FOBTS CH17

Song Ruochen, wrapped in a blanket, sat by the hotel’s large floor-to-ceiling window playing a game.

[Move, move, move! Stop obsessing over those small mobs and join the team fight!]

The system roared like a lion.

“Just a couple more hits and the mob will be down…” Song Ruochen hesitated.

A few seconds later, the mob was defeated, but so were his teammates.

A teammate typed: What’s up? Did you fall in love with the mob? Can’t bear to leave it?

Ding.

Time rewound 20 seconds. Song Ruochen ignored all the mobs on the road, rushed straight to his teammates, and preemptively used his skills to block the enemies.

A teammate typed: Excellent, that prediction was too good.

The team voted “Steady Song” as the MVP of the match.

[Only 3 rewinds left for today—use them sparingly.]
[Sending today’s rewind log to the host.]

00:20 15 seconds
00:25 10 seconds
00:35 30 seconds

For the full log, click [Details].

“Huh, it’s already past 2 a.m.,” Song Ruochen muttered. “Even dogs are asleep, and I’m still awake. Being a secretary is so exhausting.”

[Does using rewinds to play games feel great?]

“I’m terrifyingly strong right now,” Song Ruochen said.

Too bad he couldn’t indulge like this every day.

“Huh, a WeChat message.”

Song Ruochen: “?”

What’s going on? Who bullied the protagonist shou?
Could it be that none of those ten phones spoke up? Did the truth come out?

[Song Ruochen]: Madam, President Jian’s devotion to you is evident to heaven and earth!
[Yan Ci]: What does this have to do with him?
[Yan Ci]: I saw you playing a game. I just sent you an invite, but you went offline.
[Yan Ci]: Come back quickly. I’ll carry you.

Song Ruochen: “?”

Oh, right.
The protagonist shou is a gaming streamer and commentator. Playing with him should be more fun than rewinding to play aimlessly, right?

He logged back into the game and joined Yan Ci’s team.

“Madam, are you at home?” Song Ruochen probed subtly. “Or in the mountains? You didn’t run away from home, did you?”

“Hm? I’m at home,” Yan Ci replied, sounding cheerful. “Chenchen, that white sweater you wore looks amazing. I want to see you try darker colors too.”

“Let’s focus on the game first.” Yan Ci began dominating the match.

*

At 2:30 a.m., in the neighboring room, Jian Yuheng finished counting the stars on the ceiling and cautiously returned to his bed. He carefully lay down, counting to himself for a minute.

Great, he was still on the bed.

Jian Yuheng quickly closed his eyes to enjoy his hard-earned sleep.

Five hours later, the alarm woke him from his dreams. He lightly tapped his phone screen, revealing messages from Assistant Gong.

[Assistant Gong]: Good morning, Second Young Master. Stay full of energy today!
[Assistant Gong]: Here is your schedule for today.
[Assistant Gong]: Morning: health check at C City Central Hospital, including pheromone compatibility testing. Noon: a 30-minute nap. Afternoon: review branch office financial records.

[Jian Yuheng]: Change the nap to two hours.
[Assistant Gong]: Understood, Second Young Master. I’ll adjust the schedule accordingly.

The hotel’s restaurant was on the top floor. Jian Yuheng dressed and left his room, coincidentally running into his elder brother.

“Morning,” Jian Yuheng greeted first.

“…Morning.” Today, the usually composed First Young Master appeared a bit reserved, reviewing the schedule sent by Secretary Song at 3:30 a.m.

Jian Yuheng glanced over.

[Song Ruochen]: President Jian, here’s the schedule. Confirm receipt.
[Song Ruochen]: 10:30 a.m. wake up, 9:35 breakfast, 10:35 finish breakfast, 11:00 start lunch.

Jian Yuheng: “?”

What kind of college-student-on-vacation routine was this?

