As the atmosphere grew increasingly intimate, Veil's hand also became bolder, slowly sliding upward from Lisa's waist.
"Enough!"
Lisa slapped his wandering hand away and stood up from his lap, quickly tidying up her slightly disheveled clothes.
She felt that Veil was getting too audacious, his actions becoming more and more excessive. If she didn't put an end to this now, who knew what else this guy might try?
Giving him a little sweetness was fine, but she couldn't afford to let herself be completely drawn in.
"My mother's situation will still require your help and attention. Consider this a favor I owe you—I won't forget it." Lisa seemed to snap out of the illusion of intimacy, quickly reverting to her usual aloof and proud demeanor, transforming back into the cold and elegant CEO.
Veil shrugged. "So you're just using me, huh? When you need me, you act all nice, and when you don't, you kick me aside?"
Lisa wanted to argue back, but the words got stuck in her throat. She simply scoffed coldly. "If that's how you see it, then there's nothing I can do about it. If you have nothing else, you can leave now."
"Fine, I'll go!" Veil didn't seem upset. He just gave Lisa a deep, meaningful look before turning around and walking out.
Arrogant. Keep being arrogant!
If she wanted to play hard to get, then fine. He would make sure that soon enough, she'd be the one chasing after him.
Wasn't this just a game?
Who didn't know how to play?
They could take their time with it.
Dressed in a semi-transparent long blouse, Lisa stood at the villa's entrance, watching as Veil got into the Bentley. She even waved at him, her tone carrying a touch of affection. "Drive safe. Let me know when you get home."
The driver, Kai, who was behind the wheel, couldn't help but admire Veil.
As the Bentley drove away, Kai sighed. "Young Master, you really are a genius! Lisa used to be so arrogant—her nose practically pointed to the sky.
Every time she saw you, it was either a cold glare or an eye-roll. And now? Just a few days, and she's acting completely different. Did you… you know… already get in the car?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"Didn't even touch the door handle, let alone get in the car," Veil muttered.
Lisa's ability to change faces was truly on another level. Just moments ago, she was all serious inside the villa. Yet the second she stepped outside and saw Kai, she instantly put on a warm smile, as if she were the best girlfriend in the world.
She really could act.
But Veil didn't dwell on it. Instead, he mentally called up his system panel.
[Skills]: Affinity LV6 (+60 Group Affinity), Advanced Piano Skills, Advanced Tea Art .
[Shop]: Unlocked (Level 1 available at 30,000 Villain Points).
[Lottery Center]: Unlocked (100 Villain Points per draw).
[Inventory]: Black Silk Stockings x1, Breeze-Condoms +2…
Over the past few days, accompanying Lisa and Ruly hadn't been for nothing. He had farmed a huge amount of affection points, leading to a massive increase in his Villain Points.
Not to mention, back at home, he still had Alice, the sweet and obedient beauty. Every time he "accidentally" brushed against her hand or let his fingers graze her waist, he raked in even more Villain Points.
Accumulating everything together, he had finally crossed 30,000 points, unlocking the system shop.
"Open the shop!"
A virtual screen materialized before Veil, displaying an array of purchasable items along with their respective Villain Point costs.
[Physique +1 (below 60)]: 500 Villain Points
[Physique +1 (below 100)]: 1000 Villain Points
[Charm +1]: 50,000 Villain Points
[Skill: Advanced Aesthetics]: 3,000 Villain Points
[Skill: Basic Medical Knowledge]: 100,000 Villain Points
"…"
After browsing through, Veil felt slightly dizzy.
This wasn't a shop—this was daylight robbery!
He had worked tirelessly for days, only to accumulate a little over 30,000 Villain Points, and yet there were barely a handful of things he could afford!
In the end, he spent 17,000 points to boost his physique to 60 and another 9,600 points to upgrade his Affinity skill to LV8. With the remaining points, he decided to try his luck in the lottery.
Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained a photo album. Ding! Congratulations, you have obtained an advanced medical device. Ding! Congratulations, you have gained +1 Physique. Ding! Congratulations, you have unlocked Advanced Aesthetics.
After finishing his draws, his system panel updated:
[Skills]: Affinity LV8 (+80 Group Affinity), Advanced Piano Skills, Advanced Tea Art, Advanced Aesthetics [Shop]: Unlocked
[Lottery Center]: Unlocked (100 Villain Points per draw).
[Inventory]: Black Silk Stockings x1, Photo Album x1, Advanced Medical Device x1…
After boosting his physique to 67, Veil felt an illusionary sense of power—as if he could punch down a mammoth with one strike.
Of course, that was just a momentary delusion caused by his rapid stat increase. Once his body adjusted, he knew that wasn't actually the case.
Hell, forget a mammoth—he probably still wasn't even a match for Kai in the driver's seat.
But there was no rush.
In just a few days, he had gone from feeling perpetually drained to possessing a physique of 67, capable of going seven rounds in a night.
Before long, he'd surpass Kai too. By the time Roy returned, hitting 100 Physique would be a walk in the park.
As the Bentley pulled up in front of his villa, Alice had already heard the car and came running out.
She timidly stood near the entrance, her voice soft as she murmured, "Young Master, welcome home."
"Where'd you pick up this act? Didn't I tell you already? Treat this place as your own home. Do what you want—there's no need to be so reserved. Still don't get it?" Veil grabbed her delicate hand.
Alice instinctively tried to pull away, but after several futile attempts, she glanced up at Veil's teasing smile and immediately lowered her flushed face, no longer resisting.
