Chapter 16

Chapter 16

"The Christmas season marks the start of peak travel time," Jiang Yao said with a smile, strolling along the dock with Master Dero and the yacht salesman they had arranged to meet.

The salesman, named Lambo, was the largest yacht dealer in G-Country and also had business connections with the Shen family. Jiang Yao had contacted him using the mansion's official line, and Lambo had eagerly arranged a time to receive them.

Lambo: "Right, this way, Master Dero and Butler Jiang. Take a look here."

With a broad sweep of his arm, Lambo gestured toward a stretch of the sea. "When the time comes, this area will be crowded with yachts, their decks packed with people scanning the races with binoculars—what a sight! Hahaha! The parties will run nonstop, 24 hours a day! Many wealthy guests will throw parties from the start of the races all the way to the end!"

All-night parties, decadent indulgence, complete abandon—the roar of luxury cars would ignite pure passion! Jiang Yao smirked, as if already envisioning the madness of that day.

The F1 Grand Prix was just a few months away.

"Here we are!" Lambo led the two onto a small yacht. "This vessel offers 1,500 square feet of living space."

Jiang Yao nodded, doing the math—about 140 square meters in total. A bit small, accommodating only 5 to 10 people at most.

Lambo continued enthusiastically while Dero listened attentively. Jiang Yao assessed the living conditions and estimated that a small yacht like this could sustain a family for up to two weeks.

The system tutted: "Seems a bit underwhelming."

Jiang Yao chuckled. In truth, the yacht was quite luxurious—it just paled in comparison given G-Country's standards.

The sound of a yacht horn echoed from the harbor. Modern yachts no longer used traditional coal, but some aristocratic traditionalists preserved certain old-world transportation features—like this classic maritime horn.

Following the sound, Jiang Yao glanced over and spotted a shirtless man in swim trunks waving a T-shirt vigorously in the distance.

The blond man, his features indistinct, stood among a rowdy crowd of men and women, shouting toward Jiang Yao’s direction.

Jiang Yao averted his gaze, quirking one corner of his lips as he resumed work, taking notes from Lambo’s spiel.

A yacht of this size rented for about €250,000 per week in G-Country, with total expenses easily exceeding €500,000. Converted to RMB, that was nearly 4 million yuan—just for a week’s trip.

Hearing Jiang Yao’s explanation, the system gave a hollow laugh. "Your monthly salary isn’t even enough to rent this tiny boat for a week..."

Jiang Yao thought of someone and unconsciously fingered the brooch pinned to his left chest.

The system: "Right, right. Auction this brooch off, and you could afford a few more weeks."

Jiang Yao smiled, feeling unexpectedly pleased. So this was what it felt like to be pursued with money?

Master Dero: "Butler Jiang?"

Jiang Yao refocused. "Apologies, Master Dero. What do you think of this yacht?"

Master Dero: "There seems to be a yacht heading straight for us."

Jiang Yao raised a brow and turned to Lambo. "Could it be docking?"

The three stepped onto the sunbathing deck. Jiang Yao leaned against the railing, looking down. "This is ideal for sunbathing."

Lambo laughed heartily, waving at the captain peering down from the upper deck. The captain nodded and started the yacht, preparing to take them for a spin.

As the yacht set off, it gradually distanced itself from the larger vessel approaching them.

The salty sea air washed over them. Jiang Yao’s shirt accentuated his impeccable figure as he took notes, glancing briefly at the familiar figure aboard the larger yacht.

The blond man seemed to notice something, suddenly jumping off the deck and rushing toward the captain’s control room.

Jiang Yao’s smirk widened. He closed his notebook and began touring the yacht’s interior with Master Dero. Though small, the yacht had three spacious, well-equipped rooms.

The bedroom featured a jacuzzi and a wardrobe, while the living area had a bar. When renting, Lambo’s company also provided a butler, a housekeeper, two servants, and a chef.

Jiang Yao casually pressed down on the mattress, which immediately emitted a provocative squeak, rocking slightly—drawing the attention of the other two.

