The Supreme Soldier in the City-Chapter 195: Dancer

After breakfast, James Brown received a phone call from Qiao Ya, a renowned dancer who had become friends with James following an accident. Despite coming from different worlds, they strangely always had plenty to talk about.

James had only met Qiao Ya a few times, and if it hadn’t been for Emily Lopez’s persuasion, he rarely would have called her. Qiao Ya’s call was to inform James that she had returned to YODC City.

Qiao Ya wasn’t originally from YODC City. She had a relative who once lived there, and having liked the city during her previous visits, she bought a house and stayed there several times a year.

With Sarah Grandy around, James couldn’t spend quality time with Emma Campbell, so it was the perfect opportunity to handle this situation. After hanging up with Qiao Ya, he called Emily Lopez.

Upon hearing that James was going to meet Qiao Ya, Emily excitedly screamed and urged him to quickly come and pick her up.

After telling Lemon Smith briefly, James ignored Charlotte’s pleas to join them and drove alone to pick Emily up from the apartment complex where Gina Lopez lived, and Emily was already waiting at the entrance.

As Emily got into the car, James checked her out from top to bottom, and she immediately puffed up her chest and asked, "Brother-in-law, do I look pretty today?"

Emily was dressed in a loose T-shirt, a denim miniskirt, and a pair of nimble sneakers, a casual outfit that wouldn’t restrict her if she wanted to dance.

"You look beautiful," said James, "but now I need to figure out if you are Emily or Gina."

Emily giggled and said, "I’m Emily, of course! We’re going to see a dancer. Even if my sister pretended to be me, she wouldn’t dare. Otherwise, she’d be exposed the moment we arrived there."

James laughed heartily and replied, "That’s true."

As the car started, Emily nervously asked, "Brother-in-law, can you ensure everything goes well when I meet Qiao Ya?"

"I can’t guarantee anything. Whether you can impress Qiao Ya is up to your own skills."

"I’ve already passed the prime age for a dancer; her approval doesn’t matter much to me now. I just want to meet my idol and have a chat with her; that alone would make me happy."

James smiled and said, "Then there shouldn’t be any problem. Once you get familiar with her, you might even start calling her regularly in the future."

"Is Qiao Ya really that approachable?" Emily widened her eyes in disbelief.

"I haven’t felt her aloofness, as I’ve only met her a few times and don’t know her well."

"Still, you’re taking me to meet her; won’t she get mad?"

"Don’t believe the rumors. She probably only acts aloof around those she doesn’t know. Since she knows me, she’ll likely be polite."

Qiao Ya’s house was in a small neighborhood near the city outskirts, nestled in a small hill formed by earth mounds, surrounded by green trees and a small river winding through the middle, providing a picturesque scenery. The residents here were scholars or those keen on aesthetic pursuits. Ordinary people couldn’t afford the housing prices and probably wouldn’t suit the lifestyle either.

When they arrived in front of a small villa, James rang the doorbell, and soon, the door opened. A woman in her twenties, dressed in a long skirt, came out quickly, her steps fast yet graceful, as if she was dancing.

Seeing the woman, Emily became excited as it was Qiao Ya, who, despite being over forty, looked as young as Emily herself. It was hard to tell whether it was the result of dance practice or good maintenance.

"Sister Qiao, I’m here to bother you," James greeted Qiao Ya with a cheerful smile.

Qiao Ya gave James a playful roll of her eyes and said, "You remember you have a sister, huh? How many calls have you made to me all year?"

James casually replied, "Sister Qiao, I didn’t want to disturb your busy schedule."

Qiao Ya looked at Emily, smiling warmly, "So this is Emily, right? She’s very pretty. James, you indeed have good taste."

James quickly said, "Sister Qiao, I’ve told you before, Emily isn’t my girlfriend."

Qiao Ya laughed and said, "Not now, but maybe in the future, right? What do you say, Emily?"

Emily immediately nodded vigorously, saying, "Yes, yes, my sister and I are both pursuing him; whoever he chooses, we’ll marry."

