Who is the stalker?

“I just started today—I don’t want to get fired on my first day.”

Yang Yuan had met all kinds of people in his life, but this girl—carrying a sword and spouting nonsense about “fate’s trials”—was beyond anything he’d ever dealt with.

She clung tightly to his sleeve, completely oblivious to how inappropriate the gesture was toward a stranger.

Yang Yuan didn’t yank her hand away. Instead, he chose to calm her down as gently as possible.

“First, let go so I can pull up my pants.”

The girl obediently released him. Only after adjusting his clothes did Yang Yuan continue.

“I wasn’t actually going to call security. I was just messing with you.”

“Second, walking into the wrong restroom might get you scolded, but you won’t go to jail or get fired.”

The girl froze, processing his words.

She had imagined countless scenarios—being shouted at as a pervert, dragged away by security—but never once expected him to be so calm.

His composure gave her a sliver of courage. She decided to reclaim her dignity by reactivating her delusional persona.

“Thus, the trial of this place is complete. I shall now withdraw and cease further disturbance.”

With that, the girl turned and bolted, desperate to escape this place of unbearable shame.

“Wait.”

Yang Yuan’s voice stopped her in her tracks. She turned back to see him looking at her with quiet calm.

“You haven’t told me your name yet.”

“M-my name?”

The question caught her completely off guard. All her life, whenever she acted differently, people slapped labels on her: “weirdo,” “chuunibyou,” “crazy girl.”

No one ever asked for her name. To them, she was just an anomaly to be categorized—not a person to be known.

Except for her grandmother. The only one who would stroke her head and say gently, “Xiao Zhu is just a good child with unique thoughts.”

This man, after witnessing her most absurd moment, had asked for her name.

Such a simple question carried immense weight.

“Bai… Bai Zhu. My name is Bai Zhu.”

For a brief moment, her voice returned to normal as she spoke her real name.

“Nice name. I’m Yang Yuan.”

Yang Yuan gave his name in return, then nodded toward the door.

“Alright, Little Hero Bai, you may now commence your retreat.”

He repeated her earlier dramatic phrasing, not with mockery, but as if it were the most ordinary conversation in the world.

“Yes!”

Bai Zhu bowed deeply to Yang Yuan, then ran off with all her might.

Hiding in a deserted stairwell, she leaned against the cold wall, heart pounding.

“Who is this person? Why was he so calm? Why didn’t he laugh at me?”

“Could it be… is Yang Yuan just like me? Is he… my kind?”

A thousand questions swirled in her mind. She knew one thing—she had to find out who Yang Yuan really was.

Meanwhile, Yang Yuan had already left the restroom. He opened his phone and added “Bai Zhu” to his notes.

“This girl’s mental state seems a bit unstable. She’ll probably be a regular at the counseling room…”

“Still… chuunibyou or not, she’s kind of interesting.”

With that thought, he returned to the counseling office to continue his work.

As soon as he sat down beside Li Yu’an, she reached over and gently smoothed out a wrinkle on his sleeve—one left by Bai Zhu’s frantic grip.

Yang Yuan almost stopped her, but his phone vibrated at that moment.

[Su Xiaoyou]: “Ah Yuan, how’s work going? Those female heroes aren’t doing anything weird to you, are they (¬､¬)?”

The message reeked of suspicion. Yang Yuan replied: “Everything’s normal. Don’t worry.”

For the rest of the day, Li Yu’an stayed by his side under the pretense of “observation and learning,” accompanying him as he saw five more female heroes for consultations.

Finally, the last visitor left.

“Alright, today’s work is done.”

Yang Yuan stretched and began tidying up his desk.

“Today was really enlightening. Let me treat you to dinner as thanks.”

“No need. I’m not hungry,” Yang Yuan politely declined.

“Alright…”

A flicker of barely noticeable disappointment passed through Li Yu’an’s eyes, but she quickly masked it.

“Then I’ll head back. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Li Yu’an picked up her handbag and gracefully walked out of the office.

Yang Yuan watched her go, a vague sense of unease nagging at him—but he couldn’t pinpoint why.

What he didn’t know was that Li Yu’an hadn’t left. She was hiding in the corner of the hallway, her figure cloaked in shadow, silently waiting.

About ten minutes later, Yang Yuan locked his office door and headed toward the elevator.

Like a true shadow, Li Yu’an followed, keeping a silent, steady distance.

She told herself this was for his safety. But the sweat soaking through her clothes whispered a darker truth.

Yang Yuan exited the Hero Center building, not taking public transit, but walking steadily in one direction.

Li Yu’an kept dozens of meters behind, using pedestrians and buildings as cover, tailing him like a professional stalker.

“What am I doing… what am I doing!”

“Li Yu’an, do you realize this is stalking? This is a crime!”

Her conscience screamed in protest, but her feet moved as if pulled by invisible strings—she couldn’t stop.

Unaware, Yang Yuan turned into a quiet residential area and stopped in front of an old-looking apartment building.

Li Yu’an quickly ducked behind a street tree, holding her breath.

As Yang Yuan reached for his access card, he suddenly paused. He turned his head—his gaze landing directly on the spot where Li Yu’an was hiding.

“Did he notice?!”

Li Yu’an pressed herself against the rough bark, frozen in place.

Yang Yuan frowned, scanning the empty street.

“A trick of the mind? Why do I feel like I’m being watched by a hundred eyes?”

He muttered to himself, then swiped open the door and walked in, chalking it up to being around too many people today.

“Ha… ha…”

Only after Yang Yuan’s figure vanished did Li Yu’an slide down the tree, gasping for breath, her back soaked with cold sweat.

She looked up at the apartment building, her eyes filled with fear, guilt—and a twisted, euphoric joy.

Trembling, she pulled out her phone, opened the map app, and dropped a red pin on her current location. She named it: [Yang Yuan’s Home].

“I won’t abuse this address… I won’t…”

“I just… just want to be a little closer to you.”

Li Yu’an leaned against the tree, unwilling to leave.

Until a warm light flickered on in a fifth-floor window, she didn’t move.

When she saw it, she smiled—deeply, completely satisfied—and then vanished into the night.