The Rise of the White Lotus Chapter 396 – Avah Tong

Lexi and Ethan Lu returned to her office as if nothing had happened. The only difference was that their clothes had creases in them now as if they were in a hustle. Regardless, they really didn’t care what others might think as they were legally married with two wonderful children.

“You really don’t want me to drop you off?” Sliding his hands inside his pockets, Ethan Lu frowned while watching Lexi sign a few more doc.u.ments on her desk.

“Really? Drop me off to the east area while your meeting is in the west area?” Turning to him, Lexi spoke in sarcasm.

“I can always move my meetings.” In a boastful yet humble tone, Ethan Lu nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders.

“No, love. I can handle it— also, I’ll take Nico with me.” Shaking her head sideways, Lexi took down his proposal in the most polite way, dragging Nico Zhuang’s name into the mix: her ultimate card to give him relief.

“Alright…” Sighing heavily, Ethan Lu was helpless as he married an independent woman.

Lexi then phoned Nico Zhuang that was at his post outside her office informing him that they had to drop by to AL’s entertainment. She gave him a heads-up so he could properly clear her schedule and whatever paperwork he has to finish.

*****

“Say, I heard about the problem in Madam’s agency— can we switch places?” Just outside Lexi’s office, Lyrick Jiang leaned on Nico Zhuang’s desk as he offered.

“That’s not my call— ask master.” Glancing up, Nico Zhuang had inexpressibly responded before returning his attention on skimming through the doc.u.ments on his desk.

“As if he’d let me.” Snapping his tongue, Lyrick Jiang frowned. It was not that he was unhappy about the fact that he was working nonstop as Ethan Lu’s assistant. However, after hearing Lexi’s instructions to Nico Zhuang, he could not help his inner busybody to ignite.

He knew that only a few people know that Lexi was the co-owner of AL’s entertainment. Therefore, he wanted to see Lexi’s awesomeness and the faces of the people in the said agency when they knew that Lexi was their big boss. How fun would that be?!

“You should focus on master’s well being if you want to please the madam that much.” Without turning to Lyrick Jiang, Nico Zhuang lowly muttered without any emotion.

“Hah!” Scoffing, Lyrick Jiang peered at his colleague with a disdainful stare as if he was completely insulted on what he just heard. “For your information, if only madam knew what I had been doing up until today— she’d ask me to be her assistant instead of you!” Thrusting his chin forward, Lyrick Jiang boasted.

After that encounter with that lady cleaner which caused them to kneel on the washboard, Lyrick Jiang had been very careful. It was as if he obtained hawk eyes that he could see everything.

Because of this, Ethan Lu had dodged many schemes and stopped as many problems as he could. However, those problems might not directly point at any executive, still, it was very obvious that it all came from Dennis Lu’s party.

Even so, what puzzled Lyrick Jiang was that Ethan Lu didn’t ask him to keep a close watch on him. Instead, he let other executives to be his spies on Dennis Lu and ordered Lyrick Jiang to dig into Dylan Lu.

“Anyway, Master had been a little strange lately.” Diverting their subject, Lyrick Jiang pondered as he was reminded of the night Ethan Lu asked him to keep an eye on his cousin.

“How so? Elaborate.” At this time, Nico Zhuang put down his phone after he sent an email to one of their clients before he raised his head to see the complicated look on Lyrick Jiang’s face.

“I mean, I am only telling you this so you can tell Madam if necessary. A few months ago, Master specifically asked me to keep a close watch on Sir Dylan. In my personal opinion, sir Dylan is not a threat because he’s dumber than everyone but, for some reason, when master ordered me at that time— he seemed a little… scarier than ever.” Looking up, Lyrick Jiang rubbed his chin as he recalled how Ethan Lu looked so terrifying at that time. It was as if satan himself manifested into him that still sends chills down Lyrick Jiang’s spine even until this moment.

“Then, did you find out anything?” Furrowing his brows, Nico Zhuang didn’t bother to imagine how Ethan Lu looked like but rather, to the progress of the given order.

“That’s the odd part. I placed people to watch his every move but aside from his ongoing therapy and dinner with friends— there’s really nothing notable.” Shrugging his shoulders, Lyrick Jiang heavily sighed as getting this kind of information was just as stressful as obtaining none.

“That’s really suspicious.” Nodding his head in understanding, Nico Zhuang commented. “If Master specifically asked you to keep a close watch on him, that just means he already knew something. You just have to give him details so he will know what was exactly coming at him.” Slowly, Nico Zhuang stood from his seat as he closed his laptop.

“What was Red doing? You should assign him to personally do the task if master is unwilling to deploy me. I don’t think the shadow guards are united anymore.” Nico Zhuang might sound reckless in his statement just now, however, he wouldn’t speak such assumptions without careful and rational thinking.

After all, Lyrick Jiang might know all of the business affairs and was well versed of the Lu family rules. Alas, Nico Zhuang’s experience being a squad’s captain had given him a further insight of what should be the problem.

