RBNR Ch2: Qin Family’s Xiao Bao

Waking up, Qin Bao found himself alone in the room again.

He sat on the bed in a daze for a moment, then pulled out his phone and typed furiously to send a message to Xu Tangzhou: [I really didn’t wash the bayberries for Li Nanyue.]

The other side had a rehearsal and was probably busy, so there was no reply.

Today was Sunday, and Qin Bao’s schedule was exceptionally tight; he had to rush back to make an appearance at the old man’s birthday banquet. The consequence of chatting all night with his friend was oversleeping. Not daring to delay, he checked out of the hotel without a break and headed straight to the airport.

There was a traffic jam on the way, and by the time he arrived at the airport, there were only five minutes left before boarding.

Fortunately, finding the luggage Li Nanyue had touched dirty, he hadn’t brought anything else this time, carrying only a large backpack. Wearing a mask, he dashed toward the boarding gate like the wind.

As the last person to board the plane, it was inevitable that he drew the attention of the other passengers.

Qin Bao hadn’t removed his makeup properly last night, and his blue-grey hair ends were still dotted with gold glitter. He knew he looked a bit travel-worn and disheveled right now, but wasn’t the Alpha in the neighboring seat staring at him for a bit too long?

Qin Bao didn’t want to pay attention to him at first. Once the plane leveled out, he pulled out his homework and started single-mindedly solving math problems.

However, the scent of an Alpha’s pheromones gradually intruded into his nasal cavity.

The person next to him was releasing it on purpose.

Qin Bao assessed him from the corner of his eye. The man was in his thirties, with a slightly greasy physique. His eyes were fixed on Qin Bao, his desire to strike up a conversation itching for action.

The stinky pheromone scent grew thicker and thicker.

Qin Bao had seen many people like this. He endured it for a while until it became truly unbearable, then smack, he closed his homework, yanked down his mask, and turned to ask bluntly, “Have you stared enough?”

Getting a clear look at his face, the man seemed visibly startled.

Compared to his tall, bony figure, the face carrying a look of anger clearly still belonged to a teenager. The Omega was very young, fifteen or sixteen at most.

And the closed booklet in his hand had a title clearly written on the cover: Capital City High School Year 1 Math Challenge.

The Alpha hastily explained, “No, I thought…”

“You thought what?” Qin Bao asked fiercely. “Keep staring and see if I don’t report you for sexual harassment!”

The Alpha awkwardly turned his face away. “…Misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, I’m sorry.”

What were kids eating these days to grow so tall!

Qin Bao glared at him for a moment, and only after ensuring he wouldn’t harass him again did he reopen the workbook, using his arm to block it from view.

Landing in the capital coincided exactly with rush hour. The traffic in the capital was an absolute, congested mess.

On the way, Qin Bao’s phone rang incessantly. The messages were all from a few childhood friends, saying the old man had already asked where he was multiple times, and their attempts to cover for him were on the verge of failing.

These guys had nothing better to do. They were actually dragged to the banquet venue by their parents early in the morning, acting more attentive than him, the actual biological grandson.

[So many guests have arrived, and they were all asking about you.]

[The scale is huge, I even saw XXX.]

[Nonsense, it’s the old man’s seventieth birthday, who wouldn’t rush over to offer congratulations?]

[Everyone is almost here.]

The sun was shining brightly in the capital.

The taxi was stuck motionless in traffic. Qin Bao urged the driver several times and asked if they could take a shortcut. He knew there was a small road that went through; once past that section, it would be much faster.

“There’s no way.” The driver said with a bit of annoyance, “Look at me blocked in here, I can’t even inch out, where can I take a shortcut? If you’re really in a hurry, I suggest you run. It’d probably be faster than driving.”

Qin Bao: “…”

It was still over twenty kilometers from here to the banquet hall. How about he just flew there?

[Brother Bao, I followed your orders and brought your suit, but if you don’t show up soon, the secret’s gonna be out.]

The person who sent this message to Qin Bao was Shan Yiming. His current location happened to be right near Shan Yiming’s house.

Qin Bao suddenly remembered something and called him directly. Shan Yiming answered immediately.

He asked quickly, “Is your bike at home?”

Shan Yiming paused for a moment. “Yeah, why?”

“Are the keys there too?”

“Yes, wait, what are you trying to do? You’re a minor without a license, don’t even think about riding on the road—”

“Cut the crap,” Qin Bao said. “I’m going to ride your bike over now. I’ll be there in a dozen minutes, meet me at the entrance.”

Shan Yiming was a few years older than Qin Bao. After starting college, he had moved out to live alone. The house was close to Shan Yiming’s school, and Qin Bao knew his door code.

After speaking, Qin Bao hung up, smoothly scanned the QR code to pay, and got out of the car. Ignoring Shan Yiming, who was half-scared to death and calling him back frantically, he put on his backpack and weaved through the densely packed lanes of cars, triggering a chorus of honks.

Shan Yiming’s motorcycle sat obediently in the underground garage.

A silver-white Phantom.

With its perfect streamlined shape, surging muscularity, and an exterior full of explosive power and weight, it was hard not to notice it.

Qin Bao knew how to ride a motorcycle, but he wasn’t familiar with it, and he actually wasn’t very confident.

