In a Relationship With the Rugged Guy Next Door - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: The Safety Net

Early the next morning, Xue Dongni prepared to depart.

The night before, the air in the house was thick with mixed emotions. “Brother,” Chen Jingming said, squeezing Chu Feng’s hand. “Look into my eyes. Can’t you tell? I am very happy.”

Chu Feng’s brow remained furrowed.

“Smile for me,” Jingming coaxed. Chu Feng managed a slight upward curve of his lips.

“That looks worse than crying,” Jingming teased.

It was a night of split realities: Jingming felt at peace, his past traumas finally beginning to scab over thanks to the love surrounding him; Chu Feng remained submerged in a sea of protective sorrow; and Xue Dongni was too busy scrolling through her contacts to find someone to help Jingming’s career to be sentimental.

Jingming slept soundly. He decided that this year, he would sell a script, give some money to his brother, and pay back his adoptive parents. He wanted to formally terminate the adoption. He would say “thank you” for the thirteen years of upbringing, but he would no longer live as “A-Ming,” the shadow of a lost son.

…

The Professional Critique

“I realized I don’t actually have many influential friends in this industry,” Dongni sighed the next morning over breakfast. “Just Director Tan and a few struggling actors.”

Chu Feng set down a bowl of side dishes. “Director Tan said he’d look at the script in a few days when his meetings are over,” Dongni told Jingming.

Jingming looked down. “I hope I’m not bothering him. I don’t even know if I have actual talent.”

“Baby, you write beautifully,” Chu Feng said firmly. He had brought back local rolls and noodles after his morning shift at the ranch.

“The script made both of us cry!” Dongni added. “Doesn’t that prove it’s good?”

“You two cried because you think Xiaotian is me,” Jingming countered.

“Not true!” Dongni argued. “I’ve known about your life for years. If that were the case, I’d be blind from crying by now.”

Chu Feng sat down. “I’ll admit, my feelings for you were part of it. But the story is objectively good. The atmosphere feels like those indie art films my old roommate used to watch—dark and handheld.”

They discussed the plot’s nuances. Chu Feng hadn’t realized the “happy online friend” was likely a victim of human trafficking or a forced marriage herself—a mirror to Jingming’s own repressed reality. When they explained that the girl’s silence meant she had given up on living, Chu Feng’s eyes welled up again.

Jingming immediately abandoned his chopsticks to hug and kiss him, ignoring Dongni’s presence. “It’s just a story, Brother! I made it up!”

…

The Snake “Venom” Incident

Jingming and Dongni spent the next three days hiking a short-distance route. Since Jingming had been doing manual labor at the ranch, he managed to keep up with her.

During a video call, Chu Feng was frantic. “What are those red marks on your arm? Your right arm, show me.”

Jingming, lying in bed in just a T-shirt and underwear, looked at his arm. “Mosquito bites.”

“Two marks? Are you sure it wasn’t a snake? There are many snakes in the mountains this season!”

Jingming felt a spark of mischief. He flopped face-down on the bed. “Oh… I feel so dizzy… Did I get poisoned?”

As he flopped, the camera—propped up by a pillow—lost his face but gained a clear view of his rounded, firm rear, barely covered by white underwear.

Chu Feng’s breath hitched. He swallowed hard.

“Brother… I’m poisoned…” Jingming squirmed for dramatic effect. “It’s so hot… cursed snake… Brother?”

He looked up to see Chu Feng’s face flushed red, staring blankly at the screen.

“I’m kidding!” Jingming apologized immediately. “I’m not poisoned! It’s really just mosquitoes. Look, I’ll draw a ‘cross seal’ on the bites to make them stop itching.”

“Good… as long as you’re okay,” Chu Feng cleared his throat. “Go to sleep.”

…

The Parting

When they returned to Changling Town, Dongni prepared for her long-haul trek to Xinjiang. They had a massive meal at Hu Xianyun’s restaurant to fuel up.

That evening, Chu Feng was in the bathroom scrubbing their dirty hiking boots. Jingming leaned on his back. “Did you miss me?”

“I did. I couldn’t eat or sleep. I was burning up!” Chu Feng laughed, teasing Jingming about the “poisoning” act.

Later, as Dongni packed her 60L bag, Chu Feng stood at the door. “Nini, can I come in?”

He was visibly anxious. “You’re going so far alone, into areas with no signal. As your brother, I’m worried. Do you have emergency measures?”

Dongni explained she was meeting teammates and a professional guide. Chu Feng listened, then asked, “Give me the guide’s contact info. And save my number. If anything happens, tell him to call me. Tell him I’m your brother.”

Dongni froze. Tears began to drop onto her phone screen. For seven years, she and Jingming had listed each other as emergency contacts because they had no one else. Hearing a “Big Brother” claim that responsibility hit her hard.

“My brother is your brother,” Jingming whispered, hugging her.

Chu Feng, confused by the tears, stepped in awkwardly. “I didn’t mean to say you’d have an accident! I just… when younger siblings go out, a brother worries.”

“I know,” Dongni wiped her eyes. “I’m just moved. It’s been a long time since anyone said that to me.”

Chu Feng pulled a small cloth pouch from his pocket. “I got this peace amulet at the temple during New Year. I put one in my baby’s bag, too. Put this in yours.”

“Thank you,” Dongni said. “Old Cow Brother… Can I hug you?”

She glanced at Jingming, who nodded happily. Chu Feng stood stiffly while Dongni leaned forward, giving him a quick, respectful hug.

The next morning, she disappeared into the airport security gate. Jingming immediately burst into tears in Chu Feng’s arms.

…

The Motivation

For the next few days, Jingming was a hermit, obsessed with revising his script after the director’s friend gave him feedback. He barely ate. Chu Feng made a special chicken soup with high-grade mushrooms to nourish him, but Jingming’s mind was entirely on his work.

“Baby, no more work tonight,” Chu Feng said, walking into the room.

“I haven’t finished the revisions yet, Brother.”

“I want to do it tonight. It’s been too long.”

“Huh?” Jingming scratched his head, still thinking of dialogue.

Chu Feng left. Jingming prepared to type again.

“Baby.”

Jingming looked up after a few seconds of silence.

Chu Feng stood there, bare-chested, wearing nothing but that horsehair embroidery body chain.