At the mid-level restaurant, where he had just started a part-time job, it was only his second day, but already he felt the weight of it.
He couldn’t help but reflect on how precious this opportunity was, something he never fully appreciated until now. Being an orphan, expelled from school, and having spent time in juvenile detention, getting any job felt like a small miracle. He didn’t remember ever working this hard for a paycheck, but here he was, doing everything to hold onto it. He was a young boy in his early twenties, with long auburn hair and striking ocean-blue eyes. His one hand was covered in tattoos like a sleeve, and his ear was pierced with a stud earring. He had amazing looks that caught the gazes of a few people. He was busy cleaning the table when his gaze drifted out the window, and his eyes caught sight of a sleek, stunning supermoto parked outside. For a brief moment, envy flared within him. He couldn’t help but wish he owned something like that. "No, Lian," he chastised himself. "This isn’t the time to envy others. You’re only 19. Two years from now, you won’t be in the same place. You’ll have your chance." With that, he pushed the thoughts aside and rushed off to serve a customer. "Enjoy your meal," he said with the well-practiced fake smile he used for customers, placing the plate on the table. The woman he was serving lifted her eyes to him, her fingers momentarily pausing over her phone. She was young, maybe in her mid-twenties, dressed in a sleek black jumpsuit with her brown hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. Her eyes were the first thing that struck Lian, but they carried no warmth. Despite their beauty, they were cold, devoid of any emotion. Her lips, full and perfectly shaped, complemented her striking appearance, but her icy expression made Lian hesitate. There was something unsettling about her. She regarded him for a second, her gaze intense before turning her attention back to her phone. Lian exhaled softly, retreating from her table, his heart racing a little faster than usual. As he took a few steps away, something outside caught his eye—two women in sharp black suits standing beside an SUV. One of the men opened the back door, and a girl with bright pink hair stepped out. Lian’s stomach dropped. What the... She had found him. Panic surged through him, and his mind raced as he searched for somewhere to hide. He didn’t want to face her, not now. She was trouble, and if he wanted to keep this job, avoiding her was his only option. Not long after, two women in suits walked inside, followed by the teenage girl with pink hair. Her expression spoke volumes—arrogance. She simply ordered, "Find him!" In an instant, the women disappeared, carrying out her command. While waiting, she shouted, "Lian! You better show yourself before I blow this place up. You know I can!" She looked around and yelled again with her sharp voice, "Lian!" Her outburst disturbed the customers, but she didn’t care. A middle-aged man approached her, trying to calm the situation. "Miss, Lian isn’t here. He already left." She turned her disdainful eyes toward him. "And you are...?" He smiled politely. "His manager." "Yes, his boss," she said, turning fully to face him. "I know he’s hiding somewhere. Where is he? Or should I flip this whole place over?" The manager hesitated. The problem was, he knew this girl. Her father was a congressman—that much Lian had told him. The two women returned and reported, "He’s gone." She bit her lip in frustration. "That idiot. Let’s see how long he can keep avoiding me." She turned her attention back to the manager. "Tell him that if he doesn’t meet me today, there won’t be a manager here anymore. I’m sure you’ll pass the message." With that, she turned and left. At the same time, Lijun also rose from her seat and walked outside. She reached her supermoto, hopped on, and drove away, following the SUV.
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BAD HEROINES 3. A Little Help
By evening, Lian found himself in one of the most famous nightclubs in Vegas. It wasn’t his kind of place, at least in now days but with his current company, he had no choice. He didn’t have time for luxury or relaxation—he needed money. But the girl hanging onto his arm wasn’t taking "no" for an answer. That’s why he’d been avoiding her for the last three months. Her name? Celine Drayton. Inside, the thumping music made the walls vibrate. Lian made his way to a chair and ordered a drink as soon as he sat down. "You don’t want to dance with me?" Celine asked with accusation. "Or is it that you don’t want me anymore?" She crossed her arms, "If this is about money, I can give you more. But don’t you dare keep working those disgusting part-time jobs. I can’t stand to see my man suffering." Lian stared at her, stunned. He took a long gulp of his drink, letting the alcohol blur the sharp edges of their toxic relationship. He remembered when he’d met her—back when he worked for her fam
BAD HEROINES 4. The Threats
Lian opened his eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling. For a moment, he thought he might be dreaming and started to drift back into sleep when a sharp unease crept in. He sat up slowly, his hand throbbing from the IV tube connected to it. A nurse, adjusting the line beside him, looked up as he watched her in confusion. "How do you feel?" she softly asked. Lian’s voice rasped with confusion, "Why am I here?" His mind was still foggy, but flashes of memory started piecing together. The club. No, the car with Celine. Then… the ambush. He glanced around, his pulse quickening. Where was she? "Your friend brought you in after you passed out from gas poisoning," the nurse explained. "You’re lucky it wasn’t worse." He gave her a strange gaze. Friend? Who? Lian’s thoughts scrambled. He remembered fainting, but everything after that was a blur. Was Celine okay? Before he could ask more, a woman approached the bed, clearly not a doctor. She had an edge to her look—short honey-colored hair, jeans,
BAD HEROINES 5. Escaped Death
