Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Tao Hui clutched Han Buji’s coat as she walked toward the film set, pondering whether to wear Zhou Xun’s limited-edition striped tie or the green one he despised.

This morning, she had woken to bright sunshine streaming through her window. The pleasant weather reminded her of the humiliating scene where she had clung to Han Buji like a dog.

A cold sweat broke out across her body.

This is too dangerous! If that had been caught on camera, I might never get another commercial.

Glancing at her puffy eyes, she knew she had been crying again. It certainly hadn’t been a delicate, tear-streaked look; her voice was hoarse, probably sounding more like a pig’s squeal than anything else.

Tao Hui, whose memory was a complete blank, could only imagine the drunken spectacle she had made. Her head throbbed, and she nearly wanted to end it all.

Truly, “I got myself drunk, I made myself cry!”

When she spotted Han Buji’s coat draped over the edge of the bed, Tao Hui nearly fell off. She had feared she had thrown up on it in her drunken stupor.

Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. She cautiously sniffed the coat, detecting only a faint scent of cedar and sandalwood.

This is so embarrassing. I have to thank Han Buji in person.

When she had first joined the production crew, it was late autumn. Now, early winter had arrived, and light, fluttering snowflakes had drifted down a few days ago.

The winter wind in Beijing was biting, the temperature dropping lower each day. Tents had been set up on set for warmth, their entrances sealed with thick gray cotton quilts to block the icy gusts, creating a desolate chill that mirrored the bare tree branches outside.

Tao Hui, clutching Han Buji’s thick overcoat, exhaled a white puff of breath as she lifted the quilt curtain. Her eyes met Han Buji’s across the set.

Still recovering from a hangover, her complexion was pale and her face slightly puffy. Before leaving, Tao Hui had applied meticulous makeup, sculpting her features with contour and highlight. Her deep-set eyes shone brightly, and her lips, painted a deep berry shade, curved into a warm smile as she glanced at Han Buji.

Tao Hui remembered nothing of the previous night, having completely forgotten her drunken declaration to “be strangers for three days.”

But Han Buji hadn’t forgotten.

After studying his script for hours on set, he turned to see Tao Hui approaching, his coat draped over her arm and a radiant smile on her face. The sight filled him with an indescribable warmth.

Recalling how she had clung to his finger the night before, slurring, “We’re breaking up for three days! You don’t play with me, and I won’t play with you,” Han Buji chuckled.

The Best Actor wasn’t just in a good mood; he felt a surge of playful arrogance, eager to tease the girl approaching with his coat.

Tao Hui wanted to ask about her drunken behavior. She approached Han Buji, handed him his coat, and began, “Thank you, I…”

“You’re welcome,” Han Buji replied coolly, turning and walking away with the coat.

Huh? Huh? Huh? Is Best Actor Han playing the aloof, unapproachable type today?

Tao Hui was bewildered, but she also felt she had caused him considerable trouble while drunk. It was understandable that he might be angry and ignore her.

Throughout the day, Tao Hui repeatedly tried to strike up a conversation with Han Buji, even buying him a hot drink. Yet she couldn’t find a single opportunity to exchange even a word with him.

Han Buji acted as if he didn’t recognize her at all, completely ignoring her. Tao Hui glumly drank both hot drinks alone.

As the day wrapped up, she watched Han Buji’s team leave first, her lips pursing.

Didn’t he always wait for Miao Miao and me to leave together before?!

Just as her indignation flared, Tao Hui suddenly remembered snippets of her drunken rant from the previous night.

“If only I’d never met Han Buji! I really want to be a good actress…”

“Cherish your life, stay away from Best Actor Han!”

What the hell was I saying?!

No wonder Han Buji turned on her so abruptly!

That evening, at the hotel, Miao Miao sat on the sofa in Tao Hui’s room, cracking sunflower seeds and analyzing, “Best Actor Han isn’t the petty type, Sister Huihui. I think there’s another reason he’s angry.”

“What else could it be?” Tao Hui slumped listlessly beside her, clutching a half-eaten green apple.

“Like this!” Miao Miao held up her phone to show Tao Hui the screen. “The fans are tearing each other apart, and it’s trending! It even hit number 5 on the trending topics at its peak.”

Tao Hui glanced at the screen. “Han Meimei Angrily Tears Down ‘No Way CP’.”

Han Buji’s Han Meimei and the CP fans of “No Way CP” had been locked in a fierce online battle for over 300 rounds.

Han Meimei insisted the CP fans were fabricating things out of thin air. The two leads didn’t even have each other’s phone numbers! For years, the trending topics about Tao Hui and Han Buji had been nothing but marketing accounts stirring up drama. Even self-indulgent CP fan circles should have their limits!

The “No Way CP” fans retorted with equal vehemence, accusing Han Meimei of meddling too much. “Isn’t every CP fan group just making up their own ‘sweet moments’?” they argued. “How is that fabricating things? We just think Han Buji and Tao Hui look good together! What’s it to you? Are we eating your Han Meimei’s rice?”

Tao Hui had nothing to do with the feud between Han Meimei and the CP fans. As long as Tao Hui’s Rabbit Fur didn’t get involved, the company actually thought these trending topics could help Tao Hui gain popularity.

Indeed, Tao Hui’s Weibo followers increased by nearly ten thousand in a single day.

But Tao Hui felt uneasy. She couldn’t shake the feeling that Han Buji’s sudden coldness stemmed from his displeasure with the CP pairing.

After all, while the situation benefited Tao Hui, it was utterly pointless for Han Buji. Some irrational Toxic Solo Fans even speculated, “Is Best Actor Han actually dating?” and angrily unfollowed him.

