The Rise of the White Lotus

The next day…

"Oi, stop spreading bad vibes here." Glancing at the gloomy corner where Ethan Lu sulk, Elliot Gong could not help but diss him. He could even feel the gloomy aura spread throughout the tent that effectively distracted him from getting in character.

"I'm so stupid…" Murmuring, Ethan Lu wept as he recalled last night's event.

[Short Flashback of last night's events]

As Ethan Lu relentlessly apologize to her, Lexi didn't utter a single word as she unhurriedly left his car with a little spirit.

Of course, Ethan Lu followed and also knelt on the concrete ground. He asked for inhumane punishment for what he did but to no avail, Lexi seemed she could not hear his pleas as her steps never faltered.

[End of short flashback]

"You just realize that now?" Shaking his head, Elliot Gong heard his repeating murmuring as Ethan Lu kept on calling himself stupid which Elliot Gong agreed.

"Shut up! Leave me alone!" Frustrated, Ethan Lu retorted back as he glared daggers at his friend.

"What? This is my tent— you leave me alone!" Dismayed to the core, Elliot Gong snapped as he tossed the script on his hand and grinded his teeth while glaring at Ethan Lu.

Just then, Arnold Shen entered Elliot Gong's tent as he needed to discuss something with Ethan Lu's cameo. Sensing that both men inside were shooting invisible daggers at one another, he chuckled as he always sees them like this every time.

"Good afternoon gentlemen!" Arnold Shen heartily greeted that broke the stifling atmosphere between the two.

"Director Shen," Upon hearing Arnold Shen, Elliot Gong stood from his seat and slightly bowed his head to as he politely greeted back. On the other hand, Ethan Lu waved his hand as he resumed to sulk in the corner.

"Mr. Lu, will you lend me an ear for a minute?" Ignoring Ethan Lu's extreme depressing mood, Arnold Shen brightly smiled that caught Ethan Lu's attention.

*****

Outside Elliot Gong's tent, Ethan Lu followed Arnold Shen as he remembered that the second reason he was here was that he asked for a cameo with Lexi. He almost forgot about it after being up all night and reflect on his purpose in life.

"So, for the cameo, Mr. Lu, I heard that you have a nice singing voice— same with Miss Yang." Confirming on this talent of his, Arnold Shen inquired with his brows raised.

"Uh, correct." Still unenthusiastic, Ethan Lu nodded. 

"Great! So here's the scene for the cameo." Grinning, Arnold Shen excitedly handed the script for his cameo.

"Thanks, Director Shen." Unlike his uttered words, Ethan Lu sounded ungrateful by his flat tone.

Regardless, Arnold Shen ignored that before he excused himself. What's important to him was that if Ethan Lu pulled it off, even if it was just a cameo, it will bring a great impact on the movie. After all, every little detail about the movie: Taming Hearts were meticulously written and approved by Arnold Shen himself. 

When Arnold Shen left, Ethan Lu didn't go back inside the tent to give his friend his own space so he could concentrate on his work. Instead, he walked without any specific directions as he read the script.

Upon scanning the scene that he would participate in, a slight smile formed on the side of his lips as it was a perfect scene he has in mind and it was just brilliant!

****

Soon, the scene where Lexi, Rika, Elliot Gong, and Ethan Lu was about to start after enough preparations. Obviously, the three of them already know the script which is why the three of them were looking at Ethan Lu with different expressions.

Elliot Gong peered at him with extreme dismay, while Rika's eyes were sparkling, anticipating what would happen next. On the other hand, Lexi gulped a mouthful of saliva for some reason.

Currently, Ethan Lu was also wearing a traditional ancient outfit— just like Lexi's. Since he was being ignored by her, Ethan Lu pretended that he was fine and still kept his bright smile on his face.

When director Arnold Shen cued everyone to get ready, all artists and production staff prepared for the second before the last scene of the day.

"ACTION!" With that said note, the camera started rolling as everyone attentively watched them.

The scene was in the middle of a fierce group battle as Rika and Elliot Gong were ambushed. Because the two of them were now an important figure in the nation, their enemies didn't underestimate them and sent a large group of mercenaries.

As Xue Yingyue, Rika's character fiercely fought; Elliot Gong as Long Yutao didn't lag behind. However, since the enemies came prepared, they seem they are endless as they surrounded the two— leaving them zero escape route.

"Xiao Yue, I'll distract them and you escape." Elliot Gong as Long Yutao whispered. They had been in this brawl for quite some time and even though they were elite fighters, the enemies before them were endless. Hence, he decided for Rika's character as Xue Yingyue to escape. After all, he knew that Xue Yingyue was their real target— he wouldn't let them.

"No! I can't leave you!" 

"Hahaha! Do you think we can let her escape?" One of the men who seemed to be their leader and the most troublesome of all sneered.

Just then, Chang'e who was as ignorant as ever came from behind and tapped one of the man's shoulder, she asked; "I beg your pardon, have you seen my husband?"

"Huh?" Turning to see who was asking such a question in the middle of the deadly situation, the man's brows creased seeing a woman who was wearing ancient clothing with a puzzled look.

Since they were outlaws that trespassed the nation from the other border, even innocent people— women or child must be killed if they saw them. Furthermore, with the current occurrence, the man was alarmed and without a word, he launched a slashed attack with his long sword which Chang'e swiftly dodge as she jumped backward.

"You fiend whose face was drawn by an inexperienced artist!" With that ridiculous insult, Chang'e raised her hand as a violent wind that was as sharp as a real sword made the man cough up blood and the rest of the hoodlums were thrown back.

This sudden turn of events snapped Xue Yingyue, Long Yutao, and the rest to turn their head to the other unit group that was wiped out. When the thick dust slowly vanished, there, they saw a beautiful woman whose ancient clothing was fluttering in the air with a scornful expression plastered across her face.

"I was only looking for my Hou Yi— how dare you raise your weapon on me!" Chang's growled in disgust. Raising her gaze, she saw Long Yutao and Xue Yingyue panting with bruises on their faces while being surrounded by a large group of black-uniformed men.

"Chang'e…" Xue Yingyue muttered as she could not believe that she'd see her again. On the other hand, Long Yutao's eyes widened upon seeing the friend that suddenly vanished out of nowhere. 

"You…"

"It was you two, have you seen my husband?" Glad to see the two humans that she made acquaintance with, Chang'e smiled as she slowly made her way towards them while using the unconscious men as her stepping stone.

"What are you doing? Get her!" Agitated at what happened, the man who was giving orders earlier shouted. It wasn't enough for him to discern what happened and the threat Chang'e had shown raised their hostility.

"Kill her and these two!" He added before they attacked them all at once.