Chapter 12

Steward x Young Master (12)

The once-noble young master now looked like a complete and utter madman.

Jiang You couldn’t understand the meaning behind his words at all; she only found him baffling. He had already fallen to such a state, yet he still came to provoke her young master. It was clear how wicked his heart was.

“Let’s go, Young Master. Don’t pay him any mind,” she said with a solemn expression, constantly on guard in case Huo Liuzhou went berserk and rushed over to harm him.

She didn’t notice the young man behind her, whose thin lips moved slightly, silently forming words that were reflected, character for character, in the eyes of Huo Liuzhou, who had fallen to the ground and was covered in cold snow.

“This is just the beginning.”

All the heirs of the Huo family had learned lip-reading, so Huo Liuzhou understood briefly. His eyes met those of the young man under the black umbrella, who was being protected behind someone else.

Having torn off his disguise, Huo Shu’s slightly narrow, dark eyes squinted like a cat’s. The corners of his lips curled into a half-smile, as chilling as a demon’s.

Even though Huo Liuzhou was in the biting cold of the snowfield, the sight sent a shiver slowly crawling up his spine, giving rise to an unspeakable sense of fear.

A chill ran through his entire body.

“Don’t be afraid, Young Master. He can’t hurt you now.” Jiang You held the black umbrella that blotted out the sky. The ground had been salted, but it was still a bit slippery. She spoke soothingly while keeping an eye on his footing.

Steward Li had told her that the issues with Huo Liuzhou’s maternal family ran deep. Huo Liuzhou would soon be leaving the old residence and would be completely removed from the list of heirs. After that, he would never appear before them again.

As she finished speaking.

The pair of legs in her line of sight suddenly stopped. Crystalline snowflakes drifted onto his half-damp sneakers. His voice was as crisp and clean as if it were wrapped in winter snow.

“Steward Jiang.”

Jiang You’s incessant chatter ceased. She turned the umbrella’s handle, her gaze following the sound as she answered softly, “I’m here, Young Master.”

The young man stood quietly in the mottled light and shadows of the trees. Flecks of snow, not yet melted, landed briefly on his thick, raven-black lashes. He lifted his handsome and refined face and slowly extended his arms in her direction.

“Carry me back.”

Jiang You was stunned for a few seconds before she reacted slowly, crouching down and nodding blankly.

“O-Okay.”

Huo Shu gazed deeply at her back and added, “Aren’t you going to ask me why?”

Jiang You chuckled cheerfully. “This ground is so slippery. It wouldn’t be good if you fell, Young Master.”

Besides, whatever the Young Master said must have its reasons. Whether it was right or wrong, in her heart, it was always right.

A weight settled on her back as the young man’s arms wrapped around her neck. The cold wind blew, and a few strands of her dark hair brushed against the side of his ear, bringing a dense, ticklish sensation.

He didn’t dodge or flinch. In the depths of his inscrutable eyes, a rare, surging possessiveness flashed.

“Walk slowly, Steward Jiang,” he said nonchalantly, tossing aside the black umbrella.

Jiang You stepped on the crunching snow, breathing in the cold, deep-winter air, and nodded in agreement. “Okay, Young Master.”

Huo Jing’s gaze was focused as she watched their figures gradually merge into the snowy landscape.

“Miss, quickly put on your scarf. Don’t catch a cold.” Li Chengfeng helped her tie her scarf and, still worried, adjusted the collar of her coat.

The old residence still maintained its ancient, old-fashioned customs. The heirs had to have all three meals together in the dining hall, without exception. The temperature outdoors was dropping, and they could only walk back and forth.

Huo Jing retracted her gaze and looked at the person before her, suddenly asking, “Is Huo Shu of age yet?”

Li Chengfeng was taken aback. He pondered for a moment before answering, “I remember Steward Jiang saying his birthday is on New Year’s Eve this year.”

After speaking, he asked, “What’s wrong?”

Huo Jing was silent for a few seconds before saying, “It’s nothing. Let’s go back.”

The moment she first met this half-brother of hers, she knew that, besides herself, he was the child who most resembled their father.

Adept at hiding his emotions, he followed the code of a predatory beast.

New Year’s Eve.

Old Mrs. Huo suddenly fell gravely ill, an event that alarmed the entire family. The narrow hospital corridor was packed to the brim, filled with an endless murmur of whispers and chatter.

It wasn’t until Huo Yuan, who had been on a business trip abroad, landed and rushed to the hospital that the corridor fell silent. The atmosphere became oppressive and freezing, making it hard to breathe.

“All of you, go back.”

As soon as he said this, everyone except the direct line of the family left.

The corridor became spacious, with bright, warm white light filling every corner.

Huo Yuan’s gaze swept over the few people present. His brow furrowed slightly as he asked, “Where’s Huo Ye?”

He was met with a long silence.

It wasn’t until the sound of hurried footsteps appeared from around the corner that the second young master, Huo Ye, arrived late. He reeked of alcohol and women’s perfume. His striped shirt was wrinkled, its buttons undone, and his hair was slightly messy.

He looked as if he had just come from a night of revelry.

“Absurd!” Huo Yuan reprimanded coldly, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.

Huo Ye trembled in fear, nearly falling to his knees to beg for mercy. It was the steward who followed behind him who stopped him and braced himself to explain.

“Mr. Huo, the Second Young Master has gotten all the demolition households in the East City District to sign the contracts. Construction can officially begin next month.”

The East City District was a notoriously old part of the city. Having weathered generations of time, it was already old, dilapidated, and on the verge of collapse. Not long ago, to prove his capabilities, Huo Ye had taken on this piece of land to demolish and build a new housing development.

However, the residents of the East City District were mostly elderly people who had lived there since they were young. No matter how much compensation they were offered, they refused to move. Thus, this plot of land had always been a difficult problem for the Huo family’s commercial expansion.

Huo Yuan’s expression finally softened. He shot Huo Ye a cold glance, told him to sort himself out before coming back, and then stepped into the waiting area outside the operating room.

Huo Ye’s tense body relaxed. His face reverted to its usual arrogance and unconcealed, thriving ambition. As he was about to head to the restroom, he saw the young man sitting on a bench in the corridor.

Huo Shu had arrived in a hurry, wearing only a thin sweatshirt. His features, though still retaining a youthful immaturity, were already so handsome that it was hard to look away. His back was straight, and his cool eyes kept everyone at a distance.

Huo Ye’s face turned dark and cold, a sinister glint appearing in his eyes.

He exchanged a look with the steward beside him. The latter understood instantly and said in a low voice, “Everything has been arranged.”

Huo Ye’s lips curved into a smile. “Then go.”

The steward acknowledged the order and immediately strode toward the bench in the corner.

“Young Master Huo Shu.”

The voice that suddenly sounded before them interrupted their conversation.

Jiang You looked up. When she saw the person’s face clearly, the slight upward curve of her lips instantly flattened, and she frowned in annoyance.

It was the steward of the second young master of the direct line, Huo Ye. His surname was Lin.

Huo Shu was a man of few words. “What is it?”

Steward Lin smiled, looking like a cunning fox. “Our young master said that you are no longer needed here, so you two should go back.”

Huo Shu remained silent, his expression calm and indifferent as he looked at him.

After a long while, so long that Steward Lin’s heart began to pound with unease, the latter finally spoke, “Alright.”

As he finished and stood up, Steward Lin continued in a ghostly tone, “Young Master Huo Shu, the weather is cold and the roads are slippery. Be careful on your way back. Don’t accidentally fall to your death.”

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