RBNR Ch21: Qin Bao’s Birthday

At this moment, Qin Bao felt as though he and Feng Chengyu had become the center of attention in the entire hall. He knew everyone was watching them, and for some reason, the temperature of his face spiked drastically. Going from faintly warm to burning hot seemed to take only a single second.

Arriving late was one thing, but giving a gift with such fanfare was completely unnecessary.

Fortunately, Qin Bao had seen all kinds of grand occasions. He reached out steadily to take it: “Thank you. I’m not lacking in gifts, but the thought is what counts.”

The gifts were already piled up like a mountain; he truly didn’t lack any.

The old master, however, chimed in with a laugh: “It’s not the same. How could a gift from Chengyu be the same as the others?”

Everyone at the table chuckled, and even Ms. Rong lightly covered her mouth with her hand.

Mr. Qin greeted him warmly: “Chengyu, why are you still standing there? Come, take a seat, sit down.”

There happened to be an empty seat right next to Qin Bao.

A servant came forward to attend to him, so Feng Chengyu took off his overcoat and handed it over, naturally settling into the empty chair to Qin Bao’s right.

Qin Bao furrowed his brows. He had wondered who this seat was reserved for—why had it been saved for Feng Chengyu?

Then again, several elders from the Feng family were sitting at this table, and the two families were indeed very close, so such an arrangement wasn’t surprising.

With Feng Chengyu’s arrival, Qin Bao’s birthday banquet gained more topics of conversation.

The elders first asked about Qin Bao’s recent situation and his university life, and then the conversation shifted to center around Feng Chengyu. They started by discussing the recent forest fire. Forest fires were frequent in the winter mountains, with varying degrees of fires breaking out every year, but this time was exceptionally severe.

Grandfather asked, “I heard it burned into Qinan territory last night. Why didn’t the firebreaks work?”

“There was little rainfall in the summer, so the autumn and winter vegetation was drier than in previous years. Adding to that, certain trees are rich in resin, causing the flames to spread very rapidly,” Feng Chengyu answered. “Relying solely on firebreaks was indeed a bit strenuous. Early this morning, fire trenches were dug and cloud seeding was deployed for artificial rain; it’s mostly extinguished by now.”

“The local government lagged behind in handling it, their response wasn’t fast enough,” the old master remarked. “Are there any casualties?”

Feng Chengyu said, “It’s an uninhabited area, so no human casualties have been discovered yet. However, firefighters and the soldiers participating in disaster relief sustained varying degrees of injuries. Additionally, many wild animals were injured or killed, and some fled into the Qinan mountain area after being frightened.”

From across the table, Professor Lin spoke up: “I recall there are quite a few key protected animals there.”

Feng Chengyu answered his mother, “There are fifty known registered species.”

Qin Bao knew that ever since Feng Chengyu became an Alliance Councilor, he had been dedicated to promoting improvements in environmental and animal protection. He vaguely knew his stance was to “divert rather than obstruct,” just like carving out a public ski resort within the Chunshan reserve previously. He could barely follow along up to this point, but as they delved into other topics, he was completely lost in the fog.

Listening to a bunch of Alliance political and business figures chat was enough to make someone doze off.

Qin Bao quietly ate his food, his attention drawn to one of Feng Chengyu’s hands resting on the tabletop.

That hand was large, the skin fair and the knuckles distinct, the fingers very slender and sexy.

On his wrist, he was still wearing that deep blue watch with the perverted functions. The cuffs of his dress shirt were clean and tidy, not casually rolled up like the last time they met, but neatly fastened.

Not having seen him in a few years, he had grown even more mature.

An ascetic aura washed over him.

It made one want to… mess him up.

The heat that had just receded from Qin Bao’s face flared up again. He picked up the wine glass in front of him and downed it in one gulp.

“Why is Xiao Bao drinking by himself?” Grandmother was constantly watching her grandson, suggesting affectionately, “Drinking too much will give you a headache. Let’s have someone switch it to juice for you.”

Just as she was about to call someone over, Feng Chengyu beat her to it: “I’ll do it.” Taking a new glass, he turned to ask Qin Bao in a gentle tone, “What would you like to drink?”

The people at the table fixed their gazes on them once more.

Qin Bao felt somewhat awkward: “No need, wine is fine. I don’t want juice.”

“Alright.” Feng Chengyu took his wine glass and refilled it for him.

