Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 55

Chapter 55

Tao Hui parked her car and took the elevator to the arrivals hall, following the flight information.

She wore a loose-fitting black down jacket, a can of pepper spray tucked in her pocket, and tight jeans that hugged her slender legs. Ankle-high heeled boots clicked against the airport floor as she walked.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Tao Hui leaned against the exit, sunglasses and a mask concealing her face. Through the dark brown lenses, she scanned the men, women, and children around her.

Airports were truly magical places, silently witnessing countless reunions and farewells.

She wondered if, among the thousands of reunions taking place, anyone else was anticipating a meeting fraught with hidden motives, like hers.

“Baozhu!” a raspy, weathered voice called out.

Tao Hui turned to see a gaunt man in a long brown down jacket, his sunken eyes devoid of vitality. Even as he tried to play the part of a loving father, his lifeless eyes showed no genuine joy or excitement at seeing his daughter.

She clicked her tongue inwardly. Despite his ashen complexion, the man still retained a certain rugged handsomeness, with his tall frame and sharply defined features.

No wonder someone had been willing to marry him, despite his deeply flawed character.

With a face that could topple nations and ruin lives, Zhang Ming lied without a flicker of shame.

As Tao Hui watched him jog toward her, dusty and disheveled, a sudden sense of relief washed over her.

When she was eleven, she had believed herself to be the most miserable person in the world. Even the ugliest child in the orphanage, nicknamed “Little Muggle,” had been adopted, while she was rejected for being “too clever” and “difficult to raise.”

That might have been bearable, considering she was the only child who had discovered her parents’ missing person ad, giving her hope of finding her biological family.

But when she finally found them, her first encounter revealed her mother bleeding profusely and her father a volatile, murderous psychopath.

Tao Hui nearly spiraled into depression. Why was she so unlucky? What had she done to deserve this?

Fortunately, her resilient spirit helped her weather the storm.

Looking back now, she realized that those early disappointments had been like a vaccine, preparing her for this moment. The vaccine’s name? “Don’t trust him—this man is a liar!”

As Zhang Ming approached with his suitcase, Tao Hui suddenly sniffled, tears streaming down her face from behind her sunglasses. Sobbing and trembling, she looked on the verge of collapse. “Dad! Daddy! I’ve finally found you!”

“…Baozhu, Dad never thought Dad would find you so quickly.” Zhang Ming’s expression betrayed his lack of conviction; the corner of his eye twitched.

The two continued their “heartfelt father-daughter reunion” as they entered the underground parking garage. Tao Hui pressed her car key, and the headlights of a dilapidated old Nissan flickered on in the dimly lit space.

Zhang Ming stared in silence.

Tao Hui had deliberately borrowed this car from Zhou Xun to irritate Zhang Ming. It was Zhou Xun’s family’s ancient relic, rumored to be the car he drove in college. The bumper was dented and uneven from Zhou Xun’s youthful mishaps, and the paint on the hood was cracked in a web of wrinkles.

Tao Hui pulled a crumpled tissue from her pocket, blew her nose loudly, and said tearfully to Zhang Ming, “Dad, please don’t look down on me. This is how we celebrities are—all glitz and glamour on the surface. Do you think I haven’t made you proud? Are you disappointed in me?”

“…H-how could I be?” Zhang Ming hesitated for a moment before replying gently. “Baozhu, it’s my own inadequacy. How could I blame you? Where are you living now?”

Tao Hui slid into the driver’s seat and struggled to start the clunky car. She flashed Zhang Ming a sweet smile, her expression tinged with pride. “Dad, I bought my own place. I’ll take you home right now.”

Acting? No problem! I’ll play the part!

Tao Hui started the car and chatted with Zhang Ming as she drove home.

The previous night, Han Buji’s mother had warned her not to flaunt her wealth around Zhang Ming. She cautioned that he might simply snatch the money and run, and insisted that Tao Hui trick him into coming home.

Embracing her inner drama queen, Tao Hui shamelessly borrowed 300 yuan from Zhang Ming at a gas station.

On the surface, she smiled sheepishly, scratching her head and speaking in a small voice, “Dad, I forgot my phone and wallet. I’ll pay you back as soon as we get home…”

Tao Hui stole a glance at Zhang Ming in the car. His frustrated expression, with nowhere to vent his anger, filled her with satisfaction.

From the moment they left the gas station, Zhang Ming grew increasingly agitated. He fidgeted, picking at the cracked leather seams of the seat and frowning intermittently.

It was obvious why he was so anxious. A man who thought he’d found a free ATM suddenly discovering it was empty—no wonder he was panicking.

Tao Hui noticed his unease but remained mostly silent for the rest of the drive, pretending not to see his anxiety. Only as they approached the residential complex did she finally speak up. “This is where I live. It’s quite lively here.”

She saw Zhang Ming’s stiff posture relax slightly.

Tao Hui silently tightened her scarf. While knives were prohibited on the plane, she couldn’t rule out the possibility that Zhang Ming, a dangerous man, might have other sharp weapons.

