RBNR Ch63: He’s not a wooden person

Feng Chengyu’s injury was kept from Professor Lin, and only Qin Bao stayed by his side. Director Feng and Professor Lin’s team left first, while Qin Bao stayed in Yatan with Feng Chengyu for two more days before taking a private jet back home. As the plane landed, flashes and microphones from reporters swarmed immediately.

The council arranged this media meeting.

Feng Chengyu was dressed in a black suit, no tie, his shirt collar slightly open, fitting his image after a disaster, but he still appeared elegant, with no visible signs of injury.

Qin Bao couldn’t accompany him and stayed in the back of the plane with Lin Zi, watching Feng Chengyu being surrounded by security and reporters from the window.

Noticing Qin Bao’s daze, Lin Zi asked, “Not used to it?”

Qin Bao snapped back to reality: “What?”

“These news media.” Lin Zi, with his leg injury, stayed with Qin Bao. “You often face cameras and interviews, but it’s very different, right?”

Qin Bao nodded: “Yes. For me, it’s just that they shoot whenever they like. I can’t chase them away, especially those annoying paparazzi. As for interviews, if it’s not a work setting, I can completely choose not to answer.”

“But we can’t,” Lin Zi said. “Especially Mr. Feng.”

As an artist, Qin Bao only needed to play specific roles in his work, but Feng Chengyu was different. Every appearance required him to be in the best state, every statement needed careful consideration. Once he stepped out of the house, Feng Chengyu ceased to be just Feng Chengyu.

Lin Zi smiled: “If one day you and Mr. Feng appeared together in front of the camera, what do you think the world’s reaction would be?”

The world’s reaction?

Qin Bao couldn’t imagine. Probably, people would feel a sense of dissonance. After spending the last couple of days together, he felt an intense sense of separation. It was like he and Feng Chengyu were living in two different dimensions.

Qin Bao asked Lin Zi, “Do you also find it strange that we’re together?”

Lin Zi responded, “No.”

“Why?” Qin Bao asked.

“Because General Qin has a high status in the Imperial Army and is very close to the old marshal. It’s only natural for the two families to be allied. Minister Qin is also the head of the Business Department, which can assist Mr. Feng in his various initiatives. Without the alliance of the Feng and Qin families, the Fuxing Group wouldn’t have relinquished control of Feilu Star so quickly.” Lin Zi said objectively. “Moreover, you two really like each other.”

Qin Bao looked at Lin Zi in surprise: “…”

Had Lin Zi forgotten why he and Feng Chengyu got married?

Lin Zi not only knew the details of their marriage but even handled the contract they signed. He was one of the few people who could discuss this matter with Qin Bao.

Lin Zi said naturally, “Did I say something wrong?”

Qin Bao stiffly replied, “Wrong. The impression we give you is just because we both adhere strictly to the terms of our contract.”

What had happened between them was unknown to Lin Zi. He only knew that when Qin Bao heard about Feng Chengyu’s injury, he dropped everything and rushed over, his eyes swollen, and despite not being very good at taking care of people, he stayed by Feng Chengyu’s side day and night.

So Lin Zi smiled: “Well, I’m not sure about you, Xiao Bao, but as for Mr. Feng, I’m fairly certain my feelings are accurate.”

Qin Bao: “…”

One could only say that Lin Zi still didn’t fully understand Feng Chengyu, which led to such impressions.

But how could they be blamed for feeling that way?

Feng Chengyu was just too good at what he did.

Perhaps, as Professor Lin said, Feng Chengyu was simply too responsible. Whether voluntarily or not, he was used to doing everything to the best of his ability.

Even playing the role of a perfect lover, he couldn’t leave any flaws. No matter what, he would fulfill the promises he made.

However, this discipline wasn’t without reward. At least in this marriage, Feng Chengyu had gained some power to help him achieve his ambitions.

Feeling down and lost in thought, Qin Bao heard Lin Zi continue, “While we were waiting for rescue, we all thought we might die. Mr. Feng kept looking at your photo before he lost consciousness.”

Qin Bao was shocked: “But wasn’t Feng Chengyu’s phone destroyed?”

In the past two days, Feng Chengyu’s phone had been found. The person responsible for recovering the data said that debris had pierced through it, effectively destroying it.

The messages he sent later were indeed gone.

“It was his personal phone that was lost,” Lin Zi smiled. “Didn’t you know? His work phone’s wallpaper is also a photo of you.”

They disembarked the plane about an hour later. Lin Zi was taken away by staff, and Qin Bao followed a tall security guard, making their way to the car where Feng Chengyu was.

“Have you been waiting long? Are you hungry?” Feng Chengyu asked.

“I’m not hungry. You stood for so long just now; don’t you need to go to the hospital to check on your injuries?” Qin Bao didn’t look at him but kept his head down, trying to undo the buttons on his suit to check the wound on his abdomen.

Feng Chengyu grabbed his hand and said in a deliberately casual tone, “Xiao Bao, don’t undress me outside.”

There was no one in the car, but there might be listening devices, and the security vehicle was certainly nearby.

Qin Bao’s face turned red from embarrassment. Seeing that Feng Chengyu was fine, he irritably pulled away and sat down, facing the window: “Just get hurt then.”

Although Qin Bao had been unhappy these past few days, Feng Chengyu could clearly sense that something was off. He took Qin Bao’s hand again and asked gently, “What’s wrong? Did Lin Zi upset you?”

