Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The furious stream of Chuan Yu dialect curses erupting from the phone felt like a potent fever-reducing shot, piercing straight into Tao Hui’s heart.

Her dizziness vanished, her fever broke, and even the palm gripping her phone grew faintly damp.

After weakly explaining that she wasn’t close to Han Buji, Tao Hui felt an urge to check if her heart was still beating. She was certain she could feign death on the spot without needing Sister Xun’s necktie.

The little round face and her skinny partner remained silent… silent… silent…

Then, the little skinny, his acne-covered face brimming with youthful energy, suddenly burst out laughing.

The little round face joined in, kindly trying to ease Tao Hui’s embarrassment. “We were just, uh, joking around. It’s no big deal not having Movie Emperor Han’s number. Really, it’s not awkward at all.”

The little skinny chimed in, still chuckling, “This happens to a lot of celebrities. Not having contact info and stuff. Really!”

Tao Hui stared blankly at the two red-faced men, struggling to understand what was so funny.

Why were they so insistent on the word “really,” as if afraid she was embarrassed?

And what was with their pitying expressions?

After a moment of stunned silence, Tao Hui suddenly understood.

They hadn’t recognized him at all! The person on the phone was Han Buji!

And they were actually sympathizing with her!

They thought that after working with Han Buji for a month without getting his number, she had just dialed a random number to fill the gap!

Tao Hui’s eyes widened in disbelief.

No way! Is Han Buji’s persona as a native of Imperial Capital City really that solid?!

How could he escape suspicion even in this 90% disastrous situation?!

Amidst the suppressed laughter of the two entertainment reporters, Tao Hui hesitantly left the film set. The cold wind immediately triggered another headache. Back at the hotel, she found some fever reducers and took them.

After taking the medicine, Tao Hui felt drowsy. She curled up on the sofa, clutching her phone, and drifted off to sleep.

She slept for less than two hours, and her rest was far from peaceful. In her dreams, Han Buji’s reputation crumbled, and he became a trending topic for all the wrong reasons. Then, she dreamed of a sunny day in Imperial Capital City when a ragged beggar grabbed her leg.

Startled, she looked down and saw Han Buji’s mud-caked face and cracked lips. “Damn it! Give me some food!” he rasped. “I haven’t eaten in three days, all because of you, you idiot!”

Tao Hui woke up with a jolt, kicking her legs instinctively. She felt something clinging to her leg and panicked, only to realize it was just her blanket.

“Whew,” Tao Hui sighed, wiping the sweat from her forehead, a sudden wave of anxiety washing over her.

What if today’s interview aired and more people heard it? What if some of Han Buji’s old acquaintances came forward to reveal his true character? Could he really end up trending for all the wrong reasons and go bankrupt?

After all, before Han Buji’s debut, Unruly Entertainment, the agency he managed, had blacklisted a young artist under similar circumstances.

That artist had just starred in a film and was on the rise when he shot a poster featuring a delinquent teenager. A middle school classmate then exposed him, claiming he had genuinely been a troublemaker in school—smoking, drinking, and leading bullying campaigns. In college, he had even slept around. Han Buji promptly terminated his contract and blacklisted him.

The more Tao Hui thought about it, the more uneasy she became.

The two entertainment reporters hadn’t recognized Han Buji’s voice, but what if someone else did?

Terrified, she abruptly stood up from the sofa, slipped on a pair of sneakers, and bolted out the door. Without waiting for the elevator, she sprinted up eight flights of stairs and pounded on Han Buji’s door.

“Just a moment,” Han Buji’s voice called through the door.

Tao Hui lowered her head, frantically trying to figure out how to explain herself to Han Buji without ending up strangled with his tie.

The white door swung open, the small metal bell beneath the room number “808” chiming crisply. A warm, damp scent of cedar and sandalwood wafted out, evoking the fresh, wet fragrance of a snow-covered field as the spring thaw began.

Tao Hui looked up and saw Han Buji, dressed in a loose black hoodie.

