RBNR Ch14: How to win this person over?

Qin Bao was in a good mood after getting the watch. Since he couldn’t wear it, he kept it on him and took it out to look at from time to time.

Brother Lu was terrified upon seeing this, deeply afraid someone would notice it.

Qin Bao thought about this more clearly than Brother Lu: “Don’t worry, didn’t they say Baufini only made that one piece? It was never made public, so even if someone sees it, they won’t recognize it.”

Brother Lu realized he was right. “True.”

Qin Bao rested for a month and was fed back a few pounds of flesh by the old master. He was still slender, but not as skinny as he was a while ago to cater to extreme aesthetics. He originally had a baby face; with his face a bit rounder, he looked even more exquisite, making Brother Lu dream back to the year he was thirteen.

At that time, Qin Bao had participated in the auditions, and the organizers assigned agents to them by group to prepare for the upcoming stages. The other models were all holding their forms and looking for people, but only he waited quietly in place. When Brother Lu called his number, he walked over, his demeanor arrogant: “Am I with you?”

During this month, Qin Bao had bailed on quite a bit of work. Aside from the higher-ups, no one at SISI knew the reason. Seeing him suddenly return, they were all a bit surprised; even Su He glanced at him several times.

A few higher-ups called Brother Lu and Qin Bao for a small meeting.

Director Leo said, “Your rest during this period is actually just right. A few months ago, we were still discussing your future development direction. You are currently registered under a youth model profile and follow youth model standards. Adult Omega model standards are different. The International Modeling Association currently enforces that adult models over 1.8 meters tall and under 62 kilograms are not allowed on the runway, adding one kilogram for every additional centimeter in height.”

Qin Bao said, “I know.”

After he grew to 1.8 meters, he had secretly held himself to this set of standards.

“Good that you know,” Leo said. “You’re about to turn sixteen, and your height has exceeded 1.8 meters. It’s time to transition. Next month we will re-register your profile for you.”

Qin Bao frowned. “So soon? What about the work I accepted before?”

Registering a model profile according to adult Omega standards meant he would break away from youth brands and certain unique resources under top luxury brands, entering the real arena to compete with all models.

Leo: “Previous work will still proceed according to the contract plans. I suggest you adapt to the new standards as soon as possible.”

Until the meeting was dismissed, Qin Bao kept a dark face, understanding in his heart what was going on.

They said they wanted to register under new standards, but actually, there was no need to rush so much; waiting until seventeen or even eighteen would still be in time. Because of the age advantage, youth Omega models with heights comparable to adult models had excellent proportions and were scarce resources. Agencies would normally be eager to register them later; some agencies would even intentionally delay it.

Regarding the reason, Brother Lu also knew it well in his heart, and advised, “You have a small frame and your head-to-body ratio is absolutely stunning. Gaining some weight won’t affect it at all. Haven’t you seen the comments about you online? They all say you are a real-life BJD (Ball-Jointed Doll).”

Qin Bao hadn’t searched for himself online in a long time.

When he first entered the industry, the company registered a Flow account for him. Like other models in the same company, it carried a prefix, named “SISI Qin Bao.”

“BJD?” Qin Bao sneered, mocking himself. “I’ll become a UFO soon.”

Brother Lu said, “The old master is also just caring about you. Actually, during your resting period, I thought you were going to terminate your contract. I couldn’t sleep well every day. To have this result, I’m truly letting out a huge breath of relief. The old master really gave you plenty of space.”

Qin Bao didn’t know what to say, but in short, he couldn’t bring himself to be happy.

Brother Lu had a good mindset and a glib tongue: “Plus, you don’t need to be anxious at all. Although the transition is sudden, at worst it’s just a blank window period for a while. With your conditions, you don’t need to fear competing with adult models. You’ll have to go sooner or later anyway.”

Qin Bao wasn’t afraid, he just didn’t like this forced change. It was as if he was walking perfectly fine on a road and got squeezed out by a car, forcing him to take another path.

