The Paranoid Film Queen Hooked Me, and I Fell in Love. (GL) - Chapter 23.1

“Do you still like that person?”

Xu Zhiyan stood behind the cubicle door, silently waiting for the answer alongside the person who had asked the question.

The air, thick with silence, seemed to stir with a faint, inexplicable anxiety. Xu Zhiyan looked up at the ceiling, and for a brief moment, it felt as though she had returned to half a month ago. Back then, like everyone else, she had waited for the answer with uncontrollable curiosity.

The difference was, at that time, her heart held only pure curiosity. Now, there was an added layer of unexplainable nervousness.

—”Do you still like him now?”

—”I do.”

And now? Would Teacher Shen’s answer remain the same?

Xu Zhiyan never got to hear the answer.

When she pushed open the cubicle door and stepped out, the restroom was already empty. Zeng Yue and Shen Buhui had both left, and regarding that question, no one had given a response.

She turned on the faucet, the sound of running water filling the space. Cupping the cold, clear water in her hands, she splashed it onto her face, instantly feeling much more alert.

Looking at her damp reflection in the mirror, Xu Zhiyan gave a silent, self-deprecating smile.

Who Teacher Shen liked didn’t affect her relationship with him—did it?

By the time Xu Zhiyan returned, her expression was calm, as if nothing had happened.

Facing the makeup artist’s reproachful stare, Xu Zhiyan looked a bit guilty and said, “Sis, I’m sorry. I just felt really hot, so I washed my face without thinking.”

The makeup artist dabbed at her face with a puff while nagging, “Don’t do that again next time.”

Xu Zhiyan nodded obediently. “Okay, okay, I’ll definitely remember!”

Shen Buhui overheard their exchange and turned to ask her, “Did you just go to the restroom?”

“Yeah.” Xu Zhiyan replied naturally, “It was completely empty. Honestly, I felt a bit scared being in there alone.”

Shen Buhui felt reassured. Looking at Xu Zhiyan’s mock-frightened expression, he lightly tapped her forehead. “Serves you right for watching ghost stories late at night!”

Shen Buhui had only recently discovered that Xu Zhiyan had a habit of watching ghost stories in the middle of the night. According to her, it was both stress-relieving and thrilling, though the downside was that she did get a little spooked afterward.

Xu Zhiyan pouted slightly in protest. “But that’s the best time to watch them—it’s all about the atmosphere!”

Whenever she acted coy, Shen Buhui couldn’t do anything about it. He chose to pretend he hadn’t heard and let the matter go.

When it was time for filming, Xu Zhiyan, as always, brought a small stool and sat off to the side to watch Shen Buhui act. She curled up her legs, rested her chin in her hands, and stared at him intently like an eager student.

“What kind of person do you think Shen Buhui is?”

A soft voice suddenly broke the silence beside her.

Xu Zhiyan turned around, surprised. Had Zeng Yue become a talk show host tonight, going around interviewing people?

Noting the guarded look in Xu Zhiyan’s eyes, Zeng Yue wasn’t offended. She smiled and explained, “Don’t be nervous. I’m just curious, that’s all.”

Xu Zhiyan searched her memory for a familiar line of dialogue. At the time, it didn’t seem significant, but in light of tonight’s events, it took on a different meaning.

“I remember you asked me this question before, and back then, you said that Teacher Shen just had that kind of personality—distant and not fond of socializing.” Xu Zhiyan narrowed her eyes and countered, “Why are you asking again now? Don’t you already have your own answer?”

On set, Shen Buhui was performing a scene where he was injured—his acting so realistic it was as if he were truly wounded.

Zeng Yue glanced over at him and didn’t refute her. Instead, she said, “I do have an answer, but I’d still like to hear yours.”

Her gaze lingered on Xu Zhiyan with a complex expression. She couldn’t understand why Shen Buhui treated Xu Zhiyan with such special regard.

The pool of curiosity in Xu Zhiyan’s mind was bubbling over. She couldn’t fathom why Zeng Yue was so invested in Shen Buhui’s romantic affairs. On set, the two rarely interacted, and there had never been any rumors of conflict between them.

After a moment’s thought, Xu Zhiyan concluded there was no harm in answering. “Teacher Shen really isn’t the sociable type.”

