RBNR Ch68: Can you send me daffodils next time?

When Qin Bao arrived at Grody, Feng Chengyu had already been there for nearly a week. They successfully acquired the renewable energy company on Pegasus and, with the help of two renowned alumni in the energy sector, named the new company “Magic Eye” after a distant galaxy. Since it was still in the startup phase, the work was particularly tedious, and Feng Chengyu stayed directly at Jacob’s castle.

“Knowing you would come today, my brother has been eagerly waiting,” Feng Chu said. He had graduated a year before Qin Bao and had come to help Feng Chengyu with the small establishment ceremony for Magic Eye in a few days. “When are you leaving?”

Qin Bao: “…Early tomorrow morning.”

Feng Chu said, “You two really have to squeeze in your romance.”

One would have thought Feng Chengyu would have plenty of time after stepping down, but no one expected they would both be so busy that they could only meet during work trips.

Qin Bao followed Feng Chu to the car, and Brother Lu explained the next day’s schedule. Only Xiao Xu quietly asked, “Brother Bao, should I prepare gland patches for you?”

Since completing the permanent marking, Qin Bao usually used concealer to cover the light bite marks, but Feng Chengyu often bit him, so Qin Bao still needed gland patches.

“Yes, prepare the Mist ones,” Qin Bao said, blushing slightly.

Xiao Xu chuckled, satisfied. She found the CP (couple pairing) of Qin Bao and Mr. Feng much more enjoyable than with that childhood friend.

As the car door closed, Qin Bao lowered the window. “Brother Lu, remember to ask for me.”

Qin Bao had repeatedly asked Brother Lu to get the contact information of the new Mist model. Brother Lu gave an OK sign. “Don’t worry, I’ll get it for you.”

Although Qin Bao and Feng Chu hadn’t seen each other for a long time, they were not unfamiliar and chatted happily along the way.

“Hey, I finally hoped for a chance to avoid inheriting the family business, with my brother holding down the fort, and then he turns around and starts his own business,” Feng Chu said. “Our uncles were always wary of my brother, fearing he’d go after their shares, and now they’ve got egg on their faces.”

Qin Bao said, “Of course, even if Feng Chengyu hadn’t founded Magic Eye with Jacob, he wouldn’t have interfered in the family business. He’s only interested in environmental protection and energy. Building experience now will be helpful if he returns in the future.”

Feng Chu looked a bit surprised. “Return?”

Thinking he hadn’t understood, Qin Bao said, “Yes, return to run for council or something.”

Feng Chu opened his mouth as if he found it unbelievable.

Qin Bao had been soaking in forums recently and agreed with some political discussions. Seeing Feng Chu’s reaction, he explained, “Think about it. Feng Chengyu retired due to injury. To the outside world, he was attacked and left at the peak, not because of any wrongdoing. When he ‘recovers,’ it will be natural for him to return to politics, right?”

“That’s true…” Feng Chu replied, then smiled at Qin Bao. “You make sense, but I’m not sure about these things. I don’t know what my brother has planned.”

Having acted in several films, Qin Bao immediately saw that Feng Chu couldn’t be an actor because his acting was terrible. Sensing something amiss, he was about to ask more when the car arrived at Jacob’s castle.

Once out of the car, Feng Chu quickly excused himself to confirm ceremony details.

Feng Chengyu was in a meeting with several partners. When he came out, Qin Bao was standing on the castle’s smoking terrace. The Omega’s tall, slender back turned, revealing a face even more stunning than on camera.

Feng Chengyu took his hand and introduced him to everyone.

Jacob, ever familiar, shook Qin Bao’s hand. “Thank you for your hard work. We will definitely make the best use of the startup funds you earned for us.”

Qin Bao: “?”

Jacob: “Don’t worry, we won’t waste money.”

Feng Chengyu, knowing well the nature of his mischievous friends, brushed off their comments and led Qin Bao outside.

“Where’s Lin Zi?” Qin Bao looked around, “I don’t see him.”

Usually, Lin Zi would be the one picking up Qin Bao, but this time it was Feng Chu, indicating that Feng Chu needed to help out at work for a while.

