Chapter 179: Vampire / 4.6 : Avoidance
Atlas looked up when he heard a knock at his door.
"Come in."
Zidong and Chen came in with a smile. Atlas smiled at them and they both sat next to him.
Zidong asked:
"Are you okay? You haven’t been out of your suite since the feast."
Atlas said:
"I’m okay I was just trying to avoid Tan, he keeps following me everywhere."
Zidong and Chen chuckled. Chen asked:
"So if he wasn’t around you would leave your suite?"
Atlas nodded.
"I would. I can’t very much tell him to leave me alone seeing how the emperor treats him."
Zidong and Chen’s eyes flashed with disdain. Zidong said:
"He’ll be gone soon anyway."
Atlas met his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
When Zidong saw that he only seemed curious he said:
"Chen and I are going to make sure he’ll go into dark slumber."
Vampires can be put to dark or light slumber. When a vampire is in light slumber he is only asleep for a certain amount of time. The other way is called dark slumber but it just means dying.
Atlas looked at him excitedly and asked:
"When?"
Chen felt relieved to see that he didn’t think their decision was wrong. Zidong is too impulsive and it could’ve cost them.
Chen said:
"My brother planned a banquet a week after the offering so he and Yawen can tell everyone they are together."
Atlas felt his heart clench but he said pouting:
"I won’t even be here to see it so what’s the point of telling me."
The twins looked at his cute face and their eyes softened.
Zidong immediately said:
"We can deal with him sooner if you want."
Chen looked at him furiously. Zidong looked back trying to convince him.
"How do you plan on getting rid of him?"
Zidong looked at Atlas.
"Poison, it will put his body to sleep and it will look like a light slumber but he’ll be in dark slumber. 7 hours after ingesting it he’ll be gone and they’ll all believe he put his body in light slumber."
Atlas looked at them and asked:
"Can’t you deal with him during the ball?"
The twins looked at each other. Chen said:
"I don’t think it’s a good idea."
Atlas said:
"It’s a perfect idea. The palace will be filled with guests and even if they find out Tan has been poisoned they’ll believe one of the guests did it. During the banquet, they’ll only be close family members and everyone knows that you don’t like Tan so it will be easy to deduce that you’re responsible."
That’s exactly what happened in the OG timeline. The twins are evil but their problem is that they’re dumb. You can only be evil if you have the brain that goes with it so they were easily caught.
The twins looked at each other and realized that it’s a much better plan. How did they not think of that? Chen said:
"Let’s deal with him during the ball."
Zidong nodded with a ruthless smile. Atlas smiled at the two morons as if he’ll let them lay a finger on Tan let alone poison him. Tan and Yuning are messing up his entire plan.
He’s not supposed to feel anything but he feels for them. Tan reminds him of him since he had the same childhood and Yuning...
Yuning is Er-Ge he’s sure of it. At first, he had doubts because Er-Ge always looked similar but he’s the only person who can make him feel this way.
He’s been keeping his distance those past few days. He’s grateful there isn’t any event. It ends tomorrow so it’s not like he can hide forever.
Atlas feels hurt and worried. He’s not the only one who’s keeping his distance Yuning is doing it too. Yesterday they bumped into each other and he felt a shift, for a second the main consciousness was there then it disappeared.
In the previous universe, he took a sliver of Er-Ge’s consciousness so he would know when he woke up and he felt him look into his eyes. He only saw coldness in those eyes like they were strangers.
It means that Er-Ge knows what he did and that he wants to keep his distance from him and he is respecting his choice. He should be happy but he isn’t, he feels hurt that he gave up so easily on him.
He said that he couldn’t be without Atlas yet he let go of him. The sole reason he got rid of his feelings is that he didn’t want to know the answer to the question can he live without Er-Ge?
Ironically he has his answer because of it. He can’t be without this man. But he also found out that Er-Ge lied to him when he said he would never let go of him. Atlas felt his heart clench and he started to breathe louder.
Chen and Zidong frowned. Zidong asked:
"Are you okay?"
Atlas closed his eyes until the pressure on his chest faded. It isn’t the first time it happened.
