In a Relationship With the Rugged Guy Next Door - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: “It would be a lie to say I wasn’t happy.”

Chen Jingming didn’t type another word until Chu Feng returned from work.

It had been two months since he last touched a computer or keyboard, and his brain felt stagnant. He had the urge to write, but no sense of flow.

“I think I’m broken,” Chen Jingming said.

Chu Feng, who was signing documents, jumped in surprise. “What? Where are you broken?”

Chen Jingming: “My brain.”

“Oh.” Chu Feng relaxed. “That’s fine then.”

Chen Jingming turned his head and looked at Chu Feng blankly. “If I were mentally disabled, would you still love me?”

Chu Feng: “Of course. Brother would take care of you for the rest of your life.”

How boring.

Chen Jingming kicked off the floor, sliding his office chair toward the door. Across from him was the live-streaming studio where three employees were setting up lights. He remembered his promise to Meng Qingyu to film a video of Chu Feng.

“Brother, do you have more work later?” Chen Jingming asked.

Chu Feng said he did. “But no rush. I need to stop by the cold storage on the way home. A customer complained that the texture of the beef has changed recently; I want to see if it’s an aging issue.”

Chen Jingming: “Let me film a video first then.”

“What kind of video?”

“Thirst trap. Did you forget?”

Chu Feng: “…”

…

During the days without a “Chu Feng thirst trap” update, the social media team continued posting videos, but the engagement had cooled down. Chen Jingming knew using skin as bait wasn’t a long-term strategy, but since the staff hadn’t found a unique “viral” angle yet, any traffic was good traffic.

After Chu Feng finished his work, Jingming had him ride the electric scooter to the calf pen. Last time, he noticed a pond there—fed by groundwater—where the calves occasionally drank.

Chen Jingming: “Is your phone waterproof, Brother?”

Chu Feng: “Yes.”

Chen Jingming: “I’ll explain the script. No ‘fainting’ this time. I’ll put your phone by the water. You take the official account phone and film from a first-person perspective. The line is: ‘Family, I was passing by and found a phone in the water; let’s see if it still works.’ When you pick it up, the front camera will be on, pointing right at your chest. Just move a bit to show off your build.”

“…” Chu Feng looked reluctant. “Oh.”

Chen Jingming straightened up and saw Chu Feng’s expression in the rearview mirror. “Brother, you don’t want to?”

Chu Feng caught his eye and immediately smiled. “I want to, I want to.”

Chen Jingming looked closer. “You look a bit swollen today.”

Chu Feng: “Then let’s film another day.”

Chen Jingming: “Just do a few push-ups to warm up in a bit.”

With talking and taking off clothes involved this time, Chu Feng let out a helpless sigh.

“What?” Chen Jingming caught the sigh. “It’s just showing off your physique. You don’t even show your face. People can look, but they can’t actually touch you. Besides, you’re always walking around naked at home; why be shy now?”

“That’s not the same, Baby,” Chu Feng tried to explain. “It’s okay if you look.”

Chen Jingming: “You’re too stingy.”

Chu Feng compromised with a helpless laugh. “Fine, fine, I’ll strip. I’ll do whatever Baby wants.”

…

The video was filmed quickly. Chu Feng’s physique didn’t need any special angles to look incredible.

The 4:00 PM sunlight was warm but not blinding. Chen Jingming sat cross-legged on the clean grass editing the video. He wasn’t a professional, so he used other influencers’ pacing as a reference for a rough cut. This kind of video shouldn’t be too polished; otherwise, it would lose its authentic “vibe.”

Because the screen reflected the sun, Jingming leaned in close, focusing intently on the edit. He kept zooming in and dragging the timeline, his screen filled with Chu Feng’s muscles. It made him feel a bit bashful.

The netizens only get to watch; I’m the one who actually gets to touch this every day.

