FOBTS CH93

Chapter 93 Extra 8: [IF] Second Young Master’s One-Day Tour Outside the Book

01

 “Secretary Song, I sent this email for you.”

 “Secretary Song, I’m going to make coffee. Want me to bring you a cup?”

 “Secretary Song, I’m helping you carry the meeting materials.”

 Song Ruochen: “…?”

 “Secretary Song,” Jian Feng said, “It’s time. I’m off work now, okay?”

 “Wait a moment, President Jian.” Song Ruochen opened his laptop. “Let me briefly go over the schedule. Tomorrow morning you have a business event at Haochi, in the afternoon a brand ribbon-cutting ceremony, and in the evening you accompany your wife to row a boat on the lake.”

 Song Ruochen: “If there are no issues, you may go.”

 “There is one.” Jian Feng said.

 “Please tell me.”

 “It’s December.” Jian Feng said. “The lake has frozen. Let’s do something else.”

 “Why don’t you just break the ice and row the boat?” Song Ruochen asked.

 Jian Yuheng, holding a coffee cup and eavesdropping while pushing the door: 

“Pfft—cough cough.”

 […]

 [Ding dong.]

 “Got it, President Jian.” Song Ruochen said. “I’ll arrange another romantic itinerary for you and your wife.”

 Jian Feng hurriedly slipped away.

 “Song Ruochen,” Jian Yuheng called him out, “You can’t keep scheduling my brother and sister-in-law to row boats just because we like it.”
 

“I only scheduled it seven or eight times,” Song Ruochen said.

 It really was fun.

 Shortly after their wedding, Jian Yuheng took him rowing once on an artificial lake in A City Park.

 [It was really fun. You bought tons of snacks. If it weren’t for our rewind system, the boat would have sunk.]

 [The Second Young Master was rowing, and the boat ended up at the bottom of the lake.]

 Song Ruochen: “…”

 Not that many tons, not that exaggerated.

 “Grape Ruochen, wait for me in the cafeteria.” Jian Yuheng said. “I’ll check some files at HR and sign a contract, then we’ll go home.”

 “Okay.” Song Ruochen said.

 Xiaoshi Group’s cafeteria recently started winter afternoon tea — one serving of fruit tea, five or six pieces of cake and snacks, plus seasonal fruits, with strict half-hour limits every day for Song Ruochen.

 “Secretary Song, try the red date paste cake.” Assistant Gong passed by and said, “I quite like it. If you don’t like it, I’ll do all my work for you this month.”

 Song Ruochen: “?”

 Wanting both to eat and to hand over work.

 Song Ruochen found a window seat, leisurely sat down, sipping flower tea and eating red date paste cake, opening a group chat with 99+ messages.

 [Fuzzy Zao Grape] (3)

 [Da Zao: I suspect Secretary Song’s CEO schedule planning is just a template, never changing it.

 [Da Zao: It’s been seven consecutive weeks, every weekend I’m rowing.
[Da Zao: I feel like Brother Jian can already go out fishing at sea.

 [Fuzzy Monster]: Hahaha, why don’t you guys go somewhere else?

 [Fuzzy Monster]: Does Secretary Song feel uneasy if he’s not working?

 [Song Ruochen]: 0.o?

 [Song Ruochen]: You guys aren’t hiding it at all, huh?

 [Fuzzy Monster] retracted 2 messages.

 [Da Zao retracted 3 messages.

 [People without rewind systems have to retract multiple messages every day.]

 [rewind system, you deserve it~]

 [Song Ruochen]: @Da Zao, I’ll arrange a cable car ride and a picnic on the mountain for you this week. That’s romantic too.

 [Da Zao: Great, thanks Secretary Song.
Secretary Song poured himself another cup of fruit tea.

 [Click clack click clack click clack.]

 [Knock knock knock.]

 “System, what’s wrong?” Song Ruochen asked.

 [Found something.]

 [Our one-year binding anniversary gift, three lottery draws. You’ve only drawn twice, one more left. Want to try?]

 “There’s nothing good in your anniversary gift.” Song Ruochen complained.

 [You can’t say that just because you didn’t get good stuff.]

 [The prize pool also has rewind vouchers, rewind discount cards, treats for the boss system, snack gift packs, and other quality prizes.]

 “Alright then, let me try.” Song Ruochen drew a card.

 [Let me see.]

 [Congratulations, host drew: Double Magical Travel Card x1.]

