CHAPTER 158: CONFLICT

Henry froze for a moment when he heard Joshua say that. They hadn’t even touched that much, yet his "brother down there" was already on the verge of surrendering to Joshua. Damn it.

He genuinely wanted to make Joshua cry just to see if he could still say those shameless, provocative lines afterward.

Henry’s gaze darkened. His fingertips skimmed across the skin at the back of Joshua’s neck, pressing down slightly.

Joshua’s eyes flew open, his whole body trembling. He practically jolted upright, instinctively struggling out of Henry’s hold.

Henry seemed to realize he had gone too far with his teasing.

He let Joshua go, raising both hands slightly as if in a gesture of surrender.

Joshua stared blankly at him, one hand instinctively reaching up to touch his own nape. He didn’t even realize his whole face was flushed bright red, the corners of his eyes tinted pink.

Henry swallowed hard without thinking, suddenly feeling like he desperately needed a cold shower.

Luther stepped out of the kitchen just in time to witness the strange standoff between Henry and Joshua.

He walked over, scoffing, "What are you two doing..."

But the moment he saw Joshua’s expression, the smirk almost died on his lips.

Instinctively, he lifted Joshua’s face to check, about to ask what happened when his wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Luther frowned, his gaze turning icy as he looked toward Henry. At the same moment, he saw Henry staring back at him with equally cold, emotionless eyes.

"Don’t touch him," Henry said in a low voice.

Luther let out a laugh—one of anger, the kind that slipped out because he was too furious to hold it in. Damn it. Now anyone thought they could wedge themselves between him and Joshua.

He shook off Henry’s hand and sneered, though there wasn’t the slightest hint of humor in his eyes. "What’s wrong? Not planning to pretend anymore, leader?"

He used the title Joshua always called Henry, twisting it into mockery.

Henry stood up as well and said calmly, "I never pretended."

They stood at the same height, neither backing down. Leonard and Justin, who had just walked out of the kitchen, paused for a moment, staring in confusion at the scene.

"So what exactly gives you the right to tell me not to touch him? What are you, leader? Ha."

Joshua tugged lightly on Luther’s sleeve, smiling. "Hey, that’s enough."

Luther turned to him. "What, you think he has more right than I do, don’t you?"

He paused. His eyes were deep—cold, angry, and filled with a heavy sadness. "Why? Joshua, I was here first."

Joshua froze for a moment, and Henry fell silent as well.

Joshua lowered his gaze, and Luther saw the way his fingers loosened their grip on his shirt. Panic flashed across Luther’s eyes. He hurriedly grabbed Joshua’s hand.

Joshua frowned, about to pull away when Luther suddenly pulled him into his arms.

Henry still said nothing, his gaze fixed on the two of them, unreadable.

Luther only held Joshua tighter, burying his face in the crook of Joshua’s neck as he began to sob. "Joshua, I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cross the line. It’s my fault."

He had already been rejected by Joshua. They had agreed on where they stood. They were supposed to just be friends.

But... why? Why couldn’t it be him?

If he wasn’t the chosen one, he’d rather Joshua be a little cruel. He’d rather Joshua reel him in like a fish than feel this painful, hopeless ache in his chest.

"Why..." Luther whispered.

Joshua felt the hot tears soaking his neck, Luther’s whole body trembling with the weight of his sobs.

Joshua’s heart softened, just a little.

He raised his hand and patted Luther’s back gently—just like Luther had comforted him on that chaotic night of theirs. "Alright, don’t cry, Luther."

Nine silently rolled his eyes. Great, more tears. This guy always used crying to make Joshua cave.

Leonard also couldn’t help letting out a cold snort. If he’d known, he would’ve cried too when his confession failed. At least then Joshua might not have stayed mad at him for so long before forgiving him.

Tch.

Joshua gently pushed Luther away and handed him a roll of tissues, then went to his room to change his shirt.

Almost the moment the door closed, Luther lifted his head, eyes cold as he stared at Henry. "Joshua rejected everyone, including me. Don’t think that means you have a chance."

His eyes were still red, yet the smile stretching across his lips was cruel and arrogant to the extreme. "At most, you’ll just become another person Joshua turns down."

Henry said nothing. It was impossible to tell whether Luther’s words had struck a nerve.

Justin didn’t know how Henry felt, but Luther’s words had hit his own deepest fear.

At least Leonard, Luther, and now even Henry dared to express their feelings. But him—he didn’t even dare show anything at all.

He was terrified. Terrified of being rejected. Terrified of losing Joshua as a friend.

Because even Joshua’s pure friendship was something he cherished so much he could never let it go.

Just being beside Joshua is enough. Just seeing Joshua happy is enough, Justin reminded himself. That has always been your goal, Justin.

At least for the next two years, no matter who Joshua ended up choosing, they would still be a group. Still live under one roof. Still stand on the same stage...

Nine could already feel the undercurrents rising among them.

He silently clicked his tongue. Damn it. He used to lecture Joshua about not falling in love early, and now these "monsters" kept circling around Joshua every day, tempting him into early romance. Disgraceful!

Before long, Joshua returned. Luther instantly clung to him, looking like a drenched puppy—pitiful to the extreme.

Joshua nudged his face away slightly. "Alright, you’re not a child."

"Okay, everyone, come sit on the sofa," Henry reminded them.

By now, the livestream waiting room was already buzzing.

[I was wondering where they’d stream, but after reading some comments, now I know!]

[At Joshua’s house—of course, the perfect choice hahaha!]

[I’m so excited, I missed them so much. This holiday break was way too long. As long as they’re happy though.]

[Joshua’s short livestream earlier was so much fun. Too bad I joined right as he ended it.]

[Leonard, I missed you so much!]

[Hurry up hurry up!]

[Merry Christmas everyone!]

[Merry Christmas Polaris!]

[I’m sitting in my room with just my computer, no tree, but it’s fine—I have ShinOn!]

[Life will get better.]

[Still no sign of Wolf, weird?]

[The others have their fan-only crowds too, but none of them are as popular as Wolf hahaha.]

[Oh! They’re here! They’re here!]

The screen lit up, revealing the five ShineOn members sitting together on the sofa.

The sofa was big enough for all five, though not overly spacious.

As usual, Henry and Justin sat at the edges, Joshua in the middle, flanked by Luther and Leonard.

[When will this seating order change? I want Justin next to Joshua!]

[???]

[Get lost!]