RBNR Ch40: April Fools’ Day

At half-past five, Feng Chengyu called: “Are you ready?”

“Ready for what?”

Qin Bao replied casually.

Feng Chengyu said, “The banquet. I’m coming to the hotel to pick you up.”

Qin Bao held his phone between his shoulder and ear while fastening the last cufflink: “Oh, no need to pick me up, I’m already on my way.”

That person always had an infuriatingly calm demeanor, and Qin Bao wanted him to think he’d miss out to see if he could stay so composed.

Feng Chengyu’s tone didn’t change a bit: “Outside? Tell me your location.”

Qin Bao: “…”

He didn’t manage to provoke him.

Quickly giving out the street name, Qin Bao fiercely issued a final ultimatum: “If you’re not here in five minutes, I’m heading straight to the airport.” Then he hung up.

Mu Xian was straightening his collar when Qin Bao turned around with a stern expression, saying he had to leave: “I’ll come to see you again tomorrow.”

After saying this, he picked up the bag on the floor.

“Your coat.”

Mu Xian reminded him, taking it off the hanger and indicating for him to slip his arms into it.

“No need, I’ll put it on later.” Qin Bao grabbed the coat and draped it over his arm, frowning, “It’s hot.”

He was annoyed.

They had arranged to meet the next day to take measurements. Qin Bao, looking sharp, held his coat and carried a loose bag as he walked out of the tailor shop. Through the window, he looked anything but disheveled; it was like a candid street photo shoot, blending in perfectly.

Soon, a black car quietly drove up from the corner. Qin Bao seemed to hesitate for a moment before opening the door himself and getting into the back seat.

In the back seat, Feng Chengyu had already changed into a formal suit, looking at him with a faint smile.

Their clothes were in the same color scheme, looking almost like a couple’s outfit.

Qin Bao immediately wanted to tell the driver to turn back so he could change.

Lin Zi was also there, sitting in the front passenger seat. He had arrived on an afternoon flight. Regardless of whether he had overheard the couple’s earlier conversation, he remained very polite.

Lin Zi said, “Mr. Qin has already prepared his own clothes? Mr. Feng also prepared a set for you, which I just brought. It’s in the trunk, but it seems unnecessary now.”

With Lin Zi’s words, it seemed like Qin Bao was very proactive.

Qin Bao’s ears turned red: “I was just at a friend’s shop playing around, and he insisted I try it on.” He emphasized, “Since it’s useful, I didn’t take it off.”

Then he looked at Feng Chengyu: “Do you even know my size when you buy clothes?”

Feng Chengyu glanced at him and replied: “What do you think?”

Qin Bao: “…”

He’s checked all over, feeling quite smug, hasn’t he?

He leaned back in his seat, turning his face to look out the window.

But he had misunderstood Feng Chengyu.

Lin Zi said, “Mr. Qin, you forgot that your measurements were taken during your wedding. Besides making those few suits, Mr. Feng also had a few formal suits made for you. I picked them up from your home before my flight; they’re hanging in the dressing room.”

Making the dressing room bigger than the bedroom wasn’t for nothing. Qin Bao only realized how many clothes he had when he packed for this trip. When they moved, it took two trucks just for his clothes, making it obvious he was like a human clothes rack.

Because the dressing room was so big, Qin Bao rarely opened other cabinets except for seasonal clothes, so he hadn’t seen the formal suits Feng Chengyu had made.

Qin Bao knew very well that Feng Chengyu had clothes made for him for one reason only: to accompany him to social events, representing Feng Chengyu’s married status as a mascot.

“Don’t have any more clothes made for me; I’m very picky.”

Qin Bao finally said.

“My friend has good taste. I just arranged to have measurements taken tomorrow; two sets from him will be enough.”

Having heard him mention it twice, Feng Chengyu asked: “What friend?”

Qin Bao: “An older brother I knew from childhood, my mom’s student…” He suddenly remembered something, opened his bag, and took out a box, “Here.”

“What is it?”

Feng Chengyu took it and opened it.

“A tie clip.” Qin Bao looked away, “I don’t use it, you can have it.”

It had been in his bag for two or three days; he might as well get rid of it sooner.

Just coming out of the tailor shop with a “useless” tie clip, Feng Chengyu slightly curved his lips: “You bought this for me?”

Seeing him smile, Qin Bao inexplicably felt a bit irritable: “It wasn’t bought for you; it was a gift from someone else.”

Feng Chengyu’s faint smile faded: “From that friend?”

Qin Bao muttered: “Yes.”

Just stop asking.

Feng Chengyu closed the box and put it aside.

Seeing his lack of interest, Qin Bao asked: “Aren’t you going to wear it?”

Feng Chengyu replied: “I’m not wearing a tie today.”

Only then did Qin Bao notice that Feng Chengyu indeed wasn’t wearing a tie.

The collar of his black shirt was casually open, revealing the pale skin near his Adam’s apple. Who knew where he’d been all day? He had on cologne, masking his natural scent.

“Alright, do as you like. If you don’t like it, just throw it away.”

Qin Bao nonchalantly zipped up his bag with a “swish.”

*

The car left the city of Grody, heading towards a castle estate in the suburbs.

Here, green trees shaded the area, the lawn was lush, and fountains and lakes complemented each other. Many cars were parked along the driveway.

It was already evening, the orange sunlight casting on the cobblestone road. Lin Zi got out to open the car door for them, and someone came to greet them. Lin Zi showed the invitation, and the person respectfully made a gesture to invite them in.

Feng Chengyu nodded and led Qin Bao to follow the person into the castle, while Lin Zi stayed behind.

They entered a small reception room where the host took out a tablet listing various animal patterns, both beasts and birds, and asked them to choose.

