RBNR Ch24: End of Secret Love

Mr. Qin passed by the trash can outside the garage and found Feng Chengyu’s coat there.

He picked up the coat, tossed it into the laundry room, and asked someone to see if it could be cleaned. If not, they were to buy a new one in the same style and send it back to him.

When Mama Tao saw Mr. Qin, she told him what Qin Bao had asked earlier.

Mr. Qin went upstairs and knocked on the door.

Qin Bao didn’t open the door for a long time.

In such a situation, Mr. Qin couldn’t just push the door open. He stood at the door and asked, “What’s the matter this time? Why are you throwing a tantrum again?”

There was no response from inside, making Mr. Qin worried. After hesitating for a moment, he pushed the door open. The room was empty.

Qin Bao was not there. A small dent was on the wall, and something was glinting on the floor. Mr. Qin picked it up and found it was an expensive diamond brooch.

He called Qin Bao, but there was no answer, so he dialed another number.

“Bao’er is missing, and he’s not answering his phone,” he said, clearing his throat awkwardly without addressing the person by name. “Have you heard from him?”

On the other end was Ms. Rong: “No, isn’t he with Chengyu?”

Mr. Qin replied calmly, “He came back this morning, but now he’s missing. I wonder if they had a fight, and he threw away Chengyu’s coat.”

Ms. Rong said, “Let me call him. If he doesn’t answer, I’ll ask Chengyu.”

Mr. Qin was surprised, “You have Chengyu’s contact?”

“Yes, we met by chance last time, and he visited our house. We exchanged contacts then, and he reminds us to dress warmly when the seasons change,” Ms. Rong explained. “He’s very considerate, always handling social affairs well. Ever since we met at his grandfather’s birthday celebration two years ago, we’ve been receiving ginseng and tea from their family.”

“Okay, please ask and call me back,” Mr. Qin added after a pause, “Thank you, A-Qiao.”

Ms. Rong responded gracefully, “You’re welcome. Bao’er is like my own child.”

When Ms. Rong called, Feng Chengyu was still on the highway returning to the capital. He hadn’t slept much in the past two or three days and looked visibly exhausted.

He was resting in the back seat with his eyes closed when his secretary, Lin Zi, hesitated for a long time before gently waking him up, “Mr. Feng, there’s a call for you from Ms. Rong.”

Feng Chengyu opened his dark eyes. The phone was vibrating. He answered it, his tone relaxed, “Aunt Rong.”

Ms. Rong explained the situation, not mentioning the coat but subtly asking if they were together.

Feng Chengyu frowned as he understood the situation, “I’ll find him and call you back.”

It had been a busy day. Leaving him behind, the image of Qin Bao wrapped in his coat and curled up on the carpet pitifully kept flashing in Feng Chengyu’s mind, causing him to lose focus several times.

If possible, he wouldn’t want things to have happened so hastily, especially at such a time, without even having time to stay and care for him.

But when Qin Bao’s pheromone scent reached him, he realized he had overestimated his self-control…

The car was heading to the Qin household. Feng Chengyu had bought some delicious pastries and carefully selected flowers from a flower shop. Both items were placed neatly in the trunk.

But the person he wanted to coax wasn’t home. Where could he have gone late at night?

Feng Chengyu scrolled through his contacts and found Qin Bao’s name.

The contact was newly added, but he had always remembered the number. Now, he finally had a reason to call.

The phone rang for a dozen times before automatically hanging up. Feng Chengyu called again, and after three times with no answer, he thought, is he angry?

Feng Chengyu tapped his phone thoughtfully.

Given their age difference, he knew he sometimes didn’t understand Qin Bao’s thoughts or preferences.

Fashion shows, car racing, rigorous training, diligent studying, and fighting.

Filial, fierce, with tattoos and smoking habits, it seemed all contradictory points could be found in Qin Bao. Wild and obedient.

Lin Zi, who had heard the phone conversation, hesitated and said, “Mr. Feng, the response came this afternoon. I haven’t had a chance to report. Qin Bao’s face injury is related to an Alpha named Zou Jiudong at school. Apparently, Zou has been pursuing Qin Bao, and many people know about it. Qin Bao didn’t pay much attention to him, and they seemed to have a physical altercation in the dance studio a few days ago, which alerted the campus police.”

“Zou Jiudong?” Feng Chengyu repeated the name, “Is he a student?”

“Yes, in the performance department. His family has a strong background. His father is the chairman of Sufeng Entertainment, and his mother has connections in the Alliance,” Lin Zi said, hesitating, “When they were separated, Zou Jiudong wasn’t wearing a shirt… But Qin Bao didn’t suffer. Could his sudden departure be because of Zou harassing him again?”

Feng Chengyu pondered, “No.”

Knowing Qin Bao’s personality, the fight should have ended it. Qin Bao was smart and held grudges, not giving others a second chance to harass him, nor staying at home peacefully to be called out again.

But…

“Can you check on this Zou Jiudong?”

Feng Chengyu asked.

*

Qin Bao left home and went straight to the airport.

He wasn’t reckless enough to disappear abroad but had work there in a few days. He didn’t want to see anyone in his family in his current agitated state and decided to calm down there first.

The feeling of humiliation accompanied him to the airport, along with a sense of shame.

Everyone knew about his relationship with Feng Chengyu, including Feng Chu. This meant when he started inquiring about Feng Chengyu, when he gave gifts, when he decided to talk to him, and when they disappeared together at a banquet… everyone was watching with a mocking stance.

They gossiped: Look, Qin Bao is so obedient, so easy to control. He’s already been taken by the Alpha in the arranged marriage.

The phone kept ringing, but Qin Bao didn’t answer any of the calls.

