The doctor in the white coat frowned as he looked at Ruly. "Don't tell me you don't even know the state of your own body?"
Ruly was still in a daze. Shaking her head, she stammered, "I... I don't know, Doctor. Could there have been a mistake?"
The doctor rolled his eyes. "There were more than a dozen healthy individuals who took the same physical exam as you. Why is it that everyone before and after you was normal, yet you're the only one with an issue?
"Honestly, it's strange. You two are usually so careless—what made you suddenly think of getting a checkup?"
The mother and daughter instinctively turned toward the doorway, where Veil still hesitated, lingering outside instead of coming in.
"Veil, come in already! What are you standing out there for?" Ruly waved him over. As he approached, she gave a wry smile. "This is all thanks to you. If not for you, I might've suddenly collapsed one day without ever knowing why."
Coronary heart disease.
And stage three at that!
Even Ruly herself found it hard to believe, and a chill ran down her spine at the thought.
"Did you notice something?" she asked, puzzled. "Otherwise, why were you so insistent back home about me coming in for a checkup?"
Veil nodded. "I noticed something was off. Auntie, when you talk, you unconsciously touch your neck. And when you get upset, you do it even more frequently. That's not normal."
The doctor raised his thumb approvingly. "Young man, are you studying medicine? Coronary heart disease happens when the coronary arteries harden severely, restricting blood flow to the heart and leading to myocardial ischemia, which in turn causes angina.
"For stage three patients, angina can manifest as neck pain. The unconscious habit of touching the neck is actually a key symptom.
"Good thing you came in time. If we control the condition now, there's a good chance of improvement. But if you had waited any longer—or kept working under high stress—one day it could have escalated into a heart attack, leading to sudden death."
"Mom…"
Lisa had only just snapped out of her shock.
When she first heard the doctor's diagnosis, a cold sweat had broken out on her back. Her heart felt like it had been yanked into the air, leaving her with that terrifying, weightless sensation of freefall.
It scared her to death!
She clutched her mother's hand, trembling. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, the rims turning red as she fought not to cry.
"Silly girl, it's okay. I'm fine. We caught it early, right? I just need to take care of myself." Ruly patted her daughter's hand, comforting her while giving Veil a grateful look. "You knew something was wrong, but why didn't you say anything back home? Lisa even got angry and scolded you. Weren't you upset?"
Veil gave a bitter smile. "I didn't dare say anything. Auntie, you don't know how much you mean to Lisa. I only had a hunch, I couldn't be sure. If I just blurted out my suspicions and it turned out you were perfectly fine, wouldn't that be like cursing you?
"If I said something without proof, it would've been like maliciously slandering you. Lisa would've been furious—who knows how mad she would've gotten?
"But it doesn't matter. As long as you're healthy, Auntie, a little misunderstanding on my end doesn't matter.
"Besides, I'm a grown man. How badly could a little girl like Lisa possibly make me feel wronged?"
"You…!" Ruly was deeply moved.
Veil—this child—how could he be so thoughtful and considerate?
His concern for her daughter ran so deep that even she, as Lisa's mother, paled in comparison. He would rather take the blame himself than let her daughter suffer even a moment of distress.
How could she not be touched by that?
No, this wouldn't do!
Ruly made up her mind. Next time she heard anyone talking badly about her future son-in-law behind his back, she would not ignore it. She would hunt them down and give them a proper scolding!
Spreading baseless rumors—what kind of pathetic act was that? And slandering someone so maliciously, no less! How could anyone say such things about her future son-in-law, such a kind and considerate young man?
The doctor chuckled, teasing, "Young man, you've got the looks of a dashing young bachelor, but you've got such a meticulous mind. You're definitely going to be the kind who's afraid of his wife!"
As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Lisa.
Lisa, embarrassed, lowered her head.
She bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward, clenching her small fists. Her voice was soft as she murmured, "I'm sorry… I misunderstood you. I apologize."
