Chapter 21

Chapter 21

This was the heaviest rain Jiang Yao had seen since arriving in G Country. It poured down, splashing onto the ground with rising steam. The scenery outside the window blurred as the car sped by. Jiang Yao sat in the backseat, a bouquet of flowers cradled in his arms, staring blankly at the passing view.

Jing Yan: "Butler Jiang?"

Jiang Yao snapped out of his daze, blinking drowsily before smiling. "It’s been a long time since I’ve seen rain this heavy. Thank you for driving me to the airport."

Jing Yan skillfully turned the steering wheel, tires skimming the wet pavement, sending sprays of water everywhere. He chuckled, "Don't mention it. Mr. Shen didn’t need me to accompany him to the U.K. today, so I’m treating it as a day off."

Jiang Yao nodded, opening the laptop resting on his knees to book a plane ticket. "Rain always makes me homesick."

Jing Yan glanced at Jiang Yao through the rearview mirror. Jiang Yao looked nearly overcome with sadness, and for some reason, Jing Yan felt a sharp pang in his chest. "Homesick?"

"Mm." Jiang Yao closed the laptop and gently touched the bouquet beside him.

They arrived at the airport.

Victor was dressed to impress in racing gear, a pair of gloves tucked under his arm, his suitcase at his feet as he looked around eagerly. The moment he saw Jiang Yao stepping out of the car, he strode over quickly.

"Rabbit Butler!" Victor spread his arms and pulled Jiang Yao into a tight embrace, brushing his lips against Jiang Yao’s ear. "You came to see me off. I don't know what I'll do, I don’t want to leave you."

"That outfit looks great on you," Jiang Yao said, brushing his fingers over Victor’s athlete badge before shoving the bouquet at him. "I’ll be waiting for you in G Country."

Victor immediately tightened his hold, crushing the flowers between their bodies. Jiang Yao smirked—Victor was getting carried away.

"I—thank you for your blessing!" The championship finals would be held in G Country. If Victor made it to the finals, they’d reunite next year.

"If I win the trophy," Victor whispered softly into Jiang Yao’s ear, "You're mine."

Jiang Yao chuckled into his chest. "Victor, I believe in you."

Victor pressed a gentle kiss to Jiang Yao’s forehead. Only when the boarding announcement sounded for the third time did he finally let go, pulling his suitcase along as he turned back repeatedly, the crushed bouquet in his arms, before disappearing past the security gates.

"His chances of winning aren’t great," Jing Yan said, stepping beside Jiang Yao. "Ferrari and Red Bull have too many strong contenders. Alcohol and lust have long since ruined Victor."

Jiang Yao glanced at him. "Jing Yan watches racing too?"

Jing Yan: "The finals are always held here. Hard to miss. Should we head back now?"

"Let’s stay a little longer. The rain seems heavier now," Jiang Yao suggested with a smile.

Jing Yan got flustered. "Then—then do you want to go upstairs? There’s a café here with great coffee."

"The Christmas tree shipment from the U.S.A. will arrive soon," Jiang Yao replied lightly.

Jing Yan’s face fell. "You—you’re getting busier."

Jiang Yao hummed in agreement. "Housekeeper Jenny thinks highly of me. It’s an honor to work for Mr. Shen."

"It’s an honor for me too!" Jing Yan’s eyes lit up with gratitude, as if recalling something. "Mr. Shen has helped me so much. Did you know? I once swore I’d devote my entire life to him!"

Just then, a car from the villa pulled into view. A servant stepped out, retrieving a suitcase and a bouquet from the trunk before walking up to Jing Yan.

Jing Yan frowned. "A Sang? Where are you going?"

A Sang glanced at Jiang Yao, then back at Jing Yan. After setting down the suitcase, he hiccuped a sob and shoved the bouquet into Jing Yan’s hands before rushing back into the car.

An awkward silence fell.

The only sound left in the world was the relentless downpour.

Rain distorted his reflection in the puddles beneath Jing Yan’s feet. His lips parted soundlessly, but no words came out.

"I’m sorry," Jiang Yao murmured, hanging his head guiltily.

Jing Yan: "N-no, it’s—it’s not your fault... It’s just... it's so sudden."

Jiang Yao wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his palm. "I only ate some berries. Mr. Shen found out. I thought... I thought the kitchen had prepared them."

"I’m sorry, Jing Yan. I cost you your job, your chance to serve Mr. Shen... I..."

