74: Chapter 74: SSUP Country Number One 74: Chapter 74: SSUP Country Number One More than half an hour later, James Brown got up to go to the restroom, which was at the end of the corridor outside.

After he finished, as he was walking back, he saw Gina Lopez standing by the entrance to the main hall with a man.

Gina had a smile on her face, but it was clearly forced, and her eyes frequently darted in James’s direction.

When she caught sight of him, she immediately made a signaling gesture with her eyes.

James got the hint and quickly strode over, saying, “Miss Lopez, there was an important phone call just now that you need to take.”

Gina instantly offered the man an apologetic smile and then moved toward James, taking the phone he handed her and pretending to be on a call.

James then turned his attention to the man.

He was around thirty, wearing a sharp suit worth certainly no less than a hundred thousand.

Although his looks weren’t particularly handsome, his attire, complemented with the expensive watch on his wrist, was enough to signal that this guy was no simple character.

The man hadn’t even glanced at James but was staring at Gina with an unmistakable desire in his eyes.

It was clear he had unwholesome intentions towards Gina, and he made no attempt to hide his gaze, which also indicated he had a strong status and didn’t care about the CEO identity of Gina.

Gina, despite having absolute authority within the company, was, after all, just another CEO in YODC City, where companies of this sort were at least a dime a dozen.

Moreover, Gina was an employee; the company wasn’t hers.

Compared to other bosses and such figures, her social status clearly fell short by a lot.

James had seen such scenarios more often than not while protecting special individuals in the past, surrounded by celebrities who, in the eyes of those people, didn’t matter how powerful a woman was; she was merely their plaything.

This young guy clearly seemed to share that mindset.

Previously, James would have treated such situations with indifference as none of his concern, but now things were different.

Since Gina had asked for his protection, he could no longer ignore it.

Moreover, he was now set to stand in opposition to these formidable figures, not a small challenge given that he was just a minor character at the moment.

Gina came back to James’s side, suddenly took his arm, and said, “James, let’s go in together.”

James was jolted as Gina gently squeezed his arm.

He immediately understood that she had been quite annoyed by the man’s persistence and was possibly unable to shake him off, therefore she had used him as a shield.

At this moment, he definitely couldn’t back down.

With a slight smile, he said, “Isn’t that a bit early to reveal our relationship?

It might lead to people disrespecting you.”

Gina, continuing to walk forward, said with resolve, “It doesn’t matter.

We have to face it eventually.

Besides, I’m just a minor character here; nobody pays me any mind.”

James chuckled bitterly.

“Alright then, let’s face it together.”

As they spoke, they approached the man.

The man, now frowning, turned to Gina and asked, “Miss Lopez, and this is…?”

Gina gave an apologetic smile and replied, “I’m sorry, Mr.

Smith.

Thank you for your kind intentions, but I really cannot hide it anymore.

This is my boyfriend, James Brown.”

Mr.

Smith, named Charles Goodman, was the son of Charles Smith, the chairman of YODC City Tianli Group.

With a family fortune reaching ten billion, although he was not the sole heir, as a son of such a major conglomerate, his presence was no less formidable.

The JYPP Region Company meant nothing in his eyes, let alone Gina Lopez, who was just a general manager.

Charles Goodman had thought that his pursuit of Gina would mean she was climbing the social ladder, a nearly certain success.

Yet, out of nowhere, a James Brown appeared, and his face instantly darkened.

He glanced at James and said, “Miss Lopez, you’re not joking, are you?

Picking up just anyone to pretend as your boyfriend?”

Gina shook her head apologetically.

“Sorry, but he really is my boyfriend,” she said, holding James’s arm even more affectionately.

Charles Goodman’s face grew uglier by the second.

With a huff, he said, “Miss Lopez, your Vision Technique must be very poor to choose such a man.

Is he really a match for you?”

“I…”

Before Gina could speak, James patted the back of her hand and intervened, “Mr.

Smith, I know I may not seem like a match for Gina in your eyes, but love is definitely not something to be measured with money.

Besides, Gina isn’t someone who despises the poor or adores the rich; of that, I am completely confident.”

Charles Goodman looked at James and then gave a scornful laugh before turning to enter the main hall, but the malicious look in his eyes before he left was enough to convey his newfound hatred for James.

“I really had no choice,” Gina sighed, seeming a bit deflated.

At the company, in ordinary times, James had seen Gina always brimming with confidence.

He’d never seen her this helpless and disheartened.

Offering consolation, he said, “Isn’t everything alright now?”

“Sigh, it’s fine for now, but I’m afraid he might come back to bother you.”

“I’m just a minor employee; what do I have to fear from his bother?

You don’t have to worry about it.

Let’s go in; I’m also here to broaden my horizons.”