She unlocked the door and suddenly exclaimed, “We’re home!”

The sudden shout startled Zhang Ming, who whipped around to see Tao Hui beaming with excitement, her face radiating innocent joy. “I finally brought Dad home! I’m a daddy’s girl now!”

Zhang Ming suppressed his suspicion and followed Tao Hui inside. The moment he stepped through the door, his simmering rage erupted. Surveying the chaotic mess that littered the floor, he slammed the door shut with a violent bang.

The heavy security door crashed against the frame with a deafening clang. Tao Hui lowered her gaze, a flicker of amusement crossing her eyes as she spoke in a meek voice, “Dad, don’t be angry. My friend brought her dogs over yesterday, and they made quite a mess. I was busy reading my script and didn’t have time to clean up.”

This was the masterpiece she and Miao Miao had meticulously orchestrated that morning. Miao Miao had brought her grandmother’s two huskies over, and the dogs had run wild for over an hour, leaving the house looking like it had been ransacked—so chaotic there was barely room to step.

Tao Hui wanted Zhang Ming to arrive full of anticipation, only to crush his hopes as brutally as her own had been shattered years ago.

Do you know how devastated I was when I was eleven? I thought my parents loved me and had simply lost me by accident.

Standing in the shadows of the entryway, Zhang Ming slowly raised his head, a fleeting, twisted smile contorting his gaunt face. His thin skin wrinkled as he snarled, “Hand over the cash. And transfer 200,000 yuan to me every month from now on.”

Tao Hui retreated a few steps, standing in the center of the living room, shaking her head in bewildered denial. “Dad? What are you saying?”

“200,000 yuan. Not a penny less.” Zhang Ming advanced on her, step by step. “Aren’t you a star? You can’t afford that?”

Tao Hui shook her head frantically, covering her mouth. “I-I don’t have that much money. I’ve got nothing left in savings. I just bought this house, Dad. W-why don’t I just give you the house instead?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Ming spat on the floor of her home. “I don’t want the house. I want cash! Now!”

Zhang Ming, you’re dead! This carpet was hand-carried back from overseas!

I’m not some rich guy like Han Buji. I’m incredibly stingy!

Tao Hui recalled the indulgent look on Best Actor Han Buji’s face last night when she accidentally broke a vase at his house. She silently tightened the corners of her mouth, barely suppressing a laugh, and continued acting. “Why do you need so much money? Is Mom sick?”

“Your mother? Hah, that foolish woman,” Zhang Ming sneered, a flicker of malice crossing his eyes. “She’s been dead for years. I pushed her off the balcony myself. So don’t try any tricks. A star like you can’t be broke. Are you just refusing to pay up?”

Tao Hui: “……”

She had been trying to extract evidence of Zhang Ming’s drug use, but now he was confessing to murder?

Perhaps Zhang Ming thought this confession would intimidate Tao Hui, because he proceeded to describe in graphic detail how he had pushed her birth mother off the balcony.

Tao Hui sighed inwardly. Fools have their luck, but idiots have none.

“I really don’t have the money,” Tao Hui insisted.

It’s infuriating! A star like you, broke!

Zhang Ming remained convinced she was lying, threatening, “Then go sleep with those rich bastards! Make them pay you, just like your whore of a mother did. Go out there and earn!”

Tao Hui looked terrified, tears streaming down her face as she covered her mouth, unable to speak.

A flicker of disgust flashed in Zhang Ming’s eyes. “Just like your mother,” he sneered. “Do you know why she died? Because she wouldn’t listen. Carrying some bastard’s dirty seed in her belly, she stole money and tried to run!”

“If you don’t want your reputation ruined, you’ll wire me the money right now. Otherwise, I’ll spread rumors everywhere about your drug use and prostitution,” Zhang Ming said smugly. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he added, “Actually, I should let you try some drugs too. That way, you’ll be much more obedient.”

“What are you crying for? You useless women always cry. A few harsh words and you’re already sobbing? Look at these hands,” Zhang Ming said, raising his hands.

Look at your damn hands? You need to trim your fingernails, Tao Hui thought, rolling her eyes inwardly.

Zhang Ming misinterpreted her silence as fear, grinning to reveal a mouthful of loose, yellow teeth. “See these hands? They’ve killed people—more than one, in fact. If you dare disobey me, I’ll kill you too.”

This is a society governed by law! You still think you can get away with murder? Just wait till I tell the police to put you down!

Tao Hui stared at Zhang Ming, a wave of nausea washing over her. How could such a vile person exist?

Han Buji’s mother was right. Zhang Ming dared to come because Tao Hui was a celebrity, a profession most vulnerable to public opinion.

He was unaware that years ago, through a series of unfortunate coincidences, Tao Hui had once stumbled into their sordid world. He mistakenly believed she was naive, innocent, and weak, thinking she knew nothing of their schemes. He figured he could easily deceive her, scare her, get her hooked on drugs, and turn her into his personal ATM.

