RBNR Ch4: He’s quite proud

Professor Feng chatted and laughed as he bid farewell to the guests, while Professor Lin asked her son who was walking towards her, “Did you see Xiao Bao?”

Feng Chengyu gave a slight nod. “Yes.”

Professor Lin looked in the direction he had come from, her eyes lighting up. A smile touched her lips, and her tone revealed her affection, “Time flies so fast. It’s like he grew up in the blink of an eye.”

Feng Chengyu followed his mother’s gaze and also took a look in that direction.

Qin Bao, standing by the cold buffet table, happened to turn his head at that moment.

With his black hair slicked back, his youthful face made him still look a bit boyish, his eyes clear and bright. Across the crowd, their gazes collided. The teenager quickly looked away, like a swan holding its head up high.

“I still remember when he was just born. Because he was premature, he was only this big… like a little sticky rice ball.” Professor Lin gestured. “Now he’s a fine-looking young man, a striking beauty who has inherited all of his parents’ best features.”

Feng Chengyu withdrew his gaze and didn’t answer his mother. He held a wine glass in his hand, the emotion in his eyes unclear.

Professor Lin observed his expression and said gently, “Of course, nowadays everyone talks about freedom in love and marriage. You still have to listen to your heart and choose someone you truly like.”

Professor Feng turned around and joined their conversation. “Then again, destiny is ordained by heaven. Your compatibility level isn’t low, so there’s no harm in trying to get to know each other. Sometimes the two things don’t conflict at all.”

Feng Chengyu gave a nonchalant “En.”

“Sigh, it’s still too early to talk about this.” Professor Feng didn’t say more, only adding, “Chengyu, your second uncle and I have to go upstairs first. Your aunt is still keeping the old man company, you should head over there too.”

The banquet was crowded, which was indeed a bit inconvenient for the Feng family.

However, it didn’t really affect Professor Feng and his wife much. It was simply that having done so much academic research, they were tired of these social occasions and wanted to find a quiet place to hide.

Knowing his parents’ temperament, Feng Chengyu obediently replied, “Alright.”

As soon as he arrived at the venue earlier, Feng Chengyu had followed the rest of the Feng family to wish Old Master Qin a happy birthday. Because the stream of guests was endless, he hadn’t had much of a chance to chat with the old man.

When he was young and followed his grandfather to the golf courses and racecourses, he would often see Old Master Qin. He remembered riding on Old Master Qin’s back to pick cherries.

Almost all the guests who came to offer their congratulations had arrived.

When Feng Chengyu went back, only his aunt Feng Ruian and her group were left by the table.

“Chengyu, come, sit down,” Old Master Qin waved with a smile. “I didn’t have time to say much to you earlier. Let Grandpa get a good look at you. You’ve been drinking foreign ink these past couple of years; are you getting used to things since coming back?”

As soon as he sat down, the old man grasped his hand.

The old man’s palms were dry and rough, but very warm.

Feng Chengyu sat respectfully beside the old man and said, “It was when I was abroad that I wasn’t used to it. After all, one’s own place is the best. Nowhere can compare to home.”

“Well said.” Old Master Qin patted the back of his hand. “I just don’t know what that child of ours, Xiao Bao, is thinking, running outside all day long.”

Saying that, the old man pulled him a little closer and whispered, “Yesterday, he sneaked out of the country to do that catwalk thing. Went all by himself, didn’t ask anyone for help, and only rushed back this morning. He put on such a good act, thinking I didn’t know!”

Hearing this, Feng Chengyu was actually a little surprised.

The Qin family’s rules were strict. He had heard about how Old Master Qin had spurred his son step by step to climb to his current position, and he himself came from a similarly rigorous family. Even if his parents were considered “rebellious,” they had merely devoted themselves to academia rather than entering politics. A “rebel” like Qin Bao was absolutely not permitted to appear in such a family.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, Xiao Bao’s catwalk is walking like a model.”

Fearing he wouldn’t understand, Old Master Qin specially explained. In his enthusiasm, he even had someone bring over his phone.

“Look, this is a magazine he shot last year. At that time, his height had already shot up to 1.8 meters.”

The old man flipped through the photos one by one to show Feng Chengyu.

Feng Chengyu looked and politely listened.

The teenager in the photos wore either heavy or light makeup, standing on the runway with a cold expression. Under the halo of the spotlights, he was a walking clothes hanger. Every movement radiated a unique sense of confidence and relaxation.

Compared to his suit and leather shoes at the banquet, this was closer to how he looked when running towards the motorcycle.

