The room was still wrapped in night, and because the lamp light was soft and the whole residence had already gone quiet, that moment in front of the mirror felt even more unreal.
Bai Lingling slowly lifted her hand and touched her own cheek. Then she touched it again, just to make sure she was not dreaming with her eyes open this time. The skin under her fingers was smooth. There was no horrible burn scar pulling the left side down. There was no thin, starved weakness making her look pitiful. Even the shape of her eyes looked more alive, and the whole thing was so pleasing that she felt her heart bounce lightly in her chest.
Then, because Bai Lingling was still Bai Lingling, the shock passed and joy arrived immediately after.
Her eyes curved. The corners of her lips lifted. Then her whole face brightened in a way that looked almost shameless.
"Aiya," she murmured, leaning even closer to the mirror. "So this is what proper beauty looks like."