The vast field was packed with more than twenty motorbikes lined up in perfect rows, their engines purring in anticipation. Lian stood among the crowd, blending in yet separate. The thrill of the race had always been his escape from the chaos of life. After everything that had happened, this was the only place he could think of to distract himself. These street races were always illegal, which made the nightfall the perfect time to gather. Lian had been a regular for years, always borrowing a bike from his friend Rogan. As one of the best racers, his reputation preceded him, and while most of the others had partners clinging to them, Lian always preferred to ride solo. The solitude helped him focus. Besides, Celine’s brother had originally brought him into the gang because of his skills with bikes. As he checked the bike’s gears, a soft yet confident voice caught him off guard. "Mind if I ride with you?" He turned, ready to brush her off like he did with most girls who tried t
BAD HEROINES 6. Just In Time
He was walking down a dimlight alley as he made his way towards his apartment. Most nights, he had taken this same route, hopping to catch a glimpe of a mysterious woman he had dropped off here. Thoughts of the mysterious woman he had encountered before lingered in his mind. But for two days, she had not shown up. That should have brought relief but only served to deepen his unease. The card she had given him, just a hotel address, was a distant memory now and wondered if she toyed with him. As he turned a corner, a powerful hand shot out of the shadows, grabbing his collar and throwing him violently to the ground. He tried to make sense of what happened, and he blinked up at the figure looming over him. His forehead wrinkled as his eyes focused on the heavyset man, a menacing beast tattoo marking his bald head like a brand. Recognition hit Lian's eyes. "Jake." He cursed his luck under his breath."Why is it so hard to leave the past behind?" He groaned, pushing himself up. The
BAD HEROINES 7. She Was Dangerous
The rider, clad in a sleek black jumpsuit and reflective helmet, moved with the assured grace of someone who knew she was in control. Even without seeing her face, Lian could sense it—it was a woman. One look at the customized bike and the way she dressed, he had a good guess who it might be. He smiled faintly, though wariness lingered behind his eyes. The woman reached out, handing him a spare helmet without a word. A flicker of recognition sparked within him, and without hesitation, he grabbed it, slipping it on before hopping behind her. She revved the engine, and the bike shot forward, leaving Jake and his men scrambling to their car, cursing as they tried in vain to catch up. Within seconds, the city blurred around them as she wove through traffic effortlessly, the wind whipping past them. By the time they reached the outskirts, Jake and his crew were nothing more than a memory. The bike skidded to a stop outside a quiet restaurant, and Lian dismounted, still reeling from
BAD HEROINES 8. She Won't Hide
She moved cautiously down the narrow corridor, her footsteps nearly silent under the dim, flickering lights. She passed door after door, the numbers blurring until she reached the one she sought—304. Sliding the key card before entering. The door closed behind her with a quiet click, sealing her in the stillness of the room. The moment she pocketed the card, her phone buzzed in her hand. She glanced down at the screen. An unknown number. Without a second thought, she tossed the phone onto the table, hoping to ignore whatever it was. Ever since she survived the poison, she had lived on the edge, wary of every step she took. The how and why of it gnawed at her constantly. She hadn't found the culprit, didn't know how they slipped the poison into her life, or what twisted motive lay behind the attack. But then the phone buzzed again. This time, a message. 'You won’t hide forever, Lin Lijun. They will know about you' Lijun’s heart stuttered. Her fingers tightened around the phone
BAD HEROINES 9. The Betrayer
Her eyes fluttered briefly before snapping open, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She scanned the unfamiliar room, her gaze locking onto the IV tube attached to her hand. She was in a hospital gown. The last thing she remembered was being in that hotel room—a trap, she realized now, expertly set. Her brow furrowed. Whoever was behind it hadn’t wanted to kill her right away. They wanted her alive for something worse. But who was it? The thought gnawed at her, an uneasy feeling tightening in her chest. She wasn’t afraid of him but the uncertainty unsettled her. She had to leave. Now. She tried to move but a sharp pain shot through her stomach, forcing a grimace. Pulling the gown aside, she saw the bandage. Of course, she thought. But if she fell into that man’s hands, this wound would be the least of her concerns. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself out of bed. She pulled the IV as she sat up, blood dripping to the floor. She ignored it, staggering toward the window, one hand
BAD HEROINES 10. Scared Of Her
The next day, the nurse came in to check on Lijun. After checking on her, she nodded to herself and stepped out. As she closed the door behind her, she stopped, startled by the sight of a girl standing there, staring blankly at the door. The girl looked young, maybe sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a school uniform, with short bobbed hair and blunt bangs. There was something unnerving about her—an unsettling stillness that made the nurse unease. If Lijun had seemed strange, this girl felt like something entirely different. “How is she?” the girl asked, her voice flat, devoid of any warmth. The nurse hesitated, unsure how much she should say, but the girl turned her head slightly, her eyes cutting into her. “She’s my sister.” “Oh—uh, yes, you can see her,” the nurse stammered. “She’s doing well.” Without another word, the girl turned toward the door and opened it, stepping inside without even a glance back at the nurse. The girl, Evelyn Lin, stood just inside the room, her pale