The Rise of the White Lotus

"Perfect!" Lexi came out from the locker room, wearing a sports attire that Aubrey Ning persuaded her to wear. 

Fortunately, Aubrey Ning's size wasn't that big or small... well, they were small, the reason why it fits Lexi and made her look even more seductive than usual. 

"Tell me," Giving Aubrey Ning a dull look, Lexi slightly tilted her head to the side. "Something happened between you and Mr. Shao, right?" Lexi asked, her right brow arched. 

Although there was a thin line between her relationship between Aubrey Ning, Lexi knew this fact about Benjamin Shao in the woman's life. Lexi didn't know the details as Aubrey Ning rarely spoke about him, though. 

Still, as a woman, Lexi sensed Aubrey Ning's high level of desire for a diversion. After all, she wouldn't pursue confronting Laurel Wang if working alone was enough to clear her thoughts. 

"Haha," amusement flickered across her eyes at the rare personal inquiry from Lexi. Hence, she chuckled as she covered her lips by the back of her mind. "Of course! That's why, do me this favor so I can forget about that manwhore." Bearing the same tone, Aubrey Ning laughed despite the double meaning of her words. 

A heavy sigh escaped Lexi's lips as she heard the woman's remarks, "He's cheating?" She asked for clarification. However, Aubrey Ning just tilted her lips into a smirk. 

"Oh, Miss Yang, it's not like we are officially together. Also, he's not the only d*ck in this world." Confident, Aubrey Ning shrugged as if she truly didn't care about it. 

However, Lexi could see the slight pain beneath her eyes. She stared at Aubrey Ning and the more she did, Lexi could not help but be mesmerized by her maturity. 

Aubrey Ning was truly a woman with a strong character; Lexi felt inferior at her dominant aura. Aubrey Ning knew that her set-up with Benjamin Shao has restrictions. Hence, although deep down she was hurt, she wouldn't let emotions take over her composure and class. 

Truly, a terrifying woman. How Lexi wished she's as clever and strong as her. 

"Fine..." Another faint sigh escaped Lexi's mouth as she mildly shrugged her shoulders. "But don't expect too much. I don't intend to embarrass myself just to entertain you." Lexi warned beforehand as she presumed that Aubrey Ning was anticipating a great show. 

"Oh dear, just seeing how Laurel Wang loses her composure is entertaining enough for me." Chuckling, Aubrey Ning once again covered her lips as she restrained herself from laughing like a vicious woman. 

Well, although she was vicious in her own way, she still has an image to keep. Moreover, Aubrey Ning might not say it but, she would owe Lexi a good one after this. 

It was worth it though, she assumed. At the very least, she would have a funny memory that could make her divert her attention from the man who broke her heart to pieces. 

****

Meanwhile...

"Hey!" Nico Zhuang whispered as he approached and he finally caught up with Churu. 

"Shh!" Placing her finger in front of her lips, Churu shushed and casted him a warning glare. "I'm checking something, okay?" Through a whisper, Churu explained the reason why she took a separate route from Ethan Lu. 

Although this country club was huge, it wasn't big enough for Churu not to know if her master was in danger. Therefore, as long as she could sense Ethan Lu's whereabouts, she was confident that she could still protect him. 

Also, she could truly smell something fishy in this part of the area. Therefore, after discreet observation, Churu snuck in this seemingly private area that would lead them to a more suspicious place. 

"Huh?" Suddenly, Churu knitted her brows as she felt Ethan Lu's presence drawing closer and closer. 

Ethan Lu wasn't coming from the direction where Churu used but, somewhere from the other side. However, aside from doors, there wasn't any entrance in this hallway. 

"We should go," Glancing at Churu, Nico Zhuang said as he didn't like the feeling that suddenly struck his heart. 

This place was off-limits yet, there was no one guarding it. It was already suspicious that they managed to reach this part of the establishment without getting noticed. There wasn't any cctv too that could see the people going in and out of this way. 

"Why is he here...?" Churu completely ignored Nico Zhuang as she tiptoed her way to the door where she could feel the system's host presence. 

"What are you doing?" Despite that he was in distress by Churu's antics, Nico Zhuang still followed her helplessly. He was afraid that if she caused trouble, she couldn't protect herself. 

After all, Ethan Lu tasked him to look after her for a while before his masters headed inside the premises. 

"Why's Ethan here?" She murmured which Nico Zhuang didn't fail to hear. 

"Huh?" 

"What's going on inside?" Churu muttered again and leaned her ear on the door. Closing her eyes, Churu diverted her focus on her sense of hearing to hear the conversation inside as if she was there. 

On the other hand, Nico Zhuang was confused and at the same time intrigued. Without him realizing it, he leaned his ear against the door to know if he could hear what's so important for this young lady to sneak in this place. 

*****

"Lou," As soon as Ethan Lu entered the private room after a long walk, he lowly called upon seeing a group of people inside. 

"Woah! Isn't this Mr. Ethan Lu? Wow, Lou... you never said you'd invite him over, eh?" Slowly, Seraphina Yue gasped in surprise as her jet black eyes met the pair of dark orbs. 

"I thought you might be interested in him." Ignoring Ethan Lu, Louis Lu nonchalantly headed to the single seater sofa — Seraphina Yue reclining on the long sofa. 

"Of course, I am always interested in beauty like him." Shrugging her shoulder, Seraphina Yue glanced at Ethan Lu's confused visage. "Mr. Lu, take a seat." She gestured. 

Ethan Lu gazed at the familiar woman that he had never seen for a long time, and then traveled his eyes to the people present. To his surprise, Wren Tanaka was also there — though he seemed to be asleep at the corner. 

"Lou, why did you lead me here?" Ethan Lu bluntly asked as he took up the seat where Seraphina gestured. 

"He wanted me to kill his cousin— can you believe he thinks I'm a hitman?" In a matter-of-fact tone, Seraphina Yue rolled her eyes as she scoffed at Louis Lu's stoic profile.