The Rise of the White Lotus

Chapter 189 How can I not love you?

"What?" Lexi's eyes dilated as she nearly gasped in disbelief after hearing Richard Si's statement.

"Hehe, Boss Chard, don't be like that-- you're kidding right?" Awkwardly laughing, Ethan Lu mildly elbowed the old man's side hoping he was joking.

"Unfortunately, Young Master Lu and Miss Yang, I am not. Hahaha!" Unlike their shocked expressions, Richard Si heartily laughed as if the news was a good one. "Apparently, my telephone is out of order and the shuttle returned to the hotel so I can't contact them. Don't worry, you can stay tonight or walk back to the resort-- your choice, though it will take at least two to three hours before you reach the hotel if you walk and the road is rather dark."

Lexi and Ethan Lu closed their eyes and took a deep breath then heavily exhaled. They already tried their phones but to no avail, Lexi had no signal and Ethan Lu's phone died. Therefore, both of them were rendered speechless by this sudden turn of events.

"Why the long faces? Don't worry, your stay here is not any worse than the hotel-- have you eaten dinner? Why don't you join me instead?" As benevolent as he may sound, Richard Si grinned from ear to ear as he invited them to dinner. Now that he mentioned dinner, both of them were suddenly reminded that they hadn't had supper and their stomach started to grumble.

Looking at Richard Si's welcoming smile, Lexi and Ethan Lu helplessly nodded in agreement. Upon seeing their approval, Richard Si let out another joyous laughter before he gestured them to follow his lead.

Elbowing Ethan Lu as they followed Richard Si from behind, Lexi arched her brows as she interrogated, "You're not part of this scheme, right?" Lexi wasn't dumb enough to buy this lie because of the fact that Richard Si was the owner of the grandiose hotel and resort. Who knows if he owned the whole island? Therefore, it was impossible that his security would be this lousy.

"What? Of course not." Whispering in dismay, Ethan Lu denied without batting an eye. He also knew that this was all part of his friend's ploy. Alas, he has nothing to do with it as he wasn't looking for a death wish. After all, he barely managed to cool his heating body after a cold shower once again. Hence, spending a night with Lexi-- Ethan Lu was afraid that he would commit a sin.

Lexi scrutinized his expression and seeing that he seemed believable, Lexi rolled her eyes as she averted her gaze to Richard Si's back with a heavy sigh. From her knowledge when Richard Si toured them inside, there were only three bedrooms: one was Richard Si that they didn't enter, one was for unexpected guests or as what Richard Si said, and the other one was a room full of different supplies— in other words, used as a stockroom.

Hence, that only meant that Lexi and Ethan Lu would have to spend a night in one room. If this was before, before their intense kiss, Lexi wouldn't mind. However, putting them in one room when their hormones barely stabilized wasn't a good idea. Still, would they choose to walk in the dark for hours instead?

*****

As the dinner goes by, Ethan Lu and Lexi gradually accepted that they were stuck there until the next morning. Thus, they decided to just enjoy the meal with the cheerful old man.

"Young Master Lu, would you mind doing me a favor?" In the middle of their dinner, Richard Si looked at Ethan Lu with an anticipating expression plastered across his face. Despite their huge age gap, Ethan Lu and Richard Si interacted was as if they were at the same age.

Regardless, there was still respect in their interactions which made Lexi adored Ethan Lu's charms to everyone. She also came to know that the yacht where they first dated was originally owned by Richard Si before he sold it to Ethan Lu.

"Hmm?" Squinting his eyes, Ethan Lu suddenly became wary of this out of the blue request. He didn't conceal his doubtful eyes as he peered at the bright smile on Richard Si.

"Well, you know my office right? Will you get us some drinks to enjoy this night?" Normally, Richard Si would not ask something like this to his guests. However, for his own reasons, and knowing Ethan Lu wouldn't mind, he requested.

Ethan Lu examined Richard Si's wrinkled old front before he sighed in defeat. "Alright… don't blame me if I accidentally get the most expensive ones." Shrugging his shoulders, Ethan Lu stood from his seat and dragged his heavy feet towards the exit of the dining area.

