The Rise of the White Lotus

Later that night, at the Yang Mansion.

"Hey, sweethearts..." Lexi's heart instantly melted the moment she entered her parent's house.

There, Lillian Yang and Frederick Yang, as usual, carried each of the twins; Lady Lara Lu on Frederick Yang lap as they perched on the head seat while Evan Lu on Lillian Yang's arms.

"Who is that? Mommy?" Glad to see her daughter, Lillian Yang, baby talked to Evan Lu who was obviously glad to see his mother. He had his small hands reaching to the approaching Lexi; Lillian Yang wiped the drop of drool slipped from his mouth.

"Baby cutie cutie~" Moved at the usual clinginess of her son, Lexi carried Evan Lu from her mother's arms. "How is my baby Evan? You miss mommy?" Rubbing his back, Lexi placed a light peck on his head.

Evan Lu chuckled in glee. His hands were in a constant close and open motion. "Hi, mom." Lexi then greeted her mother who responded with a smile before Lillian Yang rested on the long sofa.

"What color is this? Red!" Meanwhile, Lady Lara Lu and Frederick Yang could not care less at Lexi's arrival as he taught the seven-month-old baby how to differentiate colors.

Unlike Evan Lu, who was clingy and giddy whenever Lexi and Ethan Lu arrived, Lady Lara Lu was more of a grandparent's girl. She would behave with the yang parent's and Edward Lu around and let Evan Lu act cutesy-cutesy to their parents.

But that doesn't mean to say that Lady Lara Lu disliked her parents. The only conclusion they came up with was that Lady Lara Lu seemed to understand her parent's exhaustion. Hence, she would rarely cry and bother them.

Still, that was just the assumption the adults concluded because Lady Lara Lu was just a child, and it was impossible for her to explain things, right? Regardless of the difference of the twins, they were equally showered by love from Lexi and Ethan, Lillian Yang and Frederick Yang, Edward Lu, and their Uncles and Aunties.

"Wow, my baby pumpkin is learning colors now?" While carrying the chubby Evan Lu, Lexi peeked at the children's book in her father's hand.

Frederick Yang was pointing at a huge apple that occupied most of the thick page while Lady Lara Lu slapped it with her small cute hands.

"Yes, that's an apple." Satisfied by his granddaughter's focus, Frederick Yang nodded his head before glancing at Lexi.

"Yes, because she was asking me how our business works — I'm diverting her attention." Frederick Yang whispered his humor, which made the three share a good laugh.

"She's my baby genius," Lexi humored back as she shrugged her shoulder, and then headed to the sofa opposite Lillian Yang's.

"Ma ma" Aware that his sister had been taking all the attention, Evan Lu showed off by speaking his first words with great difficulty.

"What baby?" Surprised at how adorable Evan Lu spoke, Lexi's heart raced — the same heartbeat of how she fell in love with the twins upon laying her eyes on them.

"Aha! Come on, Van van. Can you say it again?" Elated, Frederick Yang's eyes lit up as he readied his ears to hear him speak again.

"Ma ma," Lillian Yang mimicked with a huge smile on her lips but to no avail. It was just a one time trial for Evan Lu as he chewed his hands afterward.

"That's okay, baby. No pressure." Though a little disappointed, Lexi still smiled in satisfaction while pulling Evan's hands away from his mouth. Well, Evan Lu and Lady Lara Lu were too young, and they would have a lot of chances to hear them speak in a conversation soon.

No rush.

Just then, Ethan Lu arrived at the living area of the yang mansion, the light atmosphere of his family welcomed him.

"Good evening, Mom, Dad." As usual, Ethan Lu greeted his in-laws first with a slight bow, before he proceeded behind the sofa Lexi and Evan Lu perched.

"Hey pumpkin, my love — I'm home." He mildly pinched Evan Lu's chubby cheeks before placing a soft peck on Lexi's forehead. "My baby Lara!" After that, Ethan Lu spread his arms wide open, his energy returned to a hundred percent as he happily called his little girl.

"Daddy's girl," Lexi smiled, seeing that Lara's face brightened up as she let Ethan Lu carry him. Surely, these twins had already shown their favoritism.

"Of course!" Proud at Lexi's remarks, Ethan Lu cast the innocent young miss of the Lu family a knowing look.

With that, everyone chuckled as they shook their head sideways. This was just one example of how peaceful Lexi and Ethan Lu's lives inside their home.

The reason they had to show their fangs, bite their enemies if necessary, and be ten times clever than them was to maintain their home like this. Both had a rough day, problems coming from left and right but being able to come home with such warmth — they could be the coldest person outside just to protect this warmth.

Just then, they heard a loud sound of boxes falling, along with Lyrick Jiang's squeal. "Ahh!" His sudden cry caught the attention of the family inside, making them to turn their head to him.

"I told you just carry one box." Passing through, avoiding the boxes that fell, was Nico Zhuang carrying Lexi's purchases for the day.

"Tsk tsk, I'm not helping." After Nico Zhuang, Jarred Guo clicked his tongue as he informed him in advance.

Jarred Guo and Nico Zhuang then placed Lexi's purchases and Ethan Lu's things on the corner of the living area. They've been going in and out of this place that they were already comfortable even with the Yang parent's around.

"Madam Yang," Tired, Lyrick Jiang was on the verge of breaking down. He looked at his only ally in this manor, which was Lillian Yang.

"Look at him," seeing his assistant having a complete change of attitude with Lillian Yang around, Ethan Lu peered at him in disdain. "Jeez, I think he is forgetting that I am the son-in-law, not him." Ethan Lu plopped down next to Lexi as he whispered his statement.

"Shh, she's mom's favorite — we don't mess with the favorites." Lexi shushed before a chuckle escaped from her lips.