Chapter 5: Reckless Therapy

Ru Lan kicked the door shut with her heel, leather boots echoing against hardwood. Her jacket landed on the chair like a challenge thrown down. She muttered under her breath, fingers twitching for the keys in her hand.

The simulation lab had been a mess. Every time she tried to focus, those eyes popped into her head. That smirk. That voice. It was infuriating—and she didn't get distracted. Ever.

She barely had her racing jacket on when her phone buzzed. Lei Lei – Partner in Crime.

The caller ID made her pause: Lei Lei - Partner in Crime.

"Please tell me you have good news," Ru Lan answered, dropping onto her couch. "Because I'm about two seconds away from doing something incredibly stupid and dangerous."

"Ooh, are we talking motorcycle-racing-in-traffic stupid or breaking-into-government-facilities stupid?" Ru Lei's voice was bright with curiosity.

"Racing in the Underground circuit. The kind that would give dad a heart attack if he found out."

"Ah, stress relief via possible vehicular manslaughter. I know the feeling. But before you go get yourself arrested, I have a better idea."

Ru Lan groaned dramatically. "If you're about to suggest yoga or meditation, I'm hanging up."

"God, no. I'm talking about retail therapy. With Uncle K's card. And possibly enough designer clothing to make his accountant weep."

"Lei, you know I hate shopping… wait, isn't that tomorrow"

"I know, I know. You'd rather spend three hours haggling over rare car parts than thirty minutes trying on dresses. But hear me out!" Ru Lei's voice took on that persuasive tone that had gotten them both into trouble since childhood. "I made a new friend today. Li MinMin, she's this amazing woman who actually has a brain, unlike ninety percent of the socialites in this city. She's funny, she's sharp, and she called her own brother an 'arrogant peacock' right to my face."

"Wait, what?" Ru Lan sat up straighter. "Back up. What happened to your meeting with Li Jaesun?"

"Oh, his royal highness couldn't be bothered to show up. Sent his sister instead, which turned out to be the best thing that could have happened. MinMin and I absolutely demolished those merger negotiations, closed the deal in half the time plus, we had fun doing it."

"And you're telling me this because...?"

"Because, my dear sister, I promised to introduce her to you. And before you start making excuses, think about this: Uncle K's wedding is this weekend, we desperately need new outfits that won't make Big Sis Shu lecture us about 'proper presentation,' and Tianhe Mall has that new fusion restaurant you've been dying to try."

Ru Lan's stomach growled traitorously at the mention of food. "The one with the molecular gastronomy menu?"

"The very one. Plus, MinMin mentioned something about a vintage car exhibition on the top floor. Apparently, they have a 1960s Ferrari that's never been displayed publicly before."

"You're bribing me with food and cars."

"Is it working?"

Ru Lan looked at her racing jacket, then at her reflection in the hallway mirror. Her green eyes were still stormy with frustration, and her dark hair was escaping from its ponytail in rebellious strands. Maybe what she needed wasn't the solitary rush of racing, but the comfortable chaos of spending time with her sister. Plus she did spend over 3 hours at Sunshine University yesterday just to get that card from Uncle K.

"Fine," she sighed, but she was already smiling. "But I'm not trying on anything with sequins, bows, or the word 'princess' anywhere in the description."

"Says someone with a Barbie themed bedroom! Oh, and Lan? MinMin specifically asked me to warn her if you were the 'boring, stuffy doctor type' so she'd know to tone down her personality."

"And what did you tell her?"

"I told her that you once convinced a hospital security guard to let you borrow his motorcycle so you could beat an ambulance to the emergency room, and that you keep a collection of vintage switchblades in your office 'for decoration.'"

"Those are medical instruments!"

"Uh-huh. Sure they are. Anyway, she's very excited to meet my 'badass surgeon sister who could probably perform brain surgery and change a car engine in the same afternoon.'"

"That's... oddly specific."

"I may have oversold your mechanical skills a tiny bit."

"Lei!"

"What? You rebuilt the engine on that death trap you call a car!"

"The Shadowhawk GT is not a death trap. She's a precision instrument."

"She's a missile with leather seats. And you love her more than most people."

"Thats because most people are disappointing," Ru Lan said dryly. "Cars are reliable."

"Speaking of disappointing people, MinMin and I had quite the conversation about her brother, your sexy run in at the university.

Ru Lan felt irritated at the mention of her not so cool encounter with Li Jaesun yesterday, which she so conveniently told Ru Lei about. "Are you done?"

"Okay, sorry. So, are you in? No, don't answer that. You're in, just don't disappoint me by showing up in scrubs and acting all professional."

Ru Lan looked down at her current outfit, black jeans and a simple t-shirt. She felt she looked okay. "What if I promised to wear something that would scandalize at least three society matrons?"

"Now you're talking! Meet us at the main entrance in forty-five minutes?"

"Make it an hour. I need to take care of something first."

"Perfect. Oh, and Lan? Thanks for doing this. I know shopping isn't your thing, but…"

"Hey," Ru Lan interrupted softly. "Your happiness is my thing. Even if it involves trying on ridiculously expensive clothes that I'll probably never wear again."

"Love you too, sis."

