The Rise of the White Lotus

Upon hearing her response, a smile was brought to each of their lips and the sound of applause followed together with faint whistling. Aside from the friends who supported him for this surprise, Jaime Liao was the happiest of them all. 

He genuinely curled his lips upward, revealing his white teeth before he unhurriedly stood and placed the ring on Rika Song's long, slender finger. After that, he pulled her into his embrace so tightly that it was enough to send his deepest emotions that words could not give them justice. 

"Thank you, and I love you." Jaime Liao whispered as he cast the people around a grateful glance. 

"Love you too!" Burying her face to his chest, Rika Song's make up was unbothered as her make up had smudged and smeared on Jaime Liao's light-colored polo. 

Although it was not as spectacular like Ethan Lu's proposal to Lexi, yet, for her, it was the best that she could wish for. Indeed, her boyfriend, Jaime Liao was not as talented as Ethan Lu in terms of singing. He was not as possessive and doesn't get easily jealous. Nor was he as amazingly romantic but... 

Even though there were things that they would always disagree on even petty ones as Rika Song was a needy girlfriend. Still, to her and to him, they were the perfect match to each other. Hence, getting engaged sooner than expected was not important. What's important was their love for each other was real and sincere. 

"I am so happy for them." Watching the newly engaged couple, Lexi wiped the bead of tears lingering on the side of her eye. 

"They should be happy, I was the one who sang their song." Humbly boasting, Ethan Lu spoke in a matter of fact tone before he shrugged his shoulders. 

"Thank you, love." Lexi chuckled as she retracted her eyes from the couple and then rested it to Ethan Lu. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she sweetly smiled as she thanked him for accepting her request. 

"Well, what can I do? My presence alone can make everything extra romantic." Still bearing the same tone, Ethan Lu continued to boast on his achievement for Rika Song and Jaime Liao's special day. 

"Haha," Chuckling, Lexi slightly shook her head. Raising her brows in defeat, she added. "I admit and give that to you, Mr. Romantic." Lexi then gently poked the tip of his nose with the apex of her nose. 

She knew that this request was quite selfish of her as Ethan Lu had tons of things to handle— twice as busy as her schedules. Still, when she asked, he agreed without batting an eye. Hence, Lexi was moved and was certain that Jaime Liao was as well. 

After all, Jaime Liao had only told her he wanted to propose but didn't know what to do. Therefore, he asked for Lexi's help, knowing she knew Rika Song better in this kind of matter. 

"Say, my love..." Resting his forehead against Lexi's, Ethan Lu lowly muttered. "Are we really going to wait for the twins to get a little older to have our grand wedding?" 

"Ethan..."

"Don't get me wrong, Love. I don't want you to think that I am taking our wedding for granted just because you are now my legal and one and only wife." Even before Lexi could assume about this, Ethan Lu slowly retracted his head away from her as he meekly smiled after his clarification. 

"I never thought such thing. You have and will always be my best love." Upon hearing his reason, the corner of Lexi's lips curled upward— displaying a moved countenance with her eyes softening and the sparkle that flashed across them. Lexi then leaned her head a little forward to feel his lips on her even just for a second. 

"Time flies so fast. It felt like yesterday when I had the twins and I didn't even notice that it has been six months. What's two years right? We have forever." Lexi repeated some of Ethan Lu's words when she asked him to wait until the twins turned two or three before they did their dream wedding. After all, Lexi's dream wedding wasn't that grand but, she knew it would only be perfect if the twins were there to witness the wedding of their parents. 

While, on the other hand, Ethan Lu's dream wedding had no plan. For him, it would only be a dream wedding if the woman he would marry was Lexi. The twins presence, of course, was a wonderful bonus. Therefore, he respected Lexi's decision even if it meant he had to wait a little bit more. Well, they are legally married anyways so it wouldn't really hurt to wait anyway. 

Unbeknownst to Lexi and Ethan Lu who were enjoying their own moment while the rest congratulated the newly engaged couple, Morris Liu left his gift to one of the waiters at the entrance of the venue. 

Morris Liu didn't say a word to the waiter and no one noticed him under the dim lights while the faint spotlight was still on Rika Song and Jaime Liao. Still, when he saw Lexi happily wrapping herself around Ethan Lu, all his courage, the thought that he was ready to face the couple gradually dispersed into thin air. 

No, he hasn't moved on— not even a tiny bit. His heart... it knew the very second he laid his eyes on Lexi that she was still the one; she was still the owner of his heart. Hence, to save himself from breaking it even more, he left his gifts for the twins and slowly walked away. 

'You're still my world and it still hurts that he's now your whole universe. I'm sorry, my Lexi.' As Morris Liu walked away, his words strung inside his head with a bittersweet smile plastered across his lips. 

Just as Morris Liu was exiting the establishment, he stopped in his tracks as he gazed at Kevin Woo entering the establishment. Perhaps, Kevin Woo was not as insensitive as before and noticed the stare at his direction thus, he turned to see Morris Liu. 

Kevin Woo forced a smile on his lips as he slightly bowed his head— as if he was meeting a respectable acquaintance and not a person he considered as a friend. With that obvious distant gesture, Morris Liu moved his right foot and resumed in his tracks. 

Both neither said a word to each other as they brushed past each other— as if treating each other as a complete stranger. Unlike how they fairly treated Ethan Lu despite their fights and issues, there was something much deeper going on between Morris Liu and Kevin Woo. Hence, the cold, distant treatment. 

When Morris Liu arrived at the back seat of his car, Chris Yu who was browsing on his phone instantly felt the aura Morris Liu was emitting. Chris Yu slowly put down his phone as his brows knitted. 

"Uh... does that mean your first meeting with Lexi didn't go as planned?" After clearing his throat, Chris Yu who was still unwilling to be genuinely happy about Lexi and Ethan Lu despite knowing they were married shot Morris Liu an inquiring eye. 

"Kevin— he's here." Cold and inexpressive, the usual tone Morris Liu used briefly and vaguely explained. 

"He's here?" Tilting his head to the side, Chris Yu languidly leaned his back against the leather seat with a heavy sigh.

No one else might not know about what happened when Morris Liu and Kevin Woo met; it was a total disaster. After all, they figured that Mia Chen was now Kevin Woo's lover. Hence, they tried to warn his friend's about her capabilities and how manipulative she could be. 

However, instead of listening to them, Kevin Woo snapped and caused a ruckus. He was crazily in love with Mia Chen hence, his aggressive reaction. The reason why Morris Liu, Chris Yu, and Kevin Woo's friendship turned even more unstable. 

"Chris, keep a close watch on him and that woman. She might be plotting something letting Kevin get close to Ethan again." Turning his head to the window, Morris Liu coldly spoke. 

"He's dangerous with Mia." Morris Liu added. Indeed, although he had let Lexi go, he felt obligated to protect her and her family from the dangerous people around Morris Liu: for example, Mia Chen. 

That was the very least he could do for his 'the one that he let get away'. Moreover, by doing this, part of him was glad that he could still be a part of her life even though she didn't know about it. 

He was still selfish and hopelessly in love with her.