She took a deep breath and continued, "Thank you. If not for you, I wouldn't have known about my mom's condition. I've been such a terrible daughter. If it weren't for you… I don't even want to think about what could've happened. Thank you… thank you so much…"
Lisa's emotions were in turmoil. The fury she had felt toward Veil back at the villa was now mirrored by an equal measure of guilt.
Veil had been genuinely concerned for her mother's health. And to avoid upsetting her, he had swallowed his grievances in silence, taking on all the blame himself.
Thinking back to her earlier attitude, Lisa felt utterly ashamed.
She didn't even deserve to call herself a daughter!
How could she have been so unreasonable, so quick to twist Veil's good intentions into something malicious?
If it had been anyone else instead of Veil, they would have every right to call her out, to curse her for being heartless—and she wouldn't even be able to argue against it.
"Silly, what are you apologizing for? I'm your boyfriend. Your mom is my family too. How could I stand by and do nothing when my own family isn't well?" Veil ruffled her hair gently. "Don't overthink it. Your eyes are all red—anyone who sees you like this would think I bullied you.
"So don't cry, okay? I can't stand seeing you upset."
This was the first time Veil had taken the initiative to show such affection.
And for the first time, Lisa didn't resist.
"Ding! Female lead Lisa's affection toward the host has increased. Congratulations, host, for earning +800 Villain Points."
"Ding! Female lead Lisa's affection continues to rise. Congratulations, host, for earning +1,000 Villain Points."
"Ding! Protagonist Roy's Luck Points have dropped by 500. Congratulations, host, for earning +5,000 Villain Points."
As the doctor prescribed medicine and gave instructions on daily precautions, Veil's mind buzzed with the mechanical voice of his system.
Well, well, well—he had just pulled off something that should have been Roy's moment to shine. Not only did he gain a massive amount of Villain Points from Lisa's gratitude, but he also shaved off a chunk of Roy's Luck Points!
So taking Roy's opportunities not only lowered his Luck Points but also rewarded Veil with ten times the Villain Points?
Thinking about it, Veil couldn't help but chuckle.
Now this was getting exciting!
Back at Jiangnan No. 1.
Lisa stayed by Ruly's side at all times, bringing her tea, tending to her every need, and fussing over her with constant concern. Ruly felt both touched and amused by her daughter's behavior.
"You act like I'm some frail old woman in her seventies or eighties, unable to walk on my own," she said with a chuckle.
Lisa shook her head. Even now, her beautiful face still bore traces of lingering fear. "I'm just scared, Mom. How about I accompany you back to Luxhaven tomorrow? The hospitals there are the best in the country—they'll definitely be able to cure your coronary heart disease."
Ruly sighed helplessly. "Do you think coronary heart disease is something that can be easily cured? Countless wealthy people have succumbed to this illness—one late night of exhaustion, and they were gone. I never imagined I'd end up with this condition myself."
"Mom…" Lisa's eyes turned red again.
She didn't even dare to imagine what her life would be like without her mother.
The mother and daughter clung to each other on the living room sofa, forming a beautiful and poignant scene.
Sitting across from them at the coffee table, Veil cleared his throat lightly. "Aunt Ruly, Lisa, you don't have to worry too much. Medication is one part of the treatment, but the real key is proper recuperation.
"How about this—once you return to Luxhaven City, I'll talk to my family and arrange for you to stay at Heartwarming Sanatorium for a while. In terms of medical expertise, that place is the absolute best in all of Trasidia.
"As long as you follow the doctors' advice and take good care of yourself, there won't be any major problems."
"Heartwarming Sanatorium?" Ruly's expression froze. "Can I even get in there?"
In Luxhaven, very few people knew about Heartwarming Sanatorium because it wasn't open to the public.
The people who stayed there were all high-ranking officials or peak figures within Trasidia's elite circles. The facility was equipped with the most advanced medical technology, and its doctors were globally renowned.
Veil smiled. "I don't know about others, but for you, Aunt Ruly…" He glanced at Lisa, whose eyes were still red, then continued, "Seeing Lisa like this—so worried and on edge—it really pains me. Don't worry about the arrangements. If necessary, I'll have my grandfather speak to the sanatorium's director."
