Ark Simulator, Didn't I Not Have a Physical Body?

Her outstretched fingertip stopped a few inches from Su Rui's cheek, and a deep-seated fear suddenly washed over her—she was afraid that this touch would, like countless times before, pass through a void of blue light.

Then warmth enveloped her fingers.

When Su Rui pressed his face against her palm, Lin Yuhsia's vision suddenly blurred. The curve of his cheekbones, the throbbing pulse at his temples, even the newly sprouted stubble on his chin—all the details exploded into a mini storm through the nerve endings in her fingertips. A bittersweet heat rushed from her chest to her eyes, and she hurriedly lowered her head, resting her forehead on Su Rui's shoulder, deeply inhaling his metallic scent, characteristic of electronic devices.

"I'm here." Su Rui's palm rested on the back of her neck, her fingertips stroking the fine downy hair at her hairline. This simple touch sent a shiver down Lin Yuhsia's spine—not a precise replication of a data simulation, but a subtle, irregular tremor unique to humans. She suddenly realized that what was touching her was no longer a perfectly functioning program, but a real being that could feel tension, hesitation, and fluctuations in body temperature.

The emotions suppressed for too long burst forth like a dam breaking through reason. When Lin Yuhsia grabbed Su Rui's collar and pulled him closer, she tasted the salty bitterness of her own tears. Their foreheads touched, their breaths mingled, and some invisible barrier crumbled the moment their eyes met. When Su Rui's eyelashes brushed against her cheek, that subtle tickle suddenly became incredibly precious—it was something that would wither and grow, something fragile and vibrant, belonging to life itself.

"Don't cry." Su Rui's thumb brushed against her eye, his voice filled with a panic she had never heard before. His irises, seen up close, revealed complex layers, no longer the constant blue of a virtual image, but the deep sea color that shifted with the light. Lin Yuhsia looked at her distorted reflection in his pupils, and a possessiveness that was almost painful suddenly gripped her heart.

"You finally..." Her lips brushed against Su Rui's mouth, her words breaking in the mingled breaths, "Are completely mine."

This realization sent the butterflies fluttering wildly in his chest. When Su Rui's lips finally pressed against his, Lin Yuhsia tasted a fresh sensation, like the air after a rain—this must have been a carefully tuned taste parameter by the technical department, yet at this moment it became the most touching sweetness. His response was awkward and unaccustomed, but it evolved rapidly with each breath, as frustratingly efficient as when he was learning any new skill.

Volume 11, Chapter 638: I Was Originally Human

But at this moment, Lin Yuhsia only felt an infinite softness. She guided Su Rui's palm to her side, feeling the whole process of his fingertips going from hesitation to determination. When his knuckles accidentally brushed against the area below her ribs, the electric-like sensation was completely different from the virtual contact—not precise, not perfect, but because of the subtle error, it was so real that it was heartbreaking.

"Here..." Su Rui's palm covered her wildly beating heart, and suddenly a sly smile appeared on her face, the kind she knew best. "The frequency is too high, Boss Lin."

Lin Yuhsia bit his neck in retaliation, but froze the moment her teeth sank into his skin—warm, elastic, real skin that trembled slightly with changes in her pressure. A strange, indescribable emotion suddenly welled up in her throat, and she changed to lightly licking the shallow tooth mark with the tip of her tongue, listening to Su Rui's breathing suddenly become heavy.

So this is what it feels like to let a life made of data spiral out of control. This realization sent a secret sense of satisfaction through her veins. When Su Rui's fingers ran through her hair, pressing her against her with a peculiar, human-like force, Lin Yuhsia suddenly understood in her dizziness—she had never loved the perfectly functioning virtual program, but rather this imperfect being before her, clumsy, impulsive, and whose body temperature would rise at her touch.