Since he trusted this old friend of his, he knew that Lexi would be fine with him. Still, before he left, Ethan Lu looked at Lexi and said reassuringly, "I'll be back in a minute."

Lexi nodded as a response before he left the two of them. Briefly raising her brows as she awkwardly smiled at Richard Si, Lexi uttered. "I hope we're not bothering you so much, Mr. Si."

"Haha! Of course not! I should actually thank the both of you for visiting me-- it's so sad being alone, heh." Richard Si waved his hands off still bearing his jovial smile.

Pursing her lips, Lexi was tempted to pry why was he alone but, she stopped herself as she didn't want to be insensitive. Moreover, even though Richard Si seemed to be a happy-go-lucky guy, Lexi understood that he wasn't as simple as he displayed to be.

"You know Miss Yang, Ethan and I had a deal before; he's only allowed to have a vacation here alone-- everything on the house. But, if ever he brings a girl with him here, I will only acknowledge her as his wife if not, friends over." Richard Si turned off his cheerfulness as he calmed down a little as if reminiscing a good memory in the past.

'Friends over?' Lexi thought as the first thought that processed in her mind was Richard Si's usage of the term in his age. In spite of that, she decided not to say anything and only stared at Richard Si who was sitting at the head seat. Although she was intrigued why would they have such a deal as if Ethan Lu needed his blessings— she would rather ask Ethan Lu about it.

"When I received a call from him weeks ago, to be honest, I was surprised when I heard that he wanted to bring the woman who captured his heart and her family on this island. At first, no offense, but I thought he was just infatuated to his current girlfriend-- you know him. But, after seeing you and how he looked at you… there's no need for a scolding. Hahaha!"

Lexi let out an awkward and shy chuckle at the same time while Richard Si heartily laughed. She would be lying if she said she wasn't moved by this unspoken deal that Ethan Lu never said before and knowing that Richard Si was expecting them, Lexi appreciated Ethan even more.

"Now, Miss Yang, if you don't mind me asking, what do you feel about my dear friend Ethan, hmm?" Placing his elbows on the edge of the table, he held his hand together as he rested his chin on the back of his hand-- attentively waiting for her answer.

Lexi didn't answer immediately as she glanced at her plate before shifting it back to Richard Si's anticipating front. Meekly smiling, she spoke. "Actually, I also asked that to myself-- what exactly do I feel for him? I asked that almost every day but I get no response."

Richard Si knitted his brows yet, he didn't utter a word as he let her continue.

"Liking, loving someone is easier for me when it was already programmed that I'd have to marry a certain man since childhood. But, discovering what I feel for another man, that's new. He takes care of me, respects me, supports me, considered my feelings more than his own, making me feel I have value-- it sometimes frightens me, ironic right?" Recalling all encounters she had with him, Lexi let out a brief chuckle as she could still not believe that the man who would make her feel special was the person she would never have expected even in her wildest dreams.

"Part of me knows that I like him or maybe, I am slowly falling in love with him."

"Then what's stopping you? Can't you just get married? We have a little chapel here in case you didn't know." Slightly tilting his head on the side, Richard Si looked at her with interest because in his perspective, her smile and the emotions flickered in her eyes were undoubtedly genuine feelings she had for Ethan Lu. Even without hearing another word from her, he knew that what her heart felt was genuine but hesitant.

"Because he gives so much and I wanted to return his feelings wholeheartedly-- not only a small piece of my heart-- that would be unfair to him."

Richard Si smiled in content upon hearing her sincere resolve. "Hehe, well, you are both adults, you would figure it out." Raising both his hands in defeat, Richard Si didn't press the matter as the woman proved something that he was looking for. Therefore, he knew that he didn't need to say more things as he already got the gist of Lexi's personality.

Unbeknownst to them, Ethan Lu was leaning against the wall and heard their conversation. Biting his bottom lip to suppressed his bright smile, he muttered. "This woman… jeez, how can I not love you?"