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

Su Rui looked at her, then suddenly leaned closer, her nose almost touching hers. "So what?"

His warm breath brushed against her lips. "... You're the only one in my eyes." That's how it is now.

Lin Yuhsia's heart skipped a beat.

On the distant coastline, Chen Hui-chieh stood quietly under a streetlamp, watching the two people frolicking on the beach. Her expression was indifferent, revealing no emotion; her fingertips unconsciously caressed the hilt of her sword before she finally turned and left.

As the sun sank below the horizon, Lin Yuhsia stood barefoot on the damp sand, the soft sand seeping between her toes, still warm from the daytime. She clutched a freshly bought grilled squid skewer in her hand, oil dripping onto her fingertips, causing her to hiss softly.

"Slow down." Su Rui's voice came from behind him, with a hint of helpless laughter. He was holding two glasses of chilled lemonade, and the water droplets condensed on the glass slid down onto his knuckles, shimmering in the twilight.

Lin Yuhsia turned around, a little sauce still on the corner of her mouth. "Try this, it's super delicious."

Su Rui lowered her head, took a bite of the squid offered to her by her hand, and squinted slightly as she chewed. "... Too salty."

"No way!" Lin Yuhsia retorted, taking another big bite and glaring at him with puffed-out cheeks. "It's just right."

Su Rui chuckled and reached out to wipe the sauce stain from the corner of her mouth with her thumb, "The sauce is everywhere."

His warm fingertips brushed against her lips, and Lin Yuhsia's heart skipped a beat. She turned her face away and muttered, "... Mind your own business."

The sea breeze from afar carries the smoke and aroma of barbecue stalls, mingled with the spiciness of cumin and chili powder, making one want to take a deep breath. On the beach, tourists sit or stand in twos and threes, their laughter and the sound of the waves blending together like a lazy summer concerto.

Lin Yuhsia grabbed Su Rui's wrist and ran towards an empty barbecue grill. "Let's grill something too!"

Su Rui let her pull him along, a indulgent smile always playing on her lips, "You can?"

"Of course!" Lin Yuhsia patted her chest confidently, then added softly, "... probably."

Su Rui shook her head, but still sat down with her in front of the barbecue grill. The vendor handed her a plate of fresh ingredients—beef, shrimp, scallops, corn, and chicken cartilage that Lin Yuhsia had specifically requested. She enthusiastically picked up the tongs, laid the meat slices on the wire mesh, and the fat immediately sizzled, white smoke rising, making her squint.

"Flip it over," Su Rui reminded him at the right moment.

"I know!" Lin Yuhsia hurriedly tried to pick it up with tongs, but ended up piercing the meat slice all the way through.

Su Rui sighed and took the clips. "I'll do it."

His movements were practiced; with a slight pressure from his fingertips, the slices of meat obediently flipped over and were grilled to perfection. Lin Yuhsia watched him, resting her chin on her hand, and couldn't help but mutter, "... How do you even know how to do this?"

"The data has been simulated," Su Rui replied without looking up, a slight smile playing on her lips. "But doing it myself now feels completely different."

Lin Yuhsia suddenly reached out and poked his cheek. "The materialized Su Rui is even this good at grilling meat."

Su Rui tilted her head, gently biting her fingertip, her canine teeth grinding it lightly. "If you keep making trouble, you won't get any more."

Lin Yuhsia immediately withdrew her hand, her ears burning. "... Stingy."

The roasted beef glistened with a fragrant, charred sheen. Su Rui some chili powder on it and held it to Lin Yuhsia's lips. "Try it."

She opened her mouth and bit down, the juices bursting in her mouth, scalding her and making her gasp, yet she couldn't bear to spit it out. Su Rui chuckled and handed her the lemonade, "I told you to slow down."

Lin Yuhsia gulped down a large mouthful of ice water to recover, but still stubbornly insisted, "... Delicious."

