Luther stared blankly at his hand, now covered with a layer of ointment, still carrying a trace of warmth left behind by Joshua.
Joshua hadn't been wrong—the medicine was indeed effective. When it was applied, Luther felt a wave of cool relief, as if the wound might heal at any moment.
Once Joshua finished applying the ointment, he immediately flung Luther's hand aside and slipped out of the changing room, as though afraid Luther might suddenly grab him.
Watching the figure before him, Luther couldn't help but find it amusing, and the urge to tease him further began to rise…
But just then, the bathroom door opened. Justin walked out in pajamas, his wheat-colored skin appearing a shade paler—perhaps just the effect of a fresh shower.
He rubbed his hair with one hand while glancing at Joshua. "I thought I heard something just now. He didn't bully you, did he?"
Joshua silently marveled at how poor the bathroom's soundproofing was—after all, he had definitely screamed just moments ago.
Before Joshua could answer, Luther's irritated voice cut in from behind:
"So what if I bullied him? Even if I did, it's between me and him. What does it have to do with you? You really are quite nosy."
Pausing for a moment, Luther raised his brows at Joshua.
"Besides, how could I possibly bully Joshua? We were just fooling around a bit, isn't that right, Joshua?"
Joshua: "..." If Luther's idea of "fooling around" was comparing that, then he deserved to have no friends!
Under Justin's doubtful gaze, Joshua nodded. "Luther and I were just talking."
Hearing that, Justin said nothing more, though no matter how he looked at it, he still found Luther displeasing.
Luther gave Justin a mocking look, then sat back down on his bed.
Joshua turned to Justin, concern in his voice. "Are you done with your work already?"
Justin froze for a moment. For some reason, he actually looked a little guilty just then.
He nodded and said softly, "Yeah, I'm done."
"But Joshua, doesn't your wound hurt? I saw you still went to the dance studio today…" Justin was worried about Joshua's injury.
Luther glanced over, too. They didn't share the same practice room, so he hadn't expected Joshua to still be training with an injury.
But even knowing, what could they say? They were all competitors. They were the very ones who couldn't utter words like "you should stop practicing."
Joshua shook his head. "It looks serious, but it doesn't hurt that much. Don't you see I'm not even limping when I walk?"
Justin frowned slightly. Earlier that morning, Joshua had winced the instant his foot touched the ground, even curling his toes in pain… but since Joshua insisted, he said nothing more.
[This doesn't feel right. This medicine is so effective I'm starting to worry it has side effects.] Nine suddenly spoke up from within the bathroom.
Joshua glanced at the wound on his leg. It was still the same—even after a whole practice session, it hadn't split open or bled, and he couldn't feel any pain.
"This medicine came from your shop, and you don't even know if it has side effects?"
[I wasn't the one who made it,] Nine muttered.
Time flew by, and finally, the premiere of episode 1 arrived.
[L1: Sisters, I've been waiting so long, I'm too nervous! I can't wait to see which class my baby ends up in, I'm so excited!]
[L2: Leonard, Leonard all the way! My pick number 1!]
[L3: Everyone looks so fresh and radiant this time. All of them, keep it up, keep it up!]
[L4: I'm still looking forward to Leonard and Joshua's part, hahaha. Feels so romantic…]
[L5: It's here, it's here!!]
[L6: This is the first time I've seen solo stans hate CP fans this much.]
[L7: Because this CP is just too real, hahaha. Foby is real!]
[L8: Can't believe people still buy into the show's cheap editing tricks. Just wait and see, I bet Leonard and Joshua won't even have a scene together, hahaha.]
[L9: These people still won't accept reality. No one just suddenly screams like that unless they're close!]
[L10: Exactly, so just treat them as normal best friends. Foby my ass, you idiots!]
[L11: Can you take your arguments elsewhere? This place is for fans. Everyone, please pay attention to Luther. No need to wonder who he is—just keep your eyes on the most beautiful one!]
After a round of bickering like that, the long-awaited time for episode 1 finally arrived.
[L135: Damn, this is way too cool! He's so handsome!!]
[L136: Everyone looks amazing—Leonard and Joshua are sitting together. Are they really that close?]
Soon, the screen shifted to a side clip, where Leonard clung to Joshua and the two looked up together. Leonard even made a "V" sign above Joshua's head with his fingers.
[L278: Aaaaaaa Bunny! Leonard intentionally did that—those two fingers are Joshua's bunny ears, hahaha!]
[L279: Joshua revealed his true form right there on set, I'm dying hahaha!]
[L280: They're just too cute. Joshua looks a little shy, but look at Leonard's smile—like a fox that just snagged a juicy piece of meat. Adorable!]
Then the screen cut to Luther's performance, and the audience couldn't help but gasp in awe.
[L478: Finally, I understand why fans call him "princess."]
[L479: But I feel Luther himself wouldn't like that nickname… just my impression. His rap and dance were so cool—and I heard he can even compose music.]
[L480: Bingo! Long live the all-rounder princess!]
[L481: Haha, all-rounder? Wait until our pick shows you what a real all-rounder looks like!]
…
[L580: Finally, the moment we've been waiting for!]
[L581: What the hell, it's just before going on stage, why are they clinging to each other like that?! What is Leonard even doing to Joshua?!]
[L582: Pre-performance ritual, maybe, hahaha!]
As expected, Leonard's stage set off a wave of excitement, the entire live room practically exploding with his fans' screams.
[L1109: Whose turn is it next?]
[L1110: Aaaaaaa Bae Joshua, go go go!!]
[L1111: Bunny fight on! Mama believes in you!]
[L1112: Even the way he walks is cute, hahaha.]
[L1113: Honestly, Bae Joshua is this adorable—I really don't get who took that weird, unflattering photo, it was awful!]
[L1114: Speaking of which, the trainees are getting new profile pics in uniform soon, right?]
[L1115: Yeeeeeees! I hope that day's broadcast will be live!]
[L1116: Bunny jiayou, Bunny jiayou!!]
Surprisingly, Joshua's fan presence was nearly on par with Leonard's. Although their fanbase sizes differed, plenty of casual viewers were also drawn to this trainee whose physique didn't meet the usual standards.
Of course, mixed in with the flood of praise were mocking voices—but the overwhelming wave of compliments quickly drowned them out.
Even so, there was one thing everyone had to admit.
[L2011: I knew he could dance, but I didn't expect him to be this good…]
[L2012: His level surpasses everyone else's. I feel he's more suited to being a professional dancer—both in skill and looks!]
[L2013: Damn it, just give compliments without throwing shade. Some people's fans need to stop being so jealous of our Joshua.]