Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 57

Chapter 57

“During the auditions, the screenwriter clearly said I perfectly fit the female lead’s image,” Han You said, her head bowed, a pair of small dimples appearing as she smiled. “If you didn’t have some kind of connections, why wasn’t I chosen?”

Because you had lipstick on your teeth. Because the screenwriter didn’t like your dimples. Because you looked too sweet and the screenwriter had diabetes. Because, despite the vast sea of options, the screenwriter simply wasn’t thirsty!

Tao Hui rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking, Whatever the reason, it definitely wasn’t because of me.

“Han You,” Tao Hui said, lifting her head to meet Han You’s resentful almond-shaped eyes. “I don’t know why you didn’t get the part. But I’ll tell you two things: first, I have no connections and I’m an orphan. Second, all my designer clothes are fake—not even A-grade replicas. They’re just cheap knockoffs from the market.”

Tao Hui watched Han You’s incredulous expression and said calmly, “Is that clear enough?”

Speaking of fake designer brands, Tao Hui felt a pang of frustration. She used to be desperately poor, even more so than she was now. Throughout her schooling, she had worked tirelessly, taking on any job she could find: organizing library shelves, walking elderly neighbors’ dogs, stocking supermarket shelves, washing dishes in restaurants—she had done it all.

It was only thanks to the kindness of her neighbors that she found work. Otherwise, no one would have dared hire an underage child laborer.

While washing dishes at a small restaurant, she met a stylish older woman with a perm that resembled an old lady’s woolly curls. On weekends, the woman would drag her along for hours of shopping trips.

They avoided fancy department stores, preferring wholesale markets and large discount stores.

It was this stylish woman who persuaded Tao Hui to buy her fake LV bag and fake Chanel sunglasses. “International supermodels carry these bags!” she’d exclaimed. “International supermodels wear these sunglasses! They’re so damn cool!”

Back then, Tao Hui was just a naive country girl who knew nothing about designer brands. She bought them without a second thought.

The bag, which cost 60 yuan, started falling apart within days. Tao Hui had to sew it back together herself, making her realize it was a complete waste of money.

The fake Chanel sunglasses, on the other hand, were truly remarkable. They blocked absolutely no sunlight, leaving dark circles around her eyes after every outing. Not only did they fail to block UV rays, they seemed to absorb them, turning her into a panda in minutes. For just 50 yuan, they were an absolute steal!

At the time, Tao Hui didn’t realize anything was wrong with the glasses. She strutted around with her head held high, convinced she was the coolest kid on the block.

The coolest girl in town was going to a movie audition, so she had to dress the part. She dug out her bag and sunglasses, a total of 110 yuan. Even after the trendy auntie haggled her down to 100 yuan, someone was still jealous?

And they’d held onto that jealousy for years, obsessing over it. Han You was truly something else.

Tao Hui chuckled at the thought.

Perhaps it was because Zhang Ming had finally been brought to justice, or maybe it was just the joy of good news lifting her spirits. Whatever the reason, her complexion had been glowing these past few days. Her laughter carried the radiant vitality of a girl in her early twenties, utterly luminous.

Han You stared at Tao Hui’s smiling face, her brow furrowing. The certainty she’d held moments ago crumbled. She shook her head, muttering, “No… I don’t believe it. How could you not have a sugar daddy? You must have used some underhanded tactics behind the scenes. Otherwise, the screenwriter would never have chosen you over me…”

If Tao Hui didn’t have a sugar daddy, then all the years Han You had spent enduring disgust, flitting between older men, and scheming to surpass Tao Hui—all of it would be a complete joke.

She had even stooped to flattering Li Biao, that greasy, fleshy man, just to get him to spend money on trending topics to ruin Tao Hui’s reputation.

Han You’s teeth chattered. “You’re lying, Tao Hui! You’re lying! How could you possibly—”

Tao Hui waved her hand dismissively. “Believe it or not, it’s up to you. But the first thing the Director said to me when I joined the production crew was, ‘Tao Hui, can you please stop wearing those fake designer brands? They’re so tacky.'”

Tao Hui recalled the first director she’d ever worked with, the first words he’d spoken to her, and the memory of her face burning with embarrassment. She chuckled to herself.

Smiling, she stood up, brushed past the lost-in-thought Han You, and turned back to toss over her shoulder, “Han You, turn back before it’s too late.”

Driven by greed and blinded by jealousy, it wasn’t hard to imagine the choices a girl like Han You would make.

Tao Hui walked to the makeup room entrance, greeted the arriving makeup artists, and was chatting with them when Han You, her face ashen, burst out of the room. Without acknowledging anyone, she hurried away.

The cover shoot was for February’s Valentine’s Day special issue, themed “Affection,” and also served as a tribute to Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn, who had passed away in early 1993. The shoot featured Hepburn-inspired makeup and styling.

