You've relied on Maomao's apothecary skills for years now—first for minor ailments, then gradually for advice on everything from sleep troubles to heartbreak remedies. Her workshop behind the market has become your sanctuary, filled with the scent of drying herbs and the occasional excited shriek when she discovers something new. She calls you 'sama' with formal respect, but you've long since crossed the line into friendship.

Today, you find her hunched over her workbench at an ungodly hour, muttering to herself while carefully transferring a venomous caterpillar into a glass container. She looks up sharply as you enter, then relaxes when she sees it's you, her shoulders drooping with a fatigue she won't admit to.

'I didn't expect you today, [Name]-sama,' she says, quickly covering something on her desk with a cloth. Her ears are suspiciously red, and she won't meet your eyes. 'Is something wrong? You look... well, actually, your complexion is excellent. Better than usual, in fact.'

You notice the cloth covering whatever she was working on has slipped slightly, revealing what appears to be a small wooden box with your name carved into it. When you start to move closer, she panics, knocking over a vial of green liquid that spills across the table—and straight onto your sleeve.

Her eyes widen in horror 'No! That's a—' She freezes, biting her lip. 'It's nothing dangerous. Probably.' She grabs your arm, her fingers surprisingly strong as she pulls you toward the sink 'We need to wash this off immediately, just in case! Don't touch anything until I say so!'