As night deepened, Su Rui's lips pressed against her sweat-dampened shoulder blade, his voice husky with satisfaction. "So this is what exhaustion feels like." His fingertips traced meaningless circles along the hollow of her spine. "Muscle lactic acid buildup, dopamine drop... much more interesting than data simulations."

Lin Yuhsia turned and looked into his eyes, discovering that those once precise, machine-like blue irises were now brimming with the uniquely human, chaotic yet tender emotions. She suddenly recalled that rainy night three years ago in Lungmen, the illusory figure who could only communicate with her through a projector. Back then, through the crackling of the electrical current, Su Rui had said, "When I can truly embrace you..."

His arms were wrapped around her waist, their weight and warmth so real they made her want to cry. Lin Yuhsia buried her face in the crook of his neck, letting sleep wash over her like a tide. In the last moment before her consciousness sank into darkness, she felt Su Rui's kiss on the top of her head, as light as moonlight.

The morning light, like melting honey, slowly seeped into the room.

As Lin Yuhsia's consciousness surfaced, the first thing she felt was weight—a warm, rhythmic weight pressing down on her arm. Her eyelashes fluttered a few times before she managed to open her eyes and found Su Rui's arm across her waist, his fingers unconsciously curled, as if afraid she would disappear in her sleep.

She blinked, fragments of last night's memories bursting one after another on the surface of her consciousness like bubbles rising to the surface. Those touches, those temperatures, that almost painful intimacy, all carried a dizzying sense of reality. Su Rui's breath sprayed on the back of her neck, warm and even, gradually synchronizing with her heartbeat.

Lin Yuhsia carefully turned around, not wanting to wake him, but as she moved, she discovered that every muscle in her body was protesting with soreness. She silently curled the corners of her mouth—this was living proof that everything last night was not an illusion.

Su Rui's sleeping face was right in front of her. The morning light outlined his features, casting tiny shadows under his eyelashes. Lin Yuhsia had never seen him like this before: his hair was disheveled and scattered on his forehead, his lips were slightly parted because he was fast asleep, and she could even see the faint red marks he had left on his collarbone. This being, who had once only existed in the data stream, was now lying beside her in the most vulnerable human form.

She couldn't help but reach out, her fingertips hovering just above his cheek, but she hesitated to strike. A strange sense of cherishing gripped her heart—like handling a fragile dream, where too much force would shatter it.

"You can touch me," Su Rui's voice suddenly rang out, hoarse from just waking up, "I won't disappear."

Lin Yuhsia's fingers trembled slightly, but ultimately landed gently on his cheekbone. Beneath the warm skin were solid bones and muscles that slid gently with each blink. Su Rui opened her eyes, and her irises shone in the morning light in a blue she had never seen before—not the constant electronic blue of virtual images, but a vibrant color that carried the warmth of life and changed with the angle of light.

"Good morning," he said, a lazy smile curving his lips. The smile was so natural, not at a perfectly programmed angle, but rather slightly crooked because he had just woken up, which made Lin Yuhsia's throat suddenly tighten.

She simply leaned in, resting her forehead against his shoulder, and took a deep breath. The scent emanating from Su Rui, a mixture of traces from the previous night and the unique freshness of the morning, reminded her of a meadow warmed by the sun. His arms encircled her, his palms pressed against the bare skin of her back, the heat spreading through the contact surface all the way down her spine.

"Does it hurt?" Su Rui suddenly asked, her fingers gently tracing a mark on her shoulder.

Lin Yuhsia shook her head, burying her face even deeper. She didn't want to admit that this slight pain had become the best comfort, proving that they had indeed crossed the boundary between virtual and reality. Su Rui's fingertips continued to roam over her back, as if reconfirming every inch of territory, each touch carrying the curiosity of a beginner and the preciousness unique to lovers.

The cries of seagulls drifted in from outside the window, and the distant sound of ship horns could be faintly heard. The morning in Dossoles was awakening, but in this room, time seemed to stretch out infinitely. Lin Yuhsia felt the rise and fall of Su Rui's chest, listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat, and suddenly realized that this was the ordinary morning she had dreamed of countless times but dared not hope for.

