CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 46: I’M A MAN—HOW COULD I LET YOU DO THE WORK?

Josephine Thompson frowned, "You stay here and wait for us!"

Julian Grant shook his head like a rattle, "No way, I have to go with you."

"Julian Grant, can’t you be less annoying..."

"Josephine, I’m a man, isn’t it safer for me to go with you?"

After saying that, he gave a cheeky smile and pretended to flirt with Ruby, "Besides, leaving me alone with a pretty girl, aren’t you afraid I’ll ’bully’ this little beauty?"

"..." Josephine Thompson frowned after hearing that.

Julian Grant was a big flirt, always teasing pretty girls when he saw them.

Also, he’s handsome and rich, spending money without restraint. When meeting beauties, a few flirty words usually did the trick.

Julian Grant flashed a mischievous grin and teasingly said, "If anything happens later, don’t blame me oh!"

Josephine Thompson, worried about him causing trouble, reluctantly agreed, "...Alright! Then you can come with me!"

Hearing that, Julian Grant immediately beamed, "Alright."

Josephine Thompson sighed heavily, "Sophia, Ruby, you two wait for us around here."

"Okay, President Shaw."

"Ruby, give me your backpack. You and Sophia can share one for now."

"Hmm, okay." Ruby responded and handed her backpack to Josephine Thompson.

Julian Grant quickly grabbed it, "I’ll do it."

"Make sure you wear it properly this time, don’t lose it again."

"Don’t worry! Even if I get lost, the bag won’t."

Sophia had already inflated the simple kayak and put it on the water.

Josephine Thompson cautiously got onto the kayak.

Julian Grant followed closely and got on as well.

Once on the kayak, he quickly took the paddle and excitedly paddled towards the lake.

He paddled with such force that the kayak almost overturned.

"Ah~, can you paddle slower? If the kayak flips over, it’ll be a hassle."

Julian Grant was full of excitement and playfulness, "Amidst these lush green mountains and clear waters, rowing with Josephine is so romantic!"

"..." Josephine Thompson rolled her eyes at him, not wanting to engage.

His words were too annoying.

Sometimes one sentence could leave her feeling exasperated.

He and Nathaniel Gallagher were completely different kinds of people.

Nathaniel Gallagher was the kind of person with extremely high emotional intelligence, smart and reserved, never missing a beat. Moreover, he had seen many different people, skilled at understanding hearts. With just one glance at you, he could rapidly analyze your worth and needs and engage with you using the corresponding approach.

Julian Grant, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.

He was unrestrained in speech, flamboyant and arrogant, fearing nothing. He was strong in front of strength, and weak in front of weakness. Moreover, he didn’t consider the social status of his friends. No matter low or high status, scoundrel or decent, he could be friends with all.

Faced with a giant like Nathaniel Gallagher, he paid no mind. Faced with the janitor, he could crouch down and play chess with him for hours with great interest.

"Go in that direction, don’t paddle sideways. You better give me the paddle, and let me paddle!"

"No way, I’m a man. How could I let you exert effort while I’m here with you?"

"Julian Grant, stop messing around. Once it gets completely dark, we won’t see anything."

Julian Grant smiled mischievously, "Isn’t that great? The two of us can spend the night on the opposite shore, enjoying a world for two. Josephine, how about giving it a try? I’m definitely better than that old man..."

Josephine Thompson was so angry she choked, glaring at him with a stern face, "Shut your mouth. If you keep talking nonsense, I’m going to be mad."

"Oh okay okay, I’ll shut up, alright?"

Josephine Thompson didn’t want to deal with him anymore and turned her head to check the distance.

They were already in the middle of the lake.

Estimating it would be another half hour before they could successfully reach the opposite shore.

She took out a box for collecting pigments in advance and put on gloves, readying her tools.

Julian Grant watched her curiously, "Josephine, what are you doing?"

"Nothing."

...

Half an hour later.

They finally reached the opposite shore of the lake.

The two got off the kayak.

Josephine Thompson navigated smoothly toward a forest.

Julian Grant followed, continuously swatting mosquitoes on his arms, "Wow~, Josephine, so many mosquitoes and bugs."

Josephine Thompson heard this and handed him a bottle of mosquito repellent, "Then you should wait by the lake, I can do this alone!"

"...No way, what if there’s danger?" Julian Grant insisted on following.

After walking for over ten minutes.

The two entered a dense forest.

Josephine Thompson went straight to a rotting tree and used an axe to pry open a bulging tree knot.

