Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 45

Chapter 45

A salty sea breeze swept across Dragon Head Coast as Tao Hui crouched on the fine sand, picking up a small seashell from the shore.

The pink shell shimmered with a golden hue under the setting sun. A figure blocked the orange twilight, and she looked up from the shadow to see a young man standing before her, smiling as he called her name, “Tao Hui.”

Han Buji, you shouldn’t know me, Tao Hui thought.

“Brother Lu, have you eaten yet? If not, let’s go! I’ll treat you to some fried liver!” The booming voice aof an elderly man outside the window startled Tao Hui awake.

Oh, no wonder. It was just a dream.

At 7:20 AM, Tao Hui slowly opened her eyes. Sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, illuminating the dark gray bedsheets. She rested the back of her hand against her forehead, her long hair spread across the lotus-colored pillowcase as she lay motionless, eyes half-closed.

She had stayed overnight at Han Buji’s place but had insisted on sleeping in the guest room, maintaining a proper distance.

Before sleep, Han Buji had pressed a kiss to her forehead, which had led to a night filled with inappropriate dreams. Only as dawn approached did she finally dream of something more wholesome—a memory of being fourteen at the seaside, as if she had transmigrated back in time.

The dream left Tao Hui dazed, staring blankly at the chandelier hanging from the ceiling for a long moment.

This wasn’t the first time she’d dreamt of this scene. Back on the beach when she was fourteen, Han Buji had made a lasting impression. In her memory, he was a strikingly handsome young man who, even after falling into the water, retained a unique, unruffled charm.

But that day, she had been rushing to catch her train home and hadn’t had time to linger and etch the young Han Buji’s features into her mind.

Later, during her teenage years, Tao Hui and her classmates would shyly discuss their ideal types of boys. Amidst the noisy classroom chatter, she would often recall the vaguely remembered face of that boy from the beach.

She never encountered another boy in school with such a rebellious face and gentle eyes—so distinctive, so unforgettable.

She had dreamt of him occasionally since then, but even in her dreams, she couldn’t quite make out Han Buji’s features clearly. Each time she dreamt of that day by the sea, Tao Hui would wake with a sigh, a lingering regret for missing out on her ideal type.

After seeing Han Buji’s film in the theater at age fifteen, Tao Hui entered a phase of idol worship. The boy from her dreams never appeared again, replaced entirely by Han Buji’s image. Naturally, she gradually forgot about the incident.

When she dreamed of him again, Tao Hui didn’t sigh this time. Instead, she felt a surge of joy, like rediscovering something lost.

After so many years, I’ve finally met you.

The winter air in Beijing was dry. Tao Hui propped herself up against the headboard, reached for the bottled water on her nightstand, and took a couple of sips. The cool water soothed her throat, slightly dispelling her lingering drowsiness.

I wonder if Han Buji is awake yet?

The moment she thought this, Han Buji appeared.

Three polite knocks sounded softly on the door, followed by Han Buji’s voice: “Tao Hui, are you awake? Want to grab breakfast together?”

Many people she knew called her by name. Miao Miao, with her sisterly affection, called her “Sister Huihui,” her voice brimming with intimacy and dependence.

Zhou Xun, addressing her like an elder to a junior, used the Northern dialect’s characteristic “er” suffix, calling her “Hui’er,” like a doting mother.

The “Tao Hui” spoken by others, whether familiar or strangers, sounded largely the same, differing only in tone.

Only Han Buji, with his naturally sexy voice, added a touch of tenderness to his call. He emphasized the “Tao” slightly, letting the “Hui” drift softly through the air like a spicy Chivas Regal mixed with smooth honey, utterly captivating.

Tao Hui unconsciously touched her forehead with her fingertips, the spot where Han Buji had kissed her goodnight the previous evening. Perhaps the darkness had imbued the gesture with an ambiguous allure, making it even more heart-fluttering than their passionate kisses during the day. Her heart had pounded wildly, her eyes widening, her lashes trembling uncontrollably.

“Tao Hui?” Han Buji called again from outside the door.

Tao Hui jerked her hand away, realizing what she was doing. She desperately wanted to slap herself awake.

He just lightly touched his lips to my forehead—once! she thought. And I had a dream about… that kind of thing all night? And now I’m still reliving it this morning? Unbelievable!

“Coming, coming!” Tao Hui threw back the covers, leaped out of bed, slipped into her slippers, and yanked open the door. “What’s for breakfast?”

