Chapter 470

Mina let out a sigh, her tone tinged with regret. "Ah, when we were packing to come here, I was so excited I got up in the middle of the night to gather my things. My brain wasn't working right—I completely forgot to bring my miracle medicine. It was originally given to Uncle Xing by Brother Lester, but I took it from him." Jane heaved a huge sigh of relief. She'd been genuinely worried her sister might slather Huan with that homemade "miracle" concoction of hers. And judging by how Huan had been acting around her sister earlier, it wouldn't have mattered if Mina rubbed chili water or even arsenic on him. He'd probably have welcomed it with open arms. Reassured, Jane patted her sister's shoulder. "Sis, make sure you apply the medicine properly for Huan, okay? I'm gonna go grill fish with Ares Kai and Hazel!" Once Jane had skipped off, Huan fixed his gaze intently on Mina. "Mina," he began, his voice earnest, "earlier, you called me a 'pretty boy.' Does that mean you don’t like that type?" "Hmm~~~" Mina scrunched her brows in thought before answering. "It's not that I dislike them. Pretty boys are nice to look at, sure. But someone like you, Brother Smith Huan—so pale and slender—comes off as a bit... effeminate. So... yeah. Still nice to look at, though." Smith Huan pressed on, his tone coaxing. "So, do you prefer someone darker?" Mina pondered for a moment. "I guess you could say that. I think a darker complexion makes a man seem more rugged and masculine." Little did she know, those words would send Huan on a relentless quest for the perfect tan in the days to come. Meanwhile, back at the Wallace family estate... Harold, who had rushed home from school and immediately turned on his tablet to watch the livestream, radiated a chilling aura of hostility. His demeanor was so intense that Bryan, who had just walked into the hall, startled at the sight. "Harold, what's wrong? Did someone at school bully you today? Tell me who, and I'll beat them to a pulp!" Harold brushed off Bryan’s hand, which had landed on his shoulder, and jabbed a finger at the screen where Huan was visible. "Brother, I want to kill him." Bryan leaned in closer just as the camera panned to Frederick. Bryan's eye twitched as he awkwardly rubbed his nose. "Well... I mean, Frederick is like a brother to me too, but you know I've always got your back, little bro. If you wanna beat the crap out of him, I should totally help. But... let's be real we'd get our asses kicked! How about we wait a few decades till he's old and frail? Then we can take him down!" Harold: "..." "I wasn't talking about Fuller Frederick. I meant Huan!" Bryan's eyes nearly bulged out of his sockets. "Huan joined the show too?!" "Holy shit! So Frederick's out there under some fake name, and now even Huan's on TV? Meanwhile, we're stuck grinding through school like chumps!" His temper flared as he grabbed Harold's arm. "Come on, Harold! Let's ditch this and sign up too! Why the hell are we the only two out of twenty family members still hitting the books? This is straight-up injustice!" Harold instantly regretted his outburst. His impulsive words had just handed Bryan the perfect excuse to skip school—again. "It's not just us. Drew and Alfred are still in school too boarding school, no less," Harold countered, dousing Bryan's fiery enthusiasm with cold reality. Bryan sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Oh right... They've been gone so long I kinda forgot about them." "Wait why'd you wanna punch Huan anyway? Did he piss off the girls?" Harold: "No." "Then why...." Bryan pressed, but Harold was already stomping upstairs with his tablet and backpack, cutting him off. "No reason. Just can't stand the sight of him." Bryan scratched the back of his head in even greater confusion. "When did Harold become so short-tempered? Did he catch it from me?" —— By the tranquil pond on the island, Jane had gathered a large pile of broad, fragrant leaves. She carefully wrapped each piece of fish previously marinated in thick layers before burying them one by one in the heart of the campfire. Direct flames would easily char the fish, but nestling them in the embers ensured they cooked to perfection. Seated beside the fire, Little Jane hugged her knees with her short arms, her eyes fixed on the smoldering mound as she waited for the fish to cook. Meanwhile, Mina, after helping Huan apply his medicine, had returned to her ambitious fishing endeavors. Ares Kai, Elijah, and Leonard—the trio of boys—were already hard at work pitching the tents for the night. The scene radiated harmony, yet the live-stream viewership continued to surge. "This is so much more relaxing than watching my girl’s show. I just peeked at that idol survival program next door—another catfight. What a headache." "Right? Life’s already exhausting enough. Why torture ourselves watching petty drama?" "Hey, let’s not bring up other shows here. We don’t want to attract unnecessary hate for our little star." ... The brief tangent about rival programs vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Though they knew Jane’s protective brothers would shield her from any industry backlash, her devoted "mom and dad fans" remained vigilant. Even the slightest risk of stirring trouble for their beloved was reason enough to hold their tongues. However, just as everyone was immersed in the serene and peaceful atmosphere of the show, one viewer was so enraged that she smashed her tablet to the ground. Rory, after hurling the device aside, immediately grabbed her phone and dialed Aaliyah's number. Aaliyah had been forced into divorce by the Brown family matriarch and was now living back with her own family. The Atlas family's ancestral home had already been transferred to Audrey, the grandmother of Jane. Coupled with the fact that the Atlas family business teetered on the brink of bankruptcy, their financial situation was dire. Unable to afford proper housing, they could only rent a cramped apartment. Aaliyah, who had never experienced such humiliation in her life, felt her heart shatter upon hearing her daughter's tearful voice on the phone. Despite her own simmering frustration, she softened her tone for her child. "Sweetheart, what's wrong? Did Grandma scold you? Don't cry, Mommy will figure something out for you." "Mommy—" Rory choked back a sob. In the past, she had secretly looked down on her mother, but after spending these past few days alone in the Brown family, she realized that her seemingly incapable mother was the only one who truly cared for her and indulged her every whim. Wiping her tears, she continued, "Mommy, have you seen that show with those two little bitches from the Wallace family?" Aaliyah had no time to watch any shows these days. Staying temporarily at her parents' home, she had to handle all the household chores herself since the Atlas family could no longer afford servants. Her own mother, Aleyna, acted like a spoiled princess, while her sister-in-law Giana took every opportunity to torment her now that she was down on her luck. Still, she replied gently, "Mommy's been a bit busy lately and hasn't had the chance to watch. Tell me, what happened on the show?" "That little bitch Jane got swept off a waterfall during the morning segment, and by the afternoon, Huan rushed straight to her side!" Rory spat through gritted teeth, her voice dripping with venom. Aaliyah was taken aback—she hadn’t realized her daughter still held feelings for Huan. Then again, it made sense. Her daughter had grown up convinced she would marry Huan someday, and now, in the throes of adolescence with her first crush, this situation must have cut deep...