The Paranoid Film Queen Hooked Me, and I Fell in Love - Chapter 47

Before her final exam ended, Xu Zhiyan specifically messaged Shen Buhui, asking her not to wait at the apartment—she would be heading home directly with Lin Ya.

After all, one of the three proctors for that last exam happened to be Lin Ya herself.

Perhaps because Shen Buhui hadn’t seen the message, when Xu Zhiyan, who finished her exam early, checked her phone, there was still no reply.

Leaning against the wall, Xu Zhiyan fiddled with her phone in boredom as she waited for Su Er to finish and hand in her paper.

“I was going crazy,” Su Er said, walking over in a rush. “I know I reviewed those last two questions, but I just couldn’t remember them.”

Xu Zhiyan tugged on the strap of her bag and asked curiously, “Did you end up writing anything?”

Su Er patted her chest in relief. “Yeah, I remembered them right before I turned in the paper.” Though, in her rush, her handwriting probably ended up looking like chicken scratch.

She didn’t say that part aloud. But when she opened her phone and checked WeChat, she suddenly brightened. “My girlfriend’s here to pick me up!”

Xu Zhiyan gave an understanding nod. “Come on, let’s go grab our suitcases.”

They had already packed in advance. Xu Zhiyan and Su Er slung their backpacks over their shoulders and exited the classroom. Just as they were about to head back to the dorm to retrieve their luggage, Su Er suddenly stopped in her tracks.

Following her gaze, Xu Zhiyan squinted and spotted a tall, beautiful girl walking toward them—and instantly understood with a knowing smile.

“Looks like you don’t need me to walk back with you after all.” Xu Zhiyan shrugged.

Her roommate’s girlfriend had come. Of course she wouldn’t need an escort now.

Not wanting to be a third wheel, Xu Zhiyan thoughtfully gave them space to talk and continued walking ahead with her head down—until she suddenly heard a very familiar voice behind her.

“Yan Yan.”

Xu Zhiyan: “?”

She quickly turned her head toward the voice—and sure enough, under a tree a short distance away, her girlfriend was standing there.

Xu Zhiyan’s eyes lit up in surprise. “What are you doing here?”

She hurried over, throwing her arms around Shen Buhui like a fledgling bird returning to its nest, her joy unmistakable as she looked up at someone who definitely wasn’t supposed to be here.

“I messaged you not to wait at the apartment. Why’d you come all the way here?” she asked, gently rubbing Shen Buhui’s slightly chilled hands with concern.

Shen Buhui remained calm. “My phone ran out of battery on the way out and shut off automatically. I probably didn’t see your message.”

Xu Zhiyan didn’t question her explanation, but looked a little troubled. “The thing is, I’m supposed to go home with my mom soon.”

She had already arranged it with Lin Ya: after the exam, Lin Ya would drop off the test papers, and Xu Zhiyan would head back to the dorm to grab her suitcase. They planned to meet downstairs and go home together. But now that Shen Buhui had come all this way, she couldn’t just say hi and send her off.

Speak of the devil.

Lin Ya, carrying a large kraft paper envelope filled with exam sheets and wearing high heels, stepped out of the elevator. As she walked out of the academic building lobby, she immediately spotted a very familiar face—standing beside an extraordinarily elegant woman, hand in hand.

Adjusting her glasses, Lin Ya blinked. Wasn’t that the same girl she’d just seen in the exam room?

“Xu Zhiyan?” Lin Ya approached uncertainly, calling her name.

As she spoke, her eyes scanned Shen Buhui with quiet suspicion.

The woman in front of them wore a black down coat, a knit hat, a light gray scarf, and a face mask. Only her fair forehead and a pair of refined, clear eyes were visible. From her outstanding aura and those eyes alone, one could guess she was a beautiful woman. But with her face so thoroughly covered, unless someone was very familiar with Shen Buhui, it would be nearly impossible to recognize her.

That was also why Shen Buhui felt comfortable coming alone to Chuan Film Academy, a campus full of young people.

As soon as she saw Lin Ya, Xu Zhiyan instinctively let go of Shen Buhui’s hand. The moment she did it, she realized something wasn’t quite right. Under both Lin Ya and Shen Buhui’s gazes, she gave a nervous laugh and tentatively reached out to take her hand again.