Chu Feng sat nearby, idle without his phone, one leg propped up as he leisurely watched Jingming’s profile. Recently, Jingming’s appetite had improved, and he seemed to have gained a little weight; his cheeks looked plump and soft.

Chu Feng’s mood improved the more he looked. I really have to raise my baby myself.

He plucked a blade of foxtail grass, put it in his mouth, and lay back with his hands behind his head.

“Baby.”

“Mm-hm.” Chen Jingming was choosing music.

“Brother loves you.”

Chen Jingming’s ears burned from the sun. “…”

…

After posting the video, they drove home. The cold storage was right next to the town’s farmer’s market. Because of the low temperature inside, Chu Feng wouldn’t let Jingming in. Jingming waited outside until Chu Feng emerged, bringing a gust of cold air with him as he gave instructions to the staff.

Jingming didn’t understand “aging” or “pH decline” in beef, but it sounded interesting. He realized how many processes went into a single bite of steak. He felt he should write all this down.

He needed to get back to work. He had to use his phone and computer again. He had only been back in Changxi for half a month, yet the online abuse and malice felt like they belonged to a past life.

He was going to see exactly who had tried to ruin him in that “past life.”

“What are you thinking about so seriously?” Chu Feng asked while driving.

“I’ve been reborn, and I’m going to take back everything that belongs to me.”

“What?”

“Brother, do you usually go online?”

Chu Feng: “Sure.”

Chen Jingming: “What do you look at?”

Chu Feng: “Mostly animal husbandry and military stuff.”

Chen Jingming: “Oh, I see.”

I’m never playing along with internet memes with him again.

…

Exhausted from the previous day and coming home late today, they decided not to cook and went to a restaurant instead. There weren’t many places in Changling Town, and most closed early. They ended up back at Hu Xianyun’s family restaurant. They were already cleaning up, but they let the brothers sit by the door and made them a simple clear-broth hotpot.

“Xiao Yun! Jingming is here!” the auntie shouted into the courtyard.

A moment later, Hu Xianyun hurried downstairs in her flip-flops. She plopped down on a stool. “Old Cow, how’s that phone you picked up? Does it still work?”

Chu Feng: “…”

Chen Jingming and Hu Xianyun looked at each other and burst into laughter.

“Stop teasing me,” Chu Feng said, rubbing his forehead. “I’m at this age and still doing stuff like this.”

Hu Xianyun: “You’re at this age and so many people are thirsting over your body. Actually, you’re enjoying it, aren’t you?”

Chen Jingming, who was still laughing, awkwardly rubbed his nose at that comment. Chu Feng, unable to do anything with the girl, sighed. “Xiao Yun, don’t talk nonsense.”

Hu Xianyun glanced at Jingming. “I’m not talking nonsense. Right, Jingming?”

“Is that so?” Chen Jingming took a sip of tea. “I don’t know, I haven’t checked yet.”

Hu Xianyun pulled out her phone to show him the video. The engagement wasn’t as high as the first one, but it already had over 10,000 likes. It would likely hit 30,000 in a few days. There were more people in the live stream than before, and the “units sold” link showed a significant increase.

The streamer was a pasture employee, butchering beef while answering questions. The comments were now more focused on product inquiries than just teasing, though many were still playing along with the meme.

“Read some,” Hu Xianyun nudged Jingming’s arm.

“Call the ‘fainting guy’ to the stream within ten minutes.” “I searched it up, apparently that muscle man is the owner…” “Who cares, as long as he’s willing to put in effort for ‘The Emperor’ (me).” “That phone was in the water so long, it shouldn’t work. Speaking of ‘long’…”

“Alright, alright,” Chu Feng said. “Give me a break. Let’s eat.”

Chen Jingming, enjoying the chaos, clicked into the comments of today’s video.

The top comment: Did no one notice the bite marks on his chest?

Chen Jingming: “…”

“What?” Hu Xianyun suddenly leaned in.

