RBNR Ch38: It smells like a scumbag

F: [Sorry, I can’t make it home tonight either.]

The phone vibrated, popping up a new message on Dingxun.

Qin Bao was sprawled across the sofa building a 3D model. Final exams were over, but his head felt cloudy; some parameters in his modeling assignment were slightly off, so he was currently searching for sample problems to review.

He glanced at the message and didn’t reply.

A minute or two later, another Dingxun message popped up.

F: [Location]

Qin Bao finally picked up the phone: [?]

What does that mean?

Surely he isn’t expecting me to head over there.

F: [Having a meeting here tomorrow.]

Qin Bao stared at the message for a moment before finally understanding what Feng Chengyu meant. Because he was delayed and unable to return, Feng Chengyu was strictly abiding by the terms of their prenuptial agreement, reporting his location to him.

Qin Bao admired his precision and contractual integrity, but felt it was entirely unnecessary. He also knew Feng Chengyu’s schedule was packed, where every minute and second counted.

Qin Bao typed rapidly: [No need to report your whereabouts to me.]

After a beat of thought, he sent another: [Just focus on your own work.]

With that, he locked the screen.

A healthy contractual marriage meant refraining from demanding too much from each other, while sparing oneself the need for an overbearing sense of responsibility.

For example, learning to resolve one’s pheromone dependency independently.

The moment he had returned home earlier, Qin Bao searched online. After browsing several medical encyclopedias, he confirmed that the auntie was completely right: he truly was craving Feng Chengyu’s pheromones.

This condition had a formal clinical term called Pheromone Dependency Syndrome. It was common among Omegas who had not yet received a permanent mark, and the symptoms typically emerged under only two specific conditions:

First, an exceptionally high pheromone compatibility rate. Following a temporary mark, the resulting physiological bond was so potent that it drove the Omega to crave the Alpha’s pheromones even more intensely.

Second, frequent kissing and sexual activity within a compressed timeframe, leading the Omega to ingest an excess of the Alpha’s pheromones. Alpha pheromones did not circulate merely in the bloodstream; their concentration in saliva and seminal fluid was extraordinarily high as well.

Qin Bao checked every single box for both criteria. Finishing the article, he remained entirely expressionless.

The medical forums noted that resolving the issue was remarkably simple: the symptomatic Omega merely needed to have their Alpha mark them once more, and the distress would vanish instantly.

What was he supposed to do?

Was he supposed to call Feng Chengyu of his own accord and tell the man to hurry home and bite him?

Qin Bao felt an immense surge of irritation.

Setting aside how sensitive Feng Chengyu’s official duties were, relying on another person just to function normally was something Qin Bao would never permit to happen to himself.

The medical literature listed several pharmaceutical alternatives suited for the condition. Though not as immediately effective as an Alpha’s direct mark, taking them over several doses provided noticeable relief. Qin Bao hopped onto a delivery app and placed an order right away.

Right as he was halfway through his assignment in peace, An Qingyan called out of the blue.

“Bao, are you free tomorrow? I need you to save the day.”

“What’s up?” Qin Bao asked listlessly. “Dumped your new boyfriend again, and he happened to be your campaign model?”

An Qingyan: “As if I’m that kind of person. Stop slandering me.”

Qin Bao: “…”

Silence was the finest retaliation.

“I’m talking serious business with you—it’s about Baufini.” An Qingyan cleared his throat, dropping a model’s name in a low voice: “He got locked up last night.”

That model was currently Baufini’s favorite headliner. Hearing this, Qin Bao forgot all about adjusting his model: “How come?”

An Qingyan said, “Drunk driving. Injured someone.”

Without a doubt, this scandal would explode across the trending topics. While that sort of person deserved prison, the real headache was that Baufini’s Autumn/Winter Resort presentation was right around the corner—if Qin Bao remembered correctly, it was set for the next few days.

Promotional material on their official site had already been rolling out, and that model’s photos had to be pulled down in an emergency scrub.

An Qingyan had always enjoyed excellent ties with Baufini. Upon learning of the disaster, he recommended Qin Bao to them.

