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The night was quiet, except for the sound of rain tapping against the window.
Lin Yue sat alone in her small apartment, surrounded by paintings. Every wall was covered with her art — mountains in the clouds, glowing rivers, and ancient figures she had never seen in real life.
She always painted the same world. A world she thought only existed in her dreams.
Tonight, she was painting again — a lotus pond under a full moon.
Her brush moved slowly, carefully, but her eyes looked distant.
"Why do I always return to this place?" she whispered to herself.
Thunder rolled outside. The lamp beside her flickered.
As she reached for more ink, her hand slipped. The black liquid spilled across the canvas.
Lin Yue gasped. But instead of ruining the painting, the ink spread like living water. It glowed faintly, forming ripples.
"What… what is this?" she whispered.
At that moment, the clouds parted. A sharp ray of moonlight fell through the window and struck the jade hairpin lying on her desk. It was the only heirloom her late mother had left her.
The hairpin shimmered, then leapt into the painting with a flash of light.
Before Lin Yue could react, the canvas began to pull her in, like a whirlpool made of light and water.
Wind rushed through her apartment, lifting the papers and scattering her brushes.
"No! Wait!" she cried, reaching out.
But it was too late. The light swallowed her.
The room went silent. Only the rain remained.
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When Lin Yue opened her eyes again, she was no longer in her apartment.
She was lying in a river of glowing lotus flowers. Mist floated above the water. In the distance, mountains rose into the clouds, their peaks shining with starlight.
Her breath caught in her throat.
"This… isn't Earth," she whispered.
A soft glow beside her made her turn. Her paintbrush floated in the air, shining faintly, as if alive.
The lotus petals swirled around her, welcoming her to a new world.
Her story had just begun.
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✨ End of Episode 1