FOBTS CH74

Chapter 74: I’m Definitely Gentler Than Him

“Good evening, everyone. Now on screen, flying right in the center, is player Jian Yuheng.” Yan Ci, who came to find Song Ruochen, also entered the surveillance room.

“Very good, he’s maintaining an excellent speed,” Yan Ci said. “Beautiful, he’s reached the 35th floor, just one more wave to go.”

Yan Ci: “He made it! Let’s congratulate Xiaoshi’s Second Young Master Jian Yuheng for successfully running up the stairs! Thank you for following this event.”

Yan Ci: “0v0”

“Xiao Ci, is that a professional habit?” Jian Feng asked.

“Maybe a little,” Yan Ci said. “It’s the off-season recently, no match commentary. I’m so bored I’m about to grow grass.”

“Let’s go, Jian-ge (Number One),” Yan Ci said, “I’m going to find Tao Bao, let’s go watch a movie.”

Jian Feng: “?”

The nickname suddenly wasn’t exclusive anymore.

Upstairs, at the tennis court’s viewing area, more and more employees gathered, watching and exclaiming—

“Secretary Song is so strong, not losing a single ball.”

“I know; he must be judging the ball’s trajectory from Assistant Gong’s serve motion.”

“Hexagonal warrior Song Secretary, is there anything he can’t do in this world?”

“Secretary Song is so amazing; he definitely knows everything.”

Swish swish swish, Jian Yuheng appeared several times at the tennis court’s entrance, then steadily stood beside the “Grape Fan Club.”

Since when did the company have so many Song Ruochen fans?

“Second Young Master also came to watch Secretary Song play ball?” An employee came over to chat.

Jian Yuheng: “Yeah, came to watch.”

These employees originally feared Jian Yuheng a lot, but ever since the company rumor spread that the Second Young Master and Secretary Song are dating, their fear of Jian Yuheng faded and was replaced by curiosity and admiration.

“Right,” Jian Yuheng said, “Secretary Song is very capable.”

The behind-the-scenes little secretary is clumsy but fun, while the main show’s Secretary Song is perfectly cold and indifferent.

Also, Song Ruochen is really pretty good — the little secretary is willing to try over and over to give everyone a reliable image of Secretary Song until he gets proficient.

Wait a minute.

Jian Yuheng: “:[”

Some attempts aren’t so smooth.

For example, last night, a flustered and awkward Song Ruochen scratched him several times. Saying it was to help, but Song Ruochen clearly wasn’t good at it, as if he had never been so close to someone before. The little secretary’s moves were clumsy and slow, his cheeks flushed red, which made Jian Yuheng extremely fond and anxious.

The little secretary dawdled and dodged, also skilled at slacking off anytime, and finally, unable to handle it, Jian Yuheng had to hold the other’s fair and beautiful hand himself…

[Hit him!]

[Beautiful! Good shot!]

[Oh, your A friend is here.]

Hair damp with sweat, Song Ruochen: “0.0I|”

“Hey, wasn’t Jian-ge downstairs just now?” Song Ruochen asked the system.

[Yeah, and you kept rewinding; maybe he’s sneaking up during your no-rewind volley moments?]

[…Very likely.]

[I’m crying, he really wants to see you.]

Song Ruochen turned his head and smiled at his boyfriend; Assistant Gong’s tennis ball suddenly zipped over and hit Song Ruochen’s head with a thud.

“Jian-ge, you’re here.” Song Ruochen made a “I’m done” hand gesture to Assistant Gong and walked toward Jian Yuheng.

The weather warmed up, and after a tennis match, Song Ruochen’s original white shirt was damp with sweat.

Jian Yuheng twisted open a bottle of mineral water and handed it to him.

[Rewind card pack credited: 10 minutes.]

Song Ruochen: “?”

Is Eight Treasures Porridge nearby?

[Yes.]

Song Ruochen raised the bottle, gulped down about half, and returned the bottle to Jian Yuheng.

Jian Yuheng, also sweating from the exercise, drank the half-drunk water in one go.

[Rewind card pack credited: 20 minutes.]

Song Ruochen: “…”

He turned his head; Yan Ci and Jian Feng were cozily leaning close, whispering with three little hearts above their heads.

“Grape!” Yan Ci said, “Let’s go watch a movie!”

Song Ruochen: “0.o?”

Alright then.

Since arriving in this ABO world, he hadn’t been to a cinema to watch a movie properly.

“Eldest Young Master is here; Second Young Master is here too,” Song Ruochen said, “Am I working overtime?”

Song Ruochen: “For the sake of Madam, I’ll give up the overtime pay.”

Jian Feng: “Thanks.”

Jian Yuheng: “…?”

Wake up.

You’ve fallen into the Grape Pit.

