CH 10

Can you give me a kiss that isn’t faked?

Tu Yan was suddenly at a loss.

Was Gu Chenbai jealous? Why would he be jealous?

Oh, I understand…

Tu Yan resentfully withdrew his hand and pushed up his sunglasses. His memory was brought back to the night when the divorce agreement was signed. Gu Chenbai had said: I like you, or it was love at first sight. 

At the time, his tone was very serious, but Tu Yan didn’t believe him. However, it was impossible for him not to believe it now. Gu Chenbai’s love was so much that it was about to overflow; Tu Yan couldn’t even hide from it.  

He was probably jealous right now, so much so that he was very upset. Tu Yan’s reasoning came to this conclusion. 

The movie reached its final climax. The general plot was that his character was supposed to leave that city, but he stayed for Qi He. The train passed, but he didn’t go. They quietly looked at each other from across the train track, then cried and smiled. 

The sound of sobs came one after another in the theater. Gu Chenbai turned his head and looked at Tu Yan, lowering his voice as he said, “You acted really well.”

His tone was as gentle as before. However, his eyes seemed to have less of love and affection, and more indifference. Tu Yan couldn’t see clearly through his sunglasses, but it was obvious that Gu Chenbai’s praise had no heart. 

He didn’t respond, not even giving Gu Chenbai a modest smile. He grabbed some popcorn and wanted to shove it into his mouth, but put it down when it came to his lips. He felt tightness in his chest, like a leaking rubber ball was violently bashing around in his body, unable to escape. 

As soon as the movie ended, Tu Yan wanted to leave before the ending credits rolled. But Gu Chenbai pulled him, “Yan Yan, we should be the last to leave.”

Hence, Tu Yan sat down, crossing his legs and taking out his phone to play. 

However, unexpectedly, it never rains but it pours. 

The two people in the seat next to them didn’t leave either. It looked like they were ready to listen to the whole ending song, so they chatted unhurriedly. 

The one who sat on the left said, “The plot was better than I thought. As expected, my Yan Yan has top-quality vision for choosing scripts!”

The one on the right said, “He and Qi He have a really strong sense of CP, so natural. Do you remember a scene in the middle where they were exchanging flirty glances at their classmate’s gathering? Really, my face turned red from watching.” 

The one on the left said excitedly, “Yes yes yes, me too!!!”

“Hey, did you see the news in the group that said they really are together?”

“I saw, but I didn’t really believe the one about pregnancy. Yan Yan isn’t the kind of person to get married and have kids. And hasn’t QI He been on variety shows lately? The time isn’t right?”

“That’s true, but I absolutely believe that they have an affair.”

“Me too! The two of them are super matched. Qi He is a coquettish, fierce and exceptional alpha, while Yan Yan is a flower of the high mountains1, an elegant and aloof omega. My god, it’s killing me!! Did you read the article I forwarded to you yesterday? The super-fast2 one——”

“I read, I read! One word; awesome!”

“Just waiting for them to announce it.”

“But why doesn’t Yan Yan have a single piece of news lately? Even the fansites can’t find him. It’s like he vanished, I miss him so much.”

Tu Yan, who was forced to listen to the whole gossip from beside them: “……”

With a stiff face, he put down the bucket of popcorn, resisting the urge to clarify the black rumours for himself out of impulse. It took several deep breaths for him to calm down. 

Then, he felt Gu Chenbai leaning in his direction, carrying that extremely light yet pervasive woody fragrance, tightly wrapping around Tu Yan. All four of Tu Yan’s limbs didn’t seem to listen to him anymore. He could only straighten his back as he vigilantly used the corner of his eye to see what Gu Chenbai wanted to do. 

Gu Chenbai only gently pinched the ring on Tu Yan’s left hand. His fingertips were a little cold, half on the ring while half intentionally or unintentionally rubbing Tu Yan’s knuckles. Tu Yan felt itchy and curled his fingers reflexively, which unexpectedly made it look like he wanted to hold hands. The corner of Gu Chenbai’s lips hooked up, and he held Tu Yan’s hand tightly. 

Tu Yan immediately drew his hand back and wanted to break away, but Gu Chenbai didn’t give him a chance to. His hold was very tight. 

“Yan Yan, I’m jealous.” Gu Chenbai said in Tu Yan’s ear. 

Tu Yan felt his ear burning hot by Gu Chenbai’s breath. He said in annoyance, “What’s that got to do with me? You were the one who wanted to watch this movie.”

“Don’t you have anything to explain to me?”

“No!” Tu Yan erupted like a volcano and threw off Gu Chenbai’s hand before standing up and walking away. 

When he passed the two people who were still gossiping next to them, he walked faster. How could Gu Chenbai catch up to his pace? He only walked over with his walking stick when Tu Yan was already downstairs playing on the four-wheeled doll catch machine. 

