RBNR Ch6: S-Class

Feng Chengyu said, “Don’t just casually assign titles to people.”

Feng Chu let out an “Oh,” also feeling a bit embarrassed. It did seem a bit too early to call him that now.

Feng Chengyu’s expression didn’t change much. He asked calmly, “What does he want to ask?”

Feng Chu explained that Qin Bao wanted to buy the exact same model of watch, and boldly suggested, “Brother, does this watch of yours have a couple’s edition? How about we just buy one and give it to him.”

As everyone knew, his brother was an unreachable flower on a high peak, not an active person at all. It was rare for the other party to be so direct; if they could show a little appreciation, it would be considered a courteous exchange.

Unfortunately, this watch wasn’t what Feng Chu thought it was.

But after figuring out the reason and filling in some blanks with his own imagination, Feng Chu became even more excited, asking his brother curiously, “Then will you guys get married in the future?”

Feng Chengyu put out his cigarette and reached out to knock him on the head. “Poking your nose into your brother’s business now?”

Feng Chu immediately chickened out. “I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare.”

On the other end.

Qin Bao was in the car heading back to the company. Early the next morning, he had to fly out of town to continue shooting commercials, so he wasn’t going home.

He took the time to do his homework while Brother Lu sat beside him, peeling the oranges he’d bought and feeding him.

“That guy,” Brother Lu asked only after seeing he was almost done, “Do you want me to have him stay further away from you?”

At first, Qin Bao didn’t understand what Brother Lu was talking about, until Brother Lu added, “I see you didn’t hold too much of a grudge, otherwise how come there was no follow-up after tearing his passport? It’s really not worth stooping to the level of someone like that.”

So he was talking about Li Nanyue.

After the last incident, Li Nanyue had sent a few apologies. Because Qin Bao had blocked all his social media accounts, he sent text messages. Qin Bao read them all but didn’t reply, eventually blocking the number as well. Later on, he only heard from colleagues that Li Nanyue was going to change dorms, and he hadn’t thought about it since.

“No need,” Qin Bao mumbled while eating an orange. “Just let it be.”

As they were talking, an unknown number called his phone. Qin Bao almost thought it was Li Nanyue, wondering if the other party had heard he was returning to the dorm today and was persistently calling to apologize again or something. But after answering, the voice on the other end was equally unfamiliar.

“Hello? Is this Qin Bao?”

Qin Bao said, “This is he. You are…”

“I’m Feng Chu,” the other end said. “Weren’t you asking about my brother? Passing messages back and forth is a hassle, so I asked Tu Yisen for your phone number directly.”

Qin Bao hurriedly clarified, “I wasn’t asking about your brother, I was asking about the watch—”

The other side interrupted him. “I already asked for you. My brother’s watch was custom-made by a designer at Baufini; there’s no identical model on the market.”

Qin Bao frowned. “There’s no iden—”

Feng Chu: “I’ve already checked for you, we can buy another Omega model, because even if you bought this one, you couldn’t use it. That other watch is also very nice-looking, it pairs up as a couple’s edition with my brother’s, and it matches your aura perfectly. If you don’t trust my taste, I’ll send you a picture to look at in a bit?”

Feng Chu spoke quite rapidly. Qin Bao missed his chance to interject, so he hurriedly asked, “Why can’t I use it? Is it because of custom rights?”

He knew that top-tier luxury brands like Baufini required VIP status cards.

Feng Chu said, “No,” sounding a bit hesitant. “Anyway, it’s designed with some special functions that an Omega wouldn’t have use for.”

Qin Bao: “What functions?”

Feng Chu: “Ah, this… is hard to say. Although I really want to tell you, I promised to keep it a secret.”

Refusing to give up, Qin Bao asked, “I don’t need those functions, can’t I just get the same exterior design?”

Feng Chu: “Probably… no.”

Although he was completely bewildered, Qin Bao understood that this was a polite refusal.

The other party probably just didn’t want to wear the same watch as someone else.

“Alright then, forget it.” He felt a bit of regret, but said very sincerely, “Still, thank you very much, Feng Chu. I’m already practicing my autograph.”

Feng Chu chuckled. “Saying thanks makes us sound like strangers. If there’s anything else about my brother in the future, just come to me. I promise to tell you everything I know.”

