Ark Simulator: Don't I Have a Physical Body?

Ash's jawline tightened, but she simply nodded. "I'll remind him."

Vulpisfoglia glanced at Su Rui one last time before turning and leaving. Her steps remained elegant and composed, her silver hair swaying gently behind her like flowing moonlight.

Ash finally breathed a sigh of relief when the automatic door closed completely. She turned to look at Su Rui and found him staring intently at her, his amber eyes filled with complex emotions.

"What's wrong?" Ash frowned, subconsciously touching his face.

Su Rui suddenly reached out and gently brushed her eye with her fingertips. "You didn't sleep well last night."

This isn't a question. Ash turned his face away, picked up his half-cold coffee, and downed it in one gulp. "The mission report was written too late."

Su Rui didn't call out the obvious lie. He knew Ash too well—when she lied, the pupil of her right eye would contract slightly, like when she was aiming.

Volume 10, Chapter 606: Take some medicine to relieve the pain. Although the body will disappear, you still need to take care of it.

"I'm sorry," Su Rui suddenly said.

Ash paused for a moment. "Why are you apologizing?"

"I kept you waiting all night." Su Rui's voice was low and sincere. "I should have..."

Ash interrupted him, "No explanation needed." Her metal fingers tapped lightly on the medicine box. "Take your medicine."

The restaurant gradually filled up. Flash Shield and Tank carried trays past them. Tank winked at Su Rui, but Flash Shield grabbed him and pulled him away.

Ash got up to get breakfast, and when she returned, she found Su Rui adding chili sauce to her plate—exactly the amount she usually liked. This detail made her heart flutter slightly.

"Here you go." Su Rui pushed the plate in front of her, a familiar smile on her lips. "Your favorite fried eggs with sausage."

Ash silently accepted the meal, and the two began to eat in silence. This silence was not awkward; rather, it was full of tacit understanding—like on a battlefield, they could understand each other's intentions without words.

Su Rui looked up suddenly halfway through her meal. "What are your plans for today?"

Ash wiped her mouth. "Training ground. The new equipment needs tweaking." She paused. "Want to come along?"

Su Rui's eyes lit up. "Of course." He finished the rest of his breakfast in a few bites. "I was just thinking of trying out that newly modified..."

His words suddenly stopped. Ash followed his gaze— Vulpisfoglia was standing at the restaurant entrance, talking to Dr. Kal'tsit. The morning meeting seemed to have ended early.

Ash put down his fork. "You can go."

Su Rui shook his head, looking back at Ash: "No, we had a deal." He reached out and touched Ash's metal fingers. "Today is yours."

Ash stared at their clasped hands for a few seconds, then suddenly grabbed Su Rui: "Then let's not waste time." She stood up, her grip so strong it almost pulled Su Rui off her chair. "The training ground gets very busy after nine."

On their way to the training ground, they encountered Suzuran of the Valley carrying documents. The little girl's eyes lit up when she saw Su Rui, and her nine tails wagged happily.

"Daddy!" She ran over, but stopped when she saw Ash. "Ah, Ash is here too..."

Ash nodded, unconsciously straightening her posture. She had never been very good at dealing with children, especially this little girl with Su Rui's eyes.

Su Rui squatted down, looking her daughter in the eye. "Why didn't you go to school today?"

"A practical lesson in the Medical Department!" Suzuran proudly puffed out her chest. "I learned how to bandage wounds!" She looked curiously at their clasped hands. "Is Daddy going to training with Ash?"

Su Rui smiled and ruffled her daughter's hair, "Yes, we're going to test the new equipment."

Suzuran's eyes darted around, then she suddenly leaned close to Su Rui's ear and whispered something. Su Rui's expression turned to a mixture of amusement and exasperation, and she gently flicked her daughter's forehead. "You little rascal."

Ash raised an eyebrow but didn't press the matter. Only after Suzuran of the Valley skipped away did Su Rui explain, "She asked if I could tell her a bedtime story tonight."

Ash in agreement, then suddenly said, "You can go."

Su Rui stopped and looked at her intently. "And what about you?"

Ash looked away. "I have a mission briefing tonight."

This wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. Su Rui knew that Ash was giving him space, and this realization made his chest tighten slightly.

"Come on, let's go together," Su Rui whispered. "Suzuran likes you very much."

Ash looked at him in surprise. "I... I'm not good at this."

Su Rui laughed. "You're just not used to it yet." He squeezed her hand. "Just like you weren't used to being partners with me at first."

This analogy softened Ash's expression slightly. She hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "... Okay."

The metal doors to the training ground closed behind them, shutting out the noise from the outside world. Ash skillfully adjusted the newly issued tactical equipment, while Su Rui inspected the modified assault rifle beside him.