He had likely just showered; his hair was still damp, and his pale skin bore a faint pink flush, likely from the hot water.

Tao Hui froze, momentarily stunned. She had never seen Han Buji look so youthful.

They say time spares no one, but it had clearly shown extraordinary mercy to this 27-year-old man.

His face bore no trace of age. When he wasn’t working, his phoenix eyes held a casual arrogance that made him seem like a rebellious 17- or 18-year-old.

I wonder who named him “Unrestrained.” It suits him perfectly.

Han Buji lowered his gaze, amused by Tao Hui’s dazed stare. He snapped his fingers lightly and chuckled. “Teacher Tao, lost in thought?”

“Huh?” Tao Hui snapped out of her reverie. Recalling his earlier address, she asked suspiciously, “What did you just call me?”

Han Buji paused for two seconds. “A slip of the tongue.”

“Oh,” Tao Hui replied, thinking nothing of it. After all, the production team was full of “Teacher X,” “Teacher XX,” and “Teacher XXX” titles, so occasional misnaming was normal.

However, for someone like Tao Hui, only her little fanboy from the game called her “Teacher Tao.” No one else had ever addressed her that way.

With the afternoon’s interview on her mind, Tao Hui let the matter drop. She took a deep breath, ready to tell Han Buji about the phone call earlier. After all, he had cursed a blue streak, likely unaware of who he was scolding.

Just as she was about to speak, music began playing from inside the room.

Han Buji glanced back at the interior and waved Tao Hui over. “Wait a moment. I need to take this call. Come in and sit down.”

Following his gesture, Tao Hui entered Han Buji’s room and stood quietly by the door, taking the opportunity to observe the space.

The room carried the same faint scent of cedar and sandalwood that clung to him. A few coats hung on the rack, but otherwise, there were no distinctive personal touches.

Han Buji’s voice drifted from the bedroom, his side of the conversation terse, “Mm-hmm,” “Mm-hmm,” “Mm-hmm,” “Okay,” “Okay.”

The little fanboy in the game also spoke in short replies, but his voice was like that of a sunshine junior—gentle and occasionally punctuated by longer sentences that sounded almost like he was teasing.

Han Buji’s voice was different—a deep, steady, and undeniably sexy baritone.

Tao Hui’s mind wandered, completely oblivious to how comfortable she was becoming with Han Buji. In the past, she would never have dared to seek him out, let alone enter his apartment.

But now, feeling tired of standing, Tao Hui simply sat down on the sofa without asking.

A small black electronic device on the table caught her eye. Curious, she glanced at it. Tiny buttons were labeled with text, “Sunshine Junior”?

What the heck is this?

Just as Tao Hui was about to sneak a closer look, Han Buji emerged from the bedroom. She immediately withdrew her hand and sat up straight.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Han Buji said with a nod.

Tao Hui quickly spoke, “Han Buji, I think I’ve caused you trouble again…”

Han Buji looked genuinely surprised, studying her for a moment. “You found out?”

“I had that interview today—the entertainment reporter came to the set. When they interviewed me, they asked me to call you. I didn’t really want to—” Tao Hui’s words trailed off as she suddenly stared at Han Buji, eyes wide. “Wait, what did I find out? No way… it’s already trending?”

“You saw the trending topic too? It just went up,” Han Buji said, stroking his chin and raising an eyebrow. “Is that why you came to find me?”

Tao Hui’s mouth hung open for three seconds, speechless with shock. Finally, she closed her eyes and stammered, “I’m sorry. If… if you ever end up homeless, clinging to my leg and begging, I promise I’ll take you out for a meal. I’ll even get you some Okamoto… cough!”

Overwhelmed by panic, Tao Hui choked on her own saliva. The final “gangbeng’er” (coins) came out as “Okamoto” instead.

Han Buji chuckled. “Okamoto?”

“Coins! I meant coins!” Tao Hui shouted, her face flushed crimson. “How can you still be joking at a time like this?!”

