The Rise of the White Lotus

Lexi and Ethan Lu stayed like that for god know how long. Despite that, the two of them didn't seem they were bothered as they relaxed with each other's embrace. After that, since the sunset was still there, they watched it with their hands intertwined.

Lexi was too focused on the magical view, she didn't notice the feather-like steps that entered the area and served a variety of dishes on the table. They even lit the candles with discretion before they wordlessly took their leave.

Of course, Ethan Lu sensed their presence the whole time and cast them a glance before shifting it to Lexi's beautiful side profile. In his honest opinion, looking at her was much more magical and phenomenal than what she was watching with mesmerized eyes.

'God… I love this woman,' While staring at her, a thought resurfaced once again in his mind and heart. Indeed, he was smitten with her to the core. To him, every day he wakes up, his love towards her was getting deeper and deeper. Thus, sometimes, he questions: 'How come I could love someone like this in a short span of time?'

Regardless, Ethan Lu knew to himself that his love wouldn't wane easily. He knew that these feelings he bore for her would be engraved to him until the end of his life. Hence, he was grateful and treasured every moment with her.

"Hmm?" Sensing his intent stare, Lexi's right brow arched before she slightly turned her head to see him. "Any problem?"

"Nothing, nothing at all—hungry?" Smiling back, Ethan Lu mildly shook his head before he offered her to dinner. 

"Now that you mentioned it, I think I am but--" Lexi contemplated for a millisecond and realized that her stomach started to protest. 

However, if she remembered correctly, the table was still empty and she didn't hear anyone entered the area. Turning to see the supposed empty table, Lexi's brows knitted before she briefly chuckled seeing that the plates had now plate covers and the unlit candles were now lightened.

"But?"

"Sneaky," Lexi shook her head. She already guessed what happened behind her; when she was too focused on appreciating the view that effectively reduced her stress and exhaustion from filming days ago.

"Well then, please." Ethan Lu offered her an arm for her to hold on which Lexi didn't refuse even if they would only need to walk a couple of steps towards the table. 

Reaching the romantic set up table, as expected, Ethan Lu pulled the chair for her to sit on.

"Thank you, Mr. Lu." Slightly tilting her head on the side, Lexi perched on the seat as she always liked this treatment from him.

"My pleasure, Miss Yang." Ethan Lu slightly bowed his head with a bright grin before he unhurriedly sat on the seat across her.

****

In the middle of their dinner, Lexi and Ethan Lu shared some untold stories they could never forget in the past to get to know each other better. They shared good laughs and would automatically tease each other when they found something weird with their action especially in their own childhood days; until they consumed everything without them noticing.

Drinking their own glass of wine, Ethan Lu grinned as he suggested. "Hmm, why don't we play a game? The never have I never game."

"Well… sure." After sipping a meager amount of wine, Lexi slowly nodded her head as she placed the glass of wine on the table.

"Alright, hmmm… how we put our ten fingers up and --" Ethan pondered how was the game rules should be as he was afraid that he'd be tortured again if Lexi got drunk again. However, just as he was stating the rules, Lexi interrupted her midway.

"No, we drink—that's for babies." She smirked and looked at him with interest as she had too many things in mind to defeat him.

"Uh, no…" Ethan Lu's eyes marginally gaped upon hearing her suggestions, but seeing her right brow slowly raised, he gulped a mouthful of saliva as he somehow saw a bad premonition coming his way by the way she looked at him.

"Did you say yes?"

Ethan Lu cleared his throat by a series of coughs before he hurriedly nodded, "Yes, I said yes."

"Good." With that said note, Lexi smiled in satisfaction as she rested her jaw on the back of her hand. 

Soon, the 'never have I ever' game commenced with Lexi starting the question because Ethan Lu uttered 'ladies first'.

"Never have I ever said 'I Love You' just to sleep with someone." Lexi arched her brows as she anticipated if he's going to drink or not—although she expected him to drink. To her surprise, Ethan Lu smugly grinned as he shrugged his shoulders and simultaneously raised his brows up and down.

"Well, I don't go that low, my love." He winked in triumph. Now, it was his turn. "Never have I ever ate something found in the trash can." His words made Lexi furrowed her brows, thinking if he actually thought she had done that before.

"Eww, no way! Do you really think I'd do that?" Looking at him in dismay, Lexi sassed which made him chuckle for his own good reason; not letting her take a single drink because it was more dangerous when she was drunk.

"Sorry, just messing with you." He lied between his delighted chuckles. 

Lexi shook her head as she faintly laughed as well. She continued, "Never have I ever two-timed." This time, Lexi was certain that he'd get his first drink but to no avail, Ethan Lu grinned even more as he flaunted that he was 'clean'.

"You're kidding me, right?" She instigated with a narrowed eye.

"No, Future Mrs. Lu, I date tons of girls in the past and sorry to disappoint, but your future husband didn't enter the lowest of the scum society—I am already a jerk for changing girlfriends almost every other day, so there's no need for two-timing." Ethan Lu stated as if it was something to be proud of which made Lexi rolled her eyes on him as she dissed.

"Huh, you're still a scum."

"My turn, let see… never have I ever stuck gum under a chair."

"Ethan! How can you be so gross and unmannered?" Looking at him with extreme disgust, Lexi's gaze traveled from his head down to his chest. She added, "Can you be serious for once?"

"What? I'm being serious. Also, I don't do that." Ethan Lu burst out laughing seeing how disgusted she looked at him. For some reason, he really found her silly and cute at the same time.

"Whatever. Never have I ever lied playing "Never Have I Ever"." Since he wasn't being serious, Lexi spouted her remarks without thinking much thought about it. As expected, Ethan Lu still had this smug grin plastered across his face as if saying 'you have to know me better, girl'. 

She was too sure that he'd let him get the first drink knowing his flirtatious nature but to her disappointment, he was quite clean and not at the same time!

"Hehe, my turn. Pfft-!" Ethan Lu was chuckling thinking of another statement that she'd surely haven't done or experienced. He blurted out, "Never have I ever been slapped across the face." He was anticipating another dismayed look from her but his smile froze when she rolled her eyes and drank a mouthful of wine.

"What?! You've been slapped by who?!" His eyes widened as shocked showed on his face, waiting for her to answer.

"Tsk. Don't ask." She sassed in annoyance. But, Ethan Lu persisted and repeated in a growl, "Who dared hurt you?"

'That's in the past, don't get so worked up, dummy' Lexi thought inwardly but didn't speak her mind.

"I'm an actress, duh?" She snorted, as she threw that memory at the back of her mind. Also, in her perspective, there was no point in remembering that bitter past.

"That doesn't count!" Protesting as if he was the one who should drink it, he frowned. 

On the other hand, Lexi wasn't as enthusiastic anymore as her morale was slightly crushed, hence, she ignored his unreasonable complaints as she continued, "Never have I ever dreamt about our wedding night." 

Upon hearing that she proceeded with the game, Ethan Lu sighed as he reached for his glass of wine and downed everything in one go. Putting down a glass of wine, he declared, 

"You got me there, love. If you wanted me to drink, just think of ridiculous things I may have done for you. Hehe." 

"Oh…" Nodding in understanding, Lexi's eyes lit up. She was too focused on knowing how dirty he was in his past relationship but to no avail, he only fell to the category of scum but not the worst ones.

The game lasted for the longest time and Ethan Lu mostly got to drink because of the clue he gave her. Of course, Lexi had a drink or two… actually more than as she threatened him that if he didn't ask properly, she'd beat him up. However, it wasn't enough for her to get drunk as well for Ethan Lu despite the many shots due to his high tolerance towards alcohol.