"The ballistic stabilizer has been increased by two stops," Ash said without looking up. "The recoil will be less."

Su Rui tried it out and raised an eyebrow in surprise. "How did you know I liked this setting?"

Ash finally raised her head, a hint of a smile flashing in her gray eyes, "Observation." She pointed to her eyes, "Professionalism."

Su Rui couldn't help but laugh. He raised his gun, aimed at the target in the distance, and fired three shots, all hitting the bullseye. Ash, standing behind him, nodded slightly in approval.

"Won't you give it a try?" Su Rui handed her the gun.

Ash took it, smoothly loaded the gun, aimed, and fired—an equally perfect three-shot combo, the bullet holes almost overlapping.

"Beautiful," Su Rui exclaimed sincerely.

Ash's lips curled into a slight smile, her first genuine smile of the day. The two continued their silent exchange; a glance, a gesture, and they understood each other's thoughts. This tacit understanding, forged in countless life-or-death battles, was more powerful than any words.

When the training session came to an end, Su Rui suddenly asked, "Were you really writing a report last night?"

Ash paused in her gun-wiping motion. She didn't answer immediately, but instead carefully examined the barrel, as if there was something important there that needed confirmation.

"I'm on deck," she finally admitted in a low voice, "I saw you."

Su Rui's breath hitched. He remembered the way Vulpisfoglia's silver hair flew in the moonlight last night, the force with which she pressed him against the railing, and those possessive kisses...

"Ash, I..."

"No explanation needed," Ash interrupted him, her voice calm but firm. "I understand." She finally looked up, her gray eyes meeting Su Rui's directly. "Just as you understand my job."

Su Rui suddenly realized that the freedom Ash gave him was her most precious trust. This realization made his throat tighten. He took a step forward and pulled Ash into his arms.

"Thank you," he whispered in her ear, his voice trembling slightly.

Ash froze for a moment, then slowly relaxed. Her metal arms carefully encircled Su Rui's waist, the movements clumsy yet gentle.

"Idiot," she whispered, tightening her embrace.

As night fell, Su Rui arrived at Suzuran of the Valley's bedroom as promised. To his surprise, Ash was already there—though she stood stiffly in the corner of the room, as if on guard duty.

"Sister Ash said she'd tell me battle stories!" Suzuran announced excitedly, her nine tails slapping against the bed in a cheerful rhythm.

Su Rui looked at Ash, who awkwardly turned her face away. "She asked for it."

This little lie warmed Su Rui's heart. He sat down on the edge of the bed and patted the spot next to him. "Come on, let's get together."

Ash hesitated for a moment, then carefully sat on the edge of the bed, sitting up straight. Suzuran immediately snuggled up to her, resting her fluffy head on her lap.

"Let's begin!" the little girl blinked expectantly.

Volume 10, Chapter 607: Preparing to Depart

Ash took a deep breath and began to deliver a highly simplified mission briefing. Her voice remained flat, but Su Rui noticed she was trying to adjust her wording, avoiding overly gory descriptions.

Halfway through the story, Su Rui naturally took over, turning a fierce firefight into a fun game of hide-and-seek. Ash glanced at him in surprise but didn't interrupt.

"... So in the end, Ash Sister is like this—" Su Rui suddenly pounced on Suzuran, making an exaggerated grabbing motion, "Got the bad guy!"

Suzuran giggled and snuggled into Ash's arms, her nine tails wrapping around Ash's arm. Ash froze, looking to Su Rui for help.

"She likes you," Su Rui said softly, her eyes tender.

Ash looked down at the little girl in her arms, hesitated for a moment, and finally carefully stroked her hair. This simple action seemed to have used up all her courage.

When Suzuran finally fell asleep, Ash breathed a sigh of relief. Su Rui gently laid her daughter down, covered her with the blanket, and then gestured for Ash to leave together.

The corridor was quiet, with only the faint glow of the emergency lights. Ash walked ahead, then suddenly stopped.

"She... is very cute," Ash whispered, his voice unusually soft.

Su Rui smiled. "She likes you a lot too." He paused, "Vulpisfoglia too."

Ash turned around, and moonlight streamed in through the corridor window, illuminating half of her face. Her expression was complex and difficult to decipher, but her eyes were no longer as wary as they had been at the beginning.

"I know," she finally answered softly, "That's why..."

She didn't finish speaking, but Su Rui understood. He stepped forward and took Ash's hand. "Let's go home."

Ash nodded, and the two walked side by side towards the dormitory area. The moonlight cast long shadows of them, which eventually merged together.

... When Ash awoke, the morning light of Rhodes Island outside the window had not yet completely dispelled the chill of the night. Su Rui was still fast asleep beside her, his breathing even and long, his black hair scattered on the pillow, a few strands still sticking up playfully. She reached out and gently brushed the stray hairs from his forehead, her fingertips lingering for a moment on his slightly furrowed brow, as if soothing some invisible worry.

