Ark Simulator, Aren't I Incorporeal?

Su Rui smiled, "Then I'll only train with you from now on, okay?"

The suggestion made Ash's heart skip a beat. She nodded, pretending to be focused on her work, but couldn't hide the blush creeping up her ears.

The afternoon training was even more intense. Ash switched to the two-player co-op mode, which requires perfect teamwork between two marksmen to complete.

"Watch out for the moving target at 3 o'clock," Ash whispered. "I'm in charge of the left-hand sector."

"Understood." Su Rui adjusted her position, standing back to back with Ash.

"Start!"

Dozens of targets were launched simultaneously, moving at different speeds and trajectories. Ash and Su Rui acted as one, their gunfire rising and falling without any disorder. Most astonishingly, they didn't even need to communicate verbally; they could anticipate each other's intentions solely through subtle changes in movement.

When the last target was shot down, the system displayed: [Synchronization Rate: 100%] -- This is the highest record since the mode was established.

"We... get along very well." Ash rarely gave a compliment.

Su Rui smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons. "Because we're the best partners."

And isn't the auxiliary system a form of cheating? With Su Rui's system, doing this kind of thing is quite easy.

The training ground was bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. The other team members had already left, leaving only Ash and Su Rui doing the final tidying up.

Volume 10, Chapter 594: Inattentiveness Should Be Punished

"Here you go." Su Rui handed her a cup of hot coffee. "I added two sugar cubes, just like you like."

Ash took the cup, their fingertips accidentally touching, a tiny electric current seeming to coursing through their skin. Pretending not to notice Su Rui's sudden blush, she lowered her head and took a sip.

"... It is too sweet."

"Huh? But last time at the coffee shop you clearly..."

"Just kidding," Ash said, unusually jokingly. "Perfect."

Su Rui paused for a second, then burst out laughing. His laughter was clear and melodious, echoing in the empty training field.

After packing up their gear, the two walked side by side toward the exit. The setting sun cast long shadows that overlapped, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.

"Will you come again tomorrow?" Ash suddenly asked.

Su Rui stopped and turned to face the Ash. In the backlight, his silhouette was edged with gold, so beautiful it seemed unreal.

"I'll come as long as you come," he said softly, "Whether it's the training ground or anywhere else."

Ash felt her heart pounding in her chest. She reached out, hesitated for a moment, and finally gently brushed a strand of hair that had fallen onto Su Rui's shoulder.

"Hmm." That was the most direct response she could give, but it was enough.

Before the sun completely sank below the horizon, their hands had quietly intertwined. This little secret, like Su Rui's superb marksmanship, became a tacit understanding unique to them.

The metal door to the training ground slammed shut behind them with a heavy thud. Only the faint light of the emergency lights illuminated the corridor, casting long shadows of the two. Ash walked ahead, with Su Rui half a step behind. Their fingers touched almost imperceptibly before quickly separating.

"That doubles tactical maneuver today..." Su Rui suddenly spoke, her voice exceptionally clear in the empty corridor, "... we coordinated very well."

Ash didn't answer, but her pace noticeably slowed. Her fingertips were slightly warm; the sensation of training back-to-back with Su Rui still lingered on her skin—a strange, unspoken understanding, as if they were born to be so perfectly matched.

Turning the last corner, Ash's dormitory door came into view. She stopped, and the motion-sensor light turned on, illuminating Su Rui's forehead, which was slightly damp with sweat.

"Want to come in?" Ash's voice was lower than usual, his fingertips already pressed against the access control device.

Su Rui's Adam's apple bobbed, and her dark eyes gleamed subtly in the light. "... Okay."

The door lock beeped softly. Ash pushed the door open but didn't turn on the light immediately. Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, drawing a silver line on the floor. Su Rui followed behind her, her breathing noticeably more rapid.

Ash turned and, in the dim light, accurately cupped Su Rui's face in her hands. Her thumbs gently caressed his cheekbones, feeling the warmth emanating from her palms. Su Rui's skin was hot, and his eyelashes trembled slightly between her fingers.

"Ash..." Su Rui called softly, her voice filled with uncertain anticipation.

His response was a sudden kiss. Ash's lips were a little dry, carrying the scent of gunpowder and metal, yet much softer than he had imagined. Su Rui opened his eyes wide in surprise, then closed them to return the kiss, his fingers unconsciously tightening their grip on Ash's tactical vest.

