The Supreme Soldier in the City
Chapter 146 Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand

Chapter 146: Chapter 146 Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand

Except for David Johnson, who knew a bit about James Brown and Melody Yoody, none of the others had a clue. Among the classmates, Melody Yoody was by far the most successful one, which made even the normally cocky James Brown try to curry favor with her.

To others, Melody Yoody only exchanged verbal greetings, but she had physically interacted with James Brown. This closeness with James immediately signaled a close relationship, causing jealousy among the other classmates.

The classmates didn’t necessarily want a romantic relationship with Melody; they just thought her future achievements would be boundless. Businesspeople among them hoped for her patronage and benefits, while the public servants sought her help for their career advancement.

However, when Melody interacted with them, they felt she was still cautious about how she communicated, contrasting with her casual behavior with James now.

Melody laughed lightly, "How could I not take care of you when you didn’t study properly, given I was the class leader?"

James Brown laughed heartily, "Exactly, I used to think, ’This feisty girl is so annoying,’ never expected this feisty girl to become the Mayor. Where would you even begin to complain?"

Melody Yoody glanced at him and said, "So you think this Mayor can’t find justice?"

Their exchange sounded like a script from a skit. After these words, they both laughed and the others joined in.

At that moment, John Stephens jokingly said, "Let’s all go inside and talk. If we’re going to chat, let’s make it enjoyable."

Everyone entered a small courtyard surrounded by greenhouses filled with vegetables and fruits. A modest, unluxurious house sat in the yard, decorated in a simple rustic style that everyone seemed to like.

As they sat down, Melody Yoody naturally took the central seat, and Mary Johnson sat to her left. David Johnson initially wanted James Brown to sit on her right, but James Johnson took that spot, and he couldn’t just send him away.

James Brown didn’t mind not sitting there; seeing that Melody was doing well was enough for him. As for anything more happening between him and Melody, he hadn’t hoped for an outcome.

During the meal, the conversation revolved around topics introduced by Melody, which James Brown found quite awkward. They were old classmates, yet most seemed to approach Melody with self-interest, which was tasteless.

Still, Melody’s responses didn’t make James uncomfortable. She consistently reminded everyone of their relationship as classmates, and not to measure it by the complex standards of social life, sticking mostly to fun stories from their school days.

At the dinner table, James no longer interacted with Melody until around 9 p.m., when he finally had the chance to be alone with her.

The two stood beside a greenhouse, silent, just looking through the glass at the various green plants.

"What have you been up to all these years? Why have you never contacted me?" Melody turned and looked at James, her lips pursed with a touch of bitterness.

James, still looking ahead, lit a cigarette and said, "What good would contacting you do? We could never be together."

"Are you still angry at my parents?" Melody asked softly.

"So many years have passed; I can’t be that petty anymore. Besides, they were looking out for you. I didn’t understand then, but now, I completely do. If someone tried to run off with my daughter in high school, I’d probably act worse than your parents."

"Oh, you have a daughter? Are you married?" Melody stared at James, both annoyed and upset.

"No, I was just hypothesizing," James turned and flashed a grin at Melody.

"You jerk, you’re still so unserious, almost scared me," Melody pinched James hard.

James pretended to wince in pain, then said with a wry smile, "Look, Class Leader Yoody, you’re a Mayor now. You’ve got to watch your image."

Melody snorted, "In other people’s eyes I’m the Mayor, but in your eyes, am I still the Mayor?"

James nodded, "Of course, your status is different now. I don’t even have a job; the gap between us is getting bigger."

Melody frowned slightly, "You still haven’t told me, what have you been up to all these years, and what are you doing now?"

James briefly replied, "I was in the army for a few years, couldn’t make it there, so I came back here looking for a job to get by. I’m out of work now, struggling to support myself."

Melody Yoody stared at James Brown and said, "What kind of job do you want to do? I can help you find one, even if you want to be a civil servant. I can make that happen."

James Brown shook his head and said, "Forget it, being a civil servant isn’t for me. Besides, finding such a job costs tens of thousands, and I can’t afford that."

"You don’t need to worry about the money. I’m just asking if you’d like to go. My home village has a position available right now, and I can arrange it for you."

