Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 56

Chapter 56

The uncertainty and anxiety had always shrouded Tao Hui’s life like a dense fog.

She had never imagined she would one day break through the clouds and see the sun. Perhaps it was because someone, like a knight wielding a sword and shield, had stood firmly before her.

The knight in question was currently shoving Zhang Ming into a car with ruthless efficiency, a stark contrast to his usual refined demeanor.

Tao Hui called out to him. Han Buji turned, revealing a small bruise near his eye, the lingering displeasure in his phoenix eyes giving his smile a sinister edge.

For the first time, Tao Hui saw the gentleman idolized by millions of Han Meimeis as a rogue.

And she liked it.

Zhang Ming was handed over to the police by Father Han. Based on Zhang Ming’s phone contacts, authorities arrested several drug users and a dealer. Zhang Ming himself was imprisoned on charges of drug use, trafficking, and suspected intentional homicide.

According to Han Buji, even if the evidence remained insufficient to reopen the case of Tao Hui’s mother’s death years ago, Zhang Ming would never see freedom again.

With the matter resolved, the nightmare that had haunted Tao Hui for over a decade was finally laid to rest.

One morning, Tao Hui applied makeup, deliberately leaving the pink birthmark on her neck uncovered. Standing on her balcony, facing the bright sunlight, she took a selfie with her phone.

When Tao Hui took the photo, she captured a faint afterimage of Han Buji’s hand reaching for a coffee cup. Focused on editing her Weibo post, she barely noticed the man’s fingers in the background. She added a filter and posted it.

[ New beginnings ==> biubiubiu~ [Image]</i>

The photo was stunning. Tao Hui looked radiant, squinting slightly in the sunlight, her long lashes softly brushing her lower eyelids, and a contented smile curving her lips.

Her fans, unaware of what had happened, assumed she was posting the birthmark on her neck as proof against recent rumors spread by marketing accounts claiming she had a wealthy backer.

Others speculated it meant she would no longer conceal the birthmark with concealer.

Only the “No Way CP” fans, armed with magnifying glasses, scrutinized the half-visible man’s fingers in the background, their excitement reaching fever pitch as if they had glimpsed divine intervention.

Leaning back on the sofa, Tao Hui scrolled through the comments:

[ ~Wow, another day of Beautiful Rabbit serving looks!</i>

[ ~Is Rabbit cute today? A million times cute!</i>

[ ~Wishing Sister Tao Hui happiness every day.</i>

[ ~Rabbit’s variety show airs tomorrow, featuring Best Actor Han and Xu Xiaochang too! Sisters, don’t forget to watch! rubs hands in anticipation</i>

Amidst the flood of positive comments, Tao Hui noticed one that had garnered a surprisingly high number of likes, yet she couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

Super No Way Fan: [ Clue +1!</i>

Tao Hui: ?

Clue +1? What clue?

This utterly baffling comment had somehow amassed 18,000 likes?

Tao Hui, her mind swimming with question marks, pointed to her 9 million-plus followers and asked Han Buji, her face a mask of confusion, “Am I really this popular now? Even a nonsensical comment gets 18,000 likes?”

Han Buji glanced at the young woman beside him and chuckled softly. “I suppose so.”

In truth, the “No Way CP” had already climbed to the top spot in the CP supertopic, boasting over a million fans. But Han Buji had no intention of telling Tao Hui.

From her words and demeanor, he sensed she still cared deeply about what her fans said. He didn’t want her to face even the slightest bit of anxiety.

He hadn’t meant to get physical with Zhang Ming that day. He’d be 28 after the New Year, and he’d never acted so impulsively before. The martial arts training he’d mentioned to Tao Hui earlier had been a casual remark, just to tease her and make her laugh.

Adults often disdain resorting to physical violence, and Han Buji had always believed that resolving conflicts with fists was a sign of immaturity.

But that day, as he stood in Tao Hui’s bathroom, his eyes fixed on the pink bear bath bomb hanging in the shower, he overheard Zhang Ming’s threats through the door. Later, he saw Tao Hui’s tear-streaked face…

Even though he knew she wasn’t truly crying, merely acting, Han Buji felt a string of rationality in his mind snap with a sharp crack.

