CHAPTER 117: FIVE PEOPLE ON AN OUTING

"Shuaa, you clearly said it’d just be the two of us hanging out!"

Luther shoved a bouquet into Joshua’s hands, sounding a little annoyed.

Joshua accepted the flowers, muttering, "When did I ever say that? And why did you suddenly buy flowers?"

Luther chuckled. "You said Leonard was sweet because he bought flowers, didn’t you? I’m just showing you how sweet I can be, too."

Joshua looked down at the star-shaped blue petals in his hands and said softly, "There’s no need. Luther has always been the sweetest."

That was precisely why Leonard disliked it whenever Luther and Joshua were together — it was as if the two of them existed in their own little world, one no one else could enter.

At that moment, Justin came up as well, looking a little embarrassed. "I bought flowers too. Because you like them."

Joshua couldn’t help but laugh at that and said to all three of them, "Next time, don’t buy any more. I can buy my own."

Besides, being showered with flowers like this felt... a little strange.

Leonard clicked his tongue in irritation.

Joshua, now holding three bouquets at once, looked completely at a loss for where to put them. In the end, they decided to leave the flowers aside.

"All four of us are here, but Henry isn’t," Joshua murmured. "If someone takes a picture, the media’s definitely going to say we’re having irreconcilable conflicts and about to disband."

"’Four members isolating the leader’—yeah, that sounds like a good headline," Luther said with a grin.

Leonard snorted. "Isn’t it more like Henry isolating us?"

Justin silently agreed with Leonard on that point.

Joshua, however, said quickly, "Henry’s not that bad. He’s a good person."

As he spoke, he took out his phone and called Henry directly.

After Henry’s sudden attack that night, the scolding his family had planned for him was put on hold while they focused on investigating who the attacker was.

Even so, Henry was still pressured to leave the entertainment industry.

He had always followed his grandfather’s guidance since childhood — but this time, he was unyielding. So much so that his grandfather told Henry’s parents there was no way they could sway him with words alone.

"The activity period for ShineOn is two years," Henry said simply before leaving.

He didn’t want his family interfering in this matter. At the same time, he understood that he had only two years — two years to stay as close to Joshua as possible.

And after that? When they eventually had to part ways, he’d just be an ex-teammate. Maybe not even a friend. Would Joshua forget him amid the sea of people?

Or maybe... maybe he wouldn’t forget. Because Henry had the same face — and the same beauty mark — as the person Joshua still longed for...

Just as Henry was about to be swallowed by his own thoughts, his phone suddenly rang — the special ringtone that marked the caller’s equally special place in his heart.

He blinked in surprise, pressing his lips together. Even though Joshua wasn’t in front of him, his expression instinctively turned serious as he answered softly, "Joshua, what is it?"

"Leader, it’s our day off! Let’s go have some fun — everyone’s already here."

It would’ve been so much better, Henry thought, if it were just the two of them.

He watched Luther sling an arm around Joshua’s shoulders, refusing to let go the entire way.

Then Henry quietly raised his phone and attached it to a pre-prepared holder.

The others looked puzzled, and Henry, calm and composed as a responsible leader, explained, "Elly said we should gather more casual, daily-life footage to make vlogs for fan interaction."

Joshua’s eyes lit up immediately. "That’s right! And since we’re at an amusement park, this will be perfect material!"

He turned to Luther with a teasing smile. "Our fans will finally get to see how loud Luther screams on roller coasters."

Luther looked at Joshua’s dimples and couldn’t help but pinch one. "I am never getting on that thing again."

"Of course not — you’re scared," Joshua said lightly.

A vein twitched on Luther’s forehead. He threw up his hands. "Scared? Me?!"

Joshua laughed brightly, grabbed Luther’s hand, and the moment they entered the amusement park, he completely ignored the thrill rides, heading straight for the games of chance area.

"Look!" Joshua tugged Luther toward a booth. "If you roll the dice and get eighteen points in one throw, you win four free rounds!"

Luther smirked, lifting his chin. "Funny how you’re not calling for your leader at times like this."

Before Henry could even react, Joshua waved dismissively. "His luck’s even worse than mine." Then he tugged on Luther’s arm, grinning. "Come on, you roll it~"

Luther looked down into Joshua’s wide, pleading eyes. He clearly meant to play hard to get, but in the end, he just couldn’t resist.

Chuckling, he reached out and pinched Joshua’s cheek before roaring, "Alright, alright."

Joshua looked completely confident that Luther would nail all eighteen points — and, as it turned out, he was absolutely right.

All three dice stopped on sixes. Everyone stared in disbelief.

"Luther! You’re amazing!"

Without hesitation, Joshua lunged forward, looping his arms around Luther’s neck and practically climbing onto him, his entire face lit up with such a radiant smile that his eyes disappeared.

Leonard couldn’t help but say, "You look like some kind of special symbol, Joshua, like there are only three straight lines on your face."

Joshua ignored Leonard’s remark. He took the four free-play tickets and handed one to Luther.

Luther protested, "So you still make me play in the end, huh? Fine. This time, let’s swap prizes like last time, okay?"

They all glanced at the fluffy pink bunny hanging from Luther’s side. He took that rabbit everywhere because it was a gift from Joshua. Leonard, who had no idea how many times he’d thought it ugly, snorted coldly, "These little games are nothing. I can afford them."

Justin called out loudly, "Joshua, what do you want?"

"I don’t want anything. If you guys want to play, go ahead," Joshua chirped. Then he took his three free tickets and went straight to the shooting-gallery booth.

Tsk. These people underestimated him. He was definitely going to get what he wanted.

It was a small off-road vehicle model. He could buy one outside, of course, but nothing beat the thrill of earning it himself by taking the challenge and trading a little for a lot.

With three free tickets, if he won, he could get the model without spending a single penny. Win big with little. That was the fun of it.

Joshua excitedly grabbed the mock rifle.

And then... nothing.

Joshua stared wide-eyed as his three free tickets were used up, and the target still had not a single hole.

No way. The distance was clearly close. Could he really be that awful?!

Luther burst out laughing, "Ha ha ha, Joshua, see what I mean about being away from your best friend? It’s a storm."

He pulled Joshua into his arms, pressing his head down so Joshua’s face rubbed lightly against his chest. The more he stroked, the softer Joshua’s hair felt. Everything about him was smooth and pleasant to touch.

After getting his fill of fondling, Luther finally let Joshua go and patted his own chest. "Watch and learn. I’ll show you how it’s done."

Joshua pressed his hands down on the hair Luther had mussed and said, with a hint of coldness, "If you don’t win, I’ll kill you."