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

In the evening, they climbed a small hill near the village.

The setting sun painted the snowfield gold, and the distant mountain ranges were clearly outlined, like a silent painting. Su Rui sat on a rock, a doll beside her, and a steaming cup of milk tea in her hands.

"Ursus has changed a lot," he said suddenly.

Ash stood beside him, gazing into the distance. "Hmm."

"These places used to be teeming with military police and tax collectors," Su Rui said, taking a sip of her milk tea. "Now it's surprisingly quiet."

Ash looked at him. "Do you like it this way?"

Su Rui thought for a moment and nodded, "I like it."

He reached out and grabbed Ash's sleeve, pulling her to sit down beside him. Ash didn't resist, letting him lean on her shoulder.

"Will you come again next time?" Su Rui asked.

Ash looked at the setting sun in the distance and softly hummed in agreement.

Su Rui laughed and closed her eyes, "Then it's settled."

Volume 10, Chapter 615: You're Not Allowed to Eat Apple Pie

The cabins on the Landship were narrow, but private enough.

The moment Ash closed the door and the metal latch clicked shut, Su Rui was slammed against the wall. His back was pressed against the cold bulkhead, while Ash's body heat pressed against his chest.

"Wait—" Su Rui began, but was silenced by Ash's lips.

The scent of Ash was right in front of him, carrying the chill of gunpowder and mint. Su Rui could feel the weight of her gaze, piercing his defenses like bullets. She hadn't touched him, yet the air felt thick, each breath like swallowing molten lead.

Her very presence was an invasion. Su Rui found his heartbeat betraying his reason, pounding dangerously in his chest. He tried to maintain steady breathing, but heard the tremor leaking from his own breath—she must have heard it too, because that familiar, predatory smile appeared on her lips.

The silence between them was more oppressive than any touch. Ash traced the line of his taut jaw with her eyes, where the teeth marks from the previous night still lingered. Su Rui knew she was waiting for him to break down first, waiting for him to take the initiative to break this suffocating standoff. Just like countless times before, she could always pinpoint the weakest point in his defenses.

The roar of Tank engines came from afar, but it was as if it were coming through a thick layer of frosted glass. At this moment, the only world she knew was the flickering dark fire in her eyes and the unspoken words, more lethal than bullets. Su Rui's fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms—this was the only pain he could control now.

"... Ash." He called to her breathlessly, his voice already somewhat hoarse.

Ash didn't respond, but instead lowered her head and bit his neck, the force just enough to leave a mark. Su Rui groaned, his fingers running through her hair, a gesture that was both a push and a welcome.

"You did it on purpose," Ash whispered close to his ear, his breath hot, "You insisted on coming to Chernobog."

Su Rui's eyelashes fluttered, but a smile played on her lips, "You agreed."

Ash's hand suddenly slipped inside his shirt, his icy fingertips touching the skin of his waist. Su Rui shuddered violently, almost jumping up. "Cold!"

Ignoring his protests, Ash placed her entire palm on his back, slowly moving it upwards. Su Rui's skin gradually warmed under her palm, and his breathing became increasingly erratic.

"Are you scared?" she asked.

Su Rui's eyes glistened with tears, but she still forced a smile, "Who's afraid?"

Ash suddenly exerted force, flipping him over so his chest was pressed against the wall. Before Su Rui could react, she was already close, her hand on his lower back, forcing him to arch his back slightly.

"Ash!" A hint of panic finally crept into Su Rui's voice. "This is on the Landship— "

"So?" Ash's lips brushed against his ear, his voice low and menacing. "Weren't you supposed to be very brave?"

Su Rui's ears were so red they were almost bleeding, and his breathing was completely erratic. He could feel Ash's body temperature pressed against his back, and her fingers were tracing his waistline, carrying a dangerous undertone.

"... You're bullying me," he finally muttered under his breath.

Ash chuckled softly, then suddenly released him, pulling him into her arms instead. Su Rui stumbled, falling onto her lap, but before he could settle down, Ash grabbed the back of his neck and kissed him again.

This kiss was much gentler, but still irresistible. Su Rui gradually relaxed, her fingers climbing up her shoulders, her response somewhat clumsy.

Ash's palm rested on the back of his neck, his thumb gently stroking the roots of his hair, as if soothing a cat with its fur standing on end.

"Are we still going to Chernobog?" she asked softly.

Su Rui leaned on her shoulder, her breathing still catching. "... Go."

Ash pinched the back of his neck. "Stubborn."

Su Rui gave a muffled laugh and looked up at her, "Anyway, you'll be with me."

Ash didn't speak, but simply lowered her head and kissed him again, this time as lightly as a feather.

The engines of the Landship roared outside the cabin, while inside the private compartment, only the sound of breathing could be heard.