 “A double trip sounds pretty good?” Song Ruochen asked warily. “What kind of magic is that?”

 [You’ll know when it activates.]

 [Hehe.]

 [Have a pleasant trip.]

__

02

 “Song Ruochen?”

 “Song Ruochen?!”

 “Wake up quickly, class is about to start.”

 “Why did you fall asleep so early? What did you do last night?”

 “So noisy.” Song Ruochen said loudly. “President Jian, please close the office door.”
Suddenly, everything became quiet.

 Too quiet, no door closing sound even.

 Song Ruochen opened his eyes: “0.0”

 Song Ruochen: “…?”

 In the classroom, dozens of eyes stared at him without blinking. When he opened his eyes, they stared even more intently, low whispers filled the room.

 “System, rewind, hurry.” Song Ruochen covered his face.

 The classroom burst into laughter.

 [Zzz—]

 [Zzz~~]

 [Bang!]

 [Please do not use the rewind system inside the tourist area to avoid the system short-circuit.]

 [Bam!]

 Song Ruochen: “…”

 “Xiao Song, what interesting dream did you have?” The teacher on stage asked. “Alright, everyone sit down, class is starting.”
Song Ruochen looked around — classroom, desks, clear but naïve college students. This is… his hometown?

 Why did the system’s one-day trip bring him here?

 He was just in the kitchen making yogurt bowls, one for Jian Yuheng, one for himself. Before he could eat, he was suddenly sent to — his hometown?

 So… since this is a double magical travel card, where is Jian Yuheng?

 [You can try looking.]

 Song Ruochen: “?”

 You can talk?

 [Yes, but can’t use (the system).]

 [(sparks fly)]

 [The tourist area intercepted your timeline outside the book world. It’s a few days you have experienced, isolated as a separate tourist zone.]

 [Don’t ask how it works. If unsure, quantum mechanics.]

 [Enjoy your vacation in the outside book world.]

 “Some days I’ve experienced?” Song Ruochen asked, “Then why don’t I remember a thing about the class I just attended?”

 [How many college students really remember their classes?]

 “Don’t answer that.” Song Ruochen said.

Although he didn’t have much special attachment to the Outside Book World, it was still nice to come and take a look around.

 As a native here, he could play the host and let Jian Yuheng experience a beta world without AO.

 He had been to the place where Jian Yuheng grew up; now he could also show Jian Yuheng the place where he himself grew up.

Wait a minute.

 “System,” Song Ruochen asked, “where is Jian Yuheng?”

 [……?]

 [Uh-oh, don’t know where he got sent to.]

 “That’s really bad,” Song Ruochen said. “I didn’t tell him we were coming on a magical double travel ticket either.”

 [Uh…]

 [Don’t panic when things go wrong.]

 [I’ll go look for Second Young Master.]

 [Beep—Starting to scan from the Arctic region.]

 “Scan from right beside me!” Song Ruochen said.

 [(Covering its head)]

 [Okay, okay.]

University Town, on the pedestrian bridge.

 Jian Yuheng held a freshly made yogurt bowl and stood by the railing.

 Jian Yuheng: “……”

 Jian Yuheng: “……?”

 Where was this?

 Below him was traffic, to his right was a food street, and nearby were two celebrity endorsement billboards.

 Hmm, not the familiar A City. Recently, the ad billboards in A City were all taken over by the silent big star Lu Yunye, and the few left empty were taken by Song Ruochen for Jian Feng and Yan Ci.

 Moreover, the street design here was different from A City’s.

 Jian Yuheng calmly stood in this unfamiliar city: “:|”

 No big deal.

 Anyone trained by repeated “rewind” could stay calm and adapt no matter what.
So, Song Ruochen and his system had stirred up trouble again?

“Hello,” Jian Yuheng politely asked a person on the bridge, “Have you seen an omega with black hair, long eyelashes, thin lips, pretending to be cold, wearing light blue pajamas, white fluffy slippers, and a small mole on the wrist?”

 “What’s an ‘omega’?” the person asked.

 “Omega.”

 “Never heard of it,” the passerby shook their head. “Maybe ask someone else.”

 “Okay, thanks,” Jian Yuheng said.

 This was strange — people here didn’t know what omega was?

 Kind of like what ‘Grape’ said — a place full of poor folks?

 “Are you a poor person?” Jian Yuheng politely asked.