Tao Hui was wearing Han Buji’s loungewear, the sleeves and pant legs rolled up twice. That wasn’t the issue; the neckline was too loose, having slipped off her shoulder after a night of tossing and turning in bed, revealing a hint of cleavage.

She didn’t notice, nor did she realize the impact this sight would have on a man.

What man wouldn’t be stirred by seeing the woman he loves wake up in his home, wearing his clothes, her hair disheveled and eyes still drowsy, her delicate collarbones and fair skin exposed?

Especially considering the pink birthmark on Tao Hui’s neck, which already carried an ambiguous allure.

Tao Hui only noticed Han Buji’s gaze deepen before he began to close in on her, step by step.

“W-what are you doing?” Tao Hui retreated several steps.

Abandoning his usual gentleness, Han Buji pressed forward relentlessly until Tao Hui collapsed onto the bed, the dream from the previous night flooding back. She even closed her eyes. Only then did she hear him whisper in her ear, “Xiaolongbao or shengjian?”

“Huh? Xiaolongbao?” Tao Hui’s eyes snapped open.

Wait, what? Is this conversation really jumping around this much? You were advancing on me with such domineering intensity just to ask about xiaolongbao or shengjian? (t/n: both are buns)

“Then I’ll have orange juice!”

I thought you were going to ask, ‘Do you want to take your clothes off yourself, or should I do it for you?!’ Tao Hui fumed inwardly.

Just as she was seething, Han Buji suddenly leaned down and kissed her forehead, straightening her collar with a smile. “Good morning, girlfriend.”

That “girlfriend” sounded so dreamy!

But! Do you think you can win me over with just one “girlfriend”? Dream on! Tao Hui screamed internally.

Yet, after her mental outburst, she still meekly replied, “…Good morning.”

Since they couldn’t go out for breakfast to get xiaolongbao or shengjian mantou, Tao Hui, as the newly appointed girlfriend of Best Actor Han, eagerly volunteered to showcase her domestic skills. She donned an apron and declared her intention to conquer the kitchen.

Wearing the apron transformed Tao Hui. Her hair was neatly pulled into a ponytail, and the misty blue apron softened her striking beauty, lending her an air of gentle warmth.

Glancing back at Han Buji leaning against the kitchen doorway, she expertly cracked an egg into the pan, the sizzling sound of frying eggs filling the air. “Han Buji, where did you get this apron?” she asked curiously.

“I bought it,” Han Buji replied.

“Do single men really cook for themselves at home? You even have ingredients in your fridge.” Tao Hui cracked a second egg into the pan, the two eggs touching and their whites merging. “Oh no, they’ve stuck together. I’ll have to separate them with a knife later.”

Han Buji watched Tao Hui’s back as she stood at the stove, her loose-fitting loungewear and the apron tied around her waist accentuating her slender figure. Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing her in a warm, sensual glow.

He stepped closer and whispered, “Not for cooking for myself.”

“Then why buy an apron if you don’t cook?” Tao Hui turned to ask.

The man behind her wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her head. He chuckled, his tone deliberately provocative. “Maybe I bought it for some kitchen role-play.”

Kitchen role-play?!

Tao Hui’s face flushed hot as she felt his warmth against her back. Desperate to change the subject, she stammered, “The egg…”

“What? Is it bothering you?” Han Buji continued to tease her shamelessly.

Han Buji, you shameless pervert! What are you even saying?!

Are you just going to casually bring up private body parts like that?!

In her twenty-one years, Tao Hui had never experienced the kind of sudden, overwhelming blush that made her face burn. In her mind, a proper maiden’s blush should be slow and gradual, spreading gently across her cheeks.

Now she felt it—not just a thump, but a searing heat that made her face feel as hot as the frying pan. Flustered, she could only shove Han Buji aside with her elbow and shout in a rough voice, “I meant the egg for the fried egg! Do you want it sunny-side up or over easy?!”

“Oh, what a shame,” Han Buji replied, still acting like he wasn’t human. “I thought you wanted to check if you’d crushed it last time.”

What kind of day is it when the Best Actor, who usually acts so proper, suddenly decides to stop acting like a human?!

Teasing me like this first thing in the morning!

Tao Hui’s face was about to explode from the heat. She spun around, pointed the spatula at Han Buji, and accused, “Last time, I clearly pressed down on your thigh! It had nothing to do with your… your… corpus cavernosum!”

