RBNR Ch22: Losing Control

They stepped into that corridor.

The waiter had already vanished without a trace. Neither a step ahead nor a step behind, Qin Bao walked shoulder to shoulder with Feng Chengyu.

He wanted to take the initiative, but the other man’s composed, victory-in-hand attitude made his teeth itch with irritation.

Feng Chengyu was far too arrogant. If they were mutually interested, why did he have to be the one to make the first move?

The lighting was dim, and two grown men walking abreast made the hallway feel cramped.

Both sides were lined with private dining rooms, their walls hung with small, round decorative mirrors that caught and refracted the sconce light, casting a quiet, ambiguous atmosphere. The hallway was long; aside from their footsteps, Qin Bao could hear their overlapping breaths and the pounding of his own heart.

Alone in this narrow space, the Alpha’s pheromones grew increasingly pronounced. The crisp narcissus scent stimulated Qin Bao’s senses, causing the gland at the nape of his neck to swell and burn.

Did I inhale any blockers today?

Mr. Qin had reminded him, but Qin Bao had been swamped since early morning—outfit changes, hair and makeup, photo shoots, and greeting guests. He truly seemed to have forgotten.

The Alpha’s pheromones continued to disperse. The narcissus aroma acted like a tiny barb, snagging Qin Bao’s steps and making his breath turn ragged.

He was being affected.

The way these pheromones operated was entirely unreasonable.

Qin Bao recalled what Zou Jiudong had mentioned about how high compatibility naturally drew people together. Was his extreme sensitivity to Feng Chengyu’s scent also because their compatibility was exceptionally high?

Noticing that Qin Bao had halted, Feng Chengyu stopped as well.

Observing Qin Bao’s expression, Feng Chengyu quickly realized what was happening, his eyes darkening a shade.

As their gazes met, Feng Chengyu was about to suggest walking ahead to put some distance between them, only to discover a fine sheen of sweat on Qin Bao’s forehead and a vivid flush creeping across his cheeks. He looked as though he was on the verge of collapsing.

Feng Chengyu had no choice but to lightly wrap an arm around his waist to steady him. “Is it unbearable?”

The gland swelled even more aggressively, practically rejoicing at Feng Chengyu’s proximity.

Qin Bao felt humiliated, yet his entire body was going limp. “I…”

The swan that always held its head high rarely showed such weakness. Feng Chengyu tightened his arm slightly, dipping his head so his own forehead pressed against Qin Bao’s feverish brow. “Hold onto me.”

Perhaps because Qin Bao, overwhelmed by the reaction, had unconsciously released his own pheromones, Feng Chengyu’s breath also grew scorching hot.

“Where are your blockers?” Feng Chengyu asked him. “I’ll fetch them for you.”

Breathing rapidly as their scents tangled together, Qin Bao knew exactly what would happen if this continued. Yet instead of taking a step back, he obeyed and gripped the lapels of Feng Chengyu’s coat. “…I think I didn’t bring them.”

Their gazes locked, drawing invisible, sticky threads between them.

The surroundings were dim. Someone moved slightly, bringing their lips excruciatingly close—scarcely a single centimeter away from touching.

Thump, thump.

His heart was hammering wildly.

Qin Bao’s legs gave out again. Feng Chengyu caught him instinctively, and their lips brushed. A searing current seemed to shoot straight from their tailbones right up to the crowns of their heads.

Both men caught their breath for a split second, yet neither pulled away.

Like dry tinder catching a roaring flame, neither bothered with hesitation or teasing anymore.

Their lips and tongues tangled deeper. Qin Bao was trembling from head to toe, and Feng Chengyu was in no better shape; his breath grew heavier and deeper than Qin Bao’s, to the point where he lost control of his strength and shoved him hard against the wall.

Qin Bao winced, letting out a muffled groan. Feng Chengyu silenced the sound instantly with his mouth, one large hand clamping around the nape of Qin Bao’s neck to pull him into a deeper, hungrier demand.

The kiss deepened, wet, breathy sounds echoing in their ears.

…I’m kissing him.

That hazy realization left Qin Bao unsure whether his body felt more thrilled or his brain did. The scene he had fantasized about countless times was playing out in reality; that alone made every cell in his body scream with exhilaration.

At this moment, Feng Chengyu still retained a sliver of reason; Qin Bao could see the darkening depths of his eyes and his relatively calm expression.

Mess him up. Drag him down into the depths just like me.

That reckless impulse surged up once more.

Right behind him was the door to a private room. The handle dug into his lower back. In the haze of the tangle, he shoved the handle down; the door swung open, and the two stumbled blindly inside.

“What are you doing?”

Feng Chengyu panted, his voice hoarse.

