Ark Simulator, Don't I Have No Physical Form?

Pozëmka had already walked a few steps and was looking back at them; the Eunectes followed closely behind; Gavial walked at the very back, like a dutiful guardian.

"Remember," Myrtle whispered at the last moment before stepping out of the cabin, "No matter how 'normal' we act on the outside, the secret inside the cabin belongs to us."

As they stepped out of the aircraft together, facing the lights of Rhodes Island and the gazes of other operators, Su Rui didn't let go of Myrtle's hand.

"Welcome back," an Engineering Department officer approached to greet us. "How did the mission go?"

Meanwhile, the Eunectes helped unload the equipment from the aircraft. Gavial walked towards the Medical Department, winking at Su Rui before leaving.

Pozëmka greeted the receptionist, explained her desire to join Rhodes Island, and began communicating with the receptionist.

Myrtle smiled, a smile so bright it made the lights on the tarmac pale in comparison.

She leaned close to Su Rui's ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "For the next mission, let's request the same flight cabin again."

This surprised Su Rui, who turned to look at Myrtle. After a brief moment of thought, Su Rui nodded. Although she knew there probably wouldn't be enough time, Su Rui was already looking forward to the next "closed-chamber time."

As they walked together toward Rhodes Island's central corridor, Su Rui realized that the small aircraft cabin was like a temporary haven where he could let his guard down.

The acceptance and understanding that Myrtle and the others gave him protected him like the walls of the cabin. Now, even back in open space, that sense of security remains, becoming a part of his heart.

After returning to Rhodes Island, Su Rui rested well in Myrtle's dormitory. However, this time the Upper System used some new methods to remind Su Rui.

Su Rui stood in front of the bathroom mirror, her fingers gently touching her cheek.

The image in the mirror flickered, like a screen with a poor signal. This made Su Rui take a deep breath, watching her fingertips become translucent, with a few tiny specks of light drifting from her skin, like tiny fireflies in the warm bathroom light.

"Three days at most," Su Rui whispered to herself in the mirror, her voice almost drowned out by the sound of running water.

This isn't the first time it's threatened to disappear, but this is the first time its body has become so unstable, its image flickers, and it occasionally becomes transparent. These are signs that it's about to leave.

I turned off the tap, and the bathroom suddenly became quiet.

Water droplets dripped from the tips of Su Rui's increasingly blurred hair, making a crisp sound on the tiles.

As you dry your hands with a towel, your fingertips brush against the towel fibers, raising a trail of glistening dust.

Su Rui frowned. He would rather accept disappearing altogether, but this constant reminder that he might disappear was really annoying.

Thinking back on the past few months with Myrtle —from initial awkwardness to later intimacy, from keeping our distance to sharing the warmth of the same aircraft cabin.

The time Myrtle spent with Su Rui was still very heartwarming for Su Rui, something she always only realized when it was almost time to leave. Su Rui felt:

"This time, at least we should say goodbye properly," Su Rui said to herself in the mirror, her voice more resolute than she had imagined.

After getting dressed and stepping out of the bathroom, I found Myrtle sitting at the small kitchen table with two steaming cups of tea in front of her.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, gilding Myrtle's long pink hair with a golden edge.

"You've been washing for so long, I thought you'd fainted in there," Myrtle, looking up with a smile, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons. "The tea's almost cold."

I thought you would prefer milk, or a similar drink.

Su Rui sat down opposite Myrtle, holding the teacup in both hands. The heat emanating from the ceramic cup tinged a faint pink hue on Su Rui's translucent fingertips.

Su Rui suddenly realized that this was one of the limited times his body could feel temperature.

"Myrtle," Su Rui began, her voice trembling slightly with nervousness, "I have something to tell you."

Myrtle immediately noticed something was wrong. She put down her teacup, her brow furrowing slightly. "What's wrong? You don't look well. Would you like to see a doctor with me? Or ask the Doctor?"

Su Rui took a deep breath and raised his hand to show it in the sunlight. The edges of Su Rui's palm had begun to blur, and tiny specks of light slowly rose in the beam of light, like golden raindrops flowing against the current.

"I'm leaving." Su Rui looked directly into Myrtle's wide, surprised eyes. "This time it's for real. My body can't hold on much longer."

Myrtle's expression froze. She stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly on the floor.

"What? No, this can't be—" She grabbed Su Rui's wrist, only to see her fingers almost piercing through the increasingly translucent skin. "How could this be? Why are you only telling me now?"

"Because I don't want the farewell to be sad, and don't be nervous, I won't really die. Others on Rhodes Island have been my hosts, and I've always come back."

Su Rui said softly, "But this time... this time I want to say goodbye to you properly. All the previous farewells were rushed."

Volume 8, Chapter 527: At least we can spend it happily.

A hint of reluctance flashed in Myrtle's eyes, but soon, as if she had thought of something, her gaze was replaced by a determined light.

She released Su Rui's wrist, then gently cupped Su Rui's face, her thumb tracing her gradually blurring cheekbones.

