Chapter 138: Celebrity / 2.4 : Big boss’ return
Atlas hung up his phone with a smile. As expected he’s been cast as Li Yu and Dawei as consort Shan. He can’t wait to see his face when he finds out. They have a meeting in a couple of days so all the cast can meet, try on their costume, and shoot the advertising pictures before they start filming the next day.
The episodes are released as they shoot so that very night the world will find out the identity of the cast. The book has sold millions of copies over the world and the show is highly anticipated that’s why Atlas had to get the lead role. In the OG timeline, it was a huge success but now that he is in it it will be even better.
Atlas looked at the man he had hired to shoot his video and said:
"Sorry let’s start over."
The man nodded. When he heard someone entering the studio he looked and saw that it was Sicheng.
He told him that he wanted to record the song he played at his concert and post the video on youtube. All his fans keep asking for it so he thought it would be a good way to be seen after everything that happened and for everyone to see how amazing his voice is now.
Furthermore, he’ll be able to stick it to Dawei. He and Jianci are currently struggling with their new album. The fact that most people blame them for the way he was treated doesn’t help. He became annoyed when he saw Shuyuan standing next to Sicheng. He focused and started to play the piano again.
Sicheng leaned against the wall and listened to Atlas sing. His beautiful voice was mesmerizing. But what touched him the most was the lyrics of the music. He saw the concert and he knows that Atlas wrote the song as thank you to his fans who he considered his family.
He gets how Atlas feels because he grew up bouncing from foster home to foster home. He swore that if he had a child he would cherish it and make sure he or she would never feel what he did growing up without anyone at his side.
That’s another reason he feels protective of Atlas. No matter what happens wether he agrees to save his wife or not he won’t stop protecting him and making sure nothing bad happens to him.
He looked at Shuyuan and asked:
"What are you doing here?"
His eyes still on Atlas Shuyuan answered:
"Your assistant said you were here."
Before he could ask what he wanted Su Xinyu entered the studio. He frowned when he saw the way she was looking at Atlas.
It was clear that she wants him back. Since he did his homework on Atlas he knows that he was dating Xinyu for the past year but she broke up with him when he was caught lip-syncing.
But now that his reputation is restored and that he gained even more fans it seems like she wants him back. Ever since Atlas has been signed at the agency she keeps asking his assistant about Atlas’s schedule.
Sicheng asked:
"Xinyu, what are you doing here?"
Xinyu was so focused on Atlas that she didn’t hear him. Shuyuan looked at her than at Atlas.
He doesn’t know much about Atlas but he does know that he dated Xinyu. She’ll probably be over the moon when she finds out that she’ll be able to work with him on the set of The Emperor’s prisoner.
The cast has been kept a secret so no one knows besides him. He isn’t surprised Atlas fell in love with her, it would be a lie to say she isn’t pretty but he founds her boring.
Shuyuan sneered when he saw that Xinyu’s eyes were full of love as she looked at Atlas. If Atlas takes her back he’s a fool. Xinyu isn’t the sweetheart everyone thinks she is all she cares about is fame.
Atlas is trending every day so of course, she wants him back. He looked at Atlas and met his eyes. He was looking at him as he sang like his words were meant just for him.
For some reason, Shuyuan couldn’t look away. He didn’t think Atlas had such a lovely voice, he likes this song better than the ones he would sing with L3. The songs had no substance while this one is meaningful.
No wonder his fans have been begging for him to release it. He frowned when he thought about the fact that he felt curious enough about Atlas to check him online.
He’ll be playing Li Yu and they’ll spend a lot of time together so he just wanted to know a little more about him. When Atlas looked down at the piano he frowned, he liked it better when he was looking at him.
Sicheng looked at the two and was sure they came here to listen to Atlas sing not to talk to him. He focused on Atlas again. When Atlas finished singing he smiled at the camera and said:
"Thank you for your love and support it means a lot."
He gave a sign at the cameraman and he cut. As he was settling the equipment the man said:
"I’ll send you the edited tape in a couple of hours."
Atlas said:
"Thank you."
The man smiled and said:
"Of course you were amazing."
Atlas’ cheeks flushed and he murmured:
"Thank you."
Everyone in the studio felt like he looked adorable. When Shuyuan realized he had been smiling he immediately stopped.
Atlas walked to Sicheng and said:
"Hello, President Zhao. Did you need me for something?"
Sicheng smiled and said:
"I just wanted to make sure you were doing okay since you’ve been cooped up in the studio for days."
Atlas smiled.
"I’m okay I just wanted to record the song as fast as possible."
Sicheng caressed his head and said:
"I know but there’s no hurry you should take some time for yourself."
Atlas nodded with a smile. He looked at Shuyuan then down.
Shuyuan asked:
"Don’t you say hello when you see people?"
Sicheng narrowed his eyes at Shuyuan. If that brat wasn’t his godson he would’ve beaten him a long time ago.
Atlas looked at him and murmured pouting:
"You could say hello too."
Shuyuan felt like he looked precious and his eyes flashed in amusement at his pouting face.
Atlas pushed his hand away in annoyance when he caressed his head. Shuyuan messed up his hair and Atlas looked at him displeased. He passed his hand through his hair to put them back in place while Shuyuan smiled proudly.
Atlas going to make him go through hell when they start filming. When Xinyu saw that Atlas hadn’t acknowledged her she coughed and he looked at her. He simply said:
"Xinyu."
Xinyu smiled and asked:
"How are you Atlas."
"I’m okay."
Xinyu knows how much Atlas loves her so she’s not worried about his coldness. Besides, now they are in the same agency.
