RBNR Ch20: Finally Here

Qin Bao took the subway home. Mr. Qin was in the living room talking on the phone. Seeing him enter, he covered his phone and called out to him: “Just in time. The event planners are doing final confirmations on the guest souvenirs, come give some opinions.”

Qin Bao was wearing a mask even after coming home, his hair was a bit messy, and his whole being was in an irritable state: “Whatever.”

Saying that, he went upstairs.

Mr. Qin frowned, quickly ended his call, and also went up to the second floor.

Qin Bao’s room door was closed. Mr. Qin knocked, and a voice from inside replied, “It’s not convenient right now,” so Mr. Qin simply opened the door directly.

Sure enough, there were wounds on Qin Bao’s face, which were even more obvious after taking off his mask.

He stood in the middle of the room. The large bag he usually carried was thrown on the floor. The bag, just like his body, was covered in a lot of dust. There were scrapes on his elbows and on his knuckles, clearly showing he had been in a fight.

It wasn’t strange for Qin Bao to fight with others. During his elementary school days, Mr. Qin had to visit the dean’s office every couple of days, although it happened much less frequently after middle school. Friction between young people was considered normal, but the several purplish-red finger marks on Qin Bao’s wrist stung Mr. Qin’s eyes.

“What happened?” Mr. Qin strode in and grabbed Qin Bao’s hand to examine it.

“Ran into a fucking idiot.” Qin Bao pulled his hand back. “Don’t worry, I didn’t suffer a loss. I beat him so bad he couldn’t even open his eyes, probably has to go to the hospital. These little scratches of mine will heal in a few days too; I won’t embarrass the family at the banquet.”

Those finger marks were large and thick; one look and you could tell they weren’t caused by an ordinary fight.

Mr. Qin’s face looked terrible: “What was the reason?”

Qin Bao said, “An Alpha from school. He said he wanted to court me before, but this time he got handsy, so I taught him a little lesson.” Looking at Mr. Qin’s face, he added, “I didn’t throw my weight around using my family background; others don’t know my background.”

No matter how elegant and refined Mr. Qin was, he couldn’t help but become angry at this moment, saying loudly, “Is this the time to talk about that? Tell me, which Alpha is it, what’s his name, which department? I am going to contact your dean’s office, pull the security footage, and report to the police to handle this.”

Qin Bao thought he heard wrong: “Ah?”

This situation had happened once when he was little. That time, he made a little Alpha who followed him intending to give him a love letter cry from a beating. The next day, the other’s parents came knocking on their door, and Mr. Qin even made him apologize.

Mr. Qin’s chest heaved with anger, still waiting for Qin Bao to report the name of that bastard.

“His name is Zou Jiudong… No, I’ve already taught him a lesson, there’s no need to go after him again.”

Qin Bao felt a bit averse to this routine of calling parents.

He wasn’t a kid anymore. He had already handled the matter himself and didn’t want his parents to interfere again.

Seeing that he hadn’t realized the severity of the problem at all, Mr. Qin took a few deep breaths before barely managing to say to him calmly: “This isn’t an ordinary fight. You’ve grown up, you are physiologically mature; this kind of situation is no longer just friction between classmates. An unmarked adult Omega attracts the opposite sex, and there is an inherent disparity in strength between an Alpha and an Omega. Being able to beat him is your good luck. If you couldn’t beat him, and really got bitten by him…”

Qin Bao opened his mouth, but found himself unexpectedly speechless: “…”

He had forgotten. An Alpha’s temporary mark would temporarily make an Omega lose the ability to refuse. If he truly got bitten, he would be so disgusted he couldn’t throw up, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

“Got it.” He could only say impatiently, “Next time I will protect myself first, I’ll call the police.”

The child grew up mingling among Alphas and had been unruly and rebellious since he was little. Mr. Qin understood him too well, but was also too clear about his outstanding qualities as an Omega.

He could see it, and others could see it too.

Crazy bees and wanton butterflies wouldn’t just appear this one time.

“In short, whether you rely on your surname Qin or rely on the family’s background, as long as you can protect yourself, use all the connections around you if necessary. On this point, Grandpa and I will always stand on your side.”