"Fool," Myrtle's voice trembled slightly, "Do you think disappearing quietly won't hurt me?"

Su Rui felt a warmth emanating from Myrtle's palm, a warmth more real and profound than the temperature of tea. "I... I'm just bad at saying goodbye."

Myrtle suddenly laughed, a laugh so bright it eclipsed the sunlight. "Then let's get acquainted." She released her grip and sat back down in her chair. "How much more time do we have?"

"About three days," Su Rui said, looking at her hand gradually returning to solidity. "Sunlight will accelerate the dissipation process, but I don't want to hide in the darkness waiting for the end. That's what the Upper System told me. It makes me feel like some kind of vampire, even the Bloodfiend here don't act like this."

"Three days," Myrtle repeated, her eyes sparkling. She paid no attention to Su Rui's complaints, or rather, the situation left her in no mood to care.

"That's enough to do a lot. First, finish this cup of tea, then—" she paused, "Then we'll go to the rooftop garden. The sun is shining brightly today; you should spend your last days in the sunshine."

Su Rui blinked, feeling a warm current flow through his body—not a sign of things fading, but a deeper, warmer emotion. And, even someone as willful as him could make Myrtle this way... "Aren't you sad?"

Myrtle picked up her teacup, a sly smile appearing behind the steam, "Of course I'm sad. But instead of wasting time crying, I'd rather create some memorable moments."

She took a sip of tea. "And you said 'goodbye,' didn't you? That means we'll meet again."

Su Rui nodded. "You're really optimistic, but I'm not lying, it's definitely true."

"No, I just understand you." Myrtle reached out and brushed away a speck of light that had drifted off Su Rui's shoulder. "You never truly disappear; you only change form."

Sunlight streamed through the teacup, casting shimmering spots of light on the table. Looking at those shadows, Su Rui suddenly understood Myrtle's choice—not to deny separation, but to acknowledge it while simultaneously giving it meaning.

"So," Su Rui raised her teacup, "For the next three days?"

Myrtle touched her glass. "So that there will be no regrets."

It was tea, but they drank it like they were drinking alcohol. Su Rui and Myrtle finished their tea together, then walked hand in hand toward the rooftop garden. Su Rui's body became even more transparent in the sunlight, with light dust constantly rising from her, but Su Rui's steps were more joyful than any farewell they had ever made.

The garden was deserted, with only the rustling of flowers in the breeze.

Myrtle found a sunny corner and pulled Su Rui to sit down. From there, they could see the rooftops of Rhodes Island and the distant horizon.

"You know," Myrtle, as she tidied Su Rui's wind-blown hair—her fingers stirring up more glitter as they ran through the strands, "When I first noticed you, I thought you were like a bubble in the sunlight, beautiful but seemingly about to disappear at any moment."

Su Rui laughed, "And you decided to grab onto this bubble? And you didn't even see what I looked like back then."

"I've decided to cherish every second it exists," Myrtle corrected, her hand pausing beside Su Rui's cheek. "Now it seems my intuition was right."

Su Rui and Myrtle sat side by side, watching the cloud shadows flow across the metal buildings of Rhodes Island. Su Rui's body continued to dissipate in the sunlight, but much slower than expected—as if some force was slowing the process down; that old man from the Upper System had struck again.

"I've been thinking," Su Rui broke the silence, "Why I chose to say goodbye this time, instead of leaving quietly like before."

Myrtle tilted her head and looked at her. "Have you figured out the answer yet?"

"Because you taught me that the importance of a relationship lies not in its length, but in its depth."

Su Rui looked at her fingers, which were gradually turning transparent. "Leaving quietly is a denial of the relationship, while saying goodbye properly... is an affirmation of it."

Myrtle blinked. "Looks like I'm doing a pretty good job as a host?"

"Great," Su Rui said earnestly.

"Not the best?"

"... I can't say."

"Alright, alright, I won't pressure you anymore."

The next two days were like a dream. Su Rui and Myrtle did all the usual things together—eating breakfast in the canteen, watching Myrtle in the training room, and sharing secrets in the corridor late at night.

But every ordinary thing becomes precious because of the impending farewell. Myrtle remembered the way Su Rui's fingers looked as they passed through the sunlight, Su Rui remembered the sound of Myrtle's laughter echoing in the corridor.

On the third day at noon, Su Rui's body suddenly began to dissipate at an accelerated rate. They were organizing files in the archives when Su Rui's hand suddenly passed through a book as if it didn't exist.

"The time has come," Su Rui said calmly, watching his arm begin to turn into dust from his fingertips.

Myrtle put down the documents in her hand and gently grasped Su Rui's other hand—which was still barely tangible. "Where do you want to go?"

"In the sunlight," Su Rui replied, "With you."

They led Myrtle to the corner of the rooftop garden where they had started.

Under the direct midday sun, Su Rui's body was almost completely transparent in the strong light, with only her outline still vaguely discernible.

