RBNR Ch46: Don’t think I still like you

Feng Chengyu and Mr. Qin came out of the study just in time to see Qin Bao running out of his grandfather’s room. His face, already red as a tomato, turned even redder when he saw Feng Chengyu. He glared at him, didn’t greet them, and turned to leave.

Mr. Qin sighed, “This kid… always like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment.”

Qin Bao didn’t show up all afternoon. No one knew where he was hiding; he was actually staying close to Mama Tao, watching her pack his things and lost in thought.

His grandfather’s words made him uncomfortable. Though he knew they weren’t true, he still felt a sense of betrayal.

Once you’ve made a choice, you must face the “I knew it” looks from everyone. In harsh terms, you can’t “have your cake and eat it too.” People must learn to bear the consequences.

And dignity isn’t as important as an entire life.

It’s only five years.

Mama Tao was packing Qin Bao’s daily necessities, with household items Ms. Rong had already bought and left there to be packed together. Mama Tao was preparing food for him, like dumplings, pickled vegetables, and marinated ingredients—things that could be stored for a long time.

After Qin Bao got married and moved out, Mama Tao had no reason to stay and would be leaving to enjoy her retirement.

She rambled on with her instructions, “When you’re almost out of food, call me, and I’ll prepare more for you. Both you and Mr. Feng are so busy; I’ll bring it over directly…”

Qin Bao came back to his senses, “I know. You should rest; I’ll handle this.”

Mama Tao set the things down and stood aside, letting Qin Bao take over.

Watching the child she had seen grow up get married and seemingly mature.

“Our Bao’er will become a big star in the future, right?” Mama Tao wiped her hands and smiled, “So handsome, just being a model isn’t enough. You should become a big star; we’re not inferior to anyone. Being a big star means no one can control you.”

Qin Bao’s heart was slightly moved; Mama Tao’s words hit on the point he had been contemplating recently.

After several solo jobs, he had been reconsidering his career plans, thinking about whether to broaden his path.

But then Mama Tao said, “As a big star, the agent can’t control you, and you won’t have to starve yourself. Even though stars need to diet to stay in shape, you could still be a bit better off than a model, right?”

Qin Bao: “…”

The emphasis was wrong, but the intention was good.

He put everything into his pockets and casually said, “I’ll try my best to become a big star that no one can control.”

Mama Tao said proudly, “Of course you can. Both your mom and I believe in you.”

There were fewer people at dinner, and it was much quieter compared to lunch.

“Eat without speaking, sleep without talking” applied to every family meal in the Qin family. Feng Chengyu naturally integrated into this atmosphere, while Qin Bao ate in silence and returned to his room early after finishing.

Not long after, Feng Chengyu also returned to the room.

As a married couple, this would be where they stayed together every time they visited the Qin family.

Having lived in this room for over ten years, all of Qin Bao’s growth marks were here. Elementary school graduation photos, some models, well-thumbed books, trophies from modeling competitions… Regardless of their newness or value, he had preserved them well.

This was Feng Chengyu’s second time entering Qin Bao’s room, the first being when Qin Bao was confined and went on a hunger strike.

This time, it was no longer dark and oppressive. Under the bright lights, Qin Bao’s private space was fully open to Feng Chengyu.

“Did you paint this?”

Feng Chengyu stopped in front of a painting hanging on the wall.

It was a landscape painting, a water town. The brushstrokes were immature but had a unique charm.

“I painted it when I was little, over ten years ago.” Qin Bao sat in a rocking chair, seemingly relaxed but with his eyes following Feng Chengyu. “It should be from my seventh birthday. My grandpa took me to paint outdoors.”

The most boring birthday he remembered.

After that, his grandfather, the renowned painter Mr. Rong Yun, never mentioned cultivating his art talent again.

With his hands in his pockets, looking relaxed, Feng Chengyu walked past the bookshelf, inspected it, and then stopped in front of a row of trophies, examining each one.

Qin Bao thought, What’s he doing? Visiting a museum?

After looking at the trophies, Feng Chengyu picked up a brown plush bear from the table and turned to say, “You still play with this?”

