Did the Movie Emperor Blow His Cover Today? - Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Lu Xiaotang nervously dialed the Best Actor’s number, squatting in a dingy airport restroom, waiting silently for the call to connect.

No agency would immediately suppress trending topics or issue clarifications in such situations. Since it wasn’t negative news, riding the wave of attention was always a good move.

Lu Xiaotang, cigarette dangling from his lips, his eyebrows furrowed in anxiety, knew that even capitalizing on trending topics required him to stay alive.

The girl he’d been filming with all day was none other than the Best Actor’s future wife. Even if Lu Xiaotang had a hundred lives, he wouldn’t dare try to ride Tao Hui’s coattails.

“Who’s this?” Han Buji’s voice boomed through the phone.

Startled, Lu Xiaotang quickly replied, “Brother Han! It’s me, Lu Xiaotang. Uh… heh heh, have you seen the trending topics?”

Perhaps it was a common trait among young men in their early twenties, but Lu Xiaotang always let out a nervous “heh heh” when feeling guilty. On the other end of the line, Han Buji thought of his adorable girlfriend, who always grinned sheepishly when she was feeling guilty, and couldn’t help but chuckle along.

A soft chuckle drifted through the phone, startling Lu Xiaotang so badly that he dropped the cigarette from his mouth. The burning ember landed tip-down on his canvas shoe, leaving a sizzling black mark.

Lu Xiaotang had no time to worry about his shoe. Despite Tao Hui’s repeated assurances before she left—”Han Buji is so gentle, there’s nothing to fear”—he remained deeply anxious. His voice trembling, he stammered, “Brother Han, those trending topics are all lies. Tao Hui and I… there’s absolutely nothing between us, I swear! Tao Hui’s feelings for you are as steadfast as gold, her devotion unwavering, her heart yours alone, her focus absolute, her commitment eternal, until death do us part…”

This is getting increasingly morbid, he thought.

Han Buji, perhaps unable to bear the rambling, interrupted calmly, “What about you?”

“Me?” Lu Xiaotang’s voice shot up five octaves, like a rooster crowing, his tone sharp as he declared, “I already have someone I like, Brother Han!”

Realizing his declaration might lack impact, Lu Xiaotang added hastily, “I like your manager!”

“Pfft! Cough, cough, cough!” Wu Yue’s incredulous voice came through the phone. “Who do you like?!”

Lu Xiaotang finally snapped out of his daze, rubbing his nose. “I meant I like Brother Han’s assistant, Miss Gao Meng.”

Wu Yue’s grumbling could still be heard over the phone, likely muttering things like, “Scared the hell out of me! I thought some young heartthrob had fallen for me!”

The Best Actor sounded remarkably calm, merely chuckling and asking, “Where’s Tao Hui?”

“Huh? Tao Hui said she was going to find you. Oh, right! She mentioned getting crayfish first. She also said you can’t handle spicy food?” Lu Xiaotang replied.

“You’re not in Dian City?” Han Buji suddenly asked.

“Nope. We wrapped up filming this morning and flew back to Beijing together. Tao Hui told me to explain things to you, gave me your number, and left,” Lu Xiaotang said, sounding bewildered. Only after speaking did he vaguely recall Tao Hui telling him not to say something before she left.

He pinched his brow, racking his brain until the call ended. Then, it hit him: their last conversation.

“Don’t tell anyone I’m back in Beijing! If they ask, just say I’m filming! I want to surprise him!”

“Okey-dokey! OJBK~”

Lu Xiaotang: “…Holy shit.”

Oblivious to her betrayal, Tao Hui stood in line at the entrance of the wildly popular crayfish restaurant, waiting to buy crayfish. She wore a scarf, sunglasses, and a black beret.

While she waited for her number to be called, a full-blown melodrama was unfolding online, with countless fans of Han Meimei and the “No Way” CP weeping openly.

The leaked photos showed Tao Hui holding a palm-leaf fan, beaming brightly, while Lu Xiaotang, visibly excited, gripped her wrist. The two appeared to be enjoying a lively conversation.