Light dust rose continuously from his body, forming a golden vortex in the air.

Myrtle faced him, cupping Su Rui's face, which was almost invisible, in her hands. "Is there anything else you'd like to do?" she asked, her voice unusually calm.

Su Rui shook his head, his voice now as soft as a whisper, "That's good enough. Thank you, Myrtle."

"Don't say goodbye," Myrtle suddenly said, "Say you'll be back soon."

I will return in a different form. But you'll probably recognize me at a glance.

Su Rui's voice trailed off, "Perhaps it's another consciousness that needs a host."

Myrtle felt the entity in her palm disappear, but she didn't look down. "I will recognize you," she promised, "No matter how you return."

The last part of Su Rui —his eyes, those eyes Myrtle knew so well—also began to turn into dust.

In her final moments before completely dissipating, Su Rui mustered all her strength to utter her last words:

"Wait for me in the sunshine."

Then, he completely transformed into millions of golden dust particles, swirling and rising in the midday sun before finally scattering into the blue sky. Myrtle stood still, her hands still cupping her face, but her palms were now empty.

The sun still shines warmly, the wind still blows gently, and the flowers in the garden still bloom. The world does not stop turning because of the disappearance of one being.

Volume 9, Chapter 528: Big Evening Melon

Xi's brush tip hovered above the rice paper, a drop of ink about to fall.

Her narrow, golden eyes narrowed slightly, her entire attention focused on this minute control.

Time seemed to stand still in the Scroll World —there was no wind, no sound, and even breathing became superfluous. This was her favorite moment, absolute solitude, absolute control.

"Wow, this landscape painting is really good! Are the patterns on that little bridge inspired by the architectural style of southern Yan?"

A clear and melodious boy's voice suddenly exploded in Xi's mind.

The long-accumulated drop of ink landed with a "plop" on the paper, spreading a patch of black that shouldn't have been there. Xi's hand trembled, and the paintbrush left a glaring mark on the nearly finished painting.

"What—" Xi suddenly stood up, knocking over the inkstone beside her, spilling ink onto her plain white sleeve. Ignoring the spilled ink, she warily looked around, "Who's there?"

Her Scroll World was supposed to be completely closed off. Without her permission, not even an ant could crawl in, let alone this guy who was speaking directly into her mind.

"It's me, Su Rui! It might be a little strange to have me in your head, but you can't get rid of me."

The voice answered cheerfully, as if greeting an old friend.

"Sorry for showing up so suddenly, but your drawing is really good, I just couldn't resist."

Su Rui was in a particularly good mood after saying goodbye to Myrtle. In particular, the farewell to Myrtle felt especially perfect, which made Su Rui feel a little elated.

Xi's fingers gripped the paintbrush tightly, her knuckles turning white. She took a deep breath, trying to use the coldest tone to deter this uninvited guest. "Get out."

But even if Su Rui wanted to leave, he couldn't; it wasn't something he could decide.

"Huh? Your art style is so unique." Su Rui completely ignored Xi's attempt to get rid of her and continued to comment enthusiastically, "It's clearly a traditional landscape painting, but the use of color is so bold, the mountains in the distance are even pale purple! And the lines of these clouds—"

"Shut up," Xi said through gritted teeth. She put down her paintbrush, formed hand seals, and tried to shut herself off. "This isn't a public gallery, and I'm not here to listen to art criticism."

After a slight dizziness, Xi was certain that she had blocked out external interference. She slowly exhaled, picked up a clean paintbrush again, and prepared to salvage the ruined painting.

However, all of this was in vain.

So you're the type who can't be disturbed when you're creating?

Su Rui's voice rang out again, clearer than before, "I know a few artists who are like this, but none of them are as good as you—wow! Were you trying to block me out just now? But it didn't work, I live right in your head, you can't get rid of me, and I'm pretty amazing too."

Xi's pen hovered above the paper again, this time because her hand was trembling slightly.

She closed her eyes, struggling to suppress her rising anger. "Why are you still in my mind?"

"Hmm... this is a bit complicated," Su Rui's voice held a thoughtful tone. "Strictly speaking, I'm not entirely in your 'mind,' more like hovering on the edge of your consciousness? After all, I'm currently in a state without a physical body, existing only through the perception of others..."

"I'm not asking you about technical details!" Xi slammed her hand on the table, making the paintbrushes jump. "I'm asking why you're bothering me!"

The Scroll World trembled slightly because of her emotional fluctuations, and the outlines of the distant mountains became blurred. Xi immediately realized that she had lost control and forced herself to take a deep breath to calm down. This was her world, and she would not allow anything to disrupt its harmony.

"I'm sorry," Su Rui's voice suddenly lowered, carrying a hint of sincere apology, "I just experienced a perfect farewell. Although it's normal to be happy after a farewell, the situation was special, and I was indeed a little too excited. Myrtle is the best host I've ever had; our last moments together were truly special..."

Xi Ben wanted to tell Su Rui to leave again, but a subtle emotion made her pause.