The Rise of the White Lotus

Lexi slightly gulped seeing him smile a little as he bit his lower lip. In retrospect, Ethan Lu always acted comedic and well, charming—add the drama king on the side. Hence, Lexi found it hard to see him in an extremely serious way. Even back when he was being a jerk and always let his playboy persona hit on her every once in a while, it only annoyed her to some degree.

Still, right now, in somewhat someways, Ethan Lu seemed and sounded manly. It was as if his compliment was a warning for her or else, he might really lose his sanity. Moreover, where did his confidence coming from? She still has many tricks on her sleeve to pull to tease him yet, he was saying something like this that actually made her a bit cautious.

Despite that, Lexi wanted to try and get her the answers she wanted -- for her and maybe, for this quite complicated relationship between them.

"Aren't we on a date? This is how I date." Curling her lips upward, Lexi thrust her chin forward and met his soft pair of eyes.

["Oh ho, you only dated one man~" Churu who was keeping her distance from the two humored. She was far away from them and Lexi couldn't hear her teasing. Regardless, what's important was Churu could hear her even from miles away and keep herself updated with the current happenings.]

"Oh?" Leaning his head a little forward, Ethan Lu was now safe from her taunting as he wasn't driving nor he was about to drive. So, he could play whatever game she had in her mind. Furthermore, he completely liked it as he felt he could flirt with her and maybe, just maybe, he'll successfully gain more of her attention. He added,

"Then, please take care of me -- It's my first time..."

"Tss, liar." Lexi rolled her eyes as she faintly scoffed at his obvious lie.

"I'm not. It's the first time I will go on a date with someone I'd want to marry." Ethan Lu draws closer to her even more and whispered the rest of his sentence. His heated breath caressed her ear which made her take a step back and looked at him with surprise.

Seeing her reaction, Ethan Lu chuckled as he knew this stunt was a risk. However, he needed to do this as he knew she wouldn't stop 'seducing' him even if he told her so. 

"Hehe," He then winked at her and a grin plastered across his face—revealing his even white teeth.

Just then, the yacht approached the shore and the person maneuvering it waved his hand to call the attention of the owner and his date.

"Mr. Lu!"

"Oh, it's here," Ethan Lu turned his eyes to the direction of the person who was shouting his name while waving his hand. Holding her slender hands a little tighter, Ethan Lu glanced at her and seeing that she was snapped back from her daze, he started guiding her towards the 72-meter private luxury yacht.

"Young Master, sorry we are late." The man scratched the back of his head as he bowed and apologized for their delay.

"Don't worry about it -- no biggie." Ethan Lu casually waved his hand gesturing him that he didn't mind the short wait. The person smiled brightly as his boss never changed since his employment.

Ethan Lu then carefully assisted Lexi inside while she kept her silence. Looking around, Lexi must admit that she was in awe with this limited edition yacht. Of course, it wasn't the first time she rode in this kind of boat as she often attended parties in a much larger yacht. However, although she was surrounded by socialites, only a few of them personally owned one. This only showed the wealth of the Lu family acquiring such luxury or so she thought.

"You liked it? Well, I was also mesmerized the first time I saw it and had to spend all my savings to buy it." Satisfied with her impression, Ethan Lu proudly tattled without reserved.

"Wait—you bought it?" Furrowing her brows, Lexi turned her head to see Ethan's proud smile. At first, she thought it was owned by the Lu family, but hearing him say he used up all his savings for it, Lexi didn't quite believe him.

"Hehe, don't tell others but I was broke for a year." Sneakily whispering his secret, Ethan Lu recalled his 'broke days' that he always thought he'd sell this beautiful thing to get his money back. Fortunately, he found another opportunity to gamble the last penny he had and his money grew back again to maintain his lifestyle without going back to the Lu family affairs.

Lexi examined him for a while and seeing that he had a slight ugly expression as he reminisced, she raised her brows and was left with no choice but to believe him.

Ethan Lu toured her around with enthusiast. On the other hand, Lexi was attentive as she listened to his short misadventures when he acquired this yacht. He told her about the time he threw a party that was a total blast. Also, sometimes, his friends Chris and Kevin would rent his yacht for a night or two.

