RBNR Ch9: Feeling of a generation gap

Chunshan Nature Reserve.

This place is only a hundred kilometers from the capital, surrounded by misty mountains, humid and cool. Compared to the continuous heat in the capital, it feels like another world.

“That piece of land is a protected building. Whether it’s repairs or reconstruction, getting approval won’t be easy.”

Shu Helan poured tea into a delicate porcelain cup, pushed it with his long fingers, and placed it in front of Feng Chengyu.

The two of them sat on either side of the tea table. On the other side, Feng Chengyu frowned slightly and elegantly drank the tea.

Shu Helan asked, “How is it? Has my tea-making skill improved?”

“Not bad.” Feng Chengyu praised, then said bluntly, “Bring out the wine.”

Shu Helan skillfully took out a bottle of whiskey, turned to get glasses and an ice bucket, his shorts revealing a pair of flip-flops. They were there to relax, but Shu Helan’s itchy hands had replaced the tea master hired by the retreat.

On the tatami mat, Feng Chengyu abandoned the tea, took the wine glass, lazily bending one leg, his elbow resting on his knee, completely unlike his usual self.

“I know it’s difficult.”

They continued the topic about the old house.

“You know it’s difficult and still want to do it?” Shu Helan complained, “I don’t care how you’re planning to do it, whether by decision or voting. That piece of land may have Feng’s name on it, but it actually belongs to the state, even the federation. Back then, deciding the location for that statue wasn’t just a simple decision by one party. If you want to touch it, many people will be watching, unless you get Director Feng to personally lead it.”

Feng Chengyu said, “It’s not that serious. It’s not to that extent. Just keep an eye on the process for me. Let me know what materials are needed, and I’ll have someone provide them.”

Shu Helan had grown up with him and knew his temperament. He couldn’t help but ask, “I don’t quite understand why you came back and started tackling tough issues, offending people openly and secretly, and getting no thanks for it. Why bother?”

Feng Chengyu looked into the distance, the mountains layered and shrouded in mist. His side profile was illuminated by a layer of sky light: “I promised my grandfather before.”

Shu Helan clicked his tongue: “How many tasks did Grandpa Feng assign little you back then!”

Mentioning the old man, Feng Chengyu’s lips curled into a smile. He lit a cigarette.

He didn’t feel tired.

Shu Helan raised his glass to him and downed it in one go. As he poured more, he said, “Let me ask boldly, how’s the task of the arranged marriage going? You went to Old Master Qin’s big birthday celebration, right?”

Feng Chengyu: “Yes.”

“Did you see them?”

“Yes.”

Shu Helan pressed, “How do you feel?”

The more he asked, the more interesting it became.

Who still has an arranged marriage these days?

Recalling the person he met yesterday, who looked quite embarrassed, Feng Chengyu said, “I feel there’s a generation gap.”

Shu Helan gloated and teased, “Isn’t that obvious? Nowadays, they say there’s a generation gap every three years. Nine years is practically a generation pit. You’re an old cow eating young grass. But I guess, for someone like you, age shouldn’t be a psychological burden. It’s all about whether you like them or not.”

The more familiar they were with each other, the more they wanted to disparage the other as a scoundrel.

Feng Chengyu shook his wine glass, the ice clinking crisply inside: “It’s not like it’s nineteen years older, there’s no psychological burden.”

In high school, Feng Chengyu had gone abroad to study, while Shu Helan stayed in the country. One frantically pursued multiple degrees abroad, the other burned the midnight oil aiming for top domestic universities. Both were tough guys.

Even so, Shu Helan’s ex-girlfriends and ex-boyfriends could fill two mahjong tables, making him a time management master. In contrast, Feng Chengyu… Shu Helan had to admit, the other was a bit tougher.

Shu Helan teased, “So, did you fall for him?”

Feng Chengyu said, “I don’t care about the age difference, but I’m not a pervert.”

Shu Helan: “Then what’s your plan? I’m asking in advance to see if I need to save up for a big red envelope for you.”

He said this, but as one of the few friends, he still didn’t understand Feng Chengyu’s thoughts.