Seeing Tao Hui’s feathers ruffle, Han Buji pulled her into his arms, casually disarmed her of the spatula, and tossed it onto the table. He patted her back soothingly, pressed his lips to her ear, and whispered, “Just teasing you. I bought the apron because I wanted to cook for you.”

Enveloped in Han Buji’s embrace, Tao Hui’s face remained burning hot. The warm, slightly damp breath he exhaled against her ear nearly made her knees buckle, threatening to send her kneeling before him.

“I’m asking you, do you want them sunny-side up or over easy?” Tao Hui took a deep breath, deciding to drop the “egg” word altogether.

Han Buji glanced at the two eggs fused together in the pan and chuckled. “Sunny-side up, but burnt on the bottom, I guess.”

“Pepper?” Tao Hui asked, confused. “Black pepper or white pepper?”

“Black, I suppose. It’s already too late for white,” Han Buji replied with a grin.

Tao Hui finally snapped out of her daze, wriggling free from Han Buji’s embrace. Her eyes landed on the pair of dry, scorched fried eggs.

The huffy Chef Tao threw the damn apron that had nearly caused a bloodbath at Han Buji, declared a strike, and plopped down in a dining chair to scroll through her phone.

Han Buji dutifully tied on the apron, fried new eggs and toast, warmed two glasses of milk, and tossed together a vegetable salad—a picture of domesticity. When he returned to the dining room with breakfast, Tao Hui was video-chatting with Miao Miao on her phone.

Hearing Han Buji’s voice, Miao Miao cautiously asked Tao Hui, “Sister Huihui, um, could I… could I maybe get a glimpse of Best Actor Han at home?”

“Sure, why not?” Tao Hui said casually, switching to the rear camera and pointing it at Han Buji as he approached with the breakfast tray. “There you go. This is what Best Actor Han looks like at home.”

Han Buji, wearing an apron, looked up from the breakfast tray he was carrying.

“Ah!” Miao Miao exclaimed from the other end of the video call, then quickly covered her mouth in embarrassment. “Um, Sister Huihui, I’ll hang up now!”

Just a glance at a man, and she’s this excited?

Tao Hui looked over in confusion.

The misty blue apron looked a bit small on Han Buji, but it gave him a gentle, domestic charm. No wonder Miao Miao had squealed—if this were posted online, the “Han Meimei” types would be making groundhog-like screams that could circle the globe.

Ah, a man in an apron does have a certain appeal.

Tao Hui took a bite of her fried egg, thinking, This is so different from the Han Buji who performed B-Box for me last night.

The previous evening, Tao Hui had been nestled in Han Buji’s arms watching videos when a B-Box performance came on. She casually remarked, “Wow, that’s so cool.”

Han Buji, who usually maintained a gentlemanly demeanor and even showed no sparks of rivalry with his “love rival” Li Sijin, immediately locked her phone screen upon hearing her praise another man. He then rummaged through the TV cabinet for a Bluetooth microphone and insisted on giving her a B-Box performance right then and there.

Tao Hui found it hard to believe that Han Buji knew how to do this. His demeanor seemed completely at odds with the DJs who usually performed such tricks in clubs.

But to support her boyfriend, she graciously turned off the overhead chandelier, leaving only two spotlights to set the mood.

Han Buji raised an eyebrow, brought the microphone to his lips, lowered his voice, and suddenly announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready?”

He sounded like a human subwoofer—utterly captivating!

The B-Box performance that followed exceeded Tao Hui’s expectations. She couldn’t resist rushing onto the stage during his act and planting a kiss on his lips.

Just as she was reminiscing, her phone rang again. It was Miao Miao, who had sent a voice message.

Tao Hui, sipping her milk, put the call on speaker. Miao Miao’s booming voice filled the room: “Sister Huihui! You’re my idol now! Aaaah, the Best Actor can even cook! So cool! No wonder Sister Xun called yesterday, saying you were so busy you didn’t even care about endorsements. I get it! If I were dating the Best Actor, I wouldn’t care about endorsements either!”

Miao Miao’s reminder jolted Tao Hui awake. She suddenly remembered Zhou Xun’s phone call from yesterday.

Who said she didn’t care about endorsements?! She had been temporarily blinded by love, but now her vision was clear again!

Love is precious, but endorsements are even more valuable!

Moreover, the expiring endorsement was with a major international cosmetics brand—Tao Hui’s most lucrative project. She couldn’t afford to lose it!

