The Rise of the White Lotus

"She's really an orphan?" Jarred Guo asked over the phone. 

"Hmm..." Nico Zhuang hummed a tune as he departed the orphanage where their intelligence informed him where Mia Chen came from. "She and her mentally ill brother." He added. 

This fresh information surprised Nico Zhuang. So, it shocked Jarred Guo momentarily as well. 

"What? She has a brother? Where is he?" After a second, Jarred Guo immediately inquired. 

From their investigation, Mia Chen didn't have a family. They had seen her track records but her personal details weren't disclosed. 

The only thing that made Jarred Guo alarmed which caused him to go back to Mia Chen's case was because of the occurrence last night. Thinking back at Mia Chen's sudden change of mood when their masters confronted her, it was quite suspicious. 

Therefore, Jarred Guo had a gut feeling that the person who helped Mia Chen behind the scenes, and the person behind this blackmailing incident, were the same person. The pattern of how far they could go willingly, Jarred Guo was alarmed that these vile people they see were also victims at some point. 

"No idea," Stopping in his tracks, Nico Zhuang looked around as he clicked his tongue in annoyance. Resting his hand on his hips, an upset sigh escaped his mouth. "But what I'm certain is that Mia Chen knew where he is." 

"Okay, I'll visit her today. Thanks." Jarred Guo nodded his head despite that Nico Zhuang wasn't seeing him.

"Alright," with that said note, Nico Zhuang ended the call. Although these types of investigation wasn't really his forte, it didn't mean he was bad at it. 

Nico Zhuang was more comfortable being his master's shadow guard. Being Lexi's assistant actually took him quite an effort to be used to it. 

Still, he was not liking how this story unfolds. Suddenly, Nico Zhuang recalled Churu's inquiry: "what's the relationship between Lou and Dylan?"

Nico Zhuang didn't understand why it suddenly floated in his mind. But thinking about it, Nico Zhuang's heart pounded. 

Somehow, his gut feeling was telling him that the person behind was one of the Lu's. Although he shouldn't be surprised because the Lu Family was full of scheming people, still, Nico Zhuang thought who might it be?

Louis Lu? Considering the said man was acquainted with Seraphina's shady group, it would make sense. However, Nico Zhuang was still unconvinced. 

Based on his understanding, Louis Lu wouldn't resort to such lowly scheme. If anything, Louis Lu would play his cards much wiser and direct. He would let his enemies known where he stood and admit if he was a foe or not. 

Therefore, Nico Zhuang although he didn't scratch the possibility, it reduced his suspicion towards Louis Lu. On the other hand, Dylan Lu was suspicious in every way. 

Dylan Lu although they recognized him as a genius when he was young, he received less attention than Ethan Lu. Understandably because Edward Lu announced Ethan Lu as the heir of the Lu Corporation, hence Edward Lu would have to look after him closer. 

Still, Dylan Lu never showed interest in coveting the Lu Corporation. Dylan Lu also had his chances back when Louis Lu started his own company and Ethan Lu cut ties with the Lu family. 

So, Nico Zhuang was conflicted if Dylan Lu would have the capability to do things without being noticed. And there was the third option, Lincoln Lu — Louis Lu's father. 

Just as Nico Zhuang was racking his brain to make sense on things, his phone rang, snapping him back from his busy head. Glancing down, he saw Churu's contact number that she saved yesterday. 

"What?" Without further ado, Nico Zhuang answered, thinking the call might be important. 

"Yo!" Sounding relax, Churu greeted which caused his brows to knit. "Uhm..." thinking of what to say, Churu could hear his faint slow breaths from the line. "Did you run a mile?" She asked. 

"Huh?" Knitting his brows for the out of line question, Nico Zhuang's busy head suddenly paused as question marks appeared above his head. 

"Nevermind," Churu waved her hand off as she scratched her heedless question. "Are you going back today?" 

"Yes, but that depends if something came up. Why?" Nico Zhuang answered truthfully. He wouldn't normally answer an important question unless it was from his master or trusted colleague, yet he somehow trusted Churu too. 

"Err... okay?" Churu dawdled before she hung up on him. Nico Zhuang's brows furrowed even more as he cast his phone a strange look. 

"What's with her?" he muttered before shrugging it off and headed to places where he could have an idea who's the real Mia Chen. 

****

At the top of Ethan Lu's house roof, Churu perched on it languidly. By the looks of it, the dangers of accidentally slipping down didn't concern her. 

Well, even if she slipped down, she could still land safe and sound. She has superhuman strength after all. 

"So, the most reliable people in terms of combat around Ethan were not around..." Churu sighed heavily. Really, was she the only person seeing how vulnerable and open Ethan Lu was at the moment?

"Alas, he had his trump card. Let's see how things will roll out — I hope it will be interesting enough." The corner of her lips attempted to put on a smug smirk, however, it turned out bitter. 

Deep down, Churu was dismay at herself. She didn't want to see things go down, but her mind and newfound obsession she has for Morris Liu was driving her crazy. 

His touches were just too... comforting? The heat of his body, their life forces healing together as they collide, Churu seemed to lust over it. 

How tedious to be a desperate demon that only felt pain for the longest time. Thus, having a taste of a relief sensation got her hooked. 

"Ahh... maybe I should ask Lexi to invite Eli over. His body might be an excellent replacement?" Churu murmured before she slid down from the roof. She then landed on the ground with her two feet and bent knees.