When Tao Hui emerged from the dressing room in a vintage black velvet gown, Lucky Lu froze for a moment before clutching his chest in excitement. “OMG! Absolutely stunning! This is exactly the vibe I was going for!”

Even the male model partnering with Tao Hui was taken aback. His emerald eyes blinked, his gaze darting quickly as he said in Chinese, “Miss Tao is truly beautiful.”

Coincidentally, this male model—the one shooting the cover with Tao Hui—was the same genuine blonde-haired, blue-eyed handsome man they had encountered in the lobby earlier.

Han Buji sat nearby on a waiting chair, holding a coffee cup, his expression unreadable.

The poses for this shoot required the male and female models to be quite intimate. Initially, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed model seemed gentlemanly, helping Tao Hui with her train and such. But after a while, his true nature began to show.

In one pose, Tao Hui reclined on a table covered in red roses, the male model leaning over her with one hand propped on the table and the fingertips of his other hand lightly touching her earlobe.

Lucky Lu, twisting his serpentine waist as he lay among the roses, instructed Tao Hui and the Blonde Male Model, “No overtly sensual poses. We need that vintage, ethereal beauty. When you gaze at each other, it should convey the depth of ‘I’ve loved you for ten thousand years and waited an eternity to see you again.’ Got it?”

Tao Hui: “……”

Fine, I’ll just… just channel the feeling of waiting hungrily every morning for Han Buji to bring back breakfast. Pretend I’m modeling for jianbing guozi and jidan guanbing. (t/n: popular Chinese street breakfasts)

Tao Hui gave an OK sign. As Lucky Lu stood up, she reclined among the roses, tilting her head back to reveal her swan-like neck, its snow-white skin smooth and delicate. The graceful curve of her neck was framed by loose bangs that framed her forehead, while her eyeliner-accentuated eyes radiated both allure and clarity.

The contrast between the black velvet of her dress, the crimson roses on the table, and the luminous white of Tao Hui’s arms created a striking visual harmony. The clash of black, white, and red evoked an air of mysterious beauty.

Her hand, supporting her weight, brushed against a rose. For reasons she couldn’t explain, she found herself involuntarily glancing at Han Buji, her eyes curving into a soft smile.

The Blonde Male Model, who had been bending down to strike a pose, noticed Tao Hui’s smile. He followed her gaze and spotted Han Buji sitting nearby, sipping his coffee.

Han Buji set down his cup and met the Blonde Male Model’s probing gaze without a flicker of expression.

Tao Hui didn’t notice the exchange of glances between the two men. When the Blonde Male Model asked, “Are you waiting for someone?” she nodded, unwilling to elaborate. Snake Lu, who was adjusting the camera, glanced at Han Buji and said regretfully, “It’s Tao Hui’s manager, Mr. Zhou.”

“Manager?” The Blonde Male Model’s eyes lit up. Instead of lightly touching Tao Hui’s earlobe as instructed, he suddenly rubbed it between his thumb and forefinger, leaning in a little too close.

Tao Hui frowned, and Snake Lu snapped, “Sam, just a light touch! A light touch!”

“Sorry, I got a little confused,” the model said insincerely, adjusting his collar. There was something in his gaze that made Tao Hui uneasy.

The second time, he still rubbed her earlobe, then offered another insincere apology: “Sorry, I get nervous around beautiful women.”

Bullshit! Can’t you tell the difference between a rub and a light touch?

Tao Hui shoved the model away, jumped off the table, and deliberately stepped on his foot with her stiletto heel. Turning back, she tossed out an equally insincere remark: “Sorry, I get nervous around idiots too.”

The atmosphere in the studio had frozen. No one spoke until Han Buji, sitting nearby, suddenly chuckled.

The male model, visibly annoyed, snapped, “What are you laughing at?!”

This mixed-race model was handsome but morally questionable. During every shoot, he’d try to flirt with any attractive female model, convinced his overflowing hormones made him irresistible. He believed that if he extended an olive branch, most women would fall for him.

Tao Hui, perched on the table, rolled her eyes.

What’s with today? I run into idiots the moment I step outside—not just one, but pairs of them, coming at me in droves?

She almost wanted to peek out the window to see if Han You, that saintly white lotus, had left yet, so she could introduce this self-absorbed jerk to a “suitable” match.

Trash deserves trash.

Lucky Lu, already exasperated, scolded, “Sam, control your emotions. You’re at work.”

“Work requires a good mood too, Lu,” the model retorted, lifting his chin with an air of arrogant superiority. “I want Tao Hui’s manager to wait outside. He makes me nervous.”

Tao Hui was fiercely protective of her own. Hearing someone criticize her boyfriend, she immediately flared up. “Why are you so nervous? It’s not like we’re shooting nude photos of you. What’s there to be nervous about?”

