CHAPTER 70: JUST A DESSERT PARTY

Leonard gaped as he watched Justin hugging Joshua, a storm of thoughts swirling in his head.

At that moment, Luther stepped forward to pull the two apart, his expression clearly displeased. "What are you two hugging for? If—"

Before he could even finish his sentence, Joshua suddenly threw himself into Luther’s arms. Luther froze for a moment, then lowered his gaze, only to see Joshua looking up at him with a smile. "Sorry for not checking your messages. I didn’t mean to. I just got back from buying some desserts—I was about to call you."

Luther raised an eyebrow at that, his tone softening as he gently pinched Joshua’s cheek. "Is that so? Then I’ll let you off just this once."

Joshua couldn’t help but laugh. "Oh? And how exactly were you planning to punish me?"

Luther grinned like a devil. "I was going to ruffle your hair until you went bald."

Joshua: "..."

Joshua gave him a light kick, then turned to head inside. Before going in, he glanced at the others with a welcoming smile. "Everyone, come on in."

Justin looked positively thrilled, Henry remained expressionless, while Leonard grumpily set the bouquet down on the coffee table—without saying whether it was for Joshua or not.

The room’s main tones were white and pink, bright and lively. A faint sweet scent lingered in the air—it smelled just like Joshua.

Only now did Luther realize the strange awkwardness hanging in the atmosphere. He chuckled, trying to act casual. "So, Joshua, you like pink, huh?"

Joshua shot him a glare. Luther responded by pinching his cheek again. "Even your lips are pink."

"Go put on some lip balm," Joshua said flatly.

"Oh? Lip balm makes lips this pink? I thought it was because you’ve eaten too many snow peaches."

A vein pulsed on Joshua’s forehead. He smacked Luther’s hand away. "Stop being annoying—and move over! That’s a one-person sofa!"

Luther finally backed off, while Justin’s attention was already fixed on the pile of desserts on the table.

"Whoa, Hapsah Bakery? These cakes are expensive..." he muttered.

Joshua tilted his chin up, his shiny card glinting in hand as he said generously, "Eat all you want. It’s on me."

Justin’s eyes immediately sparkled. "Joshua, you’re seriously amazing! Should I start calling you ’Your Majesty’?"

Joshua smirked. "You can call me ’President’."

"President!" Justin exclaimed.

If it weren’t for the others being there, the two of them could’ve easily put on a complete live performance of "The President and His Little Wife."

Standing off to the side, Leonard couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh—though no one could tell exactly who he was mocking.

Meanwhile, Luther flicked Joshua’s forehead with a smirk. "Well, well, Joshua. Showing off the card I gave you to the world, huh?"

Joshua covered his forehead, dramatically collapsing back onto the sofa as if he’d lost all strength. Then he suddenly sat up again, flashing Luther a grin. "So what you mean is—I should be the one calling you President, right?"

"President~" he purred, leaning in closer. The corners of his lips curled up, his eyes curved into crescents, and his dimples deepened.

Luther pressed his lips together, feeling his heartbeat stumble for a split second. He raised both hands to squeeze Joshua’s cheeks. "Don’t get that close."

Joshua swayed playfully, and Luther warned, "I’ll kiss you."

Joshua didn’t back down—in fact, he puckered his lips, pink and glossy, and mumbled, "You think I’m scared of you? Go on then—kiss me."

Luther’s eyes widened slightly. He pursed his lips, then pushed Joshua back onto the sofa with a cold snort. "There better not be a next time."

Joshua ignored the warning entirely. He began unwrapping the desserts on the table—small cakes, tarts, and pastries. The others didn’t show much reaction, but Joshua’s eyes sparkled with excitement. He licked his lips and started cutting the cakes.

Then Justin’s puzzled voice broke the moment. "Joshua, why’s there a slice missing from this cake?"

Luther chuckled. "And you said you were waiting for me to eat with you—turns out you already had some! Joshua, you glutton."

Joshua shook his head. "I gave it to a friend."

That single word made everyone suddenly more attentive.

A friend? Joshua had another friend?

Luther was about to ask when Joshua finished cutting the first slice. Just as Luther was about to say he didn’t like sweets, Joshua held the plate out—to Henry.

"For you."

Joshua spoke clearly, each word deliberate.

Henry looked a little surprised. He accepted the slice and gave a slight nod. "Thanks."

Then he lowered his gaze to the cake, his expression still as calm as ever—but it was clear he’d sunk deep into thought.

Joshua couldn’t help but snicker quietly to himself.

Meanwhile, Luther, looking completely dissatisfied, said, "Joshua, where’s mine?"

"If you’re that impatient, cut it yourself. There’s a knife in the box. Besides, didn’t you say you don’t even like sweets..."

"I do!" Luther cut him off firmly before he could finish.

In the end, when the last slice of cake landed in front of Leonard, he couldn’t help feeling a little resentful. Still, with everyone present, it would be too embarrassing to complain over a piece of cake.

Then again, Luther wasn’t embarrassed at all acting like that, was he?

Leonard lowered his gaze, silently thinking to himself.

"Hey, didn’t you say you don’t like sweets?"

On the other side, Joshua and Luther were still arguing.

The same Luther who supposedly disliked desserts was now halfway through Joshua’s two-tier snow peach cake.

He curled his lips. "This is the price you pay for not cherishing my love."

"But at least leave me the last piece!" Joshua frowned, while Justin, sitting nearby, commented, "Joshua, I’ve never even seen you eat this much during a proper meal."

"The dessert stomach and the meal stomach are two separate entities," Joshua replied flatly.

In the end, the "battle" concluded with Joshua turning his back sulkily, leaving Luther to coax him into eating cake again. The whole scene was noisy and chaotic.

Leonard clicked his tongue from the side. "It’s just a cake..."

Then he glanced at Henry, who was still calmly savoring the slice Joshua had given him—completely detached from the commotion around him.

Justin, meanwhile, was wide-eyed as he watched Luther and Joshua practically glued together.

Once Joshua finished cleaning up, the moment he stepped into the kitchen, Luther immediately bolted toward the water dispenser, chugging water like a man dying of thirst. Then he dashed back to his seat in record time, acting as if he’d never moved at all—his speed could put teleportation to shame.

"Cough, cough..." Luther covered his mouth, grimacing at the cloying sweetness still lingering in his throat. God, it was nauseating! Why did Joshua even like stuff that sweet?!

Just as he was thinking that, Joshua reappeared, arms crossed, leaning to one side as he looked at him. "If you can’t handle it, don’t show off. Serves you right."

"Anyway, we’re done eating. Thanks, everyone, for checking up on me," Joshua said before Luther could respond.

Luther blinked, confused. "Hey, don’t you have anything fun to do here? Where’s your game console? Or we could just watch TV, right, guys?"

At that, the rest of the group suddenly seemed to unite in agreement.

Joshua: "..."

He decided not to bother anymore, just sat back down and said, "Fine, go play your games. I don’t have a console."

"Your phone?" Luther looked at him like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Joshua stayed silent, and Luther’s eyes widened. "Joshua, seriously—you don’t play games? At all?"

"There’s not a single game on your phone?"

Joshua: "...So what? What’s so fun about that?"

"Of course it’s fun!" Luther said, squeezing in beside him. "Unlock your phone, let me teach you some fun things."