CHAPTER 107: THE STRANGE WOMAN

Nine’s thoughts were running wild.

His heart leaped with excitement one moment, then sank the next.

He was happy because he thought Joshua had finally realized how perfect he was—and was about to confess it. But then he felt a pang of sadness at the thought that Joshua might only have realized it after he got rich.

Still, Joshua had been kind to him even when he was poor, so maybe... maybe he could overlook that.

And as for Joshua kicking him out of the Sea of Consciousness...

Fine. He’d forgive Joshua. Just this once. Nine told himself firmly.

"Alright, here we are! Come on in—what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"

Joshua honestly didn’t understand why Nine looked so impatient, as if he were the one who couldn’t wait to say something.

At that moment, Joshua also caught sight of Nine’s house.

It was a two-story modern home, looking more like a mini palace than a regular house. Joshua couldn’t help but ask, "You live alone in a place this big? Aren’t you scared?"

"Scared of what? I’m just waiting for you to buy me a castle next!" Nine said casually as he handed Joshua a pair of house slippers—pink ones, perfectly in Joshua’s size.

"I bought these especially for you. Thoughtful of me, right?" Nine tilted his chin up proudly.

Joshua nodded. "Thanks... but why are they pink?"

"Because pink suits you." Nine blinked at him with an almost innocent smile.

"Ah! Nine, you’re finally home!"

Just then, a woman’s voice suddenly rang out from inside the house.

Nine’s face immediately twisted into a grimace, shifting rapidly from confusion to shock in the blink of an eye.

At the same time, Joshua saw the woman—she was wearing nothing but a thin spaghetti-strap nightgown —and first things first, her chest was definitely large.

There was no doubt about it—this was exactly Nine’s type.

"W-Who are you?!"

But before Joshua could even react, Nine suddenly shouted, looking utterly panicked.

Joshua couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow in surprise.

The woman glanced briefly at Joshua before turning back to Nine, tears welling up in her eyes. "You brought me here yourself! Don’t you remember?"

Nine blinked rapidly. "But I told you to leave before! Why are you still here?"

The girl’s eyes widened, tears shimmering as she looked up at him with an innocent, pitiful expression. "I... you don’t like me at all? I need you, Nine..."

Joshua: "..." Though he had no idea what was going on between Nine and this woman, it definitely seemed like he’d shown up at the wrong time.

He patted Nine lightly on the back and said softly, "Handle it properly. Don’t be heartless to her. I’ll wait outside."

With that, he turned and walked out.

"Joshua!" Nine looked like he wanted to chase after him, but the door shut right in front of him.

He then turned back to the woman, feeling nothing but irritation and rage. He really wanted to crush her—crush her completely!

And the thought quickly turned into action.

The woman hadn’t expected him to suddenly grab her by the throat. Though Nine looked smaller and leaner than she was, his strength was shockingly powerful—she could feel her neck straining, as if it might snap in two.

"Y-you... cough... let me go... cough..."

Nine narrowed his eyes at her.

Just a few days ago, after celebrating his newfound "success," Nine had gone to a bar to party, enjoying the cheers and squeals of the girls as he threw money into the air.

When he left, he’d seen a young woman being hassled by an old, fat man. She’d noticed him and cried out for help.

After dealing with the situation, she said she couldn’t go home like that.

Drunk and muddle-headed, Nine had tossed her his house key and walked off.

He hadn’t expected humans to be that shameless.

And now, Joshua definitely thought he was some sleazy, unfaithful, lust-driven idiot with no self-control!

"I told you to get out! Why are you still here? What are you after?!"

When Nine dropped his usual arrogance, his voice turned cold—chillingly so. The woman swore she saw a flicker of red light in his eyes, and terror seized her heart. Her head began to ache horribly, as though something invisible was prying its way into her mind.

Her eyes rolled back; she could barely breathe. "I’m sorry... please... let me go!" she choked out, struggling wildly, her face turning an ugly shade of purple. In the process, she accidentally knocked over a vase on the shelf—the loud crash startled Joshua outside.

Knowing Nine’s temperament, Joshua frowned and rushed back in.

The moment he saw the scene inside, he froze for half a second before striding forward and grabbing Nine’s wrist. "Let go! What the hell are you doing?!"

"She lied to me—it’s her! She’s the one who lied to me!"

Nine suddenly snapped his head toward Joshua. Joshua stared back into those deep crimson eyes—precisely the same as what he had once seen inside his own Sea of Consciousness.

"Let go," Joshua said coldly.

"You never take my side! You always defend everyone else!" Nine ground his teeth, his face twisting with rage.

Joshua only looked at him quietly. Then he raised his hand and covered Nine’s eyes. From his palm emanated a faint, almost imperceptible white glow.

"Calm down," Joshua said softly.

Nine furrowed his brows, then released the woman and growled, "Get out!"

The woman continued to cough, her face streaked with tears. She stared wide-eyed at Joshua and Nine, then scrambled on all fours before bolting out the door.

Joshua remembered the look in her eyes just now—wild with relief at surviving, but filled with unmistakable hatred.

He didn’t know who she was, but he was certain this incident wouldn’t end easily.

"She really lied to me!" Nine suddenly shouted again, grabbing Joshua’s hand tightly.

Joshua nodded patiently. "Alright, I know."

"You don’t know! You’re taking her side!" Nine’s red eyes glistened; he looked on the verge of tears, his nose already running before the tears even fell.

He sniffled, face scrunched up pitifully.

Joshua pressed his lips together, lowered his gaze, and turned his head aside.

"Don’t you dare laugh!"

Nine shouted again.

Joshua: "..."

"Alright, alright, stop crying, okay? I’m sorry."

Joshua pulled Nine into a hug, speaking gently.

Joshua... was hugging him. Nine’s eyes went wide, though he stubbornly kept his lips pressed together, pretending to sulk.

"Come on, let’s go back inside. I want to take a look around your house, too," Joshua said as he tugged Nine forward.

Nine tilted his chin up toward the ceiling, still acting all moody.

Then, something soft brushed lightly against his cheek.

Nine secretly cracked one eye open and glanced down—Joshua had pressed his face against his, rubbing gently, whispering, "I’ll take your side, okay? I was just worried about you."

Nine: "!!!"

Aaaaaaaa!!!

So soft! Too soft!! So unbearably cute!!!

Joshua, you’re breaking all the rules!

Nine screamed internally, though outwardly, he just lifted his chin higher, pretending not to care.

Joshua could comfort him like this for ten minutes—no, for the rest of his life—and that would be perfectly fine! Hahaha!

But right then, a faint metallic clink, like a coin hitting the floor, suddenly echoed through the room. The sound was oddly familiar.

Joshua’s eyes widened. In the next instant, he opened his Personal Panel at lightning speed—checking his Fame Points!