Chapter 128: He Discovered His Identity

Jean’s weekend had been grueling, but Felix Ford couldn’t have been happier. So, when school started on Monday, although the two looked identical, their moods were worlds apart.

Jean shot a cold glance at the beaming Felix, speaking before the other boy could. "You’d better not come any closer. And don’t talk to me today. I don’t want to hear it."

Felix’s steps toward him halted abruptly. Seeing Jean’s dark expression, he sensed his foul mood. His eyes darted around for a moment before he obediently said, "Oh."

He was quite mischievous, but as a result of getting into trouble so often, he was exceptionally good at reading people. Usually, when his dad had that expression, it was time to run away as fast and as far as possible.

So he didn’t try to get any closer, nor did he dare to smile anymore. He gave a light cough, suppressing the grin on his face. "Good morning. Goodbye."

With that, he took off running.

Jean watched him dash away as if he had rocket wheels on his feet. The corner of his mouth twitched. After a moment, he put a hand to his forehead, shook his head, and started to walk away.

He’d only taken two steps when Felix came tearing back, grabbing his sleeve and panting, "Jean, Jean, I forgot to ask you something."

Seeing him again had finally jogged his memory.

Jean turned to look at him, his brow furrowing slightly. "What is it?"

"It’s about yesterday. Why did Dad take you to the hospital? Grandpa and Grandma had just told him not to take me, and Dad agreed."

It was true. Mr. Ford and Mrs. Ford had mentioned it several times yesterday.

He hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but now, hearing Felix’s words, he suddenly realized something was wrong.

’He did it on purpose!’

The moment this thought occurred to him, Jean’s expression changed drastically.

Seeing his reaction, Felix jumped. "W-What’s wrong?"

The hand at Jean’s side clenched into a fist. His eyes grew heavy. ’That man... he must have realized I’m not Felix.’

Taking a deep breath, Jean forced himself to calm down. He carefully replayed the events in his mind, trying to figure out where he’d slipped up. A moment later, his eyes narrowed.

’The security camera!’

’The camera in Samuel Ford’s office!’

He had noticed it at the time. When he realized someone was watching him, he knew it was Samuel Ford, so he had deliberately tried to imitate Felix. But sometimes, the more you try to hide something, the more you reveal.

’Right after I said all that, just when he was at his most suspicious, I immediately handed him the proof he needed.’

He closed his eyes, his expression turning grim as he fought to still the trembling in his fingertips.

’I was careless.’

Seeing him like this, Felix was startled and tugged on his sleeve. "Jean, what’s wrong with you?"

"It’s nothing." He slowly opened his eyes, calm once more. A slow smile touched his lips. "Felix, you were right. I shouldn’t have underestimated him."

"Huh? Who did you underestimate? Dad?" Felix froze for a second, then followed the logic of Jean’s words. His eyes widened abruptly. "Dad found out?"

Jean didn’t answer.

His silence was an admission.

Felix’s breath hitched. "So, what do we do now?"

Dad couldn’t find out about the things he’d said. The consequences would be unimaginable.

He asked, "Should we switch back?"

Even though he couldn’t bear to leave his mother, he would rather watch her from afar than see her get hurt.

"No, we don’t need to." Jean rejected his suggestion, his eyes darkening for a moment. "We’ll keep things as they are. I’m still going to the Ford Family’s house."

Before yesterday, he might have agreed to switch back. But he had seen Mr. Ford. And after going home last night, he’d looked him up. That man had been in Aridia when they were born, and what’s more, he was the one who had brought Felix back.

In that case, he was very likely connected to this whole affair.

Now that he had a lead, he couldn’t just give up halfway. He had to find out what happened and eliminate this hidden danger. As for Samuel Ford, they would leave as soon as they found the Jade Pendant. What did it matter if he knew they existed?

He wouldn’t be able to find them anyway.

Felix hadn’t expected him to say that. He hesitated for a moment, then said uncertainly, "But hasn’t Dad already figured you out?"

"So what? He hasn’t exposed me. He probably wants to get some information out of me."

He sneered. ’Fine. We’ll see who’s the better actor.’

Felix was taken aback by this answer. He didn’t understand anything about turning a scheme back on someone; he just thought Jean was being fickle.

’That’s not what he said before.’

But he didn’t look like he was just giving up in despair. Maybe he really did have a solution.

’Oh well,’ he thought. ’I’ll just stay out of it while these two geniuses battle it out.’ He still added a word of caution, "You’d better be careful. Dad is seriously sharp."

After a moment’s thought, he added, "But even if he knows, he won’t do anything to you. He’s always buried in work and ignores his kids, he’s got a foul temper, he’s blunt, and he always has a stone-cold expression on his face..."

At this, he glanced up at Jean. ’Oh, right. He’s got a stone-cold expression all day too. One big ice cube, one little ice cube. Six of one, half a dozen of the other. They’re pretty much the same.’

His train of thought derailed, he couldn’t think of any more of his dad’s flaws, so he just finished his sentence. "But he would never hurt a child, you can be sure of that. I think... the reason he hasn’t exposed you is because he likes what you have to say."

It’s like with Mom. Even though they’d never met, they’ve been getting along great all this time, right?

’Likes me?’ Jean rolled his eyes disdainfully. "I don’t need that," he said coldly.

And he didn’t want it, either.

Who that man was, or whether he liked him or not, had absolutely nothing to do with Jean.

Seeing that class was about to start, he waved a hand dismissively. "I’m going. Just act like nothing happened. Also, be careful for a while. If you notice anyone watching you and Mom, you need to tell me right away."

"What do you mean? Who would be watching us?"

Jean thought about it. It wouldn’t hurt for Felix to know. That way, he’d be aware and could be on his guard if something really did happen. So, he said a name.

"Huh?" Felix was stunned. He repeated the name blankly, "Second Grand-uncle? You must be mistaken."

The second grand-uncle who played all sorts of games with him and smiled so much was a bad guy? ’No way.’

The words tumbled out of him without a moment’s hesitation.

Jean didn’t want to explain too much to him. Felix was simple-hearted and tended to take people at face value. He didn’t say more, only, "Just be extra careful, that’s all. You’re me right now, so you probably won’t run into him anyway. Don’t overthink it. I’ll get to the bottom of it. If I’ve wrongly accused him, I’ll apologize."

But he didn’t think that was likely.

Even if this matter had nothing to do with him, the man was no saint.

His eyes didn’t hold the same detached, worldly indifference that he projected.

’If there’s really nothing wrong, then why put on an act? Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.’

He still firmly believed in his own judgment.