Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality-Chapter 41 - 38: I Don’t Want You to Marry Her

With a light and joyous spring in her step, Bai Ruxue ran down from She Mountain and returned to the village.

The moment Bai Ruxue entered the village, a crowd of aunties and grannies surrounded her.

"Ruxue, congratulations! Your Xiao Mo has become a Scholar!"

"Ruxue, you’re going to be a Scholar’s Wife now."

"When Xiao Mo becomes a great official someday, make sure he doesn’t forget all of us aunts and grannies!"

The women chattered, each adding their own piece.

Bai Ruxue’s eyes lit up, and she asked happily, "Did Xiao Mo really pass?"

"Of course! Not only did he pass, he’s the Provincial Scholar! First place! Even the County Magistrate himself came."

"Ruxue, you should have seen how polite the County Magistrate was to Xiao Mo. Usually, it’s everyone else who has to be that polite to him."

"Brother Mo is truly the Wenqu Star descended to earth!"

Listening to the women heap praise on Xiao Mo, Bai Ruxue’s heart swelled with delight.

Bai Ruxue didn’t know what becoming a Scholar truly meant.

But she knew Xiao Mo had accomplished what he’d set out to do, and that he must be very happy.

If Xiao Mo was happy, then she was happy.

Just as Bai Ruxue was about to run home, planning to cook him a delicious meal in celebration, Widow Wang from the north side of the village saw her and rushed over.

"Ruxue, this is terrible! The County Magistrate is arranging a marriage for Xiao Mo—he wants to marry his daughter to him!"

"Huh?" All the women froze in unison.

Granny Chen was the first to react. "What nonsense are you spouting, Widow Wang?" she demanded. "Where did you hear such a rumor?"

"It’s no rumor!" Widow Wang slapped her thigh. "I heard it myself just now when I was passing by Brother Mo’s courtyard!"

"This..."

"Ruxue, don’t you worry. Maybe Wang Mei misheard."

"That’s right, Ruxue. You’ve taken such good care of Xiao Mo. He would never let you down."

The crowd rushed to comfort Bai Ruxue.

Everyone had seen with their own eyes how well Bai Ruxue took care of Xiao Mo.

"That may be true, but she’s the County Magistrate’s precious daughter... If I were Brother Mo..." a young wife muttered from the side.

But she had barely gotten the words out before the others shot her a fierce glare.

"Granny Chen, Aunt Wang, I... I’m fine..." Bai Ruxue managed a faint smile. "Xiao Mo became a Scholar. I should be happy for him. I’m going to go make him dinner to celebrate."

Bai Ruxue gave the crowd a small smile, then turned and walked away.

But as they watched the young woman’s dejected figure retreat, they all knew she was anything but fine.

’But what could anyone do about it?’

’Ruxue was certainly beautiful, but she was still just a girl from an ordinary family.’

’What man could possibly refuse the County Magistrate’s daughter?’

Bai Ruxue walked along the path home.

She couldn’t quite name the feeling in her heart.

Her thoughts were just a tangled mess.

Of course, she knew what marriage meant.

’Marriage is when a man and a woman are together, never to be separated.’

’If Xiao Mo marries another woman, will I have to leave him?’

’Will Xiao Mo agree to the County Magistrate’s offer?’

’Will Xiao Mo not want me anymore...?’

The more she thought, the more tangled her mind became.

Just as Bai Ruxue reached the courtyard, she saw Xiao Mo bidding farewell to a man in official robes.

Bai Ruxue quickly ducked behind a large rock.

Seeing how happily the two of them were talking, Bai Ruxue’s heart sank.

’Could it be that Xiao Mo has already agreed to marry his daughter?’

Only after the County Magistrate had left did Bai Ruxue slowly stand up and walk back into the courtyard.

"Ruxue, you’re back."

"Mhm."

"I have good news for you. I’ve become a Scholar."

"Uh-huh..."

"Ruxue, what’s wrong? Did something happen?" Xiao Mo asked, noticing she was keeping her head down.

"No... Nothing’s wrong... I... I’ll go cook for you... We need to celebrate properly today." Bai Ruxue shook her head and ran into the kitchen.

About an hour later, Bai Ruxue came out carrying the dishes.

Xiao Mo looked at the mouth-watering chicken, which seemed perfect in color, aroma, and presentation. He eagerly took a bite, only to nearly choke on the sheer saltiness.

"Xiao Mo, what’s wrong?" Bai Ruxue quickly poured him a cup of water.

"Try it yourself." Xiao Mo picked up a piece for her.

Bai Ruxue took a bite, and her face instantly went pale.

"BLECH!"

Bai Ruxue hurriedly spat out the chicken.

"Um... my hand must have slipped. I put in too much salt. Xiao Mo, eat this instead." Bai Ruxue picked up some green vegetables for him.

Xiao Mo took a bite of the vegetables, his expression just as complicated. "Ruxue, did you forget to put salt in the greens?"

"Ah? Then try this." Bai Ruxue offered him a piece of rabbit meat.

"This rabbit meat is way too sour, isn’t it?" Xiao Mo was at his limit. "How much vinegar did you put in?"

"I... I’ll go remake it for you." Bai Ruxue ran back to the kitchen again.

Bai Ruxue’s second attempt at dinner was, at least, edible.

However, as they ate, Bai Ruxue was like a lost soul, mechanically shoveling plain rice into her mouth, completely forgetting to touch any of the other dishes.

While washing the dishes, Bai Ruxue broke two plates...

When it was time to hang the laundry, she would pick up a piece of clothing, place it on the drying rack, then immediately take it down and put it back in the basin.

She did this over and over again.

When sweeping the courtyard, she swept the same spot again and again...

Xiao Mo was sure of it. Something was weighing on her mind.

As night fell, instead of going to her room to sleep, Bai Ruxue just sat in the courtyard, her head tilted up at the stars.

Xiao Mo came out of his room, book in hand, and gently tapped Bai Ruxue on the head with it.

Bai Ruxue jumped, then shot Xiao Mo a petulant glare with her peach-blossom eyes. "You scared me to death! What was that for...?"

"I should be asking you that. You’ve been moping around all day. Come on, tell me what happened," Xiao Mo said, his tone feigning seriousness.

"I... I haven’t..." Bai Ruxue turned her head away.

"Really?"

"Really!"

"If you say so..." Xiao Mo sighed. "I thought I was important enough to you that you’d tell me anything. I guess I was just flattering myself."

Just as a dejected Xiao Mo turned to go back inside, Bai Ruxue gently tugged at the corner of his robe.

With her head lowered, she whispered, "It’s... It’s not like that..."

"Then why won’t you tell me?"

"I... I..." Bai Ruxue hesitated, burying her head so low it nearly touched her chest.

Xiao Mo wasn’t impatient. He simply waited for her answer.

"Xiao Mo." As if mustering all her courage, the young woman lifted her head and asked nervously, "Is it true the County Magistrate wants you to marry his daughter?"

"How did you know that?" Xiao Mo asked, stunned.

"I... I heard people talking!" Bai Ruxue’s gaze flickered. "Are you going to marry her?"

"Does Miss Bai think I should marry her?"

Bai Ruxue lowered her head again, falling silent. Her small hands twisted the corner of his robe.

After a long moment, her voice was as faint as the evening breeze. "I... I don’t want you to marry her..."

"Silly girl."

Xiao Mo gently pinched her fair, delicate cheek.

"Then I won’t marry her."