RBNR Ch75: Nest out of stolen clothes

Because of Xu Tangzhou’s words, Qin Bao dreamed that night, dreaming that Feng Chengyu fell in love with someone else.

In the dream, Feng Chengyu was holding someone else’s hand, walking down the street. A reporter approached and interviewed him, and Feng Chengyu responded in his usual cold manner: “Qin Bao? We’ve divorced. This is who I truly love.”

Somehow, Qin Bao was nearby. Upon hearing this, he was furious and rushed over: “Bastard! I said if you dared to cheat, I’d kill you!” A group of people held Qin Bao back, and no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t break free.

Feng Chengyu stood there, continuing to hold the other person’s hand, and said coldly, “Since we’ve divorced, who I date is my own business. Arranged marriages are no good. I’m 27 and have never dated.”

The dream made Qin Bao wake up in a rage.

He sat up, his heart aching with anger, taking a while to realize it was just a dream.

Feng Chengyu was already 31, not 27. In the dream, Qin Bao had imposed the image of Feng Chengyu from four years ago.

Damn it.

In his dream, the boomerang had struck him squarely. Unable to fall back asleep, Qin Bao tossed and turned, even hugging the pile of clothes didn’t help.

Because of his unsettled state, he didn’t perform well in his scenes that day. Luckily, they were group scenes, so his individual performance didn’t need to stand out. During breaks, he picked up his phone several times, intending to message Feng Chengyu but not knowing what to say once he opened the chat window.

The last message was from a few days ago. Qin Bao had sent Feng Chengyu a photo of the set’s track, saying he would be standing on it, with a fan blowing at him to create that ethereal movement seen in costume dramas.

Qin Bao had just complained about the hot weather, so Feng Chengyu replied: [Then Xiao Bao will be happy.]

Qin Bao: [?]

F: [This scene should be very cool.]

Qin Bao: [(Happy) Reward an extra take!]

The light-hearted atmosphere from back then was gone. Qin Bao felt very lost. He clicked on Feng Chengyu’s profile picture. Feng Chengyu hadn’t updated any moments on his WeChat, and Qin Bao couldn’t see any new information about him.

He missed Feng Chengyu so much.

Filming didn’t isolate him from the world; Qin Bao was working in a film city, and everything outside continued as usual.

Brother Lu called: “Bao, I have one good news and one bad news. Which do you want to hear first?”

Qin Bao said, “The bad news.”

He wanted to see what worse things could happen.

Brother Lu sighed: “The jury found that Zou Jiudong was not guilty of sexual harassment. Based on the submitted materials, it seemed more like a mutual conflict. If we want to appeal, we need more evidence to prove Zou Jiudong intentionally harassed you. The lawyer suggested we could start by finding classmates who knew he pursued you, looking for witnesses and some photos of his harassment—”

Qin Bao interrupted him, “He didn’t even appear in court, and he can be found not guilty?”

Brother Lu said, “It was a default judgment.”

Qin Bao had a studio representative and didn’t attend court himself. He didn’t understand the Empire’s legal processes, so he asked, “What’s the good news then?”

Brother Lu’s tone brightened: “We won the lawsuit against ‘Echoes’! After an investigation, it was confirmed that Sufeng instructed post-production staff to breach the contract by editing the footage. They will compensate us for the breach of contract, and the production team will issue a public apology tonight. We plan to respond this evening, releasing some original footage comparisons, so you can finally clear your name!”

This was indeed very good news.

Qin Bao had waited too long for a satisfactory result. Although the film had long been out of theaters, he missed the chance to share in the glory. However, his hard work during that period was finally validated.

“And our lawsuit against Zou Jiudong wasn’t entirely fruitless,” Brother Lu continued. “Although the surveillance footage Mr. Feng provided didn’t legally prove sexual harassment, it did confirm that Zou Jiudong harmed the company’s interests due to personal grievances. His unstable position at Sufeng, especially after his father’s departure, means he might be kicked out of the management team now.”

Qin Bao snorted: “Serves him right.”

Brother Lu asked, “Should we continue with the lawsuit?”

“No need,” Qin Bao said. “We only wanted to prove he orchestrated the malicious editing. Besides, I actually beat him up pretty badly at the time. This result is good; I don’t want any more entanglements with him.”

Recalling the last time Zou Jiudong called him, Qin Bao felt disgusted: “If he dares to harass me again, it will be a different story.”

Brother Lu assured, “He definitely won’t dare to call again.”

Suspicious, Qin Bao asked, “What? Did you report this to Feng Chengyu again?”

Brother Lu quickly denied, “No, no.”

Brother Lu wasn’t very honest in this regard, and Qin Bao didn’t intend to pursue it. He knew Brother Lu often had no choice, given that it was Feng Chengyu. Even though Feng Chengyu had stepped back, people still respected him, including Brother Lu.

As they were about to hang up, Brother Lu hesitated and called out, “Qin Bao.”

Qin Bao: “What?”

