I have a friend

[Visitor: Li Yu’an (Hero Codename: Saintess)]
[Consultation Topic: To be discussed.]
[Time: 15:30 – 16:30]

The new appointment notification that popped up on Yang Yuan’s phone left him puzzled.

What was Li Yu’an up to? She could’ve just come see him directly—why go through the formal process of booking a session?

As he was thinking, his phone vibrated again. A message from Li Yu’an.

[Li Yu’an]: Can we have the counseling session in my lab this afternoon? I’m at a critical stage in an experiment and can’t leave.

The reason sounded perfectly reasonable. Without overthinking it, Yang Yuan readily agreed—home visit service it was.

At 3:30 PM sharp, Yang Yuan arrived at Li Yu’an’s laboratory.

He pushed the door open to find her sitting at the central workbench, her back to him.

Dressed in a pristine white lab coat, her long hair tied neatly behind her, Li Yu’an was completely absorbed in her work—so focused she didn’t even notice Yang Yuan entering.

He didn’t interrupt. Quietly, he sat on a nearby chair and simply watched her work.

He saw her carefully channeling delicate threads of emerald light, using an incredibly precise technique to weave them into a small crystal container.

As the light threads flowed in, the tiny crystal began to glow, radiating a soothing green aura.

Throughout the process, Li Yu’an’s expression remained intensely focused. Her delicate features, sharpened by concentration, took on a cold, almost sacred elegance.

Yang Yuan realized he was staring—entranced not by romantic attraction, but by a purer kind of admiration.

Only when the final thread of light was sealed did she finally exhale.

She gently removed the newly created ability-attuned artifact from the device, then shut down the equipment and tidied the tools on the table.

Only then did she turn—only to jump in surprise at the sight of Yang Yuan right behind her.

“When did you get here? You didn’t even say anything!”

“I didn’t want to disturb your work.”

Yang Yuan sat beside her, curiosity piqued. “So this is what you do every day?”

“Mm. Mostly researching and crafting these attunement items.”

Li Yu’an tried to maintain a calm, professional demeanor, but her inner temperature was steadily rising.

She handed Yang Yuan the still-warm crystal container.

He took it. The small object felt smooth and warm in his hand, as if pulsing with life energy.

“Is this research because of your ability’s side effect?”

At the word “side effect,” Li Yu’an’s body gave the faintest tremor. Her fair cheeks flushed without her realizing it.

“Partly, yes. But also because it’s convenient.”

“These sealed energy items aren’t as effective as my direct healing, but the big advantage is they bypass my body entirely—so there’s zero risk of triggering the side effect.”

“Still, my ability is limited. These artifacts can’t fully replicate the power of [Jade-Holding Holy Light]. They’re only suitable for routine treatments.”

Yang Yuan turned the tiny crystal in his hand, amazed at the energy contained within.

Just then, Li Yu’an’s tone shifted—becoming unusually solemn.

“Actually… the reason I wanted to consult you… is related to that side effect.”

She paused, then asked, “Can we start the session now?”

Yang Yuan set the crystal down and sat up straight, giving her his full attention.

The lab fell silent. After a long moment, Li Yu’an began speaking—her voice distant, as if telling someone else’s story.

“I… have a friend. She’s also a hero.”

“Her ability is powerful, but that power comes with a terrible cost.”

“Every time she uses it, her body heats up uncontrollably. She sweats. She feels… desires she shouldn’t have.”

She paused, biting her lower lip hard to keep her voice steady.

“My friend… she’s come to hate herself because of this. She feels dirty. Ashamed.”

“She’s terrified of her teammates finding out. She fears being looked at differently… or worse—being seen as some shameless pervert.”

Li Yu’an’s story ended there.

She lifted her eyes, staring at Yang Yuan with a mix of hope and fear.

“Yang Yuan… what do you think about my friend’s situation?”

After hearing her out, Yang Yuan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he asked a question of his own.

“The friend you’re talking about… is it actually you, isn’t it?”

“!”

Li Yu’an shot up from her seat. “O-of course not!”

She waved her hands frantically, eyes darting around the room.

“I’m just asking on her behalf!”

Yang Yuan didn’t press further. He knew she didn’t need interrogation—she needed an answer that could free her from self-loathing.

“I can’t fully understand how your friend feels. But I can tell her one thing—her side effect isn’t a flaw.”

“But…”

Li Yu’an instinctively tried to object. The beliefs drilled into her since childhood surged back.

“But Mom said heroes should be perfect. Desires like that… they’re shameful…”

She thought of her mother—a healing-type ability user who had succumbed to the same side effect, drowning in self-hatred until she passed away in silence.

“Then your mother was wrong.”

“Heroes are still human. And humans have desires.”

“It’s precisely because they carry these imperfections, yet still choose to help others with their power—that makes their choice so noble.”

“Noble?”

Li Yu’an listened, entranced. The teachings of her mother clashed violently with Yang Yuan’s words.

“So… what you’re saying is…”

“The side effect isn’t a stain on your… friend. She shouldn’t feel ashamed. If anything, she should be proud.”

Yang Yuan’s voice was calm, but each word struck Li Yu’an’s heart like a hammer.

The thick wall of self-loathing—built from her mother’s tragedy and years of repression—began to crack.

“So… you’re saying you wouldn’t hate a girl like that, right?”

“Of course not. We’ve known each other for a while now. Do I seem like that kind of person to you?”

“Definitely not! I was just asking~”

His immediate, unhesitating answer brought her immense relief.

Seeing her mood brighten, Yang Yuan added with a half-joking tone:

“Alright, now that we’ve made some progress on your friend’s issue…”

He emphasized the word friend.

“For the next phase of targeted therapy, I think it’d be best to speak directly with the person involved.”

“After all, relaying through a middleman like you might lead to information gaps, right?”

“Ah?”

Li Yu’an’s mind froze. Her “friend” didn’t exist.

“Um… she’s very busy with work.”

She scrambled to make up excuses for her imaginary friend.

“No problem. My schedule is flexible. I can work around hers.”

Yang Yuan smiled—cutting off her first escape route.

“She… she’s very shy. Doesn’t like meeting strangers,” Li Yu’an tried again.

“Then that’s even better.”

“If she has social anxiety, she should come to my counseling room. I can help her work through it.”

Li Yu’an was out of options. She felt like she’d picked up a rock and smashed it straight onto her own foot.

“I hate psychological counseling…😭”