RBNR Ch76: I believe you won’t treat me unfairly

As soon as Qin Bao got off the plane, he received a barrage of messages from Xiao Xu, all centered on one thing: Feng Chengyu had suddenly come to the film set.

People and vehicles were coming and going in the waiting area, and the wig had Qin Bao sweating. His brain stalled for a moment—what was Feng Chengyu doing at the film set?

Since Feng Chengyu was already at the film set, who was this plan of sneaking back to look at the capital for?

Walking behind a huge silver pillar, Qin Bao called Xiao Xu back: “You said Feng Chengyu came to the set?”

Xiao Xu: “Yes, yes! He was standing at your room door when I got back! I was scared stiff!”

Qin Bao had a bad feeling: “Where is he now?”

Xiao Xu said, “In your room. It’s so late, I couldn’t leave Mr. Feng standing there, so I swiped open your room door for him.”

Qin Bao felt like he was losing his mind, grinding his teeth: “Xu Chenchen—”

Xiao Xu, probably with a crying face, said, “He’s just in your room, it shouldn’t matter, right?”

What does this idiot know!

Qin Bao hung up the phone and, under the surprised gaze of passersby, heavily banged his head against the pillar.

With a “thud,” he thought he might as well die.

After calming down for a full two minutes, Qin Bao reopened his phone, found Feng Chengyu’s number, and dialed. The other side picked up quickly: “Hello?”

The familiar male voice sounded distant and unfamiliar through the phone.

They hadn’t contacted each other for days. Just hearing that pleasant voice made Qin Bao’s ears tingle.

Both sides were silent for a short moment.

Qin Bao suppressed his agitated feelings and questioned, “Feng Chengyu, what are you doing at the film set?”

Unexpectedly, the other side spoke at the same time: “Why did you suddenly go back to the capital?”

Qin Bao said, “I have something to do!”

Afraid Feng Chengyu would ask what he had to do, he quickly added, “Besides, whether I go back to the capital or not is none of your business, right!”

Feng Chengyu: “Hmm.”

Just one response, with no further words.

Qin Bao, embarrassed and blushing, asked, “Then what about you? What are you doing at the film set? And why did you enter my room without permission? You didn’t wander around, did you?”

“I’m here to fulfill the contract terms,” Feng Chengyu said, “I didn’t wander around.”

Qin Bao slightly relaxed his clenched hand.

But Feng Chengyu then asked, “Is there something I shouldn’t see?”

Qin Bao quickly said, “Of course! We’re getting divorced, and you entering my room uninvited violates my privacy. You shouldn’t be in my room.”

Feng Chengyu: “Okay.”

Qin Bao thought he heard Feng Chengyu laugh but wasn’t sure. Then he heard Feng Chengyu say, “I won’t enter your room.”

Qin Bao was half-believing, so he changed the topic, asking, “What contract terms are you fulfilling?”

“Did you forget? The contract says we need to spend Mondays and Fridays together as much as possible, whoever is more convenient moves closer to the other.” Feng Chengyu said, “Even though we’re getting divorced, we should still fulfill the contract properly for the next few months, as a sign of respect for our original decision.”

Qin Bao: “…”

Feng Chengyu said it so calmly, like a heavy blow, making Qin Bao unable to breathe momentarily. He could only lean against the pillar, his throat tightening, and tears almost welling up.

Great, now he remembers to fulfill the contract?

Noticing his stiffness, Feng Chengyu asked, “Or do you think it’s unnecessary?”

Qin Bao stiffly said, “It is indeed unnecessary.”

“Okay, then we’ll cancel it from now on, no need to meet specifically,” Feng Chengyu said, “Also, I apologize for that day. I was emotional, it was my fault for being so harsh. After thinking it over, there are still some details I think we need to discuss.”

Didn’t you say not a minute less? Why are you suddenly so urgent now?

So eager to get a divorce?

“I’m very busy, nothing to discuss,” Qin Bao quickly said, “I’ll take time to draft the divorce agreement after filming, outlining all the terms clearly. I’ll bring it to you once it’s ready. You just need to sign it if there are no issues.”

Feng Chengyu asked, “Are you serious?”

Qin Bao got angry, unconsciously raising his voice: “Of course I’m serious! Don’t worry, I’m not ungrateful. I know you did a lot, and I’ll compensate you properly! Just wait!”

Feng Chengyu said, “Okay, I’ll wait. I believe you won’t shortchange me.”

Qin Bao: “…”

Feng Chengyu continued, “Since you’re not here, I’ll leave.”