"What are you thinking about?" Su Rui's chin brushed against the top of her head.

Lin Yuhsia looked up, gazing into the deep blue sea. "I was wondering if you're learning some things too quickly."

Su Rui smiled, this time a genuine smile that made her heart skip a beat, "I have the best teacher." His hand slid to her waist, his thumb gently caressing the curve there. "And some things... don't need to be learned."

Besides, I'm a human being, don't mistake me for some kind of Electronic Ghost, okay?

These words, like a burning ember, rolled into Lin Yuhsia's stomach. She grabbed Su Rui's wrist, guiding his palm to press completely against her waist, leaving no gap between their skin. Su Rui's breathing became noticeably rapid, his pupils dilated, and the blue around his irises deepened.

"Prove it to me," Lin Yuhsia said softly, her lips almost touching his.

Su Rui didn't answer, but instead sealed her lips with a slow, almost torturous kiss. This kiss was different from the exploratory and passionate touches of the previous night; it was gentle yet firm, as if conveying a promise that needed no words. When the two finally separated, Lin Yuhsia realized that her fingers had unknowingly run deep into Su Rui's hair, pulling him very close.

Volume 11, Chapter 639: Let's talk another day, we're leaving now.

The sunlight had climbed to the foot of the bed, illuminating the tangled sheets. Su Rui's silhouette blurred in the backlight, only her eyes remained bright as ever. Lin Yuhsia suddenly remembered those mornings when she woke up alone, those days when she could only say good morning to nothingness, and a bittersweet feeling welled up in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Su Rui's thumb brushed against the corner of her eye.

Lin Yuhsia shook her head and buried her face in his neck. "I was just... wondering if you'd suddenly turn back into a data stream."

Su Rui's arms suddenly tightened, pulling her completely into his embrace. His lips brushed against her ear, his breath hot. "Can you feel it?" He guided her hands to his chest. "This is a real heartbeat, a real temperature, a real... me."

Beneath Lin Yuhsia's palm, the heart was beating strongly, its rhythm gradually synchronizing with her own. She closed her eyes, letting the morning light filter through her eyelids, painting them a warm red. In this colorful darkness, Su Rui's scent, warmth, and heartbeat surrounded her so vividly, more beautiful than any dream.

"I'm here," Su Rui's voice seemed to come from a great distance, "And I won't leave."

These words were like a key, gently turning a lock that Lin Yuhsia herself hadn't even realized she was holding. She suddenly hugged Su Rui tightly, so tightly that he almost groaned. But Su Rui simply tightened his embrace in response, his fingers tracing silent soothing lines on her back.

When Lin Yuhsia looked up again, she found Su Rui looking at her with a completely new gaze—not the gentleness of a programmed simulation, not the appropriate reaction after data analysis, but a gaze filled with the complexity and deep affection unique to humans. Sunlight danced on his eyelashes, gilding each one with gold.

"Good morning, Su Rui." She finally said the words she had rehearsed countless times in her heart.

Su Rui smiled, lowered his head, and gently kissed the tip of her nose. "Good morning, Lin Yuhsia."

The commercial streets of Dossoles are always bustling, and the neon signs still shimmer in the sunlight, as if they were proof of the city's tireless vitality.

Lin Yuhsia's fingers gently hooked around Su Rui's cuff, her fingertips unconsciously caressing his wrist beneath the fabric—warm, pulsating skin, not the ethereal, data-driven sensation of before. Su Rui turned to look at her, a helpless smile playing on his lips, "Ms. Lin, if you keep squeezing like that, you're going to crumple this shirt's cuff."

"Then let's buy another one." She hummed softly, but loosened her grip slightly, instead intertwining her fingers with his. She liked this feeling— Su Rui's body temperature, the curve of his knuckles, even the slight sweat on his palms, all felt so real that she couldn't help but confirm it again and again.