Speaking up to here, Mr. Qin suddenly paused and sighed, “Forget it, someone will protect you in the future.”

Qin Bao’s alarm bells instantly rang loud: “You absolutely must not find me a bodyguard.”

Mr. Qin: “…”

Qin Bao had already walked away, rummaging through boxes and cabinets in the room looking for medicine to apply. Mr. Qin went downstairs, preparing to go out for a trip. Before leaving, he asked Mama Tao to bring medicine upstairs.

Qin Bao’s injuries recovered very quickly. Within four or five days, the wounds had healed completely, leaving only a small yellowish bruise at the corner of his lip.

On the day of the banquet, he woke up very early. He utilized a makeup artist to use concealer to cover up that little mark flawlessly.

Marcos Malory currently heavily favored him; the internet said he was Marcos Malory’s biological son. Although media wasn’t invited to this birthday banquet, Marcos Malory still sponsored all his clothing and accessories, and even custom-tailored a white formal suit for him.

Since he had taken so much from them, Qin Bao still had to do his job promoting.

The banquet venue was chosen at the same location as the old master’s major birthday celebration, so Qin Bao was already very familiar with it. He chose a few spots with excellent lighting and layout, had a professional photographer take photos, selected a few of the best-looking ones, and posted them on Flow.

SISI Qin Bao: Coming-of-age ceremony, very happy to spend it with my family and @Marcos Malory. [Photo] [Photo] [Photo]

Just after posting it, the comments grew frantically, and blessings from fans swarmed in.

To his surprise, the hashtag #QinBaoIsAnAdultNow# quickly climbed onto the Flow trending searches, and it was his first time reaching the number one trending spot since his debut as a model.

There were also many blessing messages from friends and classmates; his phone kept ringing incessantly.

However, he soon had no time to look through them.

The guests arrived as scheduled. As the main character of this banquet, Qin Bao began to smile non-stop. After most people had arrived, he first followed Mr. Qin to socialize a bit, then stayed by the old master’s side to act as a mascot for a while, and finally followed his maternal grandfather Rong Yun and Ms. Rong to greet guests.

The childhood friend group, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, appeared again, but Tu Yisen, whom he was most familiar with, wasn’t there, nor was Shan Yiming.

Two or three years had passed. Shan Yike had grown into a big girl, wearing heavy makeup and looking quite a bit more mature.

This time she didn’t trail behind Qin Bao, but followed her parents instead. Probably having reached her rebellious phase, Shan Yike spoke with a face full of coldness: “Brother Bao, happy birthday.”

Uncle Shan was originally smiling, but seeing this, he reprimanded her: “Speak properly, what kind of attitude is this?”

Shan Yike rolled her eyes: “Whatever attitude you think it is, that’s what it is.”

After saying that, she actually turned around and walked away.

“Xiao Bao, don’t mind her.” Uncle Shan felt a bit awkward, sighing as he said, “She’s been like this ever since Yiming left, always nowhere to be seen. Hearing it was your birthday, she was still very willing to come attend your birthday banquet.”

Qin Bao nodded and kept Uncle Shan company for a while before leaving. Of course he didn’t mind, because his attention had gone completely off-track the whole time, constantly looking towards the banquet entrance.

Many people had arrived—those he knew, those he didn’t. The scene was lively and noisy, filled with fragrant clothes and beautiful hair (elegant people), but he just hadn’t seen the person he wanted to see.

Would Feng Chengyu come?

Qin Bao couldn’t be absolutely certain.

After all, he hadn’t sent the other party a formal invitation either. Logically speaking, for this kind of relationship belonging to old family friends, the Feng family elders coming was already giving plenty of face.

But he had been so high-profile, posting so many photos on Flow like a peacock spreading its tail feathers. His birthday topic was still hanging on the trending searches right now. Anyone paying even a little attention to him should have seen it by now, right?

Time ticked by second by second, and the people from the Feng family finally arrived.