Panicked, Tao Hui remembered Zhou Xun would be in a meeting at headquarters right now. She immediately called Miao Miao. “Miao Miao, what did Sister Xun say? Is the endorsement really falling through?”

“Apparently, our boss is trying to raise your price, and Saint-Syrlandy thinks it’s too high and is hesitating. Last night, Sister Xun said Han You’s team was trying to cozy up to Saint-Syrlandy’s boss, which infuriated her. That two-faced bitch Han You! She’s everywhere, shameless!” Miao Miao spat out the insults smoothly, then added with a huff, mimicking Zhou Xun’s use of idioms, “It’s like being attacked from all sides!”

Tao Hui frowned. She knew Zhou Xun must have endured a lot of frustration during these endorsement negotiations.

Tao Hui’s agency had pulled this kind of disgusting stunt multiple times. As soon as an actor’s popularity started to rise, the company would jack up their rates like pork prices skyrocketing before the Lunar New Year.

They’d tried the same thing the year Tao Hui first became famous, but her career quickly hit a wall, and her “pork price” never got a chance to inflate.

This year, likely due to her close association with Han Buji and the hype generated by Li Sijin, Tao Hui had been trending frequently and gained a significant number of new fans. Seeing her land roles in Director Chen’s drama and appearances on top-tier variety shows, the agency immediately tried to raise her endorsement fees.

But these opportunities were all flukes. Even the Sheng Jue production crew had only been secured after Sister Xun risked her health by drinking heavily with the boss for several nights. Otherwise, that bastard boss would have given the role to someone else.

Tao Hui felt a wave of frustration. She had no desire to play hardball with Saint-Syrlandy. Back when her career had hit rock bottom, all opportunities had vanished, leaving her in a slump for over half a year. It was Saint-Syrlandy’s China regional manager who had personally reached out to Zhou Xun, offering Tao Hui a two-season endorsement deal.

Endorsing an international brand like Saint-Syrlandy had been her breakthrough into the global cosmetics industry. All her subsequent magazine covers and advertising campaigns stemmed from that initial partnership.

Tao Hui felt deeply grateful to the brand, as if it had been a window when she had nowhere else to turn.

While Tao Hui’s spirits were low, Miao Miao remained carefree. “Hey, Sister Huihui, isn’t Best Actor Han just amazing? He’s so versatile—good in the boardroom and in the kitchen! He’s the perfect man, a true ten out of ten!”

Tao Hui’s mind was still preoccupied with the endorsement deal, so she barely registered Miao Miao’s words. She absentmindedly replied, “Oh, he’s pretty good. His oral skills are decent too.”

Oral skills.

Across the table, Han Buji, who was mixing a salad, froze mid-motion. He raised an eyebrow and glanced at Tao Hui.

Oblivious to her slip-up, Tao Hui frowned and continued, “His performance last night was really impressive. My heart was racing the whole time. By the way, Miao Miao, did Sister Xun say when she’s coming back?”

When Miao Miao didn’t respond for a long moment, Tao Hui asked, puzzled, “Miao Miao? Can you hear me?”

After another long pause, Miao Miao’s shriek finally erupted from the phone: “Ah! Sister Huihui, you two are so wild! So scandalous! Things are moving way too fast!”

After that, no matter what Tao Hui asked, Miao Miao only muttered, “I need to borrow some Quick-Acting Heart-Relieving Pills from Sister Mengmeng!”

Hanging up, Tao Hui placed her phone on the table with a bewildered expression. “What’s gotten into her? Why is she suddenly acting crazy? What did I even do to make her say I’m ‘wild’? And why does she need heart pills?”

As she spoke, Tao Hui picked up the half-eaten fried egg from her plate and popped it into her mouth. She had barely chewed twice when Han Buji across the table spoke up.

“You said my oral skills are good,” Han Buji said, pushing the salad toward Tao Hui.

Tao Hui picked up a piece of lettuce coated in Thousand Island dressing, her expression puzzled. “What’s so stimulating about B-Box that you need Quick-Acting Heart-Relieving Pills? Is that a new trend now? Clubbing with heart medication?”

Han Buji stared at Tao Hui for a moment, then smiled faintly. “It’s called oral technique.”

In that instant, Tao Hui seemed to realize something.

After a moment of contemplation, she asked blankly, “…Then what did I say?”

Han Buji’s calm smile remained unchanged as he curled his lips into a smirk. “Oral skill.”