The Rise of the White Lotus

"What?! Mr. Lu, are you serious?" 

"Hey, did Mr. Lu bet his shares in the Lu Corporation?"

"Wow... just for a woman — wow..." 

"If that's what we're talking about, then forty million was indeed nothing..." One after another, everyone could not help but spout their comments. 

The first bet of five millions had already taken everyone's interests. And then, when Zack Lee raised the bets, everyone were truly shocked by his confidence and how much money was flowing in this event. 

However, Ethan Lu just raised the bets to another level. To every businessman's perspective, having the Lu Corporation was like winning in a lottery more than ten times. 

What was forty million if the Lu Corporation offers you tens of billions? Yet, this was akin to a life and death gamble too. 

If Ethan Lu loses, he'll lose everything — same with Zack Lee. The only thing was, it was quite a gamble. After all, these two men's life would be on Lexi's hand. 

This wasn't a battle of luck like in the casinos. 

Whoever she would choose, that person would benefit a ton lot. But, the person she wouldn't, even sorry was not enough because he'll lose everything... that's same thing as killing someone mercilessly. 

"What do you think, Mr. Lee?" Tilting his head to the side, Ethan Lu smiled. He then shifted his gaze to Diane Huang. "Why don't you also place your shares as a bet, Miss Huang? Mister Shao? Aren't we looking for something interesting?" Ethan Lu raised both his hands, as if encouraging the two to be as crazy freak as they wanted to be. 

"Hahaha!" Although the smile on Zack Lee's front earlier vanished, it soon returned as he watched Ethan Lu's audacity. 

Instead of showing urgency, Zack Lee's eyes were rather amazed. In his eyes, he admired Ethan Lu more than he already did. 

No wonder why Ethan Lu was proclaimed as the business king in their industry. Only a real king would have the guts to stake everything — win everything or lose everything. 

Meanwhile, Lexi watched her husband prey on Zack Lee, making her brows twitch. Ethan Lu acted confident yet, his words were taunting — even placing his name on the line because he knew he would win. 

Lexi knew that her husband purposely dragged their names in at this stake. He was making sure that they were putting not just their shares but also their names on the line. 

Knowing their egos, Lexi was speechless. Well, she's a businesswoman herself hence, she somehow understood that aside from money, they held their reputations and names in a greater value. 

"Are we getting a deal?" Since only Zack Lee's amused laughter was the only response Ethan Lu received, he asked. 

"Then, what are the benefits Miss Yang would get?" Wiping the droplet of tear of joy on the side of his eyes, Zack Lee asked out of curiosity. 

"Benefits? Hmm..." Rubbing his chin, Ethan Lu peered at Lexi from head to toe. 'My sexy love is super pretty — I want to kiss her.' Alas, instead of thinking of an answer for Zack Lee's question, Ethan Lu's mind was instantly stuffed with endless compliments he had for Lexi. 

"Why not marriage?" As Ethan Lu was busy complimenting his wife inside his mind, Benjamin Shao proposed. "Since whoever the victor tonight could have everything — I think giving Miss Yang the position of being a family madam was the best we can offer." Explaining his reasoning, Benjamin Shao altered his gaze from Ethan Lu to Zack Lee. 

"Marriage?" Knitting her brows, Lexi frowned. She kept her silence since earlier and let them placed their bets. 

She knew, deep down, they don't intend on insulting her. She assumed that she was just shocked that these elite games were rather different. 

Within minutes of this talk, their discussion escalated to her marriage. Just what the hell? Are they planning to plan for her future right here, right now? 

"Call." Without blinking an eye, Ethan Lu agreed before setting his gaze to Zack Lee. "Mr. Lee?" Tilting his head to the side, Ethan Lu raised his brows as everyone waited for his response. 

"Ca—"

"Mr. Lee, I only gamble if I know I will win, you know?" Just before Zack Lee could agree, Ethan Lu interrupted him midway. 

"Isn't it interesting to see Mr. Lu lose in a gamble he is sure to win?" Shrugging his shoulders, Zack Lee stretched his lips from ear to ear. "However, wouldn't Miss Wang get mad? On a second thought, marriage wouldn't stop a man from having an affair if he wanted to." 

When Zack Lee dropped his last remarks, the entire hall suddenly fell into a stifling silence. The bets with Ethan Lu was one thing, they could consider it as a friendly game. 

His last remarks were another case. It might be Zack Lee's strategy as an indirect reminder to Lexi of the 'infidelity' between Ethan Lu and Laurel Wang. However, it was also a personal attack to Ethan Lu. 

Zack Lee's audacity to insult Ethan Lu boldly — even if the scandal were true — this was something a person needed to think a hundred times before mentioning. Diane Huang who zipped her lips earlier when Ethan Lu arrived could not help but cast Zack Lee a disdainful stare. 

"This game is not fun anymore. No more. Let's forget about it." Despite the sudden change of the atmosphere, Diane Huang waved her hands off. 

This was her party, and she didn't want a serious trouble. Being sandwich with the Lee and Lu family was something she wouldn't want the next day. 

"What? Should we, Mr. Lu?" Feigning ignorance, Zack Lee blinked his eyes innocently. "Well then, I have to apologize to Miss Wang." Since Ethan Lu was just inexpressively staring at him, Zack Lee sighed as he turned his head to a certain direction. 

There, from a distance, Laurel Wang was watching the occurrence since earlier. She had made sure to make her look less noticeable, yet Zack Lee found her in these seas of crowds. 

"Mr. Lu, continue the bet — I already placed mine!" Somewhere from the crowd, a man shouted. Just by hearing his voice, Lexi and Ethan Lu recognized who it was; it was none other than Elliot Gong.