That Marshal of the Feng family, Director Feng, as well as Professor Feng and his wife, and even Feng Chu—the group easily seized the dominant position of the banquet and became the new visual focal point. Even the guests’ greetings became more polite and reserved.

They were arranged at the VIP table. Qin Bao was led over by the old master to greet them one by one. Looking through them one by one, he still didn’t see that person.

“Xiao Bao, happy birthday.”

The woman, full of scholarly elegance and with beautiful features, held his hand, smiling very amiably.

“Today you truly grow up. I wish you all the best in your future life, happy and fulfilled.”

Qin Bao had heard his grandpa introduce her and knew this was Feng Chengyu’s mother.

The mother and son didn’t look very similar. Compared to Feng Chengyu, Professor Lin was clearly much more approachable. Qin Bao couldn’t help but feel a little nervous: “Thank you, Professor Lin.”

Professor Lin then said to him: “Last night there was a massive forest fire in the south. Chengyu is there organizing the disaster relief and responsible for the aftermath, so he couldn’t make it back.”

Qin Bao had seen the news and knew the fire was severe, but he hadn’t known that Feng Chengyu was there for disaster relief. Hearing this, his heart sank bit by bit.

Professor Lin found him more and more pleasing to the eye, saying with a doting tone: “Greeting so many people must be tiring, right? Hurry and go open your gifts, see if there are any you like, and relieve some stress.”

The Feng family’s gifts came one after another. Together with other people’s gifts, they almost piled up into a small mountain.

How could Qin Bao have the mind for that? While he was feeling vexed, Feng Chu popped out from who knows where. Taking advantage of passing by him, he quietly dropped a sentence: “Wait a bit longer, my brother is on his way.”

Qin Bao’s ears grew hot, the dark clouds in his heart dispersing. He turned his head back and spoke stubbornly: “I didn’t ask.”

Feng Chu had already walked far away. He thumped his chest and mouthed a phrase at him: “Love security guard.”

Qin Bao was annoyed: “…”

This guy is sick in the head too.

The banquet began, and everyone took their seats. The seat next to Qin Bao remained empty all along. A little further past that was Old Master Qin and his maternal grandfather Rong Yun. The two elderly men sat side by side without distinguishing primary or secondary status. He wanted to sit over there but was glared at by the old master.

Alright, these two are still competing.

Mr. Qin tapped his glass and first gave an opening speech. Immediately after, Qin Bao went on stage with a pre-drafted script and gave a thank-you speech. Amidst the resounding applause, he didn’t even know what he had read.

Halfway through the banquet, that strange yet familiar figure finally appeared at the entrance.

The nationally renowned Alpha arrived late, looking travel-worn, not even having time to change into formal attire, wearing only a black overcoat that possessed quite a sense of authority.

As if he were the main character of the banquet, the moment he appeared, he easily attracted everyone’s gaze, making the venue fall silent for it.

Qin Bao saw him nod to the people exchanging greetings, greet the elders all the way, and whatever they said, Qin Bao couldn’t hear the sound at all, only able to hear his own increasingly frantic heartbeat.

Until the other party came to his side.

Still arrogant, somewhat cold, but compared to a few years ago, twenty-seven-year-old Feng Chengyu had restrained his sharp edges and become a high-up, unreachable existence.

The faint scent of narcissus lingered.

Qin Bao’s face continued to heat up, and the back of his neck, where the gland patch was applied, throbbed with a pulsing beat.

An exquisite small silver box appeared before his eyes, wrapped with a ribbon as thin as cicada’s wings.

That voice which had appeared in his dreams sounded.

“Happy birthday.”

The fingers handing over the gift were slender and sexy.

On the wrist, that deep blue watch was still being worn.

Qin Bao looked up, colliding with the other’s deep eyes.

“Sorry.”

Feng Chengyu carried the chill from outside. He was currently looking down at him, a curve forming at the corner of his lips.

“I arrived late.”

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Author’s Note:

PS: Laying out the landmines again. The gong and shou have an arranged childhood marriage, and there are plots involving forced marriage and contract marriage. Furthermore, neither of them are good at communicating (they don’t use their mouths to talk).