RBNR Ch45: Young people are full of passion

Starting from the sofa, trailing all the way up the staircase, to the threshold of the second-floor bedroom… garments were strewn in utter disarray.

The duvet bunched around Qin Bao’s waist. He was sprawled face-down toward the foot of the bed with his feet resting over the pillows, a fine sheen of sweat coating his back. Feng Chengyu bore down over him, sharp canines piercing the skin of his nape once again.

The Alpha was completely unreasonable.

One second, Feng Chengyu had been tenderly stroking his hair; the next, he had seized his jaw to turn his face and kissed him with a demanding, raw ferocity.

Qin Bao had resisted, but with their compatibility so exceptionally high, he had ended up swept off his feet, thoroughly kissed into a compliant daze.

He offered only limp, token shoves.

Right at the landing of the stairs, Feng Chengyu had bitten down. The instant pheromones flooded into the gland, his body went traitorously limp, the Alpha’s essence diffusing through his scent gland to saturate every limb and bone.

It was torturous, yet intoxicatingly euphoric.

Every hollow void was filled to overflowing, settling into an unspeakable, warm comfort.

How could Qin Bao possibly resist?

Their compatibility was simply too high.

Before leaving last time, mindful of having to film the collar commercial, he hadn’t allowed Feng Chengyu to bite down. Having forced his Alpha instincts into suppression, Feng Chengyu’s unsatisfied desires had flared into vindictiveness, leaving petty bite marks scattered all over him.

What Qin Bao found too humiliating to admit was that he hadn’t had an easy time either.

Deprived of that pheromone exchange, he had been persistently irritable with a throbbing scent gland, plagued by restless dreams night after night.

Returning home stripped away all hesitation, leaving them free to indulge in a complete exchange of pheromones. Still, this man’s appetite was truly staggering… unable to exchange two civil words before his mind went straight to sex!

It was like an addiction.

As if under a spell, both of them were thoroughly dictated by their pheromones.

Utterly corrupt.

Qin Bao rolled over and straddled him on his own.

When he woke, it was eight o’clock the next morning. Opening his eyes, he saw Feng Chengyu was already awake and dressing in the walk-in closet.

A crisp white dress shirt, tailored suit trousers—every stitch pressed to immaculate perfection. Paired with that cool, handsome visage, he looked the very definition of ascetic restraint. He didn’t look like someone who had just climbed out of bed in the slightest; he looked ready to step straight into an Alliance press conference.

“Did you sleep well?”

Hearing movement, Feng Chengyu met his eyes through the mirror.

“We can head out shortly.”

Spoken in a tone of strict formality—an outsider would think they barely knew each other.

Four words abruptly popped into Qin Bao’s mind: a beast in fine clothing.

“Can we go tomorrow instead?” Qin Bao’s pale blonde hair was a disheveled nest, utterly devoid of any urge to move. “I love this feeling, it’s so decadent. I want to eat my meals in bed and never get up again.”

Feng Chengyu was fastening his tie, his posture graceful and spine ramrod straight: “I can feed you in bed tomorrow.”

Qin Bao: “…”

Even though the context clearly meant feeding him food, could he please refrain from phrasing things like that with that face!

The Qin family was not only feudal in some ways, but also deeply traditional in others. Originally, custom dictated they return home for a formal newlywed visit a week after the wedding. But because their schedules had clashed and one thing after another had cropped up, the visit had been postponed for over a month.

Feng Chengyu’s side had originally made plans as well; with a family clan that vast, a post-wedding banquet was unavoidable. Luckily, Professor Feng and his wife were severely introverted and loathed social hassles, deflecting the banquet so that both families could meet at the Qin residence to wrap everything up in a single meal.

Aligning with Qin Bao’s return to the country, everyone had specifically cleared their schedules.

Bailing on this meal out of sheer laziness was unjustifiable on every level.

Qin Bao had no choice but to drag himself out of bed and head into the walk-in closet to change.

Seeing him enter the sprawling space, Feng Chengyu paused, his gaze sweeping lightly over Qin Bao’s bare legs.

