The Rise of the White Lotus

'Now, I wonder what are they up to…' As Lexi uttered those words inside her mind, a subtle smirk formed on the side of her lips. She saw the other's expressions had turned from shock to a frown upon seeing her taunting front. Yet, that was what she wanted: for them to challenge her and vent all of her frustrations on them tonight.

"Well, my dearest Uncles, meet Lexi Yang, my beloved lady." When Ethan Lu took his seat, he straightened his back before he smiled and introduced Lexi as normal as possible."My love, these are my Uncles… though it would be hard to introduce them to you because we might use up the night. Don't worry, you'll get to know them, eventually." Turning to Lexi, Ethan Lu sounded a little upset as he said those words, alas, his front never changed, not even the slightest bit.

"Pleased to meet you, Uncles." Slightly bowing her head as a greeting, Lexi raised her head again and gently smiled. Neither of the two showed what they had in mind which Edward Lu's heart fluttered in awe.

"Lexi Yang… Yang…" One of the elders rubbed his chin as he pondered and kernelized what kind of family were the Yangs. However, no Yang family was on the list that could par or even level with the other wealthy families in the top social ladder. Well, there was a Yang Company he knew but that was a rather small company that could only be compared to one of their small subsidiaries of the Lu Corporation.

"Pleased to meet you as well, Miss Yang." Gerald Huang met her earlier slightly bowed his head in return. Unlike the others that were taking their time to process this news, he already knew this was coming as he met and witnessed the scene earlier.

"Master, I don't understand. Even if Old master took a liking to Miss Yang here, shouldn't we take advice from the temple if Miss Yang's birthdate is compatible with yours?" Dennis Lu who concealed his dissatisfaction by their rash decision turned to Ethan Lu's side and completely ignored Lexi's presence while using her name for his argument.

"Why so? Should I date and marry whichever woman the divination says? Don't I have any say to it, Uncle Den?" Furrowing his brows, Ethan Lu leaned forward as his true colors began to show that started to make the sly smirk on the corners of his lips reveal itself. He didn't need to conceal this side of him in front of Lexi because just like he said… she would slowly begin to be unable to recognize him any more, or so he thought.

"No, master. I just said what it was I had to in order to avoid a bad premonition that could occur in our family." Keeping his level-headedness, Dennis Lu sternly responded as he sounded rational. Granted that his reasoning made sense one way or another as the Lu family was somewhat superstitious whenever they feel like it, still, his initial agenda was to place Lexi in a temporary position.

"That's right. Master, please don't be offended but we don't know what Miss Yang's intention is to you." Soon, one after another, the individuals who have evidently displayed their displeasure for Lexi's appearance to this private celebration, spouted their own reasonings. While others remained silent as they played it safe like usual. 

Surely, some of the Lu family core members showed zero respect to Lexi as they spoke as if she wasn't there to hear their comments. On the other hand, Ethan Lu's smile gradually faded away after every argument that was being thrown at him.

"I want silence." Cold and emotionless, Ethan Lu lowly muttered. He didn't even exert effort for everyone to hear it as he perceived that it was their job to listen when he opens his mouth. Individuals near him instantly shut their mouths upon sensing the drop in temperature in that instance. However, men who were farther from his position kept on running their mouths.

"Master—" One elder, from the farthest side of the long table was about to speak his rationality about the matter. Alas, even before he could finish his sentence, one of the guards silently standing on the side approached him and covered his mouth— as tight as possible including his nose as if he was suffocating him.

"I hate repeating myself, Uncle." Propping his jaw by the back of his hand while his elbow was resting on the chair's armrest, he coldly spoke those words. Ethan Lu emotionlessly watched the one who was being suffocated not far away from him without showing the slightest bit of remorse.

On the other hand, Lexi slowly clenched her hand in her lap into a fist as she tried to keep her stoic front intact. Indeed, even her, Lexi was rather terrified at Ethan Lu as she felt a cold chill run down her spine the moment she heard his last remarks. Taking a glance at the coldest side profile of his that she ever saw, for the first time, for some reason, she relaxed in contrast.

It's still him… that was what her subconscious mind told her.

'How could I have not seen this…' Lexi muttered internally as she could now clearly see what kind of wicked man he could be that he had told her about before. Still, the emotions circling around her was not fear but a dreaded fury as these men indeed tried to push him to be like this kind of person.

After three good minutes of silence as the elder was being suffocated, Ethan Lu raised his hand that had made the guard let go of the person. The elder immediately gasped for air as he coughed as loud and hard as he could.

"Uncle, what were you saying again?" Tilting his head to the side, Ethan Lu innocently raised his brows as he didn't give the man more time to recover.

"Master *cough* I *cough* I mean— pleased to meet *cough* you, Miss Yang." Filled with dread as he didn't expect that to happen, the man who almost suffocated to death, no matter how he tried to break free, the shadow guard under Ethan Lu was too strong. Hence, knowing now with this new headmaster, one wrong answer and he's dead.

"Good." Nodding in acknowledgment, the corner of his lips showed another smile displaying his satisfaction, while Lexi wordlessly nodded as she accepted the forced greeting she just received.