Skill Affinity activated. With the Level 8 effect granting a +80 affinity to everyone present, even the most hostile individuals would find themselves calming down.
Not to mention—Jodie and Veil were complete strangers. There wasn't any animosity between them to begin with.
As Veil smiled at Jodie, he purposely let his gaze linger on Julia for a brief moment before casually shifting away.
He was well aware of Julia's hopeless fangirl tendencies. Let her slowly fall for him—hook, line, and sinker.
As expected, the instant Julia laid eyes on Veil, her bright peach blossom eyes lit up with sparkling stars. "So handsome! This big brother is so handsome!"
His smile—how could it be so gentle, so indulgent? And that tall, lean figure? He looked like he'd walked straight out of a manga! If he pinned her against a wall, what should she do? Play coy? Or pounce right back?
The little fangirl's mind had already turned to mush. One moment she was grumbling about how long Veil took to arrive, belly growling from hunger… The next, all those complaints vanished into thin air.
Hungry? Who cares! As long as there's eye candy around, she could go three days without food. Okay—maybe not three. One day. Fine! At least one missed meal!
"Julia…" Jodie frowned and tapped her sister on the shoulder.
Julia didn't even look back, eyes still locked on Veil as she grumbled, "What is it?"
Jodie sighed. She tapped the hand gripping the fabric around her waist. "You always twist your clothes when you're nervous. I get it. I'm not mad. But next time you do it, can you not pinch my skin while you're at it?"
"Huh?" Julia blinked, finally glancing down to find her fingers digging into her sister's waist. Flustered, she pulled her hand away. "I'm sorry, sis!"
"It's fine," Jodie said with a helpless smile.
At the entrance, Kosdy Murphy and Veil stepped inside, chatting warmly like old acquaintances. "Master Veil" this, "Uncle Murphy" that— If you didn't know any better, you'd think they were family, not people meeting for the first time.
Veil responded with polite deference on the surface, though his thoughts were quite different. Ah, the perks of being a major villain. With a name like his, even a business tycoon like Kosdy Murphy—whose assets easily exceeded billions—had to treat him with courtesy.
And let's not forget, Murphy was notoriously snobbish. His standards were sky-high. An ordinary person would never receive this kind of reception.
"And these lovely ladies?" Veil glanced at the sisters and feigned ignorance.
Kosdy Murphy pointed to his eldest daughter and took over the introductions. "This is my eldest, Jodie. She's twenty-five, same age as you. Studied abroad for a while, just returned recently."
Jodie stood around 165cm tall, and with her heels, nearly hit 172. Her slender, curvaceous figure filled out her black business attire in all the right ways. That generous bust created such visual impact, one couldn't help but worry for the two little buttons on her jacket—how were they even holding on?
With that narrow waist, as slim and delicate as a willow branch, the contrast was staggering. It was almost dizzying to look at—like your eyes might get sucked in. The black pencil skirt framed her hips perfectly.
A true hourglass figure. And with such a flawless face on top of that? There was no doubt—this woman had main heroine energy written all over her.
"Miss Jodie, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Veil." He offered a polite handshake.
Jodie's first impression of Veil had been overwhelmingly positive—graceful, elegant, as if a noble young master had walked out of a dream. But seeing her father act so sycophantic instantly soured her mood.
Disliking the one her father flattered so much, she coldly shook Veil's hand and said nothing more.
Kosdy Murphy wasn't thrilled by her reaction, but he kept his smile intact and moved on. He began to introduce his younger daughter.
Not that Julia needed any help. She had already jumped the gun, pointing at herself with a cheeky grin. "Handsome big brother, I'm Julia—Jodie's little sister! I'm a first-year student at Veyport High!"
Then, without skipping a beat— "Do you like my sister?"
"Uh…" Veil was caught off guard.
Ignoring her sister's awkward coughs, Julia grabbed Veil's large hand with both of hers and beamed up at him. "If you don't like my sister, you can wait for me, okay? When I grow up, I'll be your wife, how's that sound?"