The skin was peppered with all manner of marks. Qin Bao grew instantly guarded, yanking the oversized T-shirt down to cover his thighs: “What are you staring at?!”

Staring any longer and the beast was bound to rear its head again!

Just as he was frantically rummaging for clothes, a long arm looped around his waist from behind.

Qin Bao’s knees went weak: “Feng Chengyu?!”

“Hold still, let me put a scent patch on you,” Feng Chengyu murmured calmly. “Keep moving and I make no guarantees.”

The man wasn’t even bothering with a facade anymore.

The fine hairs on Qin Bao’s back stood on end, forcing him to stand obediently still: “…I can stick it on myself.”

Feng Chengyu ignored him, running his tongue meticulously over the puncture wound first, using the healing factors in an Alpha’s saliva to soothe the Omega’s tender gland. Anticipating that his legs would give way, his arm held Qin Bao’s waist in a firm, steady cradle the entire time.

Only then did Feng Chengyu release him with gentlemanly poise.

Qin Bao fought off the lingering tingling numbness, his hands flying out to brace against the cabinet just to keep himself upright: “…”

With the patch secured, Feng Chengyu turned to slide open an accessory drawer, sifting through the tie clips. His well-defined fingers traced across the selection before coming to rest on the one at the very bottom.

Qin Bao noticed Feng Chengyu had selected the one he had bought.

After catching his breath, he bit his lip, unable to suppress his curiosity: “Didn’t you say you disliked that one?”

Judging by Feng Chengyu’s reaction back in Grodie, he had clearly disliked it. What wire in his head had suddenly crossed?

“You bought it specifically for me.” Facing the mirror, Feng Chengyu pinned it into place. “Why wouldn’t I like it?”

So Feng Chengyu had known all along.

Who squealed?

Definitely Ms. Rong.

“What do you mean, ‘specifically’? I grabbed it on a whim.” Qin Bao abandoned the denial, hastily turning back to rifle through his clothes with an air of deadpan seriousness. “Consider it a return gift for the motorcycle helmet you bought me.”

He felt the heavy weight of Feng Chengyu’s gaze burning into his back.

Then, he heard Feng Chengyu chuckle softly, murmuring, “Received.”

Because they intended to stay overnight at the Qin residence, Feng Chengyu drove his personal vehicle that day—a sleek gray sports sedan, far less somber and imposing than his official fleet.

Had it not been for his political career, someone of Feng Chengyu’s age would be in the prime of his youthful swagger. Take Best Actor Ying Chen, who lived in the same villa compound; Qin Bao often spotted him cruising around in his flashy blue sports car.

This was Qin Bao’s first time riding in Feng Chengyu’s personal car.

The interior was spotless, pristine as if straight off the assembly line, devoid of any unnecessary clutter. Evidently, no one else had occupied the passenger seat before.

Given his recent surge in media exposure and being in Feng Chengyu’s company, Qin Bao wore a bucket hat, pulling the brim low to conceal half his face while catching up on sleep in the passenger seat.

The car audio was playing a track that had recently topped the charts, performed by a singer named Ling Che.

Tiny fragments adrift within the galaxy,

A brief spark flared as they collided.

Your silhouette spans light-years apart,

Kindling the dying embers of my soul.

Circling a ring deep within the stars,

An orbit anchored for billions of years.

Helpless against the urge to draw a little closer,

Yet the more impulsive I become, the farther you drift away…

“Bao Bao.”

Feng Chengyu gently woke him.

“We’re home.”

Qin Bao opened his eyes. The male vocals drifting through the speakers were sorrowful and tender, casting an unexpected warmth over Feng Chengyu’s presence. Locking eyes with those dark irises while steeped in the melody, Qin Bao felt his heartbeat falter.

Why call me Bao Bao out of nowhere…

He averted his gaze, looking out to see the chaste tree planted by the Qin entrance bursting with lavender blossoms.

It was late summer. This marked the longest stretch Qin Bao had ever spent away from this house. A strange sense of unreality washed over him—he was truly… married now.

Stepping out of the vehicle, Feng Chengyu unloaded an array of luxury gifts from the trunk. Qin Bao hadn’t realized when he had prepared them all, and glancing at his own empty hands, he felt a prickle of embarrassment.

