The Rise of the White Lotus

Soon, the blindfolded Lexi and Frederick Yang reached their destination. It wasn't a private room inside the restaurant but the garden with a lake that had white lotuses floating on its tranquility on the side. 

Trees and bushes that had lights were scattered around them, pictures of Lexi and Ethan together from the first picture they had together and all of the memorable photos he took were enlarged into each canvas that were placed before the entrance of the brightly lit glasshouse. Overall, the whole place seemed like a magical garden that one would be mesmerized with. A picture-perfect scene. 

Lexi instantly felt the cool night breeze brushing against her skin. If she didn't recognize her father, she would surely think that this person was taking her to some unsafe place. As Frederick Yang stopped, his gaze traveled to all the lovely photos they had together; their morning faces, fancy dinner dates, travel pictures, and simply just the two of them chilling in their house, he could not help his eyes but sting. 

Yet, Frederick Yang didn't want to ruin Ethan Lu's proposal and held in his tears from coming out. Clearing his throat, he turned to Lexi and without a word, he slowly walked behind her and unveiled the covers over her eyes. 

Lexi didn't immediately open her eyes as the lights nearly blinded her. Therefore, she took her time for her eyes to get used to the light after the eternal darkness. 

When her eyes saw the pictures that were as large as a painting canvas on their respective stands, her gaze traveled to the magical surroundings with all of the lights around the area, and then to the glasshouse before them. 

*BATHUMP* 

Her heart started to pound with what's in front of her making the corner of her eyes began to sweat a little. Even from her position, she saw Ethan Lu standing at the end of the opened door of the glasshouse. He was there, standing while smiling at her as if waiting for her. 

"My daughter, shall we?" Frederick Yang walked to her side before offering her his arm for her to cling on. 

"Dad..." Her voice cracked as Lexi's different emotions had mixed together which overwhelmed her. Frederick Yang only smiled as he helped her to continue their big night together. 

As Lexi and Frederick Yang made their way inside, Ethan Lu started serenading her and as if on cue, the people inside that she didn't expect to see started giving her red roses that made her eyes instantly well up. 

"I don't know, but I believe

That some things are meant to be..." As he began singing, the first person that approached Lexi was her best friend Rika. 

Rika was smiling from ear to ear as she gave Lexi a bear hug and whispered, "bestie~ I miss you and I'm happy for you~!"

"Rika... Dad..." At this time, despite Lexi's cloudy vision, she could still discern the people inside the glasshouse. It was everyone that she regarded as her friends and family. Her mother was there too who was already crying her heart out in the corner. 

"I never thought that dreams came true

But you showed me that they do

You know that I learn something new

Every day I love you..." As Ethan Lu sang, he began taking slow strides forward while Lexi was already crying while receiving a flower from Arnold Shen that grew closer to her and remained in touch even after the movie Taming Hearts had finished filming. 

Lexi and Frederick Yang stopped in the middle and the people that were close to her kept coming up and giving her flowers making her cry more. Even Elliot Gong gave her one and offered a reassuring smile. Next, the selected crew from the Taming Heart's set that Lexi became friends with. Even Abigail Fan, her former manager now her business partner gave her a rose. 

Lexi cried until she produced hiccups while receiving flowers from her mother and motherly hugs while Ethan Lu's singing voice was in the background. She got the gist of what was happening and Lexi was certain about it. 

Yet, what she was uncertain about was what emotion to feel was it happiness, excitement, surprise, and so on and so forth combined into one. It overwhelmed her to the extent that her beating heart raced even faster. 

She had imagined every scenario and idea of how Ethan Lu would propose to her. Alas, not a single one of her ideas could not compare to this real one as he considered all of the important people in her life to witness this. It was just a proposal yet, he actually made it as if it was their wedding!

"My princess, I am so proud of you." The last person that gave her a rose was Frederick Yang who was trying his best not to let his tempting tears to fall. Yet, he constantly sniffed, hard as he had watery mucus coming out of his nose. 

"Cause I believe that destiny

Is out of our control

And you'll never live until you love

With all your heart and soul..." Reaching this part, Ethan Lu finally arrived in front of the sobbing while hiccuping Lexi hugging tons of roses. 

Among everyone, he was the only one who wasn't carrying a rose. Seeing that she was bawling her eyes out, Ethan Lu's eyes stung. 

Still, he continued with the next part, "If I asked would you say yes?" With that said note, Ethan Lu slowly got down on his one knee and instead of a rose, he revealed a small box with a ring inside winking at her. The music in the background lowered its volume but continued, giving them a beautiful interlude.

Hearing his last remarks and seeing him get down on one knee with a ring, Lexi covered her mouth as she chewed on her bottom lip from crying. Her tears just wouldn't stop from staining her cheeks and now the back of her hand. 

"Lexi, my love, thank you for letting me be a part of your beautiful existence... and I, I wanted to be in it forever. Lexi Yang, will you marry me?" Ethan Lu subtly smiled as he spoke his words over the microphone. He watched her try to stop her crying to give him a proper answer but she miserably failed after a second. 

Therefore, as everyone anxiously anticipated her response, all their eyes were on her. 

"Ye—" Lexi found it hard to speak from the hiccups, therefore, she profusely nodded her head before she mustered all her energy to give him a proper answer. Thus, in between her hiccups, she continued the lyrics of the song.

"Together we're the very best *hiccups*

I know *hiccups* that I am truly blessed

Every day I love you… yes!"