Chapter 8

Butler x Young Master (8)

The eldest young master Huo Jing, who had been away on a long business trip, finally returned from abroad. Though travel-weary with deep exhaustion shadowing his features, he stormed into the training ground immediately after listening to the embellished complaints from the collateral heirs.

Before everyone’s eyes, he grabbed Huo Shu from where he sat on the floor and abruptly delivered a fierce kick.

“Thud.”

A dull sound echoed as the boy’s slender, frail body slammed against the wall like a kite. The impact was so severe it injured his internal organs; crimson blood trickled from the corner of his lips, dripping onto the floor.

The training teacher initially moved to intervene but halted abruptly upon recognizing the intruder, opting instead to continue the lesson as if nothing had happened.

Everyone knew that Huo Jing, the eldest young master, was fiercely protective of his own. As the oldest among all the heirs and frequently abroad on business, his towering, burly frame standing at 1.9 meters loomed like a massive black bear. His strength was astonishing, and none of the collateral heirs dared to cross him.

That kick had held no restraint.

Jiang You, standing guard outside the door with the other butlers, witnessed the scene. Her right leg twitched, nearly propelling her forward.

Her fingernails dug into her palms, her jaw clenched tight, and her brows furrowed deeply.

After delivering the kick, Huo Jing didn’t spare him for another glance. He simply said, “You’re on your own,” before turning and striding out of the training classroom.

The oppressive, heavy silence lifted after his departure, and the atmosphere returned to normal.

The others watched indifferently as Huo Shu lay on his side on the floor, no one offering help. Even the instructor treated him as if he were invisible.

After all, he had offended the eldest young master, Huo Jing.

Huo Shu was accustomed to this. His fingers, taut and pale, pressed firmly against his abdomen as pain seared through his organs, twisting like a sharp blade. Gritting his teeth, he endured the agony and pushed himself up from the floor.

Just then, a hand suddenly appeared within his pain-blurred vision.

“Young Master.”

The tone was impeccably respectful, devoid of any emotion.

Huo Shu ignored the offered hand. Suppressed, unbearable pain transformed into ragged gasps as he leaned against the wall, staggering to his feet. His legs trembled and spammed, barely able to support him.

He moved past her and continued outward.

Jiang You’s gaze swept over her still-outstretched hand and the bloodstain spreading across the wooden floor by the wall.

Her mind flashed to the boy’s cold, stubborn eyes, damp and red-rimmed.

The Huo family had stripped him of his dignity, youthful vitality, and will to live. He had long grown accustomed to such treatment unfairness and favoritism. Deep down, he believed none of it would ever belong to him.

The last remnants of familial affection had vanished completely after the car accident engineered by his own father.

It was precisely because of this that, six years later, Huo Shu would become an emotionless, ruthless business tycoon.

Jiang You finally understood.

To complete the System’s mission over the next five or six years, she had to let Huo Shu—the male lead who had lost all faith in people experience sincere, genuine affection at this very moment.

Otherwise, once the novel’s plot officially began, the mission would be impossible to accomplish.

“Young Master, let me carry you to the hospital.”

She swiftly stepped forward, supporting his faltering body just before he could collapse.

The boy’s face was as pale as if soaked in cold water, his temples and hair damp with cold sweat. Long, dark lashes cast shadows over his eyes. He lifted his arm, avoiding her touch.

His demeanor was distant and aloof.

Any other butler would have cursed him in their heart for being ungrateful. But Jiang You, disregarding his consent, half-crouched and directly hoisted him onto her back.

In front of all the heirs in the classroom, she carried him out.

“Put. Me. Down.” Disoriented, Huo Shu’s face turned icy cold as he realized he was already on her back, enunciating each word with chilling clarity.

Jiang You’s steps didn’t falter, her gaze fixed straight ahead.

Huo Shu’s tone sharpened: “Jiang You!”

The air temperature plummeted, his gaze freezing like three-foot-thick ice, piercingly fixed on the top of her head.

Without even turning around, Jiang could vividly imagine the expression on the young master’s face behind her.

Alongside his voice, the System’s alerts beeped incessantly.

It was warning her about breaking character.

Jiang You ignored it all, awkwardly reciting what she believed to be words brimming with sincere devotion.

“Young master, I will protect you. I won’t let you get hurt again.”

In her previous life, she never read novels, her only exposure was to countless horrifying, despair-filled backstories. Forgot to mention, she was once an infinite flow player, surviving numerous high-risk instances before ultimately dying.

That’s why she cherished this rebirth opportunity so intensely.

Though the deducted points for breaking character pained her, failing the main mission wouldn’t just mean losing points.

It meant death.

Her soul would be completely erased from this world.

The moment her words fell.

Jiang You heard a faint, derisive snort by her ear, a wisp of breath ghostling against her neck.

The young master seemed to have heard an utterly ridiculous, foolish statement. His narrow eyelids lifted slightly, his gaze growing increasingly detached and indifferent.

Protect him?

How could a mere butler protect him? Those people wished for his immediate death given any chance; they’d swarm to tear him apart. Besides, they were complete strangers, and he was just a disposable illegitimate son. Merely staying by his side would put her at risk, how could she talk about protection?

Jiang You also knew her words lacked credibility, so she resolved to prove it through action: from now on, no one would be allowed to harm him.

In the infinite flow, she had a partner skilled in reasoning and decryption, while she relied purely on brute strength. Intellectually, she might lag most hosts, but in terms of combat prowess, no one could surpass her.

As for the rules in the Butler Handbook.

It was just enduring some punishment, and when it came to bearing pain, she was second to none.
She hurried all the way to the training base’s infirmary.

The private doctor showed no surprise upon seeing Huo Shu. Efficiently and skillfully, he treated the injuries, then slipped his hands into his pockets and left the infirmary.

Lunchtime had arrived.

Carrying two lunch boxes, Jiang You found Huo Shu attempting to get out of bed.

The pale hospital bedding was neatly arranged at the head of the bed, the faint scent of disinfectant lingering in the air. The room was compact, with a long corridor outside leading to a CT room, an MRI room, and an operating room indistinguishable from those in a standard hospital.

After arriving, scans were taken. The young master’s physique was so well-trained that the kick hadn’t fractured any bones. But his internal organs had sustained some injuries—he still shouldn’t be getting out of bed yet.

Jiang You set the lunch boxes on the nearby table and moved to stop him.

“Young master, you must not get out of bed yet.”

Huo Shu at this moment was like an unruly, extremely rebellious child, completely ignoring her words. He pulled out the IV needle from the back of his hand, disregarded her presence, and headed for the door.

Jiang You had no experience dealing with someone of his temperament.

Her hand left hanging in the air, awkwardly retracted. She rushed forward in two quick steps, using her body to block the door.

“Young master, your body hasn’t recovered yet. You can’t leave the bed,” she urged once more.

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