Inside the tree knot, a group of cochineal bugs the size of peanuts were exposed.

Josephine Thompson took out tweezers and started picking the bugs one by one, placing them into a glass jar.

Once these bugs shed their shells, grinding the shells into powder makes a rare natural pigment.

"Whoa--"

"Wow--"

Julian Grant took one look and felt his scalp tingle with fear. Trembling, he shrank behind a tree and dared not get closer.

He feared nothing.

Except for invertebrates.

If you put a tiger in front of him, he wouldn’t be scared, because a tiger might not be able to take him down.

But if you put a caterpillar on him, he would freak out and jump around for three days, feeling itchy and freaked out to death.

"Buzz buzz~ so scary. Josephine, why are you catching so many bugs? It’s so scary and disgusting!"

Josephine Thompson couldn’t be bothered with him.

She just quickly searched through the tree knots, constantly catching bugs and putting them into the glass jar.

Soon.

The glass jar was filled.

Josephine Thompson placed the glass jar into her backpack and took out a plastic box.

Preparing to collect a second type of pigment.

"Josephine, can we go now?"

"Wait a moment." Josephine Thompson lowered her head and started searching the ground carefully for some dried bird droppings.

Julian Grant watched and felt a chill run up his back, asking with a ’grim expression’, "What’s this stuff now?"

"These are bird droppings. Once dried and ground into powder, they can make a blue pigment."

"..." Julian Grant was stone-faced after hearing this.

She seemed so delicate and fragile, why was she interested in such odd things?

"Alright, it’s completely dark now, let’s go."

"Oh okay." Julian Grant finally sighed in relief, eager to leave this creepy place.

Josephine Thompson turned back and was about to go.

Suddenly, she noticed a snake next to his foot, "Don’t move."

"...What’s wrong?" Julian Grant froze in fear, standing still.

Josephine Thompson quietly approached, pulling a retractable pole from her backpack.

Then, swiftly and skillfully, she made her move.

"Snap--"

The retractable pole clamped the snake at its seven-inch point, slowly lifting it.

The snake was over a meter long, thrashing and twisting its body after being clamped.

"There’s a snake by your foot."

Julian Grant froze and his hair stood on end, "Oh crap----"

"Ahhhh oh oh oh, what the hell is a snake doing here?"

He jumped and dashed around, wishing he could immediately escape into outer space.

"It’s just a snake, what’s there to be scared of?" Josephine Thompson said, and moved the snake aside while clamping it.

Then, she forcefully tossed the snake away. She also took out a bottle of spray, swiftly spraying it in the direction of the snake.

The startled snake quickly slithered away into the distance!

The whole process.

She remained calm in the face of danger, decisive and brave, completing it in one go.

"It’s fine now, let’s go!"

Julian Grant was still in shock, looking at her with a face full of awe and admiration, "... Josephine, you really are a ’warrior’."

"I declare, from now on, my idol has switched from my brother to you."

Could she actually dare to catch a snake?

He was truly in awe, bowing to her in admiration.

"Stop talking, let’s get going quickly."

"Yes, finally we can leave this damn place." Julian Grant hurriedly followed behind her like a little follower.

Everyone admires those who are braver and more decisive than themselves.

When someone accomplishes what you cannot, you naturally idolize them.

He liked Josephine Thompson not just because she was beautiful, but because she effortlessly did what he couldn’t.

When they were in school, she was an overachiever, he was a failure. She aced every subject, he failed every exam.

After they broke up, she walked away without looking back, while he remained stuck and unable to move on.

This kind of woman, her energy field is terrifyingly strong.

He admired, respected, and loved her.

...

After a short while.

The two retraced their steps back.

As they approached the lakeside, they faintly heard footsteps not far away.

"What’s that sound?"

The two held their breath simultaneously, trying not to make any noise.

They saw two men walking towards them.

Both carrying large bags of food and water, chatting as they walked.

"Damn heavy!"

"What can we do? Just bear with it for a few more days!"

The two did not notice Josephine Thompson and Julian Grant, complaining as they walked off into the distance.

Josephine Thompson was startled, looking over in confusion.

This is a quarantine area, regular tourists are prohibited from entering.

Beyond here is a wildlife preservation area, where unauthorized entry is not allowed.

"This place is so remote and not a tourist area, what are these two doing here?"

Julian Grant frowned slightly, "Could they be poaching rare animals?"

Josephine Thompson pondered, "Possible."

Julian Grant crouched down, ready to follow them, "Let’s follow and see."

