CHAPTER 30: FAVORING THE GENTLE ONE

Joshua was dressed in the Shining Path uniform, sitting quietly in his seat. People began arriving, each carrying a mix of nervousness and unease.

Today, the results of the global vote will be announced, determining who will have to leave and who will be allowed to stay.

In this first round of eliminations, those ranked within the top 60 would stay, while the rest would have to go. The entire announcement process would be broadcast live!

A few people initiated conversations with Joshua, most complimenting his previous performance. They were, for the most part, quite friendly, and Joshua returned each smile in turn. But the seat beside him remained empty—the person assigned to sit there had yet to arrive.

As Joshua was thinking this, there was a stir from the seat beside him.

Surprise flickering across his face, he turned his head before he smiled and called out, "Arthur."

Arthur sat down next to him. It was undeniable that a well-tailored suit always made a man look handsome—but Arthur was an exception; he seemed born to wear one.

The standard-issue suit provided by the show’s production team looked like high fashion on him, just like the first time Joshua had seen him.

Arthur tilted his head toward Joshua. Under the lights, his brown hair seemed even brighter, while his obsidian eyes reflected very little light. His lips curved slightly as he said, "Joshua, it’s been a while."

Joshua parted his lips slightly, then lowered his eyes and replied softly, "I watched your group’s performance—your singing is still as incredible as ever."

Arthur chuckled at that. "Worthy of being praised by you on a live stream, huh?"

Joshua pressed his lips together, his face flushing slightly. "I didn’t expect you to have watched my live stream."

It had been the first time each trainee was given their own live-streaming room, and Joshua had accidentally spoiled Arthur’s heavenly singing voice there.

Arthur looked at the shimmering light in Joshua’s eyes and laughed. Joshua sat up straighter, saying nothing more, though his gaze occasionally flicked toward Arthur.

Nine suddenly appeared, speaking in a low tone: [Joshua, you’re acting weird.]

"Huh? What?" Joshua asked in confusion.

[Don’t play dumb. Is Arthur your type? Huh? Tell me the truth. No—kill that thought right now. Idols aren’t allowed to date! If you dare fall in love, I’ll electrocute you to death!] Nine roared.

Joshua felt at a loss for words. "You talk like we’re in some kind of autonomous zone, Nine."

Nine let out a cold laugh, and Joshua could only add, "Alright, fine. I’ll admit he’s very gentle—and his voice is amazing—but I don’t like him that way."

Nine raised his voice: [You don’t love him yet! So you already like him, right?!]

Joshua: "... No."

Nine shouted: [Pause, pause—don’t think I don’t know anything!] After a moment, he sighed: [Is it because I’m not gentle enough?]

Joshua: "..." Nine... gentle?

"I paused only because I wanted to think carefully before answering," Joshua explained.

Nine sounded like he had run out of options: [That only proves you have a good impression of him. No matter what, you’re not allowed to fall in love!]

Joshua frowned. He hadn’t planned on dating anyway, but Nine’s attitude was irritating: "As long as no one finds out, it’s fine."

[You! ... do you like him?] Nine suddenly grew cautious, his voice dropping lower.

Joshua replied thoughtfully, "No. But someday I’m sure I’ll meet someone I like. Besides, why are you so certain I’d like a guy?"

[Then do you like boys or girls?]

Joshua: "... I don’t know, I’ve never been in love before." He always thought that fate would come to him one day—he’d just stay where he was and wait.

[Good. Then stay that way forever!] Nine’s voice grew louder, full of excitement.

"You make it sound like you’re cursing me," Joshua said speechlessly.

"What are you spacing out for?" At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.

Joshua immediately covered his head, and Luther’s hand landed there simultaneously.

Luther chuckled. Inside, he was both annoyed and amused. He pinched the crown of Joshua’s head with his fingertips. "What’s this? If someone else saw, they’d think I’d bullied you so badly you’ve developed psychological trauma."

Joshua swatted Luther’s hand away and said sternly, "My hair’s been styled today. And you should really quit the habit of rubbing people’s heads."

He used so much force every time he did it that it was like he was petting a dog.

Luther looked at Joshua’s serious expression, then simply reached out and pinched his cheek before lazily sitting down, legs crossed, hands folded behind his head.

Joshua glanced at Luther—or rather, at the golden locks of his hair.

Naturally, Luther noticed. He raised an eyebrow. "If you want to touch it, then go ahead."

Joshua blinked in confusion. "Really?" But his hand was already lifting.

Luther sneered: "Only you would be that stingy."

At that, Joshua immediately pulled his hand back. Luther looked puzzled. "What’s wrong?"

Joshua pouted. "If I touch your hair, next time you’ll use it as an excuse to touch mine."

"Ha ha!" Luther suddenly burst out laughing. He grabbed Joshua’s hand, then outright shoved his hair into it. Seeing Joshua’s dumbfounded expression, Luther laughed even more arrogantly: "Do you really think I need a reason to touch your head?"

Joshua: "..." He acted like they were best buddies!

In any case, Joshua finally satisfied his curiosity. He touched Luther’s hair—gently, as if holding silk.

Watching Joshua’s cautious expression, Luther couldn’t help but laugh. It was just hair, after all. But Luther had the impression Joshua carried his own kind of fairy-tale obsession.

"Dear trainees, you are about to complete the very first stage of the Shining Path! National Producers, we have received your choices! So, which trainees will cross the boundary of this first path to step onto the next? We will find out right now!"

The male MC’s voice rang out, and the sweeping stage lights signaled the beginning.

[Sweeties, Mama’s here!]

[Nothing escapes my eyes—I just saw Luther and Joshua flirting, I swear!]

[Exactly! Princess actually let Joshua play with his hair!]

[Don’t call him Princess, he said he doesn’t like it.]

[Joshua, sitting between Luther and Arthur, looks like the valley between two mountains of Shining Path.]

[That’s a personal attack!]

[Size gap mlem mlem mlem]

[Where’s my child?!]

[There are three live-stream rooms, and you still haven’t found your kid?]

[Hahaha]

[No matter who’s in the top 60, I can guess who’ll be in the top 10.]

[Leonard for top 1, no doubt about it!]

[No one even said that yet, Mom.]

[Honestly, I hope Joshua gets top 1.]

[Joshua’s rise feels so smooth—he was born to be on stage. With that face and that talent, it’d be hard not to become popular.]

[Joshua’s performance was terrific, but Leonard already has an established fanbase. Leonard will take top 1 this round, but after that... not so sure. Joshua’s terrifyingly good.]

[When they first announced Shining Path Season III, I was almost certain Leonard would debut as center. But after round one, now I’m not so sure.]

[Fair competition! No way Leonard will lose!]

[Support our bae Joshua!]

[I ship the two of them together!]

[Did some heretic sneak in here?]

[...]

[Hahaha]