“Your height and measurements are nearly identical, and in terms of pedigree and runway execution, you won’t lose to him,” An Qingyan said. “Aren’t you looking to resume work anyway? On one hand, Baufini places immense weight on this show and desperately needs a qualified fill-in; on the other hand, you can use Baufini to fire the opening salvo for your comeback. It’s a clean win-win for both sides.”

Qin Bao hesitated: “Except I don’t have an agency handling my bookings right now…”

“Operate independently for now. It’s not a big issue; I did that for a stretch back then too.” An Qingyan was practically Qin Bao’s guardian angel. “If you’re game, I’ll have their team reach out to you directly.”

Given the emergency, everyone moved at lightning speed, finalizing the contract within an hour.

With only a single day until the presentation, the event was slated for Grodie, a renowned resort destination. Baufini sorted out Qin Bao’s flights and liaison team in no time.

Having belonged to an agency with a dedicated manager since age thirteen, handling every logistical detail on his own was a first for Qin Bao.

Yet this fast-paced rhythm was what he was used to. He thrived on traveling between different cities, relished the element of unpredictability, and loved showcasing himself on stage, utterly despising stagnation.

The moment he pulled out his suitcase to pack, Qin Bao felt as though a lifetime had passed.

The evening he touched down in Grodie, the tag #QinBaoAirportFashion quietly surfaced across social media platforms.

Netizens discussed it eagerly, and Qin Bao’s fans were beside themselves with excitement.

[Waaah, fresh BB sightings! Can our boy please step out and work more often?]

[This fit is gorgeous. Someone else wore it before, but there really is an insurmountable wall between supermodels and idol celebrities. [Tears of Joy]]

[Hush! Don’t invite hate, haven’t our boy’s anti-fan hit pieces piled up high enough already?]

[Bao Bao was just focusing on his studies after starting university! Now that break has started, of course he’s stepping out for events! [Heart]]

[Heh, shelved means shelved. B-fans really live up to their delusional reputation.]

[See, the haters are already clocking in.]

[Wait a second, why is my Bao in Grodie? Is he attending a show?]

Eighteen hours later.

Qin Bao stepped onto the runway for Baufini’s Autumn/Winter Resort Collection live broadcast. Simultaneously, the news regarding that top model blew up the trending charts.

Following in lockstep, #QinBaoSavesTheDay# and #BaufiniQinBao# surged right behind it, exploding across social media feeds.

At three in the morning, accompanied by Baufini’s PR representative, Qin Bao returned to his hotel. The representative scheduled an afternoon airport shuttle and asked with deep concern, “Are you sure I shouldn’t call a physician for you? You look terribly unwell.”

Even behind a baseball cap and a face mask, the vivid flush across Qin Bao’s cheeks was impossible to miss.

Under the harsh runway lights and heavy makeup, the staff hadn’t noticed earlier. Seeing his reserved, detached demeanor, they had simply assumed it was his innate temperament or that traveling solo made him rather shy.

Only after his makeup was removed did someone realize he was physically unwell.

Politely declining the offer, Qin Bao shut the door, stripped off his mask and cap, and collapsed face-first onto the hotel bed.

What a joke.

Going to the hospital would just mean broadcasting to the entire world that he had developed pheromone dependency.

Hardly a badge of honor.

During the show, his adrenaline had been pumping under intense focus, masking much of the discomfort. But the instant work wrapped up and the thrilling tension dissipated, the symptoms of pheromone withdrawal roared back with a vengeance.

To make matters worse, he had packed in such a rush that he left the purchased medication behind at home.

His body temperature spiked, leaving him dizzy.

His scent gland throbbed in sharp spasms, sending humiliating waves of restless heat rippling through his core.

Dragging his leaden body along, Qin Bao adjusted the showerhead to a cooler setting, trying to wash away the fever. Standing under the cool stream for a long stretch until he felt marginally more comfortable, he finally crawled back into bed to rest.

In a groggy haze, he felt his phone vibrating on the nightstand. It was an incoming call from Feng Chengyu.

What now?

He tapped accept, and Feng Chengyu’s deep, resonant voice came through the receiver: “Open the door.”

Qin Bao’s voice was thick with nasal congestion: “I’m not home. What happened? Did the door lock break?”