He said petulantly, “Got it. I’ll go back and binge eat and drink, and blow up by a hundred pounds.”

“No need to binge eat either, you still have to add in exercise.” Brother Lu smiled and patted his back. “Haven’t you not been to dance class for a long time? Move around while improving your diet, shoot some videos or something. I saw some fans say they want to see you dance.”

What exactly had happened online during this time?

In his free time, Qin Bao logged into his Flow account. He didn’t remember his password and had to recover it for quite a while. He found that his original ten thousand or so followers had multiplied dozens of times, approaching a million, and his inbox was bursting with direct messages.

His dance video from the competition’s backstage interviews, photos of him at various shows, his personal outfits, and his school had all been thoroughly dug up by fans. No wonder even if he left school early recently, there was always a crowd at the school gate, and people would point their phones at him to take pictures when he took the subway.

His latest Flow post was from a few months ago, a photo of a chicken sandwich with only a “flexing arm” emoji as the caption.

The comments underneath were all very new, mostly accompanied by photos of him.

[Bao! Mommy loves you, mwah mwah mwah!]

[Bao Bao is so beautiful (huff huff), want to raise goldfish in Bao Bao’s collarbones (lick)]

[Does BB really like this ugly canvas bag? He’s carried it so many times, BB carries it so beautifully, I want the same one]

[I’m different, I want to buy doll clothes in the same style for Bao.]

[Don’t lose any more weight! You’re already skinny enough! Please, someone regulate the modeling industry, have pity on the child!]

[QAQ Eat more food! How can a sandwich be enough! Go eat hotpot! BBQ! Big Plate Chicken! Bao Bao is still a baby! He needs to eat all the delicious food in the world!]

[Feeding Guo Bao Rou (Sweet and Sour Pork)!]

[Feeding big chicken legs! Crawfish!]

……

Qin Bao was a bit bewildered by this spectacle. He picked one to reply to: [I don’t like eating crawfish.]

Then he turned to open his direct messages.

To his surprise, aside from confessions and encouragement from fans, there were also olive branches extended by various companies. Besides asking about his modeling agency contract, there were also inquiries about artist contracts. They were like hungry jackals smelling a delicious piece of cake, eager to get a slice. He had no interest.

But some direct messages were just disgusting. They were photos sent by Alphas, with lewd language, sexually harassing the teenage Omega across the internet.

“Fierce Alpha, very big.”

“Can last ten hours, can provide non-stop accompaniment during your heat cycle.”

“You look like you smell so good, gege is very good at biting.”

Qin Bao was no pushover. He sent back an internationally friendly emoji (a middle finger): “You can’t bite it.”

The foul atmosphere of the internet couldn’t affect Qin Bao’s mood. He was just a model; once he turned off his phone, he forgot about it. Doing his homework seriously was more important.

Exams were coming up, and he couldn’t afford to drop the ball here again.

But after getting Feng Chengyu’s exact watch model, he still felt a bit dissatisfied in his heart.

What exactly was wrong? Was it because, although the watch’s functions were exactly the same, to protect privacy, it hadn’t actually been programmed with the wearer’s DNA and pheromone information during customization? He was an Omega, adding it would be useless anyway.

Moreover, Ms. Rong was right; the watch really was a bit too big for him.

One day passing by the old master’s study, he suddenly smelled a waft of narcissus fragrance.

The weather had turned cold. The capital seemed to have no autumn, only summer and winter. The narcissus on the old master’s desk had bloomed for a second season. Its posture was proud, standing gracefully and upright. It wasn’t as light and elegant as when it first bloomed; the fragrance was strong and rich.

Right, it must be missing that faint fragrance.

So he found a custom perfume shop online and had a men’s cologne customized with narcissus.