Qin Bao: “…Thanks.”

I said I wasn’t trying to ask about your brother, he thought.

Brother Lu, who had heard the conversation from the side, waited for Qin Bao to hang up before asking what he was trying to buy.

Qin Bao explained that he wanted to buy a watch. Brother Lu asked, “What watch is so mysterious? Do you have a photo? I’ll find someone to ask for you.”

Only then did Qin Bao regret it. Why hadn’t he just asked Feng Chu to take a picture when he sought his help?

Unfortunately, going back to ask for one now felt a bit inappropriate.

Qin Bao didn’t think Brother Lu could get the same watch, but Brother Lu knew more people than he did anyway. Treating a dead horse as a living one, Qin Bao could only try his best to describe the watch’s features, finally adding, “It’s by Baufini.”

Brother Lu had originally been full of confidence, but upon hearing this, his face showed difficulty. “Baufini, huh. Their brand is extremely aloof and noble; I don’t have any connections there.”

“I know.” Qin Bao hadn’t held out much hope and sighed. “Neither do I.”

Returning to the dorm, the other bed was already empty. The schedule, posters, and everything else pasted on the wall had been cleaned up spotlessly. It turned out Li Nanyue had already moved out.

The autumn work schedule had finally come to an end. Qin Bao stayed at school for two days and participated in a monthly exam.

When school ended, he slipped away early, waiting for Tu Yisen in a cafe not far from the school. He had finished the autograph he promised Feng Chu last time. Because they had never met, Tu Yisen was coming with him.

He waited half an hour before they arrived.

The first time he laid eyes on Feng Chu, Qin Bao came to a realization: So the people of the Feng family don’t all look like that.

At least Feng Chu and Feng Chengyu looked nothing alike.

Of course, Feng Chu was still quite good-looking. As a Beta, his height was comparable to most Alphas, and his physique was even more robust than some Alphas. No wonder he was the quarterback for the school team.

The moment he came up, the other guy gave Qin Bao a bear hug. “How are you even taller than I imagined!”

Qin Bao was caught off guard.

Tu Yisen pulled the guy away, afraid that his Brother Bao would find him stinky. “Keep your hands to yourself, what kind of nonsense is that? Could he be a model if he wasn’t tall?”

Feng Chu quickly let go of Qin Bao.

But his gaze remained enthusiastic, so enthusiastic that it was as if they were already family.

Qin Bao was truly a bit unaccustomed to this hug. He hurriedly pulled out the notebook with his signature and handed it to Feng Chu. “Thank you for last time. Here is the autograph I promised you.”

The notebook was exquisite, not something that could be bought in the boutique shops outside the school.

His good upbringing meant that Qin Bao would never give a flimsy piece of paper as a thank-you gift.

Feng Chu flipped it open to look. Qin Bao had signed his name with flamboyant flourishes, and had even written a sentence in front: TO Feng Chu, wishing you success in the college entrance examination and top honors on the list.

He didn’t notice it when he was writing, but taking it out now, he suddenly found it a bit tacky.

Qin Bao explained awkwardly, “I looked it up online, everyone writes it like this.”

“Thank you! I really like it!”

Feng Chu happily accepted it.

“I didn’t really help much, and I got your autograph for free. I’ve completely hit the jackpot! Don’t worry, I will definitely treasure it well!”

Qin Bao called the waiter over to order some coffee and pastries. With Tu Yisen there, the first meeting wasn’t awkward. The conversation quickly opened up, and Qin Bao even added Feng Chu as a friend on Dingxun.

Tu Yisen was sitting next to Feng Chu and watched helplessly as Feng Chu typed out the contact alias: Little Sister-in-Law ^_^.

Sitting across from them, Qin Bao was completely oblivious, also typing out an alias on his end.

Tu Yisen: “…”

Early next month, there was an inter-school American football match. It was already the finals, their school against another private high school. Feng Chu invited Qin Bao to go watch.

“What date?”

“The fourth, at 6 PM.”

Qin Bao hesitated a bit. “I have a very important job on the fourth. I don’t know if I’ll make it in time.”

Tu Yisen tapped the table. “Bro, I won’t be on the school team next semester. This might very well be my last school game. Even Shan Yiming agreed to come watch, you wouldn’t deny me face, would you?”

