Adrian Hawthorne didn’t press the issue. Since his mother wanted to give it a try, he decided to let her. She would surely give up once she found it overwhelming. After all, his mother found just a few extra rounds of mahjong exhausting—how could she possibly handle this? He’d be perfectly happy if she could just manage to cook three meals a day and do some housework.

Still, the Rosalind Green of today brought him a sense of relief and warmed his heart. Adrian Hawthorne reflected on his own behavior, realizing he shouldn’t be demanding so much from his mother.

After all, his mother had her limits, and she was already doing her best to love him. He couldn’t ask for more; the way things were now was already good enough.

The Adrian Hawthorne of today wasn’t the unhinged, cold-hearted person from the book who turned his back on everyone. His personality was gentler now, and he had learned to be considerate of others. Just a few days ago, he had been resentful toward Rosalind Green, but he no longer blamed her.

He couldn’t ask someone who could only carry thirty pounds to lift a hundred. That would be unfair. In fact, what Rosalind Green was doing now was already pushing past her limits. For that, he should be grateful.

Adrian Hawthorne grabbed a book and headed to Old Master Tate’s. Even though he could afford new books now, he still preferred to hunt for old ones at the scrap yards. He always found something new on each trip. By now, he was on very familiar terms with the managers of the scrap yards in both Vessaria and Wraven.

He didn’t just find the books he needed; there were occasional surprise finds too. He’d managed to dig up several valuable trinkets, including old calligraphy, paintings, and other small antiques. Once things settled down in the future, they would be worth a fair bit of money.

"Jacqueline? It was really her?"

Old Master Tate was utterly stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief. He never could have imagined that the mastermind behind it all was his own student, Jacqueline Spann.

While he hadn’t formally taken Jacqueline Spann on as a disciple, he had still taught her for nearly a year out of kindness. He had poured his heart into teaching her, only to be repaid like this.

Old Master Tate gave a self-mocking laugh. ’After being duped so many times, I still can’t read people. What has this world come to? Even a ten-year-old girl has such a devious mind. Has the world changed, or have people?’

"It’s a good thing we saw through her true colors early on. We’ll just have to be more careful from now on," Adrian Hawthorne said reassuringly.

Old Master Tate nodded, but his expression suddenly changed. He asked worriedly, "Do you think she’ll tell anyone that I was teaching her English?"

Adrian Hawthorne shook his head. "I doubt it. If she did, everyone would know she was learning English, too. She’s not that foolish. Don’t worry."

Old Master Tate quickly realized it too. When it came to learning English, he and Jacqueline Spann were in the same boat. If Jacqueline spoke up, she would go down with him. And since there was nothing else she could use against him, he had no reason to worry.

’But why would she want to harm us? Could it be because I refused to teach her English anymore?’

The old master muttered to himself, unable to understand Jacqueline Spann’s motive.

"That must be it. She held a grudge and was waiting for a chance to get revenge," Adrian Hawthorne confirmed.

The old master scoffed. "To know how to kill with a borrowed knife at such a young age... she’ll be a real terror when she grows up. Kenneth, you need to be careful around her. Don’t cross her openly."

"I know what to do. I’ll just keep my distance from her from now on."

The old master remarked with a sigh, "In that light, that other little girl is so much more endearing. We have her to thank for today, though it’s a shame she had to get dragged into this and take the blame."

Adrian Hawthorne’s expression softened. Compared to Jacqueline Spann, he now found Chubby Tang a hundred times more endearing. Even the bratty, willful Chubby Tang of the past was more likable than the two-faced Jacqueline Spann.

He wasn’t afraid of open confrontation, but he was wary of petty people who resorted to underhanded tricks behind his back.