The Rise of the White Lotus

Lexi was relieved to hear that Ethan Lu hasn't gone that far yet. After all, she would be lying if she said that she wasn't bothered by it if Ethan Lu did take someone else's life with his own hands.

"But you see, Tantan had been planting fears in everyone… so, that perception from them was inevitable. After all, aside from his extreme means every time, he gave his word that he would only give one warning if someone tries his patience. Also, our Lu family was already built like that so it's not really news." Explaining why the assumption from the guard earlier, Edward Lu eased her obvious concern pertaining to his grandson's situation.

As if at that moment, Edward Lu recalled something he never would forget in his whole life. "My granddaughter, do you know the reason why I chose Tantan to be my heir?" Subtly smiling, Edward Lu peered at Lexi whose interest was evidently piqued.

Well, from what she knew, Ethan Lu was also not sure what his grandfather was thinking back then. Even though Edward Lu already explained it to him, Ethan Lu only bought half of it as he knew it was not enough to decide. Therefore, Lexi only knows that part about Ethan Lu's father being doubtful to everyone and likes to work alone while his Uncle Dennis Lu was easily manipulated instead of doing the manipulator.

"Did he ever mention about his mother, Christina?" Edward Lu patiently waited for her response but Lexi just remained silent for a minute before she responded after she shook her head sideways.

"He did mention it once but he said, he will tell me the details about it when he's ready." 

"Christina… 20 years ago, was Tantan's mother, she died, or rather, she committed suicide… in front of him." Putting down his cup of tea, Edward Lu recalled that unforgettable night as he arrived inside the house and seeing Ethan Lu's mother with blood all over the place while Ethan Lu was just sitting in front of his lifeless mother's body while her face was nearly unrecognizable due to the gunshot to her head.

Upon hearing this unheard news, Lexi could not help but gasp, as her mind subconsciously calculated that Ethan Lu was just seven years old at that time. Hence, for him to witness such a scene… how did he recover?

"I actually thought at that time, Tantan would never be the same again. At the wake of his mother, he would constantly look at nothingness without any life within his eyes. Well, although Christina wasn't particularly a good mother, she was still his mother so it was understandable." Edward Lu resumed this story as he knew that Ethan Lu would never be ready. Therefore, to keep Lexi out of the dark, he voluntarily spoke up the side of the story he knew as he would be the only person who could tell her about it. 

"Then, on the last day of his mother's wake, while we sent her off to the crematory with Tantan by my side, he said something that even until today… until now, whenever I recall it, it worries me." Raising his gaze, Edward Lu briefly paused as he recalled the exact same words that escaped the young Ethan Lu's mouth. 

"Pathetic… that's what he said while staring at his mother's funeral casket without any emotion." It was easy to guess how shocked Edward Lu was at that time as he didn't expect to hear that from his grandson using such a cold tone. 

"Then, the next day, Tantan was back to normal just like how he used to be. Impossible, yes. For a kid that witnessed his mother's gruesome death, it was nearly unbelievable that he recovered as if nothing happened. Yet, he never mentioned his mother again or whenever he hears her name, he would not speak for quite some time." Letting out a heavy sigh, Edward Lu knew that deep down, his grandson was just bottling it up as he chose not to trouble everyone anymore as his mother chose to leave him amidst all the problems that the Lu family was facing at that time. 

"So, I decided that he would be my heir. Not because I saw his fierceness or how fitting he would be when he grows into a man. It was just my way of letting his bottled up emotions to be released because our Lu family wasn't that clean— you know that very well now, I suppose. Tantan, he's a smart kid. Furthermore, he could never erase the blood of our Lu family running through his veins. So, that was my only way to give him a headstart and the protection that I can offer that his parents had failed to give him." Ending his short story, Edward Lu once again let out another heavy exhale. 

He knew that this method wasn't the best way but that was the only thing he could offer. After all, the Lu family and its system had been like this for the longest time. Therefore, after growing old as the family head, his positivity to make the skewed family system reduce each passing year remained. 

Although he managed to change it for a bit, alas, it was not enough because he could not just cut off his own family members as it would then lose the balance of their family that could lead itself out from its downfall. 

Lexi bit her bottom lip as her heart was pierced by this story. She never knew that Ethan Lu had this kind of childhood past. Maybe, their short time together wasn't enough for the two of them to fully know each other. 

"So, my granddaughter, I am speaking as Tantan's grandfather and not the old master of our family. Please, take care of him really well and understand him more with his shortcomings. He is not perfect but one thing's for sure, you're the only person whom he truly cares about." Offering her a subtle yet warm smile, Edward Lu lowly begged in his sincerest tone. 

"Also, thank you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for teaching his heart how to love and made him experience how to be loved back. I know that it is enough to fill all of the holes he has in his heart from all of these years of just existing." If Ethan Lu saw his grandfather right now, he would probably have the shock of his life as for the first time, Edward Lu expressed himself and how grateful he was to Lexi for painting the monochrome life of his grandson into multiple colors for the first time in his life. 

He was so glad that the corners of his wrinkled eyes formed salt liquid because, for all these years, he stood as Ethan Lu's mother and father aside from being a grandfather to him. Hence, seeing that his grandson was content and purely in bliss whenever she's around, his worries about his future eased up.