Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 29

Chapter 29

“Han Buji, you really have someone you like?” Tao Hui asked.

It was dusk, and only the entryway light was on in the room. Though bright, it couldn’t illuminate the entire living space.

Han Buji stood with his back to the entryway light, his expression obscured. Tao Hui didn’t notice his index finger, hooked around the crayfish bag, subtly curling.

Facing Tao Hui’s sudden question, Han Buji lowered his phoenix-like eyes, lips parting slightly, “Yes, I do.”

In this dry winter of the Imperial Capital City, the engineering-minded man suddenly recalled an online poem, “The greatest distance in the world isn’t between life and death, but when I stand before you, you don’t know I love you.”

Should he tell this seemingly dispirited girl that the person he liked was her?

It felt as if 27 years of internal conflict had crystallized in this moment. No one could have guessed that this calm-looking man’s mind was racing at full speed.

Unfortunately, Tao Hui shattered the silence in the next instant.

She pulled the crayfish bag close to her chest and tilted her head up. “Does your mom like her? Does she talk to you about what kind of girl she thinks is ideal? Do you have a dad? Would he tell you what qualities he hopes your girlfriend will have? Do your family members watch the dating show you’re on? Do they think any of the contestants would be a good match for you?”

Han Buji: “……”

Han Buji, who had been contemplating whether and how to confess his feelings, found himself momentarily flustered by Tao Hui’s barrage of questions. Before he could respond, she opened the crayfish box and inhaled deeply. “It smells so good. I wish I had a mom.”

Han Buji raised his hand to his forehead, letting out a helpless chuckle.

Ever since discovering that Tao Hui was the person he’d been searching for, Han Buji had thoroughly researched her background. He knew she’d grown up in an orphanage without any family.

He wanted to protect her, care for her, and above all, love her.

And what did this girl say?

She wanted a mother?

Life is full of surprises. You think you’re about to confess your feelings to your beloved, but all she wants is a mom.

Han Buji sat down on the sofa beside Tao Hui, his weight causing her to sway slightly. He reached out to pat her head and asked gently, “What’s wrong? Who upset you?”

Tao Hui hadn’t interacted with Han Buji much before. What surprised her was that, apart from Zhou Xun who treated her like a mother, he was the only one who could understand her emotions. Even more than she understood them herself.

Tao Hui lowered her head without answering, feeling Han Buji’s broad hand gently pat her head.

It was too gentle, so gentle that it made her want to cry again.

Those inexplicable frustrations finally vanished when Han Buji suddenly pulled Tao Hui into his arms.

In their place came surprise and a sudden acceleration of her heartbeat.

Han Buji’s arm wrapped around Tao Hui’s back, while his other hand gently pressed the back of her head against his shoulder. His voice, tinged with barely perceptible tenderness, murmured, “Tao Hui, the crayfish will get cold.”

A polite, comforting embrace.

Han Buji’s embrace felt different from the acting hugs during their scenes—it carried genuine warmth.

With her eyes pressed against Han Buji’s shoulder, Tao Hui’s heartbeat pounded like a drum.

By the time they were eating crayfish, Tao Hui had fully regained her vivacity. She waved her red-oil-covered claws and declared cheerfully, “What can’t be solved by a plate of crayfish? If that’s not enough, double the dose!”

Her words rang with bravado, completely forgetting that her good mood stemmed not from the crayfish, but from Han Buji’s embrace.

Han Buji offered no retort. He patiently placed peeled shrimp meat onto the small plate before her, his selfless act remaining unacknowledged.

He’d thought his unrejected embrace represented a monumental breakthrough. Yet the next morning, when Tao Hui emerged from her bedroom after a phone call, she passed him without a glance while video-chatting with Miao Miao.

Han Buji: “?”

“I know everything now! Sister Xun told me! That Han You! She’s no good! A shameless white lotus bitch! Pah!” Miao Miao’s indignant voice boomed from Tao Hui’s phone. “She even has the nerve to Weibo tag you! I’m so mad I could spit!”

Tao Hui massaged her temples, her sleep disrupted by nightmares of being strangled by Han Meimeis and their ilk with a necktie. In her dream, she’d embraced Han Buji—their male lead—only to have Zhou Xun collect her corpse afterward, remarking, “Hui ah, hanged ghosts look so ugly. Their tongues dangle out like a dog’s.”

The chaotic dream left Tao Hui drenched in cold sweat when she woke up that morning. Before she could fully process what had happened, Miao Miao’s call came through.

She sighed and spoke to Miao Miao with as much kindness as she could muster, “Miao Miao, I don’t have any evidence that Han You was behind your stomach trouble. Just keep your guard up and don’t do anything rash.”

“Was it stomach trouble? I was food poisoned!” Miao Miao wailed. “Sister Huihui! You have to help me get revenge! Did you see her Weibo post? It’s infuriating! She even posted the invitation to the Weibo Night party and tagged you, saying ‘Miss you, Sister Tao Hui’! Ugh! Ugh, ugh, ugh!”

Tao Hui frowned. “She was invited too?”

In the video, Miao Miao stuffed a piece of sandwich into her mouth during a pause in her rant, cheeks bulging as she mumbled through the food, “Yeah, she got an invite. Be careful what you eat tonight—don’t take anything from her! You have no idea how awful it feels to want to throw up and poop at the same time!”

Han Buji watched Tao Hui and Miao Miao chat for half an hour before Zhou Xun came to pick her up.

The ungrateful girl clutched the pajamas she’d worn earlier and called out, “Han Buji, I’ll wash these and return them later!” She didn’t even finish speaking before running off with her manager.

