The Rise of the White Lotus

Chapter 165 Illegal cheat day

"Just so you know, I don't hate you." When Lexi uttered these very words, a heavy feeling that was weighing her heart down slowly lifted. Hence, as she walked away from his office—from his first love, a subtle smile formed on the side of her lips.

She could not remember the last time she felt this light. It was as if the invisible chains that connected her to him clanked loose. Every step she took, farther away from him, and from his territory, Lexi didn't look back. She continued to exit the huge establishment with ease because finally, she was free.

Free from him and from her old self. Of course, Lexi would be lying if she didn't feel the slightest pain about this. However, it wasn't enough to overwhelm her reliefs.

In all honesty, Lexi never hated him—she had loved him so much that she could not bear such hatred. Granting that she was mad at him for his change of heart, alas, she never realized it till now that she had forgiven him a long time ago.

Now, she had completely let him go. And as she let her hand go that was holding tightly to the chains that connect them, Lexi knew that it was time to forgive herself. To forgive what she had done in the past, to condone for losing herself while loving someone, and to atone for putting so much pain to the people that stayed with her up until now.

When Lexi entered her car, she could not help a smile to form on her lips as she felt like celebrating. Hence, to share this achievement, Lexi searched for her phone and immediately found it. Speed-dialing her father's personal contact number, it connected after three rings.

"Lexi, my daughter!" The moment the line connected, Frederick Yang who sounded happy to receive a sudden phone call from his daughter greeted.

"Hmm, Dad…" Upon hearing her father's voice, her voice cracked as she could not hold the overwhelming mixed emotions circling inside her heart.

"Lexi, are you crying? Who made you cry? Is it Ethan?! That—"

"Haha, no Dad. I am just happy." Wiping the tears that stained her cheeks, Lexi chuckled at the aggressive response from her father. She resumed,

"Daddy, let's eat out later with Mom."

"Oh… my precious daughter, are you sure?" Still at it, Frederick Yang's eyes narrowed as he intently listened to his daughter's voice.

In retrospect, Lexi had always said she was fine in a very convincing way, hence, Frederick Yang didn't want that to happen again. After all, he wouldn't want to lose his daughter ever again.

"Haha, 100 percent Dad. I just want to spend this happy day with you and Mom—that's all." Still chuckling while imagining his father's reaction, Lexi reassured.

Frederick Yang didn't respond for several seconds before he heaved a sigh of relief. "No problem. Let's go on a trip with us three after your movie." His eyes softened because it has been a while since the three of them went out on a trip. Therefore, taking this opportunity, he suggested.

"Really? That would be great!" Delighted, Lexi's heart stilled in peace. Unlike Frederick Yang, she could not actually remember when was the last time she tagged along with their small family trip.

Hearing that Lexi didn't refuse and actually sounded excited about his plans, Frederick Yang's tensed shoulders relaxed. It was as if he was beyond glad that his daughter was slowly going back to what she used to be—his sweet, lovable daughter.

Their conversation went on for several more minutes with Frederick Yang nagging her to eat and shop to reward herself with whatever made her happy. After all, Lexi wasn't telling him exactly what it was.

*****

Since it was lunchtime, Lexi took his father's advice and went shopping to purchase appreciation gifts that she wanted to give to her parents, to Churu, and Ethan. After all, one way or another, Ethan Lu indirectly helped her thus, he's on her list.

As Lexi shopped inside a luxury mall, she first found something for her parents: a set of exquisite accessories for her Lillian Yang and a tie for Frederick Yang. After that, she headed to a fabric stall where she could find kits and fabric to make cute dresses for the adorable dumpling.

When she was done paying and requested her items to be delivered to the Yang Mansion, Lexi decided to dine first before looking for the perfect gift for Ethan Lu. After all, she knew what to gift to her parents and to Churu. However, Lexi knew little knowledge about Ethan Lu—his likes and dislikes. Unlike him who was shameless enough to ask her parents.

"Bestie!!" While Lexi was deciding where to eat, she heard a somewhat familiar voice from the distant. But certain that it was not her whom the person was calling, she continued on her way.

"Bestie!! Lexii!" Upon hearing her name being screamed by someone, Lexi turned her head to its source. Her brows knitted and her eyelids blinked before she squinted her eyes to see who it was. To her surprise, the figure that was sprinting toward her was none other than Rika.

Soon, when Rika finally caught up with her— panting while her palms rested on her knees, Lexi slightly lowered her head to the side to check if Rika was alright.

Just then, Rika miraculously regained her energy as she abruptly straightened her back as she pouted. "My gosh! I've been calling you since earlier. Didn't you hear me?"

"Uh… I never really thought it was for me." Awkwardly smiling, Lexi raised her brows as she honestly gave Rika the answer to her question. She could not be blamed though, because first of all, Rika had been shouting 'bestie' and not her name.

Rika let out a heavy sigh as she understood her reason, "Well, that doesn't matter anyway. Are you shopping? Let's shop together!" Rika changed her mood much faster than a blink.

Lexi scrutinized her from head to toe and from toe to head. Her brows could not help but twitched seeing that Rika ran with four-inches stilettos. Considering the floor, Lexi secretly commended the woman in front of her.

"Sure, but, let's eat something first."

"Great! I'm actually starving, also…" Rika paused as she slightly leaned forward before she continued her sentence.

"...it's my cheat day. Please keep this between us." After she spouted her words, Rika nodded as if to convince her. However, it didn't—not a tiny bit!

"You mean, illegal cheat day?" Arching her brows, Lexi exposed her that made Rika looked at her with complete dismay before her surroundings turned gloomy and dark.

"Bestie… you made me feel guilty." She murmured.

If she could use her finger to draw lines on the floor, she would.

On the other hand, Lexi shook her head and rolled her eyes as she could not believe that this woman who was called the Nation's Goddess, best actress of the year, and so on was acting like this.

Regardless, Lexi felt more helpless with this girl trapped in a woman's body. She sighed. "I won't tell anyone. Let's… Let's just go."

Rika's face instantly brightened as her pair of eyes twinkled looking her heroine. She then blissfully followed Lexi who also had a subtle smile on her face.

'Really… I've been meeting weird people nowadays.' Lexi thought inwardly as her second chance at life was full of surprises that kept coming to her life and makes it a little more colorful.