RBNR Ch44: The second time

The end of July weather, in a room with the air conditioning on full blast.

Qin Bao looked like he had just been fished out of water, his hair completely wet. Sweat dripped onto the new bite mark on the back of his neck, causing a slight sting, but he was too lazy to move.

Both were sweaty.

Behind him, Feng Chengyu was smoking. The bitter tobacco smell mixed with the sweet scent filling the room, extending the ambiguity indefinitely.

“I might shoot a commercial,” Qin Bao said, “The contract hasn’t been signed yet, but I’m very interested. If I do, I’ll need to leave for a few days.”

“Alright,” Feng Chengyu exhaled a puff of smoke, “Do you need someone to help you review the terms?”

Qin Bao said, “No need, I’ll find someone myself.”

A few days ago, he confided in Feng Chengyu, which already felt like crossing a line. They weren’t suited for that level of communication yet, and Qin Bao didn’t need Feng Chengyu’s help.

After speaking, Qin Bao turned over.

There were some marks on his face, sweat on his nose, and his eyes were moist: “I still have some connections. Even if I can’t handle it myself, An Qingyan can help. I’m still his perfume spokesperson.”

Feng Chengyu reached out to touch his face: “Where do you need to go and for how long?”

Qin Bao said, “Probably Danlong, about seven or eight days.”

This was the first time Qin Bao reported his location and time to Feng Chengyu.

So he buried his face a bit more into the pillow: “I can’t accompany you on Monday and next Friday. You’ll have to find another time.”

“It’s okay.” Feng Chengyu gently pinched his hot earlobe, “What kind of commercial?”

Qin Bao mentioned a brand: “I had contact with them before, but nothing was finalized.”

That brand mostly made AO sexual products, positioned as high-end luxury, known for its avant-garde and sexy designs.

So Feng Chengyu’s movements paused: “Inhibitors, or collars?”

Qin Bao replied, “Collars…”

Then frowned, “You have so many questions. The reason I’m telling you this is so you can inform Grandpa. The contract needs to be signed next Monday. I don’t want him to make a casual call to someone, causing the ad to be blocked. I can’t bear that.”

When he was first banned from working by the old man, an ad he had shot was pulled. Relevant departments repeatedly cited non-compliance issues, no matter how much they revised it, it couldn’t pass. They found all sorts of excuses.

Only Qin Bao and SISI knew the real reason. In the end, they had no choice but to let it go, and the brand distanced itself from Qin Bao.

Feng Chengyu: “Is this what you came to tell me?”

“Yes, you usually don’t have time.” Qin Bao said, suddenly alarm bells rang in his mind. He looked up, “You didn’t forget why we got married, did you?”

Feng Chengyu didn’t speak, the cigarette in his fingers flickering.

Qin Bao pushed his hand away and sat up, feeling a bit embarrassed, he wrapped himself in a thin blanket.

“Those photos the other day didn’t capture you… Don’t worry, whether I’m a model, whether my private life is scandalous, what kind of jobs I take, none of this will affect you. I’ll keep our relationship a secret, I won’t embarrass you.”

“I don’t think that way.”

Feng Chengyu had seen the chat content in the [Happy Family] group.

“Getting photographed by paparazzi is also my responsibility. Bao, Grandpa and the others shouldn’t always prioritize my career and blame you. They have different views. I’ll try to change them.”

Feng Chengyu had also expressed his stance to the elders.

Regarding Qin Bao’s statement that “it’s impossible to go public,” Feng Chengyu also stated his position, hoping the elders would give them some space to interact freely.

However, by that time, Qin Bao had already left the group chat.

Family ties wrapped in interests made people feel suffocated.

Qin Bao could control himself not to stoop to the level of the old fogies, not to be affected by negative emotions, but hearing Feng Chengyu say this, his heart suddenly relaxed.

“It’s good you know. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t…”

Casually said, both felt a sinking feeling.

This was a topic they couldn’t avoid.