The kiss began lightly, like a tentative probe. But as Su Rui's tongue cautiously touched the crook of her lips, Ash suddenly tightened her arms, completely eliminating the distance between them. Her attack suddenly became extremely aggressive, as if she wanted to vent all the emotions she had suppressed during the day's training.

"Wait, wait..." Su Rui protested softly between breaths, but Ash had already bitten his Adam's apple, forcing him to swallow the rest of his words.

The tactical vest buckles made a slight sound as Ash deftly unfastened all the fasteners, letting the heavy gear slide to the ground. Su Rui's hand was still on her waist, her fingertips trembling slightly with tension.

"You're not concentrating," Ash whispered reproachfully, her fingers already slipping under the hem of Su Rui's training uniform. Her fingertips touched a smooth patch of skin, feeling Su Rui shudder in response.

Su Rui blushed deeply. "I... I just..." His explanation was interrupted by Ash's action of tearing open his collar. The collar of his training uniform was roughly pulled open, revealing Su Rui's delicate collarbone and a small patch of his chest.

Ash's breathing became noticeably heavier. She leaned down and left a kiss on that skin, satisfied to hear Su Rui gasp. His body was more sensitive than she had imagined; every touch elicited a wonderful response.

"Ash..." Su Rui's voice was already choked with sobs, her fingers gripping her shoulders helplessly, "Can we go somewhere else..."

Ash didn't answer, but instead picked him up horizontally. Su Rui gasped and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. This action brought their bodies even closer together, Ash could clearly feel Su Rui's accelerated heartbeat.

The mattress creaked softly as it sank. Su Rui was gently placed in the center of the bed, his black hair scattered across the white pillowcase, creating a striking contrast. Ash looked down at him, his eyes terrifyingly dark.

"Last chance." Ash's voice was hoarse beyond words. "Should we stop?"

Su Rui shook his head and reached out to untie the remaining clothes from Ash. His movements were clumsy, his fingers trembling, but his eyes were unusually firm. When Ash's skin was fully exposed to the moonlight, Su Rui's breath visibly stopped for a moment.

"You are so beautiful..." he couldn't help but exclaim, his fingertips carefully touching the scars on the Ash.

Ash grabbed his hand and pressed it above his head, then leaned down to kiss his lips. This kiss was gentler than the previous ones, yet carried an undeniable force. Her other hand slid down Su Rui's body, finally stopping at his most sensitive spot.

Su Rui arched his back abruptly, letting out a whimper. His body tensed in Ash's hands, like a fully drawn bow. Ash knew this reaction well—like knowing every part of a gun; she knew how to get Su Rui into top form.

"Relax," Ash whispered in his ear, his warm breath brushing against his sensitive earlobe. "Leave it to me."

Su Rui shook his head, burying his face in the crook of Ash's neck. "No... it's just..." His voice was muffled, "I didn't expect it to be like this..."

Ash tightened her arms understandingly, giving him time to adjust. Her palms moved slowly across Su Rui's back, feeling the young body gradually relax. When Su Rui tentatively shifted his waist, Ash finally allowed herself to begin moving slowly.

The initial rhythm was gentle, as if afraid of breaking some precious treasure.

But as Su Rui's breathing became more and more rapid, Ash gradually loosened his grip. The mattress springs made rhythmic sounds, mingling with the couple's intermittent panting.

Volume 10, page 595: I have a favor to ask you to do.

"Ash... Ash..." Su Rui called her name again and again, as if in some kind of devout prayer.

His fingers dug deep into the Ash, leaving several faint red marks.

Ash responded to his call with even more intense movements. At this moment, she was no longer the calm and composed tactical expert, but just an ordinary woman driven by instinct. Su Rui's body was warm and firm, perfectly accepting everything about her.

As the first rays of dawn pierced through the curtains, Ash was the first to wake up. Her arm, which was being used as a pillow by Su Rui, was already a little numb, but she couldn't bear to pull it away.

Su Rui was fast asleep, his black hair scattered messily on the pillow, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyes. His lips were slightly swollen and red, and his neck and chest were covered with marks left from last night. Ash unconsciously reached out and gently brushed away the stray hairs on his forehead.

This movement startled Su Rui awake. He groggily opened his eyes, paused for a moment when he saw the Ash, then gave a sweet smile, "Good morning..."