He can feel his feelings coming back. He needs to get his Er-Ge back. He knows now that he was foolish and that he can’t run from his feelings. But he can tell Er-Ge is hurt so he needs to show him that he won’t do this ever again.
He doesn’t even know where to start and he isn’t sure if he has enough power to come forth for more than a few seconds. Atlas opened his eyes and smiled.
"I’m okay."
Chen said:
"We can call the imperial physician to check on you."
"No need I’m okay."
Atlas change the subject and said with a smile:
"So you’ll deal with Tan during the ball?"
The twins smiled and Chen said:
"We will. What do we get for doing you this favor?"
Atlas looked at Chen and Zidong’s flirty smile and smiled back. To think he was going to let those two lay a hand on him. He smiled seductively and said:
"I’ll let you do whatever you want to me after the ball."
The twins’ eyes lit up and they nodded. When the door opened they all looked at Yuning. Yuning looked at the twins and ordered in his usual cold voice:
"Come to my office."
After saying that he turned around and left. Atlas looked down disappointed. He knew that it wouldn’t be easy but it still hurts. He’s well aware that he started all of this but still, he won’t even look at him.
The twins looked at Atlas and Chen said:
"We should go brother is very impatient."
Atlas nodded and they left.
Yuning ordered:
"Come in."
The twins entered nervously and took a seat. Yuning said:
"Whatever you’re used to doing with the offering better not happen this time."
The twins felt their heartbeat quicken.
They didn’t think that Yuning knew about it but he did. Zidong said:
"Brother..."
Before he could finish Yuning cut him:
"I don’t want to know. Stay away from the offering."
The twins nodded and left when Yuning ordered them to leave. Once the door was closed Yuning leaned back on his chair. Even if he’ll keep staying away from Atlas it doesn’t mean he’ll let his brothers touch him.
Every atom in his body tells him that Atlas is his and that he should keep him at his side forever and he’s sure he feels the same or he wouldn’t hide from him. Since he doesn’t want him he’ll just continue with Yawen.
Even if the feelings he has for Atlas can’t be compared to the affection he feels for Yawen he wants to be with him while Atlas doesn’t. Remembering what Tan asked him he stood up and walked to Atlas suite.
He entered and he immediately smiled as his eyes flickered in amusement. He silently walked to Atlas and put a hand between him and the wall before he could knock his head against the wall again.
When Atlas felt something soft instead of the hard wall he pulled back and opened his eyes. He turned his head and saw Yuning. His cheeks flushed and he took a step back.
Yuning asked:
"Are you okay?"
Atlas simply nodded. What can he even say he caught him hitting his head against the wall.
That’s literally what he’s been doing those past few days. He’s never felt this overwhelmed and worried before. He keeps thinking about what he should do if Er-Ge doesn’t forgive him. Just the thought of it makes him sick.
Before Yuning could speak Tan entered and asked:
"Brother, did you speak to Atlas?"
When Tan entered he finally saw Atlas and he flushed. He didn’t see him since Yuning’s big frame was concealing him. Atlas smiled, he walked to him and asked:
"Did you want to ask me something?"
Tan looked at Atlas nervously and said:
"I was wondering If you would ride with me tomorrow."
Atlas knelt in front of him and said:
"Sure. How about we bring a picnic so we can spend the day out?"
Tan’s eyes lit up and he nodded multiple times. Atlas smiled and he pulled him in his arms. Tan was stunned and he froze. When he woke up he held Atlas.
Atlas pulled back and caressed his head. Tan smiled his cheeks red. Yuning looked at them with a smile but quickly his smile faded. He loves how much Atlas cares for Tan and vice versa.
Even Yawen doesn’t have this kind of relationship with Tan when they’ve known each other for a year. He knows that Tan doesn’t particularly care for him but he only acts the way he does for him while he genuinely likes Atlas.
The three of them could’ve been a family but it’ll never happen and he should stop kidding himself. He looked at Tan and said:
"Go to bed now it’s late."
Tan nodded. Atlas stood up and said:
"Good night."
"Good night."
Tan looked at his brother and said:
"Good night brother."
Yuning smiled gently.
"Good night."
Once he was gone Yuning looked at Atlas and he looked back. Atlas took a step toward him but Yuning left without looking back.