“A friend gave it to me…” Qin Bao stood up and took the bear from Feng Chengyu’s hand. “Why, I can’t like playing with bears? This one is expensive.”

“Of course you can.” Feng Chengyu raised an eyebrow slightly. “Is this another gift from Shan Yiming?”

How could it be Shan Yiming?

Qin Bao said, “It’s from a friend you haven’t met, Tu Yisen. He’s in the military now. Shan Yiming isn’t my only childhood friend.”

After thinking for a moment, he added, “Wait, you haven’t met Shan Yiming either, have you?”

Feng Chengyu: “I’ve seen him in the news.”

Qin Bao was puzzled, “What news?”

Could it be that Shan Yiming had become famous as a racer?

But Feng Chengyu didn’t elaborate. He only said, “I’ve heard of Tu Yisen… He has a good relationship with Feng Chu.”

Qin Bao acknowledged with a sound and, not wanting Feng Chengyu to continue his tour, put the bear back in its place. He had a habit of keeping everything in a fixed position.

He then took out a pack of cigarettes and said, “Stop looking around.”

Feng Chengyu’s methodical tour made Qin Bao uncomfortable, even though he had stored away all the cards Feng Chengyu had written and the tickets he had given in a small drawer, without throwing them away yet. But if Feng Chengyu kept looking, who knew what else he might find?

Stepping onto the bedroom balcony first, Qin Bao bit the bead and lit a cigarette. Feng Chengyu soon followed.

Qin Bao handed him a cigarette and adeptly lit it for him.

As the lighter flickered, Qin Bao’s pale blonde hair fell, and his fair face and clear eyes were briefly illuminated by the flame.

They stood by the railing.

Qin Bao pointed to a rooftop on the side of the house and said, “See the wall over there?”

Feng Chengyu looked in that direction, “Yes.”

That was where the old man’s tea room was.

“There used to be a tree there, but because I often climbed it to sneak out, Grandpa had it cut down.” Qin Bao said, “But cutting it didn’t help. Later, I had Tu Yisen and Shan Yiming bring ladders. If there were no ladders, I would just jump.”

“Didn’t you get scared?” Feng Chengyu asked, “Sneaking out like that.”

“What’s there to be afraid of? Grandpa wouldn’t really hit me—”

Halfway through, Qin Bao stopped.

The one time his grandfather had actually hit him was unforgettable.

Thinking that Feng Chengyu knew about that incident, Qin Bao felt a bit awkward, exhaled a puff of smoke, and laughed lightly as if he didn’t care at all. “Hmph, being hit isn’t scary. It’s not like I couldn’t fight back, just that I couldn’t hit back.”

He looked at Feng Chengyu.

“I didn’t lose out.”

Now that Qin Bao could joke about it, Feng Chengyu suddenly grabbed his chin and said, “Of course, I wouldn’t let you lose out.”

Qin Bao slapped his hand away, “Don’t touch me.”

Since they had left his grandfather’s study, Qin Bao had been trying to keep his distance from Feng Chengyu.

Feng Chengyu noticed, “What did Grandpa say to you this afternoon?”

Qin Bao’s expression was blank, “He said my hair color is inappropriate and told me to dye it back.”

Feng Chengyu turned around, leaning his back against the railing, “I think it looks great.”

As he spoke, he twirled a strand of Qin Bao’s hair, letting go quickly.

“This color suits you.”

Having dyed his hair, Qin Bao had been pinned down for a session afterward. Whether from the front or the back, there was always a tendency to grab and tousle his hair. Qin Bao had long noticed this.

This guy really doesn’t hide his peculiar fetish!

He glared at Feng Chengyu and decided to dye his hair back to black tomorrow.

Feng Chengyu elegantly flicked the ash from his cigarette, his gaze falling in the direction of the wall Qin Bao had pointed to, “What would it have been like if we had known each other since we were kids? Maybe I would have helped you move the ladder.”

Qin Bao was shocked, “You’d dare move the ladder for me? Are you crazy?”

Feng Chengyu: “Why not?”

Qin Bao mocked, “With your attitude of always following elders’ wishes and keeping promises, you would have been the lapdog of the elders, a traitor among childhood friends. You’d run yourself ragged at their every command… Moving a ladder? You’d probably take it away instead.”