Her voice was so hoarse that it reminded Ash of how he had acted last night... This memory stirred her body again, but now was clearly not the time.

"Sleep a little longer," Ash whispered, gently pulling his arm away. "I'll go clean up."

Su Rui nodded wearily, but grabbed her wrist as Ash stood up. "... Come back quickly."

Ash leaned down and placed a kiss on his forehead. "Mmm."

The sound of water in the bathroom stopped. Ash came out, drying his hair, and found that Su Rui had already sat up, hugging the blanket and staring blankly. Sunlight shone through the gap in the curtains, illuminating his beautiful body lines.

"Are you feeling unwell?" Ash approached the bedside and reached out to touch Su Rui's forehead.

Su Rui shook his head, but suddenly blushed. "It's just... a little..." He lowered his head shyly, "My back aches..."

Ash's lips curled into a slight smile. She sat on the edge of the bed, placed her hands on Su Rui's waist, and began to massage with moderate pressure. Su Rui first opened her eyes wide in surprise, then closed them comfortably, like a cat being stroked.

"I didn't expect you to be so good at massage..." Su Rui muttered softly, her body unconsciously leaning towards the Ash.

Ash didn't answer, but her movements became even gentler. Her fingertips traced the bruises on Su Rui's waist, left from their intense encounter at the desk last night. Thinking of this, her eyes darkened further.

"Ash?" Su Rui keenly sensed the change in atmosphere. "What are you thinking about?"

Ash suddenly tightened her arms, pulling Su Rui into her embrace. Her lips brushed against Su Rui's ear, her voice low and dangerous. "I was thinking... about how you... last night at the desk..."

Su Rui's face instantly turned red to her ears, and she buried her face in Ash's shoulder. "Don't, don't say anymore..."

Ash chuckled softly and kissed the top of his head. The sunlight grew brighter, casting their embracing figures on the wall, intimate and inseparable.

Then, Ash stood in front of the Doctor's office, her palms sweating beneath her tactical gloves. The electronic screen on the metal door flashed a green "Come in," but she hesitated to reach out. The corridor's ventilation system hummed softly, amplifying her heartbeat to a deafening degree.

"Nervous?" Su Rui tilted his head to look at her, his black hair slipping down to his shoulders with the movement. He wasn't wearing his uniform today, but rather a loose black turtleneck sweater, which made his collarbone appear and disappear.

Sunlight streamed in through the window at the end of the corridor, casting dappled golden light on his eyelashes.

Ash pursed her lips. "No." Her voice was lower than usual, and her Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

Su Rui chuckled and reached out to press the access control button for her, "My mom's not going to eat you." His fingertips lingered on the sensor for a moment, deliberately letting his knuckles brush against the back of Ash's hand. "Unless you've done something wrong?"

Ash's earlobes instantly turned red. Memories of last night flooded back— Su Rui's panting figure, her sweaty black hair clinging to her forehead, her lips swollen and red from the kisses...

The metal door slid open silently, interrupting her thoughts. Warm air, carrying the aroma of coffee, wafted in, mixed with a faint smell of disinfectant. Ash subconsciously straightened her collar, making sure the hickeys Su Rui had left the night before were completely covered.

The Doctor's office was simpler than I had imagined. A screen covering an entire wall scrolled with complex combat data, and the solid wood desk was piled high with documents and electronic devices. In the corner sat an old-fashioned coffee machine, bubbling away.

The most eye-catching thing is a set of photos on the wall—a young Su Rui curiously fiddling with a microscope in the laboratory, a teenage Su Rui standing on the deck of Rhodes Island enjoying the breeze, and a photo that is obviously taken from a candid angle, showing a black-haired boy curled up asleep on the sofa, holding a plush toy in his arms.

(Actually, it's Su Rui in her Durin form, but Ash doesn't know that.)

"You've arrived?" The Doctor looked up from the holographic projection, her mask gleaming coldly under the overhead light. Her gaze lingered for a second on their clasped hands before casually looking away. "Sit."

Ash's back was ramrod straight. She noticed that the Doctor was using that special ceramic mug today—two little figures were drawn crookedly on the mug, and next to it, in childish handwriting, was written "For Mom." It was a piece of art that Su Rui had drawn when she was seven years old, but the Doctor had been using it ever since.

"Mom, you were looking for us?" Su Rui pulled Ash down to sit on the sofa, casually grabbing two mints from the candy bowl on the coffee table. He skillfully unwrapped them, placing one in Ash's palm and keeping the other in his own mouth. The wrapper fluttered between his fingers, eventually transforming into a small paper crane.

