RBNR Ch17: Arrogant But Reserved

That winter, seventeen-year-old Qin Bao won an award from a famous fashion magazine and, for the first time, entered the TOP 50 of the world’s authoritative model rankings. This time, he didn’t drop out the very next day like he did with the top 50 in the national server of that game.

On Christmas, he received an unsigned gift.

A bouquet of white tulips, and an invitation to the trial operation of the Chunshan Ski Resort.

Mama Tao asked with concern if he had a suitor, or if it was someone he knew, otherwise how could the items be delivered right to the house?

Qin Bao had a faint guess in his heart, but didn’t dare to be completely sure until he saw the handwriting on the invitation, truly confirming who the gift sender was.

The handwriting of his name on the invitation was exactly the same as the “I don’t have change, treating you to some candy” note in the toffee box last time. It was obviously written by the same person.

What did Feng Chengyu mean by this?

He guessed wildly. Was it a return gift because he had given him a bottle of perfume?

Mr. Qin came downstairs. Qin Bao hugged the small bouquet of flowers, holding the invitation as he walked upstairs. The father and son passed each other; Mr. Qin looked at him a few times but didn’t say anything.

Instead, Qin Bao himself felt inexplicably guilty, like he had acted as a thief again.

Not long after shooting the commercial last time, Qin Bao played himself in a movie.

It was still recommended by An Qingyan, who seemed like a noble benefactor suddenly appearing in his life, allowing him to see other possibilities. In that movie, Qin Bao played a model, with only three minutes of screen time in total.

During the summer, the movie hit the theaters at an incredible speed. For the media premiere, Qin Bao also received a few tickets.

Therefore, he gave tickets to everyone he knew who had free time, including Feng Chu… and asked him to pass one to Feng Chengyu. He wouldn’t take the ski resort invitation for nothing. Courtesy demands reciprocity, so this would be considered another return gift.

“Anyway, there are a lot of tickets. Tell him to come if he’s free, and forget it if he’s not,” Qin Bao said. “I might not even have time to go myself.”

He said this, but Qin Bao still went on the day of the premiere.

He wasn’t part of the main cast, so he didn’t go on stage. Sitting below, he looked over everyone around him, and finally confirmed—Feng Chengyu really didn’t come.

Just polite words, giving zero face indeed.

Qin Bao thought to himself.

Feng Chu explained, “My brother wanted to come, it’s just that his schedule is too tight, he really couldn’t get away.”

Qin Bao had heard Feng Chu mention that Feng Chengyu had outstanding political achievements in the municipal committee, rising rapidly, and planned to run for the Alliance Parliament this year.

“It doesn’t matter, I already said it. There are lots of tickets, giving it to him is the same as giving it to anyone else,” Qin Bao put on an unbothered front. “I just watched the movie, it’s not that great. Besides, I don’t even think my screen time adds up to three minutes.”

The movie indeed wasn’t that great. On the third day of its public release, a massive scandal erupted.

Qin Bao’s luck was a bit bad.

The director originally shot art-house films and enjoyed high prestige and fame in the film industry. This was his first time directing a commercial film, and one could tell he was a bit out of his element.

The movie’s word-of-mouth wasn’t good, and the box office was also less than ideal. The main cast promoted it all day on Flow, and even a minor role like Qin Bao was required to join the promotional campaign.

Who knew that what truly made the movie go viral wasn’t these promotions, but the tearful accusations of the director’s Beta wife. She contacted the media, throwing out video evidence exposing the director for cheating on her with the movie’s lead actor during her pregnancy, even secretly meeting for a vacation during the shoot. Now, that lead actor was also pregnant.

That lead actor was an A-list star, so the resulting public uproar could be imagined. Like an earthquake in the entertainment industry, related trending topics hung on Flow all day long, each followed by the word “Explosive.”

Only then did the old master learn of Qin Bao’s participation and scolded him fiercely.