The intimacy of last night still lingered in the memory on her skin: Su Rui's body temperature, his whispers, the kisses he left on her neck—everything was as clear as if it had just happened. Ash's fingertips unconsciously traced her collarbone, where the marks he had left still remained.

She rolled out of bed, her metal prosthetic leg gleaming coldly in the morning light. Ash didn't wake Su Rui; he simply dressed quietly, then sat down at his desk, opened his terminal, and pulled up a map of Ursus.

The words the Tank spoke last night were still echoing in her ears--

"Ash, I want to go see Ursus."

Tank's Russian accent was heavy, but his tone carried a rare nostalgia. "That place... should be very similar to my hometown in my memory."

Ash did not refuse. Ursus, though cold, was indeed a worthwhile place to visit—especially now that the mission at Rhodes Island had temporarily come to an end, and she and Su Rui had a short break.

She tapped lightly on the terminal, planning the route. The northern city of Chernobog in Ursus was abandoned, but the industrial areas and border towns in the south were still inhabited. Tank wanted to see the snowfields and taverns there, while Ash... she just wanted Su Rui to leave Rhodes Island temporarily, away from those complicated ties, even if only for a few days.

"... What are you planning?"

Su Rui's voice suddenly came from behind, hoarse from just waking up. Ash turned around and found that he had already sat up, the blanket had slipped down to his waist, revealing fresh scratches and hickeys on his upper body. His eyes were half-closed, as if he was not fully awake, but a lazy smile had already appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"Ursus," Ash replied curtly, "The Tank wants to go take a look."

Su Rui blinked, then her smile deepened, "So, you're going to elope with me?"

Ash closed the terminal expressionlessly. "Just a rest after a mission."

Su Rui threw back the covers, walked barefoot behind her, wrapped his arms around her shoulders, and rested his chin on the top of her head. "Liar." His breath brushed against her earlobe, "You clearly just wanted to spend a few days alone with me."

Ash did not refute, but simply tilted his head slightly, making it easier for his lips to land on the side of her neck.

"... When do we leave?" Su Rui asked in a low voice, his fingers already restlessly slipping inside her collar.

Ash grabbed his wrist, his voice calm. "This afternoon."

Su Rui sighed regretfully, but still obediently withdrew her hand. "Alright, then I have to go tell Vulpisfoglia and Suzuran the Valley."

Ash nodded, offering no objection. She knew it was necessary— Su Rui wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, and she... didn't want him to do that either.

Vulpisfoglia's office door was ajar. Su Rui knocked gently and heard a calm "Come in" from inside.

Vulpisfoglia was sitting at her desk organizing files, her long, silvery-white hair tied into a neat ponytail, and her icy-blue eyes softened slightly when she saw him.

"Going out again?" she asked, without surprise, as if she had expected it.

Su Rui nodded and walked to her side. "Ash plans to take me to Ursus, and the Tank will come along too."

Vulpisfoglia put down her pen, looked up at him, and asked, "How many days?"

"About a week," Su Rui replied. "Just a visit; we won't venture into dangerous areas."

Vulpisfoglia gave a soft "Mmm," reached out to straighten his collar, and her fingertips lingered briefly on the hickey on his collarbone. "Be careful."

Su Rui held her hand. "You're not angry?"

Vulpisfoglia raised an eyebrow. "Why would I be angry?" She paused, a faint smile playing on her lips, "Or... do you want me to be angry?"

Su Rui chuckled twice, then leaned down and lightly pecked her lips. "I'll bring back a gift."

Vulpisfoglia gently patted his face. "Don't bring anything strange."

After leaving the Medical Department, Su Rui went to the childcare center. Suzuran was in class, but through the glass window, he saw his daughter listening attentively, her furry ears twitching occasionally. He didn't disturb her, just stood outside the window for a while, then turned and left.

Ash was already waiting for him on the tarmac, with fully equipped Tank beside him. The tall, burly Russian man was excitedly rubbing his hands together, muttering words like "vodka" and "snowfield."

"Have you confessed everything?" Ash asked calmly.

Su Rui nodded and walked to her side. "Yes, Vulpisfoglia said she hopes we have fun."

Ash glanced at him, said nothing, and simply gestured for boarding.

The cold wind of Ursus stung their faces like knives. Ash pulled his scarf up high and squinted at the vast white snowfield in the distance. Rhodes Island's aircraft had already returned, leaving the three of them at the entrance to this border town.

Volume 10, Chapter 608: Ursus is So Cold

The Tank took a deep breath and sighed contentedly, "Ah... this is the taste! So cold it's invigorating!"