Chapter 721

As soon as Harold left, Mina immediately pulled Jane aside and whispered conspiratorially, "Hey, if you haven't decided what to buy yet, how about getting a pet crocodile?" Jane's eye twitched involuntarily. She glanced at the under-construction snake enclosure, then imagined the artificial lake stocked with crocodiles casually bumping into one sunbathing during her lakeside strolls. Was their estate turning into a rainforest or something? Poisonous snakes and now crocodiles? She mentally measured her petite frame against a crocodile's gaping jaws and shuddered. Shaking her head vigorously, she said, "No thanks, sis. I've already made up my mind. I saw this super cool mini motorcycle the other day perfect chance to get Brother Harold to buy it for me." Mina looked slightly disappointed. "Alright then, if you think motorcycles are cooler than crocodiles..." Jane: (￣□￣;) Cooler? As if anyone could ride a crocodile! Relieved her sister had dropped the reptilian obsession, she quickly changed the subject. "By the way, sis, why didn't Brother Bryan come back with you today? Did he mess up again and get detention?" "Nah," Mina shook her head. "He called while I was waiting in the car said his boxing club had an event, told me to come home first." "Ohhh!" Jane nodded repeatedly. Meanwhile, the so-called "boxing club event" involved Bryan and his gang of boxing buddies lurking outside the Smith residence. Bryan held up his phone displaying Huan's photo. "Listen up, boys! This scumbag dared to bully my baby sister. When he shows up, we bag his head and teach him a lesson he won't forget!" Just then, a chubby kid came waddling back, his flabby cheeks jiggling with each step. "Bro! That jerk just pulled up he's getting out of his car right now!" Bryan waved his hand and shouted, "Charge, boys!" Huan had just returned from outside and was still trying to figure out what was happening when he saw a group of elementary school kids none taller than his chest rushing toward him with a large burlap sack. Bryan brought up the rear, overseeing the operation. But the two kids leading the charge, holding the mouth of the sack open, skidded to a halt right in front of Huan. They turned back, dumbfounded, and called out, "Brother Bryan, he's too tall! We can't reach high enough to get the sack over his head. What do we do?" Bryan was stunned. Why hadn’t he considered the height difference? He should’ve picked a couple of taller, older kids for this. Huan: "..." He could practically hear a crow cawing as it flew over his head. Though Bryan felt embarrassed by the failed plan, he couldn’t let the insult to his sister Mina go unpunished. Rubbing his nose awkwardly, he barked, "Huan! How dare you bully my little sister? Come here and face your doom!" To his surprise, Huan strode straight toward him. Bryan blinked in confusion was Huan really this obedient? Just because he told him to come and die, he actually came? Before Bryan could react, Huan grabbed the back of his collar, lifted him off the ground, and tossed him into the car. Then, turning to Bryan’s gang, he said calmly, "Get in. I’ll have the driver take you all home." The boys exchanged nervous glances first at Huan, then at Bryan, who was struggling in vain to free himself from the car, his head firmly pinned down by Huan’s hand. One by one, they silently climbed into the vehicle. After the last child boarded the bus, Huan closed the door and instructed the driver to drop each of them off at their homes. The moment Bryan’s gang got on the bus, they looked at him with dejected expressions. "Brother Bryan, sorry about that. We messed up couldn’t even manage to bag that jerk with the sack." Though the plan hadn’t gone perfectly, Bryan’s mood remained unshaken. Leaning back with his hands behind his head, he said nonchalantly, "No big deal. You guys might’ve been useless, but your Brother Bryan here already took care of him." His friends exchanged puzzled glances. None of them could figure out when Bryan had managed to "take care of" Huan after all, they’d all just watched as Huan effortlessly hauled him onto the bus, holding him down with one hand so he couldn’t even step off, let alone fight back. Naturally, they assumed Bryan was just saving face with some empty bravado. One of the sharper kids caught on quickly and immediately chimed in, "Brother Bryan’s the man! Absolute legend!" The others, though still confused, followed suit with flattery. After all, they’d each gotten an Ultraman figure from Bryan for this little mission. If he decided they hadn’t earned it and demanded them back, what then? Bryan ignored their half-hearted praise. He had dealt with Huan, after all. Meanwhile, as Huan watched the bus drive away and turned to head home, he suddenly felt something… off. A creeping discomfort spread over his skin, and he quickened his pace toward the house. By the time he reached his room, the itching had become unbearable maddening, like a thousand ants crawling under his skin. Without thinking, he bolted into the bathroom, turned on the cold shower, and let the icy water rush over him. The chill dulled the sensation slightly, but it wasn’t enough. He still clawed at his skin, desperate for relief. —— "Frederick, here to see me?" Bryan had just reached his doorstep when he spotted Frederick walking toward his house. Taking in Bryan’s beaming grin, Frederick couldn’t help but ask, "What’s got you in such a good mood today?" Clapping his hands together, Bryan chuckled. "Oh, nothing much. Just that Huan made Mina cry, so I thought I’d treat him to a little… itching powder!" Frederick felt a chill run down his spine as he recalled the last time the grandpas had tried to prank him with itching powder only to end up suffering the consequences themselves, their bodies twisting like pretzels from the unbearable itch. The mere thought of what might happen if he ever made Jane cry sent a shiver through him. His deep-set eyes darkened with resolve as he silently vowed to himself: no matter what, he must never, ever make Jane shed a single tear. Otherwise, forget about Wallace brothers or even that swarm of cousins. Even Bryan, who now clapped him on the back like a sworn brother, would turn on him without hesitation. After all, the memory of Bryan grinning while calling Huan "brother" was still fresh in his mind. And yet, the moment Huan made Mina cry, Bryan hadn’t hesitated to dose him with itching powder.