CHAPTER 106: THE STRANGE MAN IN THE ELEVATOR

Joshua had no idea that a simple outing of his could cause his friends so much worry.

He stepped into the elevator, instinctively tugging his mask down a bit. His fingers brushed against his lips—they felt a little dry. He had forgotten to apply lip balm before leaving the house.

Joshua resisted the urge to lick his lips and took out a lip balm that was dangling from his small backpack. Of course, a mirror was also a must-have.

If Luther were here, he’d definitely start mocking Joshua for being too fussy again.

But really, Joshua was just... Joshua.

Just then, the elevator bell suddenly chimed. Joshua pressed his lips together and lowered his mirror.

That was when he saw the man standing outside the elevator.

The man was wearing a T-shirt and shorts. His hair was messy and greasy, as if he hadn’t washed it for five days, and he was holding a pile of crumpled papers in his hands. He looked both shabby and strange.

Lance widened his eyes at the sight of the boy inside the elevator. That soft jet-black hair, those bright blue eyes that seemed to hold starlight, that face—so beautiful yet adorably strange—and those peach-pink lips. Peach pink! That face... that face struck straight into his heart!

Joshua just found the man odd. He stood frozen outside the elevator door, refusing to enter yet also keeping the door from closing. Joshua subtly readied himself to defend if needed.

But then, the man suddenly dropped to one knee, raising one hand high toward Joshua and declaring, "You! You are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen! Please, become the rose I cherish in my hands!"

Joshua: "..." Great. The moment he stepped outside, he ran into a lunatic. Hadn’t Sister Elly said this building was full of people from the entertainment industry?

The man was still staring at him, eyes wide and full of sincerity.

Joshua sighed. "...Stand up. Turn around."

Lance’s eyes widened even further as he exclaimed, "Even your voice is heavenly!"

Then he obediently followed the instruction—he even closed his eyes, as if waiting for an embrace from behind.

But instead—

A solid kick landed squarely on his backside, sending him sprawling out of the elevator.

Lance tumbled across the floor, rolled once, and sprang back up—just in time to see the elevator doors close completely, taking that beautiful figure with them.

He stood up, wiped the corner of his mouth, and grinned. "That boy... is exciting."

He might have looked like a domineering CEO saying that—if only he wasn’t dressed like a mess and reeking like he hadn’t showered in days.

Joshua, meanwhile, had no idea that the lunatic back there had just recited a line straight out of some overbearing CEO drama.

He had only been walking for a short while when a car suddenly stopped in front of him.

He didn’t know what brand it was, but its sleek design screamed "supercar"...

Just as that thought crossed Joshua’s mind, the car door suddenly opened—making him instinctively take a step back.

Just then, Nine’s voice suddenly rang out: "Get in the car! I’m taking you out to burn up the streets!"

"Nine?"

Joshua looked at Nine’s face poking out from the window, then glanced at the supercar again, suspicion deep in his voice. "You didn’t... steal this, did you?"

"How dare you think of me like that?!" Nine roared. "Just get in already!"

Joshua didn’t say another word and obediently got into the car.

"Well? Cool, right? I bet this is the first time in your life you’ve ever sat in a car this fancy!" Nine hummed proudly as he drove.

He still looked as scrawny as ever, and that grin of his only made him seem more mischievous. But today, instead of the ragged clothes he’d worn before, he had on something much more "street"—complete with a thick gold chain so big Joshua honestly worried for the man’s neck.

Sensing Joshua’s stare, Nine lifted a hand to touch his necklace, raising his chin smugly. "This is 24-karat gold! If you like it, I’ll give it to you!"

Joshua shook his head. "No, thanks."

"Joshua, how can you be so cold? Is it because I’m no longer poor that you’ve started distancing yourself from me?!" Nine’s voice suddenly rose dramatically.

Joshua was speechless. "Stop accusing people so randomly—and use both hands to drive."

After a pause, he couldn’t help but ask, "Do you even have a driver’s license?"

"Of course I do!" Nine replied matter-of-factly.

Joshua frowned. "When did you even take the test?"

"Who needs to take a test? You can just fake it," Nine said, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Joshua: "..." He instantly regretted getting into this car.

Then, as if to show off, Nine slammed down on the accelerator, shooting forward. He yelled, "How’s that? Cool, huh? Hahaha!"

"Slow down," Joshua said coldly. "Or I swear, I’ll never see you again."

"You’re always threatening me! You don’t understand what speed means!" Nine shouted back. "Why didn’t you say anything when Leonard drove you around last time, huh?!"

"Leonard has a real license. And he doesn’t speed in crowded areas—you know that."

"You’re just picking on me!" Nine was so frustrated he looked like he might cry, but Joshua didn’t even spare him a glance.

Grinding his teeth, Nine could only ease up on the gas in sullen silence.

After a moment, Joshua frowned. "This isn’t the direction to the place I rented for you."

Nine snorted. "Of course not. I’m rich now, obviously, I’ve upgraded to a fancier place!"

Joshua couldn’t help recalling how, back when Nine lived with him, the man would yell at him for being wasteful every time he tried to buy something. And yet now that Nine had money, he was the one who couldn’t stop spending.

"Aren’t you going to ask how I got the money?" Nine suddenly said, breaking the silence.

Joshua looked out the window. "I already asked. You just didn’t answer."

"You don’t know how to ask twice, three times, huh, you idiot Joshua?" Nine snapped furiously.

Joshua stayed silent, which only made Nine feel even more defeated—as if Joshua had somehow bested him again. It was unacceptable!

But in the end, he gave in and said, "I can make money, you know. Seriously, those virtual currency things everyone’s crazy about—I just hacked into the system a little, and bam, tons of cash!"

Joshua replied calmly, "Then you’re really quite talented."

Encouraged, Nine grew even more excited. "And stocks too! Oh man, I can literally predict how they’ll rise and fall, hahaha!"

Joshua nodded. So that was the source of Nine’s sudden wealth. Well, at least this way, Nine wouldn’t have to leech his fame points every month anymore.

"Alright, we’re here," Nine announced, hopping out of the car to open the door—but by then, Joshua had already opened his own and stepped out.

Nine looked at him in dismay. "Why won’t you let me open the door for you? Do you... not like me or something?!"

"What does that have to do with whether I like you or not? Alright, come on, I have something to talk to you about." Joshua lightly pushed Nine aside and began walking forward.

Nine blinked rapidly, his eyes wide with surprise.

Joshua had something to talk to him about? What could it be? Could it be that Joshua had finally recognized his charm—that he was, in fact, an irresistibly handsome and capable man?!