Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

However, the academy had changed its rules last year—students had to study at the academy for a certain number of years before they were eligible to take the exam.

And this year, Tushan Jing Ci had only just met that requirement.

The vice-principal himself presided over this exam.

Status was not considered, Noble Families were not questioned, and one’s birthright, noble or humble, did not matter. Passing depended solely on the depth of one’s knowledge.

The title of "Virtuous Person" from Cold Mountain Academy carried significant weight in the Demon Race’s World and was a highly respected status.

Therefore, all the young masters and ladies studying at the academy were pressured by their elders to obtain this title. It was seen as a way to gild their reputations.

As a result, even these pampered young masters and ladies, who normally detested studying, had no choice but to bury their heads in their books and burn the midnight oil.

This was especially true for Tushan Jing Ci.

For the three months leading up to the exam, she studied late into the night, every single night.

When Yue Shi saw this, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was seeing things. ’Is this still the same young miss who used to need someone to pester her just to get her to read?’

One night, well past two in the morning, Yue Shi saw that the light in her miss’s room was still on. She gently pushed the door open, walked in, and softly advised,

"Miss, it’s already very late. Let’s get some rest. It won’t be too late to read tomorrow."

But Tushan Jing Ci shook her head, her gaze still fixed on the scroll in her hands. "I can’t. The ’Virtuous People’ exam is about to begin. I need to use this time to learn as much as I can."

"But this isn’t the only ’Virtuous People’ exam," Yue Shi said, looking at her miss with heartache. "If you don’t pass this time, you can just take it again in three years."

"Three years..."

Hearing this, Tushan Jing Ci lifted her head slightly, a smile on her face as she gazed at the night outside the window.

"But I promised Xiao Mo—that I would become a Virtuous Person before he wakes up. If I don’t pass this time and he happens to come out of seclusion, wouldn’t I be breaking my promise?"

Yue Shi was speechless.

"Alright, Sister Yue Shi, you go get some rest. You don’t need to worry about me." Tushan Jing Ci pulled her gaze back, returning it to the page. "Don’t worry, Sister Yue Shi. If I get truly tired, I will naturally go rest."

With that, her slender, pale hands continued to hold the Confucian School classic, turning it page by page under the dim lamplight, her expression focused and serene.

Seeing her miss’s stubborn and earnest expression, Yue Shi knew that anything more she said would be useless.

She could only place the plate of pastries she was holding gently on the table, give Tushan Jing Ci a small bow, and then quietly withdraw, gently pulling the door shut behind her.

’Come out of seclusion, huh...’

Yue Shi stood in the courtyard, gazing at the bamboo forest shrouded in the night’s darkness, and couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh.

’So... it’s already been three years...’

Soon, the time for Cold Mountain Academy’s "Virtuous People" exam arrived as scheduled.

On that day, Tushan Jing Ci woke up just as the sky began to lighten at dawn.

After attentively helping her miss wash up and change her clothes, Yue Shi accompanied her to the examination hall.

Among those taking the exam, besides some of the ordinary disciples of Cold Mountain Academy, there were a full two hundred and thirty candidates from the great Noble Families alone.

The three-day exam was tense and long. When Tushan Jing Ci walked out of the examination hall after the final session, her expression, though slightly weary, held a hint of relief.

As for the other children of the great families, some were calm and composed, filled with confidence.

Others looked downcast, certain they had failed and would surely face a lecture from their clan elders.

Seven days after the exam ended, Cold Mountain Academy announced the results.

Of the two hundred and thirty candidates from the great Noble Families, only ten ultimately passed the Virtuous People assessment.

And Tushan Jing Ci’s name was listed prominently among them.

Many people were surprised that Tushan Jing Ci had managed to pass the "Virtuous People" exam.

But in Yue Shi’s eyes, it was entirely expected that her miss would pass.

She had witnessed firsthand her miss’s diligence, burning the midnight oil for the past three months.

...

"Greetings, Mr. Xian."

On the same day the results were announced, Tushan Jing Ci went to the familiar bamboo forest.

She walked up to Xian Xichun, bowed gracefully and respectfully to the teacher who was seated on a rock.

