The Rise of the White Lotus

[back to the wedding]

After a few events, Rika Song and Jaime Liao had their first romantic dance as husband and wife. They moved slowly with the touching song as if they weren't being watched by their guests. 

It was evident that this lovers were madly in love with each other. The smile on Rika Song never once left her lips while the gleam in Jaime Liao's eyes twinkled being with his partner. 

As they watched the couple, Andy Chang smiled as her thoughts were happy for her idol. Until now, being accepted in Lexi's circle, being friends with her boss' friends, and witnessing this wonderful wedding, Andy Chang wondered if she was still dreaming. 

It just felt so surreal — considering her background, Andy Chang had a life she never thought she could achieve. 

"Here," As Andy Chang watched the couple in the middle of the hall danced, she snapped upon hearing Nico Zhuang's voice from her side. Turning to him, she looked down on the handkerchief in his hand. 

Andy Chang then realized that tears were already staining her cheek. "Ah, thank you." Accepting his handkerchief, Andy Chang dabbed the tears. 

"He seemed to enjoy the snacks." Nodding his head, Nico Zhuang then shifted his gaze to the desserts section for kids. 

As Andy Chang wiped her tears, she followed his gaze, and it instantly landed on a young boy snacking with other kids. "Hmm... just today." Slowly, a gentle smile on her face resurfaced. 

"How about his mother?" Watching the little boy, Nico Zhuang asked. 

After Lincoln Lu's incident, Dylan Lu's condition that night was not any better. Nico Zhuang had a glimpse of Dylan Lu that night and he didn't need to ask that Louis Lu gave him a night to remember. 

Louis Lu, though he didn't kill Dylan Lu, he made sure he'd be a cripple for the rest of his life. Not to mention, the charges against Dylan Lu piled up as Mia Chen and his other accomplice agreed to stand as witness for his illegal activities. 

On the other hand, Lincoln Lu also faced numerous lawsuits as his secret activities in the underground world were discovered. Therefore, both men were facing grave sentences ahead. 

Meanwhile, Dennis Lu voluntarily stepped down from his position after the incident. Nico Zhuang didn't know the details as it was Edward Lu who dealt with him. 

One of the good news was that they finally found the whereabouts of Avah Tong and Dennis Lu's son. Dylan Lu didn't harm the child, but rather trained him to be a skilled child. 

It still surprised Nico Zhuang that the kid was now fine — although the kid was kind of odd. Regardless, considering how he grew up, he was still innocent on child stuff that Dylan Lu robbed him to experience. 

"I am not sure but knowing her, she'll be fine." Andy Chang softly responded. "She told me she could never be a good mother and pushed all the responsibilities for raising Alain..." she paused as she pursed her lips in a thin line. 

"How can she trust me to be a good mother? I don't even know how to raise a child — I never had one." As Andy Chang continued, Nico Zhuang cast her a side glance and scrutinized her side profile. It wasn't a surprise for him to see that instead of hate, Andy Chang's eyes gleamed in doubt. 

"But after meeting him, after having our first meal, after putting him to bed for the first time... I just wanted to protect him. He had gone through a lot since his birth — I just want to shower him with unconditional love, but... I don't know if that's enough to be a good mother." Andy Chang slightly bit her bottom lips.

To her, she already accepted the obligation of standing as his nephew's mother. However, the fear of being clueless and the fear that she might fail him, terrified her. 

After all, how can she stand as a mother if she never had one? 

"Accepting him and treating him with love... you'll do good." Watching her anxiety creep out on her face, Nico Zhuang spoke his mind as he stared at her. 

"Not many people would do what you have done — you had everyone's respect but more than that, you saved the child's life." Slowly, Nico Zhuang turned his gaze back to the young boy. 

The first time he met the kid, Nico Zhuang could tell the vast difference. After all, the boy he was watching now seemed more like a child than the first time he saw him. 

"As for being a good mother, I'm not sure about that. What I am certain is that everyone learns in the process so, as long as you do your best, it's fine to make mistakes every now and then." Nico Zhuang offered Andy Chang a smile which she stared at as it was a rare sight to see. 

"Thank you." Maybe his words were relieving, or it was him who said those things that Andy Chang's heavy heart lightened. 

Andy Chang had known that he liked this straight-laced man. She didn't know when it started, but her heart flutters whenever he was around. 

However, Andy Chang decided to keep her feelings to herself. What connection she had with Nico Zhuang, Andy Chang was already happy with it. She didn't want to ask for more. 

Moreover, she wanted to focus on raising his nephew that she perceived as her own child. 

Just then, they saw Alain run towards them with a cupcakes on his hands. Andy Chang smiled as she squatted down to welcome him. 

"Mama, this is great. I brought one for you!" Smiling brightly, Andy Chang patted his head as her heart melted. 

"Thank you. Mama will surely like this because it came from Al." As she accepted the cupcake, Andy Chang smiled. But the smile on her heart was incomparable with the one on her lips. 

"This is also for Uncle Nic for taking care of Mama!" Raising his other hand, Alain offered the other cupcake to Nico Zhuang. 

Slowly, Nico Zhuang accepted it with a smile. "So you accept me?" Suddenly, Nico Zhuang asked which made Andy Chang knit her brows in confusion. 

"Uncle, it's just a thank you cupcake. That answer is still for Mama to decide." Grinning playfully, Alain answered like an adult that caused Nico Zhuang to let out a faint chuckle. 

"Huh? What are you talking about?" At a lost, Andy Chang altered her gaze from Alain to Nico Zhuang. 

"Uncle asked me permission to pursue Mama!" without further ado, Alain responded. 

For a moment, Andy Chang's ear flapped. Did she hear him right? Was her ears deceiving her and was just hearing things?

"Ah?" Blinking her eyes numerous times, Andy Chang was lost of words as she shook her head to keep herself together. 

"I told Al that I like you and I'm planning to pursue you so I wanted to ask for his approval first before I can proceed." Still sounding flat, Nico Zhuang enjoyed the mortified expression plastered on Andy Chang's front as her complexion turned from pale to beet red. 

"You... what?!" For a second, Andy Chang's heart pounded, racing in an abnormal pace. "Are you confessing...?" She stuttered as Andy could feel her face grew hotter. 

"I am." Chuckling at her funny reaction, Nico Zhuang cast Alain a knowing look, and the kid grinned.