Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Chapter 124: Chapter 109: Xiao Mo, Please Don’t Be Mad, Okay?

In the woods, Bai Ruxue ran on without stopping.

But in the end, Xiao Mo still managed to grab her fair, slender wrist.

“You… let me go…” Bai Ruxue struggled a little, but Xiao Mo didn’t let go.

Xiao Mo looked at Ruxue’s wavering eyes and her ’I don’t want to talk to you anymore’ expression, and he couldn’t help but smile to himself.

’If Ruxue truly didn’t want to talk to me, if she really didn’t want me to catch her, with her Immortal Realm strength, how could I possibly have caught up?’

“I think you might have misunderstood something, Ruxue,” Xiao Mo said.

“I haven’t misunderstood anything. You came out of a woman’s boudoir in the middle of the night,” Bai Ruxue muttered softly, her head bowed.

“Well…” Xiao Mo was at a loss for words. This was indeed difficult to explain…

Seeing Xiao Mo speechless, Bai Ruxue’s small face grew even angrier.

Xiao Mo raised his head and looked at the sky. “Ruxue, why don’t we take a walk? I’ll explain everything slowly. You can still be angry after I’m done.”

“…” Bai Ruxue neither refused nor agreed. She just lowered her head further, as if trying to bury it in her chest.

“Let’s go.”

Xiao Mo pulled Bai Ruxue along, and they walked step by step toward the mountain’s peak.

Xiao Mo organized his thoughts and began to explain slowly.

“Two months ago, I started going to Senior Sister Shang’s courtyard every night.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Bai Ruxue lifted her small, embroidered-shoe-clad foot and lightly kicked Xiao Mo in the back of the heel.

“Hiss…”

Xiao Mo winced in pain but chuckled and continued.

“I wanted to learn something from her, but she hasn’t been free during the day recently, so I could only go at night.

To keep you from finding out, Senior Sister Shang even gave me a special Treasure Pearl. As long as I activated it and didn’t get within ten feet of you, I could sneak out without you knowing.

Everything was going smoothly, but I never expected you to find out anyway.”

“Hmph!” Bai Ruxue turned her head away.

“But I swear, Senior Sister Shang and I didn’t do anything,” Xiao Mo said, glancing at the woman beside him. “For all these days, I’ve been in her courtyard learning to paint every night.”

“Learning to paint?” Bai Ruxue blinked. “What kind of painting?”

“What else could it be? Just ordinary ink wash painting,” Xiao Mo said with a smile. “Senior Sister Shang’s skill in ink wash is profound. I’ve heard that there are very few in the entire world who can surpass her.”

“But why would you suddenly want to learn painting? And even if you wanted to learn, Xiao Mo, why did you have to hide it from me?” Bai Ruxue pouted.

“Because this is something I couldn’t let you know about just yet.”

“Why not!” Bai Ruxue puffed out her cheeks. She had none of the dignity of the Lord of the North Sea; all that remained was the pouting and petulance of a girl angry with her beloved.

“Well, about that…” Xiao Mo looked at the sky, changing the subject. “The sky is about to brighten.”

“It’s already the third quarter of the Hour of the Rabbit,” Bai Ruxue said crossly.

“Then we’d better hurry.” Xiao Mo grabbed Bai Ruxue’s wrist and quickened his pace.

“Eh?”

Bai Ruxue blinked, having no idea what Xiao Mo was planning to do.

The higher Xiao Mo and Bai Ruxue climbed up the mountain, the brighter the sky became.

A faint gold began to emerge on the horizon, then gradually set ablaze, as if a goddess had knocked over a bottle of red ink, staining the entire sky.

In the forest, the first red rays of dawn descended. The sunlight tiptoed, probing its way through the gaps in the leaves and branches, then slid cautiously down the tree trunks.

The bark was dyed a porcelain white, its texture starkly revealed as if it had been meticulously carved. The cool light traced the uneven grooves, winding its way downward. Countless pale red rays slanted through the gaps in the trees, piercing the thin, drifting morning mist.