Volume 11, Chapter 641: Good Dog

As night deepened, the lights on the beach lit up one by one, like fallen stars. Lin Yuhsia, having eaten and drunk her fill, leaned lazily against Su Rui's shoulder, still holding a half-eaten cotton candy in her hand. A sea breeze blew, and the candy strands stuck to Su Rui's sleeve. She secretly tried to hook them with her finger, but he grabbed her wrist.

"The evidence is conclusive." Su Rui raised an eyebrow.

Lin Yuhsia blinked, then suddenly leaned in and stuffed the rest of the cotton candy into his mouth. "... hush money."

The sugar strands clung to his lips, Su Rui reluctantly licked off. Suddenly, he gripped the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. The sweetness of the cotton candy melted between their lips and teeth, mingling with the salty sea breeze, making them dizzy.

The sound of distant waves gradually faded, and Lin Yuhsia could only hear her own rapid heartbeat and Su Rui's breathing, which was right next to hers.

until--

"Cough cough."

A soft cough came from the side. Lin Yuhsia abruptly pushed Su Rui away and turned to see the barbecue stall owner standing awkwardly to the side. "Um... you two, we're closing up shop..."

Lin Yuhsia's face instantly burned, and she grabbed Su Rui and ran.

Su Rui let her pull him along, his laughter mingling with the sea breeze, clear and gentle. "Boss Lin, are you shy?"

"Shut up!"

The morning sunlight, like melting honey, slowly seeped into the hotel corridor carpet. Lin Yuhsia pushed open the door, her fingertips still twirling Su Rui's sleeve, and lazily yawned. Su Rui followed behind her, her hair slightly disheveled and her collar not fully turned up, clearly not fully awake yet.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Lin Yuhsia asked him, tilting her head, her fingers unconsciously stroking the inside of his wrist, as if confirming his presence.

Su Rui rubbed her eyes, her voice hoarse from just waking up. "... coffee."

"No, drinking coffee on an empty stomach is bad for your stomach." Lin Yuhsia frowned, pulling him towards the elevator. "Let's eat a sandwich first, then—"

Her words came to an abrupt end.

Because in that very instant—

A dark blue figure flashed out from around the corner of the corridor, moving so fast it almost left a blur. Lin Yuhsia didn't even have time to see the other person's face before she felt her hand go empty— Su Rui's sleeve had slipped from her fingertips.

"Varied--?!"

She looked up abruptly, her pupils contracting sharply.

Chen Hui-chieh had already grabbed Su Rui's waist with one hand and covered his mouth with the other. The moment Su Rui's eyes widened, she picked him up without hesitation and ran away.

"Chen Hui-chieh!!!" Lin Yuhsia's voice was almost explosive, with a sharp edge at the end.

But Chen Hui-chieh didn't turn around. Her steps were as light as a leopard that had successfully hunted its prey, and in the blink of an eye, she had reached the end of the corridor. Su Rui struggled in her arms for a moment, but she held him even tighter. He could even hear her whisper in his ear, "Don't move, cooperate."

--She had planned this all along.

Lin Yuhsia's mind went blank, and blood rushed to her temples. Almost instinctively, she chased after it, but after only two steps, the fire sprinkler system on both sides of the corridor suddenly activated, spraying out a large cloud of water mist that instantly blurred her vision.

"Cough cough--!" Lin Yuhsia choked on the water vapor and took two steps back, raising her hand to cover her face. When she opened her eyes again, Chen Hui-chieh and Su Rui had already disappeared around the corner.

Her fingertips dug so hard into her palms that her nails almost embedded themselves in her flesh.

... Chen Hui-chieh, you're finished.

Meanwhile, in the alley behind the hotel.

Chen Hui-chieh carried Su Rui out of the fire escape without stopping and turned directly into a narrow alley. Su Rui could only let out a few muffled groans with her hand covering his mouth. Only after confirming that she had shaken off Lin Yuhsia did Chen Hui-chieh release her grip and put him down.

"Inspector Chen, what's going on?" Su Rui gasped for breath, looking completely bewildered.

