The Rise of the White Lotus

The morning meal ended very awkwardly as none of them spoke a word. However, the culprit why they were quiet didn't seem she was concerned as she consumed her breakfast faster than her usual pace before she excused herself.

"I never thought Lexi is quite cute in her own way." Rika blurted out as she watched Lexi's retreating back.

"She's always like that, I guess." Elliot Gong smiled as he glanced at Lexi's back before he continued eating his food.

As usual, Elliot Gong shrugged Lexi's unpleasant verbal assault as he was already used to it. At least, she said she wasn't pertaining to him even if it was out of unneeded courtesy.

"Uh, right. You know her… hmm, by the way, now that I think about it, I heard you rejected this project? Why are you suddenly here as the second lead?" Rika narrowed her eyes as she stared at Elliot Gong with suspicion. Since she worked with him several times with different movies, they could be considered friends. Hence, she was unreserved towards her instigation.

"Hehe, I need money." Smiling, Elliot Gong honestly answered. Alas, the real meaning of his words could only be understood by him alone. 

"Money? Are you sure? Not love interest, eh?" Still pressing on the matter, Rika grinned as she knew that after Lexi got the role Chang'e, Elliot Gong took up the role that has more interaction with Lexi's part -- which sparked her thirst for gossip.

"Haha, sadly no. I love my life." Elliot Gong heartily chuckled hearing the ridiculous conclusion made by Rika. 

For his own reasons, he found it silly that he'd be misunderstood that way. After all, that was Lexi Yang they were talking about. She was infamous on lots of things, especially her sensitivity towards other men. Therefore, he wouldn't waste his time investing deep feelings for someone like her.

Nonetheless, he couldn't be bothered whatever Rika had in mind as it wasn't true and he was only doing this because a certain someone was generous when it comes to her.

"You still sounds fishy… let me tell you, don't have silly thoughts about her or I'll mess with you." Still unconvinced, Rika thrust her chin forward as she uttered her warning.

"Hehe, you really like her, do you? Then, that's good." Unaffected by Rika's threats, Elliot Gong was rather delighted that Rika seemed she was genuinely fond of Lexi. Furthermore, at least Lexi would get to have a real friend like Rika. After all, Rika might seem carefree but she's a good support especially in the industry.

****

Lexi could not help but scratch her right jaw when she arrived on the set. It appeared that her prediction was correct -- the whole crew was like zombies trying to wrap their head together. Even Director Arnold Shen was no exception. 

"Again, how could they be so careless?" Lexi murmured as she scanned the whole area. She knew that Rika didn't have any scene today and could go back to the city today, but, how about them? How about the whole production team? Could they be useful and finish the shoot?

"Hehe, sister Lexi, don't worry about them. They are always like that." One of the glam artist that Abigail Fan temporarily hired to take care of Lexi's appearance, chuckled after hearing Lexi's statement. She continued,

"I worked with them numerous times and they are always like that, especially when Director Shen was in-charge."

Lexi's brows arched as she cast the woman a side glance yet, she chose not to speak a word. Since Lexi didn't have her own glam team and this woman was her temporary make up artist, Lexi didn't find any reason to ask her anything. Furthermore, it was already a relief that the production team could still work properly despite feeling awful.

"It's good, don't you think?" After some quietness, the woman spoke again.

For some reason, Lexi felt bugged by her brief aura as she uttered those words. Hence, she turned her head to the woman beside her with a slightly baffled look on her eyes. "Huh?"

"I mean, there's always another side of the story. People who don't know anything could only see the glitz and glamor of this industry while unfortunate ones only know the dark side of it, alas, that doesn't make them a liar nor blind -- you're lucky, you got to see this angle." The woman slowly turned her back on Lexi and began taking strides away from her.

"Ohh…" Feeling a little taken aback, Lexi could only nod as she absorbed the woman's words. Thinking about it, somehow, she made sense. However, who was she again? It's rare to hear someone openly share their opinion regarding the entertainment industry.

"Sisssy!" Just then, Churu appeared. She was flying from the sky with high speed and stopped in front of her. "There you are!"

'Sissy, where have you been? Please, don't tell me you watched Eli changed clothes?' Rolling her eyes, Lexi hadn't moved on about her perverted statements earlier, thus, thinking that Churu accompanied the poor Elliot Gong to change, she somehow felt bad for the guy.

"No~! I was checking something. By the way, who are you talking to?" Tilting her head, Churu innocently inquired.

"Just a makeup artist. Don't disturb me any longer, I need to practice my lines." Waving her hands off, Lexi began walking to the spot where she usually perched. For some reason, that spot helped her focus more and get into character faster.

"Ohh, okay!" Churu saluted but she didn't follow her. Lexi didn't find something weird about Churu's action as she was always like that. That's why she didn't mind the dumpling even though she didn't follow her -- thinking that she'd stay with Elliot Gong.

When Churu saw that Lexi didn't sense the abnormalities of the air, she heaved a sigh of relief. Turning her head towards the direction where the woman Lexi was conversing with earlier, Churu slowly flew towards it and entered the small tent.

"You're fast." The moment Churu entered the small tent, the makeup artist greeted her while sitting leisurely on one of the chairs.

"What are you up to?" Unlike her jolly character, Churu's eyes surprisingly sharpened and despite her cute, small front, she emanated a strong dangerous aura.

"Take it easy, Churu… or should I call you Alvah? Ooops, right. You're a nameless demon now." The woman chuckled with a hair-raising tone while the back of her hand was covering her mouth. Raising her gaze to the unappeased small dumpling, she scoffed.

"By the way, congrats. You finally got rid of your ender 'chu'." 

"Are you going to tell me why you approach her or I'll make you?" Ignoring the woman's sarcasm, Churu's voice was threatening as the aura surrounding the tent turned pressing.

"Make me? How? With that form of yours?" Unfazed by the threat, the woman smirked. However, in a fraction of millisecond Churu appeared in front of her.

"I can't. But don't forget, I can force myself to take my original form and snap your neck. Be grateful, I don't want to cause trouble and kill that innocent woman." Despite her minion voice, Churu's eyes were frightening as a thirst for blood oozes every part of her body.

"Huh, you never change. Being attached to a human despite knowing that in the end, she'll forget about you" With that last remarks, the woman collapsed as a white spirit flew and vanished into thin air.

"That's none of your business." As Churu gazed at the spirit that manifested on the woman until it dissolved, she mumbled and let out a heavy sigh.