Feng Chengyu’s response was calm: “No plan. I’ll wait for him to grow up. If he has no intention, we’ll settle it fairly.”

Shu Helan was surprised: “I didn’t realize you had such a strong sense of morality. If he doesn’t want it, won’t you feel you lost out all these years?”

He glanced at Feng Chengyu’s wristwatch—who wears that at a young age?

Feng Chengyu raised his eyelids: “Do you think I’m like you?”

As soon as it was mentioned, Feng Chengyu’s phone, which was placed on the tatami mat, vibrated. It was a message from Feng Chu.

Feng Chu: [Damn! Bro! My little sister-in-law looks amazing!]

[Photo.jpg]

[Photo.jpg]

He also attached a video.

Opening it, there were photos of Qin Bao at a runway show. The lights were dazzling, the audience gathered, and the young model walked barefoot on the catwalk, looking indifferent like a deity.

His hair was jet black, his skin was cold white, and his makeup was very light, only using shadows to highlight his delicate bone structure. The long coat reached his ankles, with nothing underneath, exposing his straight collarbone and chest covered with thin muscles. He wore wide, draping pants that hung loosely on his waist, revealing his natural abs without any signs of exercise.

In this show, the boys had a similar high-end look, with no extra accessories, naturally simple.

Compared to the old photos shown to Feng Chengyu by Old Master Qin, Qin Bao seemed to have grown up a lot, exuding a unique charm between innocence and maturity.

Feng Chu: [I just saw photos of this show on Flow’s hot search and immediately recognized my little sister-in-law!]

[Turns out he walked this show yesterday!]

[It seems to have blown up, lots of media are posting his pictures today!]

[Bro, if you hadn’t left yesterday, you could have met him. I even saved you a seat!]

Feng Chengyu: “…”

Actually, he did meet him.

So, was it because of finishing this show that he got hypoglycemia?

Why?

He thought this kid from a wealthy background chose to be a model just for fun.

Shu Helan saw he was busy and didn’t disturb him. She spoke again only after he turned off his phone screen: “You’ve met him, apart from feeling a generation gap, does he meet the standards of Young Master Feng?”

Shu Helan, besides having no moral principles, was also a heavy appearance enthusiast.

Her roundabout way of asking was just to see what the person looked like.

Unfortunately, Feng Chengyu wasn’t the type to comment on others behind their backs, nor did he intend to open the photos Feng Chu sent for Shu Helan to critique.

He just glanced at Shu Helan and suddenly asked, “You pass by Linjiang Bridge on your way back, right?”

“Yes,” Shu Helan answered, “What’s up?”

Feng Chengyu said, “Pay more attention to the billboard in the middle of the bridge.”

Not long after they parted, Feng Chengyu received a message from Shu Helan: [We didn’t lose out this time.]

Feng Chengyu tapped on his phone and concisely replied: [Scram.]

*

Qin Bao was staying home comfortably but couldn’t sleep well after being fed a mouthful of dog food, tossing and turning until he woke up around noon the next day, still feeling groggy.

He was standing by the tea counter on the second floor drinking water when he suddenly heard a horrified scream from behind.

Mama Tao was heartbroken: “Bao Bao! How did you get so thin?!”

Qin Bao was so startled that he almost spilled his water, quickly covering her mouth gently: “Keep it down! Please.”

Since his parents separated, Qin Bao mostly lived on this floor by himself, and he didn’t like wearing clothes to sleep. He just put on a pair of pants to get up and drink water, his upper body bare.

His mother, Ms. Rong, got sick during her postpartum confinement and hired Mama Tao as his wet nurse, who took care of him until he started elementary school. After the incident where a teacher climbed into Mr. Qin’s bed at night, Old Master Qin brought Mama Tao back to take care of Qin Bao’s daily needs.

Qin Bao was picky about food and already ate little at home, so it was easy to imagine he ate even less outside.

Seeing this, Mama Tao was heartbroken, her eyes turning red, and tears started to flow: “What are we going to do? Your mother told me repeatedly to take good care of you, but you’re so skinny.”

“No, you’re mistaken. I’m not that thin.” He flexed his arm, “See? Look at these strong biceps.”

After pulling her along and talking nonsense for a while, he thought he had placated her.

