719: I Have A Name

I Have A Name

From his position, Zeke could see that the former Crown Prince's chest was heaving irregularly, clearly agitated. Zeke was afraid that the sudden change of his vitals could alert the others. He instantly shot up standing and put up both hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, don't get angry. I don't need you to answer my question. Just take it as we will never see eye to eye in this lifetime."1

He glanced at the clock and saw that not even half of the allocated fifteen minutes had passed, but he clearly could not stay here any longer lest he accidentally angered this person to death. Zeke scratched his head, frustrated and helpless in equal measure. 

"I will go soon and give you some piece of mind." Zeke finally got to the point and said the words he had originally prepared. "Don't worry, this will be the last time we see each other. Are you happy? You will finally get rid of me."

There was a split second when Zeke saw the former Crown Prince's chest stopped moving – whether it was due to extreme elation or shock or something else, he could not know for certain. 

Zeke heaved out a drawn-out sigh. "Now that there's no one but the two of us, I will be completely honest with you. The Imperial Palace will forever become a cage for me. I know that every time I say something like this, you will always take it as a provocation. But now that we're in this kind of situation, let me repeat myself once again." The corner of Zeke's lips stretched into a brazen smile. "From the start, I have never cared about the throne. Even if the royal assasination had not happened, I have long planned a way out for myself. I would fool the Imperial Father to think that I died in an accident and run away from the Capital Planet. I have even bought a dream house for myself."

"Brother…" he said softly. "The throne, the glory and everything else that comes with it – they have always been yours. I have never coveted it even for a second. I know it's meaningless of me to say this and you may even think that I am a hypocrite, but I just want you to know this."

He fell silent for a few seconds before asking, his voice subdued. "Have you ever thought what our lives would be like if there was no Imperial Father?"

From the start, the enmity between them had taken root due to the King's instigation. If… If that person did not exist, was it possible for him and the former Crown Prince to become real brothers?

Zeke snorted and shook his head. Forget it. What was the use of thinking about something that would never happen? Perhaps, that was just how destiny worked. Just like how humans were fated to die in the end, the two of them were fated to be enemies the moment Zeke was born in this world.

"Anyway!" Zeke tried to lighten the somber mood with a playful tone. "I need to be thankful for you as well. Without your scheme to trap me inside the simulator, I would not have been able to meet the world's most amazing man. We spent so many lifetimes together, and I even gave birth to a very beautiful and charming daughter for him! Can you imagine that?!"

The former Crown Prince: "..."

Zeke must have sensed the other guy's speechlessness because he threw his back and laughed out loud. "What? Do you feel envious?" Zeke knew that the former Crown Prince would not be able to see him but he still put up his left hand to admire the platinum ring that adorned his fourth finger. His golden eyes were soft and dreamy. "We will leave Capital Planet soon and have our third wedding ceremony sometime in the future. Well…" he shrugged with utter indifference. "It's not like I will invite you so there's no need for you to bother."

Once again, the former Crown Prince's chest rose and fell even more fiercely. Zeke could even hear his harsh breathing echoed in the air. He froze and mentally went through to what he had just said. What was the problem? He was being completely honest here! Tsk, this guy was just too sensitive and temperamental.

Before the former Crown Prince could rise from the medical cabin to engage him in a fist fight, Zeke hastily retreated to appease him, "Okay, okay, I will really be going now!" To prove his words, he placed the chair back to where it originally was and waved in the direction of the medical cabin, uncaring whether the other person could see him or not. "Bye!"

When he reached the door, he suddenly halted in his tracks. He was reminded of something he had said before. He hesitated for a second before he finally decided to take a bullet and pour everything from the bottom of his heart. Either way, this was their last meeting and they would not see each other again!

Taking a deep breath, he uttered quietly, "I know that each and every of our encounters has not been pleasant, but last time, I have indeed said some truth. Don't let the past haunt you and start to focus on yourself. Brother, loving someone feels… good. Very good. And being loved in return feels even better. I am speaking from experience here. Someday, I wish that you can find someone who can love you, just like how Lu Yizhou is to me. I won't forgive you for what you have done to Lu Yizhou, but…" Zeke shook his head in exasperation. "Nevermind. Take care and I won't see you again."

Lu Yizhou had already made the former Crown Prince pay by reducing him to the current miserable state. It was not good if he quibbled over it again. Most importantly, Lu Yizhou was still handsome and full of vigor whereas the Crown Prince had become as ugly as hell. Zeke was very satisfied with this outcome.

Zeke had just placed his hand on the door when all of a sudden, an extremely rough, coarse and unpleasant voice sounded behind him. "...Hey."

He instantly froze. He did not expect this guy to talk to him at all. However, before he could even get over the surprise, the former Crown Prince continued without a care – just like Zeke was doing for the last few minutes. After all, they were truly two peas in the same pod. 

"I am not… your brother…" he uttered with much difficulty.

Of all the things he could have said, this was the first sentence he had to fight over? Zeke did not know whether to laugh or cry. "Alright, it's my fault. We have never been brothers. It's me who has gotten it over my head, okay?"

"I… have a name. Shawn."

Not Zachary. But Shawn.

Zeke was stunned for one long moment before he lowered his head and chuckled. "Good taste, Shawn. Well, I'm sure you already know it. My name is Zeke. This may be the last time we will see each other but… it's nice to meet you." After saying that, he did not give the man a chance to say anything more as he directly opened the door and walked out.

Out of the shadow that had been clinging to him for the past two decades.

He sent a message to Dr. Xiao and ten minutes later, he exited the military hospital and found Lu Yizhou who was leaning against the hover car waiting for him. 

The sun shone brilliantly overhead and Zeke had to shield his eyes with his palm in order to see him better. The last traces of haze that had been lingering in the corner of his heart finally vanished when Lu Yizhou raised his head and smiled at him.

"Done?" The man asked.

Zeke blinked away the tears caused by the glare of the sun and without any warning, he broke into a sprint and threw himself into Lu Yizhou's arms, relishing in the familiar scent and comfort it brought forth. "En!" he beamed brightly and pecked Lu Yizhou on the chin. "Let's go. We still have a long day ahead of us."

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