Walking along the stone paths on the lawn, Feng Chengyu said, “I’m no longer working in the Imperial Council, but Lin Zi hasn’t left yet. His abilities are outstanding, and he’s now with the Speaker of the Council. I believe he will have better development in the future.”

Qin Bao was surprised. “Lin Zi isn’t staying with you anymore?”

“Everyone has their own aspirations. When I first joined the Council, Lin Zi and I hit it off because we understood each other’s goals,” Feng Chengyu said calmly. “He’s been with me for many years, and I hope he can achieve something.”

Lin Zi had indeed been with Feng Chengyu for many years, whether in the news or privately. His reliable presence was always by Feng Chengyu’s side.

After Feng Chengyu’s resignation, the secretaries had dispersed, and only Lin Zi stayed to help with the remaining tasks. While everyone knew he would eventually leave, it was only at this moment that Qin Bao felt a sense of “end of an era” loss.

Feng Chengyu squeezed his hand. “What’s the matter? Are you reluctant to part with Lin Zi?”

“Mm,” Qin Bao said vaguely, “I just feel like I’m saying goodbye to a friend.”

Speaking of friends, Qin Bao told Feng Chengyu about Xu Tangzhou’s return. “I don’t know how he’s doing now. Is he studying abroad? I’m so happy he’s back to work. I really want to see him soon.”

Feng Chengyu knew that Xu Tangzhou was an important friend to Qin Bao and said, “Once you finish your work here, you’ll be able to see him.”

Qin Bao nodded, his eyes sparkling. Feng Chengyu added, “But you need to free up some time; you can’t be this busy all the time.”

Qin Bao nodded again, looking very obedient. Feng Chengyu couldn’t help but kiss his lips, just a light touch, but suddenly, cheers erupted from a distance.

“Oh wow! Incredible!”

“Not suitable for children! Not suitable for children!”

“Get a room, you two!”

The two looked in the direction of the noise and saw Feng Chu and Jacob standing at a second-floor window, Feng Chu even filming with his phone. Qin Bao, unimpressed by their childish behavior, shouted, “Are you guys bored or something?” and tried to pull Feng Chengyu away. Feng Chengyu, however, was unbothered, and leaned down to kiss Qin Bao’s face again, provoking more envious shouts.

That night, a small party was held, where everyone drank and chatted. The couple, Feng Chengyu and Qin Bao, were frequently teased by the others.

Qin Bao, being the youngest and known for his rebellious artist image, seemed to play along but was easily flustered by questions. Feng Chengyu, seeing through everyone’s intentions, redirected the conversation to Jacob, helping Qin Bao avoid further teasing.

Feng Chu came over and had a couple of drinks with Qin Bao, discussing Tu Yisen’s promotion and his entry into the mech division.

“That kid’s got some real skills. We thought he’d crack under pressure and be a deserter in two or three months,” Feng Chu said. “But now it’s been four years, and he’s holding up well.”

Qin Bao: “He’s not even flying fighter jets anymore; he’s piloting mechs. When we do occasionally catch up, eight out of ten topics are about mechs.”

Feng Chu slowly stopped smiling and said, “Last time, he told me that many in the military are criticizing my brother.”

This was due to the significant reduction in the rare earth element, dysprosium, for mining.

While the military supported establishing rotating no-mining zones, soldiers could only directly feel the reduction in power sources and thought the policy weakened combat effectiveness. Even though it was peacetime now and there was plenty of stored dysprosium, the no-mining policy wasn’t universally supported.

Feng Chu said, “We only have three S-levels in our family. After the Marshal retired, everyone thought my brother would inherit the role. But they still don’t know why the Marshal retired.”

Qin Bao: “…The Marshal didn’t want to overmine dysprosium.”

“Did my brother tell you that?”

“I guessed.”

“Yes, that’s the case. Too much exploitation will eventually lead to collapse. To empathize with the weak, the Empire must truly establish itself in this galaxy. The people who created and used mechs are now those who want to constrain their development, and many can’t understand that. They don’t realize that times are changing and those with vision always see the future first.” Feng Chu said, “Actually, I think it’s a good thing my brother retired. Qin Bao, I’m not that noble; the most important thing for me is the safety of my family.”

