Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Secretary Song’s call summoned Jiang Yao back to the mansion immediately.

Kailier: "Give me your number."

Jiang Yao: "Kailier, we already have each other’s contacts."

Kailier licked his lips, a wild hunger in his eyes, making him irritable. "I meant your *personal* number."

Then he added, "When are you coming for drinks?"

Jiang Yao gripped his phone: "Sorry, I have to go now."

Kailier raised his voice: "Such a hurry? If you’re a butler for the Shen family, why not come work at the winery? The pay wouldn’t be—"

"I couldn’t," Jiang Yao suppressed a laugh, looking at Kailier with gratitude. "I’m just an ordinary butler. Mr. Shen hired me and has been kind to me. I can’t betray him."

Kailier: "You’re too naive, you—"

"And..." Jiang Yao hesitated, murmuring, "Working at the winery must already be hard for you, Mr. Kailier. If you had to vouch for me, it’d be even more difficult. Thank you, but I must go!"

Jiang Yao left.

The terrace was now empty save for Kailier. He looked down at himself, puzzled. "Do I dress that poorly?" Was that why people doubted his status, mistaking him for a deliveryman?

But then a warm thought struck him—Butler Jiang didn’t know his real identity. So... he genuinely wanted to be friends with him!

-

Two cars left the casino one after another. The deal was done. Simon and Shen Mo rode in one car, while Secretary Song sat beside Jiang Yao, and Jerry slouched in the front seat, staring idly out the window.

"For next year’s championship finals, the boss and the casino have set the first-place prize."

Jiang Yao smiled: "Oh?"

Jerry immediately turned around: "How much?"

Secretary Song: "100 million for the champion."

Jiang Yao rubbed his fingers. "What about the betting tickets?"

"The boss will partner with several investors as bookies. Once the news is released in a few days, the buzz could rival other major European tournaments." Secretary Song typed on his laptop without looking up, then shook his head in amazement. "Crazy, right? The boss just made the decision, but the follow-up work will probably keep us busy for two months."

Jiang Yao chuckled: "Christmas is coming."

Jerry excitedly said: "Then next year will be here soon! I’ll get to watch the races live!"

Jiang Yao touched the corner of his lips, his eyes twinkling. "Secretary Song, any front-runners?"

Secretary Song: "Red Bull and Ferrari’s top drivers, plus two dark horses from recent qualifiers. Interested? Watch it—the boss may have okayed it, but he’s never liked gambling. It’s best not to push his buttons."

Jiang Yao: "You’re right."

The car turned, and the driver honked at pedestrians.

Secretary Song suddenly leaned in: "If you really want to play, you can hit me up privately."

"Hey!" Jerry glared at them through the rearview mirror. "What’s the secret talk?"

Jiang Yao smiled: "Master Jerry, your mother mentioned yesterday that if you’re willing to attend school in Country G, she’d let you stay until the Formula race ends."

Jerry narrowed his eyes: "I’m on vacation!"

Jiang Yao: "You should receive an elite education."

Jerry: "My affairs are none of your business!"

Jiang Yao: "Of course."

They arrived home.

Jiang Yao’s car arrived first. He hopped out quickly and waited for the second car to pull up, then went around to open Shen Mo’s door. "Good to have you back, sir."

Shen Mo: "Prepare hot soup for me."

Jiang Yao: "Yes."

Jerry waited at the entrance, all his earlier bravado gone. He lowered his head. "Uncle, I..."

Shen Mo’s tone was stern without raising his voice: "Be more cautious in the future. Don’t fall for traps again. Your tab’s been wiped—go rest."

Jerry’s shoulders sagged in relief. "Thank you, Uncle!"

Jiang Yao smiled, about to offer congratulations, when Shen Mo added: "Butler Jiang, I heard your debt statement will arrive tomorrow."

Jiang Yao: "..."

Jerry cackled.

——

Jiang Yao changed into geta, holding a bathrobe as he slowly slipped behind the screen. Shen Mo stood in his suit, back turned.

Mist curled from the open-air hot spring. Jiang Yao placed the robe on a nearby shelf and approached Shen Mo, draping his hands over his shoulders.

Shen Mo reflexively snatched at Jiang Yao’s wrist.

Jiang Yao smiled: "Let me help you undress, sir."

Shen Mo let go but remained silent, his mind racing nonetheless. *What is he trying to do?*

"My..." Jiang Yao suddenly said.

Shen Mo froze.