Then he looked at the afternoon schedule, which transitioned into work:

[Song Ruochen]: 1:00 p.m. review branch office accounts, 1:30 inspect the new project exhibit hall in the east of the city, 2:00 return to the branch office for a meeting, 2:30 meeting at a competitor’s company in the west of the city, 3:00 review branch staffing list, 3:30 head to the north side…

Jian Yuheng: “…”

Was the branch office a spring? Why keep returning?
The schedule was well-organized, but it didn’t treat his brother like a human being.
Next time, don’t bother making one.

“Let’s go, Brother,” Jian Yuheng said kindly. “Let’s have breakfast.”

The two of them entering the breakfast hall drew many stares. Under countless gazes, Jian Feng sat in an empty seat, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles.

“Is it him?”
“Yes.”
“Hahaha, he loves his wife so much. Even his ringtone is about it.”
“What a character.”

Jian Feng, who had never felt this embarrassed in his 20-plus years of life, turned to his brother for help.
“Broth—” He looked up, only to find Jian Yuheng had disappeared again.

*

At the city’s central hospital, Jian Yuheng sat in the VIP lounge, waiting for his test results.

“Second Young Master, reliable sources say that last night, Yan Fen originally planned to get the First Young Master drunk. He even called two omegas to seduce President Jian and use beauty as a weapon,” Assistant Gong reported. “Secretary Song is truly prophetic. He intercepted the drinks on the spot.”

Jian Yuheng: “.”

“Song Ruochen is quite something,” Assistant Gong continued. “Didn’t he also change President Jian’s ringtone to a confession, humiliating those who overestimated themselves?”

Assistant Gong added, “Secretary Song is impressive—meticulous, strategic, leaving no stone unturned.”

“He didn’t spare my brother either,” Jian Yuheng replied.

Assistant Gong: “…”

“Mr. Jian,” a nurse knocked on the door, “here’s your health report.”

“Thank you.” Jian Yuheng took the report.

“Recent improvements in compatibility testing efficiency mean results will be available in three days,” the nurse explained. “At that time, it will show how many people in the database have a high match with you. We have a comprehensive information protection mechanism, and no details will be disclosed without mutual consent.”

“Got it,” Jian Yuheng replied.

It didn’t matter. This was all just to appease his mother anyway.
Even if the compatibility was high, what could come of it? Could he really marry an omega? The thought bored him.

He had met plenty of omegas—most were obedient and docile, like tame little animals. Marrying such an omega would be more about companionship than affection, which didn’t appeal to him.

Oh, Song Ruochen was also an omega, but not a little animal—more like a little maniac.

Not dragging Song Ruochen out for a midnight beating last night was a testament to his good character.

Jian Yuheng figured he might prefer a lively omega with personality.

“Assistant Gong,” Jian Yuheng said, “let’s return to the company.”

If the afternoon wasn’t too busy, he wanted to mess with Song Ruochen a bit more.

Assistant Gong, who was watching a short video titled “Cool CEO Boldly Confesses in Coffee Shop” for the fifth time, stood up and drove them back.

*

At 2 p.m., the protagonist gong went to the east side of the city to inspect the exhibition hall. With the office empty, Song Ruochen lay sideways on the sofa, scrolling on his phone.

[Yan Ci]: 0.0* Jian Feng loves me this much? I never knew.
[Yan Ci]: 0.0** I’m so happy.

[Song Ruochen]: Madam, this is just the beginning. President Jian will only love you more in the future.

[Yan Ci]: I just don’t know why, but I feel like retreating to a deep mountain for a couple of days. QAQ

[Song Ruochen]: Not allowed!

[Yan Ci]: Little Grape, did you wear the nice clothes I gave you today?

[Song Ruochen]: 0.o, Madam, you must call me Secretary Song.

Yan Ci’s sense of style was impeccable. The casual clothes he gifted were exceptionally good-looking. Since President Jian was unusually independent today, Song Ruochen didn’t follow him out, so he wore a loose and comfortable pink sweatshirt.

The sweatshirt’s sleeves were a bit long, covering the backs of his hands. Lying flat, he tucked his hands into the sleeves and tapped at his phone screen.