Lambo burst into laughter. "Clearly, this is a little surprise for couples—a small mechanism. Oh, it’ll rock with the waves at sea..."

Jiang Yao’s eyes crinkled, playing along with Lambo and Master Dero’s teasing. By the time they were ready to disembark, Master Dero still hadn’t decided whether to buy.

The system: "Is it too small for his taste?"

Jiang Yao: "Probably."

In G-Country, truly top-tier luxury apartments and yachts came with helicopter landing pads. Given Master Dero’s budget, he could easily afford a mid-sized yacht.

But his lack of enthusiasm, even toward the mid-sized yachts Lambo suggested, hinted at another possibility—his €100 million budget wasn’t his real budget.

After touring two or three more yachts, Master Dero began to look weary. Lambo invited him to the kitchen for afternoon tea, leaving Jiang Yao to handle the rest alone.

Jiang Yao’s smiling eyes slowly faded, his polite smile twisting into a cold smirk. He chewed on his pen cap, rolling the black cap with his tongue as he muttered, "Something’s off."

"What’s the problem?" A voice suddenly cut in, giving Jiang Yao no time to react before he was pinned onto the specially-designed bed. "I was waving at you—you saw me, dear little butler."

Jiang Yao sighed. "Mr. Victor."

Victor: "Hmm?"

Victor’s unusual good looks set him apart, and his career as a racer had sculpted his physique to perfection.

In short, the sight of him straddling Jiang Yao’s waist, golden hair disheveled, gazing down with emerald eyes, was impossibly attractive.

"I’ve been reliving that kiss all night," Victor murmured, closing the distance. He clearly knew the yacht’s design well—with one long reach, he pressed a hidden switch, and the bed beneath Jiang Yao began to sway gently.

Jiang Yao laughed but neither resisted nor encouraged Victor. "That was just an accident. You were drunk—and still seem to be."

Victor pouted. "Yeah, I’ve had a rough time... Do you know how long I’ve been benched in the team? I need two more points races. If I win them, I’ll qualify for the finals. But first, I need sponsorship!"

Jiang Yao narrowed his eyes. The bed was comfortable, the gentle rocking lulling him into a pleasant drowsiness—until he suddenly let out a soft moan.

Victor swallowed hard, pressing against Jiang Yao. "That look on your face—what are you enjoying so much?"

Jiang Yao: "I have seasickness."

Victor burst into laughter. "Where was I?"

"You said you needed money," Jiang Yao reminded him, shifting slightly. Victor was visibly excited, and Jiang Yao had no desire to take things further. But the moment he moved, Victor’s hand dug into his waist, dragging him back and pinning him between his knees.

"Keep moving, and I won’t care if you’re working," Victor warned.

The foreigner’s overbearing manner was almost laughable. Jiang Yao scoffed and rested his head on his hand, listening quietly.

Victor suppressed the desire in his eyes. The bed’s steady rocking was dangerously effective—if they were less clothed, it’d feel like...

Victor: "I don't have an assistant. I have to scout for investors myself."

Jiang Yao's slightly narrowed eyes slowly widened. Under his gaze, Victor grew shifty, his grip loosening.

Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Yao twisted free and regained his footing. He asked, "What have you done?"

Victor rolled onto his back on the bed: "I haven't crossed that line yet! I just gambled for a few days. Gambling, drinking, or prostituting myself would lower my commercial value. The odds would tank during the finals."

Jiang Yao nodded, adjusting his crooked brooch. "Then you should enter the qualifiers."

"My car got totaled in the last qualifying race." Victor raised an arm to hide the frustration in his eyes.

Jiang Yao: "Why didn’t the team—"

"The team manager wanted to sleep with me. I refused, so I was relegated to waterboy duty under the pretext of being 'temporarily unfit for competition.' If I don’t comply, the manager won’t repair my car. You know I have an entire pit crew to pay, and the coach is under pressure to cancel my training..."

Jiang Yao smiled faintly. Once properly dressed again, he resumed his prim-and-proper butler act, clasping his hands in front of him. He didn’t hold back his praise: "I watched your last race. Your tire change took less than two seconds—within spitting distance of the record."

