The Villain Who Stole Hearts-Chapter 88: The Little Villain Wants to Play Hero? Keep Dreaming!

While lost in thought, Veil glanced up and happened to notice Carlin across from him lowering her head with a trace of melancholy.

He took the initiative to strike up a conversation.

"Have you made any progress on finding a new location for the noodle shop?"

Carlin lifted her head, her eyes lighting up.

"My parents already found a spot! It’s near the commercial district. A chain snack shop there just closed down."

"We checked it out. The foot traffic is amazing, and there are only restaurants around—no noodle places at all. I think there’s definitely a market for it."

"Sounds like a money-making goldmine to me," Veil teased as he slid to sit beside her. He reached over and plucked a small leaf from her hair.

"Guess I’ll have to treat our future little rich lady with a bit more respect from now on."

Carlin’s cheeks flushed.

"You’re exaggerating, Veil. It’s not going to be that profitable. Our shop’s prices are really low. Once we subtract rent and wages, there’s not much left. Still... it’s going to be way better than the old place in the snack street!"

Veil leaned back against the wooden boat’s edge, hands behind his head, chuckling.

"Your parents aren’t exactly young anymore, and you haven’t even graduated yet, and they’re already grooming you to be the future boss."

"Now that you say it... it’s kind of true." Carlin smiled wistfully.

"I remember Dad used to dream about expanding the shop. But when they had to pay for my leg treatments, we spent so much... we were never poor, but there was never enough extra to lease another place. If it weren’t for you, Veil... I don’t think that dream would’ve ever come true."

Her eyes shimmered with hope as she looked ahead.

"I don’t have big ambitions. After graduation, if I could just run my own noodle shop, serve a warm bowl to tired customers every day... that would be enough for me."

She glanced over at Veil and asked softly,

"Veil, how much longer do you think... until I can stand on my own again?"

"A little more acupuncture therapy. It’s close—you’ll be fully healed soon," Veil reassured her patiently.

"Why? You seem unusually anxious about it lately."

It was natural to want to recover, but asking every day... that hinted at something deeper.

Carlin brushed the wind-tousled strands of hair behind her ear. Her eyes rippled like the surface of the lake, quietly fixated on Veil’s face. She didn’t answer aloud, but in her heart, she murmured:

"Because... the noodle shop still needs a boss."

The evening breeze swayed the wooden boat gently on the lake, inviting a cozy drowsiness.

Carlin lay down on the planks, stretching her arms out beyond the side, watching the glow of the sunset through the gaps between her fingers.

Time passed quietly and swiftly.

Suddenly, a loud voice rang out from the shore.

"Hey! You on the boat! Paddle over here—I’m buying that boat! Name your price!"

Startled, Carlin sat up straight and looked toward the shore—only to recognize a familiar face.

Dominic.

One of the so-called Four Young Masters of Veyport University.

Arrogant and overbearing, he’d once beaten a girl’s boyfriend so badly he landed in the hospital—for a whole month—all over a petty crush.

Carlin turned to Veil, eyes filled with nervousness.

Veil stretched lazily, yawning as he sat up. He glanced toward the commotion onshore.

When he spotted Dominic and the small crowd gathering around the lake, his eyes twitched with amusement.

Was this... a plot trigger?

Someone must’ve fallen into the lake.

"Carlin, bring the boat over. I said I’m buying it, come on!" Dominic barked.

He had no clue who Veil was—after all, Veyport was huge. No way he knew everyone.

Dominic was frantic. Moments ago, he’d seen someone fall into the lake. At first, he didn’t care—it wasn’t his problem.

But then... a woman jumped in to rescue the person.

Not just any woman—Lyra, the breathtakingly beautiful professor from Veyport University.

Now it was his problem.

Classic hero-saves-beauty scenario. If he played this right, he’d shoot up in her favor. Who cared if Carlin—campus beauty or not—was out here on a boat with some random guy?

All he needed was that boat!

Veil glanced at the jittery Dominic and smirked. He grabbed the oar from the boat and held it up toward the shore.

"This what you want?"

"Yes! Hurry up and row it over!" Dominic shouted, eyes still scanning the water for signs of distress.