She had come to understand this over the past two weeks. Aside from herself, Shen Buhui rarely interacted with other actors. Come to think of it, outside of filming, his personal time—aside from when he was alone—was spent mostly with her.

“But Teacher Shen is a good person, a very gentle one.”

Her words were vague, but in Xu Zhiyan’s eyes, that was his most defining trait. As for the finer details, there was no need to share them with Zeng Yue.

Zeng Yue’s eyes flickered with subtle emotion. She could accept that Shen Buhui was a good person, but gentle? Who had ever experienced his gentleness? Not the superficial politeness required by social etiquette, but genuine warmth, heartfelt and sincere?

From what she had observed, only the girl in front of her.

Even Shen Buhui’s longtime acquaintances, Zhao Yue and Xiao Fang, didn’t receive the same treatment.

Seeing the doubt in Zeng Yue’s eyes, Xu Zhiyan felt speechless. Why was she being interrogated about her own thoughts?

“Do you like Teacher Shen?” she asked directly. What other reason could Zeng Yue have for all these questions?

“Yes.” Zeng Yue admitted without hesitation.

Now it was Xu Zhiyan’s turn to be stunned. Just like that? She admitted it outright?

Zeng Yue laughed, “You’re not going to tell anyone, are you? Though even if you did, it wouldn’t matter.”

Xu Zhiyan: “……”

She truly wouldn’t say a word. Who someone liked was none of her business—so long as it didn’t trouble Teacher Shen.

She declared firmly, “Teacher Shen doesn’t like you.”

Xu Zhiyan didn’t even need to analyze it. It was a fact laid bare before their eyes.

Zeng Yue wasn’t the least bit disheartened by her words. She nodded and admitted calmly, “I know. I also know she already has someone she likes.”

Xu Zhiyan felt as if a needle had pricked her heart. She quickly masked her expression and replied flatly, “I know that too. There’s no need for you to remind me.”

Zeng Yue gave a light laugh. Though the girl’s expression had turned subtle, Zeng Yue could still see through it clearly.

“You like her too, don’t you?” she asked, almost with certainty.

“You—you’re talking nonsense!” Xu Zhiyan shot to her feet, reacting strongly.

Her sudden raised voice drew the attention of those nearby. Feeling guilty, Xu Zhiyan glanced anxiously in Shen Buhui’s direction. Seeing that he hadn’t noticed, she let out a breath of relief and quickly sat back down.

Zeng Yue watched her with that same knowing expression, as if to say, See? I was right.

“I think I know who I like better than anyone else, Zeng Yue-jie. You don’t need to draw conclusions on my behalf.” Xu Zhiyan’s tone this time was devoid of the respectful politeness she’d previously used.

Zeng Yue’s gaze remained calm as she looked at Xu Zhiyan—almost as if she were looking at her younger self. She gave a soft smile and spoke in the tone of someone who had been through it all:

“A newcomer, fresh into the industry, clueless and naïve, who happens to be fortunate enough to meet a senior in a high position, shining like a star. That senior is gentle and patient, guiding and helping her at every turn…”

Xu Zhiyan stared at her intently, curious about what else she would say.

“…That same senior, cold and distant with others, exudes an untouchable aura—but when facing this newcomer, she alone sees her smile, receives her gentleness. It would be hard not to fall for her, wouldn’t it?”

Though Zeng Yue spoke in examples of a “newcomer” and a “senior,” her eyes were fixed unrelentingly on Xu Zhiyan. Every word, every sentence, carried an unmistakable implication.

Xu Zhiyan remained expressionless.

Zeng Yue was not discouraged. “I’m saying this just to advise you—don’t fall for someone whose heart already belongs to another.”

Xu Zhiyan narrowed her eyes. “How considerate of you.”

Up until today, Xu Zhiyan’s impression of Zeng Yue had simply been that of a skilled actress and senior. But now, Zeng Yue had become someone she couldn’t quite read—someone oddly enigmatic.

And someone who liked Shen Buhui.

“I’m just giving you some advice from someone with experience. Whether you take it or not is entirely up to you.”

Having said that, Zeng Yue left gracefully, leaving Xu Zhiyan behind in a daze, her heart stirred and unsettled.