Originally, Qin Bao had two other resources he was in contact with, but those were also ordered to stop. One of them had already signed a preliminary letter of intent. Brother Lu wasn’t a professional agent in this field and was left battered and exhausted trying to handle it.

One day, Qin Bao ran into Li Nanyue at an event. The other party had just filmed a web drama, and although only a few episodes had aired, it was highly popular.

Seeing Qin Bao, Li Nanyue looked him up and down and revealed a meaningful smile.

Thus, when Brother Lu advised Qin Bao, “Let’s not act in movies anymore,” Qin Bao firmly rejected it: “Act, why shouldn’t I act? If there’s an opportunity, accept it as you should. It wasn’t our fault, why should we cower?”

“But your development focus isn’t here, why bother?” Brother Lu said with a bitter face. “Although I have a license, there are many things I’ve never dealt with before…”

Qin Bao hadn’t thought that far ahead, but he disliked admitting defeat easily and said casually, “What’s there to be afraid of? When I become an adult, we’ll set up our own studio and hire a few more people. You can manage it then, and I’ll give you a big red envelope!”

Fighting for a breath of dignity is one thing; actually getting busy is another.

In February of the following year’s fashion week, Qin Bao walked a total of 42 shows, ranking among the top of Omega models. As a special guest, he once again participated in Marcos Malory’s show and closed it.

The capable do more work. This year, he entered the TOP 20 of the world’s authoritative model rankings, enjoying unparalleled glory.

The consequence of high-intensity work was a severe and sudden cold.

Qin Bao had a persistent high fever and coughed until it developed into pneumonia. He had to stop all work and be hospitalized to recuperate. Afraid of the old master finding out, everyone in the family except Ms. Rong was kept in the dark.

On his third day in the hospital, Qin Bao received a bouquet of white lilies, accompanied by a card wishing him a speedy recovery.

This time the words on the card were printed, yet he could guess who sent it.

Lilies, another bulbous flower.

The person sending this gift didn’t even need to specifically sign their name. While arrogant, they were also a bit secretly showy.

Was it a return gift for the movie ticket?

Qin Bao watched TV in his hospital room, only watching domestic political news, especially the Capital TV station.

When Xu Tangzhou came to visit, he thought Qin Bao was going to be bored to death and reached out to touch his head: “Your brain hasn’t been cooked by the fever, has it?”

“Go away, keep your hands to yourself.” Qin Bao put on his mask. “I probably caught this flu abroad, do you want to get infected?”

Xu Tangzhou didn’t mind. He opened a small pot of soup he had brought: “My brother asked me to bring this. He had the auntie at home make it, it’s good for the lungs and replenishing qi. Taste it, the soup this auntie makes is especially delicious.”

Qin Bao waved his hand, not wanting to take off his mask, planning to drink it after Xu Tangzhou left: “Your brother this, your brother that every day. It’s been so long and you still haven’t snagged him?”

Xu Tangzhou suddenly became shy: “Almost, I think.”

Qin Bao: “What does ‘almost’ mean?”

Xu Tangzhou’s cheeks turned red and his eyes sparkled: “It’s just… didn’t I plan to go live abroad with my mom a while ago? I mentioned it to you.”

“Yeah.”

“Then I went to say goodbye to him. As a result, he urged me to think clearly about whether I really like being a model, and also said the path is my own to choose, I don’t necessarily have to follow others’ arrangements.”

“I told you these things ages ago, I thought he’d have something different to say.” Qin Bao roasted him, “That’s it?”

“Of course not!” Xu Tangzhou hastily denied, his face turning even redder, “No! He said if I insisted on going, he would respect my choice, but I’m not allowed to date anyone else, because he reserved me first.”

Qin Bao felt so sour: “…”

I shouldn’t have asked!

As a result, Xu Tangzhou delivered another critical hit right to his face, whispering to him: “Also, we kissed yesterday.”

Qin Bao: “???”

That stimulating!

“It was different from what I thought, just a light touch of the lips.” Xu Tangzhou was extremely shy himself, but still gossiped about the other, “He’s so innocent, he didn’t even use tongue.”

