The Paranoid Film Queen Hooked Me, and I Fell in Love. (GL) - Chapter 6

In the end, Xu Zhiyan never asked whether the pear juice was too hot.

After all, from the moment it was served, Shen Buhui had been holding onto it the entire time, finishing it to the last drop.

Seeing the cup emptied so thoroughly, Xu Zhiyan’s eyes curved into a gentle smile.

Knowing that her small gesture had been accepted and appreciated—even if it was something as simple as a cup of pear juice—filled her with inexplicable joy.

—

By the time the dinner gathering concluded, Xu Zhiyan had exchanged contact information with several of the other actors.

When Zeng Yue found out that she had only just turned eighteen, her eyes widened slightly in surprise.

“No way! I thought you were at least twenty—you look so mature!”

Xu Zhiyan didn’t take offense at the comment. She had deliberately dressed more maturely today, after all.

Brushing her fingers over her cheek, she beamed. “Really? That means all the effort I put into my makeup wasn’t wasted!”

With that bright, carefree grin, the youthful innocence that belonged to her true age peeked through.

For a moment, Zeng Yue was stunned, then her smile deepened.

She had initially worried that Xu Zhiyan might take offense, but the younger girl’s playful response quickly dispelled that concern.

“Well, in that case, I suppose I should have you call me ‘Jiejie’ now.”

Since Zeng Yue was the same age as Shen Buhui, five years older than her, it was indeed appropriate for Xu Zhiyan to call her “Jiejie.”

Without hesitation, Xu Zhiyan cheerfully agreed. “Alright, Yuejie!”

—

From the side, Shen Buhui’s gaze flickered briefly toward them.

Under the warm lighting, the elegant lines of her profile seemed even more distant and untouchable.

A moment later, she softly said to Zhao Yue, “Let’s go.”

Unlike earlier, she wasn’t wearing heels tonight, so there was no crisp sound accompanying her steps.

Yet, the moment she moved, Xu Zhiyan instinctively picked up on it.

Almost unconsciously, she shifted slightly to the side, leaving enough space for her to pass.

As a faint, unfamiliar fragrance brushed past her, her smile deepened without her realizing it.

She waved her hand. “Goodbye, Shen Laoshi!”

Just like before, Shen Buhui responded with a slight nod.

And then, her tall, graceful figure disappeared beyond the doorway.

—

As the silhouette faded from view, Zeng Yue suddenly spoke beside her.

“Shen Laoshi seems really serious and reserved, doesn’t she?”

Without thinking, Xu Zhiyan immediately replied, “Not really.”

Sure, Shen Buhui wasn’t as warm as she appeared on screen, but that didn’t mean she was truly cold.

Xu Zhiyan still didn’t understand why Shen Buhui treated her with such particular distance, but she wasn’t as detached as others might assume.

Zeng Yue’s gaze flickered slightly, but her voice remained soft as she smiled. “That’s good. Shen Laoshi isn’t someone who enjoys socializing much—it’s just how she is.”

Xu Zhiyan slowed her steps slightly and looked at Zeng Yue curiously.

“Yuejie, are you and Shen Laoshi close?”

For a fleeting second, Zeng Yue’s smile stiffened.

“…We’ve just worked together a few times.”

“I see…”

That meant she wasn’t particularly familiar with her either.

Xu Zhiyan didn’t push further.

Zeng Yue’s gentle smile remained, and the two smoothly shifted the conversation to something else—neither of them mentioning Shen Buhui again.

—

A New Beginning

The next morning, Xu Zhiyan descended the stairs with her suitcase, ready to leave.

But as she stepped into the living room, she spotted an unfamiliar girl sitting on the couch beside Lin Ya.

The girl had her hair pulled into a high ponytail, revealing a round face and bright, cheerful features. She looked about the same age as Xu Zhiyan.

Xu Zhiyan blinked in curiosity as she watched them chat.

Lin Ya noticed her and waved her over. “Zhiyan, this is your assistant for the next while.”

Xu Zhiyan turned toward the girl.

The girl quickly stood up and extended her hand with a friendly grin.

“Nice to meet you, Xu Laoshi! I’m Liang Yuanyuan, but you can just call me Yuanyuan.”

Xu Zhiyan gripped the handle of her suitcase and glanced at her new assistant. “If you don’t mind me asking, Yuanyuan, how old are you?”

Liang Yuanyuan smiled. “I’m twenty-one this year.”

Xu Zhiyan paused for a second before nodding. “Got it, Yuanyuan-jie.”

Since Yuanyuan was older than her, it only felt natural to address her that way.

Hearing that, Liang Yuanyuan laughed. “You don’t have to call me ‘jie’—just Yuanyuan is fine.”