As night fell, the AI controlled the vehicle, and the capital’s glamorous night view reflected Feng Chengyu’s slightly thinner, handsome face in the window.

It seemed there was no need to ask.

Aside from those chaotic thoughts, Qin Bao wasn’t a wooden person; he could feel it too, just like Lin Zi.

But he wasn’t ready to accept it.

This person was so proud that he wouldn’t even utter soft words despite having a bullet wound, and he might always be waiting for Qin Bao to come to him willingly.

Qin Bao turned his head, looking annoyed: “I’m fine!”

Damn armed militants.

How could Feng Chengyu ask again about something he hadn’t seen?

—

Unfortunately, Qin Bao never found the opportunity.

When Feng Chengyu returned to the capital, he was taken by the National Security Department for an investigation. His phone was confiscated, and he stayed in an internal hospital for recuperation. Qin Bao was only allowed to visit him once.

Two weeks later, Feng Chengyu appeared in the International Court, but not as a victim. Instead, he was a defendant facing charges from the neighboring country of Jinnuo, accusing him of forcibly relocating populations. They claimed that the Feilu Star Refugee Protection Act, passed by the Imperial Council and primarily promoted by Feng Chengyu, severely impacted Jinnuo’s security environment even though it only involved the relocation of refugees to Yatan.

It was a joke. Yatan had only taken in a little over 5,000 refugees, and their habitat was tens of thousands of miles away from Jinnuo. The people of Yatan treated this matter as a joke online.

Feng Chengyu could have refused to appear in court, but after discussions with the Imperial Council, the Ministry of Law sent representatives to accompany him.

After that, he and Qin Bao had almost no chance to meet. Not only was Feng Chengyu busy, but Qin Bao’s variety show had also started recording.

Qin Bao only paid more attention to the news, fearing he might see another report of Feng Chengyu being attacked.

The evidence of the malicious edits in his role in “Echoes” had been compiled, and he formally sued the production company and Zou Jiudong through his personal studio.

“Your husband is surrounded and anxious all the time, most afraid of you suddenly becoming a widow,” Shu Helan said to Qin Bao during a gathering with An Qingyan and others.

“He doesn’t seem to understand that even if he were just an ordinary person, an advertising billboard might fall on him while he’s walking down the street, and he’d still end up a widow. It’s simply unnecessary worry.”

While the logic was sound, it didn’t sound very reassuring.

“You’re such a jinx,” An Qingyan disagreed. “And what do you mean unnecessary worry? Do you know what it’s like for an Omega with a permanent mark to be a widow?”

Shu Helan: “Why worry about things that haven’t happened?”

An Qingyan tapped his head: “You don’t understand. It’s called preparing for the worst!” He sighed, “When will Mr. Feng be truly safe?”

“This situation is already beyond expectations. It’s different from what we originally planned. No one expected it to happen so quickly. It’s hard to say; it could be three or four years if things go smoothly, or ten years or even a lifetime if they don’t.” Shu Helan looked at Qin Bao with a hint of glee. “But if he does die, Xiao Bao, you’re still so young; you could just have the mark removed.”

Qin Bao was already numb from drinking and slumped over the table, unable to think: “Yeah, it was going to be removed anyway.”

An Qingyan: “…”

An Qingyan packed up and left first: “You two are really something. Just pretend I wasn’t here today. Thanks!”

Shu Helan watched him leave and, tipsy, remarked, “He’s all timid with Feng but takes a heavy hand with me. He really is someone who’s afraid of the strong and bullies the weak. Right, Xiao Bao?”

Qin Bao closed his eyes, his cheeks flushed, and his long eyelashes drooping, really looking like one of those collectible figures fans talked about.

Shu Helan took a photo and sent it to Feng Chengyu: “The big pervert is coming to pick up your kid.”

Feng Chengyu, of course, didn’t have time to come or reply. Shu Helan waited until Brother Lu arrived before leaving the bar.

An Qingyan, still waiting on the sports car’s hood, asked, “Does Feng Chengyu really think he might die?”

Even An Qingyan was starting to worry for Feng Chengyu.

“That won’t happen. It’s happened so many times; Director Feng is not someone to be trifled with,” Shu Helan said. “But there’s a saying, ‘fear comes from love.’ Have you heard of it?”

An Qingyan had.

Shu Helan smiled: “The more arrogant a person is, the more they can’t handle losing. The more they fear. Xiao Bao is still so young. Since he’s taken up with an older man, worrying is understandable.”

An Qingyan: “So, if something really happens to Feng Chengyu, would he really plan to have Xiao Bao remove his mark?”

Shu Helan asked in return: “Do you think it’s possible?”

An Qingyan shrugged.

“Let’s wait a bit longer,” Shu Helan said. “He must have another plan.”

Life was peaceful and uneventful.

But fate is unpredictable and ever-changing.

That evening, Qin Bao, rare to have free time, was out for a motorcycle ride in the mountains.

After a round, just as he returned home, he received a call from Ms. Rong: “Bao’er! Your dad has just been taken away by law enforcement!”

Qin Bao’s face changed dramatically: “What happened?!”

Ms. Rong, panicking and crying, said, “I’m not entirely sure. They said he was accused of treason…”

Qin Bao: “Where are you? I’m coming right now!”

“Go straight to the hospital,” Ms. Rong cried. “The maid said your grandfather fainted when he heard the news. I’m also on my way to the hospital. We’ll meet there.”

Hanging up the phone, Qin Bao immediately started his motorcycle and sped towards the hospital.