However, this sense of satisfaction that belonged only to her was soon interrupted.

"--Lin Yuhsia?"

A familiar voice came from behind her, and Lin Yuhsia's back tensed instantly. She didn't even need to turn around to know who it was— Chen Hui-chieh, the woman who always tried to find traces of Su Rui in her.

She took a deep breath, composed herself, and slowly turned around. "Inspector Chen, what a coincidence."

Chen Hui-chieh's gaze locked onto Su Rui almost instantly.

She was stunned for a moment, then her pupils dilated slightly, as if she had seen something incredible. Her gaze slid from Su Rui's face to his shoulder, then to his hand that Lin Yuhsia was holding tightly, and finally back to his eyes.

"... Su Rui?" Her voice was soft, with a hint of uncertainty.

Su Rui smiled and nodded at her, "Inspector Chen, long time no see."

--The tangible sound is no longer the illusory feeling of electronic synthesis, but truly comes from the air.

Chen Hui-chieh's expression lit up almost instantly. She took a step forward almost instinctively, but then stopped abruptly, as if suddenly realizing something. Her gaze swept between Lin Yuhsia and Su Rui, finally settling on Su Rui: "You... you really materialized?"

"Hmm, this is pretty normal for me." Su Rui's tone was relaxed, but Lin Yuhsia could feel his fingers tighten slightly in her palm—was he nervous? Or... was he anticipating Chen Hui-chieh's reaction?

A smile, gentler than usual, appeared on Chen Hui-chieh's lips. She took a step forward, reaching out as if to touch Su Rui's shoulder, but paused mid-air, instead gently patting his arm. "... Welcome back."

The movement was very gentle, yet it stirred a subtle, bittersweet feeling in Lin Yuhsia's chest.

She doesn't like it this way.

She disliked the way Chen Hui-chieh looked at Su Rui —a look filled with surprise, nostalgia, and even a tenderness she didn't want to delve into. She disliked even more the way Su Rui responded to her—he clearly belonged only to her.

"We have other things to do," Lin Yuhsia suddenly said, her voice a few degrees colder than usual. She tugged at Su Rui's hand, signaling him that it was time to leave.

Su Rui glanced at her, seemingly sensing her emotions, but still nodded to Chen Hui-chieh: "Let's talk another day."

Chen Hui-chieh's gaze lingered on their clasped hands for a second, then she smiled and said, "Okay."

But her eyes clearly said, "I will come back to you."

Lin Yuhsia pulled Su Rui away quickly, but before they had taken more than a few steps, Chen Hui-chieh's voice came from behind again. "Wait."

Lin Yuhsia paused, her fingers unconsciously tightening.

Chen Hui-chieh had already caught up, her gaze still fixed on Su Rui, her tone much gentler than usual. "Since we've run into each other, why don't we go together?"

Lin Yuhsia's lips tightened.

Su Rui glanced at her, seemingly seeking her opinion.

"Whatever you want." Lin Yuhsia finally uttered only these two words, her voice indifferent.

Su Rui smiled and nodded to Chen Hui-chieh, "Okay."

--Lin Yuhsia's fingernails almost dug into her palms.

Chen Hui-chieh naturally walked to Su Rui's other side, and the three of them walked side by side, the atmosphere subtly stagnant.

"How does it feel to be materialized?" Chen Hui-chieh asked casually, as if it were just a casual question.

"Not bad," Su Rui smiled. "At least now I can actually taste the coffee."

"I remember you used to only drink sweet drinks." Chen Hui-chieh's lips curled up slightly. "Do you still do that now?"

"Hmm, but Mr. Lin always adds sugar to my cup." Sometimes it becomes extra sweet.

Chen Hui-chieh chuckled softly, her gaze sweeping over Lin Yuhsia's tense profile. "She's always like this."

Lin Yuhsia gripped Su Rui's sleeve tightly, her fingertips almost digging into the fabric.