How was he ever going to repay these favors to Feng Chengyu?

The cars belonging to Ms. Rong and the Feng family had already pulled up. Hearing an engine, Ms. Rong stepped out in high heels to greet them: “Bao’er, Chengyu!”

Beaming with joy, the air felt genuinely like an authentic newlywed homecoming.

Qin Bao offered his greetings, only for Feng Chengyu to speak up smoothly: “Mom.”

Never having heard him use that address in person since the wedding, Ms. Rong let out a delighted gasp, covering her mouth with a laugh: “I knew Bao’er had great taste. That tie clip suits you wonderfully.”

Saying so, she moved to help Feng Chengyu carry the parcels.

Case closed—it had indeed been Ms. Rong who spilled the beans.

Compounded together, Qin Bao’s face flushed bright crimson. Lowering his head, he snatched several gift bags from Feng Chengyu’s hands, muttering stiffly, “I’ve got it.”

Mr. Qin and Professor Feng’s party emerged as well, giving the two returning juniors a grand welcome. Amidst laughter and lively chatter, they asked if they had run into traffic, and whether Qin Bao was exhausted from working away from home for so long.

Remaining silent any longer would be thoroughly disrespectful.

With a face red as a beet, Qin Bao forced out a greeting: “Dad, Mom, hello.”

Professor Feng paused, his cheeks tinting pink: “Ah, good child.”

Too shy to offer overly affectionate words, Professor Lin linked her arm through Qin Bao’s: “Your grandfather has asked after you several times now, craning his neck waiting for your return.”

Qin Bao grumbled inwardly: Grandpa was probably craning his neck waiting for a chance to beat me with his cane!

Yet when the party stepped into the main hall, Old Master Qin was actually all smiles, never uttering a single syllable about the drama from the group chat. Both maternal grandparents were present as well, and the three elders produced thick red envelopes to press into the hands of the two newlyweds.

“Splendid, splendid. Cherish one another, and grow old together in harmony!”

“Mutual respect and devotion!”

“Soaring side by side in perfect unity…”

Following tradition, the two knelt to accept the red envelopes.

Feng Chengyu stood first, extending a hand down toward Qin Bao. Qin Bao swatted his hand away and scrambled up on his own, drawing another round of amused chuckles from the family.

What was so funny!

Ever since stepping through the door, the heat on Qin Bao’s face had refused to cool down.

Lunch was served. The elders chatted about domestic trivialities, mentioning that the two young people were constantly swamped with work with no one to look after them, offering to scout out suitable domestic help and a private driver for their household.

“No need, I’m taking driving lessons. I’ll have my license next month.”

Qin Bao knew Feng Chengyu already had official drivers for his commute, meaning the arrangement was intended primarily for himself.

The old master said, “Learning to drive is good. Having a license makes things much more convenient. Is there a car you fancy? Grandpa will buy it for you.”

His maternal grandfather set his chopsticks down immediately, cutting in: “Let’s order one directly. For Xiao Bao to drive, it needs to be steady and boast top-tier safety specs. I’ll have an automotive expert configure the best build and deliver it straight to you.”

The old master bristled: “Old Man Rong, do I know so little about vehicles that I need you consulting outsiders?”

Grandfather: “Naturally, you were a general, so you understand heavy machinery. But having an extra comparison won’t hurt. How about I bring you the spec sheet first so you can look it over?”

Meddling in this too.

Qin Bao frowned: “Neither of you needs to buy anything. It’s not what you think, I already have—”

“We already have a vehicle in mind, and we’re currently finalizing the details,” Feng Chengyu cut in smoothly with an easy smile. “Thank you, Grandpa. Thank you, Grandfather.”

Beneath the table, Feng Chengyu gave Qin Bao’s hand a subtle squeeze, shooting him a quick glance.

Qin Bao caught on instantly.

At a time like this, how could he possibly blurt out that he planned to commute on a motorcycle, and had already parked the beast in his garage? They probably wouldn’t even be able to finish this meal.

True to someone who spent all day in committee meetings with old fogies, Feng Chengyu was indeed cunning.