“Thank you.” Qin Bao took it back.

Their fingertips brushed, sending what felt like a faint electric current through him. Qin Bao averted his face and drained this glass in one gulp shortly after.

The conversation at the dinner table continued, shifting to a painting Grandfather had recently auctioned off. It had been purchased at an astronomical price by the richest man of a neighboring country, and Grandfather intended to donate the proceeds as relief funds to rebuild habitats for the animals after the fire.

Grandfather had done charity work in the past, but never on such a lavish scale, nor had Qin Bao ever seen him care much about wildlife before.

Feng Chengyu stood up to raise a glass in gratitude. Grandfather smiled so broadly his face bloomed like a flower: “No need to be polite. Us old folks can’t do much nowadays, so we can only contribute this modest effort in these areas. I hope the disaster area recovers soon, and I wish you all the best.”

Everyone raised their glasses together, and even Old Master Qin beamed happily.

Qin Bao drank another glass. From the corner of his eye, he caught the bob of Feng Chengyu’s Adam’s apple as the cold liquid went down, which somehow seemed to make his own throat parched.

Qin Bao hadn’t come unprepared today.

He disliked being strung along. He had held onto certain words for a few years, intending to throw them straight in the man’s face this time.

This person told Feng Chu he had no intention of dating minors, and that if anyone wanted to pursue him, they’d have to wait until they were an adult—his intentions completely obscure. This person never took the initiative, yet gave a response every time, constantly sending those bizarre, unsigned yet heavily suggestive flowers.

So, was all of this intentional or unintentional?

If unintentional, could he stop keeping him on the hook at this half-distant, half-close range?

If intentional… he was an adult now. Did they need to follow standard procedures, or could they just date right away?

The banquet wasn’t going to end anytime soon. As the star of the night, Qin Bao suddenly felt bored and suffocated. He stood up, wanting to go outside for some fresh air.

Feng Chengyu asked in a low voice, “Where are you going?”

It was as if he was being watched at all times. Qin Bao paused: “Getting some fresh air.”

Stepping outside, Qin Bao found an empty balcony.

The faint, elusive Alpha scent drifted away. Breathing in the icy late-November air, the restless irritability in his chest subsided considerably.

He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, lightly popped the flavor bead with his teeth, and took a deep drag.

“Brother Bao.”

Someone called from behind.

Shan Yike had also snuck out, wearing a deliberately mature expression on her face. This time, she finally possessed the long eyelashes she had dreamed of; the false lashes on both eyes fanned out like feathers, dramatic enough to go straight to a fashion show.

“My brother asked me to give this to you this morning.” Shan Yike produced a slip of paper. “My dad was right there earlier, so it wasn’t convenient to hand it to you directly.”

Qin Bao took it to look; it was a ticket to a motorcycle championship.

Not bad, Shan Yiming.

“Where is your brother?”

“He took a look around outside. Seeing so many people, he figured causing a scene with my dad would look bad, and since you were busy, he left first.”

So he did come, after all?

Satisfied, Qin Bao slipped the ticket into his pocket, planning to call Shan Yiming back later. He said to Shan Yike, “Thanks.”

Shan Yike didn’t leave, though: “Brother Bao, got another cigarette? Give me one.”

Qin Bao: “No.”

Shan Yike didn’t press the matter either: “Tch.” She even rolled her eyes. “You’ve become just like those adults.”

Qin Bao couldn’t care less about the brat’s thoughts. Leaning against the stone railing, he continued gazing into the distance. In Shan Yiming’s absence, even if he couldn’t serve as a great role model for him, he should at least act somewhat like an older brother.

The first snow of the year had arrived early; a thin layer of snow was dusted over the trees and buildings.

He had only smoked half a cigarette when someone else approached. Assuming it was Shan Yike back to beg for a smoke, Qin Bao turned around irritably, only to find the newcomer was Feng Chengyu.

Feng Chengyu stood beside him: “I thought you didn’t know how to smoke.”

Why had he come out too?

Qin Bao’s heart embarrassingly skipped a beat. Feng Chengyu asked with a faint smile, “Aren’t you afraid Grandpa will see?”

If Feng Chengyu just now had been mature to the point of feeling like a stranger, the current Feng Chengyu had reverted to the one who sent a massive box of toffees to tease him, that closeted flirt who anonymously sent flowers every single time.

