on the car window. “I thought you wouldn’t be back until late.”

“Yeah, wanted to rest early.” Han Buji opened his eyes, and the two stepped into the elevator.

Han Buji was in a good mood today, but his good mood vanished the moment the elevator doors opened on the first floor.

Tao Hui stood at the elevator door, visibly unwell. Her eyelashes drooped, her face flushed, and her lips were parched.

Most concerningly, though she had initiated the conversation, her voice sounded deeply troubled.

Then, this troubled girl suddenly threw herself into his arms.

Tao Hui felt as if she had drifted through countless hazy dreams, desperate to wake up but unable to control her own consciousness.

When she finally opened her eyes, she saw a humidifier puffing out mist and a bag of medicine. One pill was missing from the aluminum packaging of the fever reducer.

The white alarm clock showed 11:45 PM.

A white blanket covered Tao Hui, its faint cedar and sandalwood scent nearly made her fall off the bed.

Mom! I’m doomed! I deserve to be blacklisted!

I actually slept in Han Buji’s bed!

Tao Hui wished she could transmigrate back in time and slap herself awake.

Even if I had collapsed on the floor, faceplanting and getting a concussion, I shouldn’t have fallen into the Best Actor’s arms!

He’s the Best Actor! The Movie Emperor with millions of devoted female fans!

“I’m done for. Han Meimei will kill me, then Sister Xun will hang my corpse from that crooked tree at the Film and Television Base using her necktie, and then whip my corpse!” Tao Hui murmured blankly.

So, before Han Meimei and her ilk discover this, I need to sneak back to my own room!

Tao Hui, her head still fuzzy from a recent fever, propped herself up in bed and glanced around the room. A soft “Huh?” escaped her lips.

Can you believe it? Your male god, the effortlessly cool and elegant Han Buji, actually has cherry blossom stickers on his laptop!

The bed beside her dipped under the weight of a rose gold Apple MacBook. A cherry blossom sticker adorned its protective case, making Tao Hui speechless with cuteness for a full minute.

When she finally peeked at the screen, her expression vanished completely.

A chat group was open, filled with pink, fluffy avatars eagerly discussing “Rabbit” and the “Best Actor.”

Wait a minute… Rabbit? Isn’t that the nickname his fans use for her?

Then who’s the Best Actor? It can’t be Gu Yuan, the retired actor in his fifties, can it?

It’s… it’s Han Buji?!

[  ~That GIF of Rabbit pouncing on the Best Actor? I could watch it a million times! ]

[  ~Remember that magazine shoot where Rabbit wore a suit? So hot! I want to see her corner the Best Actor in that outfit! ]

[  ~I’m dying here! I want Rabbit to pin the Best Actor against a wall and kiss him! ]

[  ~Yes! A wall slam! A forceful, stolen kiss! ]

“……” Tao Hui stared at the screen, her face a mask of disbelief. What kind of bizarre organization are these pink, fluffy avatars?

She, a mere 165 centimeters tall, who couldn’t even see Han Buji’s expression without craning her neck, was supposed to wall-slam him?

And then forcefully kiss him?

Could I even reach Han Buji’s knee if I jumped?!

If anyone was going to be cornered against a wall, it would be her, with Han Buji leaning down, pinching her chin to make her look up.

Wait a minute.

Tao Hui’s eyes snapped open, and she shook her already dizzy head.

Why… am I… fantasizing… about kissing Han Buji?!

Startled by her own thoughts, Tao Hui flailed and tumbled off the bed with a muffled thud. Fortunately, the hotel room was carpeted. She scrambled up, clutching her head, and belatedly noticed the pale pink bathrobe hanging on the door.

She also belatedly heard the sound of running water from the bathroom.

Han Buji is wearing a pink bathrobe?!

No, Tao Hui slapped her forehead.

Han Buji is showering! Is he… is he wearing anything?!

Tao Hui tugged at her hair, tears welling up. Of course not! she thought miserably. No sane Best Actor would shower with clothes on, right?

As Tao Hui’s empty brain churned with these absurd thoughts, the sound of water in the bathroom suddenly stopped.

Tao Hui’s senses sharpened instantly.

The rustling sounds from the bathroom, the shadowy figure behind the frosted glass door, and wisps of steam escaping from beneath the door—all registered with perfect clarity.

Tao Hui stared at the pink bathrobe hanging on the bathroom door, her expression complex.

To avoid facing a completely naked Han Buji, she closed her eyes and darted back to bed as the figure approached the door, pulling the covers over herself.

Is this some lingering effect of the cold? My heart feels like it’s racing.

Did Han Buji give me the wrong medicine?

Tao Hui kept her eyes closed, intending to wait until Han Buji had put on his bathrobe before pretending to wake up naturally.

But the person emerging from the bathroom made no sound of dressing. Instead, footsteps approached the bed directly, and someone gently tucked the blanket around Tao Hui.

Tao Hui’s palms grew clammy, and she swallowed nervously.

Suddenly, she froze. A hand had lightly touched her cheek.

Startled, Tao Hui abandoned all pretense of sleep. She opened her eyes and roared, “Han Buji, you bastard! You pervert! You…”

Over ten thousand more curses died in her throat.

Tao Hui and Gao Meng stood facing each other by the bed.

Gao Meng, dressed in a tracksuit, had been startled by Tao Hui’s sudden shout. Her hands stiff, she cautiously asked, “Um, Rabbit, you… you seem to have broken your fever.”

Tao Hui didn’t want to talk. She just wanted to go back and borrow a tie from Zhou Xun.

“Were you… were you having a nightmare?” Gao Meng ventured.

Tao Hui felt guilty. “I guess so…”

Knock, knock, knock.

The sudden knock interrupted the awkward silence. As Gao Meng hurried to open the door, Tao Hui raised a hand to her forehead and let out a soft sigh of relief.

“President Han! Manager Wu! Did you go get midnight snacks?” Gao Meng’s cheerful voice rang out.

Tao Hui’s eyes widened as Han Buji and Wu Yue strode into the room, bundled in thick cashmere coats. Wu Yue carried two large bags from Jinji Congee Shop.

Noticing Tao Hui was awake, Wu Yue greeted her with a smile. “Tao Hui’s awake! I called Zhou Xun—he’s staying at the hospital with your assistant. President Han and I got some congee. Want some?”

“Wow, there’s some for me too! Rabbit, come quick, it’s still warm and smells amazing!” Gao Meng chimed in enthusiastically.

Tao Hui froze, turning to Han Buji. He had just removed his checkered scarf and leather gloves, his pale fingers reaching past Gao Meng to firmly press down on a bowl of porridge. “This red ginseng and wolfberry porridge is for the patient. You can have something else.”

I swore I’d stay away from Han Buji before joining the production team. How did I end up getting so close to his group?

And now I’m even having late-night snacks with them.

For a moment, the faint aroma of rice from the porridge in the living room warmed Tao Hui’s heart.

She slowly walked over, pulled out a chair, and whispered her thanks, “Thank you.”

Wu Yue and Gao Meng were squabbling over a bowl of seafood porridge with dried scallops when Han Buji suddenly leaned in beside them, his voice low and serious. “Who are you thanking?”

“Thank you, Teacher Han,” Tao Hui replied with 120% sincerity.

“Really?” Han Buji’s phoenix eyes glanced at her through his long lashes, a meaningful curve tugging at the corner of his lips. “Then I must have misheard someone calling me a ‘shameless bastard’ at the door earlier?”

Author’s Note:

Tao Hui: Sister Xun! Please lend me a tie! QAQ