Your carefully cultivated image as a gentleman of the Imperial Capital, built over years, is crumbling!

Why can you still crack jokes?!

Han Buji poured a cup of tea and handed it to Tao Hui. “It’s not a big deal. I’ve assigned Wu Yue to handle it. Don’t worry, the heat will die down in an hour at most.”

Tao Hui was stunned by Han Buji’s composure.

See? No wonder he’s the Best Actor. No wonder he’s on the Forbes wealth list. He’s not even fazed by being dragged through the mud on social media!

Could it be that trending on social media or ruining his public image were trivial matters to Han Buji?

With this thought, Tao Hui felt relieved. She exhaled and finally had the space to carefully recall Han Buji’s words.

What did he mean by “You don’t need to worry either”?

Tao Hui felt the air conditioning in Han Buji’s room was set too low; she was starting to feel warm. She fanned her face and explained, “I’m not worried about you. After all, you only got dragged into this mess because of me. This is guilt—there’s a difference between guilt and worry.”

Han Buji listened quietly until Tao Hui finished, then glanced at his phone. “Hmm… it seems most of the criticism is directed at you. About 99% of it, I’d say.”

“What?!” Tao Hui leaned over to look at Han Buji’s phone.

She was furious. Why should she be the one getting all the hate just because Han Buji was ruining his public image?

But when she saw the image on Han Buji’s oversized phone screen, Tao Hui froze.

Not just a little stunned—utterly, completely, mind-blowingly stunned.

The photo showed Han Buji carrying Tao Hui in a princess carry. He was dressed in a suit, with the hotel corridor as the background. Something had clearly been photoshopped out, leaving a blurry patch beside him.

Tao Hui stared blankly at the picture, then read the accompanying text. Her confusion deepened.

[ Shocking! Tao Hui feigns fainting in hotel, falls for Movie Emperor Han’s kindness! ]

The following passage describes Tao Hui feigning unconsciousness in the elevator, then being carried back to her room by Han Buji. The author writes with such vivid detail, it feels like witnessing the scene firsthand. The plot twists and turns like a classic story of a scheming woman finally winning over the CEO through cunning tactics.

Tao Hui raised her head expressionlessly. “This was… the day I had a fever?”

Han Buji nodded. “I’ve already asked Wu Yue to clarify. It’s fine. That’s Gao Meng’s room next door, 806. Gao Meng and Wu Yue were there the whole time, and medical staff even came.”

Tao Hui didn’t know how to feel. She had worried her impulsive phone call might land Han Buji in hot water, but instead, she was the one trending again.

Wu Yue worked quickly. By the time Han Buji refreshed the page, the trending topics had changed.

1. Gentleman Han Buji
2. Han Buji’s Fans Bombard Marketing Accounts
3. The Truth Behind Tao Hui’s Princess Carry

Tao Hui didn’t have her phone, so she craned her neck to see Han Buji’s screen. As he scrolled through the comments, it seemed the drama had shifted away from her.

[ ~Wow, my oppa is so handsome! A princess carry! I’m so jealous today! ]

[ ~Those trashy marketing accounts are always stirring up trouble. Oppa, just focus on filming! ]

[ ~Oppa is so warm-hearted! Oh my god, I want to be his co-star! Even if I faint, he’d carry me! ]

Wait a minute! Weren’t you all just criticizing me? Why aren’t you mentioning me when you’re praising him?!

Amidst a flood of comments like “My brother is amazing,” “My brother is so gentlemanly,” and “My brother is so handsome,” Tao Hui finally spotted her name. She grabbed Han Buji’s sliding thumb. “Wait!”

Han Buji stopped scrolling and glanced at Tao Hui’s small hand gripping his.

Instead of the expected “Go Rabbit! Crush it in the new drama!” Tao Hui found a comment that made her cringe.

[ ~Am I the only one who thinks Tao Hui and Han Buji look really good together? ]

Author’s Note:

Han Buji: Me too.