How the Villain Invests in the Female Lead

Chapter 33: My name is Li

After the lesson finished, we arrived at the academy cafeteria for lunch.

I bought two lunch sets for 10 credits before heading to our table.

My wife was now able to eat on her own by telekinetically controlling the spoon she had infused with mana many days earlier.

Just as I was about to eat, my wife suddenly cried out in pain as hot water spilled onto the hem of her skirt, scalding her leg.

I quickly strode over and carried my wife up to keep her away from the hot water on the floor.

My wife was a strong-willed woman. She clenched her jaw against the pain before glancing down at her scalded leg in annoyance.

I frowned in irritation. Indeed, having my lunchtime interrupted only worsened my mood. Now, I’d probably have to take my wife to the infirmary before her burn became more severe. Moreover, burns like that tended to throb for quite a while.

Anyway, my lunchtime was ruined.

The other students gathered around us to see what had happened.

My eyes widened for a brief moment as they landed on a short girl standing beside my wife’s chair. In her hands was a bowl of hot soup, now empty after its contents had spilled all over the floor.

She was dressed in a worn-out maid uniform, staring at me with lifeless eyes. There also seemed to be something wrong with them.

"Is she blind?"

Some students grimaced. After all, this maid had ruined their lunchtime mood as well.

"Who is this maid’s master?"

A few seconds later, a young noblewoman hurried over to us. She clenched her jaw, her face twisted with anger. The moment she reached us, she delivered a brutal slap across the maid’s face, knocking her to the floor.

The sharp crack of the slap echoed through the cafeteria, followed by the sound of the bowl shattering. The other nobles could only freeze at the sight, and I just kept my cold face as usual.

No one looked angry anymore.

She spoke in an apologetic voice.

"I truly apologize for her actions."

She continued,

"I’d been looking for her for the past two hours. I didn’t think she’d cause trouble for you all. I’m sorry."

Then, she clenched her fist in anger before driving a kick into the maid’s stomach, causing her to curl up into a fetal position. Her soulless face twisted in pure agony.

"You bitch! Tomorrow, I’ll return you to the factory."

The other nobles just sighed and dispersed.

My wife hesitated for a second before whispering to me.

"That maid has talent. I barely perceived her presence when she spilled the bowl of hot soup onto the hem of my skirt."

I nodded because I knew it. If someone had done it to my wife, I should’ve perceived it thanks to my bloodline skill. However, this maid barely made any noise, nor any movement while doing.

I lingered for a while before asking the female noble,

"I want to buy this girl."

The female noble frowned, stopping her assault on the maid. She asked,

"Are you sure? She has some talent, but she is blind. I’m planning to send her back to the factory and get my money back, so I think..."

I just said in a neutral voice,

"100 credits."

The female noble smirked as if she had tricked me and shook my hand.

"Deal."

Thirty minutes later, my wife was lying on the bed in the infirmary, resting after the nurse treated her scalded leg.

Normally, an awakener wouldn’t have any trouble with wounds like that; it would heal in a few minutes. But my wife was a special case.

Her bloodline skills were locked, and her mana core hadn’t fully recovered, so she always needed careful treatment.

I stood by the window, watching the academy, then asked the maid who was standing next to me,

"What’s your name?"

The maid replied as a machine.

"My name is Li, young master."

I asked more questions.

"Who sent you to do this to my wife?"

She didn’t answer.

I just kept looking outside before asking another question,

"Do you fear death?"

Now, she finally answered me,

"No, sir."

A faint smile spread across my face at that moment. I said,

"Very few people can say it without hesitation, even me."

I asked,

"What’s your rank potential? Your bloodline skill? Tell me the details of your ability."

Li nodded and said,

"My potential is SS+, my current rank is [F–]. My bloodline skill lets me hide inside any shadow I choose. However, they are useless since my abilities depend heavily on my eyesight. I’m like a dog that has lost its teeth and claws."

I just stared at Li for a moment before falling back into my thoughts.

A few hours later, after we ate dinner, we returned to the dormitory room. Before preparing to sleep, I led my new maid to the window and opened it.

I said in an empty voice,

"Jump... I want you to die this way."

Li’s expression remained soulless as she walked to the edge of the window. She stood there, letting the wind blow against her.

I could see hesitation in her reaction.

She was fighting against my command.

My eyes flickered with tiredness and boredom before I said,

"You’re a terrible liar."

Without hesitation, I kicked her from behind, sending her falling out the window.

[POV]: Li

I was falling down.

I was about to die.

Maybe this was the best end for me after everything I had endured.

Living in the slums outside the city, then being sold to a noble family... I eventually became a maid.

Ever since I awakened my mana core, I thought my fate would change. But no—it only got worse.

My bloodline skill was not a gift, but a curse.

My young lady ruined my eyes just because she felt jealous of my potential and my bloodline skill.

My eyes turned red and wet as my wretched memories flashed back in my mind.

I began to recall what my young master asked me that afternoon.

"Do I fear death?"

I thought I didn’t... but my reaction earlier had already betrayed me. Why do I still want to live after everything I’ve suffered? Is there still hope that a better life will come to me?

No... I want revenge... The hatred surging in my heart was real.

I burst into tears.

"I-I want to live."