The room was pitch black. That darkness gave Qin Bao the nerve to throw caution to the wind. Pivoting, he pressed Feng Chengyu back and grabbed his collar, forcing the other man to bend down to him again.

Qin Bao’s chest heaved. He uttered the boldest sentence of his life: “…Do you have the guts to forget about the cake?”

Silence fell over the darkness, leaving only their unsettled, ragged breathing.

Mortified and filled with sudden regret, Qin Bao snapped, “If you’re scared, forget it—”

Feng Chengyu stared down at Qin Bao in the dark for a few beats before clamping a large hand firmly onto the back of his head, his fingers threading deep into his hair.

A sharp sting hit Qin Bao’s lips.

Feng Chengyu had already pressed down onto those soft lips, claiming his mouth far more roughly than before.

He had finally lost his composure.

The Omega’s pheromones, mingled with the lingering bouquet of wine, flooded between their mouths—exchanged and tangled until they grew thick and inseparable.

Refusing to be outdone, Qin Bao trembled through the onslaught of the kiss while ripping at Feng Chengyu’s clothes with rough hands. A button snapped off and bounced away into the darkness, landing with a crisp clink.

Crack.

Rationality went entirely offline.

Qin Bao slipped his hands beneath Feng Chengyu’s dress shirt, heading straight for the toned waist and V-line he had coveted so many times.

…

Faint morning light seeped through the crack in the curtains.

Dawn was breaking.

The fireplace had been lit by Feng Chengyu in the latter half of the night. By the glow of the embers, Qin Bao realized they were sleeping on the rug. The room was in complete disarray, a chaotic mess of discarded clothes and items scattered across the floor.

They had tumbled into a small sitting parlor last night. There was no bed; the longest piece of furniture was a chaise lounge, not long enough for either of them to lie down comfortably.

Neither wore a stitch of clothing. Qin Bao was draped in Feng Chengyu’s black overcoat. The latter had cushioned Qin Bao’s head on one of his arms, possessively curling him into his chest.

Their legs remained tangled together—warm, with a light film of dried sweat.

Things had spiraled out of control last night; neither expected that a simple walk would turn into wild beasts rolling into a room and going all the way to the end.

When pheromones took over, reason had no say. When Qin Bao was being tossed around over Feng Chengyu, he hadn’t even realized when the Alpha’s canines had pierced the nape of his neck.

A rich, heavy Omega scent had flooded the room—that milky fragrance Qin Bao was normally loath to let anyone smell.

Driven wild by the scent, Feng Chengyu’s eyes had turned bloodshot, looking as though he wanted to devour him alive.

Amidst the sharp ache, Qin Bao had gripped the Alpha’s wrist and touched that watch designed purely for ascetic restraint, feeling a covert thrill of satisfaction rise within him.

…I won.

That thought was more intoxicating than anything else. Qin Bao had felt incredible; he realized he was perhaps even more twisted than that watch.

Feng Chengyu had not yet awakened. Qin Bao lay limp and aching in his arms, blatantly appraising this body that his hands had roamed over from top to bottom.

Broad shoulders, beautiful hands, long legs, a lean waist, and even eight distinct abdominal muscles… How did he grow like this? How was his build even better than the Alpha models he worked with?

His gaze shifted to Feng Chengyu’s face, tracing the striking bone structure before settling on the man’s eyes, closed in deep, sated sleep.

He remembered then: this man was supposedly an S-rank.

So being exhausted to the point of blacking out wasn’t due to poor stamina on his part.

A sudden vibration buzzed from the overcoat pocket.

It was Feng Chengyu’s phone again.

It had rung several times from last night until now, as had Qin Bao’s, but neither had possessed the time or focus to care.

Feng Chengyu’s eyelashes fluttered; he seemed to have been stirred awake by the vibration.

Qin Bao shut his eyes instantly, pretending to still be dead asleep.

A few seconds later, he felt his head being gently lifted and set back down as that sturdy arm slipped away.

Immediately after, the space beside him emptied as Feng Chengyu sat up.

Losing his body heat made Qin Bao feel a sudden chill, his fingers curling inward.

Given Feng Chengyu’s standing, missing several calls last night was already an indulgence; he could no longer ignore his obligations this morning. Qin Bao heard him answer the phone in a low, hushed voice. The other end seemed to have an urgent matter, requesting his arrival within the hour.

The rustling friction of fabric followed as Feng Chengyu dressed.

So he’s leaving just like that?

Taking what he wants and walking away—what kind of deadbeat rogue is he?

While Qin Bao was fuming in silence, something warm and soft pressed against his forehead.

Qin Bao: “…”

It was Feng Chengyu’s lips, giving him a morning kiss.

Foul play.

Feng Chengyu called his name softly, his voice thick with post-coital raspiness: “Xiao Bao.”