“Um… yeah…” Xu Zhiyan adjusted her hat, then hesitantly mumbled, “Mom.”

Lin Ya raised an eyebrow and glanced at their interlocked hands. She asked gently, “This is your girlfriend?”

Suddenly bringing her girlfriend to meet her mother like this, Xu Zhiyan was still a little dazed. After all, in her imagination, she’d first tell her parents about being in a relationship, then introduce the person. Not… like this.

She gave Shen Buhui a quick glance, ears burning under her wool hat. “Yeah, this is my girlfriend.”

She pulled Shen Buhui a little closer, uncertain whether she should just go ahead and say her name.

Standing obediently at her side, Shen Buhui stepped in smoothly. “Hello, Auntie. I’m Xu Zhiyan’s girlfriend, Shen Buhui.”

Yes.

Yes—wait, what?!

Shen Buhui???

Lin Ya had thought the two girls looked quite well-matched. When her daughter said “girlfriend,” she wasn’t too surprised—she figured it was just two students dating casually, no big deal. But when she heard that name, she blinked in disbelief and turned a sharp, questioning gaze toward Xu Zhiyan.

So now her daughter was dating… her boss?

“I actually should’ve properly visited you and Uncle once Zhiyan and I started dating,” Shen Buhui continued warmly and politely, her tone full of sincerity. “But I’ve been so busy with work these past few months and haven’t had the chance. Since we happened to run into each other today, how about I treat you to dinner after work?”

Lin Ya: “…”

A few months?!

Catching the exact meaning in her mother’s glance, Xu Zhiyan forced an awkward smile.

“Mom, maybe you should go drop off the exam papers first?” she suggested hopefully.

Lin Ya gave her a subtle look and instantly saw through her little scheme.

“Alright,” she said with a pleasant smile. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Buhui. Let’s catch up a bit later.”

Watching Lin Ya leave, Xu Zhiyan let out a sigh of relief. “I didn’t expect my mom to have such a good impression of you.”

Despite her usually calm and gentle demeanor, Xu Zhiyan could tell when her mother genuinely liked someone—and this was one of those times.

Shen Buhui gave a small smile. “Maybe it’s because I always behaved well in Professor Lin’s class.”

Xu Zhiyan squinted thoughtfully, remembering that Lin Ya had only taught Shen Buhui one elective course.

Having successfully completed this impromptu “meet the parents,” Shen Buhui gently pinched her cheek, which was flushed from the cold wind. “Go grab your suitcase, then let’s get something to eat.”

“You’re really going to treat her to dinner?” Xu Zhiyan asked, following her.

“Of course. I said it was a belated apology.”

As she recalled Shen Buhui’s words—‘these past few months’—Xu Zhiyan suddenly paused. Didn’t that basically reveal she’d been dating someone for half a year without telling her family?

…Well, knowing her mother’s typically open-minded attitude, she probably wouldn’t make a big deal out of it.

Noticing her thoughtful silence, Shen Buhui’s eyes sparkled with quiet amusement.

In the end, Shen Buhui didn’t get the chance to pay for dinner. When Lin Ya came to pick up Xu Zhiyan, she brought Shen Buhui home with them.

As Lin Ya put it: Shen Buhui wasn’t just her daughter’s girlfriend, she was also her former student. No matter how you looked at it, this meal wasn’t something Shen Buhui should be treating her to.

And just like that, Shen Buhui—now officially Xu Zhiyan’s girlfriend—naturally ended up joining the family for dinner.

By the end of the meal, Lin Ya had more or less figured out the nature of their relationship.

And now, the more she looked at Shen Buhui, the more satisfied she felt.

Pouring her a glass of water, Lin Ya said sincerely, “Zhiyan has really been in your care these past few months.”

Whether it was in work, academics, or daily life, Shen Buhui had clearly put in a great deal of effort and care.

Shen Buhui responded with a gentle smile. “Not at all—it’s what I should do.”

Across the table, Xu Zhiyan rested her cheek on her palm, watching the two of them exchange polite remarks about her as if she weren’t even there.

When Lin Ya heard about the upcoming variety show filming during winter break, she paused briefly, then said, “I don’t have any objections. Zhiyan can decide for herself when it comes to work matters.”