Qin Bao: “…………”

A male university student Alpha who doesn’t use tongue when kissing, how magical. Are you sure this isn’t some ‘lure them in first, then kill them’ routine!

“Anyway, I’m not planning to go abroad with my mom,” Xu Tangzhou said. “I promised to stay, strive to improve my grades, and see if I can get into a university in the capital next year for the college entrance exams.”

Qin Bao was one grade above him and would soon face the college entrance exams.

Xu Tangzhou knew Qin Bao was under a lot of pressure, so he finally stopped bringing up his brother and cheered Qin Bao on: “You have to do your best, but also relax a bit. With your grades, your chances of getting into a good university are definitely much higher than mine! When the time comes for me to study in the capital, we can hang out every weekend.”

Qin Bao: “We? You’re so love-brained, I’m afraid by then you won’t even know who Qin Bao is.”

A good friend getting into a relationship was something that made one both happy and lost.

It was like a cherished, singular treasure being discovered by someone else, and you could no longer fully possess it.

After Xu Tangzhou left, the TV station finally broadcasted the news Qin Bao wanted to see.

The Alliance University Games were about to be held in the capital. University athletes from all countries in the Alliance would participate. It was a grand event, and Feng Chengyu attended the opening ceremony as a representative of the municipal committee.

As the camera zoomed in, that figure from the photo in his phone appeared on the screen. As his name was read out, cheers erupted in the venue, and simultaneously, the internet blew up.

[Feng Chengyu? Is it the Feng family I’m thinking of! [Frantic screaming]]

[Yes yes yes! Wake up people, the person standing next to him is Feng Ruian.]

[A star-chasing dog whose life is full of collapsing houses (scandals) sheds a tear, [Crying loud][Crying loud] the country’s own surely can’t collapse, right!]

[The Feng family truly lives up to being the beautiful flower of the Alliance, passed down for a hundred years! The old Marshal’s looks were so competitive, and this generation hasn’t disappointed everyone either! I’m cured again!]

[Just checked public information, unmarried single Alpha, you’re welcome!]

[Hot knowledge: he is running for Alliance Parliament Member, is there anyone who still doesn’t know? Go vote [pointing fingers]]

[Alliance Parliament Member? The Feng family is making big moves, their ambition is about to burst out, hey.]

[What? Vote? I’ll vote, I’ll vote, okay?]

Any Alliance citizen over fourteen years of age could vote.

Qin Bao found the link to the Alliance’s official website, filled in his identity information, and cast a vote for Feng Chengyu.

Regardless of whether that guy surnamed Feng knew it or not, in short, this would be his return gift for the lilies!

Perhaps the scent of the lilies was too strong; Qin Bao slept restlessly that night. He started running a fever again, sweating profusely all over, groggily feeling like he was going to melt into the bedsheets.

His body felt very empty, and his heart felt very empty too, as if he were suspended mid-air, trying to land on the ground time and time again.

He half-opened his eyes and could feel someone beside him. Medical staff were pushing an injection into his arm with a needle. Perhaps the injection took effect, as he finally found relief and fell into a deep, sweet slumber.

When he woke up, Ms. Rong was sitting by his bed, smiling: “Awake?”

“Mom, what happened to me?”

As soon as Qin Bao spoke, he found his voice was severely hoarse, and his body felt waves of weakness.

“Did I get a fever again?”

The doors and windows in the hospital room were tightly shut, and the bedding had all been changed. The air was filled with the smell of his own pheromones.

Qin Bao felt something was strange.

Ms. Rong helped him sit up and replied, “Yes. Fortunately, we discovered it in time. The doctor gave you suppressants, and your fever has broken now.”

Suppressants?

He was stunned, but then saw Ms. Rong take out a small box. Opening it, inside was an exquisite choker.

“Last night you had your first heat,” Ms. Rong patted his head. “Congratulations, son, you are about to become an adult.”