The next morning, after finishing breakfast, the production crew and the guests set off for the day's filming location. Naturally, the parents and the babies were separated. The parents were taken to a designated area equipped with a live broadcast screen so they could observe their children as clearly as possible. Meanwhile, the babies were taken to a different location, each given a map to begin their journey of finding their guardians.
Zarukel held Joshua's hand tightly, watching the crew gradually disappear into the crowd. Still, the two kids knew perfectly well that they were still nearby—and more importantly, there were always miniature cameras filming them.
The production team, of course, had thoroughly considered the safety of the children before daring to produce such a show. The crew would hide among the crowd to capture the most genuine reactions of the babies when no adults were around.
"Boring," Zarukel snorted coldly, clearly displeased with being treated like a dancing monkey for others to gawk at. However, feeling the small hand in his palm, his expression lit up joyfully.
He turned to Joshua and grinned, "Let's have fun. I'll buy you ice cream, okay?"
The filming location was an amusement park. Though it wasn't the weekend, and the crowd wasn't too large, the atmosphere was still lively. Along the path were vendors selling giant stuffed animals, ice cream, pastries, drinks, and beautiful balloons—Zarukel was confident Joshua would love all of it.
Joshua looked at Zarukel, tilting his head slightly in confusion. "But... we're supposed to find Papa. If we're late, Papa and the others will be upset."
He held the map out before Zarukel as he spoke and waved it.
On the other side, Cale couldn't help but clap. "Now that's more like it! When will that Zarukel brat learn a thing or two from Joshua? He's not even the least bit worried about me!"
His outburst caused the live broadcast room to erupt in laughter.
Indeed, according to the program's rules, the parents were placed in a sealed room where the temperature would gradually rise or fall. The temperature was rising in Cale and Adonis's room, while it was dropping in Layla and Lily's room. So Joshua wasn't wrong—if they were late, the adults would have to endure the temperature changes. The faster the children reached them, the sooner the parents would be released from that room.
The production team wouldn't go so far as to make them sick, but comfort certainly wasn't part of the plan.
Zarukel looked at the map in Joshua's hand. It was so simple that he could immediately guess where his uncle and Joshua's papa were. But after all the effort it took to get to go out alone with Joshua finally, how could he let this mission end so soon? Besides, adults had thick skin and soft bodies—suffering a little wouldn't kill them.
Thinking that, Zarukel suddenly smiled, took the map, and pointed in a direction. "Here, according to the map, we go this way."
Compared to the little firecracker he was when they first met, Zarukel now smiled like a sly snake.
[Wait, the two kids are going the wrong way, hahaha]
[Why do I feel like Zarukel is doing this on purpose?]
[We're doomed. The little CEO isn't dumb—Zarukel is very smart. There's no way he can't read this super simple map. It's all because Joshua is too naive!]
[Joshua is so innocent, he doesn't even know he's being tricked! He believes that following Zarukel will lead him to Papa—hahaha, Joshua, you're about to be sold off!]
"That brat is doing it on purpose!" Cale shouted angrily, slamming the table as he stood up.
After all, Zarukel was a genius who had mastered multiple languages by age three—far too talented to be human! There's no way he couldn't read a map. Cale would rather die than believe that.
Meanwhile, Adonis smiled fondly at Joshua, thinking how adorable it was that his naive little boy was being tricked. But when his gaze swept over to Zarukel, the smile instantly vanished. Joshua's innocence was cute, but anyone who dared to deceive Joshua wasn't a good kid. After this program, he wouldn't let that boy anywhere near Joshua again!
Adonis made a silent vow.
[Look at Adonis's face—haha, Zarukel just got crossed off the future son-in-law list.]
[Wait, hold on, they're just kids! Let's focus on friendship, friendship!]
[Either way, after this, there's no way Zarukel will ever get to play with Joshua again.]
Zarukel had no idea Adonis had just blocked him. Happily, he held Joshua's hand and led him toward the ice cream stand.
[Little master, if we follow young master Zarukel, we'll never find Lord Adonis.]
Right at that moment, Leo's voice suddenly echoed.
Joshua, who currently trusted Leo absolutely, widened his eyes slightly and looked at Zarukel. Just as he was about to speak, a pure white ice cream cone was suddenly held out before him.
Joshua instantly forgot what he was about to say, staring in a daze.
The vendor was dressed in a fluffy cat mascot costume, all white and very cute. On top of Joshua's round scoop of ice cream were two tiny chocolate "paws" and chocolate lines resembling cat fur—super adorable, and it looked delicious, too.
"Hope you two sweet little cuties enjoy your treat!" said the mascot in a man's voice, pitched high to sound playful for kids. It was a bit funny to hear.
Zarukel couldn't help but glance at the mascot before turning to Joshua. The little boy was already holding the cone, licking it with eager eyes.
Then Joshua's eyes widened—round, sparkling, and glowing. A bright smile spread across his lips, and a rosy flush appeared. It was just one smile, but Zarukel felt like the world around them had lit up.
He placed a hand over his chest, lips slightly parted, just watching Joshua eat his ice cream. His cone was melting, but he didn't even notice.
[…]
[......]
[Simp.]
[I don't even know what to say. Seriously, Zarukel??]
[He looks like he's about to faint.]
[No, I'm fainting first—Joshua is way too adorable!!! I finally understand what they mean by a sunshine smile sob sob sob]
[Honestly, it's not just Zarukel simping. Joshua is wonderful and sweet—Adonis, are you sure you don't want a second wife? I volunteer! Honestly!]
[You may not mind, but Adonis does. And maybe even Joshua, too, hahaha.]
Joshua loved sweets. The ice cream melted in his mouth, taking with it the memory of what he was about to say moments ago. He let Zarukel lead him by the hand, looking up at him with expectant eyes. Rescuing Papa was still important, of course—but finishing the ice cream first and then rescuing Papa probably wouldn't make them too late. Joshua felt he was being very clever!
After all, Adonis never let Joshua eat too many sweets. Everything Adonis made for him always followed strict nutritional guidelines.
Inside the sealed room, watching his son being tricked away by Zarukel like that, Adonis's lips twitched. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry—so in the end, he could only shake his head and smile helplessly.
"Don't be sad, Adonis. At least we have each other." Cale, sitting nearby, pretended to comfort him.
[Haha, Joshua's gonna get a spanking when he gets back!]
[Kids loving sweets is not a crime! If anyone gets spanked, let it be Zarukel!]
[Willing to sacrifice Zarukel's butt so baby Joshua's can be spared!]