Song Ruochen ate the most famous roast chicken in A City, then was dragged by Yan Ci to the cinema.

“What movie are we watching?” Song Ruochen asked.

“This one.” Yan Ci pointed at the poster. “Adventure treasure hunt.”

Song Ruochen: “Wow.”

He liked it.

“What’s Mian Mian doing tonight?” Song Ruochen didn’t forget to check in.

“He’s attending a friend’s art exhibition,” Yan Ci said, “Maybe for Mian Fuzzy Monster, career is above all else.”

Song Ruochen: “…”

Tea Da Zao, a whole new variety.

“This ticket is yours,” Yan Ci gave it to him. “This one is for Second Young Master, couple seats, you two sit together.”

Song Ruochen: “Okay…”

The cinema seat layout in this ABO world was different from his original world. When he first entered, he froze for a moment. Jian Yuheng put his hand on his shoulder, holding popcorn in one hand and pushing him with the other, helping him find the seats.

After Song Ruochen settled down, he started munching popcorn.

“What flavor is yours?” Song Ruochen asked.

“Honeydew melon.” Jian Yuheng poured some into his box.

“Little brother,” Yan Ci criticized, “Why didn’t you feed him? Don’t you love him?”

Song Ruochen: “.”

Not to that extent; he’s just neurotic, not some fragile, sensitive grape.

However, he didn’t expect Jian Yuheng would actually… admit his mistake and change.

Jian Yuheng pinched a piece of popcorn and brought it to his mouth: “Ah—”

Song Ruochen: “:1”

Mmm, it tasted pretty good.

The movie started with the aroma of popcorn.

Song Ruochen ate a piece by himself, then opened his mouth to catch Jian Yuheng’s feeding, seamlessly switching while watching.

The movie was about a legend that in a distant city X, there was a treasure. An A and an O both set out to search for it. Along the adventure, they met and gradually went from rivals to lovers.

Not bad, pretty good, Da Zao really knows how to pick films. Song Ruochen focused seriously on the screen the whole time.

Until A pushed O down into a cramped basement, undoing O’s omega buttons one by one.

Song Ruochen: “Ah?”

[Screaming So thrilling!]

The camera work in this part of the movie was quite beautiful. It cleverly hid the key parts with shadows and angles, but just by watching the characters’ movements and the atmosphere, you could tell what was happening.

But—

Song Ruochen was a bit confused.

Weren’t they supposed to be in love? Why was the omega crying and struggling so much, and in the end still confessing to the alpha?

He kept watching calmly, eating his self-served popcorn and catching the popcorn fed to him.

“Hey,” said Jian Yuheng, “you’re biting my hand.”

Song Ruochen: “…”

His head buzzed, and the accumulated embarrassment instantly flushed his cheeks. Luckily, it was dark in the theater, so no one could see—

Jian Yuheng’s cool hand pressed against his cheek.

Maybe feeling the warmth on his face, Jian Yuheng chuckled softly.

“Secretary Song, you’re so innocent,” Jian Yuheng whispered, “getting all red just from watching?”

Song Ruochen: “No…”

“Alright, you’re blushing,” he said. “Go ahead, hit me.”

Song Ruochen heard Jian Yuheng laugh again. He didn’t pull his hand away but kept pinching his cheek, teasing him.

“It’s nothing,” Jian Yuheng said, “there’s no reason to be shy around me.”

Song Ruochen thought for a moment and shared his confusion with Jian Yuheng.

“Is this omega’s love for the alpha fake?” he asked. “Why does he keep struggling?”

Jian Yuheng: “??”

Song Ruochen waited for an explanation. Jian Yuheng stopped playing with his cheek and instead grabbed the hand Song Ruochen had lent him yesterday, pinching it as well.

“This is a full mark,” Jian Yuheng said. “It’s when the alpha leaves a permanent mark on the omega. There are a few moments during that when it can hurt a bit, and it’s more intense.”

Song Ruochen: “?”

Damn, that’s what it was. He loved reading about this part in stories.

But was this movie really not exaggerating?

It looked… kind of scary.

Jian Yuheng turned to see that Song Ruochen had turned into a timid little mess.

“What’s wrong?” Jian Yuheng said, half laughing, half exasperated. “It’s not a horror movie.”

“Scared of the full mark?” he teased.

“It’s not that scary,” Jian Yuheng said. “Keep watching.”

Song Ruochen looked ahead. The omega stopped struggling and happily kissed his alpha friend.

“See? I wasn’t lying,” Jian Yuheng whispered near his ear, “And when that day comes, I’ll definitely be gentler than him.”

The warmth on Song Ruochen’s face returned again.

[Cooling the brain]

[Burning feet.jpg]

[Us male college students get embarrassed so easily.]

