AFAILIAST CHAPTER 6

Chapter 6 — Could It Be That the Cool, Aloof Music God Is Just an Act?

“Master, where are we going?”

When Pei Ji got into the car, his mind was still foggy, and he completely forgot to ask where they were headed. By the time he remembered, they had already been driving for more than ten minutes.

The driver glanced sideways at the GPS and gave him a precise location.

It sounded oddly familiar to Pei Ji. He had been there before.
After thinking for a moment, realization struck, this was Chu Tinghan’s home.

Pei Ji recalled Chu Tinghan’s cold demeanor and gloomy side profile, and his palms instantly began to sweat.

Was it still too late to jump out of the car?

He had just offended Chu Tinghan not long ago. Going straight to his house now was practically walking into the lion’s den.

But the driver followed only Chu Tinghan’s orders, not his, so there was no chance of escape.

Half an hour later, Pei Ji stood in front of Chu Tinghan’s house with a look of pure despair.

He had only just left a few days ago, and now here he was again.

His expression grew heavier with every step he took toward the door, like a prisoner being led to the execution block.

Before he even reached the entrance, the door swung open on its own.

Aunt Zhang stood there as if she had been expecting him, smiling warmly. “Ah, Xiao Pei, you’re back.”

Pei Ji forced out a stiff, awkward smile and nodded politely.

Aunt Zhang glanced at Chu Tinghan’s figure inside, his back dark and still, and then at Pei Ji’s strained smile. She seemed to understand something, and lowered her voice to whisper, “Little Pei, quarrels between couples are normal. You fight at the head of the bed and make up at the foot of it.”

Pei Ji froze mid-step, his smile twisting even more painfully.

The last thing he wanted right now was anything to do with beds, head or foot.

“Auntie… we’re not married,” he corrected weakly.

Aunt Zhang blinked in surprise. “Oh? Then… are you two having a little tiff?”

Pei Ji thought about it. That was… technically correct.

So he nodded without explaining further.

Aunt Zhang knew better than to pry into her employer’s personal matters. “Well, Mr. Chu looks harsh, but his bark’s worse than his bite. Don’t take his words too seriously.”

Harsh on the outside, soft on the inside?

Pei Ji mulled over that, but somehow, it didn’t quite fit.

When he was discharged from the hospital, that bouquet Chu Tinghan had sent, accompanied by a polite “wish you well, let’s part peacefully”, made him think Chu Tinghan was a generous, gentle benefactor.

But now, the man in front of him was unpredictable, temperamental, and nowhere near gentle or generous.

Pei Ji sighed inwardly. Maybe all rich sponsors were this temperamental, getting offended easily and quick to kick people out.

At least, he thought, since it was raining today, Chu Tinghan hadn’t thrown him out onto the street. That was something.

Right now, Chu Tinghan stood with his back toward him, silent, as though waiting for him to admit fault.

Pei Ji wasn’t the type to play prideful games. It didn’t matter to him who apologized first, he just wanted things to go smoothly.

He took a step forward, ready to say something nice to coax the moody man, when Chu Tinghan suddenly spoke first.

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that earlier.”

His low voice carried a hint of melancholy.

Pei Ji blinked in surprise. He hadn’t expected Mr. Chu to bow his head first. After a pause, he replied softly, “It’s fine. I don’t mind.”

Hearing that, Chu Tinghan finally turned to face him. His head was slightly lowered, his dark hair casting shadows over his eyes, hiding his expression.

“Do you really not want to marry me?” he asked quietly.

“I didn’t say that.”

“Then what did you mean by ‘divorce’ in the car?”

Pei Ji couldn’t tell if it was just his imagination, but at this moment, Chu Tinghan looked… fragile. Every word seemed to take effort, as if it drained him to speak.

Seeing him this way, Pei Ji’s tone softened unconsciously.

“That was just a hypothetical. I didn’t mean it literally.”

“I don’t like hypotheticals,” Chu Tinghan replied flatly.

