The Rise of the White Lotus

Cherry pursed her red lips as her gaze set on Lexi's pair of sharp, sly orbs. For a second, she remained silent before she mildly shook her head sideways. 

"No," Soft and meek, Cherry refused before a deep exhaled escaped from the gape of her mouth and nostrils. "I'm sorry but I really can't— I need to get something in return." Slowly, Cherry's resolve formed within a glint that flashed across her eyes. 

Indeed, Cherry wasn't stupid enough to listen and obey to Lexi's words just like that. She only agreed to talk to her to hear her bidding since she knew more than she should. Also, her ploy to set up Andy Chang was exposed hence, she needed to be convinced first. 

"What do you want? Money first?" Arching her brows, Lexi patiently asked as her head slightly tilted to the side. She wasn't irked by the fact that Cherry was a little stubborn because if a person remained firm on such a decision, then that only meant that the man behind Cherry's silence was something she should listen to. 

Regardless, Lexi was more inclined to know further details to ease her worries because she was afraid that it would connect to her husband. The very valid reason why Lexi must deal with this properly. 

"Money and protection." After swallowing a mouthful of saliva, Cherry tightened her fist that was on her lap, her resolve unwavering as her eyes never faltered before Lexi's sharp gaze. 

"I am not as privileged as you, Miss Yang. I didn't come from a wealthy family that would clean up my messes and have too many chances to prove myself. I, no, we including Andy and the rest of the women in the industry were not as lucky as you and you will never understand that, Miss Yang." Spiteful yet humble, Cherry spat as her tone was laced with bitterness. 

Indeed, Cherry might not be the kindest in this room but, she wasn't that stupid as well. In the industry she was moving, she had been entangled with many men: powerful ones and corrupt. 

She has met different fetishes and habits of these men. Yet, she had sucked it all up because that was the reality of her line of work. Therefore, she spited women like Lexi who came from a wealthy family and doesn't have to go through such a fate as them. 

Perhaps, because of that, Cherry became harder to persuade without getting all the wins in the end. If Lexi was a decent woman with a wise mind, then Cherry took herself as much wiser than her but with less dignity left. 

Lexi stared at Cherry's courageous front. For a minute, the whole lounge fell into a pure silence which gave an opportunity for the music outside to be faintly heard before Lexi opened her mouth and spoke. 

"You're right." Lexi started with a slight nod. "Even if I want to understand you and Andy— I will never understand because I have never been in your shoes. However, I hate liars that's why I always stay firm in my words. I can destroy you without your knowledge but since you have something that I need, you'll gain benefits for helping me instead. If you cooperate— that is." Lexi's gaze never once left Cherry's and her words came out as bluntly as it sounded. 

Lexi didn't care if Andy Chang would have a change of perspective towards her or Cherry would be intimidated. After all, what she was saying were all facts. Lexi doesn't have any plans for Cherry but, if her information satisfied her, then, she might not get away from the scandal but at the very least, she would have enough money to help her start from scratch or start a decent business. 

"I just received a random email to lay low after the recording broke out: telling me not to say a word and just keep silent. I don't know who it was but since there's money involved, I agreed." Cherry stared at Lexi for a brief moment as she contemplated whether to agree or not. After deciding which is which, she finally chose to speak up. Well, her situation has been a little creepy after all and gaining double money just to speak plus protection was tempting enough not to bite. 

"At first, I thought it was Mr. Che since he knew it was him in the video and probably afraid that his family will know about it. But, I only knew it wasn't him when he called me the next day bribing me." Cherry summarized her story with an uninterested tone as she unhesitatingly dropped the man's name and the oddness of the situation. 

She wasn't bothered anyway since she received more money, in the end, to keep her mouth shut. And now, to open her mouth, she would be able to receive more than she has. Just calculating the total, she wouldn't have to sell her body and service men anymore because rich people wouldn't hesitate to shell out money to keep their secret or to know the truth. 

Little did Cherry know, she just placed herself in a more tight situation because she opened her mouth to Lexi of all people. Nevertheless, it might be a blessing in disguise or an unfortunate decision making. 

"Mr. Che? HG holdings?" Upon hearing the short explanation, Lexi didn't delve into the third person getting involved but the man in the video. 

For some reason, she was actually surprised about the given name and wanted to confirm if the Mr. Che, Cherry was talking about wasn't the same Mr. Che she knew— Che Diayu's father. 

"Yes, Mr. Che of HG holdings." Unaware that Lexi personally knew the man she thought was a decent, kind man— unlike his rotten spoiled daughter— Cherry confirmed. 

"There was a small tattoo on his chest which was also caught in the video if you hadn't noticed. That's why, Miss Yang, I am telling you if you didn't uphold your words, I will surely drag you in it as well." Cherry explained further as she was probably the only one who was certain on this little detail in the video scandal. 

There have been theories of such details on the internet but since it was an unclear, pixelated footage, the mark appeared as a blurry sign. If one also noticed, there was a tattoo in between Cherry's middle and ring finger that Hannah Gan doesn't have. Hence, if you placed two and two together, it would be easier to clean the involved celebrity. 

The only thing was, someone was deliberately manipulating the ruckus which buried such a thread deeper than the grave. 

"Hahaha!" After Cherry finished her short explanation, a peal of loud laughter resonated across the whole room as Lexi burst out of laughing. 