Then, he acted cute and obediently requested: “Mama Tao, dear Mama Tao, please don’t tell Grandpa.”

Mama Tao agreed readily, but soon after, Qin Bao was called downstairs.

Old Master Qin sat in the study, looking stern, with his hands resting on his cane. When he saw him, he didn’t say anything, just placed a scale on the floor.

Qin Bao: “…”

Looking back, he saw Mama Tao standing at the door, full of guilt.

Old Master Qin was ruthless and succinct: “Step on it.”

Qin Bao played dumb: “No need, Grandpa. I just weighed myself at the company yesterday.”

“Really?” Old Master Qin smiled kindly at this and asked, “How much?”

Qin Bao mumbled: “62 kilograms.”

Old Master Qin nodded: “Just right, I think my scale might be broken. Help me check if it’s accurate.”

Could he bluff his way out?

Qin Bao glanced at the cane in Old Master Qin’s hand and could only step on it reluctantly, regretting deeply that he didn’t put a few bricks in his pocket before coming to the study.

Before he could stand steady, Old Master Qin added: “Take off your shoes.”

Qin Bao inwardly wailed, what bad luck!

He stood on it, and the number showed 54.4, quite a bit off from what he reported.

Even he was a bit surprised, how did it drop so much?

Old Master Qin’s caregiver was also there, everyone staring at the scale’s number, nobody spoke, and no one dared to breathe.

Qin Bao spoke weakly: “Grandpa…”

“From tomorrow, I will arrange for a driver to take you to and from school,” Old Master Qin coldly announced, “Don’t even think about anything else.”

Qin Bao panicked: “Why?! We clearly agreed that as long as I behaved well, had the right values, didn’t mix with bad people, and kept my grades up, you wouldn’t oppose my choices!”

“Hmm,” Old Master Qin acknowledged, then added, “Now I’m adding one more condition: you must be healthy.”

Qin Bao hurriedly said: “I’m very healthy! I’m just a bit lighter, my body is really healthy!”

Old Master Qin was infuriated, pounding his cane on the floor: “Look at yourself in the mirror without clothes on, do you still look like a man? You’re as skinny as a chicken, do you still look like someone from the Qin family? Looking like this, you’re disgracing our Qin family!”

Qin Bao’s eyes instantly reddened, and he shouted back: “I haven’t disgraced the Qin family! I walked the Marcos Malory show yesterday! Check online, you’ll see how hard it is, not just anyone can—”

“I saw it!” Old Master Qin stood up, pointing at him and yelling, “Not a single piece of clothing worn properly! Bare-chested and flaunting yourself! I wish I could erase you from those pictures!”

“You’re talking nonsense!” Qin Bao retorted, “You don’t understand fashion or beauty! To you old fossils, everything is filthy. You spout nonsense because your thinking is outdated. The lewd see lewdness—”

Before he could finish speaking, the cane came raining down like raindrops.

…All hitting the floor.

Bang, bang, bang!

Old Master Qin was furious for the first time, the floor resounded with the thudding of the cane, and Qin Bao was so scared he jumped, trying to dodge.

Seeing Old Master Qin’s face turning pale with anger, possibly triggering high blood pressure, he dared not say anything more, but he also refused to admit fault. Reluctantly, he was escorted back to his room by Mama Tao who came running in to protect him.

Soon after, the order came: Qin Bao was to be confined immediately, and no one was allowed to let him out.

He was so angry he paced around his room several times, sending a message to Shan Yiming on his phone, but got no reply.

So he had to send a message to his second choice: [Can you come save me tonight?]

Tu Yisen: [What happened?]

Qin Bao: [I’m grounded by the old man.]

Tu Yisen was shocked: [What the hell?]

Then he asked: [What time?]

Qin Bao: [I’ll notify you. The usual plan, when you see my light go out, put the ladder by the wall.]

Tu Yisen: [OK!]

_____

Author’s note:

I know someone around 1.8 meters tall and weighing 50-something kilograms. They’re not skeletal but definitely quite thin.

Seeing everyone’s reaction that he’s too thin, I’ll add a few kilograms to Xiao Bao~