 The passerby: “? QAQ”

 Jian Yuheng politely said goodbye and walked down the bridge.

A street sign by the sidewalk —

 150 meters ahead: subway station.

 200 meters ahead: U University.

U University? That name sounded familiar. Wasn’t that the university Song Ruochen mentioned?

 He thought for a moment, then didn’t stay put. Following the sign, he walked toward the school. Soon, the school gate appeared.

 Maybe it was a holiday? Lots of betas were pushing suitcases out of the school gate.
The betas all turned to look at the tall man standing there.

 “Handsome.”

 “So A!”

 Snippets of conversation reached Jian Yuheng’s ears.

 So… A?

 But there were no alphas?

The university gate was open to the public. Jian Yuheng strolled inside and even asked an enthusiastic student about the drama major’s department location.

 He had heard Song Ruochen mention the school library, the weeping willows on campus, and the many cats wandering around campus.

 Song Ruochen also said that when the weather was nice, you could see ducklings on the artificial lake’s surface.

The fragments Song Ruochen mentioned were now fully displayed before Jian Yuheng’s eyes.

 At first glance, it was quite novel and interesting.

 Good thing — he had come to Song Ruochen’s hometown.

The drama major was a specialty of U University, occupying a whole floor in a teaching building. The hallway walls were covered with many photos of major activities.
Jian Yuheng stopped and looked at the photos one by one, and actually found Song Ruochen in the middle of them.

 The person you liked — even in a crowd — should be recognizable at a glance.
— That’s what “Da Zao” said.

This photo seemed to be taken at a group-building event of the college, with an ancient town as background. Song Ruochen was smiling happily and holding a small fan.

So here’s the question: Jian Yuheng had arrived at Song Ruochen’s hometown, but where was Song Ruochen himself?

“Hey, do you know Song Ruochen?” Jian Yuheng asked another student.

[Starting scan centered on the host, radius 0.1 meters.]

 [Starting scan centered on the host, radius 0.5 meters.]

 Song Ruochen: “?”

 “10 meters away, thanks.” Song Ruochen said, “First, I’m not nearsighted; second, the air quality in A City is pretty good, visibility is high.”
[.]

 [Starting scan centered on the host, radius 10 meters.]

 [Expanding scan range—]

 [Target found!]

 “Well done, system,” Song Ruochen praised. “You really can find people.”

 [(Trying to hide a smile)]

 [Calculating best route…]

 [Please pass through the floorboard of classroom 301, get to classroom 201, then go through the wall to the corridor. Second Young Master is waiting there.]

 Song Ruochen: “……”

 “I know I’m an amazing worker, but could you at least give me a path?”

 [Sorry.]

Since Jian Yuheng had been found, Song Ruochen grabbed his textbook and rushed out of the classroom.

 [Distance to target: 20 meters.]

 [Distance to target: 15 meters.]

 [Arrived at destination.]

In the corridor, a student who had been questioned by Jian Yuheng just now chuckled.

 “Song Ruochen? Haha.” The student said, “Are you his friend? He’s still in the classroom behind, should be coming down soon. You can wait here.”

 “Song Ruochen, is it funny?” Jian Yuheng asked.

 “He fell asleep in class just now and was talking nonsense about secretary, CEO stuff. Everyone laughed,” the student said, “Ah, gotta run to the cafeteria or there won’t be food left. You wait by the vending machine here. He’ll come soon.”

“Jian Yuheng!” a voice called from upstairs.

 Jian Yuheng turned and saw the university version of Song Ruochen.
Song Ruochen dashed downstairs quickly and ran straight into Jian Yuheng.

“You didn’t start scanning from the Arctic this time?” Jian Yuheng asked.

 “Learned from my mistakes.” Song Ruochen said.

 “I’m the one who suffered for those mistakes,” Jian Yuheng reminded.

 “Don’t care.” Song Ruochen pushed Jian Yuheng as they went downstairs. “I forgot to tell you, I drew the system’s magical travel prize ticket, so you could come visit my hometown.”

 He noticed the system had intercepted the time period chosen as the travel area — the Mid-Autumn Festival of their freshman year. In this world, his roommates and classmates had all gone home, and he was left alone at school, eating four portions of the hard school mooncakes.

“Since you’re here,” Song Ruochen said, “I’ll take you to have some stir-fried dishes at the cafeteria, swipe your card as much as you want.”

