The Rise of the White Lotus

The stifling atmosphere between Elliot Gong and Ethan Lu was abruptly interrupted when Arnold Shen suddenly intrude at Elliot Gong's tent.

"Young master Lu!" Arnold Shen immediately greeted after a slight bow. He was grinning from ear to ear as if he had seen an old friend.

The moment Ethan Lu saw Arnold Shen, he smiled brightly. "Director Shen! Good to see you!" 

Ethan returned the same courtesy before he stood from his seat and welcomed Arnold Shen as if Elliot Gong's tent was his.

"Chu~?" Churu's forehead creased as she raised her invisible brows in confusion. 

Based on her observation, when Lexi informed him that she was considering going on an audition that would be directed by Arnold Shen, Ethan Lu didn't seemed he knew the guy. However, why does it seemed otherwise?

On the other hand, Elliot Gong's brows knitted seeing them being this friendly. Though Ethan Lu was the friendliest and most coquettish of them all, he didn't remembered his friend having connection with Arnold Shen.

"I heard that you dropped by, so I came to check. Haha!" Arnold Shen heartily uttered.

"Heh, I came to visit my friend --" Ethan Lu grinned as the irritation from his dear friend Elliot Gong was set aside.

Granting that Arnold Shen and Ethan seemed like they knew each other for a long time, however, they don't. In fact, he only knew the director for a month.

How did this happen? 

[Short flashback]

Back when Lexi informed Ethan about this movie for the first time, his natural business side was piqued and managed to contact Arnold Shen on a pretense of an investment that very night. Unfortunately, that time, Arnold Shen refused his offer.

Hence, Ethan Lu didn't insist further and thought that it was a waste that he didn't know about it earlier. Unbeknownst to him, the next day, just when Ethan arrived at the temple -- Arnold Shen reached out to him and said after minutes of pleasantries,

"Young master Lu, may I ask if your offer was still valid?"

Ethan: "Uh…"

Arnold Shen: "You see Director Lu, two of our investors backed out and the film might be postponed if --"

"Sure." Without any question, Ethan Lu blankly agreed without a second delay. 

Ethan Lu knew the potential of the movie to earn millions was enough reasons to invest. Moreover, Lexi was one of the cast; how could he not offer his helping hand if that's the least he could do?

Arnold Shen was beyond delightful on how Ethan Lu agreed in an instant without asking anything in return -- like recommending an artist in the film.

That night, Ethan Lu became one of the biggest investors of the movie Taming Heart. Alas, he specifically asked that none should know that he invested in the film.

[End of short flashback]

"Right, Eli was your friends -- I remembered." Arnold Shen nodded in understanding as he cast Elliot Gong a thankful glance.

In his perspective, Ethan Lu took interest in the movie was because of Elliot Gong. He was grateful as Arnold Shen didn't expect that not only the Che family pulled their investment, another partner that was close to the said family did the same as well. 

Therefore, how could Arnold Shen could cover hundreds of millions that he lost that day? Fortunately, Ethan Lu contacted him the day before so he had the last resort of being shameless.

"Yup! By the way director Shen… may I ask for a favor?" Having a new idea that flashed on his mind, Ethan Lu grinned as he drew closer to Arnold Shen.

Raising his brows, Arnold Shen attentively listened to whatever he was about to say. Since he owe the guy, Arnold Shen wouldn't mind lending him an ear before he would agree to his 'request'.

"I was just thinking… since, I have nothing else to do, why don't you let me have a cameo?" With that said piece, Ethan's eyes sparkled as he somehow got the gist of Chang'e's role and her short story alone.

"A cameo with Eli? Hmm… sure!" After a quick contemplation, Arnold Shen agreed as a cameo was a no biggie. Furthermore, Ethan's appearance was not any less attractive to the main cast. Hence, in that fraction of a second, Arnold Shen had an idea in mind.

"Well? I don't mind playing a role with any character but I prefer to act with Chang'e." Simultaneously raising his brows with a knowing smile, Ethan bluntly announced which made Elliot Gong cringe.

'Woah… I am speechless.' Elliot Gong scoffed in disdain as he was indeed speechless by Ethan's statement. Moreover, his friend would go this far just to hit on Lexi? 

"Mr. Main task, don't be shy and ask for a kissing scene instead, hihi~" Churu giggled on the side as she was totally entertained following Ethan. Also, he admired his decisiveness regarding his feelings.

"Chang'e? You mean with Miss Lexi Yang?" Puzzled by Ethan's interest, Arnold Shen squinted his eyes as he somehow hesitated. He added, 

"Well, I don't have a problem with that, but Miss Yang's scandals hasn't completely died down yet, and if wasn't for her impeccable portrayal for the role -- I wouldn't risk my last movie." 

Indeed, Arnold Shen had knew about it after offering the role to Lexi, however, he was astonished with Lexi's acting as if Chang'e was indeed her. 

Therefore, in spite of all that, he still pushed through. Also, this project would be a great help to Lexi as Arnold Shen was certain that the masses would see her in a new light after this.

"But, we'll see." Still, Arnold Shen reassured with a slight smile on his face. 

Just then, Arnold Shen's assistant came. She informed him that the set was all good. Thus, he courtly excused himself which Ethan and Elliot Gong understood and politely bowed their heads.

After he left, Elliot Gong who was distress with his friend's rash actions and ridiculous idea made him massage his temple and closed his eyes.

"You… just what are you up to?"

Meanwhile, Ethan Lu sat back on the seat he sat earlier as his tensed body relaxed a little. 

"Who knows…" Unlike his aggressive behaviour earlier, Ethan calmed down a little. 

'This is the only way I could spend some time with her in public now...' He added inwardly with a sigh. 

Surely, Lexi's situation with her bloody reputation and all were pushing Ethan to the edge to do extreme means. After all, the guy was dying to let the whole world know that he love her and only her.