She wants them to get back together now that his reputation is better than it was before. Atlas looked at Sicheng and said:
"Thank you for checking on me I should go."
Sicheng smiled and said:
"Of course."
Atlas said goodbye to him and left.
Xinyu ran after him and Shuyuan looked at them go. Sicheng asked:
"What is your plan with him?"
Shuyuan looked at Sicheng confused.
"Don’t play dumb I know that you like him."
Shuyuan smiled.
"So even after knowing me ever since I was a kid you still don’t know me."
Shuyuan took a step forward and threatened:
"Don’t do anything to hurt him he’s already been through a lot."
Shuyuan asked:
"Don’t you mean don’t do anything to jeopardize saving Yinglun’s life?"
He knows that Sicheng has been looking for a viable donor and the fact that he decided to buy Atlas’ contract out of nowhere gives him a hint that he’s a match.
He knows how Sicheng is he won’t force, anyone, to do something they don’t want to do but still his intentions aren’t completely honorable so he shouldn’t make judgments.
Sicheng said:
"I’ll ask him. If he can good and if he can’t nothing will change."
Shuyuan said:
"I believe you, I know you. And I don’t like him he’s too sweet and soft for me."
Sicheng nodded but it was clear that he didn’t believe him. Shuyuan looked at him with narrowed eyes then left.
As he left Sicheng yelled:
"I thought you were just looking for me?"
When he saw Shuyuan walking faster he chuckled. That kid definitely has a crush on Atlas. Shuyuan left for his manager’s office in a hurry.
Sicheng closed his office door and looked at the late hour. When he heard music he followed it and entered the studio. Atlas was still here listening to a track he had recorded. He took a seat next to him and Atlas paused.
"You’re still here?"
Sicheng smiled.
"I was going to say the same."
He wanted to tell Atlas to get some rest since tomorrow he has his meeting for his new show but he felt like he would be overstepping his bounds. Atlas who could read him said:
"I’ll leave in less than thirty minutes I’m almost done."
"Will you be recording music while you shoot?"
Atlas shook his head.
"I want to focus solely on it that’s why I recorded every song I wrote before we start shooting."
Sicheng felt reassured hearing that, he feels like Atlas puts too much pressure on his shoulders. Atlas looked at Sicheng then he looked down.
Sicheng asked:
"What’s wrong?"
Atlas seemed unsure if he should say something. Sicheng reassured:
"You can tell me anything."
Atlas said avoiding his eyes:
"You act like a father, I don’t know what it’s like to have one but the way you act seems similar to it."
Sicheng asked:
"Does that bother you?"
For some reason he felt his heartbeat quicken, he doesn’t want Atlas to be bothered by it. He feels this paternal instinct for him for some reason. Atlas murmured:
"I don’t. I’ll probably be when you stop."
Atlas knows he’s playing a dangerous game but he can’t help it.
He likes how sweet and caring Sicheng is to him. He knows that it’s all because he wants to save his wife but he can’t help but feel the way he does. Even if he knows, in the end, he’ll choose his wife over him he just wants to enjoy those moments. Even his parents never cared half as much as Sicheng does.
Sicheng smiled, he lifted his head and said:
"I won’t stop, I feel protective when it comes to you. It isn’t something that just goes away."
Atlas smiled and his cheeks flushed.
Sicheng’s eyes softened, that kid is too cute. He caressed his head and said:
"Don’t stay too long okay?"
Atlas nodded, after saying goodnight Sicheng left.
Shuyuan abruptly stopped when he heard:
"Please don’t leave me."
He could hear sobs and followed the sound. When he opened the studio door he saw Atlas laying on the couch having a nightmare and sobbing.
"Please don’t abandon me."
He knelt in front of him and looked at Atlas.
Atlas looked so frightened and in pain at the idea of whoever he was dreaming of leaving him. He shook him lightly and Atlas sat up startled. He was breathing loudly and looking around confused.
When he realized he had a nightmare he looked at Shuyuan who was looking at him with worry. It only upset Atlas more and he held onto his neck crying. Shuyuan felt heartbroken and he held onto him too. Atlas relaxed when he felt him rubbing his back familiarly.
He pulled back and Shuyuan wiped his tears. Atlas looked into those grey eyes and only felt worst. He hates Shuyuan, he hates looking at him or hearing his voice because everything about him reminds him of Yixin. Even the way he rubbed his back after a nightmare was the same.
When Shuyuan caressed his cheeks he hit his hand away. Shuyuan looked at Atlas stunned. He could feel that he was angry but he couldn’t understand why. Before he could ask Atlas said angrily:
"Just stay away from me okay. Don’t touch me or look at me unless we are shooting a scene."
Just like he felt this need to be close to Yixin he feels the same for Shuyuan. But it isn’t fair and he shouldn’t use him just because he reminds him of Er-Ge. He was sure he had moved on but seeing Shuyuan destroyed all of that. Is there a possibility Shuyuan might be Er-Ge? He looked down shaking his head.
No, he isn’t he just wants it so much that he is seeing things that aren’t there. He felt Shuyuan hold his chin and lift his head. He said coldly:
"Don’t worry from now on I’ll stay away."
Hearing that hurt Atlas more than he believe it would.
He can feel that he truly hurt Shuyuan. His grey eyes had turned a few shades darker as Yixin’s eyes would. Atlas’ heartbeat quickened and he looked at him wide-eyed. He was about to reach out for him when Shuyuan left and slammed the door behind him.
Atlas looked at the door incredulously. It’s the big boss he’s sure of it. He followed him somehow. He couldn’t stop himself from smiling but it disappeared when he thought about Dawei marrying him. Not only is he going to destroy everyone who made his life hell but he’s going to make the big boss his.