Su Rui noticed her emotions and gently squeezed her hand, as if to comfort her.

But Chen Hui-chieh doesn't seem to intend to stop there.

However, Lin Yuhsia didn't intend to just keep watching.

Volume 11, Chapter 640: I Know a Lot

Lin Yuhsia grabbed Su Rui's wrist and walked through the crowds of the shopping street without looking back. Her steps were quick, almost as if she were trying to shake something off, until the surrounding noise was gradually replaced by the sound of the waves, at which point she finally stopped.

Su Rui let her pull him along, a helpless smile on her lips, "Boss Lin, if we keep walking like this, we'll be swept into the sea."

Lin Yuhsia then realized that they were already standing at the edge of the beach, with waves of water washing over them, soaking the tips of her shoes. She let go of her hands, pursed her lips, and said nothing.

Su Rui looked down at her and gently brushed aside the strands of hair that had been ruffled by the sea breeze. "Are you angry?"

"...No." She turned her face away, her voice muffled.

Su Rui chuckled softly, gently pinching her chin with her fingers and turning her face back. "Liar."

Lin Yuhsia glared at him, but the annoyance in her eyes was quickly silenced by Su Rui's kiss. His lips were warm and soft, carrying a hint of the saltiness of the sea breeze, gently brushing against her lips, as if to soothe her, or as if to declare some kind of exclusive ownership.

She instinctively grabbed his collar, her fingertips trembling slightly.

Su Rui stepped back slightly, her forehead touching Suri's, and whispered, "... I'm only looking at you."

Lin Yuhsia's eyelashes trembled, and she finally gave a soft "Mmm".

The sound of distant waves gradually became clearer, and the setting sun cast long shadows of the two people, overlapping each other as if they could never be separated again.

Su Rui suddenly bent down, took off her shoes, and stepped barefoot into the damp sand, extending her hand to her. "Come here."

Lin Yuhsia hesitated for a second, but finally took off her shoes and stepped barefoot onto the soft sand. The seawater washed over her, and the coolness spread from the soles of her feet, but Su Rui's palms remained warm, tightly holding her fingers.

"Run?" he suddenly asked, a sly glint in his eyes.

Before Lin Yuhsia could react, Su Rui had already pulled her towards the direction of the waves.

The sea breeze rushed towards her, carrying a salty, damp scent. Lin Yuhsia's skirt billowed in the wind, and her hair clung messily to her cheeks. She couldn't help but laugh out loud, her fingertips gripping Su Rui's hand tightly.

"Slow down!" she called out, her voice carried away by the sea breeze.

Su Rui turned to look at her, a smirk playing on her lips. "Scared?"

"Who's afraid!" Lin Yuhsia, unwilling to admit defeat, quickened her pace and even overtook him.

The two chased each other until they collapsed, panting, on the beach. The tide came in, soaking the hems of their clothes, but neither of them paid any attention.

Lin Yuhsia lay on her back, her chest rising and falling slightly, gazing at the sky gradually turning twilight, and suddenly spoke softly, "... Su Rui."

"Um?"

"You and Chen Hui-chieh before, didn't you...?" Her voice trailed off, and she didn't finish her sentence.

Su Rui turned to the side, propping her chin on her hand as she looked at her. "Is it something?"

Lin Yuhsia turned her face away, refusing to look at him. "... Never mind, it's nothing."

Su Rui chuckled softly and reached out to pinch her cheek, "Just say you're jealous."

"Who's jealous!" she retorted immediately, though the tips of her ears turned slightly red.

Su Rui stopped teasing her, simply taking her hand gently and interlocking their fingers. "... She and I are just colleagues." And it's only temporary... A deliveryman and a policeman are colleagues, right? Anyway, Penguin Logistics has had plenty of dealings with the Lungmen Guard Department.

Lin Yuhsia was silent for a moment before whispering, "... But the way she looks at you is different."