Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 30

Chapter 30

The “Weibo Night” event had invited the year’s most popular celebrities. A 12-meter-long red carpet stretched from the entrance, and the names on the autograph board had already formed a sprawling mural. Reporters and fans had created a sea of people surrounding the venue.

Flashes of cameras, screams, and even a few excited sobs filled the air.

Han Buji sat in his nanny car, which slowly rolled into the venue under the guidance of staff. He idly played with a deep blue velvet gift box.

Click. The box opened to reveal a uniquely designed long necklace.

Intricate openwork carving had transformed the metal into delicate feathers, so light they seemed to float. Two black wings, each inlaid with tiny black diamonds, overlapped slightly, resembling the poised wings of an archangel preparing for battle.

Han Buji’s slender fingers lifted the necklace, the pendant swaying in the air.

He recalled Tao Hui’s words from before, her voice light and breezy: “Let’s not plan to meet… If we happen to bump into each other, it’s fate. If not, no big deal.”

These words were meant for the “Little Fanboy” she remembered him as.

Han Buji chuckled dryly. She certainly hadn’t treated him that way recently.

Just an hour earlier, she had asked him with a serious tone, “Can we pretend not to know each other today?”

Fine, pretending we’re strangers again!

Han Buji’s driver, Zhang Yangguang, was usually quite talkative, always ready with a joke.

But today, Zhang Yangguang was anything but sunny, driving with quiet diligence.

His boss, Han Buji, was in a foul mood.

Even with the air conditioning on, the car felt cold. Manager Wu, sitting in the passenger seat, remained silent. Only Gao Meng, the senior assistant, held a signed autograph board, her eyes shining as she craned her neck forward, staring intently at something unseen.

The boss, meanwhile, held a beautiful long necklace in his hand, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the boss suddenly let out a cold laugh.

Zhang Yangguang immediately straightened his back, while Wu Yue turned around, hesitating slightly before saying, “I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but when we get out, don’t let your emotions…”

“Ah! Rabbit! It’s our Rabbit!” Gao Meng’s sudden shout interrupted Wu Yue’s words.

Zhang Yangguang and Wu Yue were startled by Gao Meng’s high-pitched scream. Only Han Buji, who had been radiating icy coldness moments before, smiled faintly.

Wu Yue stared at the curve of Han Buji’s lips for three silent seconds before leaning back in his seat and grumbling to Zhang Yangguang, “Yangguang, want a promotion and a raise? Want to be able to scream even when the boss is scowling? Want the boss to treat you to fancy meals? All you need is one of these!”

With a flourish, Wu Yue pulled a photo of Tao Hui from his bag and shouted, “Long live Rabbit! Boss, I want Australian lobster!”

Han Buji chuckled. “Eat it.”

Zhang Yangguang followed suit, snatching the photo of Tao Hui. Gripping the steering wheel with one hand, he raised the photo high with the other. “Long live Rabbit! Rabbit, I love you! Boss, I want Australian lobster too!”

Han Buji glanced at the back of Zhang Yangguang’s head and asked coldly, “Who do you love? Bonus deducted.”

Zhang Yangguang: “……”

“Hahahaha!” Wu Yue clutched his stomach, laughing. “Idiot! Serves you right for adding your own nonsense!”

To outsiders, the Best Actor’s team seemed effortlessly cool. Zhang Yangguang, dressed in all black, looked like a secret agent; Wu Yue, in a sharp suit, resembled a business elite; and Gao Meng, in a professional skirt, exuded the aura of a powerful career woman. In reality, they were all goofballs, turning the nanny van into a party on wheels.

Han Buji ignored their antics, gazing out the window.

Up ahead, Tao Hui was walking the red carpet in a sleek black evening gown. Her slender fingers lifted the hem of her backless, figure-hugging dress, revealing a glimpse of her smooth, fair skin that shimmered like polished jade.

Tsk, the way the young lady blows kisses at the camera is truly beautiful, a complete contrast to her tearful, mother-seeking demeanor from last night.

On the red carpet, the male celebrity walking ahead of Tao Hui deliberately paused for a moment, and the two signed autographs and entered the venue together, chatting and laughing.

Han Buji narrowed his eyes, fastened the necklace around his neck, and opened the car door.

“Hey?” Wu Yue asked. “Getting out so early? Not saving the best for last? What’s the rush?”

Han Buji grinned. “Going to pretend we’re strangers.”

Tao Hui didn’t have many genuine friends in the industry. After only a few rounds of mingling, she ran into Han You, who was also wearing a black dress.