Han Buji had quietly moved beside Tao Hui and pulled her behind him, his protective stance unmistakable. He slowly removed his sunglasses, glanced at Lucky Lu, and said, “Let’s replace him.”

The male model sneered. “I agree. Just being decent-looking isn’t enough to be a model.”

Tao Hui, still holding Han Buji’s hand, peeked out from behind him, her gaze fixed on his profile. With a sardonic smile, she lowered her mask, her aura formidable. “I couldn’t agree more,” she said casually. “Perhaps I should replace this unprofessional model?”

Lucky Lu’s eyes lit up the moment Han Buji lowered his mask. He immediately seized Han Buji’s hand. “Han… Best Actor Han! OMG! It’s really you! The inspiration for this entire photoshoot came from your films!”

The blonde male model, clearly unprepared for this turn of events, looked like he had nowhere to vent his frustration, and he angrily raked his fingers through his hair.

Han Buji smiled, gesturing to the small head peeking out from behind him. “I’m accompanying my family member to work and using my manager’s identity to avoid unnecessary complications. I hope Teacher Lu doesn’t mind.”

“Mind? Not at all! Are you really willing to shoot this series?” Snake Lu’s face flushed with excitement as he snatched off his beret and ruffled his pink bangs. “Your image is exactly what I envisioned!”

After a few more exchanges, the blonde male model couldn’t contain himself any longer. Red-faced and flustered, he blurted out, “Lu, what’s the meaning of this? You’ll have to pay a breach of contract fee for replacing me on such short notice!”

“My wallet’s on the table. Take whatever you want,” Han Buji replied without even turning around, as if dismissing a beggar. He casually asked Lucky Lu, “Which agency does this guy belong to?”

Snake Lu sighed, but he was also thoroughly annoyed by the blonde model’s arrogant behavior. He answered bluntly, “He’s a model from Mang Xing. He’s been quite popular lately, and his ego’s through the roof.”

“Oh,” Han Buji chuckled, turning to address the model. “You can insult me all you want, but my girlfriend won’t tolerate the slightest disrespect. If she can’t be wronged, then you’ll have to bear the consequences.”

The male model bristled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Han Buji raised his hand, palm inward, back outward, and waved it dismissively. “You’ll find out tomorrow.”

The male model stormed out, slamming the studio’s wooden door with a resounding bang.

Tao Hui asked curiously, “What are you planning?”

“Nothing much. I’ll just have tea with their boss and discuss whether models with a history of harassment should be terminated,” Han Buji replied, pulling a wet wipe from his pocket and gently wiping Tao Hui’s earlobe.

Lucky Lu was ecstatic about Han Buji’s participation in the shoot. He personally applied Han Buji’s makeup, then clutched his chest as if about to ascend to heaven, muttering to himself, “Oh my god, can I get an autograph later? I’m actually a Han Meimei too!”

Tao Hui: “……”

Oh, this ubiquitous Han Meimei.

With Han Buji on set, the shoot proceeded smoothly. Lucky Lu even improvised a few extra poses, and they finished in less than half the planned time.

After his initial excitement, Lucky Lu suddenly grew timid, clutching the pearl bracelet on his wrist and adopting a bashful expression. “Um, Teacher Han, I forgot to mention… the compensation might not be very high…”

“Don’t worry about it,” Han Buji replied with a smile. “I’m here to support family work and make a cameo appearance out of friendship.”

Why does he keep calling me “family”? It’s so… embarrassing.

Tao Hui’s face flushed. Her velvet-gloved hand gently nudged Han Buji as she murmured, “What are you saying?”

Instead of backing down, Han Buji grasped Tao Hui’s fingertips through the glove and kissed the back of her hand. He grinned and countered, “Isn’t it the truth?”

Sensing her impending doom at the hands of the Han Meimeis, Tao Hui sighed. “Yes, as long as you don’t mind having a zombie bride with a broken neck.”

Han Buji chuckled twice before turning to Snake Lu, who was secretly snapping photos nearby. “Oh, by the way, Teacher Lu, could I get a couple of copies of those photos?”

Lucky Lu, ever perceptive, immediately handed over the camera and scrolled through the images to show them to the couple. “A group photo? No problem!”

Tao Hui leaned closer. In the photo, Han Buji and she gazed deeply into each other’s eyes. His pale, clean fingertips lightly brushed her ear, like an ancient vampire from Eastern European legends, staring at the reincarnated lover he had waited centuries to find.

“Hmm, the group photo is beautiful too, like an engagement photo,” Han Buji said, flipping through the images. “But I still want a solo shot of Tao Hui.”

Tao Hui looked at him, puzzled. “Why do you want a photo of just me?”

“Well, that’s a bit… hard to explain?” Han Buji’s deep eyes narrowed, and a mysterious smile suddenly appeared on his face.