“There’s no need for domestic help either. Aside from breakfast, we rarely dine at home,” Feng Chengyu added with polished tact. “As for breakfast… we’re accustomed to preparing it together. Xiao Bao has been learning to make simple meals, and I know my way around the kitchen too. Now that we’re married, we prefer learning to manage an independent household.”

Hearing that the two wanted to learn self-reliance, the elders had no further objections.

Professor Lin approved completely. Disliking extravagance by nature, she backed them up: “Indeed, Chengyu started cooking for himself at a very young age. Back when I was swamped with work, I even ate meals Chengyu prepared.”

Ms. Rong was visibly surprised: “Bao’er, you know how to make breakfast too?”

“Mama Tao taught him,” Feng Chengyu said. “He knows how to make multigrain porridge now.”

Acting like he knows me so well.

Qin Bao felt an inexplicable wave of bashfulness: “Yeah.” Then, playing along smoothly to keep up the loving facade, he added, “Feng Chengyu taught me how to fry eggs too.”

Revealing just these sparse details of their domestic life had the elders beaming with delight, unable to wipe the grins from their faces as the meal unfolded in total warmth.

The meal stretched on for a full two hours, carrying straight into the afternoon.

Aside from Qin Bao and Feng Chengyu, who were staying overnight, the others prepared to head home.

They saw off Professor Feng and his wife first. The two academics weren’t ones for emotional displays, merely urging them to find time to visit for dinner. Their dynamic was remarkably courteous; when Professor Feng held the car door open for Professor Lin, she thanked him twice over.

Then came seeing off Ms. Rong and his maternal grandparents.

Remembering his run-in with Mu Xian in Grodie, Qin Bao brought it up with Ms. Rong, who was taken aback: “How is he doing these days?”

“Very well. He’s thriving. I commissioned two bespoke suits from him,” Qin Bao said. “He asked me to pass along his regards.”

Ms. Rong fell into a pensive daze, sighing: “It’s been almost four or five years since I last saw him. I never expected that child would have the grit to truly persevere. Whereas I…”

Qin Bao comforted her: “There will always be opportunities in the future.”

Ms. Rong nodded.

The two trailed slightly behind, while Feng Chengyu walked ahead flanking the maternal grandparents.

Watching the young Alpha’s tall back, Ms. Rong asked softly, “Bao’er, are you happy?”

“I have work, and I have food to eat.” Qin Bao curled the corner of his lips. “I’d call that happy, wouldn’t you?”

He knew that across the world, there were many who couldn’t even dream of securing those two basic rights—like the displaced refugees of Feilu. By comparison, how could he claim to be unhappy?

Hearing this, Ms. Rong flashed a knowing smile: “I think so too. Chengyu not only champions your career, but he’s deeply attentive to you. Seeing the two of you so affectionate brings me immense peace.”

Qin Bao found her reaction entirely baffling.

Later in the afternoon, Qin Bao kept his grandfather company over chess. The old master remained absent-minded throughout the entire game, allowing Qin Bao to pull off an unexpected victory. Puzzled, Qin Bao asked, “Grandpa, did you let me win on purpose?”

Ever since their major fallout, it was rare for grandfather and grandson to share such a harmonious moment.

Although both knew a thorn lingered in their hearts, neither brought it up.

Attempting to lighten the mood—and prove himself right in the process—the old master beamed: “Look at the two of you. Everything turned out splendidly, so loving and devoted. Back then you kicked up such a fuss refusing to marry, yet look at you now—radiant and glowing, clearly well-cherished.”

Qin Bao: “?”

The old master added with delicate discretion: “Bao’er, though you’re married, you’re still young after all. When it comes to children, it’s best to wait a few years.”

The man who had wielded an iron fist during the forced betrothal was now speaking with earnest, grandfatherly gravitas, even rubbing his nose self-consciously.

“Young people are like dry tinder and open flames, we understand that completely. But when your heat cycle arrives, you two must remember to use proper contraception—”

Catching his drift, Qin Bao shot up from his seat, his entire face burning like a raging furnace: “Grandpa!”

Save me.

Why don’t any of these elders use suppressants?!!!