Su Rui's shirt hung halfway down his arm, his tie loosely wrapped around his wrist. Ash's fingers traced circles on his collarbone, the skin beneath his fingertips tinged with a faint pink.

"You weren't this fierce before," Su Rui complained softly.

Ash raised an eyebrow. "You weren't this disobedient before."

Su Rui pouted, then suddenly grabbed her collar, forcing her to look down. "And now?"

Ash didn't answer, but instead bit his fingertip. Su Rui's breath hitched, and her fingertip trembled slightly on her lips.

"... Foul." he muttered his complaint.

Ash released his fingers and instead kissed his palm. "Who started it?"

Su Rui stopped talking, burying her face in the crook of her neck, her hot breath brushing against her skin. Ash's palm was on his back, and she could feel his heartbeat quickening.

"Ash," he suddenly called her.

"Um?"

"If I said..." Su Rui's voice muffled in her collar, "... would you be angry if I said I just wanted to be alone with you for a while?"

Ash's fingers paused for a moment, then he gripped the back of Ash's neck, forcing him to look up. "Just for this?"

Su Rui's eyelashes drooped, concealing the emotions in her eyes. "... Is that not allowed?"

Ash stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly lowered her head and bit his lips. This kiss was more ferocious than any before; Su Rui's breathing became completely disordered, and her fingers gripped her clothes tightly, as if afraid she would suddenly disappear.

"Just say it next time." Ash released him, both of them breathing slightly unsteadily.

Su Rui's lips curled up slightly. "That's so boring."

Ash narrowed his eyes, his fingers suddenly gripping his waist. Su Rui jolted, almost bouncing up. "Wait--!"

Too late. Ash's fingers lightly tickled his waist, and Su Rui immediately burst out laughing, curling up into a ball. "Stop, stop messing around!"

Ash didn't stop; instead, she intensified her attack. Su Rui laughed until tears streamed down her face, and in her struggle, she almost fell off Ash caught her back.

"Still being stubborn?" she asked.

Su Rui shook her head, panting, her cheeks flushed from laughing so hard, "No, it's not hard anymore..."

Ash then released him, her fingers moving to his cheek to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes. Su Rui leaned against her, calming his breathing, his whole body limp like a satisfied cat.

"... Ash," he whispered to her.

"Um."

"I like you."

Ash's fingers paused for a moment, then he grabbed Ash's chin, forcing him to look up. "Say it again."

Su Rui's eyelashes fluttered, but a smile played at the corners of her lips, "I'm not going to say anything more."

Ash squinted, his fingers reaching towards his waist again. Su Rui immediately tensed, laughing as he backed away, "No! I'll talk!"

Ash stopped what he was doing and waited for him to speak.

Su Rui looked at her, his eyes reflecting the bright snow outside the porthole, and said with a startling light, "I like you."

Ash's breath hitched slightly, then she lowered her head and kissed him. This kiss was gentler than any before; Su Rui's fingers ran through her hair, gently tugging at the strands, as if afraid she would leave.

The engines of the Landship roared outside the cabin, while inside the private compartment, only the sounds of breathing and the occasional soft sigh escaped from between the lips.

When Su Rui woke up, she found herself lying in Ash's arms.

The snow outside the porthole had stopped, and sunlight streamed through the glass, casting a small shadow on Ash's eyelashes. Su Rui gently reached out and touched her eyelashes.

Ash immediately opened her eyes and grabbed his wrist. "Awake?"

Su Rui nodded, leaned over and kissed her chin. "We're almost there."

Ash hummed in agreement, gently stroking the back of his neck with his fingers. Su Rui squinted comfortably, like a cat being stroked.

"Are we still going to Chernobog?" Ash suddenly asked.

Su Rui looked up at her, a slight smile playing on her lips, "Go."

Ash pinched the back of his neck. "Stubborn."

Su Rui smiled and leaned back on her shoulder, "Anyway, you'll be with me."

Ash didn't speak, but simply lowered his head and kissed the top of his head.

The outline of Chernobog was already faintly visible through the porthole.

Volume 10, Chapter 616: Lost? I'll treat you to a nice meal.

The chilly winds of Chernobog carried fine snow, tracing silver arcs across the platform. Just as Su Rui jumped down the gangway, his boots slipped on the icy metal. He instinctively grabbed Ash's arm, but Ash stood motionless, like an iron stake driven into the platform.

"Wearing so little?" Ash glanced at his open collar, where a thin silver chain hung, gleaming coldly in the twilight.

Su Rui laughed and loosened her scarf even more, "Anyway, you'll be hugging me to keep warm."

Before he could finish speaking, a cloyingly sweet perfume scent suddenly wafted into his nostrils. He turned his head and saw a noblewoman wrapped in a silver fox fur coat covering her mouth with a gilded fan, her eyes fixed intently on the skin of his neck.