Feng Chengyu let Qin Bao choose.

Qin Bao didn’t understand what it meant. Feng Chengyu told him: “Choosing a pattern means choosing a mask.”

They had to wear masks?

When did formal parties start doing this?

“Don’t worry, pick what you like.”

Feng Chengyu said.

“Why would I worry? It’s not like I haven’t worn one before.”

Qin Bao’s face heated up. He quickly swiped through the tablet and randomly chose a pretty-looking bird.

The host gestured: “The Thorn Bird. Please follow me.”

It turned out the reception room led to several directions. They were taken to one, connected by a spiral staircase leading up. The host handed them two identical Thorn Bird masks adorned with blue feathers.

Seeing them put on their masks, the reception allowed them to proceed.

On the staircase ahead, there was another couple wearing bird masks, arm in arm, looking like a couple.

Feng Chengyu stopped and faced Qin Bao, but instead of asking him to hold his arm, he held out his hand, palm up.

This was a gesture to hold hands.

Qin Bao placed his hand over, and Feng Chengyu naturally held it: “Don’t wander around inside, just stay by my side.”

Qin Bao nodded.

With their palms pressed together, he felt that Feng Chengyu’s hand was a bit hot.

They ascended the stairs to the third floor, and the space opened up, with beautifully arranged food and drinks.

There were already a dozen guests inside, quietly chatting.

The interior of the castle was hollow, and from the railing, they could look down and see the entire first and second floors.

Qin Bao noticed that the guests on these three floors were grouped by the animal masks they wore, with all the guests on their floor wearing bird-themed masks.

Qin Bao had never heard of such a formal banquet.

Could it be a unique custom of this small country where Grody is located?

“Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?” Feng Chengyu asked.

Qin Bao had already eaten some snacks at Mu Xian’s shop in the afternoon: “Not hungry. What is this place?”

“A legitimate place.” Feng Chengyu’s lips, visible below his mask, formed a graceful curve, “No police will suddenly rush in and arrest you.”

Qin Bao: “…”

What an unnecessary question!

Since there was nothing strange, Qin Bao wanted to pull his hand away. His hand was getting sweaty from being pressed against Feng Chengyu’s.

But before he could act, someone on the first floor tapped a glass, and the guests gathered in small groups by the railing to look down. Feng Chengyu pulled Qin Bao closer, not only holding hands but their arms touching as well.

The person tapping the glass seemed to be the castle’s host, speaking elegantly, first welcoming the guests and raising a toast, then pulling out a slip of paper to start the first riddle game.

Indeed, it was not a formal banquet.

It was an entertainment gathering with riddle games divided by groups.

First, the guests on the first floor solved the riddle. Guests on the second and third floors could not answer, regardless of whether they knew the answer, until the first floor failed to solve it, then the second floor could answer, and so on.

The atmosphere was very relaxed. Each floor took turns proposing questions, covering a wide range of topics, many far beyond Qin Bao’s knowledge.

Besides solving riddles, they could also unmask identities. The winning team could choose anyone from another team to question. The selected person could give any answer, but if correctly identified, they would be eliminated.

Occasionally, someone would remove their mask, revealing a face that either surprised those around or confirmed their suspicions, with everyone smiling knowingly.

None of the guests were politicians Qin Bao had seen before; they all seemed to be academics.

After a round won by the first floor, some guests whispered with the host, who suddenly called out to the third floor: “The pair of thorn birds by the railing.”

Qin Bao was startled. Were they being called out?

Were their identities about to be revealed?

“What do you say?” Feng Chengyu remained calm.

The host dispensed with pretense, directly calling Feng Chengyu by name: “Feng Chengyu, didn’t you say you were staying home with your Omega and wouldn’t come?”

Everyone laughed.

Though the question wasn’t directed at him, Qin Bao’s face turned red.

Feng Chengyu didn’t remove his mask, but it seemed not to matter to anyone if he did or didn’t.

Feng Chengyu looked down calmly and said, “Then should I leave?”

Everyone laughed again.

The host shouted, “No,” then added, “Look at you, always so aloof, threatening to leave at the drop of a hat, even at a school reunion standing in the highest spot.”

Feng Chengyu stood above, not refuting.

A school reunion…

Qin Bao suddenly realized it was Feng Chengyu’s school reunion.

He immediately recalled a photo he had secretly taken from Feng Chengyu’s album, where Feng Chengyu was in academic regalia, the school’s emblem in the background.

No wonder the decorations at this banquet looked familiar.

The host continued, “Since you’re here today, why not properly introduce us to the Omega who stole your heart and led you to the altar?—You, the long-legged bird next to him, please keep his extramarital affairs a secret.”

Everyone could see Feng Chengyu and Qin Bao holding hands, so they knew the person next to Feng Chengyu was his “spouse.”

But they still played along with the host, coaxing them to remove their masks.

Qin Bao grew nervous.

His marriage was a secret, and these people were from various fields, not politicians. If he removed his mask, he might end up on the front page the next day, given his spouse was Feng Chengyu.

His career had just started to pick up, and he didn’t want any complications.

According to their contract, Feng Chengyu also couldn’t reveal their marriage casually.

Feeling a gentle squeeze on his hand, Qin Bao snapped out of it.

He turned to see Feng Chengyu’s deep eyes, and his tense body suddenly relaxed… Though he didn’t know Feng Chengyu that well, he felt reassured.

Feng Chengyu raised his hand and removed his mask, revealing his handsome face.

Whistles filled the room.

“Let me introduce you. This is my Omega.”

Feng Chengyu said to those below.

“Getting married wasn’t easy for me. He’s very shy, so please, be gentle and don’t scare him away.”