Xu Zhiyan shook her head. “I think ‘Yuanyuan-jie’ suits you better. And please, don’t call me ‘Xu Laoshi.’ Just call me Zhiyan.”

Being called Laoshi still felt way too formal and strange.

Noting Xu Zhiyan’s sincerity, Liang Yuanyuan readily accepted the new form of address.

Lin Ya, who had been quietly observing the interaction, spoke up. “Since you two are acquainted now, it’s time to go.”

And so, Xu Zhiyan and Liang Yuanyuan set off toward the crew’s hotel.

—

Due to the historical setting of the film, the early stages of filming would take place at a large film and television studio. The hotel was conveniently located nearby, making travel to and from the set much easier.

But for now, Xu Zhiyan didn’t need to worry about that yet. Her immediate priority was to complete her firearm training and other necessary preparations.

Thinking about it, she felt a thrill of anticipation.

—

Meanwhile, in the room opposite hers—

Xiao Fang was busy unpacking and organizing when she glanced toward Shen Buhui, who was sitting nearby, quietly sipping a glass of water.

After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke. “Hui-jie, do you want to rest for a while? I can wake you up when it’s time for lunch.”

Shen Buhui shook her head. “I’m not tired.”

Xiao Fang stole a glance at her, noting the faint shadows beneath her eyes—a clear sign of exhaustion.

She didn’t believe her.

Shen Buhui had always been particular about maintaining good skin and rest habits. Yet lately, even before officially joining the set, she had started staying up late, and her delicate complexion had begun to show the effects.

Remembering Zhao Yue’s instructions to take care of Shen Buhui’s health, Xiao Fang cautiously attempted to persuade her again.

“You should rest a little. If you go downstairs for lunch, you might run into some of the other cast members. It’ll be good to be well-rested for this afternoon’s training.”

She didn’t hold out much hope—Shen Buhui wasn’t someone who easily changed her mind.

But this time—

“That’s true.”

Xiao Fang: “?”

Shen Buhui reached up and lightly pressed the skin beneath her eyes, almost absentmindedly. “Are my dark circles really that obvious?”

Xiao Fang nodded without hesitation.

Shen Buhui frowned slightly.

Without another word, she stood up and pulled out an eye mask from her bag. “I’ll wash my face first.”

One thorough skincare routine later, including careful eye care, Shen Buhui lay down and instructed, “Wake me up when it’s time for lunch.”

Xiao Fang stood there, still a little stunned by the turn of events.

She only snapped out of it when lunchtime arrived and she went to wake up the peacefully sleeping Shen Buhui.

Once Shen Buhui had changed into fresh clothes and applied a bit of lipstick, she took one last glance in the mirror.

Her complexion had noticeably improved.

Satisfied, she adjusted her baseball cap and headed downstairs with Xiao Fang.

—

Just as they stepped into the hallway, Shen Buhui’s gaze momentarily lingered on the closed beige door of the room opposite hers.

After a second of hesitation, she turned to Xiao Fang.

“Do you know who’s staying in that room?”

Xiao Fang thought back to earlier. She vaguely recalled seeing the person when they checked in.

After a pause, she answered, “I think it’s the other lead actress?”

She wasn’t entirely sure.

Shen Buhui hummed lightly in acknowledgment.

Her expression seemed to relax slightly.

—

That afternoon, Shen Buhui rarely made the effort to have lunch in the hotel’s main dining area.

Along the way, she encountered some acquaintances and fellow industry members.

Though she didn’t particularly enjoy socializing, she still responded politely whenever people greeted her.

Once inside the restaurant, she hesitated for a brief moment before striding toward a window-side table.

Xiao Fang, who had been about to choose a quieter seat near a plant divider, immediately changed course to follow her.

Seated, she asked, “Jie, what would you like to eat? I can get it for you.”

Shen Buhui shook her head. “I’ll go with you.”

Xiao Fang: “Huh?”

Shen Buhui didn’t offer any explanation.

Instead, she grabbed her phone and made a casual gesture indicating she was ready to go.

—

At the buffet, Shen Buhui moved at an unhurried pace, carefully selecting food with a pair of tongs.

At the same time, her gaze subtly swept across the dining area.

She was looking for someone.

But after scanning the room once, she didn’t see the person she was expecting.

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

—

A few minutes passed.

Still, the person didn’t appear.

Shen Buhui set down the serving tongs and, as if in passing, asked Xiao Fang a question.

“Have you seen the person staying in the room opposite ours?”

Xiao Fang, focused on placing a slice of meat onto her plate, glanced around the room.

“Nope, don’t see them here.”

Then, as if it were a natural assumption, she added—

“But maybe they weren’t planning to eat here?”