Suddenly, he heard a whooshing sound. When he looked up, a large wooden oar flew straight toward his face from seven or eight meters away.

Smack!

It crashed onto the ground right next to him. Dominic stood frozen, staring wide-eyed at the oar beside him.

What the hell?!

Did he just run into a lunatic?

He asked Veil to row the boat—and this nutcase threw the oar over?!

If he weren’t so hellbent on impressing Lyra, he’d stay right there and make sure Veil never stepped foot on shore again.

But no time to waste.

He took off running toward the crowd, then dove straight into the lake.

It wasn’t until now that Carlin realized something was off.

The lake was huge. Seeing a few ripples wasn’t unusual—probably just someone swimming.

But when a whole crowd gathered at the shore and started pointing and shouting, that was different.

"Veil! Someone really did fall in!" Carlin pointed toward the disturbance in the water, then glanced at the oar lying on the shore.

"But now you’ve thrown the paddle... we can’t even get back, let alone go help!"

"Don’t worry," Veil chuckled, walking to the back of the boat.

"Nobody uses oars these days."

He gripped a handle sticking out from the water, then twisted it around.

With one hand on the boat and the other turning the lever—

Put-put-put!

Put-put-put!

The rear engine roared to life, kicking up white spray. The boat surged forward at impressive speed toward the splash zone.

Not quite a speedboat, but far faster than any swimmer.

Back when they were just leisurely drifting with oars, it was all about the romantic vibe.

But Veil had already known Lyra would jump in to save someone and nearly drown. He was very prepared.

In less than three minutes, the boat reached the scene.

Lyra’s hands were thrashing above the water, and behind her, a girl clung to her like an octopus, dragging her down.

If Lyra’s strength gave out, they’d both be goners.

Veil reached out, grabbed Lyra by the shoulders, and yanked her—and the girl attached to her—up onto the deck.

Carlin gasped.

"Professor Lyra?!"

"No time to explain!" Lyra wiped water from her face and turned to Veil, panic in her voice.

"Help her! She’s been underwater too long!"

"Got it."

Veil suppressed a laugh, putting on a serious face. He lifted the girl, laid her flat on the boat’s raised deck, then gave her a few sharp stomps on the back.

A few mouthfuls of water spewed out—and she stopped convulsing.

"I don’t even know how to thank you!" Lyra said breathlessly.

"I wanted to help her... but I overestimated myself. The moment I got close, she latched onto me and wouldn’t let go. I could barely stay afloat, let alone swim back. I really thought... I was going to die."

She looked at Veil’s face, an odd feeling creeping into her chest.

She’d just returned from Chandler’s birthday banquet, where she’d felt an overwhelming sense of justice watching them fall from grace.

Feeling content, she went for a walk—somehow ending up at the lake.

How strange, how coincidental.

A drowning girl. She jumps in. She almost dies.

And it’s Veil who saves her. Again.

She asked herself—could fate really work this way?

She never used to believe in this kind of thing. But ever since she met Veil, her life had become a tangled web of encounters and chaos... all connected by him.

Was someone behind the scenes pulling strings?

Every time—every danger, every twist—Veil was there.

When she was harassed, he saved her.

Carlin, her student and best friend? Changed forever by Veil.

The Chandler downfall? Veil.

Now, a drowning accident?

Veil again.

Even Lyra, looking at him now, couldn’t help the strange emotion in her eyes.

But before it could take root—

"Let’s save the deep talk for later," Veil cut in, already walking to the boat’s rear.

"We’ve got to get back to shore first."

He grabbed the handle and twisted again.

Put-put-put!

Put-put-put!

The motor roared, waves crashing against the side.

Dominic, who had just reached the boat’s edge, opened his mouth to speak—only to get slammed by a full-face splash of lake water.

He coughed and spat as the boat sped away in a wide arc.

And then... he saw Veil at the back, cool as ever.

That’s why he threw the oar.

That damn boat had a motor!

Dominic’s eyes turned bloodshot.

Just wait.

He was going to find this Veil guy through Carlin’s connection.

And when he did?

He’d make him regret ever being born.

Let him see just why blood runs red.