The Rise of the White Lotus

Ethan Lu was resting his head on the driver's seat headrest. He was once again in the pit of his overthinking mind and he didn't notice that Lexi approached his car. He only snapped when Lexi entered the front passenger seat.

Turning to see her on the side, Ethan Lu forced a smile on his lips. "Sorry, I didn't notice you— I should have waited outside." Referring that he should have opened the door for her like always, he apologized which made her smile gently.

"It's not like I don't have a hand." She humored as Lexi guessed what's on his mind. Buckling herself up, Lexi removed the blazer suit first and placed it on her lap.

"Love…" Feeling helpless, Ethan Lu called out under his breath yet, he only shook his head as he fixed his seatbelt. "Ready? Where do you want to eat?" 

"Anywhere with you." Grabbing the blazer suit, Lexi covered her exposed cleavage as she muttered her response as if her answer was normal. Alas, it was not!

Her reply almost made Ethan Lu jolt from his seat as he looked at her with disbelief eyes and a narrowly opened mouth. Did she just said she's fine everywhere if she's with him?! Like really?

When Lexi glanced at Ethan Lu who wasn't starting the car's engine, she arched her brows seeing his abnormal reaction. "What?"

"Baby, d- don't drink again." Trying to recompose his already muddled mind, Ethan Lu stuttered as he wasn't used to hearing her throwing such lines to him. He then clumsily started the car's engine with the best he could do.

Lexi watched his clumsiness took over and chuckled. Well, although she was telling the truth, it was still fun to make him taste his own medicine. As the car finally moved, Lexi held her hand out which made Ethan Lu furrowed his brows when he caught a glimpse of what she was doing.

"Uhh, what are you doing?" Glancing at her hand from time to time, Ethan Lu's entire focus regarding Morris Liu and the threat of his presence slowly set aside.

"Waiting for your hand." As serious as she could sound, Lexi pursed her lips as she watched his reaction from her advances one after another.

"Oh my god…" Slightly horrified, Ethan Lu lowly mumbled as his heart began to beat faster than usual. Was she trying to give him a heart attack? First, saying cheesy words and now initiating a holding hand? What was she up to?

"Please tell me how much did you drink?" Disbelief about Lexi, Ethan Lu inquired in bewilderment as his hand reached out for her hand while his dilated eyes focused on the road.

"Not too much— why? You don't like it?" Chuckling, Lexi could no longer hold back her laughter as she tightened her grip that was holding his hand before loosening it. For some reason, she was in the mood to play around with him. After all, she wasn't that stiffed before. It was just that she could only be like this to the people that had a special space in her heart.

"I do like it! But, I'm not used to it." Feeling her slender hand, Ethan Lu responded in a matter of factly tone as he bit his lower lip to prevent himself from smiling like a fool; despite that, his cheeks were already blushing.

"Well, be use to it from hereon." Audibly replying, Lexi chuckled as she shook her head and repositioned her body so she could comfortably watch his side profile while driving. That instant, seeing that she was staring at him, he gritted his teeth to make his jaw a bit more apparent.

'Shoot! Did I shave earlier?' Getting a bit more self-conscious, Ethan Lu's mind asked himself as he wondered if he looked just fine. After all, he was too busy these days and his stressful encounter with his friends earlier— he felt that he aged overnight. Yes, he was indeed overthinking as he didn't want to turn her off even though he had already done it so many times without him knowing.

They traveled like that for half an hour as Ethan Lu was undecided about where to take her. In the end, without him knowing, Ethan Lu arrived at his own private villa. He swore in the name of gods that he didn't purposely take her in his home as Ethan Lu only realized where they stopped when he glanced outside.

On the other hand, since Lexi already went in his place, she already knew where he was taking her. However, she didn't ask questions as she already told him: anywhere was fine if she's with him. Therefore, she could not careless wherever he wanted— as long as they could eat together and catch up.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was spacing out, I didn't —" Just as Ethan Lu apologized about being distracted, Lexi interrupted him midway while unbuckling her seat.

"It's fine. At least you can rest afterward." Turning to him with a smile, Lexi raised her brows showing that she wasn't objecting at his choice of place.

Upon seeing this, Ethan Lu was dumbstruck as he could slowly nod in understanding. Surely, he was quite baffled at why Lexi was being a little too extra today which was actually terrifying and flattering at the same time. Regardless, Ethan Lu exhaled as he started to unbuckle his seat and went outside.

Jogging his way to the passenger seat, Ethan Lu assisted Lexi from going out like a real gentleman. Fortunately, his scolding inwardly made his mind started to function a bit and acted by instinct.

*****

Lexi looked at the refrigerator and her brows slowly creased. Behind her, Ethan Lu scratched his temple as he realized that his huge refrigerator had nothing but bottles of water and a few ingredients. Aside from that, there was actually nothing inside this expensive storage.

"If Mom finds out about this, she'll surely fill this for you." Turning behind her, Lexi arched her brows and she crossed her arms under her breast. Indeed, knowing her mother, she would surely nag Ethan Lu just like what she had done to her back when she was abroad when she heard that Lexi was barely eating. One of the reasons she started pigging out as her mother spoiled her too extensively.

"Uh… I forgot I have no decent food here— let's drive somewhere—" Sounding embarrassed, Ethan Lu wanted to dig a hole to where he was standing because not only he exposed that he wasn't eating at his own home, he dared bring her here knowing he had nothing to offer. 

"Tsk," Clicking her tongue in annoyance to interrupt his suggestion, Lexi returned her attention back to the fridge before grabbing some ingredients they could use. "I'll see what I can prepare with this— here."

"Err, love we can just eat somewhere—"

"Shut up, Mr. Lu and just help me if you still want to eat." Shushing him, Lexi handed out some eggs and green onions that she could use to prepare some decent food.

"Oh, okay…?" Briefly raising his brows, Ethan Lu immediately nodded and acted as a good sous chef to his sexy chef.