[ ~Waaah, Miss Tao Hui has found her own happiness! What about our Gege? sobs uncontrollably ]

[ ~Wow, Rabbit and Tangtang look so good together, but I still… I want to cry. ]

[ ~Blessings to Miss Tao Hui through my tears ]

[ ~That CP name was cursed from the start! ‘No Way CP’? Of course it didn’t work out! wails ]

[ ~A match made in heaven… I can’t keep praising them. Let me cry for a bit. ]

[ ~Some fans are so ridiculous. Lu Xiaotang is great, right? Does he have to be with your “main” to be good enough? I think the Lu Tao Couple is perfect. ]

[ ~Exactly! Lu Xiaotang and Tao Hui are a good match. I think they’re great together too. ]

[ ~They even have matching palm-leaf fans! They look like an old married couple, ha ha ha! ]

Beneath this “old married couple” comment, Best Actor Han Buji suddenly appeared and replied directly: [ Do they? ]

Netizens: ???

After Han Buji’s reply was discovered, the comment immediately shot to the top. Just as netizens were scratching their heads in confusion, Han Buji posted a Weibo update:

[ @Tao Hui, my girlfriend, waiting for you to come home for dinner. ]

The accompanying photo showed Tao Hui sitting cross-legged on the sofa in Han Buji’s oversized pajamas, eating fruit with a small fork.

In the photo, Tao Hui wore no makeup, her hair pulled up in a messy bun. Compared to her usual glamorous, seductive image, she looked adorably youthful, like a sweet girl next door.

More importantly, the sunlight streaming into the room cast a long, distorted shadow on the coffee table—a short-haired man holding up his phone to take the picture.

Netizens: Holy shit?!

Tao Hui, who was waiting in line for crayfish, jumped at the sudden scream behind her. Without turning around, she clearly heard an excited female voice exclaim, “Oh my god! Gege’s in love!”

Gege?

Han Buji wasn’t called “Gege” because he was older or debuted earlier. Rather, it was because he was known as a gentleman in the entertainment industry, maintaining exceptionally good relationships with most of his peers. Everyone called him “Brother Han,” even some who were slightly older than him. His fans had affectionately adopted the term “Gege” as well.

Therefore, this “Gege” who was in love was likely Han Buji, with an eighty percent probability.

“Two large boxes of crayfish,” Tao Hui said as she finally reached the counter, pulling out her phone and opening Weibo. “One with thirteen-spice flavor, no chili or garlic, and the other with extra spicy and numbing flavor.”

When she saw the headline “Han Buji’s Relationship,” her eyelid twitched. Then she noticed someone had tagged her—it was Han Buji.

Clicking through, she found a Weibo post Han Buji had just published, already boasting three million likes. As she read the content, her fingers tightened around her phone.

To be honest, Tao Hui had been conflicted about publicly announcing their relationship, both eagerly anticipating it and feeling deeply apprehensive.

But now, seeing Han Buji’s Weibo post, all her anxiety seemed to vanish, replaced by an instinctive joy.

She knew that behind this seemingly casual announcement lay Han Buji’s silent efforts to keep the comments from becoming too toxic, ensuring at least some messages of blessing and support would surface.

He had written: “My girlfriend, waiting for you to come home for dinner.”

Come home for dinner.

For such a warm, simple phrase, Tao Hui felt like she had been waiting over twenty years.

She pictured Han Buji’s minimalist apartment, dominated by black, white, and gray tones; the small cactus she had brought from her home, now sitting on the balcony; Han Buji lounging on the sofa in his pajamas, fresh fruit always on the coffee table; their bathrobes hanging in the bathroom; her hair tie and Han Buji’s script lying on the bedside table.

Tao Hui lowered her gaze, the corners of her mouth curving into a smile hidden behind her scarf. It had been so long since she had returned to Beijing.

She was truly impatient to hug her boyfriend again, even starting to miss the oversized men’s slippers she had worn for years at home.

With her head still bowed, Tao Hui posted on Weibo:

[ Tao Hui: @Han Buji Okay, boyfriend. ]

The accompanying photo showed her holding a bag of crayfish.

After posting, Tao Hui called Lu Xiaotang, berating him for exposing her whereabouts and firmly refusing to help him arrange a meeting with Gao Meng. She hung up, satisfied, amidst Lu Xiaotang’s wails of despair.

The weather was perfect, the sun shining brightly, and sparrows chirped on the power lines. Everything lay bathed in sunlight. Even though some commenters on Weibo wrote things like “Tao Hui doesn’t deserve Gege,” Tao Hui felt genuinely happy, a sense of settled contentment washing over her.