"Do they really pay you?" Scoffing, Lexi raised her right eyebrow as she questioned his last story. Well, they were friends after all. Hence, she expected that he'd let them use it for free.

"Haha! They'd be haunted for the rest of their lives if they didn't. Also, if you're thinking that I shouldn't have let them pay -- how can I survive my bankruptcy? They have money and I don't." He chuckled and uttered in a matter of factly tone. 

"Make sense," Shrugging her shoulders, Lexi followed him outside the deck just to be welcomed with a romantic set up table. Although the candle was unlit since it was only close to sunset, a proper dining set just for two-person was arranged with a bottle of champagne in the middle yet, the plates were still empty. There was also a guitar on the side but there's no other person present aside from the two of them.

'Since when did he prepare all this?' She thought inwardly as her gaze scanned the exquisite set up in this awe-inspiring yacht.

"Well?" Turning to see her sophisticated and seemingly unfazed face, Ethan was unbothered as her eyes were telling him all the things he wanted to know. He resumed after three seconds,

"You know, when I bought this thing, I somehow regret it because aside from bragging that I have a yacht, there's really nothing I can do with it—also, I had to limit my spending. But now…" He recalled. 

He then strode closer to her side and he tenderly held her hand and slightly raised it. Slowly filling the gaps in between her fingers with his, his heart raced because their hands seemed perfectly matched—as if they were each other's missing puzzle. 

Ethan Lu spoke again when he sensed Lexi turned to face him.

"But now, it can finally serve its purpose." He was mildly rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb as he looked at it with a subtle smile. Ethan Lu then raised his gaze and immediately caught her enchanting pair of eyes.

"I had always had this delusion of us, being here, under the golden rays of the sunset with our hand intertwined while sharing a passionate kiss… but, who would have thought that just your presence is enough to fill my heart?" Ethan Lu honestly shared his far fetched dream with a slight chuckle.

"Lexi, love, let's forget the noise of the world for tonight, can we?"

"Ethan, who are you really?" After some time, Lexi spoke the question that always lingered on the back of her mind. His personality shifts too fast that for some reason, she was reluctant to believe what's in front of her. She resumed,

"I know this is out of course, but everything is just too fast -- you're too fast. After that day, you already managed to ask for my parent's permission and now, this… it's not that I don't like it, but it's just... I don't know." Lexi heavily sighed as she was lost of words to describe and express herself. 

Indeed, aside from being used as her friend, one thing that frightened her was his pace of acquiring her attention. It was not if she liked or disliked it, but everything was so quick that it was overwhelming.

Ethan Lu meekly smiled at her distressed front. Raising his free hand and reached for her other hand, he assisted it to his cheeks, "If I didn't do it fast enough… I am always afraid that someone will take you away from me." He smiled bitterly as he admitted his worries.

"If someone like me fell in love with you for no specific reason, then, there would be tons of men who are waiting for an opportunity as well… It's crazy— just thinking that another man is holding your hands, it makes me crazy." Again, Ethan Lu let out a faint scoffed as a dreading scenario flashed across his mind.

"Even though I consider the possibility of failing to gain your love, it still terrifies me. I am terrified—scared to lose you, scared to hurt you. Lexi, I know I am again being selfish and knowing that I am putting pressure on you even if it wasn't my intention, I --" Ethan Lu didn't finish the rest of his sentiments as he heavily sighed. It's not that he couldn't end his sentence but, if he does, he would sound that he was putting the blame on her. Hence, he decided to stop and reflect on his strategy.

Lexi was looking at him all this time and as always, Ethan Lu never failed to say the sweetest and moving words that always tugged her heart. She totally understood him and his reasoning as she herself experienced that same concern in the past—back when her heart belongs to someone else and not to her. 

But now, Ethan Lu was slowly placing the pieces of her shattered, recovering heart together without either of them recognizing it.

Momentarily grinding her teeth, Lexi slightly shook her head and without realizing it, she took a step forward and retrieved her hands from him before she wrapped them around him for a hug. When Lexi had the gist of what she was doing, she still decided to stay and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Are you dumb? If it wasn't for your luck, I'd also keep you an arm's length away from me, dummy. Also, I only date one at a time."