Josephine Thompson hurriedly stopped him in a low voice, "Better not, let’s not cause trouble. We should leave quickly and report to the authorities."

There’s no signal in the mountains.

They have to descend the mountain to make a call to the police.

Moreover, those two might not necessarily be bad people, they could be like them, here to gather materials.

Julian Grant was already sneaking after them, "What are you afraid of? Let’s follow and see. If they’re committing a crime, we can stop them in time."

"Hey, Julian Grant, don’t be reckless, it’s too dangerous."

"Tsk, there are only two of them, what’s there to be afraid of? Let’s go and see."

"Julian Grant, don’t go..."

Julian Grant’s curiosity got the better of him, eager for such an encounter.

Josephine Thompson, seeing this, had no choice but to pack up the paints and tools, quietly following along.

Meanwhile, she held a pepper spray in one hand and a stun baton in the other.

If they really were bad people, it was better to be prepared. Besides, they could have accomplices.

The two men ahead walked quickly.

"If this job gets done, we won’t have to worry for the rest of our lives. No more having to slave away; I want to enjoy my remaining years abroad."

"Just don’t know how the boss will split the money..."

After about twenty minutes of tracking.

The two men arrived at a dense forest.

In the distance, there was a large open space.

On the open ground.

There were a few makeshift tents, with three or four people standing outside.

"Why did you take so long to come back? We’re starving here."

"Please, with all this heavy water, could you walk any faster?"

"Enough talking, get the food quickly."

The three or four people waiting gathered around, immediately pulling out various instant foods and water.

"Did you bring beer?"

"This isn’t some picnic; be grateful there’s mineral water!"

A short, fat middle-aged man searched through the food, "Henry Gallagher keeps whining for roast goose legs, did you buy any?"

"Yes, yes, we bought them!"

"Ah, so precious, still have to get him roast goose legs."

"He’s our cash cow, what’s wrong with giving him a roast goose leg? Once his dad’s 2 billion comes through, our hard times will be over."

The short, fat man chuckled, pulling out the packaged roast goose legs and a bottle of mineral water, entering the tent.

"Eldest Young Master Gallagher, roast goose legs are here, eat up!"

Inside the tent.

Henry Gallagher hugged a toy bear, looking somewhat bewildered and scared, "Uncle, didn’t you say you’d take me to Auntie Vivian?"

"When are we going to find Auntie Vivian?"

The short, fat man handed him the meal box, "Hmm, we’ll go find her after you eat."

Henry Gallagher pouted unhappily, "You’re lying, you’re all liars. I want to go home, take me home quickly."

"Heh heh~, Eldest Young Master Gallagher, once your dad pays the ransom, we’ll definitely send you home! Otherwise, this could very well be your burial ground."

Henry Gallagher was only three years old, incapable of understanding his situation.

Yesterday afternoon.

He got out to buy a balloon, clearly seeing Auntie Vivian waving at him in the park.

Auntie Vivian even held his favorite toy, signaling to play hide and seek with him.

He usually loved playing hide and seek with Auntie Vivian, each time making the family’s bodyguards and maids search for a long time.

But this time, the game lasted too long; why hadn’t the bodyguards and auntie come to find him yet?

"Hurry and eat!"

Henry Gallagher’s stomach growled with hunger, so he opened the meal box to eat!

After taking a bite of the goose leg, he immediately spat it out in disgust, "Ugh~, it’s spoiled, so disgusting."

He then threw the meal box on the ground in a fit, refusing to eat any more.

At home, the roast goose meal he ate had crispy and delicious skin, the goose meat tender and tasty.

But the roast goose leg they gave him was awful.

"Heh~, you little brat, do you know how hard it was to get you that goose leg? You refuse to eat and even threw it away, looks like you’re asking for a beating!"

"If you dare hit me, I’ll have daddy fire you. Boo hoo, Grandma Dixon, Auntie Lynch, where are you? I want to go home, I want to go home..." Henry Gallagher cried and yelled, calling for Mrs. Dixon and the maids who usually looked after him.

Henry Gallagher cried as he dashed out of the tent.

The short, fat man chased him down, catching him with one slap, "You little brat, where do you think you’re going?"

"Boo hoo, let go of me, let go of me."

Josephine Thompson and Julian Grant hid behind the trees, witnessing this scene in shock.

"It’s Henny, how did he end up here?"

"Shh~, lower your voice, these are definitely kidnappers!"

Josephine Thompson gasped, feeling as if she’d plunged into an ice cave.

Nathaniel Gallagher had called her, saying Henny was missing.

She thought he was just lying to her.