Gina nodded but then lowered her voice again, “When we go in, there’s no need to say much—just find a place to rest.

A VIP has arrived today; we need to be more cautious.”

“I understand.

I won’t cause you any trouble; it’s just about putting on an act to keep Charles Goodman from bothering you.”

As the two whispered among themselves, they genuinely resembled a sweet couple.

After all, they had both spent time at Gina’s place, sleeping on the same bed, so pretending like this naturally didn’t carry any psychological pressure for them.

James Brown was now quite intrigued by this big-shot from the Capital of SSUP.

Anyone who warranted C Park bodyguards following them around was certainly no ordinary character – and it was highly likely that James had actually seen this person before.

This hall was much bigger than the one James had just been in, at over two hundred meters in size.

On the right side, there was a buffet table laden with high-end food and drinks, with staff continuously replacing items to ensure a fresh supply.

Everyone in the hall was dressed to the nines: the men in suits and shiny shoes, the women in evening gowns, adorned with glittering jewels.

Almost every person’s outfit here was easily worth over a hundred thousand.

James had attended many such banquets before.

Typically, guests would gather in small groups, chat for a bit, and then move on to mingle with others.

But today, all were congregated together, including Charles Goodman himself.

It seemed that this person from the Capital of SSUP really was a force to be reckoned with, compelling all these local hotshots to orbit around him.

However, James couldn’t get a glimpse of the person everyone was surrounding.

“What would you like to eat?” Gina Lopez led James to the food area.

James had already eaten quite a bit just a while ago, so he casually picked out some of the evidently finer-quality food here – perfect for satisfying cravings.

After picking up some food and accepting a glass of red wine from a waiter, the two of them moved to a seating area on the side.

Gina then turned her gaze towards the crowd.

With no one else around, James leaned in and whispered to Gina, “Who is this impressive person that everybody’s surrounding?”

“A big-shot from the Capital.”

“The Capital’s got plenty of big-shots.

What do they do?”

“The number one beauty of the Capital.”

“What?” James stiffened.

Gina looked over there, her face filled with admiration, “I never believed in the whole ‘number one beauty’ thing, but now I see it’s true.

She’s not just beautiful, but everything about her, every smile, carries an air of irresistibility.

Next to her, I feel like nothing more than an ugly duckling.”

James chuckled, “The ugly duckling will become a swan eventually.

You’re not necessarily any less than she is; she’s just cloaked in too much glamour.”

“It’s not about the glamour.

No amount of it can change one’s true nature.

Her beauty shines from within; anything she does is incredibly graceful to behold.

Even I find myself captivated, let alone others.”

“Heh heh, Miss Lopez, you don’t swing that way, do you?

No wonder you’ve never had a boyfriend.”

Gina shot James a glare, “Stop talking nonsense.

I’m perfectly normal.”

James Brown grinned mischievously, “Then what interests you in a woman?”

Gina rolled her eyes at James, “You haven’t seen her beauty.

Once you do, you’ll understand.”

James rubbed his nose, “Even if I see it, what of it?

In the end, isn’t she just a woman?”

“Humph, if you truly have no thoughts about it, then I would really start to question you,” Gina said, allowing a rare smile to cross her face.

James rolled his eyes; Gina’s quick retort had definitely hit its mark.

Yet, as for this number one beauty of SSUP Country…

James genuinely had no interest.

“Ah, she’s coming this way.

Look,” Gina excitedly tugged at James’s arm.

James looked up and saw a woman in a sky-blue evening gown approaching.

Her beauty was like the brightest star in the night sky, turning all those around her into mere foils.

Even the glittering jewelry of other women, which would normally stand out, seemed to fade in her presence.

James was taken aback.

The famed number one beauty of SSUP Country was indeed Lucy Campbell.

The last mission James had been on was to bring her back home.

When he met her, she had been quite disheveled.

Even though he found her extremely beautiful then, the circumstances didn’t allow him to appreciate her beauty.

Instead, his focus was on surviving and protecting her.

Seeing Lucy Campbell now, he had to admit she truly lived up to the title of the number one beauty of SSUP Country.

No wonder she had C Park bodyguards; her status indeed necessitated such high-level protection.

But why had the country’s top beauty ended up in the small city of YODC City?

Lucy had originally planned to visit YODC City before the New Year but was delayed by various matters, only arriving yesterday.

With her prominence, lying low was not an option – hence as soon as she arrived, the local elite were already informed, prompting this welcome banquet.

Lucy was wondering how she might find James, but when she glanced around by chance and saw him, she was thrilled and headed straight for him.

Meanwhile, the surrounding socialites had no idea what Lucy was intending to do; they followed her, not realizing that she was making her way to James.