"My mouth is a bit dry," Jiang Yao clarified, nudging Shen Mo’s arms up. He removed the jacket, turned Shen Mo to face him, and began unbuttoning his shirt.

*System: "Why can’t I hear his thoughts anymore?"*

"I hear his heart," Jiang Yao’s voice was drawling, amused.

Jiang Yao: "Sir, you have an excellent physique."

Shen Mo maintained a strict fitness regimen with world-class trainers. His body balanced strength and aesthetics perfectly. Even after using his golden finger to read the man’s mind, Jiang Yao found him frustratingly unreadable.

When Jiang Yao’s fingers brushed Shen Mo’s belt, the latter finally reacted, seizing his wrist firmly and moving his hand away.

Shen Mo: "I’ve got it."

"Of course." Jiang Yao tactfully turned, pouring a glass of wine. Hearing the sound of water, he turned back and placed the glass on a driftwood tray. He cupped water, spilling it gently onto the tray, letting the wine float closer to Shen Mo’s side.

Shen Mo was soaking in the bath with his eyes closed when the wooden tray bumped against his shoulder, toppling the wine glass and spilling red wine all over him, dripping onto a small red mark on his chest.

Jiang Yao couldn’t help staring for a second.

"Butler Jiang!" Shen Mo’s eyes snapped open at some point, his voice dangerously low. "What are you standing there for?"

"My apologies." Jiang Yao immediately apologized, picking up a nearby towel and walking over to Shen Mo. He dropped to one knee, dressed in his usual work attire—never changed since he arrived at the Shen household.

Over his shirt was a tailored waistcoat, a tie with a subdued pattern tucked neatly inside, while his long legs were encased in dress pants, accentuating the curve of his hips and thighs as he crouched.

"It was my carelessness." Jiang Yao apologized, gripping the towel and wiping the wine-stained area.

Then, it got hard.

Shen Mo’s mind went blank. Jiang Yao looked up, first meeting his employer’s completely blank expression before a surge of furious emotion hit him like a punch!

*Bastard!*

His wrist was seized, and in the next instant, a loud splash echoed as Jiang Yao was dragged under by Shen Mo! His eyes snapped shut instinctively, holding his breath.

System: "Host!"

Jiang Yao opened his eyes. Underwater, Shen Mo was naked, but he didn’t dare look for long. Resurfacing, he gulped air, chest rising and falling as he stared nervously at Shen Mo. "Sir?"

Seeing Jiang Yao soaked like this was rare.

Shen Mo’s first impression of him had long faded, and later recollections only conjured two words: *competent*. Impeccable in handling affairs, nothing short of perfect.

Gradually, the thought solidified—*this is a capable assistant*. After all, managing a villa of nearly a hundred people in such a short time was remarkable.

And then? Occasionally glancing up to find his bodyguard staring blankly at the butler arranging tableware. Following that gaze, he noticed the slender waist, the straight back, the long legs—all impossible to ignore.

And then?

At the casino, he witnessed for the first time his supposedly reserved and proper butler—clothes disheveled, lips swollen from kisses, eyes dark with desire.

It was unexpected. Someone who always dressed so meticulously could appear so... undone.

Even more surprising was the fact that the one kissing Jiang Yao was a man. The image of Jiang Yao giving in, eyes shut, lingered stubbornly in his mind, replaying over and over.

And now?

This man was still dressed impeccably—except the water had drenched every layer. The sleeve garters finally loosened, one sleeve coming undone to drift on the surface. The shirt, usually tucked neatly into his pants, was now disheveled. The crisply pressed waistcoat wrinkled, the perfectly tailored dress pants clinging to his body, showing every contour.

His usually immaculate butler now looked utterly disheveled.

Utterly disheveled, staring at him uneasily.

Jiang Yao: "Sir? Did I startle you?"

Shen Mo: "No."

"That’s good." Jiang Yao let out a relieved breath and started undoing his buttons.

Shen Mo’s gaze darkened. *What is he doing? Is he trying to join me!?*

System: "What are you doing?"

Jiang Yao chuckled. "Well, I'm wet already, why not take off my clothes and join you?"

System: "..."

Jiang Yao shrugged off his vest and made to get out. "Just kidding."

Shen Mo: "Stay here. I’m not that cruel of a boss. I apologize for my earlier rudeness."

Jiang Yao raised a brow, asking the system, "Think I've got a choice?"

Before the system could answer, Shen Mo gave him one: *How ungrateful.*

Jiang Yao sighed. "When it comes down to it, keeping the boss happy is priority."