Chapter 142: Celebrity / 2.8 : Edael
Eden appeared in Cael’s office and he looked up from his computer. Eden sat on his lap and kissed him. Cael held onto him and kissed him back. He pulled back and asked:
"Is everything okay?"
Eden showed him what happened using a mind link and Cael looked at him unsure.
Eden asked:
"What? You think I’m wrong?"
Cael said:
"Altas shouldn’t just act on impulse, that’s probably what led him to this cycle of pain in the first place."
Eden said:
"No matter how long he’s been alive Atlas is still eighteen years old in his head. He’s young and immature but he thinks he knows better than anyone. I don’t want to protect him too much, he needs to make mistakes and learn from them. If every time something happens he calls me to give him the solution or fix it he never will."
Cael said:
"So you want to throw him in the pool and let him figure out on his own."
Eden nodded.
"Still don’t forget he’s a kid."
Eden said:
"I know that’s why I’ll always stay at his side even when he makes mistakes."
Cael nodded.
Eden asked:
"How many Whitlock have scattered their souls in the multiverse for a break?"
Cael thought a few seconds and answered:
"More than a thousand, we’ve been guardians of time since forever."
Eden nodded.
"Why?
Eden said:
"I’m pretty sure one of them fell in love with Atlas and followed him to his second universe."
Cael’s eyes darkened.
"Why are you upset?"
"Not all the guardians were good, being a Whitlock is akin to being a god as long as you are the chancellor your word goes."
Eden frowned:
"Why would you automatically assume he met a bad one?"
"Because from what I saw of Atlas it seems like he likes to charm people by acting like he is weak and pure. I found it funny that he hates white lotus when he is the same. Usually, those types of people only attract villains. He might be a kid but you’ve seen how intelligent and manipulative he is."
When Eden chuckled Cael narrowed his eyes. Eden said:
"You’re basically describing us you’re aware of that right? It’s only his second universe trust me, in the end, he’ll be a changed man I’m sure of it or I would’ve destroyed him a long time ago."
Cael said:
"I just hope the Whitlock he met isn’t bad news and influences him."
Eden sneered:
"More like I hope Atlas doesn’t influence a Whitlock in a bad way."
Cael smiled and shook his head. Colton truly put them in a terrible situation.
Atlas was sitting on his chair watching Shuyuan and Dawei playing a scene expressionlessly. His Er-Ge has been angry at him for more than a week already. Every time he speaks to him he only answers him in one or two words and he never makes the first step.
He’s jealous of him getting closer to Xinyu but now that he’s accomplished his goal he can focus solely on Mr.Grey. He knows how shameless he is so he’ll just use that.
He has the perfect plan, he asked the director to film a particular scene as the last of the day just for it. When it was time for their scene he stood with the director listening to his instructions then he went to stand on his mark. The director yelled:
"Action."
Li Yu walked silently to the emperor’s canopy bed and lifted the covers. He straddled him and caressed his chest with lustful eyes. His robes were opened and his robust chest was visible. Qianlong opened his eyes and sat up. Li Yu simply smiled like he hadn’t sneaked into the imperial palace and the emperor’s chambers.
He was still caressing his chest but he was gazing at Qianlong. Qianlong’s eyes were dark as he said:
"You’re aware that now that you’ve trespassed in our imperial chambers you must perish?"
Li Yu nodded with the same careless smile.
"Can his majesty give me one wish before I’m executed?"
The emperor nodded. Li Yu asked:
"Can you answer one of my questions honestly?"
The emperor nodded again.
"Do you love noble consort, Shan?"
The emperor tilted his head, he has one last wish and that’s what he uses it for a question everyone knows the answer to?
Qianlong said impatiently:
"You already know the answer to that, and so does the entire empire."
Li Yu said:
"Then say it, say I love noble consort, Shan."
Qianlong’s eyes darkened and he wrapped his hand around his neck.
"Who do you think you are to speak to us like that?"