Fuck rationality, he thought as he threw another punch.

Wu Yue and the others often joked that Han Buji had never rebelled during his adolescence, perhaps because he hadn’t met Tao Hui yet—someone he cared for so deeply.

Han Buji lowered his gaze in contemplation. Their relationship would inevitably become public. While they couldn’t control the actions of a few extreme fans, they needed to ensure the overall environment remained positive, preventing the young woman from feeling distressed or insecure.

It was time to plan their public announcement.

Tao Hui, oblivious to Han Buji’s thoughts, was still basking in the excitement of her newfound fame. She leaped off the sofa and playfully hooked her index finger under his chin. “Hey, handsome Han! Teacher Tao is going viral! Almost ten million followers already! Once I make enough money, I’ll spoil you rotten!”

A man’s beard is truly a wondrous thing. After just one day of not shaving, Tao Hui could feel a slight prickliness beneath her fingertips, surprisingly pleasant to the touch. She couldn’t resist running her fingertips across Han Buji’s jaw a few more times.

The man with the stubble spoke calmly, “Teacher Tao, stop taking advantage. We should be heading out to make some money. Weren’t you going to ‘support’ me?”

Tao Hui finally withdrew her hand, asking curiously, “Are you really coming with me? Won’t we get photographed?”

“No,” Han Buji replied.

After days of rest, Tao Hui finally received a job offer: a cover shoot and poster campaign for Charming, one of the top three women’s magazines in China. She was naturally thrilled.

Han Buji drove Tao Hui to the Charming photoshoot location. Through her sunglasses, Tao Hui watched the parade of handsome men and beautiful women passing by, sighing, “Models really do have incredible figures.”

Charming employed many in-house models with impeccable proportions. A stunning woman in a backless minidress and high heels strode past Tao Hui, her presence as commanding as if she were walking a runway.

Surrounded by women, Tao Hui couldn’t help but compare herself to the backless beauty’s slender waist and long legs.

I’ve been indulging too much lately, she thought, gaining three pounds. I should really eat less tonight!

As Tao Hui stared blankly in the direction the backless beauty had gone, a handsome mixed-race man walked by. His green eyes—truly golden hair and emerald eyes—made her glance twice.

The scene didn’t escape Han Buji’s notice. The temperature seemed to drop three degrees, and a faint scent of jealousy rose from the cedarwood sandalwood incense.

“Tsk,” the Best Actor clicked his tongue, tapping Tao Hui’s forehead with a dangerous edge in his voice. “Don’t look around so carelessly.”

Tao Hui blinked. Han Buji was fully armed with a mask, baseball cap, and sunglasses, yet she still sensed his displeasure from his tone.

She turned her head again to look in the same direction. Spotting the golden-haired, green-eyed man, a mischievous idea sparked in her mind. She deliberately pinched her voice into a small, teasing tone and whispered to Han Buji, “Boyfriend, when I make tons of money, can I keep a few more boyfriends on the side?”

“A few more?” Han Buji asked coldly, his voice low and menacing.

“Hehe, five,” Tao Hui said, holding up her palm and grinning as she counted on her fingers under Han Buji’s death glare. “Han Buji, Han Buji, Han Buji, Han Buji… and for the last one, let’s switch it up. How about Best Actor Han?”

Han Buji paused, then chuckled softly, reaching out to ruffle Tao Hui’s hair. His voice was warm with amusement: “You little fool.”

As they were talking, a man in a rose-pink shirt and a plaid beret sashayed toward them with a flamboyantly swaying gait that made Tao Hui’s stomach churn.

Snake Lu, as she privately dubbed him, strode directly up to Tao Hui and extended a hand adorned with a pearl bracelet. “Tao Hui? I’m Lucky Lu, the photographer.”

“…Nice to meet you,” Tao Hui said, shaking his hand.

Lucky Lu’s eyes lit up as he noticed Han Buji. “And this gentleman is?”

