Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

After wrapping up her filming, Tao Hui was called back to the company for a meeting. It wasn’t until the afternoon that she dragged her luggage home, driven by Zhou Xun.

Her apartment was just as she remembered, spotless thanks to Miao Miao’s cleaning. After so many days in hotels, returning home made everything feel especially familiar and comforting.

Humming a tune, Tao Hui turned on the humidifier, boiled water, and scooped two generous spoonfuls of honey yuzu tea into her teapot. She carried the freshly brewed tea back to the living room.

The sweet aroma of honey yuzu tea mingled with the sweet orange essential oil diffusing from the humidifier, filling the air with a comforting fragrance.

Outside, light snow drifted down, while inside, the warmth was cozy and inviting. Tao Hui closed her eyes in contentment, stretched languidly, and sank into the sofa, hugging a package.

The package had been sent by Little Fanboy some time ago and had been sitting with the security guard. Tao Hui used a fruit knife to slice through the tape.

Little Fanboy had mentioned earlier that it was a handmade trinket crafted by a friend of his.

Curious, Tao Hui speculated as she opened the box.

Straight guys on college campuses—besides playing sports and video games, do they actually make handicrafts?

And a handmade necklace?

Please don’t let it be one of those “artistic” necklaces—a massive iron chain with a tree root dangling from it, looking like raw materials haphazardly thrown together.

The package was opened, and surprisingly, inside was a deep blue velvet gift box that looked quite refined, not at all wild.

Tao Hui carefully untied the beige satin ribbon with her fingertips and lifted the lid. She froze.

Holy shit! This is bad! Little Fanboy robbed a jewelry store!

The necklace inside was incredibly extravagant, radiating a dazzling, blinding sparkle.

The delicately crafted silver chain held a pendant slightly smaller than an egg. Pendants of this size usually leaned toward flamboyant designs, but the necklace in Tao Hui’s hand was different.

The intricate silver filigree casing was exquisitely detailed, studded with numerous tiny blue gemstones. Within the filigree casing lay a spherical charm completely encrusted with diamonds. If this were displayed under exhibition lighting, one word would describe it: opulent.

Is this… a handmade trinket?

Even at the Paris fashion shows, I’ve never seen anything this eye-catching!

Tao Hui was deeply uneasy. She was convinced Little Fanboy had actually robbed a jewelry store and immediately called him.

“Teacher Tao?” Little Fanboy’s warm, sunny voice came through the phone’s speaker.

Tao Hui dangled the necklace, its tiny gemstones sparkling. She stared wide-eyed and blurted out, “Little Fanboy, tell me the truth—did you… rob someone?”

“Huh?” Little Fanboy replied, sounding genuinely confused.

Tao Hui sighed. “This necklace looks way too extravagant. It’s covered in gemstones. Are you sure your friend made this? Are the gems real? It’s too valuable for me to accept.”

There was a brief silence on the other end before Little Fanboy chuckled. “No, the gems are synthetic. My friend’s craftsmanship is excellent, but it’s really not expensive—just a small trinket. I’m glad you like it, Teacher Tao.”

Tao Hui remained uneasy. The gift felt too extravagant, and she didn’t want to accept something so valuable without deserving it. She and Little Fanboy were just online gaming buddies; there was no need for such an expensive gift.

Little Fanboy insisted several times that it “really wasn’t expensive,” claiming his friend had given it to him, and since he didn’t wear it, he decided to send it to her.

His sincerity convinced Tao Hui. She even asked for his address to send him a Christmas gift in return.

After hanging up, Tao Hui placed the necklace back in its box and poured herself a cup of honey yuzu tea to soothe her throat.

As the sweet honey slid down her throat, Han Buji’s image suddenly flashed through Tao Hui’s mind.

Han Buji’s eyes were gentle, a helpless smile on his face as he said, “Tao Hui, you really can’t handle your alcohol.”

Was this from the night she’d gotten drunk?

Could it be a hallucination? Han Buji’s gaze had been so… indulgent!

“Cough!” Startled by her own thoughts, Tao Hui shuddered and slapped her forehead.

Indulgent, my ass! she thought. Just look at Weibo—”Han Meimei Tears Apart ‘No Way CP'” is still trending at number eight! And check out the tens of thousands of new followers you’ve gained these past few days by riding the Best Actor’s coattails.

Tao Hui set down her cup, the glass clinking softly against the table.

Han Buji must think she’s deliberately riding his fame. After all, Curry Entertainment, her agency, was notorious for using manufactured CP pairings to boost their artists’ popularity.

If not for his gentlemanly image, Han Buji might have strangled her by now.

Life is tough, Tao Hui sighed.

Forget it. I should focus on picking out a Christmas gift for Little Fanboy first.

Choosing a gift for a faceless online friend was tricky. She knew nothing about his height, weight, or preferences. Sending food was out of the question without knowing his tastes.

After much deliberation, Tao Hui chose a perfume based on her impression of Little Fanboy.

The base notes included coconut, rice, and mango, creating a sunny, milky fragrance. A young actor she’d worked with on a commercial had worn this scent, and the makeup artist had mentioned it was extremely popular among younger men.

Tao Hui felt quite satisfied, as Little Fanboy perfectly fit her mental image of a sunny, puppy-like boy.

Having selected Little Fanboy’s perfume, Tao Hui was about to close the webpage when she spotted a woody fragrance. For a fleeting moment, she thought she smelled the cedar and sandalwood scent she associated with Han Buji.

Should I buy one for Han Buji too?

This woody perfume was also the brand’s top seller, frequently out of stock.

Tao Hui hesitated for a moment, then recalled Han Buji’s jacket draped over her bedside, the white blanket he’d covered her with when she had a fever, and the scar-healing burn cream…

Fine, I’ll buy it. After all, we were friends for a few days.

