Chapter 700

"Bro, just buying a bag is thinking too small. You gotta book a presidential suite at a five-star hotel first, set up a romantic candlelit dinner. Think about it—luxury hotel, candlelight, roses, and a designer bag. The girl will be over the moon, and when she's happy, you can pretty much get whatever you want, right?" Jordan's face darkened instantly as he read the message. The previous reply had been vague, and he hadn’t quite grasped its meaning. Now it all clicked. These so-called "advice" weren’t about cheering up a little sister they were clearly meant for a girlfriend! Frowning, he scrolled down to the next comment, but before he could even tap, a link popped up and automatically redirected him. An explicit video flashed on the screen, accompanied by sounds that made his ears burn. Panicking, Jordan fumbled to close it. Just as he was about to shut it down, Samuel walked in. "Jordan, what are you watching?" Startled and guilty, Jordan nearly dropped his phone. He lunged to catch it but missed several times. In the end, Samuel bent down smoothly and caught it with one hand. Though he had no intention of snooping, the video was still blatantly playing on the screen, impossible to ignore. As he handed the phone back, Samuel shot him a knowing look. At that moment, Jordan wished he could vanish into thin air. To make it worse, Samuel patted his shoulder and said, "Jordan, you’re old enough to settle down. Watching too much of this stuff isn’t good for your health." "No, Samuel, let me explain—" Jordan said hastily. Samuel didn't stop him, but his clear, phoenix-like eyes fixed on Jordan with an expression that said, *I already know everything, and no excuse will change my mind.* Jordan instantly deflated. Whatever. At this point, even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn’t wash him clean. Giving up on explanations, he slumped into his seat and muttered, "What are you even doing here?" "I just got back from a competition and was on my way to celebrate Jane’s birthday. Figured I’d drop by since I was passing through," Samuel replied coolly. Seizing the chance to shift the topic, Jordan asked, "Did you already get Jane’s gift?" "Done," Samuel said, his tone still indifferent. "You?" "Not yet." Jordan groaned. "I was just searching for gift ideas, and all the suggestions were... *those* kinds of things. That video you saw earlier was just—" "Yeah, I get it," Samuel cut in, his face perfectly deadpan. But that very lack of expression only made Jordan feel even more hopeless. *Screw it. I’m done fighting this.* Samuel really had only stopped by on a whim, so he didn’t even bother sitting down. After subtly flexing that he’d already prepared a gift, he left without another word. Watching his retreating figure, Jordan made a mental note to tell the front desk: from now on, no one was allowed into his room without prior notice not even his brothers or grandfathers. This is peak humiliation. He reopened his phone and immediately reported the account that had sent him that cursed link. Samuel returned home late at night. Before anything else, he quietly peeked in on Jane, his expression softening instantly upon seeing the two little girls sleeping soundly. As he headed back to his own room, he passed by John’s study and noticed a sliver of light seeping through the slightly ajar door. He raised his hand and knocked. "Come in." Pushing the door open, Samuel saw John seated at his desk, leisurely sipping a bowl of bird’s nest soup with added cordyceps, no less. Though Samuel said nothing, the disdain in his eyes was unmistakable as he took in the sight of his brother indulging in what was typically considered a woman’s health tonic. Noticing the contempt in Samuel’s gaze, John replied at a measured pace, "Honestly, I’d rather not drink this stuff either. But Jane insisted, saying I’ve been working too hard lately and need to take better care of myself. She makes sure to prepare it for me every day and keeps it warm." He paused, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "Can’t exactly turn down my little sister’s thoughtful gesture, can I?" A crack formed in Samuel’s usual icy composure. Without a word, he snatched up the landline on John’s desk and dialed Fendi. "William, is there any more of that bird’s nest and cordyceps soup that John is having? Send a bowl up for me too." A brief silence followed before Samuel’s expression darkened slightly. "Oh, Jane only made it for John? Never mind then. No, no need to prepare any for me now. I don’t want it anymore." Hanging up, his face briefly soured before returning to its usual indifference. He shot a glance at John, who was now leisurely savoring the last spoonful of his soup with infuriating calm. "Jane’s birthday is next week," Samuel said coolly. "Will the Brown family matter be settled by then?" "No," John replied, unperturbed. Samuel’s brow furrowed. "No? So you’re just going to let those Brown pests show up and ruin her birthday?" "They won’t be settled," John clarified, wiping his mouth with deliberate elegance, "but they’ll be too busy to bother her. I’ve got it handled no need for you to worry." Though his demeanor was as composed as ever, Samuel couldn’t shake the feeling that every sip, every motion, was nothing short of gloating. John, indifferent to his brother’s irritation, set down his napkin and added, "Since you’re back, stay put for a while. Cancel any matches you can afford to skip." Although Samuel currently found John quite irritating, he understood the reasoning behind his brother's warnings. The Brown family and the shadowy forces behind the Hong Kong casino still hadn't been fully uncovered. John's caution likely meant the conflict between the two sides was escalating. One wrong move, and they could easily become pawns used against the Wallace family. In the past, Samuel hadn’t cared much about the fate of the Wallace enterprise. Even if it went bankrupt, he believed it wouldn’t affect him after all, he could support Bryan without relying on the family’s wealth. But ever since Jane’s return, he had come to realize that the Wallace enterprise wasn’t just a legacy business passed down through generations, nor was it solely John’s responsibility. Every one of the brothers was tied to its success or failure their fortunes rose and fell together. "Is the situation over there that serious?" Samuel asked coolly, his sharp phoenix eyes fixed on John. "Somewhat. But Frederick’s involvement has taken some of the pressure off," John admitted frankly. "You don’t seem to hold a grudge against him anymore." John scoffed. "Why should I? Even if I did, he wouldn’t hesitate to cozy up to Jane." The more he could drag Frederick into these messy affairs, the less time the man would have to cling to Jane. Samuel recalled Jordan’s indignant account of how Frederick had slipped into Jane’s room the moment he returned, without so much as a word. Nodding in agreement, he said, "Fair point. No need to waste energy on him."