Adrian's mother, Rosalind Green, was meek and easily bullied. When trouble arose, she only knew how to weep. She couldn't even earn half the usual work points for her labor, so a young Adrian Hawthorne had to support the family. They lived meal to meal, and going hungry was a common occurrence.
'In the book, Adrian Hawthorne had a severe stomach condition, probably from starving so often.'
'His own mother was a pushover, his father's whereabouts were unknown, and he was constantly discriminated against. He had to carry the world on his shoulders at such a young age. That guy really had a miserable lot in life. The author was a real wicked stepmother.'
Tang Xiaonan silently complained about the author, her heart full of sympathy for Adrian Hawthorne. Besides, it was true that her original self had dragged Adrian into this mess, getting him beaten for no reason and breaking his bird eggs. She had just made his life of hunger and cold that much worse.
"Daddy..."
Tang Xiaonan moved closer to Felix Thorne's ear, calling out in a tiny voice. She wanted to help Adrian Hawthorne.
Felix Thorne thoroughly enjoyed his daughter's cute antics and continued to pinch her nose. Tang Xiaonan resisted the urge to get angry. 'I have a favor to ask, so if he wants to pinch, let him. I'll endure it!'
"Daddy... I broke Mr. Hawthorne's bird eggs. Will he and Aunt Green go hungry now?"
Tang Xiaonan blinked, and her big eyes immediately grew misty and tinged with red. This was her signature move; her eyes were like artificial faucets she could turn on and off at will.
Felix Thorne's heart softened instantly. He barked at Howard Thorne, "Take a cut of meat over to the Hawthorne family."
Then he lowered his head and said gently to Tang Xiaonan, "With some meat, they won't go hungry."
Tang Xiaonan planted a big smooch on his cheek, getting saliva all over his face. "Daddy is the best! Hmm... You'll definitely live to be two hundred!"
'In the book, the thing Felix Thorne worried about most was his lifespan. He was afraid he had accumulated too much bad karma from all the killing and would face retribution. The truth was, Felix Thorne's health began to decline after he turned fifty. He was beset by serious illness and ended up dying even before his own daughter.'
Felix Thorne was so delighted he broke into a wide grin. His precious daughter truly was his little lucky charm. Her words were just so endearing; they made him feel wonderful from head to toe.
Jim Thorne grumbled unhappily, "Why are we giving meat to that jinx? We don't even have enough for ourselves!"
Felix Thorne shot him a glare, and Jim Thorne lowered his voice. But he was still reluctant and continued to mutter under his breath, clearly having a huge problem with Adrian Hawthorne.
Tang Xiaonan climbed down from Felix Thorne's lap, walked over to Jim Thorne, and jabbed his chubby little belly with a chubby finger. "Third Brother, your tummy is even bigger than Daddy's."
Embarrassed and annoyed, Jim Thorne dodged away and poked Tang Xiaonan's chubby little belly in return. "Yours isn't exactly small either."
Tang Xiaonan's body stiffened. A complex mix of emotions washed over her. 'I really want to whack this blockheaded third brother of mine with a club.'
'Doesn't he know that women hate being called fat more than anything?'
Tang Xiaonan let out a heavy "HUMPH," rolled her eyes dramatically, and turned away to find her eldest brother, Howard Thorne. Grinning, Jim Thorne followed her, occasionally tugging on her hair. Just like Felix Thorne, he loved to tease his little sister—one enjoyed pinching her nose, the other, pulling her hair.
'They were both equally annoying.'
Howard Thorne packed up a cut of meat, about five or six pounds. Tang Xiaonan stuffed her pockets full of candy from the paper-wrapped package Felix Thorne had brought back. He had also brought a towel, a packet of biscuits, and a few zongzi, all decorated with red paper—return gifts from the host family.
"Eldest Brother, I'm going with you."
Tang Xiaonan clung to Howard Thorne. She wanted to go thank the future tycoon and earn some brownie points with him at the same time.
"What do you think you're doing? Your fever just broke. You stay right here at home. I'll make you some steamed egg with minced pork," Phoebe Huxley said, disagreeing.
"Nooo, I want to go thank Mr. Hawthorne!" Tang Xiaonan whined, squirming nonstop. She was thoroughly enjoying herself.
'In her past life, she'd never had a childhood where she could get away with being spoiled and willful. Now, that dream was finally coming true.'