 He and Jian Yuheng went downstairs, heading toward the cafeteria.

 “Xiao Jian, come this way,” a guide called out.

“You only have two kinds of restrooms here, just like in novels?” Jian Yuheng asked.

Song Ruochen: “…Indeed, it’s not as detailed as the divisions you have.”

Back when I first entered the book world, every time I went to the restroom, I had to think about it for a long time.

“Hungry, Young Master,” Song Ruochen said, “The school cafeteria isn’t as good as Xiaoshi’s.”

“No matter,” Jian Yuheng said, “I want to see what kind of food can grow such sweet grapes.”

Song Ruochen: “0.o?”

05

On campus, after eating his fill, Song Ruochen dragged Jian Yuheng around, even pulling him into the library.

“Our school library is really nice,” Song Ruochen said mysteriously. “It has a lot and a lot of novels.”

Song Ruochen flicked around and brought out a stack of novels, placing them in front of Jian Yuheng.

“These are all pretty good,” Song Ruochen said, “I’m not lying, ABO really has many different settings.”

[…]

[You brought him to look at novels for this precious one-day tour?]

“No, you don’t understand,” Song Ruochen said, “For readers, being able to share novels and have the same taste in literature is a bond deeper than life itself.”

[.]

The whole afternoon, Jian Yuheng sat in the library, flipping through the pile of novels Song Ruochen had brought out.

It was the holiday, so the library was nearly empty.

They sat in a corner, by an open window, and an occasional breeze fluttered Song Ruochen’s bangs.

“If…” Jian Yuheng whispered.

Song Ruochen: “0.o?”

What did you just say?

Plop, Jian Yuheng threw a crumpled piece of paper at him.

Song Ruochen unfolded it—

“I was thinking, no matter where I meet you, no matter what you are like, I think I would always be moved.”

Song Ruochen uncapped his pen and began to write—

“I can repeatedly rewind, flickering before your eyes.”

Jian Yuheng: “…”

Crazy.

Ruining the mood.

Writing notes was a hassle, so after two times, Song Ruochen got tired of it and moved from across the table to sit beside Jian Yuheng, leaning close to whisper in his ear like a grape.

“Done with the special novels, later I’ll take you to try the local specialty dishes,” he said, “Just like the ones I cook, the restaurants here should be more authentic.”

Jian Yuheng: “Alright.”

Song Ruochen led his alpha out of the school gates, arriving at a restaurant near the university, ordering several dishes Jian Yuheng seemed familiar with.

“Try it,” Song Ruochen said warmly, “Is it more authentic than what I cook?”

[Is yours not authentic? Yours is inhuman.]

“Rewind a few times, mine always come out alright,” Song Ruochen said.

Jian Yuheng tried the authentic hometown dishes of Song Ruochen for the first time and couldn’t help but take a few more bites.

They were very delicious, each seasoning just right, none in lethal amounts.

So grapes’ hometown also has quite a few delicacies.

That made him relieved; during the time he couldn’t see, Song Ruochen had grown up fairly happily.

“How is it?” Song Ruochen asked, “Restaurants I approve of basically won’t be bad.”

Jian Yuheng: “Delicious.”

Looks like this magical travel reward from the system is quite interesting, letting him see the grape world.

Hmm? Wait.

Jian Yuheng’s chopsticks froze mid-air, his brow slightly furrowing.

Song Ruochen: “What’s wrong?”

“Alpha’s rut seems to have started,” Jian Yuheng said.

Song Ruochen: “???”

It smells a bit like hawthorn.

[You can smell it?]

[To guarantee your travel experience, I gave you the original beta body.]

“I have a tiny rental nearby,” Song Ruochen said, “It’s just rut; an injection of suppressant will fix it.”

“Boss,” Song Ruochen turned, “Help us pay the bill.”

06

Near U University campus, in Song Ruochen’s grape greenhouse, the secretary was in a flurry.

“System, where’s the suppressant?” Song Ruochen asked, “The two rows I hung up, where did they go?”

[Uh…]

[You didn’t say to check them in when we left.]

“You didn’t ask me either,” Song Ruochen said, “You’re not really a rewind system, you’re a troublemaker system.”

[A bad pot fits a bad lid.]

[Whistling while looking away.jpg]

“What ingredients are needed to make alpha suppressant?” Song Ruochen asked calmly.

“?” Jian Yuheng asked, “Do you want me to get the ingredients now and develop it on-site?”