By the time Xiao Mo had pulled Bai Ruxue to the summit, the rising red sun had revealed half of its form in the east.

“DONG… DONG… DONG…”

As the Hour of the Rabbit passed its midpoint, the sound of a bell echoed leisurely throughout the entire academy.

And at the very instant the toll of the bell faded, Xiao Mo pulled a scroll from his sleeve and tossed it gently forward.

The Scroll hovered in mid-air and unfurled on its own, revealing a blank canvas.

“Xiao Mo, what are you doing?” Bai Ruxue asked, confused.

“Touch it and you’ll see,” Xiao Mo said with a smile.

Although Bai Ruxue was full of doubt, she still stepped forward and reached a slender finger toward the Scroll.

The moment Bai Ruxue’s finger touched the Scroll, ripples spread across its surface. Golden sunlight, like fine threads, began to slowly sketch an image upon it.

Finally, when Bai Ruxue pulled her hand back, her eyes trembled.

On the Scroll, a woman in a white dress stood on a mountain peak, gazing into the distance.

Every stroke that outlined the woman was exquisitely detailed. From her figure to her expression, everything was vividly lifelike.

Although it was a black-and-white ink wash painting, Bai Ruxue felt as if the woman in the painting was about to come to life.

And the woman in the painting was none other than herself…

“Xiao Mo, this painting is…” Bai Ruxue’s gaze wavered.

“Ruxue, have you forgotten? Today is your birthday. This painting is my birthday gift to you.”

Seeing Ruxue’s dazed expression, Xiao Mo explained with a smile.

“Two months ago, I was trying to think of what kind of birthday gift to give you, Ruxue.

But you don’t lack for anything, Ruxue. You have all the Heavenly and Earthly Treasures one could ask for.

Then, I thought of giving you a painting. Since Senior Sister Shang is an expert in ink wash, I went to find her.

I spent two and a half months on this painting. The paper and ink are of the finest quality—Willowgreen Paper and Moonsilk Ink—so it can be preserved for ten thousand years.

And you once told me, Ruxue, that you were born at the midpoint of the Hour of the Rabbit.

So, my original plan was to go back tonight and secretly give you this painting at the midpoint of the Hour of the Rabbit as a surprise.

I just didn’t expect this little accident to happen, or that I’d make you so angry.”

Bai Ruxue gazed at the painting, listened to Xiao Mo’s words, and recalled how she had just misunderstood him. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

“Xiao Mo… I’m sorry… I… I shouldn’t have distrusted you. I shouldn’t have misunderstood you and Senior Sister Shang.”

With her head bowed, Bai Ruxue walked up to Xiao Mo, reached out, and gently tugged on the corner of his sleeve, whispering.

“Xiao Mo, please don’t be mad, okay? It’s all my fault. Can you scold me? As long as you’re not angry, you can do anything you want to me…”

“Silly girl, I’m not angry.” Xiao Mo smiled, stroking her silver-white hair. “But two months was still too rushed. I think this painting still has some flaws. I’ll take it back, revise it, and give it to you later.”

“No!” Bai Ruxue snatched the ink painting from the air and hugged it tightly, as if afraid Xiao Mo would take it away. “This painting is already beautiful! I love it!”

“Really?” ’Ruxue is just trying to comfort me,’ Xiao Mo thought.

“Really!”

Bai Ruxue nodded emphatically.

She held the Scroll, looking at it again and again as if she could never tire of the sight, like a little girl who had just received the world’s most precious treasure.

Standing not far away, Xiao Mo quietly watched her under the rosy dawn.

She stood at the peak, gazing at the Scroll, her figure blending into the morning light. Her white dress complemented the landscape, making her look like a Nine Heavens Profound Lady who had descended to the mortal realm.

For a moment, Xiao Mo couldn’t tell if what he was seeing was real or a painting.

“Xiao Mo!” Bai Ruxue turned her head, her crescent eyes seeming to intoxicate the world. “This painting is truly beautiful.”

Xiao Mo looked at the picturesque woman.

“Yes, it is.”