Their eyes reddened a bit, Qin Bao laughed lightly, suppressing the grievance, raising his eyebrows to look at Feng Chengyu: “Forget it, you’re at most a fuse. Without you, there would be someone else. After all, my surname is Qin.”

After speaking, he got out of bed and began dressing.

Feng Chengyu: “Where are you going?”

Facing away from Feng Chengyu, Qin Bao’s beautiful shoulder blades tensed, highlighting elegant lines as he dressed: “Home. It’s not as easy to be photographed if I leave now.”

Feng Chengyu: “Now?”

Qin Bao: “Yes, I’ll call for a car once I’m downstairs.”

When he arrived, Qin Bao was fully disguised, ensuring there were no paparazzi around.

Now it was the early morning, and the hotel’s security was good. Leaving at this time was the best option.

Feng Chengyu didn’t say anything. As Qin Bao was about to put on his pants, he suddenly paused and turned back to confirm with him: “Feng Chengyu, you haven’t answered me about talking to Grandpa. Will you talk to him?”

The cigarette in Feng Chengyu’s fingers burned to the end, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Qin Bao felt a bit dissatisfied: “I’ve met all the conditions you asked for in the contract, I attended the cocktail party with you, and today I was here with you on time. Don’t tell me you’re planning to renege?”

This was the second time.

Feng Chengyu narrowed his eyes, pressing the cigarette into the ashtray: “Your idea of being together is just to have se-x?”

Qin Bao was puzzled: “What else? We don’t have much to talk about. Is there anything else to do?”

It wasn’t in the contract.

“Not doing anything else.” Feng Chengyu reached out his long arm, pulling him back onto the bed, “But it’s not just once.”

The intensity from earlier was still fresh in their bodies.

Qin Bao’s body quickly heated up, and he had to remind himself to stay rational, turning his face away: “Once is enough. Didn’t you already enjoy it?”

“No.”

The Alpha pinned him down from head to toe, and the fresh mingling pheromones flooded over.

That face, always appearing cold and arrogant, was now familiar yet foreign, as if the final mask had completely fallen away.

“To make me happy, it’s not as simple as doing it once.”

Qin Bao couldn’t break free, his heart pounding for some reason: “Then, what else do you want?”

Feng Chengyu bit his lower lip, his tone dangerous: “You’ll find out if you try.”

…

*

On Monday, accompanied by the lawyer he hired, Qin Bao signed the advertising contract.

In the afternoon, he dyed his hair as required and flew to Danlong on Wednesday.

Feng Chengyu returned home Wednesday morning. Qin Bao was packing his luggage in the dressing room. When he turned around, he saw Feng Chengyu’s eyes deepen, making his heart tighten.

That day, he had been so exhausted that he couldn’t get up, sleeping at a nearby hotel until the afternoon of the next day. Even now, his wrists hurt at the sight of a tie.

“Move.”

Qin Bao stood up and said.

Feng Chengyu reached out to touch the tips of his light golden hair.

He had initially intended to walk away, but when he was gently kissed into a pile of clothes, Qin Bao could only cry out pathetically, “Feng Chengyu!”

Clothes were pulled off the hangers with a clatter.

The tender kiss turned intense, leaving him breathless.

“Can’t you… hurry up?”

His bottom line crumbled under instinct, Qin Bao asked in a panic.

“No.” Feng Chengyu’s voice was low and tight, incredibly sexy, “Are you about to lose it?”

“Shut up.”

The Omega swore.

“I’m just… in a hurry, there’s a car waiting for me downstairs.”

In the closet, the hangers clattered incessantly.

An arm reached out, gripping the edge of the shelf, the tattoo on the fair skin standing out, fingers turning white from the pressure.

“I just told Lin Zi to send them away,” Feng Chengyu’s heavy breathing filled the air, “I’ll take you.”

“Bastard…”

The curse squeezed through gritted teeth.

…

“Don’t bite.”

“Okay.”

“Feng Chengyu!”