Tao Hui suddenly understood Han Buji’s aloofness. After a moment of silence, she sighed to Miao Miao, “You really can’t be friends with coworkers, can you? Friendship is like a fragile boat that capsizes at the slightest wave.”

Just yesterday, they were sharing drinks at the same table; today, they were strangers.

Being self-aware, Tao Hui proactively distanced herself from Han Buji the next day. In her mind, their growing distance was an unspoken agreement.

Thus, Han Buji, who had been basking in the glow of Tao Hui’s attention for a day and had naively expected three more days of her hesitant glances and attempts to strike up conversations, was stunned to discover that Tao Hui was now avoiding him.

They no longer shared lunchboxes or left work together.

The most outrageous part was when Tao Hui, Xu Chang, and a few others said they were staying behind to rehearse their lines. Han Buji casually strolled over and asked, “Should I stay too?”

Xu Chang was delighted. “Brother Han, you’re the best! Will you help us with guidance?”

Han Buji had just nodded in agreement when he turned to see Tao Hui whispering to the others, “I suddenly don’t feel well. You guys practice first.”

With that, she put on her hat and mask, tiptoed away, and slipped out!

This incident occurred four days after their drinking session, completely contradicting their earlier agreement of three days.

“…We’ll make up in three days, you know? Three days—that’s 72 hours. Not a minute more counts…”

Hah, you can’t trust a drunkard’s words after all, Han Buji thought coldly.

Tao Hui had already filmed her main scenes. The remaining days were just for shooting a few extra shots, leaving her with plenty of free time.

Before they knew it, Tao Hui’s final day of filming arrived. When her last scene wrapped, the entire set erupted in applause, and the production crew presented her with a massive bouquet of flowers.

Tao Hui accepted the flowers with surprise. “These… red roses? Ninety-nine of them?”

Director Chen, who had been going through menopause for over two weeks and couldn’t speak without shouting, surprisingly wore a faint smile as he pointed at the assistant director. “The assistant director chose these. He said young women like you all love 99 red roses. He looked it up online.”

After saying this, Director Chen awkwardly patted his woolen hat. “Tao Hui, thank you for your hard work. You portrayed Qing Wan perfectly. The audience will definitely love it.”

“I hope we have the chance to collaborate again in the future,” the screenwriter said with a smile. “I’m really looking forward to it.”

Despite his burly appearance, the assistant director was emotionally fragile. Pressing his tear ducts, he said, “I’m really going to miss little Tao Hui. She’s such a hardworking and dedicated young woman.”

Tao Hui felt the same way. Tears welled up in her eyes as she hugged the production crew members and senior colleagues, clutching her massive bouquet of roses.

Han Buji stood apart from the crowd, watching Tao Hui in her long white down jacket and beige high-heeled boots. She looked like a little white bear, hugging everyone with a radiant smile while cradling the fiery bouquet of roses.

The production crew was filled with veteran actors, many of whom were not only old enough to be her fathers but even her grandfathers.

Watching the young woman with her hair in a bun, flitting through the crowd like a well-behaved child, hugging people, and getting patted on the head and shoulder, Han Buji felt deeply annoyed.

Especially since this was the girl who hadn’t spoken to him for a week, and now she was clutching 99 roses!

Annoying!

The assistant director, thirsty, came over to refill his cup. Han Buji remarked casually, “I thought Teacher Song’s carnations at the wrap party looked better.”

“Huh?” The assistant director stared blankly at Han Buji’s profile, then ventured, “Xiao Han, your scenes are almost done too. In a couple of days, when you wrap, should we get you carnations? 99 of them?”

Tao Hui was the youngest and newest member of the production crew. Everyone, from the director to the staff, had taken care of her. After working together every day for so long, the sudden departure left a bittersweet feeling.

After the group photo, Tao Hui happily posed for individual shots with everyone who asked.

It wasn’t just the actors. The medical staff who had treated her, the handyman who brought her hot water, the props team member who made her hair accessories—anyone who asked, Tao Hui would smile warmly, hug her roses, and pose for a photo.

Even the cleaning lady, who had brought her granddaughter, asked for a photo, and Tao Hui plucked a rose from her bouquet for the little girl.

Finally, Tao Hui turned and saw Han Buji sitting in the distance, his gaze burning intently.

Hmm… should I go take a photo with Han Buji?

Tao Hui tentatively took a step forward, but quickly stopped.

Forget it. If I actually go take a photo and someone with ulterior motives spreads it, Best Actor Han’s team will think I’m just trying to ride his coattails. That wouldn’t be good.

But Tao Hui had genuinely received a lot of help from Han Buji on set.

After hesitating for two seconds, Tao Hui decided it would be more appropriate to buy a small gift and have Zhou Xun deliver it on her behalf.

Standing beside Han Buji, Xu Chang waved enthusiastically at Tao Hui. “Bye-bye, Huihui! Safe travels! Let’s hang out sometime!”

Tao Hui smiled and waved back. “Okay.”

With that, she turned and strode away in her high heels, her steps crisp and decisive.

Han Buji’s expression darkened. She just left! Just like that!

That heartless little thing!

Xu Chang was still rambling to Han Buji, “Brother Han, seriously, I couldn’t focus on filming after Huihui left today. Thank goodness I got a photo with her earlier and even got her WeChat… Holy shit, did it suddenly get colder? Why’s it so freezing?”

Han Buji turned his head and snatched Xu Chang’s phone from his pocket as Xu Chang rubbed his arms. “Unlock it.”

“What do you want, Brother Han? That look on your face is scary, like I stole your girlfriend or something…” Xu Chang grumbled, pressing his thumb to the home button to unlock the phone.

Han Buji opened Xu Chang’s photo album and saw a picture of Xu Chang grinning widely, showing his gums, next to a smiling Tao Hui. He immediately tapped “Delete.”