Perhaps influenced by Nalan Sheng's mood, Qing Lin, who had been somewhat nervous, gradually calmed down and began deftly helping him wash up.
"Hmm?"
Just as Qing Lin was wiping Nalan Sheng's face with a towel, his swordlike brows suddenly knitted slightly, and he stared at her cuff.
"..."
Qing Lin noticed his unusual reaction as well. Following his gaze, her little face instantly turned deathly pale. She hurriedly covered her cuff with the towel. "Y-Young Master Sheng, I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you..."
"Silly girl, did you think a few little scales could frighten me?"
At the sight of Qing Lin's ashamed, anxious expression, a trace of tenderness flashed through Nalan Sheng's eyes. He stroked her little head and said, "I won't look down on you because you have Snake-People blood flowing through your veins. That isn't your fault."
Only after hearing those words did Qing Lin cautiously raise her head.
There was not a trace of disgust or fear on Nalan Sheng's face, only an abiding ache and tenderness in his expression.
At that sight, Qing Lin's heart trembled. Her eyes reddened slightly, and she almost burst into tears.
"Come, let me see your hand."
Under Qing Lin's nervous gaze, Nalan Sheng rolled up her sleeve and gently stroked the snake scales on her arm with his fingers. Then he smiled warmly. "Qing Lin, you don't have to feel inferior. I, for one, think these snake scales are very beautiful."
"Y-Young Master Sheng, do you really think these snake scales are beautiful?"
Qing Lin's eyes widened slightly, disbelief spreading across her face.
Even Qing Lin herself hated the snake scales on her body, so this was the first time she had ever heard someone call them beautiful.
"Of course I do."
Nalan Sheng smiled and said,