Zhang Ming kicked aside the doll at Tao Hui’s feet and tugged at his pants. “Where’s the bathroom?!”

Are you talking too much and need to go get some water?!

Tao Hui feigned terror, blinking back tears. “O-over there,” she stammered, pointing.

Zhang Ming grabbed the bathroom door handle but turned back to warn her. “Stay put. Try to run, and your next life will be hell.”

As he opened the door, a shadow blocked the light. Before he could turn around, a cold male voice said, “The one whose life is about to end is you.”

In the next instant, Zhang Ming was knocked to the ground by a single punch. Shaking his dazed head, he looked up in shock to see a tall, young man standing over him.

Han Buji’s lips tightened, his lazy eyes now blazing with sharp intensity. With his shirt sleeves rolled up to his forearms, he grabbed Zhang Ming by the collar and said coldly, “Turn off the recorder. We have enough evidence.”

Tao Hui wiped the tears from her face, her eyes still red-rimmed, and bounced into the room to retrieve Han Buji’s phone. “Right away, boyfriend!” she called out cheerfully.

“You tricked me!” Zhang Ming struggled, swinging a fist at Han Buji.

A sharp pain flashed across Han Buji’s cheek, but he only smiled. “Good. Now I can claim self-defense.”

He landed another punch on Zhang Ming’s face.

Tao Hui, who had been watching the spectacle, quickly covered her eyes, peeking through her fingers. “Ooh, that’s so satisfying!” she squealed. “Hit him! He spat on my carpet earlier!”

Han Buji glanced at Tao Hui, understanding her message: Whether Zhang Ming is her biological father, whether he’s disappointed her, or whether he’s tried to use her—none of that matters anymore. Don’t worry.

The disappointment had already passed. Now, the man panting and glaring with bloodshot eyes in the room was just a stranger who had disrupted her life.

The murderous glint in Han Buji’s eyes softened slightly as he dodged Zhang Ming’s kick, flipped him onto the floor, and chuckled helplessly, “Good girl, go wait outside. I’ll help you vent your anger.”

Zhang Ming, a longtime drug addict, was only good at beating women. Against Han Buji, he managed to land a single blow that grazed Han Buji’s eye, causing him to tilt his head slightly. The rest of the time, Han Buji effortlessly dominated, quickly beating Zhang Ming into a helpless heap on the floor, unable to even crawl.

Tao Hui took hesitant steps toward the door, glancing back repeatedly to ensure Han Buji wouldn’t be hurt. Only then did she reach the entryway and pull open the door.

The moment she opened it, Tao Hui heard Han Buji’s mocking laughter: “Get up already. A few more hits and I’ll be late for my date with my girlfriend.”

Tao Hui emerged from the apartment with a faint smile, only to freeze in surprise. The hallway was packed with people.

Zhou Xun and Han Buji’s mother rushed forward. “Hui-ah, are you alright?” Zhou Xun asked.

Miao Miao and Gao Meng stood nearby, their faces etched with worry, still clutching dirty bricks in their hands.

Father Han and Wu Yue stood at the back, their stern expressions softening slightly as they saw Tao Hui emerge.

The casual ease Tao Hui had displayed while facing Zhang Ming vanished. Her nose stung with emotion as she gazed at the crowd in the hallway.

The winter wind howled outside as the sun began to set, marking another winter night. Yet Tao Hui felt warmer than on a spring day in March.

In her heart, she spoke to her parents: No matter what, thank you for giving me life, bringing me into this world, and allowing me to witness the love and warmth of humanity.

Wu Yue broke the silence, gesturing to the door behind Tao Hui. “Um, Tao Hui, our boss, he…”

Tao Hui snapped out of her reverie, looking at Wu Yue, unsure how to explain.

After all, her boyfriend was the boss of a major entertainment company. She couldn’t exactly tell Gao Meng and Wu Yue, “Your boss is beating someone up in there,” could she?

That would sound too violent and set a bad example.

“Um, Han Buji is inside… having a heart-to-heart with the bad guy,” Tao Hui blurted out, eyes closed. “He’s appealing to his emotions and reasoning with him, trying to reshape the bad guy’s worldview.”

The others in the hallway stared in bewildered silence, thinking: Wait, does a heart-to-heart require disco dancing? Or does appealing to emotions involve jumping around to disco music? Otherwise, why are we hearing these occasional “bang, crash” sounds from inside?

Surely Han Buji hasn’t gotten into a chat with the bad guys and they’ve started a competition to see who can break down the wall faster, right?

Just as Tao Hui finished speaking, the door behind her swung open, revealing Han Buji. In his hand, he was carrying… Zhang Ming, whose face had been beaten into a pig’s head.

Tao Hui glanced at Zhang Ming’s cheekbones, swollen higher than Zhu Bajie’s, and forced a dry laugh. “Oh dear, did he fall? That… that looks like a nasty bump.”

The others: “……”