The Rise of the White Lotus

"Ah??" Tilting his head to the side as he witnessed a clear despised look surface on her front looking directly at him, Edward Lu raised both his hands— conceding defeat. 

"Why you say? Because I did not have a choice." Responding with something that should be the obvious answer as it was an easy guess, Edward Lu mildly shook his head in slight disappointment. 

"Our Lu family has always been like this... chaotic! If I raise my heir with pampering love instead of how to survive, I am afraid we would not be talking to each other right now because maybe, I would still be the family head without an heir." Being reminded of his main agenda, Edward Lu decided to walk her through, to a glimpse of how the family she was about to enter really was. Well, he was doing Ethan Lu a favor as well as it seemed it was also his desire. 

"You see Miss Yang, my little TanTan might have been rebellious in the past. *sigh* I don't want to remember all the headaches he caused me in his teenage and early twenties days. Anyway, the reason why I let him have the freedom he wanted was because, once you are a Lu Family member, always will be a part of our family. Do you know crime family rules? We sort of have those kinds of rules but fewer crimes alright?" Deeply sighing as he reminisced about the immature Ethan Lu, Edward Lu could not help but shake his head again. Still, he continued to explain the basic foundation of their family system. 

Seeing that Lexi remained silent as she listened to him, Edward Lu calmly resumed. "No matter how free a family member felt while he/she's away from us, they would be and always will come back whether by force or on their own volition. Don't frown, Tantan already knew that, so don't blame yourself that he returned to the devil's den because of you... though, half of his reasons were probably because of you, but at least, it's not a hundred percent your fault." Trying to make her feel a little better as Lexi's worries were as clear as day, Edward Lu still ended up being honest even though that had sabotaged his own nicety. 

"You understand what I'm saying, Miss Yang? No matter how free my grandson was before meeting you, he knew deep down, he would end up in the Lu family again. So, all the wasted nights partying to his heart's content and endless dates... he did as much as he could since he declared to me before, that he would not have a child of his own. Hehe, that's why I was shocked when he asked for my blessing for marriage." Still silent, Edward Lu's half of a statement were the ones that were really relevant in this conversation while the rest were just his own comments as he could not help but to tattle non-stop, especially if he had all the time in the world to chitchat. 

"That also implies towards you. Once you get yourself known to our family... once you step your foot inside the Lu territory... there's no turning back. The only escape is..." Pausing in his explanation, Edward Lu gestured for her to look at the guns still raised by their holders. 

"Death. Not just you but also, you will also implicate your whole family. Though I am sure that they will only live in the lowest part of the society unlike what will happen to you. That is what me and my sly grandson wanted to tell you." With his last remarks, Edward Lu grinned from ear to ear as he tattled on Ethan Lu's sly move for using his visit and to take advantage of him without permission. 

"Ethan?"

"Mhmm, you heard it right. He was asking you if you are still willing to hold his hand regardless of the scene before you right now. That sly brat! He should thank me for saying such lines in my age! Can't he say that himself?! Taking advantage of my visit— that little...!" Cringing in the cheesy line he just uttered, Edward Lu grumbled in annoyance that made him cough again. Surely, despite his age, Edward Lu was more talkative and full of vigor especially when he bad mouthed his grandson. 

Well, although Ethan Lu didn't say or ask anything like that as his visit was only known to himself, Edward Lu had this realization earlier. After all, Ethan Lu would surely know his main agenda and knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't harm Lexi just because he was in the mood. Therefore, after a quick pondering, old man Lu understood that Ethan Lu's response was not because he wanted to intimidate him or flaunt his powers... but it was his last question to her.

Was she really going to be firm in her decision to be on his side despite knowing this side of him and the family he was in or would she let go of his hand after this? Perhaps, Ethan Lu would rather go home without her still in his place than witness Lexi letting go of his hand. Perhaps, just that thought alone made him cower hence, he resorted to using such an idea and used Edward Lu as an excuse. 

Either way, Ethan Lu was willing to respect her decision no matter how painful or hard it would be for the two of them. After all, life in the Lu family wasn't as easy as one, two, three. 

"Well, since I already said one-fourth of what I wanted to say and had forgotten the rest, I'll take my leave first and let you think." Smiling genuinely, Edward Lu uttered as he nodded his head once. 

Grabbing the cane on the side, he slowly stood up. The guards that had raised their guns also lowered them and returned their weapons to where they were hidden without a trace. The guards that aimed at Edward Lu began to evacuate their posts as if nothing happened— same with the few guards that were still on Edward Lu's side. 

Halting in his tracks, Edward Lu turned around with his index finger erected in the air— moving in a slow-motion before pointing to the already cold tea in front of Lexi. "By the way, throw that cup away— it has poison in it. That's just one of the antics to be wary about when you decided to be part of our family. Also, I hope that you will be my granddaughter-in-law because I root for you~! I like you." With that said note, Edward Lu resumed in his slow tracks with the assistance of his cane.