Shen Buhui’s lashes lowered slightly.

“…Oh?”

Xiao Fang hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I think I just saw them leaving with their bags.”

“…”

Shen Buhui’s grip on her tray tightened slightly, her knuckles turning faintly white.

Xiao Fang immediately looked at her in concern.

But just as quickly as the emotion surfaced, Shen Buhui’s expression returned to its usual calm.

—

As they made their way back to their seats, they crossed paths with Zeng Yue and Qi Helin.

Qi Helin, a former idol turned successful actor, naturally had an appealing appearance. His boyish smile was bright and friendly, carrying an air of practiced politeness.

“Good evening, Shen Laoshi.”

Zeng Yue chimed in as well. “Here for dinner, too?”

Xiao Fang glanced at the tray in Shen Buhui’s hands and then back at Zeng Yue’s polite, smiling face.

She struggled to keep a straight face.

Shen Buhui’s response was deadpan. “Yes.”

After that, she had no interest in continuing the conversation.

She hadn’t seen the person she had been hoping to run into, yet people she wasn’t particularly interested in kept appearing instead.

Frankly, she was feeling a little impatient.

Sensing the mood, Qi Helin quickly caught on and said, “We won’t hold you up, then.”

Zeng Yue looked like she wanted to say more, but seeing that Qi Helin had already moved on, she had no choice but to drop it.

—

The meal itself was utterly unmemorable.

By the time she returned to her room, Shen Buhui felt as if she had eaten nothing at all.

She reached for the door handle—

Then froze.

From the hallway behind her, footsteps approached.

Shen Buhui abruptly turned around.

—

The bright corridor stretched behind her.

And standing just within the boundary of light and shadow was Xu Zhiyan.

She had turned back to look at her, the warm glow catching on the edges of her delicate features. The contrast between light and dark only made her face appear more stunningly vivid.

“Shen Laoshi…” Xu Zhiyan murmured, momentarily caught off guard.

“Did you go out shopping?” Shen Buhui’s lips curved into a faint smile.

She hesitated for a beat, then added, “Zhiyan.”

Xu Zhiyan’s eyes widened in surprise—big, round, and incredibly expressive.

For a moment, she looked… adorably startled.

“Y-Yes, I did!”

In her hand, she was still holding a bag filled with fresh fruit.

Clearly, she hadn’t expected Shen Buhui to not only greet her but also call her by name—so casually and naturally.

—

Shen Buhui’s gaze softened ever so slightly.

Her tone made it seem as if she had only stopped to exchange a casual greeting, nothing more. Just a coincidence.

After speaking, she turned as if to head inside.

But before she could move, Xu Zhiyan’s voice rushed out impulsively—

“Wait, Shen Laoshi!”

Shen Buhui paused and looked back at her.

Xu Zhiyan held out the bag of fruit.

“These are for you.”

Seeing Shen Buhui’s slight confusion, she added, “They’ll help soothe your throat.”

—

A flicker of surprise flashed across Shen Buhui’s face.

Xu Zhiyan hadn’t consciously chosen throat-soothing fruits—she had just instinctively picked them.

Yet looking down now, she realized—the bag contained mostly apples, pears, and grapes—all full of moisture and naturally cooling.

Xiao Fang stood quietly beside them, subtly glancing back and forth but keeping her head down, wisely choosing not to speak.

For a moment, Shen Buhui didn’t move.

Then—her lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

She reached out and accepted the bag.

“Thank you, Zhiyan.”

Xu Zhiyan flushed slightly but quickly shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

—

At this close distance, a faint, unfamiliar scent lingered in the air.

It wasn’t perfume, but something soft, natural, and intoxicating.

Xu Zhiyan felt light-headed, as if she were completely surrounded by that subtle fragrance.

—

Suddenly, Shen Buhui’s expression shifted slightly.

For the first time that evening, she looked slightly concerned.

—

Before Xu Zhiyan could react, something cool and light brushed against her forehead.

A delicate touch.

Her mind blanked instantly.

—

Shen Buhui’s brows furrowed slightly.

“Your face feels really warm.”

—

Xu Zhiyan, dazed: “I… I’m just hot.”

—

Shen Buhui nodded in understanding, but a beat later, realized just how close they were standing.

They had completely breached normal social distance.

Slowly, she stepped back and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, letting it fall neatly into place.

“Go rest.” She spoke lightly. “You still have training in the afternoon.”

—

Xu Zhiyan frantically nodded.

The two exchanged one last glance before quickly retreating into their respective rooms.

As soon as she shut the door, Xu Zhiyan pressed a hand to her forehead.

Her face was burning.

…It really was hot tonight, okay?!