"Veil, that's very thoughtful of you," Ruly said, deeply moved by how much Veil cared for her daughter. The more she looked at him, the more she liked him. "But… Lancaster Senior…"
If it weren't for Veil, she might have suffered a sudden heart attack one day without even realizing what was happening.
Words couldn't fully express her gratitude. But asking Lancaster Senior to intervene… that made her hesitant. After all, Heartwarming Sanatorium was essentially reserved for the highest-ranking individuals—it wasn't something just anyone could gain access to.
It wasn't that she doubted Lancaster Senior's influence; rather, she worried that his intervention might invite unnecessary scrutiny or criticism from rival factions.
Lisa held her mother's hand. "Mom, just accept it. This is Veil's way of showing he cares."
She wanted to accompany her mother to Luxhaven for treatment, but even the best hospitals in Trasidia couldn't compare to Heartwarming Sanatorium.
"…Alright then. Since I've come all the way to Veyport City, I don't want to rush back just yet. I'll stay for a few more days. When I return, I'll leave everything in your hands, Veil."
—
Ruly stayed in Veyport City for only three more days before heading back to Luxhaven City.
In the villa's living room, Lisa sat beside Veil. Without her mother around, the atmosphere between them felt strangely… awkward.
"How's my mom doing? Has she been admitted to Heartwarming Sanatorium?" She turned her head slightly, gazing at Veil's sharp and handsome profile as she spoke softly.
"It's all taken care of. As soon as she lands, someone will be there to escort her straight to the facility. Don't worry." Veil reassured her as he placed his hand gently over Lisa's delicate, smooth fingers.
Lisa didn't react, nor did she pull away. Perhaps, after these past few days, she had grown accustomed to these little gestures.
She no longer even felt the need to mentally justify it as being 'just a minor annoyance' to herself.
"So? How do you think your future husband has been performing?" Veil asked playfully. Summoning a bit of courage, he took her wrist and, with a gentle tug, pulled her into his embrace.
Lisa felt the firmness of his chest against her and struggled briefly before giving up, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush.
She wasn't sure why she allowed it. Maybe it was her way of showing gratitude? Or maybe, after spending the past few days with Veil, her perception of him had shifted completely?
Honestly—Lisa had never imagined that Veil could be so capable in front of her mother.
Could it be that his past arrogance and bravado had all been an act?
Otherwise, how could he have mastered the art of conversation and etiquette so flawlessly in such a short time?
Over the past three days, Veil had come to the villa daily, chatting with her mother and personally brewing tea for her.
His tea-making skills were exquisite—soothing, restorative, and capable of bringing tranquility to the mind. Her mother had nothing but praise for him.
It was pure admiration for his tea artistry.
Moreover, after the initial shock of Ruly's diagnosis, both Lisa and her mother often found themselves plagued by late-night anxieties, leading to frequent bouts of insomnia.
Upon learning of this, Veil never showed any impatience. Instead, he played calming piano lullabies for them, easing their troubled minds and helping them sleep peacefully.
The melodies were so enchanting that they seemed to gently lull the soul itself.
Lisa wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't secretly crept downstairs one night and seen it with her own eyes—Veil's long, slender fingers moving fluidly over the black and white keys, coaxing out a mesmerizing tune.
She never would have imagined that Veil possessed such remarkable piano skills!
"You did well. Keep it up." Lisa rested against Veil's chest, her hand idly tracing over his abdomen. Suddenly, her fingers paused in surprise. "I didn't expect this—you actually have abs?"
Veil chuckled. "There's a lot you don't know about me."
Their eyes met. Today, Lisa wore the same outfit she had on the day Ruly arrived—a loose, pale pink long-sleeved top, semi-transparent, paired with form-fitting dark blue jeans.
The combination accentuated her graceful figure while exuding a hint of refreshing allure.
Veil couldn't help but murmur his appreciation. "Your figure is quite something too."