Pei Ji chuckled lightly. Somehow, this version of Chu Tinghan didn’t look like a powerful sponsor at all, more like a sulky child.

Hearing his laugh, Chu Tinghan lifted his gaze, clearly puzzled. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.”

Pei Ji raised a brow and bent slightly to meet his eyes, speaking gently, “If you don’t like that kind of talk, I won’t say it again. Alright?”

Chu Tinghan’s expression finally eased. “So… are we still getting married?”

Pei Ji straightened up. He wanted to say “whatever you want,” but that sounded too indifferent, so he changed his words instead and smiled faintly. “I’ll go along with you.”

In the next second, a strong hand gripped his arm tightly. Before Pei Ji could react, Chu Tinghan started dragging him out.

“W–wait, where are we going?” Pei Ji asked in panic.

Chu Tinghan shoved him into the car, shut the door, and said with uncharacteristic cheerfulness, “To get the marriage certificate.”

Pei Ji stared at his faint smile and felt a chill run down his spine.

What the hell? How did his mood change that fast?

Just minutes ago he’d looked so dejected, and now he was suddenly happy?

While Chu Tinghan was focused on driving, Pei Ji discreetly pulled out his phone and searched his name online, specifically looking for things about his personality.

The search results were the same as what Kong Chuan had told him before, such as cold, distant, and emotionless. He was known for never smiling, and people often accused him of acting arrogant.

Still, none of those rumors had really hurt him. Everyone seemed used to his frosty demeanor. After all, at his level, few dared to cross him.

Pei Ji scrolled through a few pages, then locked his phone and slipped it back into his pocket.

So, to summarize, the world knew Chu Tinghan as the “cool and aloof music god.”

But the man beside him now, with his twitching lips and moody temper, didn’t fit that image at all.

Could it be that the “cold, distant music god” persona was just a front for the industry?

And in reality… he was a moody, hard-to-please CEO with a bit of a lovesick streak?

The more he thought about it, the more he admired his past self, for somehow making this man fall so hard for him. And at the same time, he pitied his present self, who now had to deal with the consequences.

Instinct told him that his barely-eighteen mental age stood no chance against a shrewd old fox like Chu Tinghan, who had been navigating the real world for years.

If only he could ask his past self for tips. How on earth did he make Chu Tinghan love him that much?

A temperamental, emotionally volatile sponsor, Pei Ji really couldn’t tell whether to laugh or cry.

“Put this on.”

Pei Ji blinked as something heavy was placed in his hands. It was a bucket hat and a pair of sunglasses.

“And this too.” Chu Tinghan tossed over a mask.

Pei Ji looked confused.

For once, Chu Tinghan actually explained. “I don’t want to be photographed.”

Pei Ji nodded and obediently covered up his entire face.

As he adjusted his mask, he casually asked, “Why don’t you want to be seen?”

The moment the question left his mouth, he realized it might sound inappropriate, but it was too late to take it back.

He sighed inwardly and prepared for a scolding.

But instead of getting angry, Chu Tinghan turned to him thoughtfully. “Do you want to be photographed?”

Pei Ji thought for a while, then answered honestly, “Not really.”

Chu Tinghan’s gaze turned cold for a moment but soon returned to normal.

“I just don’t want to deal with the endless reporters,” he said, eyes fixed ahead.

Lately, the entertainment world had been quiet, with no big news, and the media were desperate for gossip. Someone like Chu Tinghan, famous and always trending, was a prime target. If anyone snapped photos of them getting their marriage certificate, he’d be stuck on the hot search for weeks.

The thought of being watched and questioned nonstop made him uncomfortable.

He already avoided public events as much as possible, facing a crowd of reporters firing questions at him would be unbearable.

Pei Ji completely agreed. He didn’t want his life turned upside down either.

He used his phone as a mirror, adjusting the mask until not an inch of his face was visible, then nodded in satisfaction.

