Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

Xiao Mo and Tushan Jing Ci walked side by side on a small mountain path.

By now, the sky had completely darkened. The moon peeked out from behind the clouds, hanging above the treetops and scattering its clear light upon the ground.

The young woman walked beside Xiao Mo with her head lowered. A faint blush on her cheeks made her maidenly shyness plain to see.

The two of them hadn’t spoken a word since leaving the courtyard.

Yet, the atmosphere surrounding them was filled with an indescribable ambiguity, flowing silently under the moonlight.

Just a short while ago, Tushan Jing Ci had confessed her feelings to Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo was truly taken aback upon learning of the young woman’s feelings.

For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond.

He had never really thought of her in a romantic way before.

In his heart, he had always seen Tushan Jing Ci as a younger sister.

But deep down, it wasn’t as if he felt nothing for Tushan Jing Ci at all. That would be impossible.

Beyond that, Xiao Mo wasn’t even sure if it was right for her to have feelings for him.

He was of the Human Race.

And Jing Ci was a Nine-tailed Celestial Fox.

It wasn’t that Xiao Mo felt his status as a human was unworthy of Jing Ci.

He was worried that if Jing Ci were to be with him, she would very likely face the hostility and rejection of the entire Tushan Clan.

From what he knew, the Tushan Clan would rather see their own people die than let them marry into a Demon Race with an inferior bloodline, let alone a member of the Human Race.

’Do I really have the ability to protect Jing Ci?’

Right now, he couldn’t answer that question.

Back in the courtyard, Tushan Jing Ci had taken in every moment of Xiao Mo’s long silence.

But the young woman hadn’t pressed him. She had simply smiled, not demanding an immediate answer, and just asked him to walk her home.

Now, the two had reached the small courtyard halfway up the mountain.

Tushan Jing Ci stopped and turned around.

The young woman clasped her hands behind her back. Tapping a small, embroidered shoe lightly on the ground, she spun around gracefully, her skirt flaring slightly as she came to face Xiao Mo.

”Alright, Xiao Mo, I’m going back to my courtyard. You should go back and get some rest, too.”

Beneath the moonlight, the young woman’s eyes curved into beautiful crescents, her face brimming with a gentle smile. It was as if finally saying the words she had kept in her heart for so long had instantly dispelled all her previous anxieties and worries, leaving her feeling open and relieved.

”Miss Jing Ci, I...”

Xiao Mo looked up, wanting to give her an answer.

Jing Ci had already made her feelings clear. If he kept dragging this out so vaguely and ambiguously, it would be the height of irresponsibility toward her.

But just as the words reached his lips, Tushan Jing Ci reached out with her left hand and gently pressed a slender index finger against them.

”Shhh...”

She also raised the index finger of her right hand to her own lips, signaling him to be quiet.

The young woman tilted her head slightly, a gentle smile spreading across her lips. The watery moonlight spilled onto her porcelain-white cheeks, which were tinged with a peachy blush. In the moonlight, her fox-like eyes seemed all the more bright and captivating.

”Xiao Mo, I know what you’re like. We grew up together, after all...”

Tushan Jing Ci blinked slowly, her voice as soft as if she were coaxing a child.

”So, I have a pretty good idea of what you’re about to say.”

”You’re the type of person who’s always worrying about this and that.”

”And I’m guessing that what you’re about to say, Xiao Mo, isn’t what I want to hear.”

”Since I don’t want to hear it, I won’t.”

Tushan Jing Ci lowered her hand. Her beautiful, fox-like eyes gazed at him quietly, without any pressure or questioning, only a clear, gentle warmth.

”But, Xiao Mo... we of the Fox Race have a rather difficult trait—we’re incredibly stubborn.” The young woman’s voice was soft, yet it carried an unquestionable resolve. ”Once we’ve chosen someone, we never change our minds.”

”My grandmother was like that, my mother is like that, and so am I...”

”If you like me, I’ll make you like me even more in the future.”

”If you don’t like me, I’ll make you fall in love with me in the future.”

Her tone gradually took on a stubborn edge, and her beautiful fox-like eyes grew even brighter under the moon.

”Who you like is your business, but—me liking you is mine!”

”So... no matter what you think, and no matter what you do, I will like you for the rest of my life. And I will only ever like you.”

”And that’s that...”

Tushan Jing Ci slowly drew her finger back from Xiao Mo’s lips, its tip still holding their warmth.

She took a step forward and gently pressed her forehead against Xiao Mo’s chest. The light tap felt like both a playful plea and a pout.

Then, the young woman turned, gathered her skirt, and ran into the courtyard, shutting the door behind her without a backward glance.

Xiao Mo stood frozen in place, staring at the closed door. The young woman’s words echoed in his mind, stirring up an indescribable mix of emotions within him.

He stood outside the courtyard for a long time before finally turning and walking back, step by step, along the path they had come.

The moonlight stretched his shadow long behind him until it gradually melted into the darkness of the night.

Inside her room, Tushan Jing Ci leaned against the windowsill, quietly watching Xiao Mo’s retreating figure.

The night breeze brushed past, stirring the loose strands of hair at her temples.

Only when his figure had completely disappeared into the depths of the night did the young woman slowly retract her gaze, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on her lips.

”You fool...”

She mumbled softly, then turned and lay down on her bed, curling her graceful body up. Her waterfall of long hair slipped from the pillow, brushing against her cheek.

She extended a finger and, on the soft surface of the bed, carefully wrote out his name, stroke by stroke.

”He doesn’t even want someone as pretty as me...”

She grumbled softly, but her tone held no trace of anger, only the coquettish pouting of a young maiden.

”You fool...”

...

He walked down the mountain path.

Jing Ci’s words still echoed in Xiao Mo’s mind, every single one as clear as if it had been carved into his heart.

Lost in thought, his pace slowed unconsciously.

Suddenly, a cool evening breeze brushed past him.

Xiao Mo stopped and slowly looked up, gazing ahead.

Not far away, a young woman in a Daoist Robe had appeared before him at some unknown moment.

The moment he saw the young woman’s face clearly, Xiao Mo’s expression froze. He almost suspected he was seeing things.

’Jing Ci?’

He called her name silently in his heart, the word almost escaping his lips.

But he quickly suppressed the thought—this wasn’t Jing Ci.

’But why...’

’Why does this girl...’

’...look exactly like Jing Ci? The only difference is their hair color.’

Dappled tree shadows swayed gently in the moonlight, scattering silver-like specks of light between the two of them.

Xiao Mo stared at her, stunned.

The young woman watched him quietly as well.

After a moment, she took a step forward. Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, shattering across the mountainside.

The young woman’s expression held a hint of curiosity, yet also a dignified air.

Her gaze swept over Xiao Mo from top to bottom in an unhurried manner.

After a long while, the young woman finally spoke, her voice as clear and smooth as jade:

”May I ask your name...”

”...Is it Xiao Mo?”