Adonis had wanted to throw the egg out of the car when he woke up. However, on second thought, this egg was why he ended up in this state—unable to show up on set for at least two weeks. He needed to bring it back and investigate what it was and whether it had anything to do with the William family.
Even so, as he sat on the sofa with the egg in his hands, a wave of absurdity welled up in Adonis's chest.
Why on earth did he bring this damn egg home? It was like inviting a demon into the house.
Ariana looked at Adonis sitting there, staring blankly at the egg, and couldn't help but be at a loss for words. "Are you seriously not going to the hospital? I mean, that wound on your forehead."
Adonis frowned. "Go home. Help me suspend all activities until this wound cools down."
Ariana rolled her eyes. "Even if you didn't say anything, I'd do that anyway! Do you seriously think I'd let you appear publicly with a giant purple bump on your forehead? I'm leaving—call me if anything comes up!"
With that, Ariana vanished from Adonis's house. She had a few other artists under her care and was extremely busy.
The room sank into absolute silence. Narrowing his eyes, Adonis gripped the egg in both hands and walked over to the window, preparing to throw the cursed thing out.
Feeling the wind brushing over its shell, Joshua panicked and shouted in Adonis's mind, "Kitten, can I speak now?!"
"Go ahead, sir!"
No sooner had Leo finished his sentence than the egg in Adonis's hand struggled violently. Caught off guard, Adonis couldn't hold on to it. The egg slipped out of his grip, bounced off his shoulder, and landed flawlessly on the floor.
"Ugh!"
Adonis groaned, clutching his shoulder. He was sure that that rotten egg had just given him a fresh bruise.
"Pa, pa, pa, cheep, cheep!"
The egg bounced rapidly across the floor. Cracks immediately began forming in the tile wherever it leaped.
"No one else is around, so you've dropped the act, huh?!"
Adonis shouted angrily and suddenly lunged forward, trying to grab the egg. But the egg dodged with ease.
He grasped at thin air. The fever weighed down his body, making him slower than usual—but he was determined to catch that egg!
With a sudden turn, he dashed at an unbelievable speed toward where the egg was retreating.
Startled by Adonis's move, the egg flinched—but narrowly escaped once again!
"PA!"
The egg uttered a loud, sharp cry, seemingly enraged by Adonis. It then began bouncing wildly around the room like a rubber ball.
"Crash! Bang!"
The sounds of porcelain shattering and wooden furniture breaking filled the air.
"My antique set! My picture frame! My TV! Stop it!"
Adonis roared. If this kept going, the whole house would collapse because of this egg!
A vein throbbed wildly on Adonis's forehead. At last, as if giving in, he said, "Fine, I won't throw you out the window anymore, alright? Just stop."
The egg paused its wild bouncing but continued to hop in place—so much so that the cracks on the floor kept spreading.
Adonis's eye twitched. His head pulsed with sharp pain.
He wanted to rub his forehead like always, but remembering the massive bump on his head, he gave up and instead said sincerely, "Alright, I'm sorry, okay?"
"Papa's apology doesn't sound sincere at all! But… I'll forgive you for now. Joshua is tired!"
Joshua replied, deeply hurt.
Leo looked around the room, which now resembled the aftermath of an earthquake, and couldn't tell who was the tired one there.
After the egg finally stopped bouncing, Adonis had no strength left. He called his assistant to clean up the mess, then headed to shower.
He wanted to rest, but his body—reeked. There was no way he could relax like this.
As soon as his assistant Rowan arrived, he was so stunned by the scene before him that he was left speechless. He wanted to check on his boss's condition, but by then, Adonis had already called a car to head to another villa he owned.
All Rowan could do was call Ariana and describe the situation as if mourning a dead father.
"Adonis must've been under too much pressure lately, Ariana!"
Ariana silently extended Adonis's break and arranged another round of therapy. Her money tree couldn't be allowed to wither!
Adonis had no idea how utterly pitiful he now seemed in the eyes of Ariana and Rowan.
He collapsed onto the bed, not even sparing the egg—rolling nearby—a single glance, and fell asleep.
How ridiculous. For someone with chronic insomnia, someone who couldn't sleep if anyone was nearby, to fall asleep so easily… next to the very egg that wrecked his house, made him sick, and left at least five massive bruises on his body?
Ridiculous. That was Adonis's final thought before sleep consumed him completely.
Time passed—quiet and long—until Joshua woke up. Adonis was still fast asleep.
"Papa looks like he's in a lot of pain."
Joshua whispered, not daring to wake him.
Adonis's body was soaked in sweat. His face was flushed red, brows tightly furrowed, his expression twisted in agony as if trapped in some terrible nightmare, trying to wake but failing.
"Papa must be suffering a lot. Don't worry—Joshua's here now. Joshua will protect Papa."
Joshua murmured, then nestled into Adonis's arms, gently nuzzling against his chin and curling up in his chest.
Leo was about to comment that this wouldn't help at all—when he noticed Adonis's breathing slowly even out. His tense face relaxed. His chin rested gently atop the egg, sleeping peacefully.
The scene was so serene and beautiful that Leo dared not utter a sound.
Maybe the bond between them was even more extraordinary than he'd imagined. That must be why only the little master could complete this mission...
In his dream, Adonis felt like he was trapped once more. Blood pooled beneath his feet, rising higher and higher as if it meant to drown him entirely.
He couldn't breathe. I couldn't breathe. He had to escape—but where was the way out?
"It's all because of you! I died because of you—because of you!"
A woman's screeching, distorted voice echoed around him like a thousand hands reaching out to drag him into hell.
But just then, a blinding light appeared—warm and soft. The blood receded. The cursing voice slowly faded.
Never had his world been this quiet.
Adonis slowly opened his eyes. Outside, it was already pitch dark. The clock showed exactly ten o'clock at night.
He'd slept the entire day. The realization shocked him more than winning Best Actor three times in a row at his age.
Adonis sat up, and the egg he had unknowingly hugged fell from his arms onto the bed.
"Pa!"
A tiny squeak rang out. Adonis narrowed his eyes at the egg dangerously.
Had he really… slept hugging this egg?
The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. He refused to accept the fact that he had cuddled this filthy egg in his sleep—who knew if it had jumped into dog poop while bouncing around earlier?
The more he thought about it, the more revolting it felt.
"Pa! Cheep!"
The egg was still bouncing slightly, clearly protesting his attitude.
Adonis's head started throbbing again. He quickly said, "Alright, alright—sorry."