Tao Hui suddenly felt like she’d encountered a rival. She forced a dry laugh. “This is my manager, Manager Zhou.”

Behind her, Han Buji, disguised with a mask, sunglasses, and a baseball cap, raised an eyebrow but didn’t expose her lie. He simply nodded to Lucky Lu.

“Manager Zhou has a great figure. He could consider becoming a model,” Lucky Lu said, stroking his chin. He reluctantly withdrew his gaze and turned to Tao Hui. “Let’s go. We’ll wait in the dressing room.”

Snake Lu led the way, while Tao Hui murmured to Han Buji, “I always feel like he’d rather you were the one being photographed…”

Tao Hui followed Snake Lu into the dressing room, while Han Buji waited outside in the lounge, sipping coffee. As she removed her coat and sat down, a saccharine voice called out, “Sister Tao Hui!”

Tao Hui turned to see Han You, dressed in a long pink gown, approaching with a flourish of her skirt.

Tao Hui wasn’t the only one trending lately. Han You had also dominated the trending topics with headlines like “Han You Outshines Former Queen of the Screen in Identical Dress,” “Han You: Natural Beauty,” and “Han You’s Flawless Airport Look Revealed.”

Even the Saint-Syrlandy endorsement that Tao Hui had lost eventually went to Han You.

Tao Hui had arrived earlier than the scheduled shoot time, and the makeup artist hadn’t arrived yet. The dressing room was empty except for Tao Hui and Han You. Tao Hui sat down, removed her sunglasses, and smiled. “Long time no see.”

“Long time no see, Sister Tao Hui,” Han You replied, leaning familiarly against the back of Tao Hui’s chair, one hand hidden behind her back, clutching her phone.

Time is a strange thing. You might run into an old friend one day, wearing a pink dress similar to the one she wore when you first met. But you know she’s no longer the same person.

Because when she smiles, you see—a large smear of lipstick on her teeth.

Utterly hideous.

Tao Hui’s expression was complex. Her lips moved slightly, but she didn’t warn Han You.

Instead, Han You said, “To be honest, Sister Tao Hui, did you really want to see me here?”

When Tao Hui remained silent, Han You smiled and continued, “I really didn’t want to see you. I never want to run into you anywhere.”

Tao Hui rested one arm on the vanity table, lazily propping up her head as if listening attentively.

Han You sneered. “Why aren’t you saying anything, Sister Tao Hui? I seriously suspect that birthmark on your neck is tattooed on. How could you possibly have no connections? How could you not have a sugar daddy? Do you really think I’m that stupid?”

Aren’t you making your stupidity obvious enough, little sister? Do you have to wear it on your face?

“Why are you asking?” Tao Hui said calmly.

“If I could, I’d trade lives with you in a heartbeat,” Han You said, smoothing her hand over the glittering hair accessory on her head. She smiled. “Still haven’t remembered? Our first meeting wasn’t on the Sheng Jue set. I know all your secrets.”

Tao Hui chuckled, genuinely amused. This was the first time she’d ever heard anyone say they wanted to trade lives with her.

She was genuinely curious: aside from meeting Han Buji, what was there in her life worth envying?

Behind her back, Han You gripped her phone tightly. The illuminated screen showed a jagged line of sound waves—the interface of a recording app. She frowned, a hint of disgust flickering across her face as she finally voiced her long-held resentment: “The Youth With You auditions.”

Tao Hui was slightly taken aback. Youth With You was her breakthrough role, the first project that launched her into the entertainment industry.

It was only because she’d gone to the Youth With You auditions at sixteen, just to try her luck, that she’d been signed by High-End Entertainment and landed the lead role.

“So you remember. Sixteen years old, carrying an LV bag and wearing Chanel sunglasses. Everyone else was tense, but you were just looking at your phone and laughing.”

Han You seemed to be speaking to the sixteen-year-old Tao Hui across time, her expression tinged with resentment. Her hands, clasped behind her back, clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. “As far as I know, you’re not a second-generation rich kid, Sister Tao Hui. So how did your sixteen-year-old self manage to be decked out in international luxury brands from head to toe?”