“I know you aren’t home,” Feng Chengyu said. “I’m in Grodie, at your hotel.”

Qin Bao was utterly dazed.

He pushed himself up slowly to sit against the headboard, clicked on the bedside lamp, and stared blankly at the hotel suite door.

When a faint click came from the entryway, he climbed out of bed in disbelief, murmuring into the phone, “Are you right outside?”

Receiving Feng Chengyu’s confirmation, his heart hammered frantically against his ribs. The scent gland at his nape throbbed even more fiercely, as if sensing that the specific pheromone it craved was standing just beyond the threshold.

Click.

The security chain slipped free, and the lock turned.

The tall Alpha stood in the doorway dressed entirely in black, looking as though he had stepped straight off the evening news broadcast, making Qin Bao feel as if he were dreaming.

“Why are you here?” Qin Bao’s thoughts were a tangled mess. “Feng Chengyu, are you stalking me?”

Feng Chengyu: “…”

The next second, Qin Bao stepped forward, reached out, and wrapped his arms around the man.

Unable to see Feng Chengyu’s expression, Qin Bao only felt the man’s frame stiffen for a fraction of a second.

Terrified that Feng Chengyu might turn and leave, Qin Bao couldn’t spare the mental bandwidth to figure out why he was here. Operating purely on instinct, he rubbed his face against the man’s shoulder and demanded, “Don’t move.”

He didn’t even have the energy to interrogate him about why he showed up.

Feng Chengyu looked as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately let out a soft sigh, closed the door behind him, and returned the embrace. He asked gently, “Where does it hurt?”

Qin Bao’s cheeks were flushed crimson; even his bare collarbones and shoulders showed a rosy tint.

“Everywhere,” he answered Feng Chengyu, and then, as if it were the most natural progression in the world, asked, “Can we do it?”

He was in sheer agony.

Catching another whiff of that cool scent turned his barely coherent brain back into complete mush.

There was no time to overthink things. Since this human-shaped remedy had shown up at his door, only an idiot wouldn’t put it to use.

The overhead lights remained off, leaving only the dim bedside lamp glowing.

The subtle scent of narcissus permeated every sense. Qin Bao’s breath ran scorching hot; while his body found immediate relief, his thoughts drifted into an even deeper daze.

He barely registered being lifted into the man’s arms, or his mouth being invaded.

The Alpha granted every request, delivering an exquisitely gentle offering.

After nearly a week apart, barely five minutes had elapsed since their reunion.

As if the previous round had never concluded, they picked up right where they had left off.

In the dead hours of an unfamiliar city.

Leaves rustled softly outside, interspersed with ragged breathing and crisp sounds of skin meeting skin.

Beyond the window stood a massive goldenrain tree, its lush foliage casting leafy shadows across Qin Bao’s graceful spine, accentuating the taut veins and coiled strength in the hands pinning him down.

Canines pierced the Omega’s tender nape.

Waves of pheromones flooded inward, filling a void that had long felt barren with the very essence destined to claim it. Qin Bao tilted his head back, losing himself completely.

That was a fresh mark from Feng Chengyu.

The Alpha stamped his proprietary seal onto the scent gland, possessively licking and soothing the fresh puncture wounds like a beast tending to its cherished prey.

Two scents entwined, forging an unbreakable bond once more.

Then, the gentleness vanished in a flash.

A violent tempest took its place.

The eastern horizon was just beginning to pale when Qin Bao, thoroughly drained, woke after a brief nap.

Still lying flat on his stomach, his mind was already clear. In a slightly muffled voice, he asked, “Got a smoke?”

Their clothes lay in an unkempt heap at the foot of the bed. Feng Chengyu reached over, sifted through his pockets, and pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

The box was plain gray, stark and understated.

Qin Bao glanced at it. There was no flavor bead, but it was acceptable enough.

Pulling a single stick from the pack, Qin Bao slid out of bed, grabbed a robe to drape over his shoulders, and reached for the lighter. Both of his ears were burning red, yet he walked toward the window with deliberate nonchalance.

There was a private balcony tucked out there, sheltered by leafy branches that provided excellent seclusion.

Qin Bao lit the cigarette, sank into a wicker armchair, and propped his long legs lazily onto the railing.