She even motioned to her figure confidently. "Don't be fooled by how small I look now. Just wait—my body's gonna be way better than my sister's in a few years!"
Small? She wasn't all that small anymore.
Veil's gaze flicked over her quickly. For a girl barely in her teens, Julia's figure already hinted at surprising maturity. If she ever wore an office lady outfit, she'd have otakus bleeding from their noses by the dozen.
But no—this mischievous girl loved cute fashion instead. Today she wore a frilly Lolita dress, white stockings wrapped around her long legs, a face with just a hint of baby fat, big sparkling eyes, a petite nose, and pouty pink lips.
A walking paradox—baby face with a bombshell body. Rare, and absolutely lethal.
Still, Veil played it cool. He gently patted her head. "Well then, little sister, you'd better study hard. Your sister's so talented—if you slack off, you'll never catch up."
"Wha…?" Julia deflated like a balloon pricked with a needle.
She hadn't been talking about grades! She only meant she'd beat her sister in the looks department!
Her sister had always been a genius, praised by everyone. She'd gone abroad and completed in four years what most people needed seven to finish. Julia knew she didn't stand a chance in that area.
Jodie gave Veil a grateful look and pulled Julia aside.
She knew her sister was a total fangirl, but she hadn't expected Veil to use that to motivate her. She had to admit—just one sentence from him worked better than months of her own nagging.
Julia was already regretting not studying harder.
Veil smiled warmly. Today, his focus was on Jodie. As for Julia? There was time. Everything in due course. No need to rush.
Under the warm hospitality of the Murphy family, Veil was soon seated comfortably. The gifts he brought were taken by Julia and carefully placed in the living room.
The entire Murphy household bustled with energy as dish after dish was served from the kitchen to the dining table.
"Veil, since you've made the trip all the way here, you must have a drink with me today," said Kosdy Murphy, seated at the head of the table, personally pouring Veil a full glass of wine.
Tea served to the brim symbolized seeing guests off. But wine filled to the brim—it meant a warm welcome.
Veil didn't lean on his background or status. Instead, he rose with humility, lifted his wine glass, and respectfully clinked it slightly lower than Kosdy's before saying modestly, "I must apologize, Uncle. I've shown poor manners, letting you pour for me. I'll take this as my punishment. Please forgive me."
With that, he downed the entire glass in one go, turning it over to show it was empty.
"Hahaha! Veil, where did you learn these rules?" Kosdy laughed heartily. "You make this old man look like a careless brute."
Though his tone was teasing, his eyes brimmed with satisfaction.
The more Kosdy looked at Veil, the more pleased he became. As the direct heir of the Lancaster family—a top-tier aristocratic house—even if Veil chose to treat him as a peer, Kosdy would still tread cautiously, no matter how displeased he might be.
But Veil didn't act high and mighty. He referred to himself as "this kid," displaying humility and grace. Now that was a young man raised with proper discipline.
The meal progressed with cheer and ease.
After several rounds of wine and a full spread of dishes, Kosdy was visibly tipsy, his cheeks tinged red. Smiling, he asked, "Veil, you have a massive family business waiting in Luxhaven City. Why would you come to Veyport and open an investment firm instead?"
Though Veyport City was a prosperous region in Trasidia, it paled in comparison to the influence and wealth of Luxhaven.
To give up such a vast inheritance and settle in Veyport—those unaware might think Veil had lost a power struggle within the family.
But anyone who knew even a little would dismiss such rumors outright. The Lancaster family had only one direct heir—Veil. There was never any competition to begin with.
Veil, cheeks flushed, rubbed his eyes and gave a wry smile. "Uncle, you might not know this, but back in Luxhaven, everyone calls me a good-for-nothing—someone who relies entirely on family power, with no real talent of my own. They say that even a dog could do better than me if given my background."
"Nonsense! A bunch of jealous fools talking out of envy!" Kosdy cursed, though his heart silently agreed with the sentiment.
