Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality-Chapter 54 - 49: Sister, Brother Xiao Has Already Left

Chapter 54: Chapter 49: Sister, Brother Xiao Has Already Left

"Brother Xiao, it’s crooked. A little to the left."

"No, that’s not right either. Brother Xiao, a little to the right."

"It still doesn’t look quite right... A little lower. No, wait, maybe a little higher. Yes, yes! Just like that."

"Alright, I’m sticking it down then."

Xiao Mo, standing on a stepladder, smoothed out the couplet with his hand, trying his best to eliminate every wrinkle.

However, just as Xiao Mo stepped off the ladder, Xiao Qing stroked her chin. "Why do I feel like it’s still a little crooked? It should have been a bit more to the left."

"Hmph..." Xiao Mo gave Xiao Qing a light rap on the head. "It’s already pasted on, and *now* you’re telling me? Next door!"

"Oww..."

Xiao Mo and Xiao Qing moved the stepladder to the next door to hang another couplet.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Bai Ruxue was cooking.

Today was New Year’s Eve.

According to the customs of the Qi Kingdom, new spring couplets had to be hung, and the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner was to be eaten at noon.

"CRACKLE-POP."

"CRACKLE-POP."

As noon approached, the other families in Shiqiao Village began to light their firecrackers one after another.

The sound of firecrackers from a household signified that their New Year’s feast had begun.

Just then, Bai Ruxue brought out the dishes and placed them steadily on the table. "Xiao Mo, Xiao Qing, the food is ready..."

"Just a minute, Elder Sister! We’re almost finished!" Xiao Qing called back, continuing to direct him. "Brother Xiao, a little to the left... Yes, yes, yes!"

"Brother Xiao, everyone else has already started their New Year’s feast... Let’s hurry up..."

"No need to rush." Xiao Mo smiled. "The couplets must be perfectly smooth. It’s a good omen for a smooth and peaceful year, you see."

After they finished with the couplets, Xiao Mo draped a string of firecrackers around a pillar by the entrance and lit the fuse with a flint.

Bai Ruxue and Xiao Qing quickly covered their ears.

The firecrackers went off with a loud "CRACKLE-POP." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The one in white and the one in green watched with a mix of fear and excitement at the gunpowder smoke outside the courtyard, and at the sparks that occasionally shot out from the white plumes.

"POP... POP... POP..."

As the last few firecrackers popped on the ground, the smoke gradually dissipated.

By the stone table, Xiao Mo stood and raised his wine cup. "Today is New Year’s Eve, a time to cast out the old and welcome the new. For the coming year, I wish you both good health and may all your dreams come true."

Bai Ruxue’s eyes curved into crescents as she raised her cup. She carried herself like the mistress of the house, but her words held a hint of playfulness. "Come spring, I wish Mr. Xiao success in the imperial examinations."

"I wish Brother Xiao success in the imperial examinations!" Xiao Qing added her blessing.

Their cups clinked, sending gentle ripples across the wine within.

"Let’s eat, let’s eat. The food will get cold if we wait any longer," Xiao Mo said, quickly sitting down.

Bai Ruxue opened the rice pail and served rice to Xiao Mo and her sister, while Xiao Qing kept pouring the wine.

Only after Xiao Mo took the first bite did Bai Ruxue and Xiao Qing pick up their own chopsticks.

The wine was a green rice wine, a gift from Magistrate Sun.

It was not a strong wine, its flavor mellow and smooth, selected with consideration for Xiao Mo, who rarely drank, and the two ladies in the house.

After the reunion dinner, Bai Ruxue and her sister began clearing the table. Xiao Mo offered to help, but Ruxue pushed him out of the kitchen, insisting it was women’s work.

Helpless, Xiao Mo could only sit in the courtyard.

Watching the busy, white-clad figure in the kitchen, Xiao Mo found himself lost in thought.

Before he knew it, nearly eight years had passed since the day he saved her. It had all gone by in the blink of an eye.

The little white snake from back then had truly grown into a young woman.

"Brother Xiao, why are you staring at my sister?"

Xiao Qing teased from inside the kitchen.

Xiao Qing already knew about the arrangement between her sister and Brother Xiao. She knew that when he returned from the metropolitan examinations in the spring, he would marry her sister.

Xiao Mo just smiled. "Because your sister is beautiful."

In contrast to Xiao Mo’s straightforwardness, Bai Ruxue blushed and gently tugged on her sister’s sleeve. "Just let him look. Let’s keep washing the dishes."

"Cluck cluck cluck..." Seeing her sister’s bashful expression, Xiao Qing cackled like a hen in the yard.

Xiao Qing realized that after being away from the mountain for so long, her sister was truly becoming more and more like a mortal woman.

Especially now that her sister had come to understand her own feelings for Brother Xiao, her occasional shy and bashful expressions were all the more lovely.

「In the afternoon」

Xiao Mo played a game of ring toss with the two sisters.

Xiao Mo placed some copper coins and pieces of silver on the ground. They took turns tossing wooden rings, and whatever they managed to loop was theirs to keep.

A miss meant you had to get a slip of paper stuck to your face as a penalty.

By the end of the game, Xiao Mo’s face was so covered in red paper slips that he could barely see in front of him.

The two sisters couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

「That evening」

Night fell, drawing its curtain across the sky.

Countless stars were scattered across the night canvas like fine grains of sand.

The winter stars seemed to shine a little brighter than those in summer.

Bai Ruxue brought a basin of hot water to wash Xiao Mo’s feet.

Xiao Mo started to refuse, but Bai Ruxue said with a blush, "After we’re married, this is something I’ll have to do anyway."

Xiao Mo paused, and seeing her shy yet gentle expression, he didn’t refuse her.

"There. I’ll head out now. You should get some rest," Bai Ruxue said after drying his feet. She picked up the basin and turned to leave.

"Ruxue..."

Xiao Mo called out her name.

"Yes?" Bai Ruxue tilted her head, puzzled.

Xiao Mo gathered his thoughts before speaking. "Ruxue, I think I’ll have to leave for the Capital City... the day after tomorrow."

"The day after tomorrow?" Bai Ruxue blinked. "Why so soon?"

"Because a certain Mr. Zhang at court is leaving the Capital City in the middle of the second month to take up a post in North Sea State. He invited me to meet with him, so I may have to leave half a month earlier than planned..."

As he spoke, the young woman’s gaze slowly fell.

Xiao Mo could clearly see the disappointment in her peach-blossom eyes.