"What a beautiful little bird." The fan snapped shut, tapping his collarbone. "Lost?"

Ash immediately gripped the gun handle, her knuckles turning white from the force. Of course, she knew about Su Rui and Talulah's relationship, but every time she saw someone coveting him like that, an inexplicable anger would rise in her chest.

Su Rui noticed her emotions and gently pressed her wrist. "Don't rush." He turned to the noblewoman, a dangerous glint in his eye, "Madam, you've mistaken me for someone else. I came with a friend."

This nickname made Ash frown even more. She knew Su Rui was doing it on purpose—he liked to use this ambiguous term to provoke her whenever someone struck up a conversation.

The noblewoman's fan slid down Su Rui's chest. "Oh? Your friend is willing to let you run around like this?"

"Kamuna."

A cool voice suddenly cut in. Rosa white wolf cloak, damp with dew, swept across the frosty ground. A flicker of surprise crossed the purple eyes when Su Rui was seen, quickly replaced by an academy-like calm. "Teacher."

Su Rui blinked. "Little Lulu has grown taller."

Ash's gaze swept back and forth between the two, the nameless fire in his heart burning even brighter. The noblewoman's fan froze in mid-air. "Does the young lady of the Romanov family recognize this little trinket?"

"A plaything?" The Rosa pipe sparked against the iron bars. "Mrs. Anastasia, your father was just demoted to digging potatoes in Siberia last week for embezzling military funds." The smoke rings she exhaled blurred the other woman's instantly pale face. "Should I remind you of Article Three of the <Crime of Blasphemy>?"

Su Rui suddenly chuckled. He pulled out the silver chain around his neck, and as the mechanism popped open, the Winter Palace crest— Talulah's personal seal—was revealed on the inside, shining brightly in the snow.

Ash's breath hitched. Although she had known of the badge's existence for a long time, a pang of sadness still welled up in her heart every time she saw it. It was Talulah's mark on Su Rui, proving that he was the Queen's "Queen".

"Madam should recognize this." The silver chain coiled around Su Rui's finger like a small snake awakening. "His Majesty has been in a bad mood these past few days, especially..." He deliberately let the badge dangle in front of her, "... when someone touches her things."

Anastasia stumbled backward, her high heels getting stuck in a gap in the platform. Rosa added, "By the way, your villa in Chernobog seems to be right on His Majesty's inspection route this time?"

As the noblewoman screamed and shoved the maid aside, Su Rui was tucking the badge back into his collar. The cool metal against his skin reminded him of Talulah's expression when she pinned it on him—the Empress's fingertips brushing his Adam's apple as she said, "That way, no flies will be staring at my stars."

Ash suddenly gripped Su Rui's wrist, the force so strong that he frowned slightly. "Your Highness?" Her voice was colder than the night wind in Chernobog, her eyes swirling with complex emotions.

Su Rui turned and hugged her neck, deliberately breathing into her ear, "Jealous?" His breath carried the sweet scent of mead. "Talulah just thinks it's funny..."

The last syllable faded between their overlapping lips. The kiss, Ash, carried a punitive undertone; teeth ground heavily against his lower lip. Rosa silently turned to retrieve her luggage, hearing the teacher's muffled protest. "The students are watching..."

"Her graduation thesis is with me." "You have no graduation thesis whatsoever," Su Rui rolled her eyes and ignored her.

Ash mimicked his usual threatening tone, but softened the pressure in his hand, his thumb unconsciously rubbing the skin on the inside of his wrist.

On the way to the apartment, Su Rui kept playing with the thin ice in her boots.

Ash suddenly pulled him into her arms, the movement rough but careful to avoid any spots that might hurt him. Su Rui chuckled and bit her ear, "What, only now thinking about being jealous?"

"No." Ash's voice was a little hoarse as he pointed to several dark figures at the alley entrance. "Someone's following us."

The Rosa pipe flashed red. "Should we deal with it?"

Su Rui pulled out a gold coin and flicked it into the air. The moment the metal spun, moonlight illuminated Anastasia's pale face in the alley—she was blocking the intersection with three burly men.

"Madam." The gold coin jingled back into her palm, and Su Rui's smile faded. "Didn't your father teach you that the stars in the Winter Palace bite?"

As the silver chain slipped out of her collar again, the sound of orderly footsteps suddenly echoed from the end of the alley. The military boots of six Inner Guard crushed the thin ice, and the badges on their chests were exactly the same as Su Rui's.

"Your Highness," the leader knelt on one knee, "Your Majesty..."

Su Rui buried his face in Ash's shoulder, his voice muffled. "Tell her I'll be staying in New Chernobog for a while." Feeling the stiffen in his arms, he added with a mischievous grin, "And check on the military pay while I'm at it."