"So, you came to Veyport deliberately," he asked with narrowed eyes. "Without leaning on your family's power, you want to prove yourself and silence those doubters? Then why come to my Murphy household specifically?"
Veil nodded, rubbing his temples in a drunken daze. "Uncle started from nothing. You and Auntie built all this from the ground up. Now you're a titan in Veyport's business world. As a newcomer and a junior, isn't it only right I pay my respects and ask for some guidance?"
What no one noticed was that when Veil deliberately mentioned "husband and wife," Jodie, sitting across from him, quietly clenched her fists under the table.
"Ah… you don't know the full story," Kosdy sighed, turning a bit melancholic. "I'm getting old, Veil. No matter how glorious a business may be, I can't take it with me. People see the Murphy family at its peak now, but who knows what'll happen once I'm gone?"
"What?!" Veil's eyes widened, slurring slightly from the wine, as he challenged Kosdy's words. "How could you say that, Uncle? Everyone in Veyport knows your eldest daughter has been running the family business like a seasoned veteran! Rumors say she's inherited your very aura as a leader. With her around, the Murphy family will only keep rising!"
Was he serious?
Did he really mean that?
Jodie stared hard at Veil, trying to see through his drunken haze to the heart behind his words.
Yet no matter how she looked, all she saw was a tipsy young man slumped over in his chair, speaking not with calculation, but from something deep inside—something honest and buried.
Kosdy's smile faded slightly. Despite the alcohol, his mind remained sharp—years of business dealings had honed his resistance.
And what Veil had just said… didn't sit well with him.
A woman was still a woman. In the end, she'd marry into another family. How could she possibly carry on the legacy of the Murphy name?
He didn't sugarcoat it. "Jodie is indeed capable. But she's still a woman. There will always be distractions and obligations. I doubt she can dedicate herself entirely to managing the business."
Again.
That same excuse.
Dismissing all her efforts just because she was born a girl.
Jodie's eyes turned red with anger. Her body trembled with rage beneath her perfectly fitted suit, and the two buttons on her blouse seemed to groan under the rising tension.
She opened her mouth to argue—but someone beat her to it.
"Uncle, that's where I think you're wrong." Veil's voice rang out, suddenly clearer and stronger. "In ancient times, women went to war in place of their fathers. Today, women dominate the business world. Isn't that something worth celebrating?"
"What's wrong with being a woman? Who says women are inferior to men? From where I'm sitting, Miss Murphy is far more competent than I am!
And if you're still worried, Uncle—why not consider another option? With her abilities, she could easily find a live-in son-in-law. That way, she can settle down and continue leading the Murphy family to greater heights. Wouldn't that solve everything?"
Both Kosdy and Jodie fell silent, deep in thought.
Veil's comment, though bold, struck right at the heart of the issue. For a brief moment, both father and daughter entertained the possibility.
Jodie, in fact, found herself making a quiet decision—to do exactly that.
But before she could say anything, Kosdy waved his hand. "The boy's had too much. Someone take him home."
Thud!
Before the words had even faded, Veil collapsed sideways to the floor, completely unconscious from drink.
Kosdy blinked, then looked toward the butler. "Where's the Lancaster family's driver? No matter. Arrange a guest room and let him rest here for the night."
"My room! My room!" Julia shot up, waving her arms excitedly. Her eyes sparkled. This was perfect—handsome big brother wasn't leaving tonight!
Kosdy cast a sharp, evaluating look her way, and Julia immediately shrank back. "I'll sleep in the study next door! Someone like him—with that background—you can't just put him in a servant's room. What if he wakes up and gets mad?"
Kosdy sighed and turned to the butler. "Send the young master to Julia's room."
As Veil was carried upstairs, Jodie remained at the table, biting her lip, eyes glued to her father's retreating back. That familiar ache of disappointment bloomed once more.
Her own father—her own flesh and blood—couldn't trust her.
And yet, an outsider believed in her more.
How bitterly ironic.