CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: WHO TOLD YOU I’M HERE TO HAVE FUN?

As far as he’s concerned.

As long as his son can come back safely.

Even if it’s 20 billion, let alone 200 billion or 2000 billion, he would give it up without batting an eye.

Mrs. Gallagher: "Amitabha, Amitabha, please ensure Henny returns safely. The kidnappers have taken the money, so they must let Henny return."

"Just wait for the news with peace of mind! There’s no use being anxious!"

"This is such a disaster, with so many bodyguards, how could something like this still happen? These bodyguards are useless, absolutely useless."

"Mom, saying this now doesn’t help, let’s wait until Henny returns."

...

Three o’clock in the afternoon.

Josephine Thompson and two assistants arrived in the valley of Serpent’s Head Island.

The road ahead is all mountain paths, they could only go on foot.

"President Thompson, let’s take a break and drink some water! We can only walk from here, hopefully reaching our destination by five o’clock."

Josephine Thompson got out of the car, drenched in sweat.

She opened the canteen, drank a few sips of water, and rested.

Julian Grant also stopped, parched with thirst.

He came empty-handed, didn’t bring any supplies, and, most importantly, had no water.

"Josephine, I’m dying of thirst, let me have a sip."

Josephine coldly glared at him, signaling an assistant to give him a bottle of water, "Julian Grant, while the sun hasn’t set, head back to the dock, you can still catch the returning boat."

Julian looked at her confused, "And what about you? Surely you don’t plan to stay overnight in the mountains?"

Josephine couldn’t be bothered to respond.

She came here this time to search for several raw materials for pigments, which would take at least three days. So, she’s prepared to spend a couple of nights in the mountains.

"Aren’t you here for leisure?"

"What’s so fun about this desolate place? Just wandering around for a day is enough, why stay overnight?" Julian looked at her without understanding.

"Who said I was here for play?"

"...If you’re not here for fun, then what are you doing here?"

"I’m here for work, to find pigments, what are you here for?"

A smile appeared on Julian’s handsome face, "I... I’m here to accompany you!"

"You must be out of your mind, you better hurry back!"

Julian smirked wickedly, "No, if you three girls are in the mountains, what if you encounter danger?"

"I’ll stay to protect you!"

"..." Josephine felt even more speechless after hearing that.

"Suit yourself, as long as you can endure the hardship."

"Let’s keep moving."

With that, she hoisted up her heavy backpack and continued on.

Upon seeing this, Julian immediately stepped forward to help, "Here, let me carry it for you."

"No need."

"Don’t be so reserved with me, I just drank your water, so it’s only right I lend a hand." As Julian spoke, he forcibly took her backpack and carried it himself.

Josephine, with no other choice, handed it to him.

"Let’s go, how much longer do we have to walk?"

"Probably another two hours of climbing."

Julian was dumbfounded upon hearing this, "What?"

"Two hours of climbing?"

"Yes, are you still coming along?"

"...Of course, I have to go. If you’re going, how can I not?" Although Julian was extremely reluctant to hike, he continued to stick by her side stubbornly.

The four of them said no more and continued along the mountain path up the mountain.

The mountain path was steep and rugged.

Along the way.

Josephine was panting heavily with fatigue, whereas Julian seemed full of energy, constantly chattering.

"Josephine, what exactly are you looking for, can’t you just buy it with money? Why go through all this trouble, coming here yourself?"

"Next time you need something, just tell me, I’ll find someone to get it for you."

"..." Josephine was sweating profusely, not wanting to speak another word.

If she could buy it with money.

Of course, she wouldn’t endure such hardship to come in person.

Some pigments are so rare and hard to find that they are indescribable. Moreover, many people don’t recognize them.

She had no choice but to come and search herself.

"Aren’t we there yet? If we keep climbing, we’ll cross over this peak."

Josephine, panting heavily, replied, "We need to get to that mountain over there!"

"Let’s pick up the pace, we need to arrive before dark."

"Wow! Just thinking about spending the night in the mountains with Josephine is exciting!"

"Shut up!"

Julian pushed against her waist from behind, giving her a boost, "Josephine, I see you can hardly walk, how about I carry you?"

"Let go, don’t touch me." Josephine angrily brushed his hand away and gave him a fierce glare.

"Tsk, such a good intention taken for granted. If you really can’t go on, let’s stop and rest."

Josephine was parched and exhausted, as were Sophia and Ruby, who were also panting with fatigue. They carried even heavier loads, so naturally, they were more tired.

"President Thompson, we’re too tired, how about we rest for twenty minutes?"

"Alright then!" Josephine nodded in agreement.

This time climbing the mountain, she clearly felt she was overwhelmed.

Before having a child, her physical fitness was quite good. On a mountain road like this, she wouldn’t be tired after climbing for three or four hours straight.

But now, after barely climbing for an hour, she was already exhausted. Also, she hadn’t fully recovered yet, which made her feel even more powerless.

Seeing her pale and weak appearance, Julian Grant looked distressed and quickly handed her some water, "Josephine, have some water?"

