The Rise of the White Lotus

Engineer Choi, with his uncontrollable trembling thumb, swiped to open the email. He hasn't even read past the first sentence of the content, he nearly had a heart attack as the Lu Corporation was inviting him to partner with them. 

He could not avert his eyes from the screen of his phone as he tried, with his hardest effort, to read the email he received. Meanwhile, Lexi's eyes softened because there was this feeling circling around her heart while watching the man. 

It was evident that he was grateful for another blessing that came his way. He probably thought that his company wouldn't sustain anymore after this and would have to announce bankruptcy in the near future without having a dime on him— due to his stubbornness of not announcing bankruptcy sooner. 

Yet, that was why Lexi chose someone like him. Aside from the fact that he would be a good ally for Ethan Lu, he was a thoughtful and honest person. He never betrayed anyone and remained adamant about his beliefs in his work— the main reason why the Che family suppressed this man was because he didn't agree about lowering the cost by using substandard materials. 

"M— Miss Yang..." Fighting the tears that were on the verge of falling from his wrinkled eyes, Engineer Choi choked as he mustered words trying to speak his gratitude towards her. Alas, all he could stutter was her name.

"Engr. Choi, if you decided to partner with them, I only have one favor to ask you— never betray Ethan Lu." Soft and modest, Lexi uttered yet there was also a firm warning lingering along with her words. 

"Don't get me wrong, Engr. Choi. This might be a help to you but I am not like you. I don't do it for charity— I do it because it will also benefit me. So, I hope you won't fail me in this." Lexi resumed as she bluntly explained her intention without a pause. 

"M—Miss Yang, I swear to the heavens that I will never mess this up with Mr. Lu! Thank you." For some reason, Engr. Choi didn't feel like he was being used at all as this deal was a win-win situation by both parties. Also, how could he betray someone who would pull him out of the hellhole he was at? He's not that low.

"No, thank you." Slightly shaking her head sideways, Lexi smiled as his participation and being the eye in the construction sites under the Lu Corporation would be of great help. After all, Ethan Lu was too busy and wasn't an expert with the materials so it would be harder for him to keep watch, even Lyrick Jiang, it would be difficult to discern if there's an anomaly that was happening if ever there was one. Still, adding an eye that was experienced in this stuff would not hurt as well. 

"Miss Yang, I know you're a very private person but, if I may ask— what's your relationship with CEO Lu?" Engr. Choi mustered his courage to ask this was what he was dying to know as to what was her connection with Ethan Lu. 

Based on their interaction earlier, the two seemed pretty close to humor with each other like that. However, it was hard to distinguish if they were mere friends or more than that. After all, it's hard to speculate with just a brief interaction as there are tons of possibilities why Ethan Lu was there and how she managed to recommend him to the said man. 

"Well, you can say he's a slave now since he has just lost a bet," Lexi smirked as she was reminded about the bet she and Ethan Lu had. 

"Huh?" Upon hearing the word 'bet', Engr. Choi was once again frozen as he too was reminded about Ethan Lu's last words towards him. His extreme happiness was instantly mixed with fear, anxiety, and all of the other negative feelings all at once. 

To him, it was as if his head was about to explode by the question left unanswered right now. 

"You don't have to know the details of the bet but rest assured, it will do you no harm." Chuckling, Lexi sensed the distress that suddenly struck the middle-aged man hence she reassured him. 

"He wouldn't touch the people I like." She added between her chuckles. 

Soon, there wasn't anymore discussion between the two as Lexi dismissed Engr. Choi. When he exited Lexi's future office, Ethan Lu was already outside— waiting for them to finish their talk. 

"Mr. Lu!" Out of habit and shocked as he still could not believe that Ethan Lu himself was just standing right in front of him, Engr. Choi loudly greeted. 

"Hehe, Mr. Choi." Ethan Lu only smiled as he didn't move from his position— waiting for the man to move aside so he could flirt with the love of his life. 

"I— I mean, I'm sorry you lost your bet." Bowing once again even if it's not necessary, Engr. Choi apologized as the only information about the bet Lexi clarified was that they had bet if her budget was sufficient without affecting the result of the renovation. Therefore, he was moved that Lexi put all her faith in him which he didn't disappoint her even without knowing about the bet. 

"Hahaha!" Upon hearing the sudden apologies, Ethan Lu burst out laughing before tapping the man's shoulder. "Now, I know why she picked you. Oh dear, how lovely." With that said note, Ethan Lu excused himself and without knocking on the door, he shamelessly intruded with his lips stretched from ear to ear. 

Engr. Choi was rendered speechless and he could only turn to Lyrick Jiang who was on the side. Lyrick Jiang only gave him a nonchalant shrug without a word. 

'Huh? What was that? Are they really just friends or lovers? I want to know!' If only Lyrick Jiang could read Engr. Choi's thoughts, he would gladly leave him a few hints to calm his inner busybody self as Jarred Guo was useless as his gossip buddy. 

****

The moment Ethan Lu intruded Lexi's office that was already finished but not to the extent that it was fully furnished, which one could easily tell with the lack of furniture, Lexi was already standing, fixing her bag, ready to depart the office as well. 

"Hehe, my lady," Ethan Lu strode towards her and when he was close, he giggled and then wrapped his arms around her waist— giving her a warm back hug. "Miss you."

Lexi rolled her eyes as his familiar scent wafted into her nostrils. She turned around to see his pouting front because of her behavior earlier. "Did you?" She humored as her arms wrapped around his neck. 

"You spend too much time with Nico but not with me— I'm jealous!" Still frowning, Ethan Lu protested as if a child was being neglected or was being raised with a lack of love which made her heartily chuckle. 

If only the people in the Lu family could see him right now, they would be startled as the reputation Ethan Lu had built inside the Lu Corporation and in his family was the complete opposite of how he acted in front of her. One didn't need to worry about Lyrick Jiang, Jarred Guo, or Nico Zhuang as their boss's image was already shattered into pieces by his pettiness.