James Brown gave a bitter smile and said, "When we were in school, you were the class leader in charge of me. Now that we’ve grown up, you want to pull me under your supervision again. I can’t handle it."

"You..." Melody Yoody pinched James Brown and said, "Then what do you really want to do?"

"Nothing much, I just want a simple job that can support me."

Melody Yoody walked around to face James Brown, staring at him angrily and exclaimed, "Why have you become so unambitious?"

"It’s not necessary to stand out, make a lot of money, or have a high-ranking position to be ambitious. My current idea of life is to live comfortably, not stressing daily about getting promoted or how much money to make."

Seeing Melody Yoody’s unhappy expression, James Brown sighed and said, "Melody, our lifestyles are different now, and what you pursue is different from what I pursue. I admit that I can’t let go of you, but we really can’t be together anymore."

Melody Yoody bit her lip, her tone softening, and said, "James, can’t you change for me?"

James Brown gently shook his head and said, "Melody, I know I owe you. All these years, I’ve thought about coming back to find you and make it up to you. But seeing how well you’re doing now, I don’t feel the same way anymore. You’re so outstanding; the official scene suits you. If I were with you, it would only hold you back, and because our philosophies differ, it would only lead to more arguments. It’s better to keep our bittersweet youth in our memories."

Melody Yoody snorted and said, "You make it sound so easy. I was only seventeen when you got me pregnant, and now you want to deny it?"

James Brown felt awkward immediately. Back then, both he and Melody were young. She was fiery and supportive, putting a lot of thought into helping him with his studies. One who didn’t want to study and the other who wanted him to, they ended up falling for each other.

Once, James Brown went to Melody Yoody’s house to study, and after they mostly finished, they played on the computer for a while but accidentally opened an adult movie. That day, they gave in to temptation.

After tasting the forbidden, they always looked for opportunities to be together secretly. Back then, neither of them knew about contraception, and it resulted in Melody getting pregnant. They were so scared they couldn’t tell their parents, so they ran to a clinic for a chemical abortion. They bought some medicine, took it home, and secretly consumed it. After taking the medicine, Melody miscarried and bled heavily, which horrified them. Just then, Melody’s parents came home and caught them, rushing her to the hospital, which saved her from further danger.

After discovering that their daughter had been involved in such an act with a boy, Melody’s parents investigated James Brown and found his family too ordinary, which infuriated them even more. They beat James Brown and had him expelled from school.

Resenting Melody’s parents, James Brown impulsively joined the army instead of going to college. Later, he tried to contact Melody but couldn’t reach her, thinking she didn’t want to deal with him anymore, which added to his resentment.

As time passed, especially after years of living on the edge between life and death, James Brown could only remember the good about Melody Yoody, letting go of past grudges.

However, when Melody brought it up with such an assertive tone, James Brown couldn’t help but laugh and said, "It’s not that I don’t want to acknowledge it. It’s my meal; I’d surely like to continue eating it."

"Why do you keep making excuses?"

"Melody, after so many years, you’ve changed a lot, and I’ve changed a lot too. Over the years, I’m no longer that innocent boy, besides this pot of rice, I don’t know how many other pots I’ve cooked."

Melody’s face shifted, replying angrily, "Look at you, getting capable."

James Brown sighed and said, "So I’m saying, I’ve changed."

"Hmph, you men are all the same, selfish creatures, thinking with your lower half. Having tasted the flavor at my place, I’d be surprised if you could resist after all these years."

Before James Brown could respond, Melody Yoody snorted coldly and said, "All these years, after that bastard, I haven’t let another man touch me. If you say you’re not responsible for me, then who will be?"

"But I really don’t have confidence in being with you anymore. I came to see how well you were doing; if you’re doing well, I can be at peace. Can’t we drop this matter?"

At this, Melody’s eyes widened fiercely as she said, "James Brown, are you even a man? Just give me a straight answer, can you do it or not? If not, I’ll just find some random man and get married right away."

James Brown looked at such a domineering Melody Yoody, a wry smile on his face. He knew very well that if he didn’t agree, she really could do something like that.