To! Our! Fleeting! Friendship!!!

Tao Hui had the perfume for Han Buji delivered to her own home, saving Zhou Xun the trouble of delivering it to Han Buji’s company. She almost forgot—Han Buji lived right across the hall from her!

As she was pondering this, she suddenly heard faint voices coming from the hallway.

Tao Hui’s building had only two units per floor. Besides her, the only other resident was her neighbor, Han Buji.

Compelled by some inexplicable impulse, Tao Hui slipped out of her apartment without putting on slippers. Barefoot and acting like a spy, she tiptoed carefully across the carpet to the door and peered through the peephole.

Sure enough, Han Buji was standing in the hallway, along with Wu Yue, who was preparing to leave.

Wu Yue waved goodbye, said something with a smile, and Han Buji nodded slightly in response. Wu Yue patted Han Buji’s shoulder, took a step toward the stairwell, then suddenly stopped, leaned back, and whispered something in Han Buji’s ear.

Tao Hui rolled her eyes.

Are you two crazy? There’s no one else in the hallway—why are you whispering?!

Wu Yue covered his mouth with his hand as he spoke, and suddenly both men turned their heads and looked directly toward Tao Hui’s door.

Startled by their gaze, Tao Hui froze behind her security door. If not for her presence of mind, she might have panicked and given herself away.

Tao Hui stared at them in confusion, but when she clearly saw Han Buji’s expression, she froze completely.

His gaze was relaxed and languid, the smile at the corner of his lips brightening his expression. His lowered lashes seemed to convey a hint of helplessness, yet also carried an undercurrent of indulgent affection.

It was the perfect lover’s gaze—any more would have been cloying, any less would have been cold.

Tao Hui recalled the honey water from that drunken night and Han Buji’s gentle words: “Tao Hui, you really can’t handle alcohol.”

She crouched on the floor, her hands covering her face, fingers touching her burning earlobes. She muttered softly, “Is the God of Wealth poster on my door really that handsome? Even the Best Actor can’t resist? Is he standing at my door, flirting with God of Wealth, Lord Guan?”

Han Buji’s interruption had completely ruined Tao Hui’s interest in Snow Tea. She felt listless and drained.

Slipping into her pink slippers, she locked herself in the bathroom for a long, soothing hot bath.

The warm water calmed Tao Hui’s initial panic. She couldn’t understand why a simple glance through the peephole at Han Buji could still fluster her so.

Was it guilt from eavesdropping? Or shame from riding his coattails for fame and followers these past few days?

Her heart raced so violently that she only began to calm down after sinking into the bathtub.

Halfway through her bath, Tao Hui’s phone began to ring loudly in the living room.

The first time it rang, she didn’t even bother opening her eyes, too lazy to answer.

The second time was the same—still too lazy.

It wasn’t until the fifth ring that Tao Hui finally opened her eyes, resignedly stood up from the tub, threw on her bathrobe, and shuffled to the living room.

“Hello, Sister Xun,” she said, her voice still drowsy.

“Hui-ah, my dear girl, you finally answered! You’re trending again, you know!” Zhou Xun’s voice roared through the phone.

Most celebrities would kill for their agencies to pay for a trending topic, but Tao Hui was different. She couldn’t escape them even if she tried. Lately, she’d grown tired of hearing the phrase “trending topic,” no longer panicking like before, when every mention of it made her fear a second career downfall.

Perhaps she’d learned from Han Buji. Wrapped in her bathrobe, Tao Hui asked with remarkable composure, “What’s the topic this time?”

Zhou Xun was momentarily stunned by her calm tone, then said with relief, “My artist has matured! She’s so composed now!”

After speaking, Zhou Xun switched to a nagging tone, like a mother hen: “That trending topic might be paid for. It’s even talking about something from ages ago? I didn’t quite understand it. Go take a look. The company needs to understand the situation. If someone starts spreading negative rumors, we need to get ahead of the PR…”

“Something from ages ago?” Tao Hui suddenly raised her voice.

Zhou Xun, who had just praised his artist’s composure, was startled by Tao Hui’s loud question. “Well, someone’s looking for you! See if you recognize them!”

Someone was looking for her!

Someone was looking for her!

Tao Hui’s phone slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor. The childhood memories flooded back: the sounds of shouting and beatings, objects shattering, her mother’s body covered in bruises, the coffee table split by an axe…

The nightmare had returned.

The warmth from her recent shower vanished instantly, replaced by a bone-chilling cold, as if she were facing a blizzard and glaciers.

Tao Hui pressed her fingers against the birthmark on her neck, her eyes brimming with tears, and shakily picked up her phone.

He’s really come for me. He’s found me!

No, it can’t be. I’ve been so careful. I’ve always covered my birthmark. He couldn’t have found me.

Tao Hui’s hands were ice-cold and trembling as she repeatedly pressed her finger against the fingerprint scanner to unlock her phone. She logged into Weibo and saw the trending topics:

1. Sichuan-Chongqing Tycoon Li Sijin
2. Tao Hui’s Phone Number
3. Tao Hui’s Misdial

“Huh?” Tao Hui blinked.

The icy chill and glacial tension vanished, replaced by a look of utter bewilderment on her face.

She clicked on the top trending video and saw a man with slicked-back hair and gold-rimmed glasses. When he spoke, it was with a familiar, sultry male voice:

“Fuck! If I’d known the person who called me was my favorite actress, I—bleep—would never have hung up or said all that—bleep—bleep—bleep! Now I’m regretting it! So much regret! She even blocked my number!”

Tao Hui: “?!”

The voice in the video continued: “Rabbit, I’m your fan, Rabbit Fur! I—bleep—was too excited! I own a listed company, a villa, and sports cars. Would you consider being my girlfriend?”