"It’s not your fault." A large, gentle hand stroked Jiang Yao’s hair, tilting his chin up to reveal his tear-streaked face. Jing Yan fumbled to wipe Jiang Yao’s tears away. "W-what’s the matter? Rabbit Butler, are you made of water?"

"Hah!" Jiang Yao snorted with laughter, only to be pulled into Jing Yan’s embrace.

Jiang Yao clutched the front of Jing Yan’s shirt, his tears soaking the fabric.

Jing Yan felt the warmth against his chest. He held Jiang Yao tightly, cherishing their last tender moment before parting. "Then I can say what I’ve wanted to say. Things could be worse, I guess."

"What?" Jiang Yao sniffled.

Jing Yan: "I like Butler Jiang."

Jiang Yao froze, gaping at Jing Yan. "You... like me?"

Jing Yan nodded. "Yes."

The rain grew heavier, the humid air hitting Jiang Yao’s face. He wiped away the wetness and smiled faintly. "Romantically?"

Jing Yan’s lips trembled. The admission cost him all his courage. He was dying to kiss Jiang Yao, but he barely managed to restrain himself. "Y-yeah."

Jiang Yao raised a brow. "But..."

"I know!" Jing Yan couldn’t stand to hear more. "I know. I-I just... I just wanted to say it before I left."

"Haha." Jing Yan reeled back a step, scratching his head awkwardly. After a few nervous chuckles, he suddenly remembered something. "I haven’t even booked a ticket yet! My documents are also—"

Jiang Yao handed him his ID.

A sealed envelope, its flap secured with a pressed flower petal. Jing Yan remembered seeing Jiang Yao pick flowers that morning—it had been for him.

All of Jing Yan’s frantic movements came to a halt.

Jiang Yao slipped one hand into his pocket, wiping away his tears with the other. He looked exhausted. "It’s already booked. Just scan your face at security. Mr. Jing Yan, I’ve informed your family to pick you up. You’ll be home by dusk."

Jing Yan stared at Jiang Yao, a weird look crossing his face. "You...?"

Jiang Yao pursed his lips, brushing the raindrops from Jing Yan’s shoulders. His voice was low, as if appraising a drenched puppy. "I was tempted too, Jing Yan. Your looks, your body, your dog-like loyalty—it really did it for me."

Jing Yan’s mouth fell open.

"You’re especially cute when you’re spacing out." Jiang Yao rose onto his tiptoes, planting a kiss to the corner of Jing Yan’s lips. "You’ve wanted this for a while, haven’t you? Call it a going-away present."

"Here’s a dog tag too." With a magician's flourish, Jiang Yao plucked a wooden tag from thin air—a couple inches long, carved with the image of a wolfhound—and handed it to him. "Here."

The way he doled out gifts carried an innate nobility. Jing Yan was too stunned to be mad—instead, he felt half his senses had left him.

"Who are you?" Jing Yan asked.

Jiang Yao: "Bow your head."

Jing Yan complied, and Jiang Yao fastened the dog tag around his neck, playfully fiddling with it before curling his eyes into crescents. "Say goodbye, big dog, hmm?"

...

The blare of a horn pierced through the rain. A Sang, in the driver's seat, couldn't stop sobbing. "Mr. Jing Yan is such a good man... why... why..."

"Yeah." Jiang Yao shed a couple of crocodile tears and sighed. "I don’t know why either."

A Sang glanced at Jiang Yao’s pale expression in the rearview mirror, recalling how Jiang Yao had lived with Jing Yan ever since joining the Shen household. He couldn’t help but console him, "Butler Jiang, don’t take it to heart. None of us can change the master’s decision."

Jiang Yao: "Thank you for comforting me, A Sang."

System: "Host, don’t be too sad. Uh... though I don’t really understand human friendships, but..."

Jiang Yao: "If I don’t cry a little, how can I appear innocent in all this? I still have to keep my place among the staff."

The system stammered, "Y-you... you were acting?!"

Jiang Yao returned to the villa. Everyone inside, including Housekeeper Jenny, had heard the news of Jing Yan’s departure. The moment Jiang Yao stepped in, all eyes turned to him.

The new butler wasn’t fired—instead, it was the veteran who had served Mr. Shen for ten years.

Everyone tried to read some hint from Jiang Yao’s expression, yet he was the one who seemed the most devastated over Jing Yan’s departure.

