Little Qing Lin had changed into clean, neat clothes that fit her well. She looked at her refreshed reflection in the Crystal Mirror.
Even now, she still couldn't believe what was happening before her eyes. It felt just like a dream.
Not long ago, because of her mixed-blood identity, people had mocked and humiliated her as they pleased. They had even tried to kill her.
But now, everything had changed.
Everything had changed from the moment she lifted her head and saw that broad palm.
That kindhearted uncle had saved her and driven away the people who had bullied her.
At first, he had only meant to give her food. But when he learned she had nowhere to go, he had hardly hesitated before bringing her back with him.
Then a number of kind uncles had prepared bathwater for her and found her clean, pretty clothes.
Looking at her reflection in the Crystal Mirror, Little Qing Lin was terribly afraid!
Afraid that all of this was just her imagination.
Afraid that the moment she walked out of this room, the illusion would vanish, and she would return to the reality of having nowhere to go.
Qing Lin stared blankly at her reflection. Only after a long while did she gather the courage to raise a hand and speak to herself in the mirror.
"Don't be afraid. This has to be real!"
As Qing Lin lifted her hand, her sleeve slipped down, revealing a few scales on her forearm. Her face changed, and she quickly lowered her hand, covering them with her sleeve.
In her memory, people's looks of disgust toward her had all begun the moment they saw her scales.
"I mustn't let Uncle see my scales. I don't want him to hate me!"
Qing Lin clenched her little hands