Victor suddenly asked, "What do you think of me?"

Jiang Yao: "You’re exceptional. I’d bet everything I have on you winning the F1 championship."

Victor burst into laughter, sprang up from the bed, and pulled Jiang Yao into an embrace. "Wanna hook up? I’ll let you have me for free. You should know, my 'one night' is going for €2M a pop on certain sites."

Jiang Yao waved his phone. "If you need 'services,' I can arrange that for you."

Victor touched his lips where Jiang Yao had kissed him earlier, his pink tongue slowly licking his fingertip. "Don’t like men? Why not give it a try? You coy Easterners—the more you resist, the more I want to see that proper face of yours a wreck, drooling with your eyes rolled back."

Jiang Yao let out a quiet sigh, lowering his head to adjust his brooch.

Victor followed his gaze downward, and his eye twitched at the sight of the crescent-shaped brooch. "This is..."

"Oh," Jiang Yao moved his hand aside to give Victor a clearer view. "A gift from Mr. Shen."

Victor: "..."

System: "Did Victor just go sheet-white?"

As Jiang Yao was about to leave, his phone rang—the tutor he’d hired for Jerry. He answered, only to hear Jerry’s triumphant voice.

"Your tutor quit on me, Butler. Can I go out and play now?"

Covering the receiver, Jiang Yao bid Victor farewell. "Mr. Victor, I must return to mind the kid. Until next time."

"Next time when? You—I mean, Mr. Shen’s estate doesn’t allow drop-ins. How do I see you?" Victor pressed.

Jiang Yao seemed to recall something and smiled. "We’ll likely meet soon. I’ve got a favor to ask."

"In return, I can introduce you to someone who could bankroll you." He pocketed his phone, studying Victor thoughtfully.

Victor: "What?"

"I really must go now." Jiang Yao straightened his shirt, that Victor had mussed up. "I’ll call you."

Victor narrowed his eyes. Suddenly, he grabbed Jiang Yao’s wrist, pinned it against the wall, and hiked up the hem of his shirt before Jiang Yao could react.

"Who?"

"Did someone—?"

On Jiang Yao’s side was the handiwork Shen Mo had left the night before.

"Sir," Jiang Yao wasn’t angry, but his tone carried a hint of wounded tone. "Please don’t use such words with me repeatedly, alright?"

Victor’s anger dissipated, replaced by concern. "Who did this?"

Jiang Yao: "Mr. Shen was drunk last night. It was an accident. I’m just an ordinary butler—I don’t engage in that sort of thing. My only focus is work."

Victor: "Show me."

The man clearly wasn’t about pleasantries. He lifted Jiang Yao’s entire shirt for a clear view.

Jiang Yao’s breathing hitched from the sudden exposure to cold air, his chest pebbling from the chill.

Victor worked his throat. "I—"

"Are you done?" Jiang Yao’s voice turned icy.

Victor froze, meeting Jiang Yao’s deer-in-headlights look again. "I—"

"I really must leave. Thank you for your concern." Jiang Yao smiled. "But Mr. Shen has my back. He’d never harm me. These marks, some liniment’ll fix this."

"Concern? You think I’m just concerned?" Victor paused. "Yes, I am. Damn concerned, Butler Jiang. Until next time, then."

Jiang Yao grinned. "Ah! Ta-ta!"

...

Victor braced his hands on his knees, bending slightly to adjust himself. He replayed Jiang Yao’s seemingly genuine expressions before muttering, "Reserved, clumsy Easterner. How can someone be so green?"

Yet he couldn’t deny the something hot about that buttoned-up act, the potential in that clumsiness.

The thought of molding the young butler like fresh clay—shaping him, coloring him as he pleased—had Victor throbbing.

But those marks on his waist...

Victor ground his teeth. "Seems I’m not the only one gunning for my butler."

...

After leaving the yacht, Jiang Yao popped his top button with a tch’ed. "Such an uncivilized brute."