Feng Chengyu smiled, accepting this baseless accusation, “You have a point.”

After finishing his cigarette, Qin Bao suddenly called his name, “Feng Chengyu.”

Qin Bao: “Hmm.”

Every time Feng Chengyu was called by his full name, he would respond, making one’s heart tighten.

Qin Bao asked, “That… can we add another clause to our contract?”

Feng Chengyu was particularly agreeable that day, “What do you want to add?”

Qin Bao, however, hesitated, “It’s just… can we do it less often? Every time we barely talk.” He was at a loss for words, “Of course, I don’t mean that I want to chat with you more. I mean doing it once each time is enough. You take quite a while, but try to find the feeling and enjoy it. I don’t want to spend a lot of time in bed every day.”

Feng Chengyu took the last puff of his cigarette, extinguished it, and turned back slowly, “Let’s do it. We don’t have much to talk about, nor do we have anything else to do.”

These words sounded familiar, but Qin Bao couldn’t remember where he had heard them, “…”

Why is Feng Chengyu like this?

However, Qin Bao couldn’t refute because it seemed everything Feng Chengyu said was true. So, he could only say with a sullen face, “I don’t like doing it too much.”

Feng Chengyu hinted, “I thought you quite liked it.”

His shoulders and back were marked with scratches.

Qin Bao: “…”

He looked at Feng Chengyu and said, “Let me reiterate, I’m willing to do it, but it’s just a normal physiological need. Whether I like it or not doesn’t matter. Don’t start imagining things just because of a few words from Grandpa. This compatibility would be the same with anyone else.”

“Mm,” Feng Chengyu said, “I won’t.”

Then, he calmly said to Qin Bao, “But I enjoy doing it with you.”

Qin Bao: “…”

Shameless.

Rogue!

The talk fell apart, and the two didn’t speak or do anything that night.

Seeing the signed official documents Feng Chengyu brought back from Mr. Qin’s study, Qin Bao turned over and slept with his back to Feng Chengyu.

Qin Bao woke up once in the middle of the night.

Realizing he was clinging to Feng Chengyu like an octopus, he quietly lifted the arm that was holding him and moved away a bit.

He hadn’t slept in his own room for a long time, and the more Qin Bao slept, the sleepier he got.

In the morning, Feng Chengyu woke up first. In a daze, Qin Bao heard him opening the bedside table, thinking he was just tidying up phone chargers. He never expected to be discovered.

“Bao Bao.”

He felt a hand pat his head.

Feng Chengyu was asking something.

“What is this?”

“What…”

Qin Bao barely opened his eyes and saw a dark blue wristwatch, waking up completely with wide eyes.

He had planned everything to prevent Feng Chengyu from finding more things in his room, but he had completely forgotten about this most important item—the custom-made Baofenni watch.

When he first got it, Qin Bao had played with it for a while. Later, finding that its style didn’t really match his, and having lost the novelty, it was left forgotten in the bedside drawer.

“What are you doing?”

Qin Bao grabbed it and hid it under the covers, sitting up with a frosty face.

“Thought it looked nice and had a matching one made. Is that not allowed?”

There was no denying it.

Feng Chengyu’s own watch was sitting on the table, identical to the one in Qin Bao’s hand.

“It is.”

Not looking at Feng Chengyu’s face, he heard Feng Chengyu continue, “A few years ago, Feng Chu asked me if you wanted a couple’s set, but I didn’t know you actually had one made.”

Qin Bao’s face flushed with embarrassment and regret, “Couple’s set? Is Feng Chu out of his mind? Did I say that?”

Before Feng Chengyu could speak, Qin Bao turned around and cut him off fiercely, “That was ages ago. Now it just feels gross… Anyway, don’t think I still like you. Don’t flatter yourself.”

The birds his grandfather raised were singing downstairs, their chirping faintly audible through the window, making the room suddenly feel very quiet.

The curve of Feng Chengyu’s lips was barely noticeable, but he was smiling, “Okay.”

Qin Bao buried himself in the covers, “Get lost!”