The Rise of the White Lotus

After receiving the call from Lyrick Jiang, Victoria Tang smiled from ear to ear as soon as the call ended. Holding the phone close to her chest, she headed back inside from the balcony of the hotel bearing a happy smile that was now plastered on her lips. 

The moment she headed back inside, Louis Lu was now on the small yet cozy lobby of the hotel suite they were staying at. Slightly taken aback to see him back so early, Victoria Tang's smile gradually faded away. 

"Uhm..." Pursing her lips into a thin line, Victoria Tang cleared her throat and deeply inhaled and exhaled. "I will visit Lexi later, I just heard that she gave birth yesterday." 

Visibly, there was still a clear borderline between Victoria Tang and Louis Lu by the tone of her voice. Despite the several months living together under the same roof, the way they interacted was akin to their first meeting after years of separation. 

"Why are you happy?" Blinking his eyes, Louis Lu ignored her heads up as he seemed as though he could not understand why Victoria Tang was happy on other's joyous moment. After all, she was not the one who gave birth nor was she's Lexi's relative. 

"I don't know but I am." Victoria Tang could not help her lips curling upward again as she envisioned two adorable babies. 

"I bet they are so cute," She wasn't that fond of kids before until she had Vincent Tang. Hence, just the thought of having to carry or see her friend's children, there was this excitement in her heart. Moreover, since Vincent Tang had been growing so fast, Victoria Tang missed the days when her son was just an infant. 

"Do you want a baby?" Slightly tilting his head to the side, Louis Lu unreservedly asked that cracked Victoria Tang's beautiful reverie. 

"What?" After letting out a series of coughs, Victoria Tang asked as she thought her ears were deceiving her. 

Granted that Louis Lu sometimes asked like an innocent child, alas, in his case, there was no telling if he was truly clueless or was merely curious. Nevertheless, him asking such a question could make others cough or could even choke someone by their own saliva. 

Not to mention, these past few months with him, instead of knowing him a little, Victoria Tang was always confused by him. He was not sweet like how Ethan Lu cared for Lexi nor was he good at comforting. 

To simplify, Louis Lu was a completely different person than his cousin. He was having a hard time expressing himself and understanding other people's feelings. Therefore, he would always ask this and that as it seemed it was the easiest way for him to understand. 

Still, what amazes Victoria Tang was that he never failed to surprise her with his unreserved words. 

"If you want a baby, we can make another one." Nothing changed from his unchanging surface while repeating and clarifying his statements as if he was just asking to buy all the clothes in a boutique. 

"Mommy, daddy..." Just then, Vincent Tang's small figure rose from the long couch where he fell asleep. He was rubbing his weary eyes as he altered his head from his mother's aghast front while staring at Louis Lu as if he needed some holy water. And then to his father who slowly turned his head to him before an awkward smile formed on the side of his lips. 

"Your mother wished you to have a baby brother or sister. Go back to sleep again."

"Lou!!"

*****

[Liu Empire: main office]

"Brother Mo, have you heard the news?" Entering Morris Liu's office, Chris Yu closed the door behind him and immediately asked. 

"Mhmm," Raising his head, Morris Liu was finally back on track. His face still bore this stoic, chilling front and his aura was back to his original intimidating shape. 

Still, despite that, he seemed to look the same, Morris Liu's temperament had a touch of tranquility as he showed clear progress in his broken soul. 

"Err... are you coming?" Scratching the back of his head, Chris Yu languidly plopped down on the couch inside the office and rested his arms on the head rest. He then turned to Morris Liu who was sitting behind his desk with loads of documents piled up on his office table. 

"I've sent my regards, but I don't think I am ready to meet her just yet." Leaning back, the corner of Morris Liu's lips curled into a subtle smile and then turned his chair around to see the bright, busy city view. 

"Still, I am happy for her and Ethan." His gaze softened as Morris Liu imagined Lexi's smile at this moment for finally having a family of her own. 

"Her?!? Brother Mo, I don't think we are on the same page!" Furrowing his brows, Chris Yu's face slightly distorted as he was a little confused at Morris Liu's statement. 

Turning back to Chris Yu's direction, Morris Liu slightly tilted his head to the side as he too was confused. "Lexi just gave birth yesterday." He clarified on what subject he was talking about which made Chris Yu gasped in disbelief. 

"She WHAT?!? That soon?!" Flabbergasted, Christ Yu's mouth gaped open as if he was completely shocked hearing the news. 

Understandably, Chris Yu had been busy with his business ventures and could only occasionally have drinks with Morris Liu. Moreover, he was always updated on Ethan Lu as the usual news about the Lu's dominance in the business industry would often take the front page of the business article news. Therefore, the only person he was secretly looking out for was Kevin Woo. 

"You don't know?" Knitting his brows, Morris Liu inquired as he thought he had already heard the news. 

"No! I was talking about Kevin's first paint exhibit!" Just as he said these very words, Chris Yu heard the phone ring that he had tossed on the side of the couch. 

There, Lyrick Jiang's name was winking at him as if he was the last person that he would deliver the news!