Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

”Honestly. She came without a word and left just the same. She couldn’t even stay a few more days.”

The young woman muttered, her head bowed, as she watched her mother disappear from view.

But soon, Tushan Jing Ci composed herself and happily began running toward Xiao Mo’s courtyard, her long, slender legs carrying her forward.

She missed Xiao Mo already.

But just as she reached the halfway point up the mountain, her steps slowed involuntarily.

She lowered her head, her fingers fidgeting and interlocking as her mind replayed the words she had spoken yesterday.

’Was I... too forward yesterday?’

Those romance novels always say that men don’t cherish what they get too easily.

But they treat what’s hard to get like a precious treasure.

’Since I was so forward, will Xiao Mo care less about me in the future?’

”Ugh! Tushan Jing Ci! Honestly, what are you even thinking...? Xiao Mo isn’t that kind of person!”

Tushan Jing Ci shook her head, trying hard to banish those messy thoughts from her mind.

’Besides, I’ve already confessed to Xiao Mo. What’s the point of acting coy now?’

’Trying to be reserved now would just be pointless.’

’And I like him. Is there anything wrong with that?’

’Liking someone shouldn’t be so complicated.’

Her thoughts clear, she raised her head, ready to continue running to Xiao Mo’s bamboo courtyard.

But before she could take a step, a refined and amiable voice reached her ears. ”What are you doing here, Miss?”

Xiao Mo appeared, walking up the mountain path. A smile played on his lips as he gazed at her warmly.

He had noticed Tushan Jing Ci a moment ago, pacing back and forth on the path, sometimes muttering to herself with her head down, sometimes shaking her head.

”I... I wasn’t doing anything. Just taking a walk.”

Seeing Xiao Mo, Tushan Jing Ci felt her heart begin to beat faster and faster. THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. It felt like it was about to leap out of her throat.

Recalling their moments together the previous evening, a wave of shyness washed over the young woman, and a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

But she quickly composed herself, raised her head, and looked at Xiao Mo, blinking. Her expression held a trace of worry. ”Xiao Mo, did my mother come to see you last night?”

”She did.” Xiao Mo nodded.

”Then... she didn’t do anything to you, did she?” Tushan Jing Ci’s voice was laced with nervousness.

’Even though Mother said she wouldn’t hurt Xiao Mo, what if she did something to him behind my back?’

’In any case, Tushan Jing Ci felt that her mother’s sudden visit to Cold Mountain Academy was definitely not as simple as she claimed.’

”What could she possibly do to me? She just asked about my recent cultivation and gave me a few pointers, that’s all.”

Xiao Mo’s expression was calm as he gave a small smile. Of course, he wasn’t going to tell Jing Ci about his conversation with Lady Tushan.

”Really?” Tushan Jing Ci took a step forward, her beautiful eyes fixed on Xiao Mo, a scrutinizing light in her gaze. ”You’re sure you’re not lying to me?”

A flicker of something unnatural crossed Xiao Mo’s face, but it was too quick for Jing Ci to notice. ”I’m not.”

”Hmmm...” Tushan Jing Ci kept her eyes fixed on Xiao Mo’s, her enchanting foxy eyes filled with a mix of belief and doubt.

”Alright, fine...”

She finally took a step back, her tone laced with resignation.

”If you say nothing’s wrong, Xiao Mo, then I’ll believe you.”

”Come on, let’s go see the Dean. My mother said we have to leave Cold Mountain Academy and return to Tushan in two months, so we need to inform him first.”

With that, Tushan Jing Ci spun around gracefully. The hem of her beautiful skirt billowed slightly, its edge brushing against Xiao Mo’s robes as she started to walk away.

Xiao Mo smiled and followed her, the two of them strolling toward the main peak of Cold Mountain Academy.

Gazing at the young woman’s graceful, slender back before him, Xiao Mo felt that Jing Ci’s pace was a little quicker than usual today.

The atmosphere between them also seemed more charged.

’But on second thought, he could understand why.’

’After all, once someone confesses their feelings, the relationship between them can never be as simple as it once was.’

’And while Jing Ci seemed lively, she was fundamentally a shy girl.’

’She had only just confessed yesterday. It was only natural that she’d be a little bashful facing him again today.’

”If you like me, I will make you like me more.”

”If you don’t like me, I will make you like me.”

Xiao Mo recalled the words Jing Ci had spoken yesterday, and a faint smile touched his lips. A warm current seemed to flow through his heart.

’What a wonderful girl.’

’But a girl this wonderful...’

’...how could she possibly like someone like me?’

”Xiao Mo, what’s wrong? You seem a little down.”

Just as Xiao Mo was lost in thought, the perceptive Tushan Jing Ci turned around, her eyes fixed on him worriedly. Her voice was full of concern.

”It’s nothing. I was just thinking about how to tell you that Sister Liu Shui has left Cold Mountain Academy.” Xiao Mo gave a small smile and shook his head, quickly coming up with an excuse.

”Huh?” Tushan Jing Ci paused, surprised. ”Sister Liu Shui left?”

”She did.”

Xiao Mo explained that Liu Shui had gone to the Seeking Immortal Temple, and he briefly told her about the temple and Daoist Yun Xi.

Of course, he was careful not to mention certain things.

After he finished, Tushan Jing Ci nodded lightly. Though a hint of disappointment showed on her face, she was genuinely happy for Liu Shui.

”I was thinking of asking Sister Liu Shui if she wanted to come back to Tushan with us... I never thought she’d be chosen by a Sect. But since you say that Daoist Yun Xi is so formidable, I’m sure Sister Liu Shui will have a great future ahead of her!”

”I believe so, too. The next time we see her, she will surely be much farther along on her path.”

Xiao Mo looked at Tushan Jing Ci, his tone both gentle and encouraging.

”You need to cultivate diligently, too. These are troubled times. The higher your Realm, the safer you’ll be.”

”But I have you...”

The young woman’s eyes curved into two lovely crescents. With her hands behind her back, she took a light, joyful hop forward. She bent her slender waist slightly to look up at Xiao Mo, her radiant face beaming with a smile.

”You promised my mother, you know—that you would protect me for the rest of my life.”

Her voice was light and playful, tinged with a natural reliance on him and brimming with unspeakable joy.

”So...”

The young woman straightened up, her eyes shimmering as she gazed at him, the smile on her lips growing even more brilliant.

”Then I shall entrust my life to you, Young Master Xiao~”