The Paranoid Film Queen Hooked Me, and I Fell in Love. (GL) - Chapter 12

Shen Buhui smiled faintly. “That is exactly what I was about to say.”

“Starlight Entertainment is a good choice. The company maintains a fair system—whether you’re a rising star or an unknown newcomer, there’s a career path suited for you. Most importantly, Starlight Entertainment strictly prohibits any messy entanglements between its artists.”

Messy entanglements.

As soon as Xu Zhiyan heard those words, she knew exactly what Shen Buhui was referring to.

A flicker of interest crossed her face.

Shen Buhui remained silent, allowing her to ponder in peace.

Five minutes passed before Xu Zhiyan lifted her gaze and asked softly, “Then, Miss Shen, which company would you recommend for me?”

The room fell into a moment of silence.

Xu Zhiyan’s eyes, filled with trust, lingered on Shen Buhui—there was also an unspoken anticipation in them.

Beneath the table, Shen Buhui’s hand clenched involuntarily. She tilted her head slightly, lowering her lashes to hide the turmoil swirling in her gaze.

“I wouldn’t recommend any of them to you,” she stated calmly.

It was the first time Shen Buhui had spoken so firmly in front of Xu Zhiyan.

The difference between none and I wouldn’t recommend any was subtle, yet their meanings were vastly different.

Xu Zhiyan’s expression faltered. “Huh?”

Her eyes widened in surprise, and for a brief moment, her usually composed face looked adorably bewildered.

Of course, Xu Zhiyan was far from foolish.

She quickly smoothed over her initial reaction and asked curiously, “Why not?”

Instead of answering immediately, Shen Buhui reached for a strawberry from the fruit platter and offered it to Xu Zhiyan. The imprint of her crescent-shaped nail marks was still visible on her fingertip as she held the fruit.

Neither of them paid it any mind.

Xu Zhiyan’s cheeks puffed slightly as she bit into the large, ripe strawberry. Only after she had finished chewing did Shen Buhui wipe the moisture from her fingers and finally speak.

“Because I want to invite you to join my studio.”

A studio?

A studio!

Xu Zhiyan was caught off guard once again. She thought, Good thing I didn’t have anything in my mouth, or I would have surely bitten my tongue from the shock.

Shen Buhui tilted her head slightly and smiled. “A personal studio that’s currently being set up and will be officially announced soon.”

“I’d like to invite you—if you’re willing.”

Xu Zhiyan fell into deep thought.

After a moment, she hesitantly asked, “Miss Shen, is there anyone else in your studio?”

Shen Buhui shook her head. “Aside from myself, no one else—yet.”

In truth, she had never planned on recruiting anyone else before now.

Xu Zhiyan hesitated once more, feeling that this was not a decision to be made lightly.

With a serious expression, she said, “Miss Shen, I think I need to give this careful consideration. I’m afraid I can’t give you an answer just yet.”

As expected.

Shen Buhui responded warmly, “You should take your time to think it over. There’s no pressure—whatever your decision is, it’s perfectly fine.”

Xu Zhiyan smiled. “Thank you, Miss Shen.”

A faint smile played on Shen Buhui’s lips.

Later that afternoon, after filming wrapped up, Xu Zhiyan received a notice from the production team: tomorrow, they would be shooting the character portraits and promotional photos.

However, that wasn’t what weighed most on her mind.

She called Lin Ya and told her about Shen Buhui’s offer.

When the topic of Shen Buhui’s personal studio came up, Lin Ya asked, “Do you want to go?”

Do you want to join Shen Buhui’s studio?

Leaning against the window, Xu Zhiyan gazed at the distant horizon, feeling uncertain.

Her silence clued Lin Ya into something. She shifted the topic and asked, “Are you two close?”

Xu Zhiyan replied in a low voice, “Mm. Miss Shen has been very kind to me.”

For a newcomer entering such an important project, finding a mentor who was both a teacher and a friend—someone genuinely willing to guide her—was rare.

This thought solidified in Xu Zhiyan’s mind after conversing with other actors.

Whether it was guidance in acting or simple gestures of care, Miss Shen was truly a remarkable person.

Lin Ya, however, thought a bit further. She couldn’t help but wonder—why was Shen Buhui being so kind to Xu Zhiyan? From what she knew of her, Shen Buhui was a decent person, but she had never struck Lin Ya as the overly warm-hearted type.

Hearing Lin Ya’s curiosity, Xu Zhiyan found herself wondering the same thing.

“…Maybe it’s because I’m pretty?”

Her voice was uncertain, filled with doubt.

Lin Ya burst into laughter. “Look at Shen Buhui’s face and then think about what you just said—does that make any sense?”

To speak honestly, Xu Zhiyan was indeed a remarkably beautiful woman. However, her beauty was the complete opposite of Shen Buhui’s.

If Xu Zhiyan could be described as a radiant and lively beauty, then Shen Buhui was the embodiment of elegance and allure—mature, striking, and breathtaking in her own way.

Xu Zhiyan, as if suddenly enlightened, mused, “Maybe she’s just like me—a sucker for good looks?”

It wasn’t an impossible thought!

Lin Ya: “……”

“Alright, enough of this nonsense,” Lin Ya said. “Since your senior is looking out for you, you shouldn’t just accept her kindness without giving anything in return. I’ll help you gather more information, and in a couple of days, I’ll call you again. By then, you should have a decision.”

Xu Zhiyan straightened up and replied in a serious tone, “Alright, Mom. Thank you, Mom.”