“Nothing!” Jingming smoothly swiped the app closed and handed the phone back. “Time to eat, I’m starving.”

…

After dinner and getting home, they showered and collapsed into bed. Jingming was exhausted but forced himself to stay awake. Once he heard the sound of Chu Feng’s deep sleep, he slowly crawled up.

Moving quietly, he took Chu Feng’s phone and entered the passcode—six zeros. With a pang of guilt, he deleted that top comment on the new video.

In the video, Chu Feng was holding the phone with his left hand, and his right chest wasn’t exposed much. The video compression made it hard to see clearly. He hadn’t expected a hawk-eyed netizen to catch it.

“Close call,” Jingming whispered, patting his heart.

Perhaps because he had been overthinking during the day, he dreamed of Chu Feng that night. In the dream, they were lying on the grass, the sun making their bodies hot. The atmosphere was hazy, filled with colorful bubbles. Suddenly, Chu Feng propped himself up and leaned in to kiss him.

The most terrifying part was that in the dream, Chen Jingming actually closed his eyes.

“Time for breakfast, Baby.”

“I don’t want to…”

Chu Feng didn’t hesitate to pull him up. “You have to eat; it’s good for your health. I’ve finished cooking. You can sleep after eating.”

“Mm…” Jingming realized it was a dream and rolled over in embarrassment. “Not eating. Tired.”

Chu Feng: “Then are you coming to the pasture with me?”

Chen Jingming: “No.”

Chu Feng sat on the edge of the bed in silence for a while, then got up and left. Jingming sighed repeatedly, punching the bed twice. How could I have such a scandalous dream!

“Baby.” Chu Feng came back in.

Jingming turned and saw Chu Feng holding a large bowl in front of him.

“What is it, Brother?” Jingming opened his eyes.

“Breakfast.” Chu Feng wasn’t angry at all about Jingming’s laziness. He pulled him up to sit against the headboard. “I’ll feed you. You sleep after eating, and then I’ll head to work.”

This is too much.

“Open up.” Chu Feng had made light tomato and egg noodles. “Aaah—”

Chen Jingming found it unbelievable, but he opened his mouth. “You don’t have to do this. It’s fine if I skip a meal.”

Chu Feng blew on a mouthful of noodles. “It’s fine, but I’m here. I can take care of you.”

Jingming, his face still a bit puffy from sleep, gave a small smile. “Mm-hm.”

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t happy.

Chu Feng: “You’re really not coming out with me?”

Jingming hummed in affirmation.

Chu Feng: “I’m just afraid you’ll be bored home alone.”

Chen Jingming: “Not bored. I have things to do.”

“What things? Tell me.”

“Sleep my fill, then finish reading the materials Teacher Xie gave me. Then I want to go to the new street to get a new SIM card, do some writing, and visit friends.”

Chu Feng smiled. “Quite a busy schedule.”

Chen Jingming sat in bed and finished the whole bowl. Chu Feng gave him a few sips of water, wiped his mouth, and prepared to leave.

“I’m busy today, so you stay home and sleep,” Chu Feng instructed. “Go to Xiao Lang’s house for lunch; I already told him.”

Chen Jingming: “Isn’t Brother Lang working?”

Chu Feng: “He took a day off. Said he wasn’t feeling well.”

“Ah? Is he okay?”

“His voice sounded a bit raspy. Might be a cold. I’m heading out.”

Chen Jingming: “Bye-bye, Brother.”

Chu Feng saw how obedient he was and sat back down. “Come here. Give me a hug.”

Chen Jingming leaned over numbly. “Okay.”

He thought it would be a quick hug, but Chu Feng held him tighter and tighter. Jingming’s face was buried in the crook of Chu Feng’s neck, which smelled faintly of shaving foam.

Jingming closed his eyes and couldn’t help but nuzzle into his neck. Chu Feng told him to go back to sleep. “I’ll make you something delicious when I get back tonight.”