“Chewing together with you?” Song Ruochen asked, “Same soup, different medicine.”

“My stomach’s not a beaker,” Jian Yuheng said seriously.

[I think it’s fine, you two still have time to bicker.]

“Forget it,” Song Ruochen said, “We have evidence; you mark me temporarily.”

Jian Yuheng pulled him into his arms from behind, his neck warm — the other had kissed the side of his neck.

Jian Yuheng: “:o”

Jian Yuheng: “:O”

Jian Yuheng: “?”

“Ahaaah, let go!” The alpha’s canine teeth pressed against the fragile skin of Song Ruochen’s neck, who began to scream.

Forgot that the initial data the system gave him made this temporary marking not so easy.

Jian Yuheng held him tightly, still not giving up, lowering his head to bury in the neck, as if repeatedly confirming his omega scent; the alpha’s actions were urgent but not fierce, no more pain caused.

“System… end travel, start return.” Song Ruochen’s voice was a bit unsteady.

His body had long gotten used to the other’s touch; once the other got close, his heart rate uncontrollably sped up.

“Xiao Chen, little grape,” he heard Jian Yuheng’s low voice.

Better hurry, alpha’s rut he had felt several times, the red heat comes fast.

[Starting to end the grape world one-day tour, ending travel, please wait.]

[Command issued; return will take about 5 minutes.]

“So slow?” Song Ruochen asked.

The hawthorn is about to ripen.

“No problem,” the alpha’s slightly hoarse voice came, “What I like is you, the you from any world, however you are.”

It was never about AO attraction.

“Are you uncomfortable?” Song Ruochen asked.

Alpha’s rut isn’t easy to bear.

Jian Yuheng pointed at his mouth: “How about? Classmate Song kiss me.”

Song Ruochen leaned in, gently brushing his lips against the alpha’s.

“Why? Am I some suppressant?” He asked.

Jian Yuheng’s mouth curled up slightly: “You’re like that alpha let-loose potion.”

Song Ruochen: “…”

“Anything goes”, Jian Yuheng’s hands tightly gripped his waist, “Just be with me.”

More than the heat and desire from rut, AO pairs fear loneliness the most during this stage.

In Song Ruochen’s once small rental, they tightly embraced each other.

“Oh, right,” Song Ruochen suddenly looked up, “I remember some of the novels I read say beta can also be marked?”

“?” Jian Yuheng looked up too, “We can do that too; want to try forcing it?”

“Nononono…”

Afraid of pain.

[Time’s up, the double-person magical travel voucher has been used up.]

[Congratulations to both of you for enjoying a wonderful beta world trip, please wake up in your shared home.]

[Remember to give this system a good review!]

On the sofa, holding a bowl of yogurt, Song Ruochen opened his eyes.

The clock on the wall showed 8:30 pm, just one minute different from when he fell asleep.

It was like just a nap, but he did see a bit of Jian Yuheng’s past.

“Second young master?” he asked.

“Mm.” On the other side of the sofa, Jian Yuheng also opened his eyes.

“Your hometown is quite interesting,” Jian Yuheng said.

The you born there is interesting too.

Gradually, the faint scent of hawthorn drifted in, and Song Ruochen’s heartbeat quickened.

He pressed the bowl against his hot cheek, trying to cool down, while thoughts in his head fled back and forth.

“I forgot to tell you, Dr. Liu predicted my rut will come soon,” Jian Yuheng said, “But it’s good, it let me see the university student Song Ruochen.”

Taking him to the library to see novels, eating boxed lunches in the cafeteria — the young college boy.

“Come here, second young master,” Song’s secretary sat upright on the sofa, putting on a serious act, “Song secretary is going to work. How about helping solve the second young master’s rut first?”

The alpha’s gaze was burning hot.

Song Ruochen blinked a few times, turned his head slightly, and pulled down the collar of his pajamas: “Gently…”

07

Early morning, Jian Feng drove to the Xiaoshi Group, sitting early at his workstation.

The lower right corner of his computer screen showed a new email from Secretary Song—

President Jian’s schedule plan (revised)

Jian Feng curiously opened the mail.

Morning: same as first version.

Noon: same as second version.

Afternoon: a short trip with Yan Ci.

(Drafted by Jian Yuheng)

Jian Feng nodded and saved the very reasonable schedule plan.

Looks like his younger brother had a good trip.