The Rise of the White Lotus

Lexi's brows creased. She inquired cautiously, "Does your head hurts?"

Since Ethan was just heedlessly staring at her like a fool, she was rather concerned as she thought it must be due to her mild concussion.

With that remark, Ethan was snapped back to reality. His blank expression gradually turned into surprise yet, he didn't say anything or rather, he was lost for words.

Lexi, on the other hand, was also rendered speechless as she literally saw different expressions of Ethan in a fraction of seconds. For some reason, she found it silly and confusing at the same time.

Momentarily, both neither utter a word before Lexi wielded the white flag and chuckled. Covering her lips by the back of her hand, she uttered in between her chuckles.

"Alright, I know what you're thinking. I won't ask anything in return so rest easy -- we'll contact your assistant first thing in the morning."

In her perspective, Ethan must be thinking of how to return the favor which is no big deal… On another note, she might probably need his help about something.

Alas, unbeknownst to Lexi, Ethan was rendered speechless was due to the fact that he met a girl's parents under such inconvenient pretext. Moreover, his stress level also rose because he was confused about why does he have to take this seriously?

What relationship does he have with Lexi? They weren't lovers and she didn't even approve of them being friends. Hence, why was he overreacting?

Looking back at the smiling refined lady sitting near the bedside, he heard her speak but didn't actually listened to her words. For some reason, the confusion and chaotic situation on his mind slowly calmed down. Thus, all he heard was 'call your assistant…'

For some reason, he felt a little sad hearing that she will send him away. Yet, he also felt dismayed for having such whimsical inner thoughts. To divert the foreign and unwelcomed emotions that confusing him to the core, he diverted the discussion to distract himself.

"Uh, thank you. By the way, I have to apologize for the inconvenience to Chairman and Madam Yang." He courteously muttered slowly regaining his usual tone and composure.

"Uh, that…" Lexi mumbled as she grovels inwardly on how to ask him a favor. Upon seeing her hesitating front, Ethan tilted his head sideways,

"What 'that'?"

Lexi heavily breathe and looked at Ethan's confused yet dashing facial features, "you see, they misunderstood me…" Lexi waited for his reply but to no avail, Ethan was only anticipating for her to finish her explanation which was surprising for her.

"I am also not sure but they probably thought that I did that to you."

"You mean, my injuries?" Completely distracted from his thoughts earlier, Ethan's interest was piqued hearing her short story while he was unconscious. What caught his attention is why would her parents think about that?

"Uh-huh, you know I have a pretty bad reputation right? Well, aside from the false scandal of sleeping around with different men and doing those disgusting sex parties -- they wouldn't call me a white lotus for nothing." Lexi leaned on the wooden chair she was sitting on as she crossed her arms while slowly opening her life and giving him a glimpse of it.

"Aside from those… hmmm, you mean assaulting an investor to a movie was also true?" Ethan rubbed his chin as he recalled the rumors about Morris Liu's former fiance that able to reached his ears. Upon seeing Lexi nod once, he resumed;

"What else? Pushing a male celebrity on the pool…" Ethan kept on and on of all the rumors he could able to recall and Lexi nodded in confirmation. As he spouted everything, there's a pattern to her aggressive behavior; everyone involves a MALE.

"Uh…" Ethan looked at Lexi who was nodding as if congratulating him to realize the similarities every incidence.

"Yes, yes, judge me if you want. I humiliate men who attempt to flirt with me and I turned aggressive when they try to harass me. My parents would have to deal with every lawsuit afterward. So I understand their dismay this time." Lexi uttered in a matter of factly tone. She already accepted this problem of hers and even though she wanted to work on it, Lexi knew that her actions might be a little exaggerated but they were justifiable.

Turning her gaze back on Ethan, to her surprise, Ethan was just staring at her with an unreadable expression plastered across his face. She raised her brows as she waited for what he was about to say.

"Move closer," Ethan gestured her to move close to him. His sudden demand left thousands of questions on her mind but seeing his injuries and bandaged head, Lexi cautiously moved near him with a threat.

"I'm warning you --"

Alas, before Lexi could even end her sentence, a light palm landed on top of her head then gently patted her head.

"I'm sorry."