CHAPTER 153: SIDE MISSION

Nine didn’t quite remember how he first came into existence, but he knew his mission very clearly...

In the past, gods had always been the best way to gather faith. However, creating actual deities was truly difficult, and they would eventually be worn down by the flow of fate.

Fortunately, the world kept developing, and Nine discovered the most optimal method: creating idols. The affection and fiery passion of fans also brought forth a powerful kind of energy, and that was exactly what Nine needed to strengthen himself.

At present, he had chosen Joshua, and a premonition struck him. It seemed he had finally found the true path. Perhaps the darkness would end in this century, and Joshua was the key...

Joshua, just what will our past turn out to be?

Nine wondered quietly. Right at that moment, as if sensing something, he suddenly paused for a brief second before swiftly dissolving into a stream of starlight, disappearing into the night of the bustling city.

Joshua’s mission to collect fame points had already been completed.

Each time, the required amount of fame points increased, but luckily Joshua had more than enough ability to handle them. His popularity was rising without stopping.

That morning, the moment Joshua opened his eyes, he received a notification that the mission was complete. The reward this time was a little different.

[New Emerging Acting Talent x1]

[Description: Let’s get that very first acting award together. You will be the most outstanding newcomer in the acting world!]

Joshua couldn’t help pausing for a moment. This system was really forward-thinking. He had been preparing to study acting anyway, because at the year-end performance, Lance had chased after him while yelling nonstop that he wanted Joshua to play a role in his film.

There had been quite a few reporters there at the time, yet this information still hadn’t leaked. It seemed Lance had used his influence to suppress it temporarily.

Now that he had this reward, Joshua could look through some other works and try experimenting a little.

At that moment, the door was suddenly knocked on. Before Joshua could say anything, Nine pushed the door wide open and walked in, cheerfully saying, "Saw the new reward yet? Exciting, isn’t it? Ha ha ha! You’re absolutely going to get even more famous!"

Joshua was pulled into Nine’s embrace, his body swaying slightly. He leaned directly against Nine’s chest, eyes half-closed, looking as if he hadn’t woken up yet while casually scrolling through the Personal Panel in front of him.

Nine lowered his gaze at Joshua, his eyes deep.

Joshua... just like this, no matter how many times, he always seemed certain that Nine would never do anything to him.

It’s really annoying, Joshua. You obviously know I like you.

Nine thought so, and his hand couldn’t help but pinch Joshua’s cheek a little.

At that moment, the screen of the Personal Panel shifted.

[Complete the side mission to unlock new missions and more rewards!]

[Side mission: Kiss Henry!]

No time limit, no reward, no punishment. A mission suddenly appearing like that was enough to make Joshua almost wake up instantly.

He stared wide-eyed, instinctively lifting his gaze toward Nine. Nine, meanwhile, furrowed his brows tightly and raised his voice: "This damn system!"

Joshua couldn’t help frowning slightly. Nine clearly acted as if he knew exactly what rewards Joshua would receive. Sometimes it felt like he possessed the Idol System, and sometimes it felt like he couldn’t do anything at all.

Joshua couldn’t help asking, "Are the side missions random?"

Joshua narrowed his eyes, as if pondering something: "Thinking about it, all the physical-contact missions are related to Henry..." Joshua paused for a moment. "It feels like we’re taking advantage of him."

Nine: "..." he was practically dying of happiness, if only you knew, you idiot!

Nine grew a little annoyed: "Actually, you’re also the first person to trigger these kinds of side missions."

And as for Henry, Nine couldn’t help wondering, could this actually be what he wants? No way, right ha ha ha. There’s no way he’s the system pushing Joshua and Henry together, right?

Nine thought with a feeling of desert-dry despair. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it sounded.

Just then, Joshua spoke up again: "If we kiss, then we have to be lovers."

The moment Nine heard that, he practically bristled all over like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "Why?! You could pretend to be drunk!"

Joshua was shaken back and forth by Nine, and he turned his face to the side, lips pressed together without answering.

Nine froze, his gaze deep as if he could see through everything: "You like Henry too, don’t you? In your past life, what were the two of you? Lovers?"

Joshua instinctively shook his head: "I only remember up to the part where he confessed to me."

Confessed, confessed?!

Nine felt like he was about to turn into a fire-breathing dragon, his hands gripping Joshua’s upper arms tightly: "He confessed, and you accepted?"

Joshua turned his face away, normally indifferent to romance, yet now looking oddly embarrassed: "I hadn’t accepted yet..." and then the apocalypse began that very night.

Thinking back, Joshua said firmly, "But I think after that, I probably did agree to be Henry’s boyfriend."

Joshua frowned. "Or something more than that."

Nine: "..." what could be more than that? Don’t tell him Henry proposed to Joshua. Actually... that was entirely possible!

Joshua hadn’t even remembered everything yet and he was already biased toward Henry. Once he remembered everything, he’d probably throw Nine straight out the window!

But he was also Henry, wasn’t he? If Joshua liked Henry, did that mean Joshua also liked him? Even though Nine always felt he was an independent individual, the thought still made him quietly happy.

Watching Joshua still lost in thought, Nine raised his voice: "Alright, stop thinking! And besides, this Henry hasn’t remembered anything from the past yet..."

Joshua shook his head. "He hasn’t remembered, but he is Henry."

Henry grew up with him, Henry pulled him out of hell, Henry would never hurt him, Henry could sacrifice everything for him.

Seeing the look in Joshua’s eyes, Nine felt a painful squeeze in his chest. But this was the mission. If he wanted everything to continue, he couldn’t tell Joshua not to complete it.

Nine cursed silently, then huffed coldly: "Get up and eat breakfast, you lazy thing."

Joshua watched Nine’s sulking back, tilting his head slightly, lowering his gaze. Suddenly, he spoke: "Nine, I’m sorry."

Nine was just about to step out the door. Hearing that, he immediately turned around, brows furrowed on the surface, though his heart lurched in panic: "Why are you suddenly apologizing to me?! Who said you could apologize to me?!"

Joshua couldn’t help finding Nine a little funny, but he didn’t laugh. He simply spoke softly, voicing the truth from deep in his heart: "If I really were born again..."

Then what? Would the person beside Joshua from the very beginning be him instead of Henry?

Nine gave a small laugh. "I’m great, but not as great as your Henry, right?"

Joshua said gently, "There’s no ’better’ or ’worse’, Nine. That’s just subjective. One day, you’ll also find someone who thinks you’re the best person in the world."

Clearly, he didn’t need anybody else. He only needed Joshua. He only wanted Joshua to see him as the best person in the world.

Nine opened his notebook, feeling that Joshua was truly a liar. He had said countless sweet things, yet everything shattered like bubbles the moment he reunited with Henry.

Henry, Henry... if we share the same soul, then why am I not the one chosen? Just because you arrived earlier than me? Damn it!