An hour later, Ru Lan stood at the fork in the garage, with the track to the left and the mall to the right. Her hand hovered over the ignition, pulse tapping out a dare. A text from Lei blinked on-screen: 'You promised.' "Shit," She cursed and turned right. 

She spotted Ru Lei immediately; her sister was impossible to miss in designer heels and a perfectly tailored burgundy suit that screamed 'badass lawyer.' But it was the petite woman beside her that made Ru Lan pause.

Li MinMin was... not what she'd expected. Instead of another polished socialite, she was looking at someone who radiated genuine warmth and mischief. Her shoulder-length bob was perfectly styled, but there was something approachable about her smile, something that suggested she was the type of person who would laugh at her own jokes and genuinely mean it when she asked how your day was going.

"Lan!" Ru Lei waved her over, practically bouncing with excitement. "Over here!"

but her smile deepened as she reached out to hug Ru Lan. "You look like you just escaped a spy movie."

"I did. It's called My Life, and it's very exclusive."

"You're impossible," Ru Lei muttered, linking arms with her. "Come on, I'll introduce you to MinMin"

As Ru Lan approached, she caught Li MinMin's reaction, the smaller woman's eyes widened slightly, then lit up with what could only be described as delighted appreciation.

"Oh my God," MinMin breathed, just loud enough for Ru Lan to hear. "Lei, you didn't tell me your sister looked..."

"What! Like a criminal?" Ru Lei suggested with a grin. "Yeah, No, I mean… I was going to say absolutely perfect," MinMin finished, then seemed to realize she'd said it out loud. A faint blush colored her cheeks, but her smile never wavered. "Hi, I'm Li MinMin. Your sister has told me absolutely nothing embarrassing about you."

"That's a blatant lie," Ru Lan said, extending her hand with a grin that was equal parts charming and dangerous. "But I appreciate the attempt at discretion. I'm Ru Lan, and I'm told you have excellent taste in calling people arrogant peacocks."

MinMin's handshake was firm, and she held on just a beat longer than strictly necessary. "Oh, that was just me being diplomatic. I have much more colorful descriptions when I'm really annoyed."

"I like her already," Ru Lan announced to her sister, who was watching the interaction with poorly concealed excitement. To her, it felt like introducing your favorite toy to the new girl and Ru Lan was not just her sister, she was her idol.

"Excellent! Now that we've established that you two are going to get along perfectly, can we please go spend some money? I have a wedding outfit to find, and MinMin promised to help me pick something that will make all the ladies jealous. Plus she is shopping for a wedding too."

"Actually," MinMin said, still looking at Ru Lan with barely concealed fascination, "I think I might have changed my priorities. Lei mentioned you're a neurosurgeon?"

"Guilty as charged," Ru Lan replied, falling into step between the two women as they entered the mall. "Though I promise I left my scalpels at home today."

"Pity. I was hoping you could perform emergency surgery on my brother's ego. It's grown to dangerous proportions since he returned."

Ru Lan nearly choked on her laughter. "I specialize in brains, not miracles."

"See?" Ru Lei nudged MinMin with her elbow. "I told you she was perfect."

MinMin's eyes sparkled with some scheming. "Perfect is definitely the word I'd use. In fact, I'm starting to think this shopping trip is going to be much more interesting than I originally planned."

"Should I be worried?" Ru Lan asked, but she was still smiling.

"Probably," both Ru Lei and MinMin said in unison, then burst into laughter.

As they walked deeper into the mall, MinMin linked arms with both sisters, her mind already racing with possibilities. She'd originally befriended Ru Lei with the vague idea of introducing her to Li Jaesun. God knows her brother needed someone with backbone in his life. But now, looking at this gorgeous, confident woman who radiated the kind of magnetic energy that could probably stop traffic, MinMin's plans had taken a complete one-eighty.

Forget introducing Ru Lei to her brother. This Ru Lan was absolutely perfect for Jaesun, and MinMin was going to make sure they ended up together if it was the last thing she did. Ru Lei can just remain her best friend while she gains another sister-in-law.

"So," MinMin said casually, "tell me about this car collection Lei mentioned. She said, you have some kind of rare sports car?"

Ru Lan's eyes lit up like Christmas morning. "The Shadowhawk GT. She's a custom build, only two were ever made. I've been trying to track down the owner of the second one for months."

"Wait—was that the Shadowhawk you pulled up in?"

Ru Lan nodded, "You have good sights MinMin"

MinMin smiled shyly, "So, What would you do if you found them?"

"Make them an offer they can't refuse," Ru Lan said with a grin that was absolutely predatory. "I don't like sharing."

MinMin filed that information away for later use, her smile growing wider. Oh yes, this was going to be fun. "My brother is also a collector, you know. Perhaps he may know the whereabouts of your car?!"

"Is he now?" Ru Lan raised a brow and displayed her signature smirk. 'Hmm, if Li Jaesun is anything like her, I might finally have found a worthy distraction.'

MinMin watched as Ru Lan strode ahead of her "Dangerous, brilliant, and impossible to ignore. Li Jaesun didn't stand a chance," she thought.

She sent a quick text from her phone before rushing to the sisters one more time.