The Rise of the White Lotus

"Hahaha! And then, I remember when this brat challenged me in a booze challenge-- he was so confident but in the end-- pfft-! Hahaha! He threw up like he was coughing his intestines!" Richard Si's voice resonated throughout the whole establishment as he recalled a funny encounter with Ethan Lu while he loudly tapped the surface of the table. His face flushed as he drank a considerable amount of wine.

Lexi and Ethan Lu had their own glasses of wine and both of them laughed along with Richard Si. After their dinner, the three of them bond over their drinks— a couple of drinks. They shared funny stories-- the majority of the conversation was about Ethan Lu and his misadventures.

Ethan Lu didn't mind though as he was in a good mood and remained a good sport even if Richard Si and Lexi dissed him upfront.

"Hehe, you must admit though, you also got drunk that time— still my win since the bet is to make you drunk." Tilting his glass of wine while slightly shrugging his shoulder, Ethan Lu responded to Richard Si in a matter of factly tone.

"Aya! Indeed, I was surprised back then that he could drink like a veteran!" Nodding in agreement, Richard Si acknowledged without a second hesitation. Lexi grinned as she listened to these two.

Throughout their drinking session, Lexi realized that Ethan Lu has always been like a devil may care type of guy even with this type of businessmen like Richard Si. Also, despite having no support or whatsoever with the Lu family, he managed to start something for himself; which was commendable.

It was also revealed that one of the people who helped Ethan Lu in his trying times and trusted his business instinct was Richard Si and Morris Liu. Hence, after hustling for several months, Ethan Lu was back on track and regained his luxurious lifestyle.

Still, Ethan Lu kept on getting broke as he would spend all his money on things he wanted and not necessarily needed: for example the yacht which he told Lexi about.

"Well, I used to party all night but I don't know now-- I feel a little dizzy after a couple of wine." In a joking manner, Ethan Lu pretended he was getting dizzy as he swung his upper body sideways.

"You don't party anymore?" Arching her fleek brows, Lexi smirked as her gaze looked at the swinging figure of Ethan Lu.

"Hoho! How much money you have in the bank? Better than zero?" Snickering, Richard Si turned his head to Ethan Lu's direction.

"Nah, I'm too busy pursuing my wife and saving money for our future— I can't even count." Raising his gaze, Ethan Lu looked at the giddy, wrinkled pair of eyes of Richard Si before he shifted it to Lexi and he winked.

"Haha! Great! So, does that mean you don't spend all your savings buying flashy cars and the sort anymore?" 

"Bingo." Grinning back to Richard Si's slightly tipsy posture, Ethan Lu raised his glass for a toast. Lexi and Richard Si chuckled as both of them slightly raised their glasses before drinking their own liquor.

*****

"A baby made in this place-- hic!" Richard Si murmured before he was knocked out due to the amount of liquor he consumed.

"There you go-- phew!" Ethan Lu let out a heavy exhaled as he placed both of his hands on his waist. Staring at Richard Si's snoring figure, he could not help but shook his head. Apparently, Richard Si could not hold his liquor just like before and Ethan Lu had to carry him to his room. 

"He didn't have any assistant here? Seriously?" Altering her gaze from Ethan Lu to the lying figure of Richard Si with her arms crossed under her chest, Lexi inquired in disbelief.

"Unfortunately, no, he doesn't have one. They were all in the hotel because he likes to maintain his peace." Letting out another heavy sigh, Ethan Lu bent down as he moved Richard Si's body so he could sleep on his side-- preventing him from choking in his sleep.

"You two are pretty close, huh?" Watching how he took care of Richard Si and carefully tucked him in, Lexi subtly smiled. Not only he showed kindness to her but also to everyone he cares about. Even Elliot Gong who he always bickered with-- it was evident that their friendship was stronger than it looked like.

"Mhmm, he's more than a friend to me. To me, he's a father that I never had." After securing Richard Si's back with a pillow as support, Ethan Lu turned to face Lexi who was standing at the door.

Walking to her direction, he stopped in front of her with a smile. "He's special to me but you're the most special of all-- let's sleep?"

Lexi scrutinized his slightly flushed smiling face. His invitation to sleep made her brows twitched as he sounded as if a husband hinting his wife to do something she didn't want to think about.

"Ethan, whatever you have in mind, erase it." Pointing her index finger at him, Lexi warned. Seeing him nod, she rolled her eyes as she turned to leave the room. Ethan Lu grinned from ear to ear as he closed the door after checking at Richard Si for the last time.

When they reached the small guest room, Lexi unhesitantly entered without a care in the world and scanned the room once again. Seeing the one bed that was enough for two, one bedside table and nothing else inside the room, Lexi heavily sighed.

On the other hand, Ethan Lu did the same. Earlier, he was excited to sleep in the same room with her, alas, now that they were there, he realized he wasn't ready to share a room with her for the sake of both of them.

"I'll sleep outside." He proposed as he turned to see Lexi on his side. Lexi turned to see him in a questioning look plastered across her face.

"Outside? Where?" Raising her brows, although the place has a proper and decent interior, Lexi didn't see a place where Ethan Lu could sleep properly. His only choices were the small locker room, dining area, and kitchen-- he could only choose which was not the worst one. After all, the place was rather small in size despite the great view it offered them.

"The locker room or the dining area-- I don't know, love." Shrugging his shoulders, he already planned to consume all wine from Richard Si's room so he could sleep anywhere but here.

"Is this about me? I don't mind sharing a room for the night, really." Lexi's intention was pure as she and Ethan Lu were both adults. Therefore, even though they had a few drinks, she trusted that both of them would behave respectively. After all, they were both still sobered.

"Love, I am sober but the effect of the alcohol still runs through me right now-- don't trust me too much." With that said note, a loud knock on his head struck him. "Ah!" Rubbing the part where she smacked him, Ethan Lu frowned with puppy eyes.

Lexi raised the fist she used with a forced smile on her lips. "You want another one?"

"Love! That hurts!" Complaining about this injustice, Ethan Lu stomped his feet like a child. Yet, Lexi only responded with a fake smile with a dilated, warning eyes.

Thus, in the end, Ethan Lu shared the same room with her albeit not on the same bed. He laid on the floor beside the bed using the extra comforter as his bed. The room was being lighted by bedside lamp only, hence, the room was rather obscure. 

Both of them stared at the dim ceiling as neither of them uttered a word since earlier. Though they weren't sleeping side by side, for some reason, the atmosphere turned a little awkward as Lexi and Ethan Lu strongly feel each other's strong presence.

"Fun Fact: I never shared a room with a guy-- this is first." Since she could not sleep and the atmosphere between them has started to make her feel awkward, Lexi mimicked Churu and blurted out a ridiculous fun fact.