Li Yu said:
"I’m going to die anyway it’s not like you can kill me twice. You haven’t granted my wish yet."
Qianlong tightened his hold until Li Yu’s face became red, he let go when he saw that he was close to passing out. Li Yu took a deep breath and looked at the emperor.
At no point had his smile disappear when Qianlong was choking him. When Li Yu could speak again he said:
"You still didn’t grant my wish."
Qianlong knows Li Yu pretty well at this point the only way he’ll stop is if he says it.
"We love noble consort, Shan."
At those words, Li Yu’s smile finally faded. The emperor looked at him intently.
Li Yu said:
"I feel sorry for noble consort Shan."
Qianlong sneered:
"Why because we love him?"
"No, because he loves you."
Qianlong wanted to ask why but he didn’t. He was about to call a guard to have him emprisoned when Li Yu said with his head down:
"I could never be in a relationship where I would have to bow to the man I love unless he bowed to me too. I don’t want to call the person I love your majesty and have to wait until my name is drawn by chance to spend the night with him. I don’t want to be just one more person in his harem. I want him to worship me as much as I worship him and spend every night and day with him. He shouldn’t speak in the royal person with me or have to wait until he makes the first move. Touching and hugging the person that I love whenever I want shouldn’t be seen as disrespectful because of his high status."
Li Yu chuckled melancholically and said meeting Qianlong’s eyes:
"You know what is the most pathetic? Despite not wanting to have this kind of relationship I feel jealous."
Qianlong’s heartbeat quickened for some reason and he asked:
"Of noble consort Shan?"
Li Yu nodded and pearled tears fell on his lovely face.
Qianlong unconsciously wiped them. Li Yu said as he was standing up:
"I’m ready to die. Can you do it now please?"
Li Yu looked exhausted like death was his salvation. Qianlong held him in place. Li Yu asked:
"Do you plan to make my death a spectacle? If that’s the case I must tell you my family doesn’t care about me or I wouldn’t have been sent as a way to apologize."
Qianlong felt slightly surprised hearing that, no wonder Li Yu has been acting the way he has since he’s been here. Since he set foot here he always had a smile on and a careless attitude like he wasn’t a prisoner of war. He knew that Li Yu didn’t care that the war ended between both sides so he believe there was another reason for his behavior. He must’ve been lonely there.
Even if he is a prisoner he has his room here and most nights they would share a bed unless he had someone from his harem. The fact that Li Yu has admitted all of this means that he’s ready to die for real. Before there was no way he would say anything about his kingdom or his feelings. It was like everything was a joke to him.
When Li Yu tried to get down a second time, Qianlong held him firmly in place again. Li Yu asked:
"What are you doing?"
As a response, Qianlong kissed him. Li Yu tried to push him away but it was impossible, after a few seconds he kissed him back. No matter how much he hates the emperor he loves Qianlong. To him, those are two different people.
Shuyuan felt like he was going to go crazy because of how much Atlas was moving. He discretely held his waist tighter to hold him still but it didn’t change anything. When the director yelled cut he felt relieved.
He looked at Atlas who was still straddling him and looking toward the director. He ordered:
"Get off of me."
Atlas looked at him slightly surprised by his anger. Despite how sad Atlas looked Shuyuan was impatient and said again:
"Get up before I make you."
Atlas immediately nodded. He moved a little and froze, he looked at Shuyuan wide-eyed with his cheeks flushed. Shuyuan cursed inwardly and pushed Atlas before leaving. He went to his dressing room and slammed the door behind him. He’s so glad they have a couple of free days he can’t stand this anymore. He didn’t think that having close scenes with someone could feel like torture.
He had his back to the door with his eyes closed taking a deep breath. He should just take a hot shower and then leave. When someone knocked he howled:
"Whoever it is leave me the fuck alone."
When the person still entered he turned around with dark eyes and saw that it was Atlas. He looked at Shuyuan uncomfortable and murmured:
"I’ll help you."
