In a coastal villa near San Francisco, a sweet-looking girl standing by the kitchen archway addressed the girl lounging on the living room sofa munching fruit while watching TV. "Lily, haul ass and grab some soy sauce from the store. We're fresh out."
Lily curled up tighter, frowning. Initially, she'd felt this seafront villa offered a refreshing vibe with the cool ocean breezes. The fact it was up for rent had been a happy coincidence, so she'd snagged it. Plus, the owner was a polite, friendly Chinese dude, so she figured no hassles there. But damn, this guy was way too damn friendly. Seeing they were both Chinese, he immediately started treating her like a kid sister whether she wanted it or not.
Lily eyed the sugary-sweet smile aimed her way. So damn innocent and wholesome, it was hard to just dismiss. Still, she didn't forget to bargain. "I want sweet and sour ribs too."
Xia Lin burst out laughing. "Just hurry up already. If you dawdle too long, forget about eating." With that, she waved Lily off like shooing a stray pup.
Dismissed so casually, like she was some damn pet, Lily didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Slowly hauling herself off the couch, she was a hot mess - t-shirt looking nothing like a t-shirt, blouse like no blouse, one sleeve hanging in tatters, a hand looking like a dog had been gnawing on it. Her ancient, torn jeans were so raggedy even street beggars wouldn't rock them. Around her neck hung a long necklace of black and white beads. But despite the mismatched, shabby rags, Lily rocked it all with careless, effortless confidence.
Xia Lin couldn't help furrowing her brows at Lily's unkempt appearance. "Girlfriend, why you gotta dress like that? What even is this look?"
Hearing the start of what would surely become an endless lecture, Lily immediately bolted for the door. Xia Lin had totally adopted her into the kid sister role. The second she opened her mouth, the nagging would never stop. Lily had always been carefree, wearing whatever she wanted without giving a rat's ass what others thought. Xia Lin got that about her, but sometimes she just couldn't keep her damn mouth shut.
Lily was almost out the front door when the bell rang. Slipping into her shoes, she tossed over her shoulder, "Sounds like your pal's here."
Drying her hands, Xia Lin moved closer. "Could be yours too, you know."
Not even glancing up, Lily calmly replied, "Don't have friends."
Xia Lin froze, taken aback, while Lily stood unfazed, like she'd just commented on the weather. Not a hint of loneliness or sadness showed on her face.
Sensing Xia Lin's warm, pitying look, Lily crossed her arms and leaned back against the wall. "What, you thinking I'm a total smokeshow now? If you're keen, I'm down to play for the same team, babe."
Rolling her eyes, Xia Lin turned her attention to the security monitor to see who their visitor was. After checking, she buzzed them in, simultaneously grabbing Lily's arm and shoving her out the opening door. She fixed the younger girl with a murderous glare. "Now get your ass moving and buy that damn soy sauce already! No dinner for you otherwise!"
Despite the scorching look, Lily just shrugged it off. Pity her? She didn't need nobody's pity. Friends were just a label. She was fine rolling solo through this world.
"Xia Lin, long time no see!" A deep, jovial male voice rang out as they entered.
"Shu Kori, what brings your free ass around today?" Xia Lin's tone was casually dismissive.
Hearing the exchange, Lily turned back. A couple had arrived, the woman practically boneless as she draped herself over the man's shoulder, the very picture of a helpless damsel.
The man stood over six feet tall, with striking features - chiseled jaw, mesmerizing eyes, lush dark locks framing his face. He wore a crisp dress shirt with the first two buttons teasingly undone, hinting at a firm, sculpted chest. The corner of his mouth curved in an undeniably attractive smirk. Overall, a total smokeshow.
Catching Lily's once-over, Shu Kori flashed her a smile. Lily simply glanced at the insufferable pair and strode right past them and out the door, acting like they were utterly invisible. She had zero interest in learning about yet another cocky, flirtatious jackass. Seeing her completely blow him off without a second look, Shu Kori couldn't help but furrow his brows as she disappeared from view.
"Fang Shu Kori, what the hell are you gawking at?" Xia Lin demanded through gritted teeth, noticing his lingering stare.
Snapping his gaze back, Shu Kori asked, "Who was that girl?"
Xia Lin's face hardened. "You can forget about it right now. Don't even think about laying a hand on anyone under my roof." God, this asshole had zero game! No decency or class whatsoever. The second a new hottie came around, he was already sniffing after her, totally disregarding the gorgeous woman in his arms who looked extremely unhappy at the moment. What a sleazeball!
Shu Kori laughed it off. "I could..." His words trailed off as a red Ferrari convertible suddenly roared past.
It was Lily in the driver's seat, casually tossing them a one-handed wave as she blew past. Not even a glance in Shu Kori's direction as she peeled out.
Swallowing the rest of his sentence, Shu Kori raised an intrigued eyebrow. He wasn't sure if that girl was being deliberately cold or just oblivious, but either way, it pissed him off. No woman had ever so totally blown him off like that before. Interesting chick.
"Soy sauce, soy sauce, where the hell can I get some damn soy sauce around here?" After hitting up several shops and supermarkets with no luck finding Chinese soy sauce, Lily gunned it, cruising along the scenic coastal road.
"Mother fuckers! Beat 'em dead for me!"
A bloodcurdling scream shattered the peaceful scene up ahead.
Lily's gaze landed on the chaos - a smashed-up silver BMW, with several red, black and blue race cars idling behind it further up the road. Two dudes were sprinting full tilt, fleeing a group giving furious chase, steadily closing the gap. The runners took a few glancing blows but couldn't slow, just desperately putting one foot in front of the other.
Witnessing the scene, Lily let out a soft chuckle. "Racing for pinks but they ain't using the damn cars?" Those sick rides parked back there obviously belonged to the chasers. Would've been way smarter to hop in and pursue from behind the wheel instead of stubbornly chasing on foot. Maybe they wanted the rush, confident their legs could outrun an engine. Idiots.
Slowing to better appreciate the show, Lily shook her head as one of the smarter goons finally doubled back for the cars. Looked like the fun was over. She was already accelerating away when something made her pause.
As Lily's convertible rolled past the two runners, one of them was clearly at his limit, because he made a desperate lunge, grabbing her door and vaulting inside in one slick motion. Then he reached back and hauled his partner in too. Damn, those two were agile.
Realizing she now had passengers, Lily arched a brow but kept cruising steady.
"Step on it!" came an urgent torrent of accented English from the backseat. "If you don't wanna get mixed up in this shit, just floor it!"
But the dude's rough tone held no real panic, making it clear he knew exactly what insane gambit he was running.
Lily didn't even glance back, maintaining her same languid pace as she checked them out in the rearview mirror. What a pair of hot messes - one was a striking mixed dude with long dark hair, but his handsome mug was marred by a nasty bleeding gash across his forehead. The blond blue-eyed pretty boy beside him looked even worse, his face a mask of drying crimson making it hard to discern his features.