The room was very clean, and the layout was simple.
It was exactly the same as the outpatient rooms in the hospitals from Bai Nian’s memories, except it lacked that distinct scent of disinfectant.
She pulled out the ergonomic chair and sat down.
Pressing the button on the desk, the floor plan of the first-floor lobby would light up, indicating that a psychologist was now available for consultation.
Throughout the entire afternoon, Bai Nian didn’t see a single patient.
This was somewhat different from what she expected.
People with life occupations were busy making a living, while those with combat professions had their heads on the line, fighting for their lives.
In such an environment, it seemed few ever developed psychological problems.
It wasn’t until after seven in the evening, just as the Professionals Association was about to close, that Bai Nian finally welcomed her first patient.
There was a knock at the door.
When she opened it, she saw a girl who looked only fifteen or sixteen.
“Doctor, good evening.”
The girl was a bit shy, but politely greeted Bai Nian after entering.
“Good evening, have a seat.”
Bai Nian responded with equal courtesy.
After all, a psychologist was different from an ordinary doctor, so she acted more easygoing, more like a friendly big sister from next door.
Speaking of age, the two of them couldn’t be more than five years apart.
They could be considered peers.
“Um, can I call you Sister Bai?” the girl asked carefully.
“Of course, that’s fine.”
Bai Nian smiled.
Noticing some emotion flicker in the girl’s eyes, she asked, “Do you know me?”
“Mhm.”
The girl nodded.
“I saw you on the news.”
Upon hearing this, Bai Nian sighed.
Great, she was really famous now.
“Sister Bai, my name is Yun Mo. I’m sixteen, and I’m a first-year student at Second High School.”
She introduced herself, then seemed to realize what kind of place this was and quickly explained:
“Um, Sis, I’m not sick! I just thought that you and I have similar backgrounds, so we might get along. I wanted to make a friend, but couldn’t find anyone…”
Bai Nian was a little taken aback, then she laughed and reached out her hand, “Hello, I’m Bai Nian.”
The Professionals Association closed at eight in the evening.
Taking advantage of the hour left, Yun Mo began to share her life story with Bai Nian.
“I have no blood relation to either of my parents.”
“Huh?”
Yun Mo’s first words nearly fried Bai Nian’s brain.
In this world, adoption wasn’t allowed.
If both parents, who were combat professionals, died in the line of duty, the child would be taken in by the Alliance Institution.
And this was extremely rare, because combat professionals almost never chose to marry.
“My dad was a thug. My mom had me when she was my age, then went off to work in another city and never came back. Later, my dad married a big sister from his gang. When I was fourteen, he got seriously ill, and during matching tests, I found out I wasn’t even his biological child…”
“Last year he passed away. My stepmother took me and remarried here in Tianmu City. My new father, that is, my stepfather, really loves my stepmother. She’s very young and doesn’t plan to have any children, so we’ve just kept living like this.”
Yun Mo gave a brief account of her background.
Although her family got along well, she always felt something was missing inside, which made her personality a bit withdrawn, unconsciously closing herself off.
The two of them didn’t share the same experiences, but the circumstances had shaped their personalities in similar ways.
Bai Nian poured a glass of water and handed it to Yun Mo. “How do they treat you?”
“Thank you.”
Yun Mo accepted the glass, thought for a moment, and replied, “It’s alright, but it feels more like they’re fulfilling a duty.”
“So the story didn’t end in tragedy after all, did it?”
Bai Nian said.
Yun Mo nodded in agreement.
Actually, Yun Mo did have some psychological issues, but nothing severe enough to need treatment.
Bai Nian’s assessment of her: a child longing to be loved.
They chatted for a while longer.
Soon, it was nearly eight o’clock, time for Bai Nian to get off work.
“The fees here aren’t cheap, you know. Don’t come again.”
Bai Nian said.
Seeing Yun Mo’s obvious surprise, she added with a smile, “Next time, just come to my rented apartment.”
Yun Mo brightened up at that, nodding hard.
“Okay!”
“It’s late. The road isn’t safe. Let me walk you home.”
“Mm.”
The two of them went downstairs together.
By now, there were few people left in the Professionals Association lobby—mostly staff or other workers about to leave, just like Bai Nian.
“Are we friends now?”
Yun Mo asked cautiously.
“Of course.”
“Sister Bai, you’re the first friend I’ve ever made.”
“I’m honored.”
The two chatted as they walked, gradually leaving behind the bustling streets of the city center.
On a dim, deserted side street, Bai Nian suddenly felt several pairs of eyes watching her from the darkness behind.
“Yun Mo, Sis will walk you just this far,” she said.
“Mm, okay.”
Yun Mo nodded obediently, then quietly added, “Sis, be careful.”
Bai Nian paused for a second, then smiled and patted her head.
“Don’t worry.”
They waved goodbye.
Bai Nian turned and walked in the opposite direction from Yun Mo.
The feeling of being watched wasn’t due to Bai Nian’s profession, but was a result of the False Eye she had received as a system reward.
Besides that, she had discovered other abilities:
Night Vision, Yin-Yang Sight, See Through Invisibility, and so on.
It seemed that all disguises were now useless in her eyes.
As for how the Divine Mark enhanced her profession, she hadn’t felt anything obvious yet.
Maybe it was just that her profession was too useless.
After all, it was only a Profound-grade profession.
As Bai Nian pondered this, she was almost at the main street when the other side finally couldn’t hold back any longer.
A figure appeared in front of her, blocking her path.
Bai Nian turned slightly, catching two more figures emerging behind her out of the corner of her eye.
The three of them formed a triangle, surrounding her.
They were dressed in black, faces covered, blending into the night.
Bai Nian could also sense several other gazes from farther away—another group, watching closely.
The silence around them was almost frightening; no one said a word.
Bai Nian stood where she was, quietly watching as the three closed in.
She knew clearly these were people sent by the Bai family to kill her, so she wasn’t foolish enough to ask who they were.
When they were just five meters away, Bai Nian suddenly moved.