Fishing again.

Matching his moves step for step, Qin Bao narrowed his eyes and exhaled a plume of smoke: “Smoking… Grandpa can’t control that anymore. I’m an adult; of course I can smoke whenever I want.”

Flirting was only fun when there was back-and-forth banter.

Yet Feng Chengyu showed no trace of distance at all. He reached over, snatched the cigarette straight from his hand, and crushed the burning tip directly into the snow on the stone railing: “In a bad mood?”

The cigarette was put out and tossed into the trash can, leaving a small charred mark on the white snow.

Qin Bao was suddenly a little annoyed: “That doesn’t seem to be any of your business, does it? You’re not my Alpha.”

If he wanted to manage him, he needed at least a legitimate title. Crossing lines like this was pushing his luck.

Feng Chengyu looked at him unblinkingly: “Then why are your ears red?”

Even though Qin Bao knew better than to fall for it, his face flared up furiously, burning far hotter than before. He subconsciously touched his ear, only realizing the other man was bluffing when he saw Feng Chengyu’s teasing expression.

He snapped crossly, “They are not.”

Leaning back against the stone railing, Feng Chengyu let out a low laugh, his chest vibrating: “They’re not? Want to go over there and look in the mirror?”

Not far away was the corridor.

Mounted along the wall of the corridor was a row of small, round decorative mirrors. The moment Qin Bao walked over and caught a glimpse of himself, the lie would be thoroughly exposed.

He refused to go.

He clearly felt he had become very mature, yet his IQ repeatedly plummeted in front of this person.

This guy was truly a two-faced hypocrite—one way in front of the elders, and completely another behind their backs.

Complaining internally was one thing, but continuing to expose himself would strip him of his dignity completely. Qin Bao simply put on an indifferent front: “So what? Can’t my face flush when I drink too much?”

The words left his mouth and he wished he could swallow them back.

Because Feng Chengyu’s next line crossed the line even more: “Why were you staring at me the entire time earlier?”

And what blurted out of his mouth was: “I wasn’t staring at you the entire time.”

A blatant confession disguised as a denial.

They hadn’t even started dating, yet their dialogue sounded like lovers’ bickering—so childishly petty that Qin Bao didn’t even know how to respond.

He was genuinely riled up: “If you weren’t looking at me, how would you know I was looking at you?”

Feng Chengyu answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world: “I was indeed looking at you.”

Feng Chengyu replied so naturally, so solemnly, as if merely acknowledging a completely ordinary fact, as if a relationship that permitted such overstepping already existed between them.

He even raised a hand and lightly touched Qin Bao’s face: “You’re an adult now.”

Qin Bao: “…”

Yeah, an adult, so what?

It’s not like you really expect me to chase after you?

Just as he was about to speak, a waiter suddenly approached: “Young Master Qin, someone just delivered a birthday gift for you. I took the liberty of leaving it downstairs for you.”

Qin Bao: “Who sent it? Where is the person?”

At this hour, who would still be delivering gifts?

The waiter answered, “He already left. It was a rather tall Alpha; he left the name Xu Tangzhou.”

Qin Bao pondered. He guessed who had actually delivered the gift; Xu Tangzhou had said he couldn’t make it and would ask his older brother to bring the gift over. The person probably didn’t want to disturb anyone, which was why he left right after dropping it off.

The waiter added, “Also, the old master asks that you prepare to go back and cut the cake.”

The old master and Grandfather had locked horns over hosting the birthday banquet. Although the old master had won with Qin Bao’s cooperation and promised to keep everything simple, he still clung to his competitive streak to put on a grand show, ordering a massive three-tier custom cake.

Qin Bao had to head back to hear everyone sing the birthday song, blow out the candles, and cut the flashy cake before the climax of the banquet truly arrived.

He turned his head and found Feng Chengyu looking at him, his gaze slightly dark.

Just as he found it strange, he heard Feng Chengyu say, “Let’s go inside.”

Qin Bao: “En.”

He hesitated a moment on whether to enter alongside Feng Chengyu, but the man had already stepped forward. If he didn’t follow, it would look as though he was afraid.

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Author’s note:

Forgot to mention that due to plot progression, some overlap couldn’t be avoided. The progress in some chapters was written in the extra chapters of “Asteroid”. Later on, I will write a free extra chapter for this book to give to everyone~