A blissful night's sleep.
The next morning, Alice had already prepared breakfast early before heading off to the orphanage to care for the children.
Veil was casually eating his porridge when Kai walked over. Without looking up, Veil asked lightly, "Everything settled?"
Kai scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed. "Yeah, it's all wrapped up—but the benefits all landed on me."
The takedown of the Black Dragon Society, the frame-up involving baby formula trafficking, the bust on Zheng Hu's supplier ring, and now this latest large-scale shootout.
Three major cases, and Kai had risen three ranks in one go!
He already held a position, and now he was basically nobility, even being recognized as a One-Star War General.
"With a higher position, it's easier to get things done." Veil didn't seem to care as he took another spoonful of millet porridge. "Just in time. I need you to help process my transfer to Veyport City University."
Kai didn't even hesitate. He simply nodded and replied, "Yes, sir."
Was there anything to think about?
Young Master graduated over two years ago—why would he suddenly want to go to university? What else could it be for if not chasing girls?
Still, he couldn't help but wonder—Veil's identity and wealth meant he could have any beauty he wanted. Was all this hassle just to go fishing in a bigger pond?
What he didn't know was that Veil's transfer to Veyport University wasn't for just one heroine—but several.
Many of the key female leads were gathered there.
He needed to set his pieces on the board early.
The next Child of Fate, Caden Voss, would soon be descending the mountain. His first mission? Protect the campus belle, Sierra.
And the campus arc held a massive chunk of the overall plotline.
Veil had to get in early, intercept the fortune, and rack up some villain points while he was at it.
Kai, sensing that his young master was deep in thought, didn't dare disturb him and quietly left to handle the paperwork.
Just as Kai stepped out, the sharp clack of high heels echoed from the hall—Lisa had arrived, her expression flustered and anxious.
Cough, cough—
Lost in thought, Veil accidentally choked on his porridge, coughing violently.
That was all it took to set Lisa off.
Panicking, she rushed forward, gently patting his back with her slender hands. "Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself? Why would you be so reckless? What were you thinking going up that mountain?!"
"What?"
Veil blinked in confusion, utterly baffled by her sudden concern.
Lisa's voice trembled as she poured out her frustration. "Was it really necessary? Fine, I was wrong before—but did you have to draw such a clear line between us? I know everything now. My assistant told me. She said you went up the mountain last night with Kai and the others to wipe out assassins on the most wanted list, didn't you?"
"That's something Kai and the others should've handled! Why did you have to take the risk?"
She had been grilling her assistant since morning, pressuring her until she contacted Kai—only then did she learn what Veil had been involved in last night.
Kai had even said Veil got hurt.
How could she sit still after that?
She abandoned the neatly stacked files in her office and dashed straight to Veil's house.
"Where are you hurt? Get up, I'm taking you back to bed. You need to rest." Lisa hooked her arms around Veil, dragging him toward the bedroom.
Once she got him settled in, she started patting his body gently, trying to check for injuries.
"It's internal," Veil said with a bitter smile, coughing into his fist. "Nothing you can see from the outside. Right now, I'm basically useless. I doubt I could even take on a girl in my condition."
He shook his head, sighing gloomily.
As Lisa's hands wandered, she accidentally brushed a bit too close—flustered, she jerked back, cheeks turning red.
And then it hit her.
If he couldn't even beat a girl now… did that mean she was stronger than him?
"What are you doing? I'm warning you—don't even think about it! There's an order to these things—we have to follow our hearts!"
Veil stared at her, eyes wide in mock fear, voice rising in alarm.
But Lisa's mind was already made up. These past few days, Veil had consumed her thoughts. She'd run out of escape routes.
Follow her heart?
That was exactly what she planned to do.
She regretted everything. She was scared. If she didn't tie herself to Veil now, they might never have another chance.
Veil watched her inch closer and swallowed hard. "Lisa, you've lost your mind! If you dare go through with this, I swear I won't let it slide!"
"Calm down! Let's talk this out! I think there's been some kind of misunderstanding between us!"
"You can't do this! I'm not the kind of guy who just—just gives his heart away!"
"Aaagh! Lisa, you better pray I recover soon or I'll make you pay!"
"Shhh, stop moving. You're injured." Lisa cupped his cheek, her eyes overflowing with tender affection.
Veil pushed her away, forcing her to sit up, his face turning cold. "Lisa, I really misjudged you. I didn't think you were the kind of woman who'd take advantage of an injured man… just to get at my body."
A few days ago, Lisa might've panicked hearing that.
But now?
She saw right through him.
He was just being stubborn—acting all righteous while hiding his true feelings.
Lisa couldn't explain it. It felt like she was in love with two completely different people.
Before coming to Veyport City, she'd absolutely loathed Veil. Every meeting was a fight. She'd wanted to stuff her stockings in his mouth just to shut him up.
But after arriving in Veyport?
This Veil… was someone entirely different.
From picking fights out of habit, to gradually being drawn in—it all happened so subtly she didn't even notice until it was too late.
And now, scared of losing him, she'd made this wild, irrational move—and didn't regret a second of it.
In fact, she felt a strange sense of triumph.
Because despite Veil's loud protests, his body didn't lie.
Time passed slowly.
After a long hour, Lisa rested her cheek against his chest, arms wrapped around his neck, whispering softly, "Veil…"
Everything she felt poured out in that one word. Her heart, her love—raw and unfiltered.
There wasn't a shred of shame in her voice. Her entire world, right now, revolved around Veil.
She didn't care if she was rejected or humiliated.
After a brief rest, she still clung to him, showing no intention of leaving.
Veil pulled out a cigarette with effort, lit it, took a deep drag, and exhaled a perfect ring of smoke.
Lisa looked up, her eyes glimmering with something unreadable.
Veil gave her a faint smile. "Ah, I forgot—you hate the smell of smoke. If it's bothering you, you can go. I can't exactly walk you out."
Lisa's gaze flickered. She took the cigarette from his hand, put it to her lips, and inhaled.
Immediately, she started coughing, the smoke escaping her mouth in a messy cloud—not even a hint of a smoke ring.
Still coughing, she shook her head stubbornly. "If it's something you like, I'll try to accept it. I still don't like the smell, but at least I don't hate it anymore. And besides… even if I wanted to leave now, I couldn't."
"Can you forgive me?" Her voice was soft, almost pleading. "I won't go against you anymore. I honestly don't know what's wrong with me. I used to find you so annoying. Every time we met, I wanted to scream. But now, if I don't see you for even a day, my heart feels… empty."
"I've never chased after a man before, but I know—I really, really like you."
"Yell at me, hit me, whatever you want. I'm not leaving. Even if you don't accept me tomorrow, I'll come find you again the next day."
Lisa lay quietly on Veil's chest, her arms gently wrapped around him, pouring her heart out in a long and earnest confession.
Veil listened in silence, a swirl of emotion rising in his chest.
They were both named Veil—but truly, they weren't the same person anymore.
A deep sense of fulfillment welled up inside him.
Smack!
Without a word, Veil raised his hand and gave Lisa a light pat on the back.
Lisa looked up at him, confused. "That was so gentle... does that mean you've forgiven me?"
Veil rolled his eyes in exasperation.
Some things—like tacit understanding—could only be cultivated over time, through slow and steady effort.
"Ding! Congratulations, host, for conquering the heroine Lisa. Villain Points +50,000."
"Ding! Congratulations, host, for gaining Villain Points +1,000 × 1."
"Ding! Congratulations, host, for gaining Villain Points +1,000 × 2."