She realized she might have been tricked.
Every time she heard his voice, she would unconsciously rush to greet him—despite knowing full well that he'd tease her every single time.
And yet, she kept walking into it.
At this point, she wasn't even sure if it was subconscious or if she was doing it on purpose.
In the living room, Veil sat on the couch, finally letting go of Alice's hand. He eyed her suspiciously. "Alice, do you feel uncomfortable whenever I hold your hand? Otherwise, why do you always try so hard to pull away?
Or... is there someone else in your heart?"
"Ah?!" Alice's eyes widened in shock, her face turning pale. "Young Master... why would you say that?"
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest as she stole a glance at Veil, who sat on the couch with a troubled expression. Her mind was in complete disarray.
What does he mean by this? Could it be…?
For a girl of her age, relationships were an especially sensitive topic. And Veil—just one of his casual smiles had been enough to make her dream about him for several nights in a row—was someone she couldn't help but let her imagination run wild over.
It was like when a cold and indifferent class beauty suddenly turned around and looked at an ordinary boy during class. The boy would start overanalyzing—Does she like me? Why does she keep looking at me? Is she going to confess?
Adolescence wasn't exclusive to boys—girls had it, too.
And Alice was caught in it!
Her fingers nervously pinched the hem of her clothes as she fought an internal battle. She had no idea how to respond.
If she said there was someone, what if Young Master misunderstood and got angry? What if he never held her hand again?
But if she said there wasn't, wouldn't that only encourage his boldness? And wasn't that a little scary too?
She was completely torn.
Seeing her hesitation, Veil chuckled. "You don't have to overthink it. If you like someone, just tell me. I already know most of your past anyway. At worst, I'll just stop being so handsy in the future.
That boy's name was Roy, right? You two grew up together at the Sunshine Orphanage, childhood sweethearts. But he's gone missing now, hasn't he?
Don't worry. I believe good people have good fortune. He'll come back one day. Maybe that day isn't too far off."
Each of his words felt like a dull knife slicing through Alice's fragile heart.
And then, as if twisting the blade, Veil added, "I wish you two happiness."
"No! It's not like that, Young Master! You've got it all wrong!"
Alice panicked, her voice trembling, almost on the verge of tears.
Yes, she and Roy were childhood friends, but they were just kids back then. How could they have understood anything about love?
Besides, back in those days, it was always Alice standing up for Roy, protecting him from the bullies at the orphanage. More often than not, she got dragged into fights and ended up getting beaten because of him.
Their relationship was more like that of siblings who had been through hardships together. Even in the original story's early chapters, that was all it ever was.
"Why are you crying?" Veil frowned slightly. He reached out and pulled Alice into his embrace, gently wiping away her tears. "Did I say something wrong?"
"Mm..." Alice pouted, her lips trembling as she let out a soft hum of grievance.
Veil raised an eyebrow. "What if Roy does come back one day and confesses to you?"
"Impossible! Roy has always treated me like an older sister!" Alice shook her head, but upon seeing Veil's unconvinced expression, she hurriedly added, "Even if he did... I wouldn't accept him. I only see him as a younger brother."
Ding! The protagonist Roy's Fate Points have decreased by 1,000! Congratulations, Host! You have gained 10,000 Villain Points!
Tsk.
Hearing the system notification, Veil couldn't help but smirk with satisfaction.
He had only been planting a seed of doubt in Alice's mind, but he hadn't expected such a lucrative reward!
Holding Alice's trembling frame in his arms, Veil felt a wave of pleasure wash over him. She was soft, delicate, and impossibly smooth to the touch. And those long, slender legs wrapped in sheer white stockings pressed against his lap, making the atmosphere between them even more suggestive.
"Young Master..." Alice murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Veil quickly changed the subject and playfully pinched her thigh. "Why are you still so thin after all these days? Are you not eating well when I'm not around?"
"I am eating!" Alice huffed, her cheeks flushing red.
She could sense that Veil was no longer dwelling on the topic of Roy, which made her feel much better.
But still, why did Young Master always let his imagination run wild? How did he even come up with the idea that she and Roy were a couple?
She had always treated Roy like a little brother. And besides, Roy had been missing for so long—who knew if he even remembered her?
"Let's add an extra dish to dinner tonight," Veil said casually. "Aside from the usual eight dishes and two soups, make a papaya pork rib soup."
Alice instinctively nodded. But just as she was about to ask why, she noticed Veil's gaze lingering on her chest.
Her face turned crimson.
Without another word, she scrambled out of Veil's arms and bolted upstairs.
"What's wrong?" Veil leaned back lazily, crossing his legs with a smug expression. He wasn't even trying to hide his amusement.
Alice let out a shy humph before dashing into her room and slamming the door shut.
Thud!
With her cheeks still burning, Alice threw herself onto the soft bed, burying her face in the pillows. She mumbled the same word over and over.
"Bad... bad... bad!"
After a while, when she finally ran out of air, she rolled over and gasped for breath. But her mind was still stuck on what had just happened.
She hesitantly cupped her hands over her chest, carefully weighing them in her palms, suddenly feeling doubtful.
Was she really... too small?
Did Young Master prefer... bigger ones?
Would drinking papaya pork rib soup actually help?
The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she became. She smacked her pillow and cursed herself.
"Alice, what are you even thinking?! What does it matter if Young Master likes big ones?! It has nothing to do with you! Stop thinking nonsense!
If he wants me to drink it, I'll just refuse! Hmph! If he likes big ones, then maybe if I stay small, he'll stop holding my hand all the time!"