The Rise of the White Lotus

Meanwhile...

"My, my, my," Aubrey Ning's voice reverberated across the dining hall as she pranced towards a group of ladies. "Miss Wang! You look stunning as ever!" Shameless as she was, she approached the cluster of unwinding women. 

"Miss Ning," Smiling sheepishly, Laurel Wang glanced at Lexi's indifferent visage from behind Aubrey Ning. "Miss Yang, I didn't know you're also a member here." She greeted gently. 

"Nice seeing you too, Miss Wang." Lexi greeted back with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. 

"Are you here to make trouble again?" Stella Du frowned as she altered her gaze from Aubrey Ning to Lexi. 

"Of course... " Glad to see Stella Du who was Benjamin Shao's business associate, Aubrey Ning responded as she paused — making it sound that they indeed came to cause trouble. "...not. Miss Du, don't make it sound like we are bullies. After all, Miss Wang is too kind to have enemies." In a matter-of-fact tone, Aubrey Ning slide herself and perched at the unoccupied seat. 

Her gesture obviously irked Stella Du as she found Aubrey Ning truly shameful. On the other hand, Laurel Wang glanced at Lexi again before a smile formed on her lips. 

"Miss Yang, why don't you join us?" 

"Thank you," Unlike Aubrey Ning, Lexi waited for Laurel Wang to invite her over as she was certain she would. After all, Laurel Wang had an immaculate image to keep and there were other business personalities and celebrities around. 

"Sister Laurel..." Stella Du's frowned grew uglier upon seeing that Lexi and Aubrey Ning joined their table. 

After that incident last time, Stella Du actually didn't want to bump into Lexi again. After all, Lexi was the great reminder of how incompetent she was. Therefore, just the sight of Lexi hurt her big ego. 

What more? Lexi was being accompanied by the hateful Aubrey Ning. God knows how Stella Du hated this vixen to the core. Yet, she controlled her emotions this time around. 

Stella Du couldn't embarrass herself anymore with many eyes around. Her father would surely disown her if she did. 

When Lexi and Aubrey Ning joined the table, silence filled the air around them as none talked. Obviously, Aubrey Ning was enjoying the quietness as she darted her amused gaze from the women around the table. 

"Miss Wang," After the momentary silence, Lexi opened her mouth as she softly called Laurel Wang. Though her voice was soft and low, Laurel Wang flinched a little. "How have you been?" Lexi smiled, pretending not to notice the sudden fright she had caused her. 

"I'm good, thank you for asking." As Laurel Wang responded while keeping her composure, a staff approached and served the two newcomers some tea. 

"Ohh... I got worried for nothing, I guess it's a small amount for you after all." Lexi sipped from her cup of tea as she humored the lady. Although her words wouldn't be understood by the rest, she knew that Laurel Wang definitely got her message — the fifty million. 

"Though it's surprising," Lexi added with a raised brow. Well, that amount would surely hurt Laurel Wang as their family came from a political clan. 

Granting that they have authority, they wouldn't be that benevolent when it comes to money. Especially since the whole Wang Clan had refrained themselves from establishing huge businesses to avoid conflicts in money and positions. 

"What are you blabbering about?" Still displeased, Stella Du asked as her gaze shifted from Laurel Wang's pale complexion then to Lexi's indifferent one. 

"Miss Ning?" Just then, a group of people, evidently from the upper echelon stopped in their tracks as a woman tilted her head to confirm if the woman was Aubrey Ning. 

"Hmm?" Turning to the direction, Aubrey Ning's eyes lit up upon seeing her friend. "Sister Diane!" That instant, Aubrey Ning jolted from her seat as she sprung forth to the woman. 

As soon as the two women reunited, Aubrey Ning and Diane Huang leaned forward to each other, as Aubrey Ning's cheek lightly touched Diane's. 

"Oh, my god! It's been a while!" Diane giddily exclaimed before she glanced at the table where Aubrey Ning came from. "Who are you with? Oh? Isn't that Miss Yang?" Upon seeing Lexi, Diane exclaimed in glee. 

"You know her?" Surprised, Aubrey Ning arched her brows as she darted her gaze from Diane Huang to Lexi's confused eyes. 

"Uhm, I heard a lot about Miss Huang. Nice meeting you." Lexi pursed her lips as she stretched her lips a little up and stood. 

Lexi though she knew the woman, but not personally. Hence, she responded thoughtfully so she wouldn't offend the princess of the Huang's. 

Lexi was a businesswoman, after all. Even though she wasn't in the same line with the Huang's, Lexi still knew a thing or two of the leading companies in each field. And the Huang's were well-respected as they were one of the people who contributed a lot to the oil economy progress. 

"Miss Yang, you don't know how I have been meaning to meet you — I heard a lot of stories about you!" Diane Huang pouted as she shamelessly took an empty seat next to Lexi. 

With her gesture, Aubrey Ning took this chance to invite the rest of these young misses to join their table. Hence, the original table for Laurel Wang and company suddenly became packed. 

"You don't mind, right Miss Wang?" Aubrey Ning asked rather late. 

"Of course not." Laurel Wang traveled her eyes to the group of young women as they took their seat. Every single one of them came from a strong household that has vast connections.

Even with her status, Laurel Wang knew that trouble would come if she suddenly offended anyone of them. After all, these women were not just pampered princess but also had respectable positions in their company. 

"Me?" Baffled, Lexi slightly creased her brows as her thought bubble was occupied by questions marks. 

Granting that Lexi had married Ethan Lu, she realized that aside from Aubrey Ning, Lexi hadn't really mingled with elites that shared the same ground as her husband. However, only a few knew that Lexi had married Ethan Lu for almost two years now. Therefore, how could Diane Huang talk as if she knew a thing or two about her? 

"Uh, huh. All I've heard from Ethan and Eve's mouth is Lexi. Lexi this, Lexi that — so, I'm pretty excited to meet the woman who tamed that wild guy." Diane Huang humored as she chuckled. 

"Oh dear, I almost banned the name Lexi whenever I see him — he's too in love!" Chiming in, Aubrey Ning loudly exclaimed. Her voice was so loud that only a person with hearing disability would miss her statement. 

As she hears their comments, Laurel Wang's hands that were on her lap trembled as it curled into a fist. Her jaw tightened as her chest heaved. Aside from their purpose remarks about Ethan Lu's undying affection towards Lexi, they were acting as if she was invisible.