It was another backless design, but for some reason, her stylist had paired such a sultry, glamorous gown with a girlish bob haircut.

“Sister Tao Hui!” Han You rushed over enthusiastically. “What a coincidence! We’re wearing the same dress!”

Tao Hui shrugged, unfazed by the wardrobe clash.

Matching outfits aren’t scary; the one who looks worse is the one who feels awkward.

Han You smoothed her bob, then approached with a small plate of cake, her manner sweet and endearing. “Sister Tao Hui, I’ve missed you so much! I just got some strawberry cake—want a bite?”

“No, thank you,” Tao Hui said, glancing around and sighing softly. She murmured to Han You, “Do you really think I’d ever eat anything you offer me again?”

Tao Hui was genuinely puzzled. With everything so clear, why was Han You still pretending to be her close friend?

“Sister Tao Hui, I honestly don’t understand what you’re saying,” Han You said, her voice trembling with feigned hurt. “Did I do something to upset you? Why are you ignoring me?”

You can’t wake someone who’s pretending to be asleep. The saying rang true.

If they weren’t in a public place, Tao Hui would have given her three punches just to see if she’d finally wake up.

Tao Hui had been holding a glass of red wine for ages without taking a sip. Now, returning the gesture, she raised her glass with the same saccharine smile Han You wore. “Miao Miao asked me to send her regards when I saw you. Here, have this wine.”

We’re both actresses. If you can play the part, so can I. Let’s act, then.

Ever since Miao Miao’s hospitalization, Tao Hui had no intention of ever showing Han You any more “genuine affection” or “true friendship.”

Han You didn’t dare take the wine. Tao Hui smiled, brought the glass to her lips, took a small sip, and let a mocking curve tug at the corner of her mouth.

“Such a tiny bit of courage, yet always scheming to harm others.”

As Tao Hui looked down on Han You, she completely forgot how often she herself cowered before Han Buji, shrinking her neck like a quail.

“Oh, isn’t this Tao Hui? Look at you! It must be over a year since we last met. I was just contacting your manager recently—any interest in filming a movie?” A chubby man suddenly wedged himself between Tao Hui and Han You, his flabby bulk shoving Han You aside.

This greasy, overweight man was Li Biao, an investor with a notoriously bad reputation in the industry.

Li Biao had backed two modestly successful films, but his face, which clearly screamed “I want to sleep with you,” made Tao Hui want to smash her wine glass into his oily, pancake-like face.

Tao Hui forced a thin smile. “President Li, my manager handles all my work arrangements. You should contact Zhou Xun directly.”

Han You, standing nearby in her high heels, had stumbled slightly when Li Biao shoved her. After regaining her balance, she suddenly spoke up, “Sister Tao Hui, who is this?”

Li Biao turned his head at the sound of her voice. “Hey there, little sister. You look familiar.”

Tao Hui rolled her eyes inwardly.

Look at your greasy act, trying to imitate Jia Baoyu’s speech with that bootleg “This sister, I’ve seen you before.” Do you think you’re some flawless Celestial Flower of the Jade Garden?

Han You was just as bizarre, flashing a saccharine smile at this fat cat. Within minutes, they were exchanging business cards.

Tao Hui, too lazy to deal with either of them, was about to leave when she thought better of it and whispered, “Han You.”

Han You turned, her face all innocence. “What is it, Sister Tao Hui? Are you worried President Li might give me the film role?”

Tao Hui nearly rolled her eyes into her skull. She managed a polite warning: “President Li’s reputation isn’t great. You should be cautious about working with him.”

With that, Tao Hui walked away.

Han You was neither a relative nor a friend, and there was even an unresolved debt between them. Tao Hui had done her duty with that warning and had no intention of meddling further.

As fellow members of the entertainment industry, most of the guests, though not close, had crossed paths at some point.

Tao Hui greeted them one by one. She ran into Guo Yi, a male actor she’d worked with years ago, and they stood chatting for a few minutes.

As they talked, Guo Yi kept glancing behind Tao Hui. Finally, he asked, puzzled, “Why does Best Actor Han keep staring at me?”

“Huh?” Tao Hui turned and met Han Buji’s cold, piercing gaze.

Tao Hui quickly turned around, forcing a laugh. “Maybe he thinks you’re too handsome, ha ha ha.”

No, why does Han Buji look so gloomy? Like a cold, ghostly presence lurking behind me.

There weren’t many reporters in the venue, and Tao Hui debated whether to go greet Han Buji.

I shouldn’t be so paranoid. Can’t celebrities have friends?