[Detected an increase in the emotional value between the protagonist gong and shou. The company’s operational efficiency shows potential for improvement. The rewind coin pouch has been credited with 30 minutes.]

That much?

“But I didn’t do anything,” Song Ruochen muttered, puzzled.

“Song Ruochen.” The office door was suddenly pushed open. Jian Yuheng walked in. “Have you sorted out the personnel files for the branch office…?”

Jian Yuheng: “.”

Ding.

Jian Yuheng returned to the stairwell.

“Song Ruochen!” Jian Yuheng climbed twenty flights of stairs again and pushed the door open. “Have you reviewed the personnel files for the branch office? Checked the accounts?”

Song Ruochen sat coldly in his chair. “I’m reviewing them. Second Young Master, please be patient.”

“How far along are you?” Jian Yuheng asked.

Song Ruochen: “The table of contents.”

“Give them to me. I’ll look at them myself.” Jian Yuheng shoved him aside. “Secretary Song, pour me… Never mind. This desk is a bit messy. Clean it up.”

“Okay.” Song Ruochen picked up his phone. “Should I call Yan Fen?”

“No, you do it.” Jian Yuheng smirked. “You, personally.”

Caught off guard, Song Ruochen, who had stayed up late and only wanted to slack off today, froze.

“What’s wrong?” Jian Yuheng asked maliciously. “Don’t know how? Organize the miscellaneous items and throw away the trash. Can’t even manage that?”

“Then what should I do? I can’t throw you away.” Song Ruochen replied.

Jian Yuheng: “.”

Ding.

Rewind: 2 seconds.

“Understood, Second Young Master.” Song Ruochen said politely. “I’ll tidy up your desk right away.”

He grabbed a cloth and stood beside Jian Yuheng, starting to wipe the desk.

“Wipe… seven times,” Jian Yuheng instructed. “Don’t stop until it’s spotless, or no dinner for you.”

“Yes.” Song Ruochen replied.

Successfully punishing Secretary Song to stand and clean, Jian Yuheng felt a wave of satisfaction.

He quickly skimmed through the files, enjoying the sight of the cool little beauty (fake) serving him.

“I, Song Ruochen, have lived a law-abiding life,” Song Ruochen complained to the system in his head. “How am I still being targeted by the villain?”

[Villains are bad!]

“Oh, a medical report.” Song Ruochen’s eyes caught sight of something. “The villain went for a health check, huh.”

“System, I have too many rewind coins. I feel like doing something risky,” Song Ruochen said.

[You’ve finally grown! Are you planning to use the rewind system for new life experiences?]

[Bungee jumping without a cord or cliff diving without a parachute?]

“Even riskier,” Song Ruochen replied.

Jian Yuheng made Song Ruochen stand and clean the desk once, then threw out, “Not clean enough, do it again,” feeling like a long-standing grudge had been avenged.

The omega’s fingertips, reddened from the rough cloth, repeatedly appeared in his peripheral vision.

“Secretary Song, that’s enough,” Jian Yuheng finally said after finishing his evaluation report.

“Understood, Second Young Master.” Secretary Song replied.

Then, Song Ruochen reached for the medical report Jian Yuheng had left on the desk, leisurely flipping through it.

“Height: 193 cm? Is the air up there thin? Does it cause oxygen deprivation to your brain, making you bully your secretary?” Song Ruochen flipped through more. “Body fat percentage… Fine, your physique is decent.”

“Let me see the pheromones.” Song Ruochen turned to the last page of the report. “Hawthorn? Just average.”

“Secretary Song,” Jian Yuheng scolded softly.

Song Ruochen leaned down, bringing his face close to Jian Yuheng’s neck. “Doesn’t smell like hawthorn.”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

The next second, Song Ruochen raised his hand and tugged on Jian Yuheng’s ear.

“Song Ruochen!” Jian Yuheng exclaimed.

Ding.

Jian Yuheng found himself back at the stairwell.

Jian Yuheng: “… :)”