Qin Bao understood the reasoning but didn’t agree. “But Feng Chengyu has worked so hard for this for many years—”

Feng Chu interrupted, “He can’t go back.”

Qin Bao sensed that Feng Chu was no longer avoiding the earlier topic.

“I don’t want to lie to you, Xiao Bao. You are my brother’s partner, the most important person to him,” Feng Chu said. “The reason my brother retired was partly to bring Uncle Qin back, but it also means he can’t return. Even though Uncle Qin has been cleared of ‘treason,’ the damage done is irreversible. We analyzed that, since the Feng and Qin families are in-laws, according to the current Imperial Council regulations, my brother wouldn’t pass the election review.”

Qin Bao’s heart trembled, and the glass in his hand grew cold.

The harsh reality was laid bare suddenly. Qin Bao couldn’t sleep all night.

In the morning, he sent a message to Feng Chu: [What if they’re not in-laws?]

Feng Chu: […]

Feng Chu: [I absolutely won’t allow my long-time OTP¹Stands for “One True Pairing,” a term used by fans to refer to their favorite fictional couple.to have a bad ending!] 

Feng Chu: [If you’re going to have such dangerous thoughts, don’t involve me!]

Feng Chu: [Calm down. The Imperial Council regulations change every few years. There’s no hope now, but maybe in a few years? Even if you cut ties with my brother now, he can’t return to politics in the short term!]

Feng Chu: [My brother wants to return even more than you do; he’s aware of the situation!]

The phone vibrated continuously, and feeling a warm chest against his back, Qin Bao jumped in surprise and quickly turned off his phone.

“Awake so early?” Feng Chengyu asked. “Was it Brother Lu?”

…It was Feng Chu. Qin Bao’s ears tingled at his voice, and he turned around. “Feng Chengyu, I want to ask you a question.”

Feng Chengyu, principled in others’ homes and unwilling to do anything inappropriate, found himself surrounded by the scent of their pheromones and exposed glands from their intimate moments, urgently needing a gland patch.

Feng Chengyu: “Go ahead.”

Qin Bao cautiously asked, “If—I’m saying if—you might consider not having a public relationship and just keeping it private with someone else?”

“It doesn’t need an ‘if’,” Feng Chengyu said, pinching his face. “Xiao Bao, ask yourself, when have you ever given me a public status?”

Qin Bao: “…”

Oh no, he had fallen into his own trap.

“…”

Aside from that damned contract, he couldn’t come up with a reason, so he simply sat up, avoiding the topic and rambling.

“You know, I’m in my rising period, and I need to stay single to attract fans. Who would like a married Omega? Also, I’ve signed agreements with many brands, and the penalties for breaking them are clearly written. I can’t afford to lose money. Money is needed everywhere these days…”

Feng Chengyu also sat up, holding him and laughing, “Got it, big star.”

*

After finishing work in Grody, Qin Bao finally received news from Xu Tangzhou when he returned to the capital.

Brother Lu contacted Mist Company and was told that Xu Tangzhou had only participated in the advertisement shoot as a model and that they didn’t have contact details. However, they provided information about the advertising agency. Brother Lu then contacted the model signing agency through the ad company. Due to various delays, it took a full two months.

Unexpectedly, Xu Tangzhou, who had been silent for four years, signed with Xingjing (Star Realm)—an understated but formidable agency known for its top star, the popular singer Ling Che.

However, Ling Che recently got caught up in a scandal involving suspected discrimination against Omegas, causing a big commotion. Xingjing went into damage control mode, making it difficult for Brother Lu to reach Xu Tangzhou’s manager.

Interestingly, the person involved in the scandal that Qin Bao knew was Mo Xiao, who had previously introduced him to Ling Che’s MV.

After the scandal with Qin Bao, Mo Xiao publicly revealed his relationship, and his girlfriend was also a somewhat well-known singer. This time, he not only had an affair but was also permanently marked by another Alpha.

