The Rise of the White Lotus

The more they drew closer to their destination, Lyrick Jiang's restlessness grew stronger and stronger. He could not even sit still because of it. Yet, the person in the back passenger seat was sending uninvited imaginary, glittering pink air. 

Soon, their vehicle reached Ethan Lu's villa and from the looks of it, the elegant and peaceful house seemed a little different. It was as if it turned haunted overnight that could make someone cower in fear; for example, Lyrick Jiang. 

On the other hand, Ethan Lu didn't sense the difference in the house's aura as he was in high spirits. The scenarios of proposing to her and hearing her say yes were enough to make him skip his steps in excitement to see his energy booster. 

"Master..." Lyrick Jiang softly called out as he reached his hands to the direction of his master's skipping figure. But to no avail, he didn't hear him. 

"Man, I don't think it would be bad at all. Madam is reasonable and wouldn't kill master not unless he did something really wrong." Shaking his head sideways, Jarred Guo heavily sighed upon seeing the dramatic Lyrick Jiang. 

"You don't know because you didn't kneel on a washboard!" Venting his grievances, Lyrick Jiang glared at Jarred Guo on the side. Just then, his eyes lit up and stared at Jarred Guo for a minute. 

"Wh— what are you thinking? Why are you looking at me like that?" A sudden premonition dawned on Jarred Guo seeing that his colleague had the eyes of a deranged person!

"Hehe, accompany me inside. Aren't we partners? Right right?" Moving his eyebrows up and down, Lyrick Jiang grinned as he forcefully drag Jarred Guo with him. 

By the time Lyrick Jiang and Jarred Guo went inside the manor, they already saw their master kneeling, his complexion was pale as if he was unable to go further into the house and just broke down the moment he saw the living area. 

Afraid yet curious, Lyrick Jiang and Jarred Guo subconsciously tiptoed. The moment they approached their master— several steps from his behind, Lyrick Jiang's heart sank along with his weakened knees— giving way and instantly crashed onto the floor. Meanwhile, Jarred Guo's eyes widened from the shock upon seeing a beautiful lady sitting across Lexi. 

However, what made his eyes bulge was not because of how seductive the other lady looked but how terrifying Lexi's aura and the equipment that laid on the small table. 

There were ropes, different knives of all sizes, duck tape and every type of dangerous object one could find around the house! 

"Love..."

"Madam, I was wrong! Please forgive me just this once!" Just as Ethan Lu finally managed to speak a word, Lyrick Jiang kowtowed and loudly admitted his wrongs and apologized. 

"Don't be like that..." Chuckling, Lexi modestly covered her lips by the back of her hand. Yet, her voice was laced with killing intent that all of the men present discerned. 

"Your cleaner here will think I am bullying you guys. Why don't you stand up and let's chit chat with this miss?" Tilting her head to the side, Lexi suggested, sounding benevolent and understanding. 

"What? Are you going to just kneel there?" Raising her brows, Lexi asked again as a vein popped out on her forehead. With that said remark, Ethan Lu and Lyrick Jiang along with Jarred Guo headed to the living area and scattered around the living area. 

Ethan Lu on the other vacant sofa, Lyrick Jiang standing behind him while Jarred Guo stood next to Nico Zhuang— the farthest place from the executioner named Lexi Yang. 

"Damn... I shouldn't have let Rick drag me into this." Jarred Guo cursed in a whisper. He could feel the foreboding danger seeping through his bones, mortifying him to the core. 

"Shut up. Watch even your breathing or else, you'd definitely be drug into their mess." Whispering back, Nico Zhuang shushed him as he was also afraid that he would be drag into these two's mess. 

"I guess the two of you knew Andy? She has been our cleaner whom I fortunately met today!" Clasping her hand together, Lexi excitedly broke the silence. 

"Love, let me explain! This is all Rick's fault! He was the one who hired her!" Betraying his assistant without batting an eye, Ethan Lu glared daggers at Lyrick Jiang while grinding his teeth, ready to bite his head off. 

For the record, since he has his busy schedule, Ethan Lu had forgotten about this trivial stuff— the residue of his Casanova life. Furthermore, there was not a day that he stayed all day long inside his house for god knows how long. Hence, he honestly forgot about this woman's existence. 

"Madam, let me explain! I only hired her because the master said he needed motivation!" Since he had been betrayed, Lyrick Jiang unhesitatingly explained the other side of the story. Still, he didn't dare look to Ethan Lu's direction as he knew he would be killed just by meeting his eyes. 

No matter what, he needed to survive for the night. After all, the empress's wrath was more terrifying than the emperor. Moreover, just one word from Lexi, his crime would be absolved because Ethan Lu only listened to her. 

"Nico, please send Miss Chang out. Thank you, Andy, for staying a little longer." As Lexi ordered Nico Zhuang, she turned to Andy Chang and smiled. The woman only meekly smiled back as she realized that Lexi might be a terrifying person when mad but, she was reasonable. Hence, even after knowing that she would be fired from being a cleaner, Lexi gave her another decent job so she wouldn't go back being a hostess. 

"No, it's my pleasure, Miss Yang. Thank you." Courtly bowing her head, heedlessly showing her already exposed cleavage, Andy Chang sent her gratitude towards her new boss. 

Of course, aside from the shameless Jarred Guo who liked the sight, and Nico Zhuang who was immune to this as he failed to have a hard-on, the other two turned their head away to prevent themselves from getting a heavier sentence. 

"Miss Chang, this way please." Gesturing her the way, Nico Zhuang politely guided her out the manor while Andy Chang followed from behind.