He wore a white shirt, put on the watch, stood in front of the bronze full-length mirror, and mimicked Feng Chengyu’s look from the photos, putting on a cold expression. As a model, he had long grown accustomed to his own advantages; clothing and accessories were merely foils on his body.

But it still wasn’t right.

Wearing this watch, he truly didn’t look as good as Feng Chengyu did.

Recalling the other’s solid and powerful arm, he thought irritably, It’s not like I can chop off an identical arm, right?

For a moment of distraction, he seemed to really see Feng Chengyu standing in the mirror.

His heartbeat quickened again, and even the glands on the back of his neck started throbbing. His whole body flushed with heat. Qin Bao stood there in a panic. He finally, belatedly, realized a fact: he seemed to have fallen for Feng Chengyu.

Help.

The guy hadn’t even looked him straight in the eye.

Could I possibly have some masochistic tendencies?

But that feeling couldn’t be denied; it was exactly what Xu Tangzhou had described.

So the brain really would repeatedly recall the details of their interactions, would secretly take photos of him, would compete with him, would want to attract his attention, would want to imitate him and possess what he possessed.

But what to do?

They hadn’t even truly met many times, there was a huge age gap, and their social circles were completely different. It was almost impossible for him to have another chance to interact with the other party.

Falling for someone for the first time in his life, Qin Bao was frustrated and confused. He tossed and turned in bed all night trying to confirm this matter. Waking up early the next day with dark circles under his eyes, he came to a conclusion: Feng Chengyu was a bit old for him.

Which meant: One, Feng Chengyu might already have someone he’s dating. Two, if he didn’t, if he didn’t make a move soon, he very likely would.

The most important thing was—an Alpha who wasn’t sleazy, wasn’t greasy, had class, and smelled good was the truly scarce resource!

Here came the problem: how could he get his hands on the guy?

The entire sophomore year was taking exams all day. Qin Bao’s exams went relatively smoothly.

The exam wasn’t over yet, but seeing him put down his pen, the invigilating teacher signaled that he was allowed to leave first.

Qin Bao left the classroom early, but didn’t leave the school gates. He called to ask where Tu Yisen was and headed towards the gymnasium. Inside the gym, several upperclassmen Alphas were playing basketball, the smell of pheromones mixed with the stench of sweat scattering in the air.

“Watch out!” someone shouted.

A ball flew right at his face.

Qin Bao was just about to cover his nose. He raised his hand, caught it, and smoothly tossed it back.

The person who made the errant throw forgot to catch the ball after getting a clear look at his face, getting hit by it instead, and apologized with a red face, “S-sorry.”

Qin Bao didn’t say anything and turned to find Tu Yisen and the others.

The school team members were practicing on the equipment on the other side and also saw Qin Bao. Feng Chu was even more enthusiastic than Tu Yisen, trotting over, “Qin Bao! Want to eat dinner together tonight? Tu Yisen happens to have something to announce.”

They all knew Qin Bao liked to eat, eat, and eat recently.

Qin Bao came specifically to find Feng Chu, so he didn’t beat around the bush with him, calling his name, “Feng Chu.”

Qin Bao had no expression on his face, making Feng Chu think something had happened.

As a result, Qin Bao’s next sentence was a question: “Is your brother dating anyone?”

Caught off guard, Feng Chu was dumbfounded: “…Ah?”

Qin Bao got straight to the point, asking even more clearly, “I’m asking if your brother is currently dating anyone, does he have a boyfriend, or a girlfriend?”

Having heard clearly, Feng Chu hastily shook his head. “No! How could he! He doesn’t! He’s single!”

Qin Bao felt a little relieved. Based on the principle of knowing one’s enemy as oneself, he asked another question: “What about before? Has he dated anyone before? Was it a Beta or an Omega? What types were they?”

__

Author’s note:

I made up the model standards myself. Looking at it this way, the ABO world needs six restrooms, and model standards also need six sets.

Oh no, adding youth models, that makes twelve sets of standards (enough of this).