"Butler Jiang... lunch will be ready soon," Blackbeard, the head chef, called out to him.

Jiang Yao responded weakly, "Sorry, please inform Housekeeper Jenny that I’ve caught a slight cold. I won’t be joining for lunch to avoid passing it to Master Ian."

Blackbeard gave a gruff nod, the burly man awkwardly offering comfort. "Uh, don’t take it too hard. You’ll make new friends."

"Okay." Jiang Yao managed a weak smile.

Everyone watching secretly felt their hearts twist at that smile.

"Butler Jiang is truly an incredibly kind and tender-hearted person!"

The whispers about Jiang Yao among the household staff quietly shifted once more.

-

Jiang Yao turned the doorknob, loosening his tie as he stepped inside. After kicking the door shut and slipping off his shoes, he headed for the bathroom. Pushing the door open, he was immediately met with a thick, humid mist.

Someone was bathing in his bathroom. The figure turned, lazily glancing at Jiang Yao.

Jiang Yao only froze for a second before letting out a mocking chuckle, leaning against the doorway to openly admire the sight.

A powerfully built body, with striking Adonis belt, well-defined abs, a prominent Adam’s apple, and broad shoulders, topped off with a clean buzz cut.

Simon merely glanced at Jiang Yao before turning away, his back a solid expanse of muscle, the deep ridge of his spine leading to firm buttocks and thick, muscular thighs.

The shadow of *that* was cast on the wall.

Downright primal.

Jiang Yao let out a wolf whistle.

Simon’s physique was enough to make fans of rugged men and women alike drool.

Simon turned off the shower and strode toward Jiang Yao. The sheer intimidation radiating from the hulking figure made Jiang Yao click his tongue. Deciding to keep up the act, he fluttered his lashes innocently at Simon. "Mr. Simon, didn’t you go to England with Mr. Shen?"

Among all of Shen Mo’s employees, only the bodyguards’ whereabouts were beyond Jiang Yao’s purview.

Simon grabbed Jiang Yao by the throat and yanked him forward, his post-shower warmth and dampness engulfing him. The man growled, "Jing Yan’s gone. I had to stay behind to protect Master Ian—who needs it more now."

"Then why..." Jiang Yao arched a brow, his gaze sweeping over Simon’s naked form, "...are you in *my* room?"

Simon: "Jing Yan’s departure is tied to you, Butler Jiang. You’ve fooled everyone—even Mr. Shen—but you can’t fool someone who’s survived the battlefield!"

Simon’s ferocity took Jiang Yao by surprise. He narrowed his eyes. "I’ve seen the most delicate pregnant women and angelic children holding guns to my head!"

His grip suddenly tightened, squeezing Jiang Yao’s windpipe!

Choking for breath, Jiang Yao’s mouth fell open. "I—"

Simon: "The look in your eyes when you speak, the way you feign submission—it’s exactly like those wolves in sheep’s clothing! What are you here for? Talk!"

"Just an ordinary butler, that’s all." With a swift motion, Jiang Yao pried Simon’s fingers off his jaw.

Every instinct in Simon screamed, but before he could react, his vision blurred—and the next second, he was flipped over Jiang Yao’s shoulder and pinned underfoot.

"Wow~" Jiang Yao stood barefoot on Simon’s muscular back. "Simon, your body is *amazing*. Ah! You know what you remind me of?"

Simon: "Let me go! Ah—!"

Cold sweat dripped from Simon’s forehead as Jiang Yao used his other foot to dislocate his arm. He couldn’t move!

Jiang Yao leaned down, his shirt hanging open to reveal pale skin, his tie dangling loosely around his neck.

Simon hated that he couldn’t look away.

"Like a slave from ancient battlefields. Do you know how slave warriors lived in the coliseum?" Jiang Yao pressed his foot against Simon’s face. Though Eastern, his skin was unusually pale.

"H-how?" Simon’s gaze locked onto that foot, raking up Jiang Yao’s tailored trousers, the curve of his waist under the vest, and finally, the domineering eyes regarding him like a plaything.

Simon trembled under that stare.

Jiang Yao: "Those who survived the arena by day... earned the right to serve their masters by night."

Simon’s thoughts derailed at the low, throaty murmur.

Jiang Yao coaxed, "Be a good boy. Prove yourself in the arena, and be mine, hmm?"