Even though Xu Zhiyan was an adult now, she was still a student in the eyes of outsiders. When it came to work, it was natural for parents to offer a bit of seasoned advice.

But Xu Qingyi and Lin Ya had never been that kind of parent. They had always respected Xu Zhiyan’s choices—even more so now that she was an adult.

Only then did Shen Buhui finally feel truly at ease.

She had done her research—everyone who knew Xu Qingyi and Lin Ya described them as warm, kind, well-off, and of good character. Their parenting had always been praised. Still, hearsay was one thing—seeing for herself was another. Until now, there had always been a quiet worry in the back of her mind.

But ever since she got to know Xu Zhiyan personally, and from the little bits and pieces she’d mentioned, Shen Buhui could tell she had grown up in a happy home. That alone had made her feel relieved.

And after today’s conversation with Lin Ya, that unease finally faded completely.

Even though she hadn’t met Xu Qingyi yet, after today’s interaction, she knew she wouldn’t have to worry about Xu Zhiyan’s family anymore.

Watching Xu Zhiyan smile and affectionately joke with her mother, Shen Buhui felt a rare sense of contentment.

Her Yan Yan had loving, respectful, and emotionally generous parents—not the kind of people who claimed to love but only left wounds behind. Not like the ones she once had, bound by blood yet incapable of giving her any real affection.

The thought of her own chaotic parents made the smile on Shen Buhui’s lips fade slightly.

“What are you thinking about?” Xu Zhiyan tugged on her sleeve, a little shy as she added, “My mom said it’s too late, and… she wants you to stay the night.”

Stay over?

Shen Buhui snapped out of her thoughts and immediately declined, “Auntie, I think I should head home. It’s already rude enough to drop by unannounced—staying the night would be too much trouble. It’s dark, but I’ll be fine driving.”

Xu Zhiyan frowned slightly. There was something… odd about that response.

And sure enough, the moment Lin Ya heard her mention it was already dark, she waved away the refusal with a tone that brooked no argument. “It’s just one night—what trouble could that be? The forecast said it might rain later, and driving in the dark isn’t safe. Just stay.”

Then she turned to their housekeeper and said, “Wang-jie, after you’re done, please get the guest room next to Zhiyan’s ready.”

Seeing she was being wholeheartedly welcomed, Shen Buhui smiled gently, like a spring breeze, and replied, “Then I’ll trouble you, Auntie.”

Xu Zhiyan: “…” I knew something was fishy.

She glanced at Shen Buhui, who was sitting perfectly upright—but caught the slight curve of her lips that hadn’t quite faded yet.

Like a cat that had just gotten away with stealing something sweet—completely satisfied.

…That line about “driving in the dark is no problem” was definitely bait, wasn’t it?!

And later that night, when she discovered that Shen Buhui’s phone battery was nearly full, Xu Zhiyan was even more convinced—it was all on purpose!

She had every reason to believe that Shen Buhui showing up under her academic building today had been a premeditated ambush.

After all, she had shared her exam schedule with her ages ago. And Shen Buhui had long known Lin Ya was her mother.

“You plotted against me today, didn’t you?”

Xu Zhiyan narrowed her eyes, flopping onto the bed in mock protest.

Shen Buhui, ever quick to respond, caught the soft body in her arms and simply smiled, not bothering to deny it. “Hmm? If I tricked you, what are you going to do about it?”

She tilted her head back slightly, revealing a wide expanse of snowy skin under the collar of Xu Zhiyan’s pajamas. Her eyes flicked toward the window and the howling wind outside, then she said with a meaningful tone, “Isn’t it cold sleeping alone on a night like this?”

“I know very well how lonely it can be, sleeping in an empty bed…” she added pitifully. “And I don’t want you to feel the same.”

Xu Zhiyan, who either slept in a dorm or the apartment: “…”

“…Fine,” she muttered, giving up the argument and pulling the blanket over both of them. “I’ll keep you warm tonight.”

A moment later, she added, “Just to be clear, I’m only warming the bed. Nothing else.”

As Xu Zhiyan’s voice grew drowsy, Shen Buhui—already nearly asleep—smiled faintly.

She hadn’t planned on doing anything else anyway.

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