The Rise of the White Lotus

On their way back to Ethan Lu's villa, Jarred Guo and Lyrick Jiang had already steeled their hearts and prepared for whatever public display of affection that would take place behind them. But, to their surprise, Lexi and their young master, Ethan Lu, only flirted at first until Lexi fell asleep on their boss' lap. 

Ethan Lu caressed her head as he watched her side profile— facing the front. Well, they were just teasing earlier and Lexi was just snuggling to him that made his heart filled with contentment. Alas, maybe because she was tired, and got a little dizzy while the car was moving, Lexi decided to sleep with her head was on his lap. Her legs were bent to fit on the whole seat. Fortunately, she was already in her pajamas so she was more comfortable. 

"Boop," Poking her cheek once, Ethan Lu checked if Lexi was awake or not. "Love?" He added in a whisper yet, Lexi remained sleeping with her breathing in a constant rhythm. 

Nodding in understanding, Ethan Lu kept petting her head while his other hand slid inside his pocket suit. After getting his phone, Ethan Lu only tapped it a few times before placing it in front of his ear. 

Meanwhile, while Jarred Guo has his full attention on the road, Lyrick Jiang's mind was wandering somewhere else. As the inside of the car slowly delved into silence, Lyrick Jiang jolted from his seat. 

The sudden vibration from his suit pocket was enough to snap him out of his daze. Fortunately, he was securely buckled up or else, he would have slipped out of the seat. 

Without further ado, Lyrick Jiang fiddled his hand inside his suit pocket as he exchanged a gaze with Jarred Guo's disdainful eyes as if telling him to snap out of it. Upon seeing the contact name 'Young Master' on the phone's screen, Lyrick Jiang furrowed his brows. 

Slowly, Lyrick Jiang pressed the red button and answered the call with a confused heart. Ethan Lu was only behind him, wasn't it? Why was he calling him then? Was he afraid to wake Lexi up?

Alas, just as the line connected, Ethan Lu ended the call without a word— making his assistant feel a little restless. Creepy. In the next second, Lyrick Jiang received a short message from his master. 

"Having a crush on my girlfriend?"

Upon reading the message, Lyrick Jiang gasped as he instantly turned behind. There, Ethan Lu was gently petting Lexi's head yet, his gaze was already anticipating Lyrick Jiang's which is what really happened right at that moment. 

Ethan Lu raised his brows with a complex smirk the moment his gaze met his. He then placed his forefinger in front of his curled lips, gesturing him not to make a sound.

Seeing the devious smirk on the corner of his boss's lips, Lyrick Jiang swallowed a mouthful of saliva. 

Didn't his young master say earlier that 'he's not petty?'

Of course, Lexi and Ethan Lu's conversation was able to reach them but still, Lyrick Jiang was confident that what his master said was the truth and nothing but the truth. After all, even though Ethan Lu was a well-known playboy, he had entrusted some women for Lyrick Jiang to drive home or compensate them for their breakup. Hence, he never paid attention to the short conversation they had earlier because his boss has never been jealous!

Clearing his throat, Lyrick Jiang retrieved his gaze and returned to sit properly on the front passenger seat. He dragged a long inhale and then exhaled a heavy one before he started typing on his phone. 

On the other hand, Jarred Guo shot his colleague a glance and then to the rear mirror where he could see the sinister smirk of their boss. He could not help but slightly shake his head as he somehow pitied Lyrick Jiang. 

'Poor guy... he should've known not to stare for too long to someone who was taken— now he was misunderstood. Tsk tsk tsk,' Jarred Guo thought inwardly and refocused his attention back to the road. 

[No, Young Master. I was just surprised to finally meet the woman that Young Master had been protecting.] Lyrick Jiang contemplated with precise calculations that Ethan Lu could not find a hole in his excuse. To be fair, he was telling the truth as he would never have an inkling towards his master's woman. 

[Just messing with you.] On the back seat, Ethan Lu soundlessly chuckled as he witnessed how his always composed assistant's expression changed into dismay which rarely happens. Hence, it was more than enough to keep him awake with that thought until they reached their destination. 

****

Finally, their journey finally came to an end as they reached Ethan Lu's place. The moment they had arrived, Jarred Guo and Lyrick Jiang automatically went to the trunk to carry Lexi's luggage and brought them inside their boss's place. Meanwhile, Lexi woke up when she felt that Ethan Lu was moving her— trying to carry her. Alas, she refused to be carried as she already troubled her boyfriend.

As the two entered the villa, Ethan Lu noticed Louis Lu's car parked on the side yet, he retained his expression as he walked with Lexi while holding her hand.

The moment they entered the place, Ethan Lu immediately caught Louis Lu's figure. He was sitting on the longer couch while watching business news with half-filled bottle of water on top of the small table. When Louis Lu heard the noises, he turned his head towards the entrance and saw Jarred Guo and Lyrick Jiang intrude with luggage on them.

After a while, as the two employees placed the huge luggage beside the stairs, in his peripheral vision, Louis Lu caught his cousin and Lexi's figure out of the corner of his eye. Slowly turning his head back to the entrance, Louis Lu's gaze altered from Ethan Lu and then to Lexi without any change of expression.

"Young Master, that's everything that Miss Yang brought." Clearing his throat once again, Lyrick Jiang turned to Ethan Lu using his stoic facade. He didn't dare give Louis Lu a glance as Lyrick Jiang was well-aware of the said man's skills. 

It was said that when someone looked at him eye-to-eye, Louis Lu would somehow read that person's mind. Of course, Lyrick Jiang doesn't fully believe in it but since it was proven by others: for example, some Lu family members, then, Lyrick Jiang couldn't find any reason not to avoid that possibility. After all, he was hostile towards the man as he poses a threat to them.

"Alright, you don't have to pick me up tomorrow. Thanks, guys." Nodding in understanding, Ethan Lu responded to Lyrick Jiang and then to Jarred Guo which made them nod in submission and bow to the two before leaving the place.

"Baby, will you wait for me upstairs?" When his assistant and driver left, Ethan Lu turned to face the still sleepy Lexi. 

"Mhmm," Lexi only nodded in agreement as her weary gaze briefly moved to the side to Louis Lu's direction. "I'll fix my stuff tomorrow— I'll rest first," Lexi added before she jogged her way upstairs.

Ethan Lu watched Lexi take a small bag that was resting on top of her luggage before she headed to the master's bedroom. Ethan Lu made sure that Lexi entered their room before he decided to turn his attention to Louis Lu who remained silent in the living area. He took slow strides and perched across his cousin's position.

"Lou…" As Ethan Lu sat, he placed his elbows on top of his knees and raised his gaze to meet Louis Lu's unreadable front. 

"If you were asking why I am still here, well, you said 'see you later', so I figured it would be impolite not to say my thanks and goodbye to my temporary landlord— so, I waited here." Without a pause, Louis Lu blankly explained his honest reasons why he was there even though he already packed his stuff and it was already in his car.

"I know you'll do that— that's why I said it." Nodding his head, Ethan Lu's pair of dark eyes scrutinized his cousin's front as if he was reading him like an open book.

"Is that so?" Raising his eyebrows and shrugging his shoulders, Louis Lu didn't sound offended or anything of the sort as he knew that his cousin knew him so well. "Why?" Still, just like Ethan Lu, Louis Lu was also well-versed with his cousin's antics.

"Are you involved in brother Mo's accident…?" Ethan Lu didn't dare avert his eyes from his cousin as he attentively waited for his response.

"Yes."