"Are you tired? Do you want me to massage your legs?"

Josephine Thompson took the water, drank a few sips, and then sat on a nearby rock to rest.

Julian Grant didn’t seem tired at all, the more he climbed, the more energetic he got.

When his mother was pregnant with him, she consumed too many supplements, making him excessively energetic from a young age, very lively and active, and not even ten maids could keep watch over him.

As he grew older, he became quite a troublemaker. Others may cause trouble every few days, while he caused trouble daily and wouldn’t feel right unless he got into three incidents a day.

Twenty minutes of rest had just passed.

A large mass of lead-gray clouds suddenly rolled in from the horizon, and the mountain wind brought with it a moist breath.

Ruby suddenly stood up, pointed into the distance, and shrieked, "President Thompson, oh no, it looks like it’s going to rain! Shouldn’t we quickly find a place to take shelter from the rain?"

Josephine Thompson looked up at the sky, "It’s fine, mountain rain comes and goes fast."

"I remember there’s a pavilion if we walk a bit further, we can go there to get out of the rain."

"Okay, sounds good."

Julian Grant quickly became serious, opened an umbrella, and shielded her from the rain, "Josephine, be careful not to slip, let me support you!"

"Let’s go, it’s not far." Josephine Thompson didn’t want to get too close to him, so she quickened her pace forward.

"Don’t get wet, be careful not to catch a cold." Julian Grant chased after her, covering her from the rain.

"It’s okay, don’t worry about me. My clothes have a hood, you just hold the umbrella for yourself." Josephine Thompson said as she put on her hood.

"I’ll support you, the mountain path is too slippery. Uh uh..." Julian Grant wanted to support her kindly, but he slipped and slid down the mountain path.

"Julian Grant!" Josephine Thompson was startled at the sight.

"Oh no--" Julian Grant slid five or six meters away and grabbed a small tree by the mountain path to stop his fall.

"Bang--"

His backpack wasn’t held securely and rolled down the mountain path, drawing an arc in the air before falling into the cliff.

"Oh no, my bag--"

It’s over, besides water and food, there was also a small portable inflatable kayak in the bag.

Now it’s all for nothing.

"Gosh, damn it!" Julian Grant was dizzy from the fall, and his arm had a big cut.

Josephine Thompson hurried down to check, "Julian Grant, are you alright, is it serious?"

Julian Grant awkwardly stood up, feeling deeply embarrassed, and smiled sheepishly, "Ha...haha... It’s nothing, it’s nothing."

"The shoes were too slippery, I should have worn mountaineering shoes."

Josephine Thompson’s head hurt, and she looked speechless and helpless, "Your arm is scraped and bleeding and you say it’s nothing!"

"Ruby, quickly bandage him up."

"It’s really nothing, the rain is getting heavier, let’s get to the pavilion to avoid getting rained on too much and catching a cold." Julian Grant said with concern.

"Stop talking and quickly get bandaged up first!"

Ruby hurriedly held an umbrella to shield them from the rain, while Josephine Thompson took out the first aid kit from Ruby’s backpack to bandage Julian Grant’s wound.

Under the umbrella.

They were very close.

Julian Grant’s breath became a bit tight, and he looked at her with bright eyes as she tended to his wound with a focused and earnest expression.

Her hair was wet from the rain, with a few strands sticking to her cheek, looking a bit messy yet beautiful.

"Josephine..." Julian Grant hesitated to speak.

The regret in his heart surged up again like a tidal wave.

If he hadn’t foolishly teased her back then, they would probably be married by now.

They had been apart for four years, and he hadn’t met anyone who could touch his heart like she did.

"Stop talking, for now, we’ll just bandage it up like this." Josephine Thompson skillfully applied antiseptic and bandaged him with gauze.

"The rain is stopping soon, let’s get going!"

Mountain rain comes and goes quickly.

The heavy rain stopped after about ten minutes.

However, the mountain path became even more slippery.

The four of them continued their journey without a break.

...

By half past five.

Josephine Thompson finally reached her destination.

Ahead was a large reservoir, and they needed to use kayaks to cross to the other side.

The three of them originally brought two kayaks.

One kayak can accommodate two people.

But now, there’s only one kayak left.

"President Thompson, what should we do now? The kayak can only take two people." Sophia inflated the kayak and looked at Josephine Thompson with a helpless expression.

Facing the situation, Josephine Thompson thought for a few seconds and could only decide to let two people stay and wait, "Sophia, you come with me to the other side."

"Ruby, you and Julian Grant stay here and wait for us!"

"Oh, okay." Ruby replied, sneaking a shy and timid glance at Julian Grant.

In the past, the most handsome man she had seen was President Gallagher, and she never thought any man could be more handsome than President Gallagher.

But after seeing Julian Grant, she realized that there really is always someone better out there.

Julian Grant’s features are indeed more appealing than Nathaniel Gallagher’s. However, his demeanor and behavior are too unruly, unpleasantly cheeky at times.

"Let me stay behind? How can that be? Let them two stay, and I’ll go with you!"