"Tanya!"
Jim Thorne anxiously grabbed Tanya's hand. Seeing her fair, tender face was swollen, he glared hatefully at Adrian Hawthorne, convinced that this jinx was to blame.
Every time his little Tanya was with this jinx, some accident would happen. She'd either scrape herself or bump into something. And yet, even though Tanya claimed to hate Adrian Hawthorne, she was always the one seeking him out to play. It drove him crazy.
"Adrian Hawthorne, are you happy now?"
Jim Thorne looked like he could eat him alive, his fists clenched tightly. He was a year younger than Adrian Hawthorne but was half a head taller and much sturdier. Adrian, the future powerhouse, was currently just a frail little boy, nothing but skin and bones.
But his presence was far more imposing than the blustering Jim Thorne. He stood perfectly still, watching Jim with a detached coldness, like an adult observing a misbehaving brat.
'Adrian was thoroughly exasperated. 'I really don't want to deal with these three blockheads. I don't have the time, and I don't want to offend the Thorne family.'
The Thorne family were the local tyrants of Millstone Peak; even the production team leader had to show them some deference. Although the Thornes hadn't fully lived up to their 500-yuan obligation, in the eyes of outsiders, he and his mother were under their protection. In the end, he had to show them some respect and not let things get too out of hand.
The reason his father had sought out the Thorne family was precisely to borrow their influence. His father had foreseen their current situation. Five hundred yuan couldn't last a lifetime, but what he and his father truly needed was just a single promise from the Thorne family.
After accepting the five hundred yuan, the patriarch, Byron Thorne, had announced to everyone that he and his mother were distant relatives of the Thorne family and that the villagers should look out for them.
It was because of that statement that he and his mother were able to find a place to live in Millstone Peak. The team leader even let them work for work points. Although it wasn't much, it was barely enough to fill their stomachs.
Compared to the chaos outside, Millstone Peak was practically a haven.
Adrian Hawthorne was quite satisfied with the current situation and was grateful to the Thorne family. However, that gratitude was slowly fading. 'Perhaps one day it will vanish completely?'
But for the sake of that promise, as long as the Thorne family didn't bring disaster upon themselves, he would definitely repay them in the future.
He, Adrian Hawthorne, was someone who always repaid his debts. He would return kindness with kindness, and he would pay back grudges twofold.
As for Millstone Peak, he had no intention of staying for long. Sooner or later, he would leave!
But right now—this chubby nuisance in front of him was making Adrian Hawthorne miserable.
'I really... don't want to play along with this childish, stupid little brat's tantrum.'
"Third Brother, it has nothing to do with Mr. Hawthorne! I hit myself!"
Tanya desperately held on to the furious Jim Thorne, her face flushed crimson. She was straining so hard she felt like she might burst. She absolutely could not let her idiot brother get into a fight with Adrian Hawthorne.
Adrian Hawthorne calmly looked at the gap in Tanya's mouth. 'This brat is even weird when she loses teeth. Four of her front teeth are gone, all in a neat row. No wonder her words are whistling.'
"Did you hear that? I didn't tell Tanya to hit herself."
"That's right, I hit myself."
Tanya nodded vigorously, but Jim Thorne was like a little lion and refused to listen to reason. He only trusted what he had seen with his own eyes.
His precious little sister's face was swollen, and it had something to do with that jinx, Adrian Hawthorne. He had to get revenge for his sister.
"Tanya apologized to you, so why didn't you say anything? Why else would she slap herself? You're the one who made her do it! I'm gonna kill you!"
If Tanya hadn't been holding his arm, Jim Thorne would have already charged over to beat him up. Not daring to shake off his sister, he roared in frustration, "Tanya, are you stupid? I'm getting revenge for you! Let go!"
His sister was acting weird today. In the past, whenever he fought with Adrian Hawthorne, Tanya would be happier than if she were watching a movie. She'd stand on the sidelines, clapping and cheering him on. Sometimes, when he didn't even want to fight, Tanya would be the one egging him on!