Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Chapter 53: Chapter 48: No, I Can’t Sleep

The Hundred Generations Book, Shiqiao Village.

Early in the morning, Xiao Qing had just opened the door when a gust of cold wind swept past.

The young woman couldn’t help but shrink her pale neck into her collar, instinctively pulling her clothes tighter around herself.

It was only the beginning of the eleventh month, yet the morning breeze was already starting to feel bone-chilling.

This year, winter seemed to be arriving much earlier than usual.

Xiao Qing turned to look at her sister, who was lying in bed.

Her sister was still curled up under the covers, fast asleep.

“Sister… time to get up, Sister…”

Xiao Qing walked to the bedside and gently pushed her sister’s shoulder.

“Mmm…” Bai Ruxue responded lazily, but her eyes didn’t open at all. Instead, she burrowed her head deeper into the blankets.

“Sister, aren’t you going to the market? If you don’t go soon, all the vegetables will be gone.”

Xiao Qing was actually quite puzzled.

’For some reason, Sister seems to be much sleepier this winter.’

Hibernation was, of course, a natural instinct for the Snake Race.

’But Sister’s cultivation is already very high. Logically, she shouldn’t be getting this drowsy so early…’

’I’m not even feeling sleepy yet.’

“Sister, are you all right?” Xiao Qing asked worriedly. “Is there something wrong with your cultivation again?”

“I’m fine, Xiao Qing. I’m just a little sleepy… I’ll get up now…”

Relying on sheer willpower, Bai Ruxue sat up in bed. A lock of hair brushed across her cheek, curling against the high rise of her chest.

Although she was sitting up, she swayed unsteadily, her eyes still completely closed. It looked as if she might fall back down at any moment.

Xiao Qing yanked away the blanket covering her sister.

A rush of cold air flooded in, and Bai Ruxue’s delicate body shivered.

This time, she was truly awake.

Just like any other day, the two sisters went to the market in Huang Village to buy groceries. Then they returned home to clean the courtyard, hang laundry, prepare the ingredients, and start a fire to cook.

If she wasn’t busy, Bai Ruxue would also serve Xiao Mo tea and water and massage his shoulders.

Of course, Bai Ruxue had always done these things for him.

But Xiao Qing noticed that ever since Brother Xiao’s return, her sister’s relationship with him seemed to have grown even closer. The way her sister looked at Brother Xiao was now gentler—a kind of ineffable tenderness.

「Before they knew it, the twelfth lunar month had arrived.」

As the weather grew colder, Bai Ruxue became increasingly lethargic.

In truth, Bai Ruxue didn’t know what was wrong with her either. She just felt so tired, something that hadn’t happened in the past two years.

With the New Year approaching, every household became busy with preparations.

This was especially true for Xiao Mo’s household.

In previous years, the village chief wrote the New Year’s couplets for the villagers. But this year, Shiqiao Village had produced a Provincial Scholar, and everyone hoped Xiao Mo could write theirs, hoping to let some of his literary qi rub off on their homes.

Xiao Mo, of course, did not refuse.

’I grew up eating meals from everyone in the village, so what’s the harm in writing a few couplets?’

The villagers didn’t take them for free, though. They would all bring Xiao Mo gifts of chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Xiao Mo tried to refuse several times, but he was no match for the persistent aunties and grannies of the village.

“Ruxue, are you all right?”

One day, while Xiao Mo was in the courtyard writing couplets, he saw Bai Ruxue dozing off as she mended his clothes. Her head bobbed up and down, like a little chick pecking at grain.

Her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes looked as if they were about to close completely.

“Huh?”

Hearing Xiao Mo’s voice, Bai Ruxue jolted and was instantly wide awake.

“I’m… I’m fine…” Bai Ruxue shook her head. “Ah! Your green robe! How did I manage to sew it like this…”

Xiao Mo smiled. “It’s all right if the robe isn’t sewn perfectly. Seeing how drowsy you are, I’m just glad you didn’t prick your hand. Ruxue, you should go take a nap.”

“No, no.” Bai Ruxue shook her head. “The New Year is in eight days, and I still have so much to do. I’m not sleepy.”

As she spoke, Bai Ruxue glanced at the sky. ’How is it almost noon already…’

Bai Ruxue quickly placed the robe on the table and hurried into the kitchen. “Xiao Mo, I’m going to start cooking now. I’ll finish mending your robe this afternoon.”

Watching her retreating figure, Xiao Mo felt a little perplexed.

He knew that snakes needed to hibernate, but Xiao Qing’s energy was still good. She had even gone with Granny Wang to collect eggs this morning.

’So why is Ruxue, who has a higher Realm of Cultivation, in worse shape?’

In the kitchen, Bai Ruxue repeatedly splashed her face with water.

Droplets of water slid slowly down her smooth cheeks.

Gazing at her reflection in the water basin, the young woman’s slender brows furrowed slightly. ’What in the world has been wrong with me lately?’

’Last year, I didn’t get sleepy enough to hibernate until mid-January, and I only slept for half a month before waking up.’

’But it’s only the twelfth month right now…’

’No, I can’t fall asleep…’

Bai Ruxue slapped her own cheeks forcefully.

She had a feeling that this time, her hibernation would likely be different from before.

Although Bai Ruxue didn’t know how it would be different, a deep sense of unease filled her heart.

’Just get through this winter! Once spring comes, I won’t feel like sleeping anymore!’

Bai Ruxue clenched her small fists, trying to cheer herself on.

’Next spring, after Xiao Mo returns from the metropolitan examinations, he’s going to marry me…’

In the following days, whenever Bai Ruxue felt drowsy, she would take a big bite of a red chili pepper.

She hated spicy food, but just one bite was enough to jolt her awake instantly.

「On the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth lunar month, with only three days left until the New Year.」

A letter arrived from the Capital City.

The letter was delivered to Shiqiao Village by none other than Magistrate Sun himself.

The sender was a scholar of the current dynasty’s Hanlin Academy—the highly respected Mr. Old Zhang, Zhang Qianzhi.

After reading Mr. Zhang’s letter, a hint of resignation appeared on Xiao Mo’s face.

“Xiao Mo, what did Mr. Zhang say?” Magistrate Sun asked, seeing the somewhat complicated expression on Xiao Mo’s face.

Xiao Mo put the letter away. “Mr. Zhang hopes that I will set off for the Capital City right after the New Year. He wants to meet me before the middle of the second month.”

“That’s wonderful news!” Magistrate Sun said happily. “I heard that Mr. Zhang is to be appointed as the governor of North Sea State after the New Year, and the appointment should be around the middle of the second month. For him to want to meet you before taking up his new post shows how highly he regards you. So why do you look so conflicted, Xiao Mo?”

Xiao Mo smiled. “I want to spend more time with my family.”

“Alas… Xiao Mo, valuing your relationships is a good thing, but an invitation from Mr. Zhang is what every scholar in the Great Qi dreams of. You are still young; you’ll have plenty of time to spend with your family in the future.”

“Besides, the metropolitan examinations are in early March. You’d only be leaving half a month early. It’s not a big deal. Don’t be foolish about this…”

Xiao Mo bowed with his hands clasped. “I understand.”

“Good, as long as you understand.”

Magistrate Sun patted Xiao Mo’s shoulder.

“I heard from your village chief that you plan to marry the young lady of the Bai Family after you return from the metropolitan examinations.”

“When you pass the examinations with high honors, you’ll ride a red horse with a red flower pinned to your chest, leading a grand wedding procession while lanterns light up the whole town.”

“You two—a talented scholar and a beautiful maiden—will become the talk of Jiangnan State!”