“If you have time after filming, you should go back and visit your grandfather,” Brother Lu said. “I’ve wanted to tell you this for a long time but promised him to keep it confidential. However, seeing how things have been these past few years, I think it’s necessary to tell you that your grandfather has actually helped you a lot.”

Qin Bao was stunned.

Brother Lu clarified: “When you wanted to set up your studio, it wasn’t Mr. Feng who approached me to help you; it was your grandfather. He personally met with me, asking me to quit my job and come help you. If he hadn’t given me confidence, I wouldn’t have dared to resign from a place I’d worked for over ten years.”

This was too unexpected.

Qin Bao seemed to understand but also found it hard to believe: “My grandfather found you?”

But wasn’t his grandfather the most opposed to him becoming an artist?

However, looking back, it was indeed sudden when Brother Lu offered to join the studio.

“Yes, your grandfather found me. He said you were young, inexperienced, and lacked connections and hoped I could help you. He also knew you were strong-willed and asked me not to say it was his idea,” Brother Lu explained. “This latest lawsuit was also handled by a top lawyer hired by your grandfather. He reviewed the materials and followed up on the case. During the ruling, someone from Zou Jiudong’s side showed up, and your grandfather personally warned them not to harass you again.”

Qin Bao: “…”

Brother Lu continued, “You don’t know, but although you haven’t been home for years, Mr. Feng would visit your grandfather from time to time. And your grandfather occasionally asked me about your situation… That’s all I’ll say. I think you should know this.”

After hanging up, it took Qin Bao a long time to recover from the shock.

How could it be his grandfather?

Why did his grandfather do this?

Was it to make amends?

Since their big argument over the pheromone rejection syndrome, Qin Bao had never heard his grandfather inquire about his life or work. Even during the time his grandfather was hospitalized, and they were almost always together, his grandfather never mentioned it.

Qin Bao felt sad.

Actually, from the time his grandfather was hospitalized, he had already softened. However, he couldn’t swallow his pride because of the harsh words he had said back then. Moreover, he hadn’t fully forgiven his grandfather.

But now, having done something similar himself, he could somewhat understand the decisions his grandfather made back then. Admittedly, he still didn’t think his grandfather’s actions were right, especially using his career to force him into compliance. But as Xu Tangzhou said, they were all just ordinary people. When unable to solve problems, everyone makes mistakes.

As for Feng Chengyu…

Qin Bao had no idea that Feng Chengyu had ever visited his grandfather. But he wasn’t surprised that Feng Chengyu would do such a thing.

His grandfather’s change must have something to do with Feng Chengyu.

Because Feng Chengyu is someone who values promises and always follows through.

When they got married, Feng Chengyu promised he would talk to Qin Bao’s family, support Qin Bao’s career, and do his best to give Qin Bao the freedom he wanted.

Feng Chengyu fulfilled all these promises.

These past few years were the freest years for Qin Bao. Feng Chengyu quietly provided a shelter for him, letting him choose to do everything he wanted without interference. When Qin Bao felt lost, Feng Chengyu never condescended to give advice but always stood by his side, offering emotional support.

And what had Qin Bao done for Feng Chengyu?

In the evening, the production team of “Echoes” issued a public apology as promised, and Qin Bao’s studio released the details of the incident along with the original footage of “Echoes.”

Nearly a year later, fans of “Echoes” were stunned. The unedited footage clearly made the storyline more coherent and smooth, showing that the film could have been significantly better. It was shocking that such a large production was handled so carelessly.

Qin Bao was “cleared of his grievances.” Although there were still a few dissenting voices, the released footage was enough to prove his attitude and professional skills.

Such a significant reversal, coupled with the recent exposure of his marriage to Feng Chengyu, led to online jokes.

[Feng Chengyu: The weather is cool, Sufeng can go bankrupt now.]

[Now I believe Qin Bao was really low-key before (laughing and crying), even dared to mess with his scenes.]

[Not to mention Mr. Feng, at that time Minister Qin hadn’t had an accident yet? Seems like those people really didn’t know who Qin Bao was.]

[Haha, trying to provoke the wrong person.]

[Sufeng: Accidentally played a big game.]

[Kicked a steel plate this time.]

[So don’t bully people casually, because you never know which nest they crawled out from.]

[Two people can’t come from the same nest, Feng Chengyu is actually quite low-key too.]

[By the way, Qin Bao really can endure, waited until now to speak up, didn’t affect the box office at all.]

[I see someone from the crew spoke up, saying Qin Bao was always hardworking and easy-going, enduring to not ruin everyone’s efforts (crying)]

[(Rolling eyes) Did they not say before that he was throwing tantrums every day and had a bad temper?]

…

The next day, a new topic soared to the top of the trending searches: #WinningBigWithTheWind#.

[A small production game adaptation drama able to invite Qin Bao, already unbelievable, now it’s win upon win!]

[Heard the investment was pitifully small, if not for Gu Xiaoshan’s involvement, might not even have gotten funding.]

