Ash sighed softly.
He once again recognized the difference between Niya and Sonia. Sonia might often throw little tantrums like a spoiled university student, but when it mattered, she was even more reliable than Ash, mature enough to put him at ease. Niya, though she had been through a great deal, would show a child's temper regardless of the occasion. "I feel like even if I said you weren't ugly, you'd only call me hypocritical. Because liking beauty and hating ugliness is human nature. It isn't just you—even I think I'm ugly when I look in the mirror." Niya's voice was cold. "I have burns on my arms, knife wounds on my waist, gunshot wounds on my thighs... The thing I hate most right now is mirrors. I don't even want to look at my own body when I shower. Even I find myself disgusting."
Ash did not ask why she had so many injuries, nor did he ask what she had experienced. He thought for a moment, then said:
"I know a girl. She was already very pretty, but she wanted to be the prettiest."
"Although she didn't come from a good background and her family was poor, she still worked hard to earn money while studying, buying herself cosmetics, skincare products, pretty clothes, nice hairstyles, eye-corner surgery, blackhead removal, making herself better-looking day by day. If she had scars on her body like you, she'd definitely rack her brains to get rid of them, not smash every mirror so she couldn't see them. You can deceive everyone, but the one person you can't deceive is yourself."
"What do you mean?" Niya questioned coldly. "Are you trying to say I'm weak and lying to myself?"
"I just hope you make a choice that can make you happy," Ash said