Soon after, they arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Since it was a weekday, the place wasn’t busy. Under the staff’s guidance, they finished the paperwork in no time.

When Pei Ji held the little red marriage booklet in his hands, he felt dazed, unsure whether this was real life or some strange dream.

Just a few days ago, he had been walking out of the college entrance exam hall. Now, he was walking out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, married to his future sponsor.

It was surreal, like stepping straight into a horror movie.

Around them, newlyweds beamed with joy, clutching their marriage certificates like treasures.

Pei Ji, on the other hand, barely dared to touch his. He pinched the corner as though it might burn him.
The symbol of love and happiness in everyone else’s hands felt more like a hot potato in his.

He was the one who said he’d take responsibility and live well with Chu Tinghan. Yet he was also the one trembling with nerves now that it was real.

After taking a moment to breathe, he diagnosed himself with “post-marriage anxiety.”

Too late to back out now, regret would just make him look dramatic.

Pei Ji snuck a glance at Chu Tinghan, expecting him to look uneasy too.

But instead, Chu Tinghan appeared completely calm, even carefully tucking away the certificate with a faint smile.

The “victim” in this relationship looked happier than the “culprit.”

That thought oddly made Pei Ji feel better.

Still, there were things he needed to make clear.

“Chu Tinghan—” Pei Ji began softly.

At the sound of his name, Chu Tinghan lifted his gaze. His eyes shimmered faintly, as if holding a trace of laughter. The sight made Pei Ji’s mind go blank for a few seconds.

“What is it?” Chu Tinghan asked, his tone surprisingly gentle, probably in a good mood after registering their marriage.

Pei Ji composed himself and continued, “I know I’ve done a lot of stupid things before, maybe even hurt you. But I’ve changed.”

Chu Tinghan stared at him intently.

For some reason, Pei Ji thought he saw a flicker of hope in those usually cold eyes.

He wanted to say “I’ll make you happy,” but the words wouldn’t come.

Happiness felt too big a promise, he wasn’t sure he could live up to Chu Tinghan’s standards.

So he rephrased, his voice low but steady. “From now on, I’ll take responsibility. I’ll treat you well.”

He pressed his lips together, eyes lowering briefly to the floor before lifting again, cautiously meeting Chu Tinghan’s gaze. “Will you trust me?”

For a moment, the icy mask on Chu Tinghan’s face seemed to melt.

When he didn’t respond right away, Pei Ji’s nerves kicked in. He took a small step closer. “Well? Will you?”

Chu Tinghan’s lashes trembled. He looked down, hiding the faint curve of his lips, and after a long silence, finally said, “We’ll see.”

Neither yes nor no.

The vague answer left Pei Ji uneasy, but he didn’t dare push further.

By the time he gathered his thoughts, Chu Tinghan was already walking ahead.

Pei Ji stared at his retreating back, deflated. Maybe the reason he didn’t answer clearly… was because he still didn’t trust him.

But that was fair. After all, he had been the world-class jerk who once broke his heart.

If he were Chu Tinghan, he wouldn’t believe himself either.

He quickly caught up, walking just a step behind.

As they exited the building, Chu Tinghan suddenly said, “Move back in.”

“What?”

Chu Tinghan stopped and waited for him to catch up. Once their eyes met, he said seriously, “We’re married now. Shouldn’t we live together?”

Before Pei Ji could respond, Chu Tinghan narrowed his eyes slightly. “Or do you only plan to be my ‘paper’ husband?”

That didn’t sound like a question, it sounded like his answer to Pei Ji’s earlier plea for trust.

Pei Ji blurted out without thinking, “Of course not!”

His brows furrowed slightly, unable to hide the panic in his voice.

“Oh?” Chu Tinghan lowered his head and chuckled softly. “So that means you’ll move back in?”

Pei Ji blinked in confusion.

That… technically was what it meant. But something about it still felt off.

That nagging feeling of being tricked crept right back into his mind.

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