Coincidentally, just as she finished chatting with Guo Yi, Xu Chang from the Sheng Jue production crew approached, grinning. “Huihui! You have no idea how boring it’s been on set since you wrapped filming. Director Chen’s menopause is getting worse, and I’m getting yelled at every day!”

Tao Hui burst out laughing. “Did the assistant director’s secret plan to add calming oral liquid to Director Chen’s tea fail?”

“Of course it failed! Director Chen found out the next day. Now the assistant director’s lunchbox doesn’t even have a speck of meat, ha ha ha!” Xu Chang chuckled.

Tao Hui felt a gaze piercing through her from behind, but she stubbornly refused to turn around, continuing to talk to Xu Chang. “Eating more vegetables is good too. Isn’t the assistant director trying to lose weight anyway?”

Xu Chang clutched his stomach, laughing. “Someone fished out that lotus root you pulled from the artificial lake and stir-fried it for the assistant director. He’s threatening to go on a hunger strike if he doesn’t see meat again!”

As the two were chatting happily, a figure suddenly appeared beside them. Dressed in a flashy white suit, he stepped directly in front of Tao Hui and extended his hand. “Hello, Rabbit. Nice to meet you. I’m Li Sijin.”

Li Sijin—the Sichuan-Chongqing tycoon who had insulted her online!

Why is he at the Weibo Night event?

Xu Chang, ever the social butterfly, widened his eyes in mock surprise. “Whoa, you’re that rich kid who wants to date Huihui?”

Mindful of the entertainment reporters nearby, Tao Hui carefully distanced herself from Li Sijin, frowning. “What are you doing here? Aren’t these events only for actors and singers?”

“Rabbit, I came for you,” Li Sijin declared dramatically.

His Mandarin pronunciation is surprisingly good.

Just as Tao Hui was about to reply, a deep voice suddenly spoke from behind her. “Excuse me, just passing through.”

Li Sijin glanced at Han Buji and caught a fleeting shadow of darkness in the Best Actor’s eyes.

Startled by the sudden voice, Tao Hui reacted a beat slower than Li Sijin. By the time she turned around, she only caught a glimpse of Han Buji’s retreating coat hem and his tightly clenched jaw.

For some reason, Tao Hui’s heart suddenly sank. Growing even more impatient with Li Sijin, she pointed to the event staff guiding guests to their seats and said politely, “Excuse me, just passing through.”

She didn’t realize she had just said the same thing as Han Buji.

Li Sijin, noticing Tao Hui’s lack of interest in shaking hands, didn’t feel awkward. He withdrew his hand with a smile. “Go get ’em, Rabbit! Just kidding. I’m here for work today, but I also wanted to see my idol. You…”

Tao Hui had no good impression of this man. She nodded curtly, barely listening to his words, and hurried past him, her steps slightly rushed, as if trying to catch up with someone.

Xu Chang followed behind Tao Hui, watching the figures of Han Buji and Tao Hui moving one after the other. He suddenly felt that his ideal type was a perfect match for Brother Han.

Xu Chang scratched his head, muttering in confusion, “Even their rejections are couple-coordinated?”

After taking her seat, Tao Hui found herself seated far from Han Buji due to her lower status. She tried to peek twice, but with several tall male celebrities blocking her view, she could only catch glimpses of the back of Han Buji’s head.

Tch, the Best Actor really does belong to a different world!

Such great seats!

Although Tao Hui was an invited guest, she was essentially just a background figure, with little to do.

The organizers had invited her mainly because she had been trending frequently on social media this year, hoping to capitalize on her popularity for a bit of buzz.

Seeing the top singers and actors surrounding Han Buji, Tao Hui’s jealousy overflowed even from a hundred thousand miles away. She suddenly realized how foolish her words to Han Buji had been before leaving.

The Best Actor is far too busy with events to even notice you, yet you acted like you were doing him a favor by pretending not to know him.

Idiot! What an idiot!

Tao Hui fumed inwardly until the long event finally ended. Then, she saw Han Buji glance in her direction.

Huh? Is he looking at me?

Hesitating whether to wave hello, Tao Hui was beaten to the punch. Han Buji called out to Xu Chang, who was standing beside her, with a smile and a wave, “Xu Chang, over here!”

“Coming, Brother Han!” Xu Chang, like a rabbit, bounded toward Han Buji.

And just like that, right in front of Tao Hui, the two men walked away, laughing and chatting.

Just! Walked! Away!

t/n: Yeay, revision done! 🎉 I’ll continue updating according to the new schedule. Happy reading~ 🤍