The Doctor turned off the projector and placed her fingers interlaced on the table. "There's an A-level request." She pushed a paper document towards her, quite unusual in Rhodes Island's digitally-driven offices. "We need both of you."

Ash took the document, his tactical gloves rustling softly against the paper. The mission briefing bore a striking red title. "Eliminate the bandit group entrenched on the Victoria border." Attached below were several blurry surveillance screenshots, one of which clearly showed a medical kit bearing the Rhodes Island logo.

"Intelligence indicates they've hijacked three shipments of medical supplies." The Doctor's voice was as calm as if she were discussing the weather, but Ash noticed her tapping on the table quickened by half a beat. "Including an acute Oripathy inhibitor and a batch of experimental blocking agents."

Su Rui whistled, a mint rolling in his mouth. "You've got guts." His toe unconsciously touched Ash's boot, as if passing some kind of signal.

Ash quickly scanned the mission details. The target base was located in the abandoned Mine 03, a complex terrain with a sophisticated surveillance system. There were an estimated 20-30 armed militants, possibly equipped with heavy weapons. Her gaze lingered for a few seconds on the line "Infiltration operation recommended"—this was clearly a plan tailor-made for her and Su Rui.

"Mine tunnel structure diagram?" Ash pointed to the Blank at the end of the file.

Volume 10, page 596: Exploration data and bandits.

The Doctor nodded. "Closure is compiling the latest exploration data." She pulled up a holographic map. "Here, and here, there are two hidden entrances."

Ash noticed that the route shown by the Doctor avoided all major surveillance points and even marked the specific times of guard shift changes. Such detailed intelligence would require at least two weeks of infiltration and reconnaissance to obtain.

"Is there a problem?" the Doctor asked.

Ash closed the file. "No." She paused, then added, "Equipment application?"

"It's approved." The Doctor took two chip cards from the drawer. "B3 Equipment Depot, find Closure. She has prepared the newly developed optical camouflage and acoustic jammer."

A brief silence fell over the office. Su Rui toyed with the paper crane, occasionally letting it "fly" onto Ash's shoulder. The Doctor's gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, finally letting out a sigh.

"Su Rui," she said suddenly, "Go and take this report to Dr. Kal'tsit." She pushed an encrypted storage disk towards her. "The password is your birthday."

Su Rui blinked. "Now?"

"Now." The Doctor's tone left no room for argument.

Ash's back straightened even more. She knew, of course, that this was an excuse to get rid of Su Rui, but her professionalism kept her expressionless. As the office door closed again, she could hear her own heart pounding in her ears.

The Doctor removed his mask.

Ash saw the legendary commander's true face for the first time—a face that bore a seven-tenths resemblance to Su Rui, but was very young, looking like Su Rui's older sister, and with sharper eyes.

The blue light from the monitor screen flowed between the two. Ash heard the hum of the air conditioner and the rustling of papers turning over, but what he heard most clearly was his own thunderous heartbeat.

The Doctor and Ash exchanged a few words before the topic shifted. "For this mission, I'll send Flash Shield and Frost as backup." Her eyes sharpened. "Don't let him get hurt."

This wasn't a request, it sounded more like a command. Ash stood up and nodded. "Understood."

When Su Rui returned humming a song, the office had returned to its usual atmosphere. The Doctor was reviewing documents, while Ash stood by the window watching the rain. Rainwater meandered down the glass like transparent scars.

"Finished?" Su Rui moved closer to Ash, nudging her shoulder affectionately. His hair, still damp with rain, brushed coolly against Ash's cheek.

Ash nodded almost imperceptibly. Her gaze fell on Su Rui's neck—where a fresh hickey stood out starkly against the black sweater. She distinctly remembered carefully concealing it with concealer that morning.

"Let's go then!" Su Rui took her hand. "Let's go to the armory and see what good stuff they have~" He lightly scratched Ash's palm with his fingertips, a sly smile on his face.

The Doctor glanced up at their clasped hands, then looked down and continued working. But the instant the door closed, Ash clearly saw a slight upturn at the corners of her lips.

In the hallway, Su Rui suddenly pushed Ash around the corner. His breath, cool and refreshing like a mint candy, brushed against Ash's lips. "What did my mom say to you?"