Qin Bao unconsciously tightened his grip on the phone: “Fine.”

After the call ended, Qin Bao stood behind the pillar for a long time, struggling to calm the bitterness in his heart.

Xiao Xu sent a new update: [Brother Bao, Mr. Feng suddenly left.]

Qin Bao typed: [Check my room. Did he touch anything? He didn’t enter the bedroom, did he?]

Xiao Xu probably went to check and replied two minutes later: [No, your room looks the same. The bedroom door is closed.]

Qin Bao wiped his face and took a cab home.

*

It had been nearly three months since he left home for filming. Due to the incident of their marriage being exposed, Qin Bao hadn’t returned home for a long time.

The vehicle arrived at its destination, and as the door closed behind him, the smart system inside wished him a “pleasant evening” before turning around and leaving.

Outside the house, the streetlights were on, and the home’s smart system automatically lit up the lights in response to his arrival.

The garage door was tightly shut. Beside the stairs leading to the front door, the white lime-flower balls were in full bloom, reminding Qin Bao of many nights spent walking up these steps with Feng Chengyu.

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter—he had lived here for just over four years.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside. Everything felt so familiar. It seemed Feng Chengyu hadn’t been living in this house recently; it had been tidied up like a model home by the cleaning staff, devoid of any personal touch.

Finally removing the annoying wig, Qin Bao took off his shoes, went upstairs, and noticed fewer of Feng Chengyu’s clothes in the cloakroom, further confirming his guess that Feng Chengyu must have moved back to that other house.

A surge of inexplicable anger rose up. Qin Bao decided to pack up immediately.

He fetched a suitcase and started packing his things, thinking that after the divorce, this house should be left to Feng Chengyu. He hadn’t provided Feng Chengyu with much; some economic compensation was expected.

There were too many items, and with no planning, it took a while to pack. In the end, he was drenched in sweat, and the house was in disarray.

The doorbell suddenly rang.

Qin Bao thought it was the property staff delivering his takeout, so he hurried downstairs and called out through the door, “Just leave the stuff at the door.”

But instead, he heard Mr. Qin’s voice: “Qin Bao, it’s me.”

Qin Bao opened the door in surprise: “Dad? What are you doing here?”

Compared to his earlier emaciated appearance, Mr. Qin looked much healthier now, having gained some weight and appeared more energetic. In his fifties, he maintained a good figure, looking as if he had just come from an important occasion, dressed in a suit with an elegant demeanor.

Mr. Qin, who had severe cleanliness issues, immediately withdrew his foot when he saw his son covered in sweat and the house in disarray, staying outside: “I won’t come in.”

Qin Bao nodded: “Is there something you need?”

Mr. Qin got straight to the point: “I heard you’re getting divorced from Chengyu?”

Qin Bao was taken aback: “How did you know?”

Mr. Qin didn’t answer directly but said, “If it wasn’t Chengyu who went to the film set today, it would have been your grandfather. Bao’er, do you both think marriage is a game? How can you casually set up such an agreement?”

Qin Bao felt a shock, wondering how much the family knew.

Feeling exposed and both angry and ashamed, he retorted, “If it weren’t for you forcing me to marry, would I have had to write a marriage agreement with someone else?”

Mr. Qin, at a loss for words, paused and said, “Yes, we were wrong. No matter what the reason, we shouldn’t have forced you with such methods. But, regardless of whether the agreement has legal effect, don’t you think Chengyu should at least play along? Don’t you understand, and doesn’t he understand?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Qin Bao thought of Feng Chengyu’s words, “Anyway, it’s only a few months left. If he doesn’t mind, why drag it out?”

Mr. Qin cut to the chase: “Is it because of my situation that you feel you’re holding Chengyu back, so you want to divorce him?”

At the question, Qin Bao’s nose suddenly felt swollen, and his eyes quickly turned red.

He looked up at the sky.

He didn’t want to cry.

“Yes, I feel that way. It’s the truth,” Qin Bao managed to control his emotions but felt a tightness in his throat, “I’ve come to understand that after the divorce, I don’t need the title. As long as he’s willing, we can still be together.”

“How? Do you want to have an affair with him?” Mr. Qin said, “Are you foolish? If he was willing, he would have divorced you when the incident happened!”

Qin Bao: “Because he values loyalty and promises, willing to sacrifice himself to help us!”