[Rewind card package credited: 20 minutes.]

[Tsk.]

After the movie ended, the evening breeze blew softly, and Song Ruochen finally felt the heat on his cheeks ease a little.

“This movie’s pretty good,” Jian Feng said. “Xiao Ci really knows how to pick.”

Yan Ci grabbed Song Ruochen to collect movie merchandise at the front desk.

“Secretary Song, are you busy tomorrow?” Yan Ci asked. “Fuzzy Monster wants to invite you to the park to row boats. We’ll all go, you just row.”

“I’m a bit busy tomorrow,” Song Ruochen said. “I’ll find you guys after the Xiaoshi Xiao Ye product launch.”

“Okay, little grape, good luck,” Yan Ci said.

Song Ruochen said goodbye to Yan Ci and got into Jian Yuheng’s car.

“Are you planning to prepare for the launch tomorrow?” Jian Yuheng asked. “It’s coming soon. The time is tight for what you want to do.”

“Don’t worry, Young Master,” Song Ruochen said. “I might have to jump back a few times.”

Jian Yuheng: “Fine, jump back whenever.”

Tonight, with no help needed, Song Ruochen freed his hands and enjoyed a good night’s sleep, then ate a delicious breakfast made by Jian Yuheng before getting into the car that Gong Assistant sent.

Jian Yuheng watched the car leave, then started driving to work at Xiaoshi.

“Mr. Song,” Gong Assistant said in the car, “I read the promo script you sent me. It’s a bit crazy, but I want to see more.”

Gong Assistant: “I mean, after reading it all, I feel like my brain is broken.”

“Then you’ve improved,” Song Ruochen said. “A broken brain is still a brain — you’re growing.”

“Don’t you need to scold me twice a day to meet KPI? Or did I not hand in snacks today?” Gong Assistant shouted.

Song Ruochen smiled warmly.

Near Haochi Film City, Lu Yunye was already waiting there.

“You’re really slow,” Lu Yunye sneered.

“Are you that eager to film?” Song Ruochen asked.

Lu Yunye: “…”

“But still, thanks to Xiao Lu for joining Xiaoshi’s promo shoot,” Song Ruochen said politely. “Having a big star on board makes Xiaoshi proud.”

Lu Yunye: “Are you sure? I’m already too embarrassed to show my face.”

He was famous now, but like a joke—everyone laughed when they saw him.

But he had made a lot of money from the filming fees, like compensation for mental damage.

“Secretary Song is my guiding star in life,” Lu Yunye said. “Helping out is the least I can do.”

Song Ruochen: “:)”

“That three-minute script you sent me, it’s a bit hard to shoot,” Lu Yunye said. “Though I have experience, I’m not sure I can always perform well. Do we have enough time?”

“We do,” Song Ruochen said.

“Just keep trying until it’s right. I’ll pick the best takes to shape Xiao Lu’s character.”

“I got this, trust me,” Song Ruochen said.

—

On the other side of the city, Xiaoshi Group.

Jian Yuheng walked into the office, flopped on the sofa, and closed his eyes comfortably.

His long holiday had arrived.

Bang—the office door was pushed open by his brother.

“Brother,” Jian Feng scolded, “Are you just gonna do nothing all day?”

“Got something?”

“Yes,” Jian Feng said. “We need to go home together. Xiaoshi’s new product launch is coming up, and our distant relatives are all coming to help.”

Jian Yuheng: “0.o?”

“They used to hold you when you were little,” Jian Feng said. “They’ve been busy with other businesses and haven’t met for years. We should go see them.”

“Okay…”

It really had been a long time.

Jian Feng drove, taking Jian Yuheng home.

Rong Xin was standing at the gate waiting for them. “Good to have you back. It’s been many years. Don’t be distant with relatives. If Yuheng forgets anyone’s name, ask your brother.”

Jian Feng: “Eh, I don’t remember either.”

A few minutes later, the first relative arrived.

“This is a distant cousin uncle,” Rong Xin said.

Jian Yuheng: “Hello, uncle, long time no see.”

He felt a bit unfamiliar. He really should keep in touch with relatives more.

[Ding dang.]

Jian Yuheng: “…”

Here we go.

The cousin uncle got out of the car again.

[Ding dang.] X N

Jian Yuheng: “…”

Another car pulled up; three or four relatives got out.

Jian Feng: “Great.”

Totally strangers now. He planned to turn and ask his mom.

“Ah, hello, cousin aunt, Mrs. Chen, aunt,” Jian Yuheng greeted warmly and skillfully, “Business has been good recently.”

Jian Yuheng: “.”

Repeated meetings with relatives do help you get familiar.

Jian Feng: “?”

Jian Feng: “Brother, did you secretly contact relatives behind my back?”