Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 60

Chapter 60

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, while most families were still basking in the festive atmosphere, Tao Hui was already packed and ready to join the production crew of Drug Enforcement Storm.

Han Buji’s entire team, all wearing sunglasses and masks, accompanied their boss to Dian City to see off the future Boss Lady and enjoy a team-building trip. Tao Hui’s assistant, Miao Miao, and her “motherly” manager, Zhou Xun, also joined the group.

Tao Hui asked, puzzled, “Why is Sister Xun coming along for Unruly Entertainment’s team-building trip?”

Zhou Xun, hearing his name, retorted with his hands on his hips, “What’s wrong with a son-in-law taking his mother-in-law out for some relaxation?”

Tao Hui: “…Oh.”

And so, the group boarded the first flight of the day, avoiding the crowds, and flew to Dian City, where Drug Enforcement Storm was being filmed.

In a suite at a Dian City hotel, Zhou Xun, Miao Miao, Gao Meng, and Wu Yue gathered around a table playing mahjong, while Han Buji lounged lazily on the sofa, watching Tao Hui eat Fresh Flower Cakes.

Fresh Flower Cakes, a Dian City specialty filled with rose petals, were Tao Hui’s absolute favorite. Not having had enough during the day, she had bought some to bring back to the hotel. She tore open the paper bag, took a bite, and closed her eyes in satisfaction, a few flaky crumbs clinging to the corners of her mouth.

The Best Actor raised his hand and brushed away the flaky pastry crumbs from Tao Hui’s cheek with his thumb. “You’re joining the production crew tomorrow?”

“Mmm!” Tao Hui nodded, taking another bite of her Fresh Flower Cake. “Are you going to miss me, boyfriend?”

“Actually, I will,” Han Buji replied, gripping her wrist and taking a bite of her cake. He grinned and asked, “Did the director say how many months the shoot will take?”

Tao Hui shook her head. “No, but Director Lu is notoriously meticulous. It’ll definitely take more than two months—maybe even half a year.”

“Tsk,” Han Buji clicked his tongue, tapping Tao Hui’s forehead. “You little heartbreaker. You seem so happy about being away for so long. Don’t you miss me at all?”

Tao Hui pointed to her face. “Han Buji, I just look happy. I’m actually a bit worried.”

Tsk, the little girl actually knows how to worry? Han Buji thought, a smirk playing on his lips.

He chuckled merrily. “Missing me? Don’t worry, I’ll visit you whenever I have time…”

But the Best Actor’s words were cut short by Tao Hui’s dejected mumble: “It’s not that. It’s just our company boss—he’s such a Zhou Bapi. I’m afraid he won’t want me spending so long on a low-budget film. What if he assigns me other work…?”

Tao Hui’s instincts were spot-on. The Boss of High-End Entertainment was indeed thinking along those lines, but Han Buji had already made his move.

At that moment, Han Buji had no intention of discussing work. He narrowed his beautiful phoenix eyes dangerously, his voice laced with a hint of suppressed anger as he asked, “Not?”

“Huh?” Tao Hui stared blankly at Han Buji, half a Fresh Flower Cake still in her hand. It took her a couple of seconds to realize she had inadvertently denied his question.

“You don’t want to leave me?”

“No.”

Ugh… that was the worst possible answer.

Tao Hui quickly set the Fresh Flower Cake aside, clapped her hands, and scooted closer to Han Buji, wrapping her arm around his. “Of course I don’t want to leave you, my boyfriend! The movie hasn’t even started filming yet, and I’m already dreaming about the wrap party and going home with you. See how much I miss you? You’ll come visit me whenever you have time, right?”

The girl’s words were so sweet, even though Han Buji knew she had been sleep-talking about “Fresh Flower Cakes are so delicious! I want another box!” last night, he couldn’t help but smile.

Han Buji pulled a kraft paper bag from behind his back and handed it to Tao Hui. “Here, a New Year’s gift.”

Tao Hui accepted the bag, blinked, and joked, “No need for property deeds or land contracts. They’re too valuable for me to accept.”

The four mahjong players nearby perked up their ears, listening as Tao Hui untied the string wrapped around the kraft paper bag and heard the rustle of paper. Zhou Xun whispered, “Here it comes. She’s definitely going to cry.”

Tao Hui pulled out the documents and saw three termination agreements: one for Zhou Xun, one for Miao Miao, and one for herself.

This meant all three of them were no longer bound to High-End Entertainment. They didn’t have to work for that exploitative, oppressive, profit-driven Boss anymore. They were free.

Tao Hui froze for a moment, then looked up to see Han Buji still lounging casually on the sofa, a smile flickering in his phoenix eyes. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair twice. “Don’t worry about anything. Leave all your concerns to me. You have a boyfriend now.”

“…But,” Tao Hui hesitated. Zhou Xun and Miao Miao couldn’t be without jobs…

Zhou Xun pushed aside his mahjong tiles, grinned, and waved a stack of contracts in the air, cutting Tao Hui off. “Starting today, I belong to Best Actor Han.”

“Me too! Me too!” Miao Miao exclaimed, waving her contract with both hands.