“But…” Feeling conflicted, Lyrick Jiang tightened his fist into a ball. There was a reason why he wouldn’t deploy Jarred Guo because he didn’t want Ethan Lu to be alone. After all, Lyrick Jiang was not good at combat. Thus, who would protect Ethan Lu if one of his crazy family members tries to harm him? Moreover, Lyrick Jiang could only entrust his master’s safety to either Jarred Guo or Nico Zhuang.

“I’m just saying— it’s still master who gives the call if he approves of the idea or not.” Giving his conflicted colleague a side glance, Nico Zhuang dusted off his business attire.

Just then, Lexi and Ethan Lu exited the office with Ethan Lu carrying her handbag. Of course, the moment they saw them, Nico Zhuang and Lyrick Jiang slightly bowed their heads.

“Rick, I heard you’ve been doing great work recently. Good job!” When Lexi saw Lyrick Jiang as if she didn’t see him for a long time, she commended him which made him awkwardly smile.

Lyrick Jiang then politely said, “I am just doing my job, madam.” before he glanced up at Ethan Lu who was gesturing him a thumbs up. For some reason, seeing how carefree his boss was whenever he was around with Lexi, a feeling of guilt— even though he shouldn’t be feeling guilty, struck him.

His Master and Lexi had been very kind to him. So, was he really doing his job? Must he propose that Jarred Guo withdraw as his bodyguard to personally investigate Dylan Lu? Ethan Lu had always trusted Lyrick Jiang’s suggestions hence, he knew that it would be considered if he spoke even a single word about. Still, should they take the risk?

“Don’t worry, I’ll beat him to a pulp if he bullies you again.” Winking, Lexi noticed the slight change on Lyrick Jiang’s expression yet, she decided not to say anything about it.

Soon, the four of them separated at the parking space of the building with Lexi and Nico Zhuang in the other car while Ethan Lu and Lyrick Jiang on the other hand— started heading to their respective destination.

****

[AL Entertainment]

Abigail Fan’s agency wasn’t that huge nor was it too small for a building. It was just enough to accommodate all its employees but not alike with their rival companies that take up too much space.

Entering the establishment, there were people, unfamiliar ones that Lexi hadn’t met in person. To Lexi, even though the place was partly hers, it felt otherwise.

Since Lexi had gotten all of the instructions of where she was heading, she didn’t go through the reception and went straight to the elevator lift.

“Miss Yang?” Just as Lexi and Nico Zhuang were standing in front of the elevator, a woman’s voice was heard to the side. Turning to see the owner of the voice, Lexi slightly arched her brows seeing an unfamiliar face.

“It’s really you, Miss Lexi Yang!” Upon a closer look, the woman wearing huge glasses, a loose plain satin strap dress, matched with a cream hue stilettos, clasped her hands together.

Her hair had these huge curls, displaying some of the highlights of her hair that slid down to her neck while the other side was tucked behind her ear. She then lifted her sunglasses up, using them as a headband which revealed her seductive yet adorable round eyes.

“I can’t believe I would see the legendary Chang’e! Pleasure to meet you! Oh! Sorry, my surname is Tong, Avah Tong, I’m currently working here as an artist— are you also here to sign a contract? Will you be back in the limelight?” Excited, Avah Tong introduced herself as if she didn’t know what to say. Her round eyes twinkled as if in awe to the gorgeous woman despite its simplicity before her.

“Avah…” Nodding in acknowledgment, Lexi smiled. “Nice to meet you, Miss Tong. Unfortunately, that’s not the reason why I am here.” Still bearing the same smile, Lexi courteously responded, answering her query yet giving very little information of what her business of being there was.

“Aw, I thought my idol will be back and we’ll work under the same label.” Frowning, Avah Tong’s bright mood slightly turned sullen upon hearing that Lexi was not there to sign a contract.

Just then, the elevator lift opened which caught the three’s attention. Giving the woman a smile, Lexi entered the empty elevator lift while Nico Zhuang followed.

“Aren’t you going to enter?” Seeing that Avah Tong was not entering and was just waiting outside, Lexi asked.

“Oh! Sorry, I am just nervous. Can I?” Sheepishly smiling, Avah Tong scratched the back of her head before she saw Lexi noding to her which made her hop into the elevator with a huge smile.

****

“Master, I received a call from the office that someone came looking for you.” Turning his head to the back passenger seat, Lyrick Jiang stoically reported. Ethan Lu just stared outside through the window without a word as he patiently waited for the rest of this ‘unnecessary’ report.

“They said it was a woman named Avah.” This time, Lyrick Jiang gulped a mouthful of saliva as he examined the change on Ethan Lu’s expression.

“Avah…” Low and deep, Ethan Lu whispered the woman’s name with an unreadable emotion. No one could discern what he has in mind as he whispered the woman’s name. “Send Nico her photo and tell him don’t let that woman get close to Lexi.” An unreadable glint flashed across Ethan Lu’s eyes as he gave his orders. One might not distinguish the glint but it was surely mortifying as if it could kill a person in that instant.