Now an adult, booking hotels and flights was easy, and changing phone numbers even easier. As soon as the plane landed, he switched to a new number and avoided unnecessary contacts, familiar with the work and brand.

“What’s that smell?” An Qingyan picked him up and exaggeratedly fanned the air, “New perfume?”

Qin Bao sat in the back of the nanny van with a sour face.

An Qingyan said, “Oh, it doesn’t seem like perfume; it’s a pheromone scent. I almost blamed you wrongly. I was going to fine you for using a competitor’s perfume.”

Qin Bao irritably pulled his hat down to his nose, covering half his face.

An Qingyan wanted to laugh but knew the kid was proud, barely holding it in, “This scent is quite nice. I always found your pheromone a bit cloying, but mixed with this daffodil, it’s just right. Be honest, are you in a relationship?”

Qin Bao stayed silent, his head seemingly shrouded in a black cloud.

An Qingyan said, “If not in a relationship, then was it a one-night stand?”

One-night stand?

It sounded less embarrassing than being slept with by the Alpha from the arranged marriage, so Qin Bao hummed in agreement.

The scent of pheromones all over him couldn’t be masked even with gland patches, unless everyone took inhibitors; otherwise, it would be hard to deny.

“You act so tough, the person you had a one-night stand with mustn’t be an ordinary person,” An Qingyan hit the nail on the head, “Let me guess, could it be that Feng Chengyu?”

Qin Bao’s skills were no match for An Qingyan.

Hearing this, he forgot his silent retreat, quickly pulled off his hat, and glared at An Qingyan, “How do you know?”

An Qingyan said, “Your families have been friends for generations, and he must have come to your birthday yesterday. Besides, you like him so much, buying the same watch he has and constantly keeping up with his news. I just guessed, and you confessed.”

Qin Bao finally breathed a sigh of relief, “…So what if it’s him?”

He felt paranoid, thinking the whole world knew about them and everyone was waiting to laugh at them.

It seemed An Qingyan didn’t know.

Qin Bao could still maintain some dignity here.

Qin Bao didn’t want to talk about this, but An Qingyan, though slightly older, spoke even more bluntly, always following his whims, yet his exceptional skills earned him admiration, making many in the circle call him a genius.

An Qingyan said, “Look at your sour face… One night, and even a virgin like you can’t handle it. Is his technique lacking?”

Qin Bao grunted.

Poor technique was a blame Feng deserved.

An Qingyan continued, “Does he bite?”

Qin Bao was stumped. Without a comparison, he didn’t know if the biting was good or not, so he replied, “It hurt like hell.”

What good is it if biting felt great?

“Damn,” An Qingyan exclaimed, “There’s a saying, ‘the repressed become the wildest’… I thought he’d be a strong Alpha after holding back for so long. Turns out, you can’t judge a book by its cover. Bao, listen to me, his technique is that bad and he doesn’t bite well. Even if you like him, don’t meet this Alpha again.”

Qin Bao turned to look out the window, coldly saying, “Don’t like him, no next time.”

An Qingyan, handsome and wealthy, was a life winner, semi-retired at a young age, enjoying life thoroughly. With him leading Qin Bao around and a shopping spree at luxury stores, in less than two days, Qin Bao had forgotten all his worries.

After work ended one afternoon, they were swimming at the villa. An Qingyan had invited some friends, all colleagues and each more attractive than the last, making for great conversation.

Qin Bao had a few glasses of champagne. After swimming a lap, he returned to his ringing phone, wiped his hair, and answered without paying attention, still smiling, “Hello?”

It was a familiar voice from an unknown number.

“It’s me,” said the voice, “Feng Chengyu.”

Qin Bao’s face immediately darkened, causing others to glance at each other. Not wanting to dampen everyone’s spirits, he got up and walked aside, his tone turning icy, “How did you get my number?”

The background noise on Feng Chengyu’s end was loud, likely busy somewhere again, but Qin Bao didn’t care.

Feng Chengyu’s voice was as gentle as that morning, “Are you free tomorrow evening?”

Qin Bao paused, feeling a surge of anger.

Feng Chengyu used to not even save his number, but now he knew his new phone number and, like he had a sixth sense, he just asked about his availability the night before Qin Bao was set to fly back.

He answered, “No.”

Feng Chengyu wasn’t deterred, “What are you busy with? Can you spare some time for dinner? I’d like to talk.”

“I said I’m not free, and we’re not that close. What’s there to talk about?” Qin Bao tried to sound calm, not wanting to reveal his past feelings, “I just accepted a movie role and will be joining the crew soon. I’ll be very busy for the next few months, so don’t contact me.”

Qin Bao had only heard from one of An Qingyan’s friends about a movie audition, with nothing confirmed, but he didn’t want to give Feng Chengyu any opportunity.

Feng Chengyu silently listened, then said, “I can take you there and wait until you’re done filming.”

Qin Bao got annoyed, “Feng Chengyu, don’t you understand rejection? Do I need to spell it out? Let me tell you, forget about what happened last time. We’re adults; spending a night together because of pheromones is normal. It was fun, and that’s it. Why are you pestering me?”

“Spending a night together is normal?” Feng Chengyu repeated, “It was fun, and that’s it?”

“Yes, a one-night stand, just pheromone-driven lust,” Qin Bao’s words flowed without thought, “If you can’t even understand this, don’t bother looking for someone. When I say I’m not free, it means I don’t want to meet you again, I’m not interested in you. There’s no need to contact me in the future.”

Without waiting for a response, Qin Bao quickly hung up.

Someone at the pool called his name. He turned, trying to respond, but found his throat tight, quickly turning back to look out the window as tears fell.

Outside the basement pool’s window was a row of trees, the wind lightly brushing the treetops.

His unspoken, three-year-long crush officially ended like this.