Tao Hui looked at Han Buji, her eyes stinging and her nose feeling achy. Yet he spoke with gentle, doting tenderness, “This is what a boyfriend of the esteemed actress Miss Tao should do.”

Tao Hui couldn’t hold back any longer. Tears streamed down her face, splashing onto her lap as she sobbed, “Sister Xun! Young Master Han is such a kind man! He not only redeemed the courtesan but also freed the madam and the maids! I want to marry Young Master Han!”

Zhou Xun, who had been teasing Tao Hui just moments before, began to cry along with her, wiping his eyes and saying, “Marry, marry, marry! Sister Xun will save up a dowry for you!”

The next day, Tao Hui went to the set with only Miao Miao by her side, while Han Buji returned to Beijing with the other three.

Tao Hui’s prediction proved correct. Director Lu had no intention of finishing the shoot quickly. He could demand over twenty takes for a single scene.

The filming stretched from early spring into the height of summer.

The actors in the production crew were all dedicated, but Tao Hui stood out as the most committed. Even Director Lu, whom the crew jokingly called “the fighter jet of perfectionists,” felt a pang of sympathy for the young actress.

In one scene, Tao Hui, playing the daughter of a drug dealer, was supposed to have her hair yanked and be slapped hard across the face, her head slamming into a nearby chair. Tao Hui refused a stunt double, saying, “Teacher Guo, just hit me for real. I’m a bit clumsy, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to sell the fall convincingly if I fake it.”

Many aspire to be actors, and even more yearn to act. Countless actors juggle multiple projects simultaneously, and many on set constantly seek to use stunt doubles.

Actors like Tao Hui—talented, dedicated, and willing to endure hardship—are exceedingly rare.

The veteran actor opposite Tao Hui hesitated, saying, “Xiao Tao, once I get into character, I might lose control of my strength. Are you sure about this?”

“Don’t worry, Teacher Guo! Just go for it. I can handle it!” Tao Hui insisted.

That night, as Tao Hui walked home after filming, she touched the swelling bruise on her forehead, feeling troubled.

What am I going to tell Han Buji during our video call?

In Dian City’s sweltering summer, mosquitoes swarmed relentlessly. Tao Hui sprayed insect repellent as she walked, recalling a chilly April day when she had to repeatedly film a scene of her eating icy watermelon eight or nine times. After devouring so much watermelon, she ended up with severe diarrhea that left her legs weak.

During their video call that day, the Best Actor’s furrowed brow radiated an icy chill.

Just as she was thinking about him, her phone rang. Tao Hui glanced at the screen and saw a video call invitation from Han Buji.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear! she thought, amused.

Tao Hui found a dimly lit spot, using the shadows to conceal the bruise on her forehead, and answered the call. She greeted him with a bright, cheerful smile, hoping to gloss over the injury. “Hi, boyfriend! I miss you so, so much! Today was another day of thinking about you, heh heh heh…”

On the other end of the video call, Han Buji was dressed in casual home wear, his hair neatly swept back, looking clean and refreshed. Hearing Tao Hui’s words, he raised an eyebrow, his gaze settling on the swelling on her forehead. “What’s this? Did missing me make your head swell?” he asked mildly.

Tao Hui pouted. As expected, nothing could escape Han Buji’s sharp eyes. She had no choice but to explain what had happened.

Instead of scolding her, Han Buji simply asked, “Are you happy?”

“Mhm! Very happy!” Tao Hui replied, her eyes curving into crescents as she spoke about the production crew. “The crew members were so kind and applied ointment for me. Director Lu even said my acting has improved tremendously! Heh heh, actually, getting this bump isn’t so bad. It looks much more natural than makeup!”

Her infectious good mood spread to Han Buji, who chuckled softly on the other end of the call.

The next morning, Tao Hui had no scenes to shoot, but she still woke up early and skipped over to the production crew. Before she even entered the filming base, she noticed a crowd gathered, and to her surprise, Gao Meng was among them.

Tao Hui froze, but then saw Han Buji and Director Lu emerge from the break room. She blurted out, “What are you doing here?!”

Her outburst startled everyone on set. Only Best Actor Han chuckled, pointing at Director Lu beside him. “I’m here for work,” he said with a smile. “I saw great potential in Director Lu’s film and decided to invest.”

“…Oh,” Tao Hui mumbled, feeling awkward.

Standing in the crowd, she sensed everyone’s eyes on her and suddenly didn’t know what to say. She scratched her nose and subtly gestured to Han Buji with her eyes, urging him, “Go with the director! Stop lingering here!”

After all, the actors present were all shrewd professionals, and Tao Hui worried they might notice her “private relationship” with Han Buji.

Although many in Beijing’s elite circles knew Tao Hui and Han Buji were dating, everyone tacitly kept it quiet. Celebrity romances could be complicated, and former Best Actor Gu Yuan had once advised them, “You two should wait for the right time to go public.”

Han Buji nodded slightly and followed Director Lu away.

Tao Hui had just breathed a sigh of relief when Han Buji, who had taken only two steps, suddenly turned back, pulled a tube of ointment from his pocket, and tossed it to her.

