I was surprised that Wordsense had definitions for what we know so well
https://www.wordsense.eu/Ah_Lian/ and
https://www.wordsense.eu/Ah_Huay/
(derogatory) A young Chinese woman in Southeast Asia particularly Singapore and Malaysia associated with a stereotype of having little education or sophistication and operating within secret societies and street gangs
I was frustrated with the latter half of the description about secret societies and street gangs because that isn't my experience.
I dated a girl who I attended primary school with. She dropped out of school at the end of secondary 2 and I went on. Yes, she was simple, she was not sophisticated in the conventional sense but she was honest, kind and loyal to her family - virtues and values which I admire.
Eventually, her family disapproved of our relationship - and who could blame any teenage girl who did not want to break their parents' hearts.
So I'm curious, especially from non-Chinese brothers, if you dated any?