As if he were some kind of flood or beast!

Tao Hui returned to her home, where she was immediately seated by the makeup artist and stylist brought by Zhou Xun. The day was spent in full preparation for the evening event, from exfoliating and applying face masks to final touches.

The elaborate process of preparing a female celebrity for an event was truly time-consuming. Just the eye makeup alone took over forty minutes.

The base layer of light brown eyeshadow was blended with cocoa tones, highlighted by a galaxy shimmer, and topped off with a starry beige shade containing pearlescent particles.

Mascara, eyeliner, concealer, highlighter pens, and various brushes fluttered before Tao Hui’s eyes. When she stood to change into her outfit, the reflection in the mirror revealed a striking transformation from the melancholic homebody who had been sipping tea yesterday afternoon.

The stylist had created loose waves in her hair, framing a face now adorned with a bold vermilion lipstick mixed with a brownish-red lip gloss. Every expression radiated vibrant allure.

The evening gown was a black backless skirt with sweeping drapes. After changing, Tao Hui twirled before the mirror with a radiant smile, leaving even the backstage makeup artists momentarily breathless.

Tao Hui was quite pleased with the result. What woman doesn’t love to look beautiful? She asked Zhou Xun to snap a photo for her Weibo account, maintaining her online presence.

After the makeup artist and stylist left, Tao Hui followed Zhou Xun to prepare for departure. Before they left, he cautioned her, “Miaomiao knows about Han You’s situation now. Don’t get involved. You still need to maintain appearances. We don’t want rumors spreading that you’re a cruel, bullying other female celebrities at events.”

Tao Hui held up her skirt with a smile. “Aiya, then I can’t spit in Han You’s wine anymore? Is that not allowed?”

Zhou Xun recognized this as her playful mood returning. He shot her a warning glance before heading to the underground garage to start the car.

Remembering the recent incident of being locked out without her keys, Tao Hui checked her purse multiple times before leaving, ensuring she had her keys before switching to high heels.

The evening gown’s skirt was wide and unadorned at the front. The stylist had suggested a brooch, but Tao Hui disliked the sharp pin on the back and declined.

As she bent down to adjust her outfit, Tao Hui suddenly recalled the long necklace given by her Little Fanboy.

Black gown paired with a sparkling long necklace… That might look quite nice.

Tao Hui clicked into the apartment in high heels, retrieved the long necklace, and fastened it around her neck. The pendant settled just above her abdomen. With a smile, she sent a voice message to Little Fanboy, “Thanks for the necklace. I’m attending a corporate gala tonight—perfect timing.”

“Happy you like it,” Little Fanboy replied. After a pause, he asked, “Are you leaving now?”

“Yep. Just wanted to thank you. Talk later.” Tao Hui’s voice carried a light chuckle.

“Alright. Talk later,” Little Fanboy agreed.

The door swung shut behind her. As Tao Hui stepped into the hallway, Han Buji leaned against the opposite doorframe, his silhouette framed by the corridor lights. His tailored suit gleamed with starlight reflections, hands casually tucked in pockets as if waiting for her arrival.

Since her morning encounter with Zhou Xun, Tao Hui had been busy. Now, facing Han Buji’s unexpected presence, she felt suddenly self-conscious. She’d deliberately avoided him all day—the Waterloo incident from her eighteenth year still haunted her. That night had introduced her to a vocabulary of profanity she’d never imagined existed. The mere memory still made her shudder.

After staying two days at Han Buji’s house and being hugged by his “sister” who’s a massive fan of his, Tao Hui felt incredibly guilty. She kept reflexively avoiding Han Buji.

Han Buji’s gaze, deep and intense, remained fixed on her without blinking.

Perhaps it was the shock from last night’s dream where Han Meimei had choked her to death, but as Tao Hui met his eyes, her heart began pounding wildly again.

What the hell is going on?

Did Han Meimeis send me a dream message about this “for my brother, I’ll be mad, for my brother, I’ll be wild, for my brother, I’ll crash through walls” feeling?

Both silently harboring their thoughts, Tao Hui felt awkward and raised her hand. “Hey.”

Receiving no response from Han Buji, Tao Hui scrambled to find a topic, hoping to escape quickly—Zhou Xun was still waiting in the underground garage.

“Um, your hairstyle… the scum guy’s foil perm matches my scum girl’s big waves perfectly, ha ha ha…” Tao Hui dug through her mind, forcing out the words with a dry laugh. She wanted to slap herself.

Tao Hui, has the makeup artist covered your brain with foundation?!

Han Buji’s lips twitched as he let out a chuckle. “Tao Hui, is there something you want to say to me?”

Han Buji was genuinely puzzled. No matter how high his emotional intelligence, it couldn’t compete with the unpredictability of “women’s hearts being like needles at the bottom of the sea.” After all, just yesterday they’d eaten crayfish shoulder-to-shoulder, shared an embrace, and talked through the night. Why was she now ignoring him completely?

Like a heartless cad who takes off after a single hug!

Tao Hui appeared hesitant, stammering, “I’m afraid if I say it, you’ll get upset.”

“Speak,” Han Buji commanded with a single word.

How should she put it? Should I tell you that your Han Meimei and the others kept haunting my dreams, ordering me to stay away from you?

Tao Hui tugged at her skirt, heaved a deep sigh, and gestured with her clutch in mid-air. In a hushed voice, she blurted, “Um, could we… pretend we’re not as close today?”

Author’s Note:

Han Buji: Fine, let’s play pretend again. Another 72 hours, huh?

T/N: I’ll be revising this story’s translation, so there won’t be updates for a while. I’ll be back as soon as possible~ 💖