As Mo Xiao’s friend, Ling Che seemed to have said something, and now he was being criticized as having “straight-A cancer,” even missing the New Year’s Eve gala that was already scheduled.

Qin Bao hadn’t paid much attention to this matter, but on New Year’s Eve, Xu Tangzhou went live on Flow.

Xiao Xu quickly ran over with his phone: “Brother Bao, Brother Bao! Your friend is online! He even said he’s a fan of Ling Che!”

Qin Bao was still removing his makeup in the backstage area after attending a New Year’s event as a brand representative.

Qin Bao was excited and quickly took Xiao Xu’s phone.

On the screen, the cool-looking Omega was sleepily talking: “No more runway shows. Little primary school kids have to work hard now. I just signed with a company called Xingjing, and today my manager asked me to do a live stream. Didn’t expect everyone to still be awake.”

Xiao Xu reminded him, “Hurry up and leave a message!”

Qin Bao typed quickly and sent a message, but the live chat was moving so fast that his message was immediately buried under a sea of “Happy Birthday” comments. The next moment, Xu Tangzhou waved goodbye to the screen.

“Got your blessings. Everyone go to sleep. Have a happy new year.”

The stream ended.

Qin Bao: “…But his mood still seemed excited.” He quickly took out his phone to log into Flow and check if Xu Tangzhou had replied to his previous messages.

In fact, there had been little interaction between them on Flow before. Back then, Qin Bao was still known as SISI Qin Bao and didn’t manage social media much. After Xu Tangzhou disappeared, he hadn’t logged into his account again. This account was only newly opened last month and had only a few thousand followers.

Qin Bao had sent many messages, but Xu Tangzhou hadn’t responded, possibly due to not logging in or the large number of messages in the backend.

It was the same this time.

His previous messages like “Xu Tangzhou, look at me!” still quietly lay in the conversation box.

Qin Bao grew more restless and decided to use his main account, editing a Flow post.

– Qin Bao V: Come out @XuTangzhouzz.

Just as he was about to click send, Brother Lu’s message popped up, covering the screen: [Xiao Bao, I found out. Xu Tangzhou didn’t go abroad after losing contact with you. He stayed in the capital and went to university.]

Qin Bao was stunned.

He didn’t go abroad?

He went to university in the capital?

Brother Lu: [Don’t worry, I’ll try to find the contact details for you.]

The feeling was indescribable—a mix of excitement suddenly doused with cold water. Qin Bao felt a chill inside. He deleted the edited post, logged out of Flow, and was overwhelmed with helpless confusion.

The fact that he didn’t go abroad and had stayed in the capital for university, all these years, makes him wonder if Xu Tangzhou knew he was looking for him. As a public figure, he was always in front of the camera—did Xu Tangzhou never think to contact him?

After removing his makeup, he dazedly wrapped himself in a down jacket and went outside. Xiao Xu was busy arranging for him to drink some warm water.

It was snowing in the capital.

The snowflakes disappeared immediately when they fell into the hot water in the lid.

The surroundings were deserted.

A gray sedan quietly stopped beside them. Xiao Xu reminded him, “Mr. Feng is here!”

After saying goodbye to Xiao Xu, Qin Bao got into the car. In the back seat, Feng Chengyu handed him a bouquet of lilies. “Xiao Bao, Happy New Year.”

Qin Bao took the flowers, looked at them for a moment, then set them aside, adjusted his mood, and threw himself into the Alpha’s embrace. “Happy New Year.”

Knowing that he had been troubled recently, Feng Chengyu pulled him onto his lap and gently stroked his back.

Qin Bao missed Feng Chengyu’s voice, missed Feng Chengyu’s embrace, and missed the calming scent of daffodils. Over these days, he had thought things through clearly. No matter whether the Imperial Council regulations would change or how long Feng Chengyu would have to wait to “return,” it was not something he could consider right now.

What he could do now was to respond to Feng Chengyu as much as possible and embrace him fully in whatever limited time they might have.

He asked, “Feng Chengyu, can you send me daffodils next time?”

Footnotes:

• 1
  Stands for “One True Pairing,” a term used by fans to refer to their favorite fictional couple.