"Ivy."
She stopped with her hand on the car door, turning around to see Liam standing behind her, scratching his neck like a nervous teenager about to confess to his crush.
"Do you have something to say, Liam?" she asked, raising a brow.
Liam cleared his throat. "Uh... it's been a while since we went out, so… would you, um, want to have dinner with me tonight?"
Ivy blinked. "Tonight?"
Liam nodded quickly. "Y-Yeah. Unless you're busy… Are you busy? Do you have, like, a crime to solve? Or maybe some top-secret undercover mission?"
Ivy smirked and crossed her arms. "Relax, boyfriend. No undercover missions tonight."
Liam grinned and immediately grabbed her hands. "Perfect! Then come with me. I'll take care of your car—I'll personally drop it off at your house. No excuses."
"O-Okay," Ivy said, caught off guard but smiling as she walked with him toward his car.
---
Inside the car...
As Liam hummed to some retro pop song like he was the main character in a rom-com, Ivy stared out the window, when her phone buzzed. She glanced down—it was a message from their besties' group chat: The Hot Mess Squad.
Ziudith:
Hey ladies, where are y'all? Roll call!
Ayna:
What now, Miss Doctor Extraordinaire? Got some hot hospital gossip?
Ziudith:
How did you know I had news?!
Ivy:
Because you never text unless someone's dying or dating. And if no one's dying…
Ziudith:
Hey! I'm not that bad.
Ivy:
Girl, you once left us on read for three days because you were "in surgery"—and it turned out it was just you removing a hangnail.
Ayna:
Enough roasting. Spill the tea, Doc—I'm mid-client and can't multitask forever.
Ziudith:
Okay okay! Drumroll please... MY CRUSH FINALLY ASKED ME OUT!
Ayna:
WHAT?! Girl, FINALLY! When's the wedding?
Ivy:
Congrats! So when are you treating us to a party? I want sushi, pizza, AND wings.
Ziudith:
"…."
Ayna:
Don't tell me you're backing out now, you broke-hearted chicken.
Ivy:
Yup. If you don't at least offer BBQ, we're un-best-friending you.
Ziudith:
Ugh, you two are the worst. FINE. Chicken and beer, next Friday. My wallet already hurts.
Ayna:
Yesss! That's our girl.
Ivy:
Love you, mean it. Now go flirt with your crush.
Ziudith:
BYE. Don't forget to bring hot gossip next time!
Ayna:
Bye babes!
Ivy:
Laters, lovebirds.
As Ivy smiled at her phone screen, Liam raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you smiling, Ivy?"
Ivy looked up, still half-grinning, then finally turned off her phone.
"Ah, it's nothing. Just my friends… making jokes in the group chat."
Liam gave a short nod. "I see. So, do you have a place in mind for tonight?"
She thought for a second, tapping her chin playfully.
"Hmm… why don't we go to the night market? I feel like having street food."
Liam blinked, clearly surprised. "Street food? Are you sure?"
Ivy grinned. "Yes. I want skewers, dumplings, maybe something spicy. Let's go."
---
Later — At the Night Market
The air buzzed with life. Neon lights shimmered on every surface, and a blend of sizzling oil, roasted spices, and charcoal smoke danced through the streets.
They entered the crowd, shoulder-to-shoulder with other night-goers, as vendors called out from their stalls and the aroma of grilled meats and sweet desserts filled the air.
Ivy's eyes lit up. "It's been ages since I came here. I used to sneak out of college just to eat jianbing at midnight."
Liam walked beside her silently, barely glancing at the stalls.
She stopped at a skewer stand. "Chuan'r! I've missed this so much!"
The vendor flipped spicy lamb skewers over open flames, the cumin and chili making Ivy's mouth water.
She handed one to Liam. "Try it."
He took it with hesitation. "This is going to ruin my stomach."
"You mean your weak stomach," she teased, then turned to another vendor.
"Oooh, shengjian bao! I'm definitely getting some of those."
Soon, her hands were full—grilled skewers, pan-fried dumplings, even a paper cup of bubble tea.
They passed a stall with a strong, pungent smell.
"Wait—stinky tofu!" Ivy gasped excitedly.
Liam recoiled. "No way. That stuff smells like a sewer."
"You're so dramatic," she muttered, grabbing a piece anyway.
They found a bench tucked near the edge of the market. Ivy cradled a bowl of mala tang—hot spicy soup filled with fish balls, tofu skin, and lotus root.
Liam sat beside her, staring at her intently.
As Ivy turned back to her bowl and took a bite, a voice called out.
"Ivy."
She paused and looked up—only to see her sister standing there.
"I see you're here too… and who is this, Ivy?"
Levina glanced toward Liam.
Liam blinked, confused. "Ivy, you never mentioned you had a twin sister."
"We're not twins," both Ivy and Levina replied in unison, shooting each other a glare.
"What do you want, older sister? As you can see, we're busy here," Ivy said, clearly annoyed.
Levina smiled sweetly. "Don't be so cold, dear sister. I was just strolling through the market with some friends when I saw you with a ma—oh, probably your boyfriend. So I thought I'd stop by and say hi."
Ivy pinched the bridge of her nose. "Alright, sis. You've said it. Now please leave us alone."
"Why so hasty, Ivy? Won't you introduce your boyfriend to me?"
She turned toward Liam with a mischievous smile.
"Hello, officer. Are you dating my dear little sister?"
Liam smiled awkwardly. "Uh… yes, I am. And you're her sister? Sorry, I didn't know."
Ivy cut in sharply, "Enough, sister. Please go. We're about to leave."
Levina pouted dramatically. "So heartless, Ivy. You won't even invite me to join you? What a cold sister I have."
Ivy shot her another glare.
"Alright, alright, no need to glare. I'm leaving. Bye, lovebirds~"
She waved and walked off, a smirk on her lips.
Ivy rubbed her temples with a sigh.
"You never told me you had a sister who looks exactly like you. You two seriously look like twins," Liam said.
Ivy gave him a tired look. "We're not real sisters—we're half-sisters. And we just happen to look alike. Don't mind her, she's always like that—loud, rude, and dramatic. But... I know deep down she has a good heart."
She stood up and brushed her hands off. "Anyway, enough about her. I'm done eating. Should we go now?"
Liam blinked. "Ah… I see. At least tell me her name?"
Ivy raised an eyebrow. "Why are you so interested in her?"
Liam laughed awkwardly. "It's nothing, I'm just asking."
"Her name is Levina Lannister."
As Ivy looked away, Liam's gaze lingered in the direction Levina had gone.
Even though she and Ivy looked similar… there was something about Levina—her style, the way she carried herself—that felt more alluring.
He didn't say it out loud.
But he was already thinking it.