Catching it reflexively, Tao Hui felt even more eyes fix on her. She stammered, “W-what’s this…?”

Han Buji smiled. “Ointment. For your forehead injury.”

Tao Hui replied stiffly, “…Thank you for your kindness, Best Actor Han.”

“Oh,” Han Buji responded, lowering his gaze as if lost in thought. Then, he suddenly pulled out a green object from his pocket and tossed it to her. “My mom asked me to give you this—aloe vera essence. She and Dad will come visit you next month after they finish their work.”

Tao Hui: “……”

This man wouldn’t leave after causing all this trouble. He even added, in a low voice, “Girlfriend, what did you call me just now?”

The people behind them chuckled quietly, their relationship now exposed.

Tao Hui gritted her teeth and pounced on him like a furious little leopard. “Han Buji! What exactly are you here for?!”

Han Buji laughed heartily, embracing the attacking “leopard spirit” with leisurely ease. “To visit my girlfriend on set,” he declared openly.

After that incident, Director Lu issued a strict gag order. Han Buji, as the film’s investor, had ordered the director to forbid the production crew from spreading news of the Best Actor’s relationship.

Violators would face punishment: scrubbing toilets, emptying trash, and being denied meat.

Having finally secured funding, the crew could now enjoy meat with every meal instead of just rice noodles, a welcome change. Moreover, the Drug Enforcement Storm crew had bonded like family, from top to bottom, and no one wanted to gossip outside the group.

This emboldened the Best Actor even further. He frequently flew in from Beijing to visit the set, bribing the entire crew with lavish meals to keep their mouths shut.

The actors in this production were true drama fanatics, showing no signs of fatigue. They often filmed through the night or started work before dawn, shooting from the height of summer into late autumn.

The crew members got along well. Lu Xiaotang, the male actor playing a Drug Enforcement officer, was about Tao Hui’s age and had a pair of adorable tiger teeth when he smiled, making him the quintessential “cute young idol.” He shared many scenes with Tao Hui, and they often huddled together to discuss the script.

In late November, Dian City remained warm. Lu Xiaotang fanned himself vigorously, saying to Tao Hui, “Ah, when is Brother Han coming? I miss seeing Miss Gao Meng. And I really want to eat that abalone-topped comfort meal Brother Han sent last time.”

Gao Meng often accompanied Han Buji on his visits. Over time, Lu Xiaotang, who usually wore glasses and exuded a white-collar air, developed a crush on her, seeing her as his personal goddess.

During breaks, he would even mutter about hoping Han Buji would visit more often than Tao Hui.

Tao Hui, fanning herself with a large palm leaf fan like an old woman, leaned back in her chair. “We’re wrapping up filming in a few days. I was planning to surprise him when I get back, so he’d better not come.”

“Does that mean I won’t see Miss Gao Meng anymore?!” Lu Xiaotang grabbed Tao Hui’s arm, his voice trembling with excitement. “Can I come with you to Beijing?”

As they chatted, they didn’t notice a group of people walking across the street. Another director’s film was also shooting in Dian City, and the production crew had invited reporters for publicity.

Entertainment Reporters have sharp eyes. One of them spotted Lu Xiaotang grabbing Tao Hui’s wrist while they were talking and snapped a series of photos.

The two being photographed remained completely unaware, continuing to work diligently on set each day.

A week later, filming for “Drug Enforcement Storm” wrapped up. The nine-month shoot had finally come to an end. Tao Hui had gotten a bit tanned and lost a lot of weight, but her smile was even more radiant, her eyes sparkling like they held starlight.

She immediately boarded a flight back to Beijing, eager to surprise her boyfriend. She also brought along a little tagalong—Lu Xiaotang, who insisted on meeting “Little Goddess Gao Meng.”

As the plane landed at Beijing’s familiar airport, Tao Hui opened her phone and said to Lu Xiaotang beside her, “I’ll grab a taxi to Han Buji’s place. You heading straight to Unruly Entertainment to see Gao Meng?”

Lu Xiaotang lowered his baseball cap and chewed on the arm of his sunglasses. “I can’t! What if Miss Gao Meng refuses to see me? Can I come with you and Brother Han? Maybe he can get her to come out?”

“Absolutely not!” Tao Hui retorted, pulling her Burberry scarf up to cover her chin. “I’m sneaking back to surprise my boyfriend. Bringing you along would ruin the surprise!”

Before Lu Xiaotang could reply, Tao Hui, wearing sunglasses, turned to see him staring blankly at his phone, his hands trembling slightly.

Wait, why are you shaking? Are you that nervous about meeting Gao Meng?

Completely baffled, Tao Hui nudged Lu Xiaotang with her elbow. “What’s wrong?”

“…Tao Hui, I’m doomed,” Lu Xiaotang mumbled, his eyes unfocused. “Brother Han will strangle me with your manager’s tie, then whip my corpse and throw me into the moat to feed the fish…”

Tao Hui: “?”

Tao Hui glanced down at Lu Xiaotang’s phone. It was a Weibo page, their names glaringly occupying the top spot on the trending topics:

[ Tao Hui and Lu Xiaotang Suspected to Be in Love: Playful Banter and Sweet Affection ]