“This one… is from some show he walked this year. The brand even sent a bunch of stuff to the house, I couldn’t even make sense of it.”

Old Master Qin’s tone carried an affection he himself hadn’t noticed, yet he still snorted in disapproval.

“He’s made a bit of a name for himself, but it’s still not a proper, grand stage. He still needs to walk the right path. What’s the meaning of showing his face in public every day!”

Hearing their conversation, Feng Ruian put down her teacup, her lips curving. “It’s a good thing that Xiao Bao is willing to go out and temper himself at such a young age.”

Feng Ruian was nearing fifty. Dressed in a tailored suit, she exuded the aura of someone in power, commanding respect without needing to be angry. A five-meter radius around this small reception area seemed to form a natural barrier, isolating all the noise.

As a female Alpha, Feng Ruian’s political views had always leaned towards the gentle side, a stark contrast to her second brother, Marshal Feng’s, iron-fisted methods. Hers was more like a silent, nourishing spring rain. But she never lacked a sense of authority; many on the outside actually feared her more.

“Seeing more of the world while young allows one to remain unfazed by favor or disgrace in the future,” Feng Ruian spoke slowly, but her words captured attention. “The experiences accumulated in one’s youth are precious wealth for a lifetime.”

Since Director Feng said so, Old Master Qin also gave her face. He waved his hand and said, “Back then, us two old codgers acted recklessly and had outdated mindsets, deciding their major life events for them so early on. It’s a pity that we are now separated by life and death. Even if I wanted to change it, I couldn’t unilaterally break the promise on my own authority. So, I’ve always felt I owed the child. I’ve pampered him like a treasure since he was little, and been a bit loose with discipline…”

As he spoke, the old man looked at Feng Chengyu, his spirits high. “Looking at it now, where is the debt? I think it’s more like that child is marrying up.”

The old man had just heard from Feng Ruian that Feng Chengyu had already started planning his future after returning to the country. Recommended by Feng Ruian, he was entering the capital’s municipal committee to start from the grassroots level.

The young Alpha was just starting out, yet his aura already faintly revealed stability and composure. His future was promising.

Moreover, the old man had watched him grow up and knew that in terms of looks, family background, and character, he was top-notch in every aspect.

“You must be joking,” Feng Chengyu said. “I actually still have many shortcomings. I’m the one reaching high.”

The old man affectionately chided Feng Chengyu for being overly modest: “What are you talking about, child.”

Feng Ruian chimed in with Old Master Qin at the right moment, amusing him so much that the wrinkles around his eyes squeezed together in laughter.

“We’ve already agreed not to interfere in the affairs of you young people,” Old Master Qin said. “The thoughts of us old fogeys are one thing, and yours are another. If it’s truly meant to be, it will make for a beautiful story.”

Feng Chengyu: “Yes, Grandpa.”

The old man looked at him more and more favorably. After a while, he still couldn’t resist asking, “Grandpa noticed you two bumped into each other just now, right? What do you think of our family’s boy?”

Everyone present waited for Feng Chengyu’s reply.

Feng Chengyu’s emotions were restrained as he replied properly, “Grandpa, he is still too young.”

Hearing this, the old man’s mood improved even more. He repeatedly said, “Good, good, good. We’ll talk about it when he’s older, when he’s older.”

Qin Bao held a cupcake, zoning out for no reason.

“Hey!”

Someone called out from behind him, startling him into a shudder. His heart skipped a few beats, and he realized he had somehow wandered over to the outdoor swimming pool.

The person approaching was Tu Yisen. He curiously waved a hand in front of Qin Bao’s eyes. “Why are you staring into the pool like you’re in a daze? Want to jump in and cool off?”

If it wasn’t a banquet, Qin Bao really would have wanted to jump in to calm down and figure out what this inexplicable heart palpitation was all about.

“Weren’t you on patrol with your dad?”

They referred to this act of following adults around like a puppy to meet people as “patrolling.”

“You finished your patrol, why shouldn’t I?” Tu Yisen slung a long arm over his shoulder. “So tiring. After walking just one lap, my face is cracking from smiling so much.”

The structure of an Alpha’s glands was different from an Omega’s; it couldn’t be blocked by suppressants or gland patches, relying entirely on personal restraint to control. This guy had grown up fooling around with him and wasn’t sensitive to gender differences, so it was inevitable that he’d forget to hold back, letting his pheromones surge wildly.

Qin Bao furrowed his brows and shoved Tu Yisen’s arm away. “Get off, you stink to death.”

