The Rise of the White Lotus

Since Edward Lu's hyperactivity gradually reduced, Lexi also relaxed as Edward Lu was glad to receive the forgiveness of his granddaughter-in-law. Still, although he postponed the orders of buying her fresh fruits, he still insisted on dragging the responsible person that collided with her car into the room.

Lexi was helpless even though she told him that it wasn't needed. Alas, Edward Lu was just as stubborn as she was as he remained adamant by saying, "Tantan wouldn't let him off easily. If you really don't want to punish him, then, just personally forgive his mistake. That's what you call hitting two birds with one stone: he gets to apologize and you save his life from your husband." Therefore, Lexi could only nod in understanding as Edward Lu showed no sign of stopping.

Soon, the man that intruded earlier was accompanied by another man wearing the same formal suit. Just as Edward Lu set his eyes on him, he stopped tattling his misadventures to Lexi as he agitatedly pounded the tip of his can on the floor.

"You! How dare you put a wedge between me and my granddaughter? Apologize for what you did yesterday this instant!" Upon hearing the old man's shameless remarks as if he wasn't partially at fault, her brows uncontrollably twitched. Shifting her gaze to the said man standing on the side with his head hanging low, Lexi arched her brows as the man fell to his knees onto the floor facing her direction.

"Madam, I grievely apologized for my carelessness. Please punish me."

"Huh?" Having a huge question mark, Lexi surely had a more clear realization of how these people were trained in the Lu family system because instead of asking for her forgiveness, he asked for punishment. Indeed, it was like a mixture of ancient times and modern mafia families in regards to the Lu family system.

Massaging her temples, Lexi recalled all the notes Nico Zhuang told her and what measures she could take. After all, throughout the conversation she had with Edward Lu, Lexi realized that she still has to have a strong heart because if someone saw their heads as softies, it would implant the idea to others that they could be careless as they would get out of it unscathed. Still, Lexi felt conflicted about the pros and cons of it as she was rather new and recklessly using the power of the future head madam might put her in a tight position in the future.

Lexi looked down on the man that at the same time he had snuck a glance at her. Fortunately, she was mentally prepared to keep her inexpressiveness intact the moment she stepped her foot inside the Lu main residence. Not to mention, the sharpness of her facial features making her look naturally like a sharp person.

"Do you really want punishment? Tell me, what were you honestly thinking when you 'accidentally' bumped into our car?" Resting her jaw by the back of her hand, Lexi slightly arched her brows as she fixed her gaze on the man kneeling not far away from her.

The man cautiously raised his confused eyes to see Lexi's indifferent front that didn't give way anything of what she was thinking. "I…" Replying yet pausing, the man pursed his lips on a thin line before opening them once again. "I told myself that I should enjoy every meal as it is my last."

"Because you think you will be killed?" Arching her brows, Lexi was quite surprised to hear his response. 

"No, my precious child. Your husband will surely make it his last if he knows about it. You saw him yesterday, right?" Clarifying, Edward Lu responded in a matter of fact tone before he sipped his cup of tea as he watched his future granddaughter-in-law in how she would deal with this without inflicting too much backlash on her end. "He's already happy that he was able to have his breakfast and lunch if you're wondering." Edward Lu added the obvious.

"I see…" Nodding in understanding, Lexi set aside the first question that hovered on her mind that instant when she heard Edward Lu's statement. "What rank are you now?"

"Madam, I am now the lieutenant under the captain of squad ten." Precisely asking her inquiry, the bodyguard sternly responded as he was ready to face whatever punishment he would receive including death.

When Lexi heard his position, her brows slightly furrowed as she recalled that amongst the guards in the Lu family, there were also ranks within their team and each team was labeled by rank as well. If the core members had the headmaster and elders, the bodyguards had their captain then second to the highest was a lieutenant then members of each squad.

"Is that so…?" Lexi nodded in understanding as she carefully kernelized what she should do to this lieutenant. After a minute, Lexi habitually tapped her fingers on the armrest as she came up with a decision. "Do you want to die? Tell me, honestly so you won't have regrets."

"If I have to choose, I'd rather live a little longer, even if it's just a day."

Lexi could not help but faintly sigh deeply as she seemed she could not bear to be as heartless as what she was supposed to be. For some reason, she thought about Ethan Lu when he was pushed to the corner and had to make a decision like this.

"Mistakes normally happen and I could not blame if one did a mistake as it is inevitable. However, in this family, making one is a grave crime." Lexi stared at the man with even less emotion than she could reveal on the surface. "But, gaining your rank means you have your merits to have gotten your position right now. So, you'll only be demoted and do menial chores for one month. Learn from this mistake… if you are really worthy, you'll regain your rank back."

Edward Lu raised his brows as he stared at Lexi before a satisfied smile formed on the corner of his lips. To him, it would be the best option to lessen the negative effect on her as the person that was at fault had a good rank among the guards.

The guard on the other hand just stared at Lexi with a momentarily stunned expression plastered across his face. When he snapped from his daze, he instantly bowed his head as he said, "Madam, thank you for the second chance. I will surely reflect on my shortcomings."

"Go, before she changes her mind." Waving his hands off, Edward Lu scooted the guard away as he added some odd effects onto the guard. Saying this means that Lexi was a changeable person and not as kind and generous if the word was to get out.

Soon, the room was left with Edward Lu and Lexi again as the two bodyguards that fetched the person she gave a verdict to bowed their heads in respect before they left the two alone. "Aiya, my precious granddaughter, what did you see on my grandson? He's lucky~!" Of course, Edward Lu was the happiest person as he was astonished to her careful decision and well, because he was now clean from any bad impression on her. Therefore, he instantly took this time to curry favor from his reliable granddaughter-in-law.

"Grandpa, what you said earlier about Ethan making sure it will be that person's last meal… did you mean he will kill him? Did Ethan…" Ignoring the flowery words from the transformed chibi version of Edward Lu, Lexi could finally ask the question she has in her head that bugged her a little.

"Did he kill someone— is that what you wanted to ask, my child?" Tilting his head sideways, Edward Lu slightly raised his brows. Seeing that Lexi didn't respond as she only stared at him, he subtly smiled. "Not yet, but he will if he needed to… especially if it involves you and your safety."