The Rise of the White Lotus

"Stop staring." Glancing on her side, to the head seat on the rectangular dining table, Lexi slightly shook her head sideways as she forked another piece of small carrot that was sliced into a small cube. 

"No, I won't, I have to because you'll be pretty busy after this. When will I have the chance to gaze at your gorgeous face then?" Still cupping both of his cheeks while staring at the beautiful scenery called Lexi Yang, Ethan Lu refused as he lightly shook his head. 

It was the second day since Lexi moved into his place and hence, this day should be the start of her seminars and classes for her plan to establish a skincare business. Within those two nights she has been there, both didn't get the chance to have any steamy exercises because they had to finish the small dress— keeping them up until they passed out. 

"Am I the only one who's going to be busy? Besides, it's not like I won't be coming home here afterward." Rolling her eyes, Lexi arched her brow as she looked at him with a bland expression. Still, Ethan Lu silently refused as he engraved her perfectly made facial features into his mind that was only befitting to someone like her. 

"Oh, by the way, my car arrived this morning so you don't have to drop me off." Being reminded of something not entirely crucial, Lexi ignored the lover boy that was beaming with pink petals with a speck of imaginary pink powder dust floating all around him. 

Upon receiving her news, Ethan Lu frowned as a dismayed expression flashed across his face. "Huh?!"

"Mhmm, you heard me right. You've been pushing all your schedules back and I can't let you ruin your career for me." Still bearing her poker face countenance, Lexi uttered in a matter of fact tone. 

Maybe she was exaggerating on the last part but Ethan Lu had been pushing his work back further than it's usual schedule by accompanying her in the morning. Therefore, Lexi didn't want to burden him even though Ethan Lu would be the most unlikely to have treated it as a burden. 

Regardless, she's a capable woman who could drive herself to wherever she needed to be without a driver. Moreover, she appreciated the fact that Ethan Lu wanted to pamper her, however, she could not just rely on him all of the time as she needed to do something for herself. 

"I'm not ruining my career..." Pouted like a sad child, Ethan Lu lowered his head and stared at his empty plate that he had eaten much faster than normal so he could focus on indulging himself in watching her.

"No, Mister. That trick won't work on me." Referring to his gloomy, pitiful act, Lexi shook her head. Although she said those words, Lexi would be lying if she said it didn't affect her even the slightest bit. After all, seeing him act like a neglected kitten, her soft spot for him was being tugged harshly. Still, she has to put on a facade or else, Ethan Lu would continue to neglect his obligations. 

"But, all my appointments in the morning are not as important as you." He added after a heavy sigh. 

"I know because I'll choke you to death if you think they are more important than me. Still, you shouldn't neglect them." Lexi nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders as she humored him— shamelessly admitting and threatening him that she should be the most important for him. Well, although she wanted him to be a responsible adult, Lexi was selfish enough not to let him have something more important than her. 

"Love, you're really confusing to me sometimes." Slightly shaking his head sideways, Ethan Lu could not rebut anymore as he could not come up with any more excuses. Still, he was amused that Lexi was becoming bolder and bolder with each passing day that they were together. 

Ethan Lu raised his gaze and watched Lexi finish her breakfast with a mischievous smile on the corner of his lips. "Love?"

"Mhmm?" Without looking in his direction, Lexi hummed a tune as she continued to fork pieces of food on her plate. 

"Are you thinking about me 24/7?" Ethan Lu slightly tilted his head to the side as he anticipated her response. 

Well, no matter how hard it is, Ethan Lu must admit that if it wasn't for him being insecure about not having a label and the fact that she would be snatched away from him— Lexi wouldn't enter this relationship. After all, just like she said she wanted to fix herself before giving her all to him hence she'd marry him if that ever happens. 

However, there had been tons of twists and turns that made their initial promise to go on an unexpected route. Nonetheless, it's not like it went in a bad direction but still, Ethan Lu wanted to marry her whenever she was ready. 

"Hmm?" Furrowing her brows with his sudden question, Lexi ate the last piece of green peas on her plate as she slowly turned her confused front to him. 

"I don't think so," After a while, as Lexi studied his anticipating front, she bluntly responded as she reached for a glass of water and wiped her lips. 

"Eh?!"

"Now that I get to see you on a daily basis— I don't have to think about you, you know." Lexi raised her brows together as she shot him a knowing look which made his face twitched. 

'Seeing me on a daily basis— what? Does asking her to live with me reduce that 24/7 thing? Damn...' Rendered speechless on the outside, his thoughts grumbled inwardly as he really hadn't thought about it before. 

"But, although that is true, I still get thoughts like: I am happy to be with you, you're one of the blessings I had never expected to happen, and thank the heavens for sending you to me." The corner of her lips slightly curled into a gentle smile as Lexi found it a little cringy to utter such cheesy lines early in the morning. After all, she wasn't this verbal to him before but as an energy booster, Lexi did it with a genuine heart. 

Slowly, Ethan Lu placed both his palms on his blushing cheeks as he bit his lower lip from grinning like a fool. "Ishh~ how can you make me blush so early in the morning~ silly Lexi~" 

"Tch, you're the silly one." Giggling upon seeing him like a cute little high school girl after receiving the confession of her crush, Lexi's smile widened, revealing the pearly whites of her teeth. 

After exchanging more sweet lines with each other, Lexi and Ethan Lu cleaned the table, washing the dishes, just like any other newlywed couple as they didn't have a helper to clean up... or rather, Ethan Lu forgot he has one that would clean his house twice a week. 

Unbeknownst to Lexi, she would witness the shock of her life that would tempt her to wring the neck of the love of her life after a week of her stay in this seemingly peaceful abode. But until then, Ethan Lu was safe for overlooking this fact that he would also drag his innocent assistant Lyrick Jiang and even the uninvolved driver, Jarred Guo to the wrath of the queen.