“……”

“I have to shoot an ad, please…”

The sharp canine teeth retracted, sparing the pitiful gland and moving elsewhere, eliciting another curse: “Bastard——”

Throughout the flight, Qin Bao remained angry, his face so dark that none of his companions dared to speak to him.

Upon landing in Danlong, the assistant assigned by the brand was even more cautious, not daring to breathe around him. It wasn’t until they went to a restaurant together that Qin Bao, using fluent foreign language to order food, suddenly tugged at the assistant’s sleeve.

Assistant: “Qin, Qin Bao?”

Worried that something was wrong.

“Just call me Qin Bao, no titles,” Qin Bao said impatiently, “Sit down and eat. Aren’t you hungry?”

The assistant shook her head: “No need, no need. I’ll eat later.”

Qin Bao didn’t argue. When the food arrived, the assistant realized Qin Bao had ordered for two.

Qin Bao took the sauce and asked her, “Do you want it spicy?”

She was stunned and sat down, “Yes, yes, thank you.”

Qin Bao maintained a grumpy expression but was gentlemanly towards the assistant.

When she spilled her water, Qin Bao only cared if her skirt was wet, then wiped the table with a napkin, his mood always a steady… irritability.

The assistant finally relaxed, noticing the scars on Qin Bao’s tattooed arm, and hesitated: “Did you hurt your hand? Do you need some ointment?”

Qin Bao frowned: “Ignore it, a dog bite.”

Then he fell silent.

Because there were more elsewhere.

The shooting process went smoothly. Once Qin Bao got into work mode, he was incredibly professional, capturing everyone’s attention.

During the shoot, they visited a desert and an oasis. At a location that had once hosted a fashion week, Qin Bao seemed to think of someone, standing there for a long time.

The brand released some behind-the-scenes footage, and Qin Bao’s exposure increased significantly, attracting other brands’ cooperation offers.

After consulting An Qingyan, Qin Bao realized that due to their different experiences and backgrounds, An Qingyan’s path wasn’t much of a reference for him. It would be best to have a stable backing, someone to support him and ensure he could work without worries, such as… setting up a personal studio.

This meant Qin Bao needed people who would only listen to his commands, unaffected by external forces, and who wouldn’t abandon him in a crisis.

That’s easier said than done.

Qin Bao didn’t manage to return to the capital as planned but instead flew directly to the next location—he had secured a contract as an ambassador for the autumn and winter luxury line, being one of Marcos Malory’s favorite Omega models.

Delicate, rebellious, and unconventional—these were the labels Marcos Malory used to select partners, and Qin Bao fit them perfectly.

He stayed there for another week, watched a few shows, and attended a banquet.

The Alliance was holding a multi-country joint conference, and his phone was flooded with news.

Half a month later, when he finally returned to the capital, Qin Bao watched a news video in the back seat of the taxi.

Everything was strict and solemn, the politicians impeccably dressed, as if even the lines of their smiles were pre-planned, and the length of their handshake measured beforehand.

They exchanged pleasantries and jokes, but no one seemed truly relaxed, surrounded as they were by armed soldiers.

He saw Feng Chengyu among the crowd, surrounded by people.

Back home, it was hard to connect the person sitting by the window reading a book and drinking coffee with the one in the news. For a moment, Qin Bao felt a disconnect from the current world.

“Why are you back early?”

Feng Chengyu looked at the dark blue watch on his wrist.

“Yeah, I lied to my mom. I didn’t want her to make a special trip to pick me up.” Qin Bao dropped his suitcase and flopped onto the sofa. “I’m so tired.”

After lying there for a while, he turned to look at Feng Chengyu: “…Thanks.”

Feng Chengyu: “Thanks for what?”

Qin Bao’s face turned slightly red, but he spoke seriously: “For… work stuff.”

Feng Chengyu walked over, gently stroked his head, and looked down at his face, his dark eyes unreadable.

Qin Bao’s heartbeat quickened, and he suggested, “Let’s do it again tonight.”

Feng Chengyu: “…”

____

Author’s Note:

Xiao Feng’s darkening progress bar is moving quickly thanks to Xiao Bao.