Yuxuan (REMASTERED)

Chapter Four

I waved my glove high at two laborers who were climbing down the ladder after carrying some crates onto the ship. "Ello, lads. Mind giving a lady a hand?" The corners of my lips curled as I pointed to my luggage.

One of them scoffed at me, and the other just clenched his jaw. His yellow teeth were on full display. Both men glared at me as if they had seen something outrageously revolting. I puffed and straightened my shoulders.

"Well, that's no way to welcome someone. Didn't your mum ever tell you not to keep a face or else it'll get stuck? Chin up. We don't want you scaring away the fish with that look, do we? These bags won't carry themselves."

I was usually very reserved about handling my belongings. I was aware that I could carry my bags aboard on my own. But these men were laborers who knew what they were supposed to do. Chivalry was very huge here.

It would be very disrespectful of me to handle something myself without gaining the approval of a man first. Plus, my father's shop was nearby. The men would lose their jobs if my father spotted me carrying my things.

"Oi, you heard the lady." A large bulky man with blonde hair approached from behind me and Hansel. He wore a loose buttoned-up shirt and long brown slacks. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing his hairy arms.

There was a cigar in his mouth. He greeted me with a smile and tilted his hat upwards after bowing his head at me. Then he snapped his fingers, and another man who was brown-haired and dressed similarly to the blonde who was just as tall, but thinner stepped forward.

Both were white men with a tinge of pink tans. They both had blue eyes and both held a knowledgeable stare. The blonde winked at me when I observed him for a little longer than I would've liked.

The brunette grabbed onto my bag, and I was quick to stop him. "Um... excuse me, those are mine."

"Aye, Miss. He's aware." The blonde man stated.

Was this man going to tell me who the bloody heck they were? Who were they to approach us so sneakily? They slithered right up to us as if they were greedy snakes. Maybe they noticed my attire and wanted some money in return.

My father told me about scammers along the pier who would approach rich people and persist to help them and demand a hefty price. I wasn't going to allow it on my first day of traveling.

"Haha..." I chuckled tartly. "Pardon me, sir. But I don't follow...? Who are you?"

The blonde man brought the cigar out of his mouth and let out a massive puff of smoke. Then he licked his lips and extended his hand. "The name is Peterson. Peterson Byrne. This is my brother, James."

"Ello," James flashed his smile at me and grabbed onto Hansel's hand.

"Ah, yes. Well as nice it is to be at your acquaintance, Mr. Byrne?"

"Call me Peterson,"

"Mhmm... Mr. Peterson." I corrected myself and addressed him by his first name. "This job is nothing these cabin boys can't handle. We are in no need of your assistance."

My gaze shifted over his shoulder, and I nodded at another boat where men were having trouble rolling barrels up the ramp.

"But I'm sure if you look around, those men down there won't mind your help. So, toodle-oo."

"Ay, now hold on just a minute, Lass." Peterson laughed, but it wasn't genuine. He was mocking me. His brother even raised a brow at me as if wondering if I had lost my marbles.

"My brother and I aren't just... lowly regular workers. We've been hired. And I assume you," Peterson glanced at Hansel. "You must be Hansel Braun, the animal doctor. The man we're looking for."