But the lethality of Li Nanyue’s “giant baby” comment was just too great. Right now, he didn’t want to mess up and make it seem like he really couldn’t function without someone’s help.

His phone kept ringing.

Qin Bao clumsily started the engine, planted both legs on the ground, successfully turned it around, and then remembered he needed to wear a helmet.

He parked the bike, found a helmet on the wall rack in Shan Yiming’s garage, put it on, and swung his leg back over the seat.

It was also at this time that he noticed a black sedan not far away.

Compared to a heavy motorcycle like the Phantom, that car appeared very low-key, but its model silently bespoke its luxury. After all, its price was enough to buy dozens of Phantoms.

The sedan’s windows were tightly shut. The reflective glass protected the owner’s privacy, and only from certain angles could one faintly see people sitting inside.

But right now, Qin Bao could be certain there was indeed someone sitting in the car.

The person seemed to have noticed him early on and was silently resting his gaze on him.

Probably another brain-dead Alpha with too much time on his hands.

Qin Bao thought.

That feeling of being observed from the dark was even more unpleasant than being blatantly leered at.

Qin Bao had no time to go over and pick a fight right now; he only wanted to leave quickly. So, he cleanly adjusted his helmet, started the bike, and sped out of the garage.

Amidst the roar of the motorcycle, Professor Feng and his wife arrived beside the black sedan, only catching sight of a silver shadow.

Professor Feng said, “I think I’ve seen that motorcycle at the university too.”

His wife, Professor Lin, supported him and said, “It should belong to the Shan family’s boy, Shan Yiming. We ran into him in the elevator a few days ago; I heard he’s preparing for a competition. They’re also going to the banquet today.”

The driver’s side door opened.

The young Alpha got out of the car, pulled open the rear doors for his parents, and gently asked his father, “Are you sure you still want to go?”

Right before leaving, Professor Feng had suddenly felt a migraine, so he had Professor Lin accompany him back to take some medicine while their son, Feng Chengyu, waited here.

Having taken the medicine, he was already feeling better. Professor Feng waved his hand. “I must go. The old master is celebrating his major birthday; how would it look if I didn’t show up?”

Feng Chengyu simply uttered an “En” and said, “If you feel unwell in any way, you must tell me immediately.”

They didn’t live in this apartment often. His parents were both professors at the nearby university. Professor Feng had several projects on hand recently, and only when he finished tutoring students late would he stay here for the night.

Feng Chengyu had spent a few years abroad and returned after completing his studies. His height had already reached the point where his mother had to look up at him. Coupled with his imposing Alpha aura, there was an intimidating sense of aloofness in his words, making him look exactly like the old Master of the Feng family back in the day.

Professor Lin smiled and patted him. “Don’t worry, I know your father’s body best. He’s just nervous.”

Professor Feng naturally refused to admit it, insisting that he had just stayed up too late helping students with experiments last night. “What do I have to be nervous about?”

“You haven’t been to those kinds of occasions in so many years, you’re rusty,” Professor Lin said. “Plus, it’s your first time officially showing up there with our son. I saw you pick out several ties last night.”

Professor Feng coughed dryly and changed the subject. “Chengyu, you just returned to the country and aren’t familiar with the road conditions. Otherwise, how about we call the driver to come over?”

“Driver?” Professor Lin tore down his facade again. “Usually it’s just home to school and back, you don’t even own a car, where would you get a driver? I don’t suppose you can call the Ministry of Defense right now and ask them to temporarily assign you one?”

Professor Feng: “You’re saying these things again. If I really dialed the number, you’d be the first one to hang up.”

Two veteran social-phobes, neither had room to criticize the other.

Professor Lin said somewhat sheepishly, “Ruian called me yesterday saying she was going to come pick us up today. I was afraid of inconveniencing her travel and firmly refused, so she reluctantly dropped it, but still had someone deliver a car.”

Feng Chengyu had already started the engine. “It’s fine, I still remember the way. Besides, there’s navigation.”

He was always steady. The car exited the garage and quickly and smoothly merged onto the road.

His parents returned to the topic of the motorcycle from just a moment ago.

“That child from the Shan family should be enlisting in the military; why is he going to participate in a racing competition?”

“The kids in this generation all have their own ideas and are unwilling to walk pre-arranged paths. Like the Qin family’s Xiao Bao, who ran off to be a model.”

The words ‘the Qin family’s Xiao Bao’ drifted into Feng Chengyu’s ears perfectly on cue, as if his parents bringing it up was just the most natural thing.

He gripped the steering wheel neither loosely nor tightly, watching the endless stream of traffic ahead.

“Xiao Bao should be fourteen this year, right?”

“Fifteen.”

“Grown up in the blink of an eye. How did he ever think of becoming a model?”

“Isn’t chasing your dreams a good thing?” Professor Lin said. “It shows he’s unwilling to be a flower in a greenhouse and wants to be a strong sapling that dares to face the wind and rain.”

Professor Feng looked at Feng Chengyu through the rearview mirror. “Of course it’s good, it’s just that the child is young, and the outside world is too complicated. Just in case there really is destiny between them in the future, there still needs to be someone looking out for him in his career.”

Feng Chengyu coldly looked away, not participating in their conversation.

Professor Lin said disapprovingly, “At least Xiao Bao doesn’t drag race. I think he’s very well-behaved.”