Tu Yan grabbed empty air for the fourth time. He felt angrier and even more depressed, and slapped hard on the control joystick of the doll machine. 

Gu Chenbai laughed as he watched. He couldn’t help but cover over Tu Yan’s hand and stood behind him, holding his hand as he moved the joystick. Gu Chenbai asked, “Yan Yan, which one do you want?”

Tu Yan sneered lightly, “You say it like you can catch one.” 

“I’ll just pick the little rabbit with the unhappy face inside then. It looks so cute.” Gu Chenbai wasn’t annoyed and only smiled, then he moved the joystick inward. 

He didn’t completely aim the joystick at the doll completely, but picked a particular angle. Tu Yan was currently in doubt, then he felt Gu Chenbai suddenly pressing the grab button. He was startled, and was about to say “it’s not aligned yet”, before he saw the sickly metal claw slowly lowering down, then it accurately grabbed onto the rabbit’s round butt, safely transporting the rabbit to the exit. 

“…such evil practice.” 

Tu Yan was speechless again.

He bent down to grab the toy. Gu Chenbai took it and raised it next to Tu Yan’s face, “Especially alike.” 

Tu Yan was at a loss of what to do because of Gu Chenbai. He was both angry and ashamed, even forgetting what to retort back. He then snatched the rabbit and walked away. 

Gu Chenbai’s driver drove to the intersection next to the cinema. From the minute Tu Yan got into the car, until they reached their house, he didn’t say a word to Gu Chenbai. When he got out of the car, he pressed the passcode in a hurry, but he pressed wrongly after several tries.

Gu Chenbai chuckled, but didn’t help him out and only watched him leisurely. 

“Aren’t you tired of it?” Tu Yan got angry at him. 

“I’ve heard so much gossip about you today and I haven’t even gotten mad. What are you angry about?” Gu Chenbai walked up to him, his tone sour as he teased him, then he reached forward to enter the door entrance passcode. 

“I——”

Tu Yan walked under the eaves unhappily, and opened the door to go in, but then stopped at the entryway.

Gu Chenbai walked very slowly. When he stepped in and closed the door, the inside was still pitch-black. He could faintly see Tu Yan’s figure standing by the door, and asked in confusion, “Yan Yan, why didn’t you turn on the lights?” 

“Don’t turn them on yet. I have a few things to say.” Tu Yan’s voice was very clear in the dark, not as lowered and deep as in the movie, and was even more with youthful childishness, “Because I’m someone who doesn’t like being misunderstood by others, so I feel like I have to tell you clearly. First of all, Qi He and I are friends who grew up together, we don’t have any other relations. Secondly, that kiss was fake, a bank card was in the middle. That’s it. I’ve said it all. But there’s no meaning for me explaining things to you, so don’t be self-sentimental. I simply don’t like to be misunderstood.” 

Tu Yan said it all in one breath like a machine gun. He became quiet for two seconds and was about to turn the lights on, his hand just touching the light switch, when Gu Chenbai held onto his wrist. As Gu Chenbai took a step forward, Tu Yan took one step back, but he was standing by the wall, so there was no way to move back. Before he could react, he was pressed against the wall by Gu Chenbai. 

At this moment, Gu Chenbai’s pheromones brought along an unfamiliar strong sense of smell, causing Tu Yan’s heart beat to speed up and he was unable to move. 

“Yan Yan, I’ve been to the movie theater to watch every movie you’re in. In the past, I’ve only watched in appreciation and was never jealous. But today I was very jealous, especially when I saw him kiss you.”

“Gu Chenbai, you- you stay further away from me.” Tu Yan pushed him. 

“Even if it’s fake, I’m still jealous,” Gu Chenbai rubbed Tu Yan’s wrist with his fingertips, his tone sounding aggrieved, “One more thing, why do they call you Yan Yan too?”

Tu Yan was speechless, “All my fans call me that, okay? Some even call me Tu Tu. You even have to bother about this?” 

“I don’t want to call you the same as they do, I treat you so well, can I exchange it for an exclusive nickname?”

Tu Yan’s patience had been exercised to its limit. He wanted to push Gu Chenbai away, but he couldn’t reach his hand out no matter how. He said internally: Domestic violence against the law, domestic violence against the law.

“Yes yes yes, you change it!”

“Tu Bao.” Gu Chenbai said softly. 

Tu Yan froze, and only refused after a long time, “No, it’s so childish to death…”

But Gu Chenbai had already tacitly approved. He lowered his head, using the tip of his nose to touch Tu Yan’s, “Tu Bao, can you give me a kiss that isn’t faked3?”

Tu Yan was probably stupefied, as until Gu Chenbai’s lips came forward, crossing the boundary, he didn’t even think of resisting it.

T/N: I’ve read this novel twice and now the third time as I TL it, but I still get overwhelmed with the fluff from GCB✿

Footnotes