The Rise of the White Lotus

29 days had passed since Ethan Lu went to his close cultivation. Relishing the fresh air, Ethan Lu peered at the beautiful sunset while both of his hands were on his back. It had been almost a month since he last talked with Lexi and Ethan never thought that he'd survive.

At first, it was indeed harder than he thought it was. Fortunately, with the help of the reliable monks in the temple, Ethan managed to attain the peace he needed.

"Young master Lu, are you really going back tomorrow?" Behind Ethan, an elderly monk inquired with a gentle tone.

Turning to see the monk behind him, Ethan Lu smiled before he courtly bowed. "Yes, Master."

Raising his head and fixing his pair of calm eyes to the monk he called Master, Ethan added; "Thank you for your help, Master. My stay here was indeed helpful, as always."

The monk smiled in satisfaction before he started taking strides with his hand on his back and stopped beside Ethan. Looking at the wonderful scenery, the monk spoke again. "Young Master Lu, I hope that whatever decision you have chosen, may it lead you to happiness."

"Thank you, master." Looking back on the horizon, Ethan's eyes soften as he was reminded of someone who's beauty was incomparable in his eyes. He resumed after a beat,

"Master… my only happiness is her happiness. In my stay here, I kept on denying and attempted to forget the feelings I had for her. However, the more I resisted, the more it intensified. One day, I realized that it was useless because my heart… she already owned it." Reminiscing his struggling days in the temple, Ethan Lu chuckled as he found his action silly.

He had always like simplicity and frequently choose the easiest path to take. However, he bothered to spend a month away from Lexi. Yet, he didn't regret it as Ethan couldn't deal with his feelings properly if he wasn't in the right mind. Hence, even if he accepted it sooner than he expected, Ethan still decided to stay on the temple.

"It was funny that we knew the same people in our circle, knew each other's name and basic information, but, we didn't get a chance to meet all these years. I had always asked this question but now, I think the reason why is because it wasn't the right time for us to meet yet." Amused by how amazing it was, Ethan could not help but appreciate the existence of Lexi; the woman who made his heart race numerous times.

The woman he was willing to protect and the reason why he wanted to man up was all solely for her sake. God, he was head over heels with her and he truly missed her.

"I never thought that just thinking of her existence, I wanted to grow myself so in the future… she had someone to rely on. She's a stubborn, proud woman but God, I like her." Slightly shaking his head, Ethan Lu could not believe that he was saying this but it's the truth.

The elderly monk attentively listened and nodded with a satisfied smile on his face. Since he knew Ethan even before -- the young man had always gone there to calm his head with his Lu family problems. Hence, the monk was mildly surprised when Ethan showed up with a different dilemma.

But now, seeing that the always rebellious young man of the Lu family had found his reasons to man up, the monk was satisfied. He genuinely prayed that the girl he talked about and Ethan would live filled with love that could conquer every obstacle they would face in the future.

"Bless both of you." The monk replied which Ethan wholeheartedly accepted his blessings.

Just one more night and he could finally see her. Ethan had mixed emotions just the thought of seeing the person he missed the most. Actually, he didn't know what he'd do or say when he does.

'I wonder what she's doing right now.' Ethan thought inwardly as different scenarios flashed across his mind to whatever Lexi was currently doing.

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"Oh my gosh… this is funny. Pfft-!" Lexi cracked up while watching a new comedy show. Countless bags of chips, chocolates, and different unhealthy foods that she had been putting on her system in the past month slightly shook when she slapped the sofa that she reposed on.

In the past month, Lexi didn't follow the schedule that Ethan left. Instead, she ate more than she should and gained more fats.

"My, my, is this what they call stress eating chu?" Shaking her little white head, Churu felt hopeless with her host.

She had been forbidding her from eating so much junk food but to no avail, Lexi didn't listen to her with the reason that she has an instant slimming pill.

Since her reasoning made sense and Lexi never forget to practice her lines, Churu has nothing to say. She only hoped that Ethan would soon show up as she was afraid that Lexi might turn into a pig if he didn't.

"Stress eating? Haha! No. Who said I'm stress just because Ethan went M.I.A?" Denying Churu's speculations, Lexi laughed like she was unaffected.

"No one said that chu." Rolling her eyes, Churu flew on Lexi's side and she sniffed. Seeing this, Lexi's brows creased.

"What is it?"

"Why do I smell Mr. Main task chu?" Churu kept on sniffing as if she could really smell someone's presence.

Lexi's eyes widened in disbelief as she threw the bag of crispy mushrooms in panic, "He's here? Sissy, quick! Hand me the slimming pill!"

"Pfft-! Hihi, ihh… kidding." Upon hearing Lexi's panic-stricken reaction, Churu giggled as she hastily flew meters away from Lexi.

"Sissy! You dare pull that trick on me? It's my last cheat day and tomorrow will be the start of my shoot." Lexi frowned in dismay with the prank she never thought would work on her. She glared at Churu and added,

"Also, I already completed my mission and the next task... I don't want to think about it yet."