Little did she know, she had already inadvertently revealed her location to the vast online community.

The couple’s sweet interactions on Weibo had not only publicly confirmed their relationship, but Tao Hui’s unblurred photos had also exposed her whereabouts. A corner of her coat and scarf in the photos even revealed her outfit.

The internet was teeming with “magnifying glass girls,” and soon Rabbit Fur and Han Meimei transformed into Sherlock Holmes:

[ ~Is that a bag of crayfish Tao Hui’s holding? ]

[ ~I know that crayfish place! Isn’t that Sister Crayfish on Guangming Road? The one with the crazy long lines every time? ]

[ ~Exactly! I’m from Beijing, I know that crayfish place on Guangming Road. ]

[ ~The label on the bag says “no spice, no garlic”! Miss Tao Hui is so considerate! She must be so gentle with Gege. How sweet! ]

[ ~Rabbit’s wearing a plaid scarf? I think I just saw Rabbit in person! ]

[ ~A plaid scarf and a short black puffer jacket?! Aaaaaah! I hate that I’m not in Beijing right now! ]

[ ~I’m here! I’m on Guangming Road right now! ]

Tao Hui wasn’t too worried as she carried the bag. Her phone battery was low, but she figured a three-stop subway ride would only take ten minutes, no need for a taxi. The crayfish wouldn’t get cold.

Guangming Road was a bustling commercial street lined with shops. Though not as crowded as Houhai, it was still lively. Tao Hui hadn’t been out shopping in ages, so she strolled leisurely, humming a tune.

But as she walked, she began to feel uneasy. The crowd behind her seemed to be growing, and she could hear whispers.

Tao Hui paused for a moment, wondering if it was her imagination, but the crowd behind her seemed to pause as well.

She took a few more steps before cautiously turning around. As she did, the people behind her immediately pretended to be on phone calls or stared down at their phones.

One person even pointed skyward, tugging at their companion’s arm and exclaiming, “Look! An airplane!”

Tao Hui: “……”

Airplane? That’s just a sparrow!

The crowd continued to swell. A timid female voice called out from the group, “Is… is that Miss Tao Hui?”

She’d been recognized!

Tao Hui startled and whirled around, her scarf slipping down to reveal her delicate jawline.

The timid voice had vanished, replaced by a woman who bulldozed through the crowd like a female warrior. “Tao Hui! I’m a CP fan of you and the Best Actor! Congratulations on getting together!”

Tao Hui froze for a moment, the tips of her ears flushing crimson. She offered a shy smile and tentatively waved. “Th-thank you.”

“Ah, it really is Tao Hui!” The crowd erupted in excitement, some pulling out their phones to record and take photos, others scrambling for paper and pens for autographs.

“Rabbit! Can we take a photo together?”

“Tao Hui! Can I get your autograph?”

“Rabbit, look at your mama! Ah!”

“Over here! Over here! Tao Hui!”

Overwhelmed by the layers of people surrounding her, Tao Hui scratched her head nervously. “Um… I’m not really up for photos today—I didn’t put on any makeup and don’t look my best. But I’ll sign autographs! I actually wanted to get back soon; the crayfish will get cold…”

The weather wasn’t particularly cold, but being surrounded by the crowd and constantly signing autographs made beads of sweat trickle down Tao Hui’s forehead. Still, she made sure to chat quietly with her fans:

“Oh, crayfish? I really like this place. I love the spicy kind.”

“No spice… uh… it’s for Han Buji…”

“Lu Xiaotang? He’s a bit closer to Han Buji than I am, but we’re about the same. After all, I can’t afford to buy him an abalone bento box…”

Tao Hui placed the crayfish at her feet and diligently signed autographs for everyone, one by one. After signing over a dozen, someone in the crowd called out with a laugh, “Let Tao Hui go home already! The Best Actor is waiting for his dinner!”

A wave of good-natured laughter rippled through the crowd. Tao Hui’s face flushed crimson from her earlobes to her cheeks, and she quickly pulled up her scarf to hide her embarrassment.

Just as Tao Hui was about to respond, a sudden burst of screams erupted from the edge of the crowd: “Aaaah!”

She tilted her head in confusion and saw the crowd slowly part to create a path. At the end of the path stood Han Buji’s black Maserati.

Han Buji leaned against the car, sunglasses off, and smiled as he extended his hand. “Girlfriend, I’ve come to take you home.”