Her sudden burst of laughter slightly made Cherry's brows creased in puzzlement. On the other hand, Andy Chang and Nico Zhuang were also baffled by Lexi's reaction. In their perspective, there wasn't anything funny in Cherry's story. 

First, there was a third party involved that Cherry also didn't know who the person was. And then add the CEO of HG holdings which was also a problem if offended. Well, it wasn't that HG holdings could be on par to the Lu Corporation but still, it's still considered as a huge company. Therefore, the involved parties were not just anyone but could bring more controversy than it already was. 

For a good three minutes, only Lexi's waves of laughter soothed their ears as no one disturbed her. Soon, Lexi wiped the corner of her eyes with a tissue as she attempted to get herself together. 

"Gosh..." In between her lingering chuckles, Lexi slightly shook her head sideways. Finding out that Che Diayu's father was actually the man that was in the video scandal she watched— it was laughable and disgusting in a way. 

Who would have thought that Che Diayu's karma would happen even if Lexi wasn't doing anything for all the things that girl did to her? Indeed, Karma was and would always be a b*tch who would always come and bite you in due time. 

"That's a piece of very unexpected information but, do you have the contact number of the other person?" As Lexi recovered, she recomposed herself and returned to the main subject. 

"I—" Biting her bottom lip, Cherry hesitated for a second before she saw Lexi raising her brows showing her that she somewhat knew the answer to her question. 

"I do but he only called me twice using different numbers each time." 

"And the conversations were?" Arching her brows even higher, Lexi narrowed her eyes. If she was correct, one call was enough for that unknown person to give out his orders and buy Cherry's silence. After all, even without a follow-up, Mr. Che was also there to give Cherry money for her not to say a word. Therefore, there was no need for that person to contact Cherry again or so, she thought. 

"It's part of the deal— don't lie or it will be considered invalid." Sensing that Cherry was having second thoughts, Lexi threatened. 

"It's nothing important but just telling me what Mr. Che told me: to lay low. I tried though but when Andy called, I just happened to bump into Mr. Bai— her client so I thought of earning more money and a favor." Cherry looked in the opposite direction where Andy Chang stood to avoid her gaze. 

Of course, this statement made Andy Chang fume as her hands curled into a fist and her shoulders trembled as she contained her anger. She could not believe her ears. Andy Chang treated Cherry as her friend despite not keeping in contact with her. 

Alas, what did Cherry think of her? Another source of income by selling her to a man she had to force herself to accept inside her body. She was already disgusted with her own body the very reason why she tries to cover it up now that she gained a decent job. Yet, Cherry still wanted to drag her back into this cruel world. 

"How dare you..." Through her gritted teeth, Andy Chang whispered as she hung her head low— afraid to chime into Lexi's business just because of this overwhelming emotion in her heart. 

Just then, Andy Chang felt a palm rest on her trembling shoulder which made her abruptly raise her head just to see Nico Zhuang's side profile as he continued to pat her shoulder. He wasn't saying anything as usual, but for some reason, Nico Zhuang's pats were enough to give comfort. 

"Thank you..." Biting her lower lip, Andy Chang whispered as her trembling shoulders stopped and her mood was slightly relieved. 

To her, what was important was that she was saved by Lexi again from Cherry's evil plan. Moreover, it didn't happen yet. Which reminded her of Lexi's previous words to her about her decision of friends. 

Meanwhile, Lexi was unfazed about the uninteresting last remarks Cherry spouted. Well, it wasn't surprising at all since she already considered Cherry as a greedy woman firsthand. 

"Miss Cherry, can I buy your phone?" After some time, Lexi finally spoke and without further ado, she instantly hit the things she wanted. 

"Huh?"

"You might get another phone call tonight from that unknown caller and from Mr. Che. It's better to give me your phone because, after this conversation, I'll be sending you overseas along with the money I promised." Lexi bluntly explained without batting an eye. She added, "I will protect all of your information and whereabouts just in case someone tries to find you— you just have to keep all of your social media closed as well as don't tell a single soul where you are, else it's not on me if someone finds you." 

"But all my contacts are on my phone— my life is in there!" Refusing to this one petty request, Cherry retorted back. 

"Then, let your life be in danger in the end." Slowly, Lexi didn't press on it anymore as she picked up the cheque booklet and signed on it. After ripping the single cheque then slid it to Cherry's direction, Lexi stood from her seat preparing to leave. This unbothered Lexi, plus her last remarks rendered Cherry conflicted. 

"Wait—!" Watching Lexi as she wasn't stopping in her tracks, Cherry got a little more anxious as she already spoke too much and a phone was easily replaced right?

"Take it— whatever you want with it. You won't need my client's contact information anyway." Defeated, Cherry uttered as she picked up her phone up and then tossed it on the surface of the table. 

"I hope you start your life decent without stomping on another woman's crown." Glancing back, Lexi glanced at the phone on the table and then to Cherry before giving her her farewell words.

Lexi wasn't the one who picked up the phone as she resumed on exiting the place while Nico Zhuang was the one who collected it and placed it in his inside pocket suit. 

"Bless your new life— I hope you also change." Meanwhile, Andy Chang cast Cherry a glare before she scoffed in disdain before following Lexi and Nico Zhuang's tracks.