Qiao Ya’s eyes brightened as she glanced at James Brown and said excitedly, "Sister Blossoms, how interesting this is."

James Brown’s face darkened as he responded, "That’s not the case."

Qiao Ya laughed even more exaggeratedly, her chest heaving with laughter. Although she was in her forties, her charm could still outshine twenty-something Emily Lopez. No wonder she had so many fans in the dance world.

"Alright, enough teasing. Let’s go inside and talk," Qiao Ya squeezed herself between James Brown and Emily Lopez, stretching out her arms and linking theirs affectionately.

At this moment, Emily Lopez was truly astonished. Qiao Ya was her idol, and she knew her quite well. According to various reports, Qiao Ya was still single, having built her reputation solely on her capabilities, not her looks. In social settings, Qiao Ya never flattered any influential figures, nor had there been rumors of her being overly familiar with any man.

The fact that James Brown could be so close to Qiao Ya, and without seemingly trying to ingratiate himself with her, made Emily admire him profoundly. How many more surprises did her brother-in-law have for her to discover?

"Sis, you really need to step up your game, you have to win Brother-in-law over. If you can’t manage it, don’t blame me if I really make my move. A good man like him, I absolutely won’t let him slip away from our family."

Emily Lopez’s resolve strengthened, James Brown was either going to be her brother-in-law or her husband—there was no third option.

Qiao Ya’s villa was actually not very large. The first floor consisted of a lounge, a small storage room, a kitchen and dining room, plus a small bathroom. The second floor had four rooms, totaling less than two hundred square meters, which was quite small for a villa.

But the yard was quite spacious. It was filled with a lawn, decorated with flowers and a few fruit trees, making it look quite elegant.

"What would you like to drink?" Qiao Ya asked, ushering James Brown and Emily Lopez to sit in the living room.

James Brown casually responded, "Just whip up anything. You know I’m not that particular."

Rolling her eyes at James Brown, Qiao Ya said, "I know you wouldn’t mind a glass of plain water, but I’m asking Emily. She might soon become my sister-in-law, and of course, I have to do this right."

Emily Lopez giggled, "Sister Qiao Ya, I’m easy too."

"Then you two really are a perfect match. Wait here, I’ll make some of my homemade juice." Saying this, she walked gracefully into the kitchen.

Watching Qiao Ya’s retreating figure, Emily remarked enviously, "Truly worthy of being a great dancer, even her walk has rhythm. I’ll never reach that level in my lifetime."

"I don’t see what’s so great about reaching that level."

"Why is that?" Emily looked puzzled at James Brown.

"Think about her life, constantly watched by others. You should understand."

"Oh, I get it. You mean celebrities have no privacy. That must indeed be exhausting," Emily nodded repeatedly.

Before long, Qiao Ya returned with two glasses of juice, smiling, "Come, have some fresh juice."

James Brown downhandedly drank his in one gulp, while Emily Lopez sipped hers slowly, continuously praising it.

"Alright, you two chat. I’ll go for a walk. The green apricots at the gate look good, I’ll pick a couple to try." She then walked out, losing interest in the following conversation.

While in the yard picking a few green apricots, several foreigners walked past Qiao Ya’s gate. They were two men and two women, all blond, and were chatting in English as they walked.

James had seen too many foreigners over the years to be interested in them, but as they passed by, he gave them a second glance. From the front, he couldn’t tell anything unusual about these people, but from the back, he felt a strange familiarity with one of the men’s silhouettes.

James Brown furrowed his brow. The foreign man that left an impression on him must have been someone he had come in contact with before, probably either top-tier personnel from international special forces or key figures from major gangs or terrorist organizations.

Yet, James couldn’t recall exactly who this person was at the moment, which somewhat puzzled him. Given his years of experience and the kinds of people he had interacted with, he should have been able to recognize them instantly, but this person eluded his memory.

"Could it be that my life is now too comfortable? Seeing similar silhouettes, I can’t distinguish them anymore?" James shook his head, feeling somewhat uncomfortable. As a strong member of J Squad, such a feeling seemed like a setback.