The enchanting charm of the Fox Race and the gentle grace of a Confucian School lady seemed to blend together perfectly in her.

Xian Xichun’s gaze fell upon the "Virtuous Person" Jade Token hanging from Tushan Jing Ci’s slender waist. He couldn’t help but smile slightly and nod in satisfaction.

"Excellent, excellent. Congratulations, Miss Tushan. From this day forward, you are now a Virtuous Person of Cold Mountain Academy in our Demon Race’s World."

"I was merely fortunate enough to pass the assessment." Tushan Jing Ci gave a faint smile and handed the wine jug and food box she was carrying to Xian Xichun. "You’ve worked hard all this time, Mr. Xian."

"It was nothing. It’s only been three years. What difference does it make where I read my books? I get to spend my days here poring over ancient texts without anyone to bother me. I’m happy to have the peace and quiet."

Xian Xichun accepted the wine and side dishes, chuckling as he spoke.

"I just wonder when little brother Xiao Mo will wake up. If he stays in seclusion any longer, I’m afraid grass will start growing on him."

Upon hearing this, Tushan Jing Ci couldn’t help but press her lips into a light smile that seemed to melt into the spring scenery.

"Alright, I’ll leave you to look after Xiao Mo for a bit. I’m going to go drink my wine somewhere else so I don’t disturb you two lovebirds."

"When Xiao Mo wakes up and sees his old playmate has blossomed into such an elegant and moving beauty, I wonder what kind of surprised expression he’ll make. The thought of it is quite exciting."

Xian Xichun lightly brushed off his clothes, turned, and walked deeper into the bamboo forest, leaving this space to the two young people.

Tushan Jing Ci watched with a smile as Xian Xichun walked away. Only then did she turn, gently push open the familiar wicker gate, and step into the courtyard where Xiao Mo was.

The sunlight slanted down as she stood quietly beside Xiao Mo. Her pale pink dress fell to her feet, its hem embroidered with a sparse pattern of twining flowers. The sash was cinched just right, revealing a slender waist.

Further up were her delicate shoulders and the slight reveal of her collarbones. The corners of her eyes tilted up ever so slightly, but not in a flashy way, and her pupils shimmered like water.

Although the light in the young woman’s eyes was clear and cool, her gaze was filled with nothing but Xiao Mo.

A simple silver hairpin was tucked into her snow-white hair, with a few loose strands scattered behind her ear. When the wind blew, they would gently brush against her cheek. Her face was already exceptionally fair, but the teasing touch of these strands brought out a faint, subtle blush.

Just as she always did, the young woman brought her legs together and slowly, gently sat down in front of Xiao Mo.

She reached out, moving close to Xiao Mo, revealing a wrist as smooth as fine jade as she brushed the bamboo leaves off his body one by one.

Though her waist was soft, her posture was perfectly straight. The light filtering through the bamboo forest dappled across her, shattering and then reforming. The spring breeze blew past, carrying with it her faint, clean fragrance.

The Tushan Jing Ci of the past had eyes full of playfulness and vivacity, like a little fox who knew nothing of sorrow.

But the young woman sitting here now had, in addition to that innate playfulness and vivacity, a maturity and serenity that had settled upon her over the years.

It was precisely this touch of perfect maturity that added a captivating feminine charm, making one’s heart stir for her involuntarily.

"Xiao Mo... did you know? I passed the exam. I’m a Virtuous Person now."

Gazing at the man before her, who remained as still as a statue, as if one with heaven and earth, Tushan Jing Ci curved her lips. Their color was a pale rouge, and when she pressed them together, she exuded an unintentional gentleness.

"I did what I promised you. So, what do you think? I’m pretty amazing, right?"

Her tone held a hint of playful pride, as if she were waiting for him to praise her.

But as her words faded, her eyes couldn’t help but drift downward, a faint trace of sorrow and disappointment quietly coloring her expression.

She raised her head, her gaze traveling past Xiao Mo, past the courtyard’s wicker fence, toward the familiar peach blossom forest in the distance.

"It’s just, Xiao Mo..."

"Why haven’t the peach blossoms bloomed yet this year...?"