“Brother Perry, let me toast you.” Steven Joyce raised his glass and clinked it with Brian Perry. “By the way, Brother Perry, what brings you back to Beijing, and where are you staying?”

“I'm staying at a classmate's place for now.” Brian Perry smiled calmly, his voice slow and measured. “There's a little trinket at home—my mom says it's an antique. I came to the capital to find an expert to appraise it, to see if it's the real deal!”

“An antique, huh? If it really is, Brother Perry, you could make a fortune. What is it? Show us, let us have a look!” Steven Joyce asked curiously.

At this moment, Brian Perry almost wanted to hug Steven Joyce and give him a big kiss—this guy was just too on point, too cooperative, too adorable. He’d been worrying about how to break the ice with Samantha Ford, and here Steven Joyce was, helping him set the stage.

Brian Perry decided to test Samantha Ford right away.

He slowly took out a small bundle wrapped in red silk from his backpack, then carefully unwrapped it, revealing the dragon-patterned jade pendant that held the key to his father's fate and origins. He gently placed it on the table. “It's this jade pendant.”

Everyone leaned in to take a look.

Brian Perry sat there, his gaze fixed intently on Samantha Ford, watching for any change in her expression.

Sure enough, Samantha Ford's face changed dramatically, her elegant lips twitching ever so slightly. She suddenly looked up, staring at the composed Brian Perry, her eyes flashing with a look of utter shock.

But that look was quickly concealed. She slowly sat back, gazing thoughtfully at Brian Perry, listening as everyone chattered and commented on the jade pendant, but she didn’t join in.

After a moment, she suddenly smiled softly. “Coach Perry, I actually know an antique expert. How about I introduce you?”

Brian Perry looked back at Samantha Ford and smiled calmly. “That would be great, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. This jade pendant of yours is definitely an antique—you’d better take good care of it.” Samantha Ford raised her glass, her gaze deep and calm. “Coach Perry, let me toast you!”

“Thank you.”

※※※

Thomas Ford's home.

Benjamin Ford, who was about to be promoted to major general and appointed chief of staff of a certain army group, had returned to Beijing from the army and was on leave. He came to see his elder brother Thomas Ford to discuss something.

The two brothers chatted for a while when suddenly the phone rang.

Thomas Ford's wife, Rachel Scott, brought over a plate of chilled watermelon and smiled. “Benjamin, have some watermelon. It's so hot today—I just took it out of the fridge.”

“Thank you, sister-in-law!” Benjamin Ford nodded slightly and smiled. He had great respect for his eldest sister-in-law, because Rachel Scott was gentle, generous, and very tolerant—unlike his own wife, Laura Bolton, who was sharp-tongued and petty, and not liked by the elder Ford couple.

After setting down the plate, Rachel Scott went to answer the phone.

“Samantha, it's Mom.”

“Mom, is Dad home?”

“He is, he’s talking with your uncle.”

“Mom, please let Dad take the phone right away!”

Hearing her daughter's urgent tone, Rachel Scott frowned, but picked up the phone and called out to Thomas Ford, “Old Ford, Samantha wants you, says it’s urgent!”

Thomas Ford didn’t think much of it. He kept talking with his brother as he walked over to answer the phone. But as soon as he picked up and heard his daughter hurriedly say a few words, his face changed dramatically.

His hand holding the receiver even trembled a little.

Rachel Scott frowned and asked, “What’s wrong, Old Ford? Did something happen to Samantha?”

Thomas Ford looked grave as he slowly put down the receiver and shook his head. “Rachel. Benjamin, just now Samantha said on the phone that one of her classmates took out the token Dad left for the second son all those years ago—that dragon-patterned jade pendant from the late Qing.”

As soon as Thomas Ford finished speaking, Rachel Scott gaped in shock, and Benjamin Ford shot to his feet. “Really?”

“Samantha has never lied. She’s having dinner with this young man right now…” Thomas Ford pondered for a moment. “This is no small matter. Benjamin, I think you should go in person and try to meet him—I’ll head straight to Dahongmen and report to Dad!”

Benjamin Ford nodded solemnly. “Alright, Big Brother, I’ll go right away.”

“Benjamin, don’t make a fuss yet. Wait until we figure out what’s going on.” Thomas Ford reminded him.

Benjamin Ford agreed and hurried off.

After Benjamin Ford left, Thomas Ford let out a long sigh and said softly to his wife, “Rachel, stay home and keep an eye on the phone. I’m going to tell Dad about this. After all these years, this is the first clue we’ve had about the second son. I think Mom and Dad will be very happy.”

“Go ahead, I’ll stay home.” Rachel Scott nodded gently.

Thomas Ford drove straight to Dahongmen, his mind full of emotion—the missing brother they’d searched for decades with no result had suddenly turned up. He was overwhelmed with excitement and could hardly contain himself. Back then, he’d only been a little over two years old. Luckily, he’d been fostered with an underground party family in the county and hadn’t been separated from his parents.

Chapter 011: Controlling the Game, Not Being a Pawn

This meal was a great success; everyone parted in high spirits.