Then, she sent a loud and exaggerated “mua” through the phone—except before she could even finish the ‘m’ sound, the call ended with a beep.

Xu Zhiyan: “……”

Later, as she took out the trash, she decided to take a casual stroll.

She wandered aimlessly until she stumbled upon a small area with a swing set. The moment she spotted it, her eyes lit up.

Without hesitation, she walked over and sat down. As she gently swayed, the breeze stirred her hair, sending a cool sensation over her skin.

As she rocked back and forth, she reflected on Lin Ya’s words.

Why is Miss Shen being so kind to me?

According to Sister Zeng Yue, Miss Shen was usually rather aloof with others. This was the first time she had shown such consideration for a newcomer.

“So why is that…?”

Could it really be because of her looks? Xu Zhiyan reached up and pinched her own cheek.

Or was it because of the misunderstanding during their first meeting? Perhaps Miss Shen felt guilty and was deliberately looking out for her?

The more Xu Zhiyan thought about it, the more plausible that explanation seemed.

It was certainly more likely than the idea that Miss Shen was just another admirer of good looks.

She lingered on the swing for a while longer before deciding to head back.

As she walked, she pulled out her phone to check her navigation. But before she could focus on the screen, her steps came to an abrupt halt.

A figure stood by the roadside, leaning lazily against a lamppost. The dim glow of the streetlight split her face into light and shadow, highlighting her sharp features—half in darkness, half illuminated. The burning ember at her fingertips flickered a deep crimson, casting a hazy glow in the quiet night.

Xu Zhiyan’s breath caught.

…It was Miss Shen.

For a moment, she forgot to move, her gaze fixated on the woman a few steps away.

She had never seen Shen Buhui like this before.

Disheveled, solitary, yet carrying an inexplicable allure.

It was as if something about her was irresistibly drawing Xu Zhiyan in. Without realizing it, she took a step forward.

Her steps were silent, but the weight of her lingering gaze must have been noticeable, because Shen Buhui turned her head slightly. Those unreadable eyes—cold yet seemingly holding a trace of emotion—landed on Xu Zhiyan.

As if instinctively, she straightened her posture. Only then did she seem to remember the cigarette between her fingers. Shen Buhui adjusted her stance, casually extinguishing the faint glow between her fingertips.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

Xu Zhiyan quickly turned off her phone screen and slipped it back into her pocket. “I went out for a walk after dinner. Before I knew it, I ended up here.”

Shen Buhui glanced around and drawled, “This area is quiet. A good place for a stroll.”

Xu Zhiyan nodded hesitantly. Something about Miss Shen felt different tonight. There was a vague sense of danger about her—something she couldn’t quite put into words.

Her instincts, sharp like those of an animal sensing a shift in the air, made her momentarily unsure of what to say to ease the atmosphere.

Shen Buhui’s dark eyes studied her for a long moment before she suddenly tilted her head and smiled, breaking the silence.

“You saw it?”

Xu Zhiyan’s gaze drifted down from her face, following the smooth lines of her pale skin until it landed on her delicate fingers.

“…Yeah,” she answered softly, her voice light enough to be carried away by the wind.

Under the dim glow of the night, Xu Zhiyan looked at her—at that face, barely discernible in the shadowy light—and felt a quiet unease rise within her.

She had no intention of prying into Shen Buhui’s personal matters, yet she couldn’t help but feel concerned for the woman before her.

“Miss Shen, there are mosquitoes at night. Let’s go back?”

Shen Buhui tilted her head slightly, as if contemplating the meaning behind Xu Zhiyan’s words. After a long pause, she murmured, “Alright.”

As the words left her lips, she stepped forward, emerging from the shadows. Only then did Xu Zhiyan catch the faint scent of alcohol lingering in the air around her.

“Miss Shen, are you drunk?” she asked worriedly.

Shen Buhui obediently nodded, raising a slender finger and gesturing earnestly. “Just a little. I only drank a little.”

So, she wasn’t drunk.

Xu Zhiyan couldn’t help but chuckle. With how Miss Shen was acting, she didn’t look like someone who had only had “a little” to drink.

Besides, people who are truly drunk never admit that they are.

She glanced at the dimly lit street. Some of the lamps were broken, casting an uneven glow on the pavement. It wouldn’t be an issue for someone completely sober to walk through, but Shen Buhui was clearly not as steady as she appeared. She walked in a straight line, her steps deliberate and controlled—but too stiff, too unnatural.

“Miss Shen, let me help you.” Xu Zhiyan hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to support her arm.

“No!”

Shen Buhui immediately shook her off.

“…?” Xu Zhiyan stumbled slightly, startled.

She thought Miss Shen didn’t want to be touched and was about to reassure her when she heard her speak again.

“Don’t call me Miss Shen!”

If not Miss Shen, then what? Xu Zhiyan hesitated before cautiously trying, “Senior Shen?”

Shen Buhui frowned, clearly displeased.

Xu Zhiyan took a deep breath. “…Shen Buhui?”

Another frown. “Not that either!”

As she spoke, her body swayed slightly. Xu Zhiyan quickly reached out to steady her.

How did things end up like this?

She had only come out for a walk after dinner. She had only wanted to help because she was concerned. So why had this turned into a debate about what to call her?

The warmth of their arms pressed together, and Shen Buhui, her mind growing hazier, vaguely recalled a soft, sweet voice in her memory calling out—

“Sister Zeng Yue…”

Her expression shifted instantly, and she urged, “Call me Jie!”