[Inviting Qin Bao as the lead, revealing a Feng Chengyu.]

[The producer must be laughing in their sleep!!]

[The crew is beaming with joy every day! Not yet aired but already a hit, now platforms are fighting to the death to get it?]

[National drama, no doubt!!! The lead actor’s husband is Feng Chengyu! Who wouldn’t watch?!]

[Don’t forget there’s also Xu Tangzhou (lighting a cigarette)]

[Right, Xu Tangzhou and Ling Che are also very suspicious! Might reveal their relationship soon.]

[Industry insider here, Xingjing has already added a huge investment (quietly)]

[Ahhhhhhh “With The Wind” must have saved the whole universe in its past life.]

The entire crew was very happy, even Xiao Xu was skipping as she walked. Qin Bao was also relaxed for a while, but he couldn’t truly be happy.

They were going to get a divorce.

In just a few months.

Time flew by, and these days Qin Bao didn’t know how he got through. It seemed like every day he opened his eyes to read scripts, put on makeup, and film. Thinking back carefully, every day seemed the same.

That afternoon filming was paused, and Xu Tangzhou was nowhere to be seen that night, not replying to messages either.

Qin Bao had no scenes the next afternoon, giving him a whole day free. He couldn’t hold back anymore and booked a flight back to the capital.

“Xu Chenchen, you stay here and keep your mouth shut,” Qin Bao sinisterly warned Xiao Xu, “Don’t tell anyone, especially that spy Brother Lu. If anyone asks, just say I’m sleeping in my room.”

Xiao Xu nodded and couldn’t help but ask, “Are you going back to find Mr. Feng?”

“No,” Qin Bao wouldn’t admit it, “Mind your own business. Anyway, I’m not going to find him.”

Xiao Xu pretended to believe him.

Qin Bao borrowed a wig from the makeup artist, disguised himself, and took a taxi to the airport.

As soon as he left, Xiao Xu had nothing to do and went to the barbecue place in the film city that Qin Bao and Xu Tangzhou liked, bought a bunch of food, and ran into a big shot when she got back to the hotel.

Feng Chengyu was standing at her room door, wearing a white shirt and a mask, his ink-black eyes showing no emotion: “Went to buy food?”

Xiao Xu thought she was seeing things, her mind went blank: “Mr. Feng? What are you doing here?”

Then she realized she was being stupid; of course, Mr. Feng was here to find Qin Bao!

How awkward.

Sure enough, Feng Chengyu said, “Xiao Bao’s room is empty. Did you two go out together?”

Xiao Xu tried to struggle a bit: “Brother Bao is sleeping in his room…he went back to the capital.”

Sob, this is Mr. Feng, who dares to lie?

Feng Chengyu was very surprised: “Went back to the capital?”

He had chosen the crew’s break time to come, successfully arriving unnoticed according to Brother Lu’s instructions, but why hadn’t Brother Lu mentioned this?

“Yes, he left quietly and didn’t let me tell Brother Lu.” Xiao Xu quickly swiped the card to open Qin Bao’s room door, “It’s so late, please come in. Brother Bao will be back tomorrow. If you’re not in a hurry, you can wait for him to avoid missing each other again.”

Feng Chengyu entered the room, quickly glancing around.

Xiao Xu, carrying her bag, asked without thinking, “Do you eat barbecue?”

“No, I’ve had dinner, thank you,” Feng Chengyu politely replied, “You go rest.”

Xiao Xu regretted asking immediately. How could Mr. Feng be interested in roadside barbecue? She quickly exited, closed the door, and frantically messaged her brother Bao in a state of panic.

Feng Chengyu took off his mask, and the familiar Omega scent lingered in the room. It was faint but easily made his glands react.

The angry words had been said, and he had calmed down these days. He wouldn’t leave Qin Bao hanging like last time; the problem had to be solved. He had calculated the timing and came prepared, but he hadn’t expected Qin Bao to be absent.

The crew had prepared small suites for the actors, which were quite nice and very quiet.

Since he was already there and Secretary Zhong had booked his return flight for the next day, Feng Chengyu decided to sit at the table and spend the night before leaving.

On the table in the small living room was a script, with its pages already curled, indicating Qin Bao often read it.

After replying to a few work-related messages, Feng Chengyu casually picked up the script and flipped through it, seeing many notes. Most of the notes were Qin Bao’s annotations on his character’s lines, including pronunciation guides for obscure words and polyphonic characters often used in period dramas.

Flipping a few pages, Feng Chengyu suddenly saw his own name written in the margins: “Feng Chengyu.”

Qin Bao’s handwriting was as beautiful as his personality.

Lowering his eyes, Feng Chengyu leafed through the entire script, finding his name three times in total. In one instance, next to his name, it said “bastard,” written with such force it nearly tore the paper, probably written recently.

Feng Chengyu closed the script, tossed it back onto the table, and walked toward the bedroom.

Pushing the door open, he stopped at the doorway, leaning against the doorframe with interest.

Someone had made a nest out of stolen clothes.