Mr. Qin shook his head: “Anyone would protect themselves. The higher-ups already thought he was climbing too fast and worried about the Feng family becoming too dominant. He could have divorced you first to cut off that familial connection before helping us. Besides, Director Feng had everything arranged at that time. As long as he followed through, I wouldn’t have had any problems. But he chose to do the swap and withdraw directly. Do you know why?”

Qin Bao looked at his father: “Director Feng… made arrangements?”

He recalled the day Feng Chengyu announced his resignation, when Director Feng had invited him to Chunshan Courtyard. The words he spoke then, which Qin Bao hadn’t understood, now seemed to have a deeper meaning.

“He not only knew what he was pursuing but also what he wanted. Xiao Bao, if he chose to slow down, would you be with him?”

“…Yes.”

That was the question Director Feng had asked and the answer Qin Bao had given.

Qin Bao had never realized there was another choice in this matter.

Mr. Qin said: “Exactly. As long as you get divorced, the Feng family can handle this matter completely. As you said, having an affair after the divorce is also possible, but he doesn’t want that.”

Qin Bao: “Why not?”

Why wouldn’t Feng Chengyu want that?

Is Feng Chengyu a fool?

Mr. Qin said: “Because if he followed Director Feng’s arrangement to divorce you and stay in politics, he would never be able to remarry you.”

Learning the truth, Qin Bao was shocked, and more questions surged in his heart: “…Why? Why would he do that?”

No matter what their feelings for each other were now, Feng Chengyu had only married him to fulfill his grandfather’s wish. In the end, their marriage was essentially a union.

He had never given Feng Chengyu any promises. According to their agreement, they were likely to divorce in the fifth year, so why would Feng Chengyu dare to make such a choice?

“Don’t you understand yet?” Mr. Qin said urgently, “Because he cares more about you!”

Qin Bao stared blankly at Mr. Qin: “But it’s just a contract…”

Mr. Qin took a deep breath: “Just a contract? If it were just a contract, then he wouldn’t have inflicted such harsh measures on himself when he was schemed against!”

Qin Bao: “Harsh measures on himself?”

Mr. Qin nodded: “The opponent drugged him and arranged an Omega in heat with a 90% compatibility. To avoid betraying you, he made a quick decision to use the anesthesia function and didn’t touch the Omega at all. The drug was special, and forcibly suppressing the heat nearly destroyed his glands, almost preventing him from secreting pheromones. After the surgery, he lay in the ICU for three days and then stayed in a regular ward for a week. I guess you didn’t know about this, did you?”

Qin Bao really didn’t know.

He only knew that Feng Chengyu had been missing for half a month once, and his phone calls were answered by Lin Zi. Later, Feng Chengyu told him he had been schemed against but never provided details.

At that time, they had been married for just two years.

If it were just because of the agreement, Feng Chengyu wouldn’t have needed to go that far.

Although according to the Omega Protection Law, Feng Chengyu would likely have had to take responsibility for the vulnerable Omega, as long as there was solid evidence and an application was made to the court, he could have forcibly erased the Omega’s mark without risking his own glands.

The only possibility was—Feng Chengyu didn’t want to.

An Omega in heat secretes a large amount of pheromones, enough to make an Alpha lose control and become passively aroused, especially with a 90% compatibility?

No one knew how Feng Chengyu managed it.

Mr. Qin continued, “Moreover, all these years, Feng Chengyu’s care for you, the gifts, the trips… even we noticed. Can you still say it’s just an agreement?”

Qin Bao’s face flushed with shame, while his heart felt swollen and sour.

He asked, “Why didn’t you tell me these things before?”

“I didn’t know you were playing house,” Mr. Qin said. “I always thought you were doing well until I heard you were getting divorced!”

Qin Bao: “…”

After saying so much, Mr. Qin finally calmed down a bit.

“Bao’er, I can’t explain the political matters to you in a short time. The Qin and Feng families are intertwined; if Chengyu wants to rise, the Qin family naturally becomes his weak point. My current predicament is due to my own major mistakes, which have dragged Chengyu down as well. But this is my debt, and I will make it up. I won’t let Chengyu sacrifice for nothing, and you don’t need to sacrifice your lifelong happiness.”

Mr. Qin’s eyes were resolute, with fine lines at the corners.

Having experienced these life storms, the previous weak him seemed to have completely disappeared.

“I’m telling you this today not to blame anyone, nor to say you were wrong. It’s because I didn’t fight for and hold onto the person I loved, which has become my lifelong regret. I don’t want you to have such a regret too. Moreover, this matter started because of me, so I can’t let it delay you.” Mr. Qin said, “If you really like him, don’t think about compromising or taking a step back. Go and seize him.”