Qin Bao remembered Shan Yiming was grounded. “He’s been let out?”

“He’s out,” Tu Yisen said. “But your riding his bike was slipped out by Shan Yike. His bike got confiscated by his family, and he’s strictly forbidden from ever touching a motorcycle again.”

Qin Bao: “…”

“Actually, it doesn’t matter if you come late. We’ll save a ticket for you and have someone hold your seat. You can come no matter what time you finish work.”

Feng Chu curiously picked up a snow mochi. Taking advantage of the moment Tu Yisen was busy ordering more food because he felt it wasn’t enough, he suddenly looked at Qin Bao. “My brother will also be coming that day.”

Ah?

What does that have to do with anything?

Qin Bao’s heartbeat fluttered slightly. He nodded inexplicably. “Is that so.”

Feng Chu smiled at him, his expression growing even more kind and benevolent. “Yes, he is.”

Qin Bao began to wonder if he had saved Feng Chu’s life in his past life.

“My brother used to be on his school’s football team too,” Feng Chu said proudly. “But not at our school. He went to high school abroad. I heard him say the Alpha athletes over there were casually growing to be over two meters tall, as if they were on hormones.”

Qin Bao had seen Alpha models over two meters tall at the runway shows too, but they were all special cases.

Tu Yisen asked Feng Chu, “What position did your brother play?”

Feng Chu: “Same as me, defensive end.”

“Whoa, that fierce? Couldn’t tell,” Tu Yisen said in surprise. “He looks quite refined.”

Qin Bao unconsciously perked up his ears to listen, very much agreeing with Tu Yisen’s view. He also felt that Feng Chengyu didn’t look like someone who could play football.

In Qin Bao’s impression, American football was a somewhat brutal, even somewhat bloody sport. He had personally seen athletes hit so hard on the field that they threw up blood.

“You’re joking, my brother is an S-rank Alpha! Don’t let his refined look fool you, he just looks slim when dressed,” Feng Chu said quite proudly. “He’s the one who got me into playing football, and he’s way fiercer than me.”

Qin Bao was stunned. “S-rank?”

Aside from Betas who lacked glands, the pheromones of Alphas and Omegas were all classified into ranks after measurement. Rank didn’t actually represent the superiority or inferiority of the pheromone; normally, a higher rank only represented the rarity and concentration of the pheromones. For instance, A-rank was rarer than B-rank and its released concentration was stronger. Qin Bao himself was A-rank.

But S-rank was different.

The scents of S-rank pheromones weren’t always rare. Only if the concentration was high enough, and the impact caused after release was strong enough—strong enough to suppress other pheromones and even their own kind—could it be classified as S-rank. In addition to this, S-rank Alphas and Omegas possessed varying degrees of innate talent in terms of physical fitness, appearance, and IQ. Even their needs in that aspect were much greater than those of ordinary people.

Some envied them, others feared them, because many people believed S-ranks were inherently aggressive.

“Yep, S-rank.” Feng Chu rubbed his head. “Our family has produced three of them.”

The two S-ranks of the Feng family were those two illustrious, prominent figures.

Adding Feng Chengyu, that made exactly three.

Tu Yisen clicked his tongue. “S-rank. No wonder he has eyes on the top of his head and looks at people through his nostrils when he walks.”

Qin Bao recalled the other party’s somewhat cold face, as well as that proud, sharp aura. If he wasn’t an S-rank Alpha, it really would be a bit of a mismatch.

Then, his train of thought shamefully ran off course.

…He thought, even if he is an S-rank, could a person sporting such an ascetic face really have that many worldly desires?

The topic shifted, and afterwards they began chatting about game preparations, no longer talking about Feng Chengyu.

About an hour later, the three said their goodbyes at the door. Feng Chu smiled and waved to Qin Bao, “See you next time then, Xiao…”

He forcibly swallowed the remaining word back down.

Qin Bao: “?”

Xiao what?

Xiao Bao?

He shot a glare at Tu Yisen like a flying knife.

Tu Yisen felt wrongfully accused to death.

__

Author’s note:

Qin Bao sharpens his knife: I heard you’ve been going around telling everyone my name is Xiao Bao?

Tu Yisen: QAQ Do you dare let Feng Chu finish saying the remaining two words?