Qin Bao’s heart thumped hard. He hurriedly feigned waking up, but the moment he opened his mouth, the voice that emerged barely sounded like his own, his throat stinging raw: “It’s Qin Bao.”

What kind of name was Xiao Bao? So corny.

Feng Chengyu was seated beside him with one hand propped on the floor, still lingering in the posture of having just kissed his brow, his eyes reflecting the embers of the hearth.

They had exchanged looks like this last night and studied each other just as closely, but none of it carried this gentle tenderness.

Intense memories rushed back all at once. Qin Bao swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and averted his face.

Feng Chengyu’s thumb brushed the corner of his lip. “What happened here?”

After a full day and night, coupled with so much sweat, even the best concealer would have worn off. Still, it had only been a faint mark; what kind of hawk eyes did Feng Chengyu have to spot it?

“A minor injury,” Qin Bao muttered.

“Got into a fight?” Feng Chengyu pulled his finger back.

Fighting and getting harassed weren’t things to brag about. Qin Bao didn’t want to answer and deflected, asking pointedly, “You’re leaving?”

“Mm.” Feng Chengyu continued to look down at him without pressing about the bruise, his tone gentle. “I’ll take you home first.”

Drop the pride. Is an hour enough for you to make a round trip?

Qin Bao shut his eyes again, stiffening his neck. “No need. I can head back myself later. You go ahead. I’m going to lie down a bit longer. My family booked this place for two days; no one is kicking me out.”

Besides, his whole body hurt like hell, especially the back of his neck.

If he tried to stand up now, he felt like he’d fall apart.

Feng Chengyu stroked his face and murmured, “Alright.” Then he paused: “Next time—”

“Next time what?” Qin Bao cut in, unsure whether he felt more embarrassed or irritated. “I’m busy. I don’t have that much time to meet up for this. Besides, I’m not the type to just hook up with anyone.”

At the very least, you had to be boyfriends to hook up.

His eyes stayed shut, refusing to look at Feng Chengyu’s expression.

Qin Bao only felt Feng Chengyu gently pinch his earlobe, followed by what sounded like a quiet chuckle. In a soft tone, as if afraid of spooking a small animal, the man said, “I meant to say, let’s not do it in a place like this next time… Don’t worry, I’m not a reckless person either. I’ll take responsibility. I’ll speak to Grandpa and Uncle Qin as well.”

With that, Feng Chengyu stroked his cheek once more and stood up.

Qin Bao felt his heart soften. Dropping the pretense, he quickly opened his eyes. Seeing the other man wearing only a shirt, he reminded him sullenly, “Your coat.”

Going out in only a shirt in this freezing weather—wouldn’t he freeze to death?

His own suit was still on the floor; it wasn’t as if he was desperate to keep someone else’s coat.

“Keep it. It’s cold outside; remember to put it on later.” Feng Chengyu had resumed his impeccably put-together appearance; aside from a missing shirt button, he looked no different from when he arrived yesterday. “I have spare clothes in the car.”

Qin Bao: “Oh.”

Did he do this kind of thing so often that he always kept spares handy?

Feng Chengyu lingered in place, his gaze resting deeply on Qin Bao lying on the carpet. He seemed to want to step back over and do something, but his phone started buzzing once again.

“Rest well. I’ll call you later,” Feng Chengyu said finally.

Feng Chengyu hurried off, leaving Qin Bao alone in the room. He closed his eyes and tried to lie there for a while, but sleep was completely out of the question. He had no choice but to sit up, clutching the overcoat.

His body truly felt on the verge of splintering, and the movement pulled at the skin on the back of his neck, sending a sharp sting that made his vision darken for a second.

So this was what getting bitten felt like.

He could smell the room thick with pheromones—warm milk and cool narcissus entwined so tightly they were inseparable. Strangely, it brought a profound, unspeakable sense of contentment deep within his aching body.

This was the effect of a temporary mark. For the duration of this period, he would carry Feng Chengyu’s mark, temporarily becoming an Omega who “belonged to someone.”

Yet aside from saying “I’ll take responsibility,” Feng Chengyu hadn’t said anything else. Furthermore, since they had cleaned up afterward and Qin Bao wasn’t in heat, there was hardly anything that strictly demanded “taking responsibility.”

So their relationship remained completely undefined.

Blinded by lust. Qin Bao gritted his teeth—had he just been played again?

Not that he lost out, but he couldn’t shake a lingering frustration. Forget about whether they were going to date or not; he hadn’t even re-saved the man’s phone number yet.

That bastard Feng Chengyu. What did he mean, “I’ll call you later”?

He really wanted to curse out loud.

__

Author’s note:

The old master’s cane is on its way.