The crisp dawn light, the dappled leafy shadows, and his presence framed the space like an oil painting.

Incredible.

His dizziness had cleared, his headache was gone, and every inch of his body felt remarkably soothed.

Feng Chengyu stepped out as well, lighting a cigarette for himself.

The tobacco carried a bitter edge. Qin Bao wrinkled his nose; he rarely saw Feng Chengyu smoke, but the man’s taste was unexpectedly heavy—a single stick of this felt like ten of his own.

During this post-coital lull, neither had much to say.

Men being men, after sleeping together, it was easy to view the other person in a softer light. Qin Bao took the initiative for once. Looking at Feng Chengyu, he reached out, hooked the man’s collar, and pulled him down.

Drawing close, he pressed a quick peck to Feng Chengyu’s lips—a reward.

Feng Chengyu exhaled one last plume of smoke, took Qin Bao’s cigarette, and stubbed them both out in the ashtray. Then, he dipped his head and sealed Qin Bao’s lips.

The kiss deepened by the second, his back muscles flexing taut against his shirt, radiating raw power.

A reward was one thing, but this was pushing it.

Gouging his fingers into that broad back, Qin Bao dodged the kiss, protesting breathless refusals: “Enough… no more…”

The man didn’t stop.

Irritated, he snapped, “Feng Chengyu… seriously, no more!”

Sounding suspiciously like a heartless rogue.

Feng Chengyu finally relented, though he insisted on pulling him onto his lap, finally asking, “Why didn’t you say anything when you felt unwell?”

Qin Bao feigned ignorance: “Say what?”

“Pheromone dependency,” Feng Chengyu stated plainly, fixing him with a dark gaze. “You reached the point of ordering medication—why didn’t you just tell me directly?”

So he saw the pills left behind at home.

Having his own Omega develop pheromone withdrawal while he was away—to the point of resorting to medication for relief—was something practically no Alpha could swallow with ease.

Qin Bao, however, felt Feng Chengyu was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Feng Chengyu pressed, “Were you angry? You can tell me if you’re angry.”

Qin Bao was baffled: “Why would I be angry?”

“I’m sorry.” Feng Chengyu pressed a kiss to his cheek. “It was my fault. I was too busy and neglected you. I will make up for missing last week during the weekend, and I will do my best to carve out time to be with you from now on so you won’t suffer like this again.”

Without Qin Bao even asking, Feng Chengyu actively added more commitments to their plate.

Qin Bao grew even more confused: “What nonsense are you talking about?”

How can someone manage to look so innocent while being so carnal?

The corners of Feng Chengyu’s lips curved faintly: “I am apologizing.”

“What are you apologizing for? Didn’t we agree to mind our own business? I don’t manage you, and you don’t manage mine.”

As Qin Bao spoke, he suddenly remembered that Feng Chengyu seemed rather eager to be managed, so he squirmed uncomfortably out of his lap and sat to the side.

“Ahem. Doing that with you… was my own choice. High compatibility isn’t your fault either. If we really want to assign blame, both of us have lousy self-control, so let’s call it even.”

“Besides, I’m thrilled today—I finally got back on the runway. How would I have the headspace to dwell on trivial nonsense?”

Recalling the events of the past few days, Qin Bao added, “And another thing: when I said you didn’t need to report your whereabouts, I meant it. Don’t take it to heart. I’m busy too, who has the time to read your updates all day?”

Feng Chengyu: “…”

Seeing that the man’s expression had turned somewhat sour, Qin Bao felt he might have taken his prickly act too far. The guy had flown all this way specifically to alleviate his withdrawal symptoms; acting completely ungrateful was admittedly uncalled for.

“How did you know my hotel room number?” Qin Bao asked, looking at him with genuine gratitude. “Thanks, really. Troubling you to fly out here…”

“An Qingyan gave me the address,” Feng Chengyu cut in. “I happened to have a cocktail reception to attend in Grodie anyway.”

For some reason, Feng Chengyu’s tone had turned rather frosty.

Qin Bao nodded obediently: “So that was it. Had I known, I would have called you over sooner.”

__

Author’s note:

Xiao Feng: I admit, I lost my cool.