What he told Xu Tangzhou wasn’t an exaggeration. He truly felt that the pheromones of these Alphas smelled terrible, like that greasy guy on the plane. To him, Alpha pheromones always carried an aggressiveness—a pungent odor he disliked.

Except for… the person he just met.

It was really strange. The other party clearly restrained his pheromones extremely well, yet he still felt them. That scent traveled through the air, through his skin, reaching directly into his nerve endings.

The young Alpha’s pheromones were faint, like the cold, proud narcissus flowers that were always on the old master’s desk.

Very much like the person himself.

Qin Bao surprisingly didn’t find the scent repulsive; it didn’t cause him any discomfort. He even found it somewhat… pleasant.

Even the glands at the back of his neck were itching.

It was the first time this kind of situation had happened, making him feel a deep sense of shame.

Tu Yisen stumbled from the shove and lowered his head to sniff himself. “I do? I think I smell pretty good. It’s a new cologne.”

Qin Bao was certain: “You do. It just stinks.”

Tu Yisen was used to Qin Bao’s disgust and didn’t mind. He even cheekily teased, “Stinky it is, then. Supermodel, why are you so well-behaved today? I thought you’d find a chance to slip away. Could it be because of that… hehehe.”

“Hehe my foot,” Qin Bao snapped irritably. “Look at what occasion it is today. I’d be asking for death if I didn’t behave well.”

Tu Yisen, however, smiled meaningfully. “Right, for the first meeting with the Feng family, you still have to put up a front. Otherwise, they might think our Brother Bao got scared and backed down.”

Who knew what this guy was imagining in his head.

Qin Bao didn’t feel there was any need to put up a front with the Feng family; it wasn’t like they were enemies.

“Do you know that guy named Feng Chengyu?” he asked.

Among this group of childhood friends, Shan Yiming was the oldest, while Tu Yisen was around the same age as Qin Bao. The two went to the same school, with Tu Yisen just one grade above. Tu Yisen’s father used to be the deputy to the Marshal of the Feng family, so he had grown up mingling in the Alliance’s troops. When he was little, he’d brag to everyone about riding in the Marshal’s mecha.

Tu Yisen: “Don’t know him, it’s my first time seeing him too. To be fair, he looks alright, just a bit old.”

“How old?”

“Think he’s twenty-four already.”

“??”

Tu Yisen pointed at Qin Bao, then pointed at himself.

Qin Bao: “…”

Fine. As fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds, they had the right to say that.

“But he has a younger cousin named Feng Chu who’s on the school team with me. If you want to know anything, I can ask around for you.”

Tu Yisen was referring to one of Feng Chengyu’s more distant cousins. He was a Beta, built very sturdy, and played quarterback for the school team.

Qin Bao turned his face away. “Not interested.”

Tu Yisen’s smile was highly annoying. “Really? You’ve never asked about anyone else before.”

“I just saw he was a bit cocky and quite arrogant, can’t I be a little curious?”

Qin Bao’s cheeks burned; he already regretted asking. Fortunately, the evening sun was an orange hue, making the flush of heat on his face less obvious when it shone on him.

Feng Chengyu was indeed quite arrogant.

Looking down on people from above, his tone of voice was even colder than his posture.

“Arrogant?” Tu Yisen narrowed his eyes. “How arrogant can he be? If he dares give you attitude, I’ll be the first to kill him.”

Qin Bao was shocked. “Are you sick in the head?”

Dusk fell from all directions, and the evening banquet officially began.

Mr. Qin went on stage to give a speech. The crowd raised their glasses, congratulating Old Master Qin and wishing him evergreen longevity. Qin Bao scanned the guests but didn’t see that sharp profile again. The venue was crowded, and there was no shortage of invited media. The Feng family’s status was sensitive, and they had always maintained a low profile, so they had probably left early.

Left real fast.

There was a ball after the banquet. The younger generation finally gained their freedom. Since it had been a long time since everyone gathered, someone suggested sneaking out to drink for an afterparty.

Qin Bao originally wanted to go home to catch up on sleep and do his homework while at it.

But someone mocked him, hitting the nail on the head: “Being so obedient today, Brother Bao, could it be you haven’t finished your summer homework and are too scared to go?”

Even Shan Yiming asked, “I heard the old man demanded you score at least eighty in every subject. If you fail even one, you’re not allowed to walk runways anymore?”

“Where did that rumor come from?” Qin Bao sneered. “If we’re going, let’s go. I can get an eighty even writing with my eyes closed, you think I’m scared of failing?”