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Chapter 18 - Falling Ill

[The Wolf Doesn't Eat Meat]: Compilation of Joshua's funniest moments! [video]

 [The Wolf Doesn't Eat Meat]: Joshua's cover dance xxx and xxx—what defines the dance of kings for the new generation? [video]

 [The Wolf Doesn't Eat Meat]: Accidentally spoiled, Bunny is worried [gif]

>[Joshua 1st support]: Have the neighbors across the street angered the Wolft? Oh my, please stay mad like that, the meal is delicious, thank you!

 >[Love is X]: The Wolf has editing skills, please come to Foby!!!

 >[The Wolf Doesn't Eat Meat]: I'm an only-fan.

 >[Love is X]: ...

Nine's anger resulted in a sleepless night, endlessly spamming without rest.

 He dragged up Fame Points to over two hundred points.

By the time he returned, it was already past one in the morning, but deliberately, Joshua still hadn't gone to bed.

 Nine had initially planned to sulk a bit longer, but remembering that Joshua hadn't been able to sleep last night either, he frowned: [What's going on? Is it the environment that doesn't suit you? We could stay outside…]

"Maybe I'm just too excited…" Joshua said softly.

But that wasn't the case—he had already been like this. Back then, every day was spent running and singing, his body pushed to the brink of exhaustion, so at the very least, he could still fall asleep.

Now…

 He should push himself even harder tomorrow, Joshua thought, trying to ignore the trembling in his hand.

[Your heart is beating too fast, and you're even sweating. Are you really okay?]

Joshua wanted to tell Nine to stop talking. Every sound at this moment was buzzing in his ears, unbearably grating, making him nauseous.

[Maybe we should go to the hospital and—]

Nine was still muttering, but before he could finish, Joshua suddenly bolted upright, trying to climb off the bed.

In the darkness, Joshua's limbs trembled so badly he couldn't keep himself steady.

Bang!

[Joshua!] Nine shouted, frantic, hating that he had no physical form.

Tonight, Arthur had business and didn't return to the room, and as usual, Justin claimed he had matters to deal with.

 Only Joshua and Luther remained in the entire room.

The loud crash was enough to jolt Luther awake instantly from his deep sleep.

Click! The light flicked on. Luther's face was cold, his irritation obvious at being woken so abruptly from sleep.

Under the light, he saw Joshua collapsed on the floor. It seemed he had fallen from a height from the sound of it.

Luther frowned. After all, they were sharing the same room. He stood and asked coldly, "Hey, are you alright?"

At that moment, Luther noticed Joshua's shoulders trembling.

"Fell that hard? Come on, get up and let me see…" Luther said as he stepped forward to help him up.

But the instant he touched him, Joshua suddenly thrashed, shoving him away so hard that Luther fell to the floor.

A sharp pain shot through his hip. "Damn—" Luther was about to curse when he saw Joshua staggering toward the bathroom. Moments later, the sound of dry retching echoed out.

"Huughk—ugh!" Joshua clutched the toilet bowl, his face deathly pale. His stomach cramped in agony, his nerves twitching in spasms.

Nine had no idea what was happening to Joshua. Earlier, Joshua had suddenly snapped at him to be quiet, and now he didn't dare utter a word. Watching Joshua retch as if he might cough up blood, Nine was so frantic he felt like he was about to spin into a whirlwind.

Just then, a shadow fell over Joshua—Luther had approached.

Seeing Joshua like this, even Luther couldn't help but feel a trace of fear, his sleep banished completely.

At first, he considered Joshua possibly taking something to purge his dinner.

But thinking it over, no one vomits hours after eating, and besides, Joshua's whole body was trembling, clearly in a terrible state.

"Out with it—whose child is it?" Still, Luther couldn't resist a jab. He hadn't forgotten how this guy had once dared call him "princess" and bragged about his third leg.

As he spoke, he found himself chuckling, and by now he was already holding a glass of water out to Joshua. "Here, rinse your mouth. You really know how to torment people—now I've got to play servant…"

But before he could finish his sentence, the moment the glass touched Joshua's shoulder, Joshua flinched violently. Like a bird startled by the snap of a twig, he whipped around, arm lashing out.

The glass shattered on the floor with a sharp crack, fragments scattering. A long gash was left across Luther's hand, blood steadily seeping out.

"You…!"

Luther roared, about to lose his temper—but then he saw Joshua.

It wasn't the same annoying face from that day, nor his usual expression. Joshua was staring at him in pure terror. Yes—terror. His whole face was twisted with panic, tears streaming, the corners of his eyes red from vomiting, yet his lips were bloodlessly pale.

When Joshua realized Luther was looking at him, he recoiled instantly, curling into himself, retreating repeatedly as if trying to make himself as small as possible—as if by doing so, he could disappear from Luther's sight. His nails dug into his own skin hard enough to draw blood, but he seemed almost incapable of feeling the pain.

He was like a cat, bristling in a pitiful attempt to appear fierce—but in truth, he wasn't even as strong as a paper tiger, fragile to the core.

Luther lowered his gaze, his eyes suddenly deep and unreadable.

Softly, he said, "It's alright. I won't hurt you." As he spoke, he slowly raised both hands in a gesture of surrender.

Luther's sudden shift in attitude was so unexpected that even Nine couldn't help but be stunned. But Joshua still stared at him, as if he wished he could melt into the wall behind him.

It had to be said—with Luther's face, when he wasn't wearing that look of irritation, he really could be deceptively convincing.

He even gave a faint smile as he slowly extended his hand forward. Joshua's eyes widened, his gaze filled with despair as he watched that hand draw closer and closer—until, in the end, he suddenly lunged and sank his teeth directly into Luther's hand!

Blood definitely spurted out. Luther's brow furrowed from the pain, and his other hand lifted.

Joshua saw it too. He squeezed his eyes shut, as though he had already resigned himself to the blow about to fall.

But nothing came. That large hand only brushed gently over his hair—in fact, it rubbed softly.

Joshua opened his eyes wide, dazed as he looked at Luther. The strength of his bite lessened.

Luther was in enough pain to swear, yet his smile didn't falter. "I told you—I won't hurt you."

Suddenly, Joshua shoved Luther away again, curling back into the corner.

Luther glanced at his hand—it was indeed bleeding from the bite!

He looked at the trembling little mushroom before him, annoyed yet unable to do anything.

"Come on, rinse your mouth."

,When Luther brought the glass to Joshua's lips, Joshua didn't react as violently this time. Still, terror lingered, his trembling eyes fixed on Luther.

Pressing his lips together, Luther helped Joshua clean up, then tried to pull him back to bed.

But Joshua refused, insisting on staying curled up in the bathroom. In the struggle, his foot landed on a shard of glass, blood spilling across the floor.

This time, Luther honestly panicked. "Stop it—I'll take you to the hospital…"

But before he could finish, Joshua suddenly thrashed even harder. Luther knew he couldn't leave him like this, so he didn't hold back this time. He wrapped Joshua firmly in his arms, giving him no chance to escape.

With their bodies pressed together, Luther quickly felt the front of his shirt dampen with Joshua's tears. A faint, broken sob, barely audible, reached his ears:

"…No… hospital…"

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