"Kidnapping," Chen Hui-chieh replied without changing her expression, casually straightening his collar which she had ruffled. "Any objections?"

Su Rui opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know how to respond.

Without waiting for his reply, Chen Hui-chieh grabbed his wrist and pulled him forward, saying, "Don't stand there, she'll catch up in three minutes at most."

As Su Rui was being dragged along, she couldn't help but glance back in the direction of the hotel. "... You even hacked the sprinkler system?"

"Hmm." Chen Hui-chieh's tone was as calm as if she were discussing the weather. "They also arranged for three cleaners to block her way with buckets of water, two deliverymen to pretend to bump into her, and—" She paused, a slight smile playing on her lips, "—a dog."

Su Rui: "... A dog?"

As if to confirm her words, a dog suddenly barked in the distance, followed by Lin Yuhsia's furious shout, "--Get out of the way! Don't bite my trouser leg!!"

Su Rui: "..."

Chen Hui-chieh chuckled softly, her steps unwavering, leading him through one alley after another. Her route was clearly planned in advance, each turn precisely avoiding surveillance cameras. She even managed to pull a baseball cap from her pocket and place it on Su Rui's head, then casually lower the brim to cover his face.

"How much have you prepared?" Su Rui couldn't help but ask.

"Enough to shake her off for half an hour." Chen Hui-chieh glanced at him sideways, her golden vertical pupils gleaming slightly in the morning light. "... I have something to tell you."

Su Rui was stunned for a moment, and before she could react, she was pulled into a secluded coffee shop.

***

On the other side, Lin Yuhsia finally shook off the dog that was relentlessly biting her, and stood at the street corner panting heavily, her face terribly gloomy.

She pulled out her terminal, quickly brought up a map of Dossoles, and swiped her finger across the screen a few times, locking onto several possible escape routes.

"Chen Hui-chieh ..." she whispered through gritted teeth, her fingertip tapping heavily on the screen, "...You think this will stop me?"

She gave a cold laugh and turned to run in the direction with the shortest distance.

Inside the coffee shop, Chen Hui-chieh and Su Rui sat in the far corner.

A cup of black coffee sat before Su Rui, steam rising gently, but he didn't move, only looking at Chen Hui-chieh across from him. "... So, what are you trying to say?"

Chen Hui-chieh tapped her fingers lightly on the table, her rhythm steady, as if she were considering how to begin. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a sharp line across her profile.

"... How does it feel after it's materialized?" she finally asked a seemingly unrelated question.

Su Rui smiled and said, "Not bad."

"Can you taste the flavor now?"

"Um."

"Can you feel the temperature?"

"Able."

"..." Chen Hui-chieh was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked up at him directly, "What about feelings?"

Su Rui was slightly taken aback.

"Is there a difference between emotions simulated by data and real emotions now?" Chen Hui-chieh's voice was soft, yet carried a certain persistence.

Su Rui looked at her, and after a moment, sighed softly, "... No."

Chen Hui-chieh's fingertips paused for a second on the rim of the glass. "For example?"

"For example..." Su Rui looked down at her reflection in the coffee cup, "...I used to 'like' something, and I still like something now. What's there to give as an example?"

He paused, "... but my heart races when I think of someone."

Chen Hui-chieh's pupils contracted slightly.

"... Who is it?" she asked, her voice even softer than before.

Su Rui looked up at her but didn't say anything.

Volume 11, Chapter 642: The Most Efficient Strategy

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the alleyways of Dossoles were filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread from the bakeries. Chen Hui-chieh pulled Su Rui by the wrist and led her through a narrow alleyway lined with clotheslines. The colorful sheets hanging on the lines swayed gently in the wind, like a flowing curtain, partially obscuring their figures.

"Inspector Chen, this is kidnapping." Su Rui said this, but his feet followed her, and he even pulled her back when she almost stepped into a puddle.

Chen Hui-chieh glanced back at him, a slight smile playing on her lips, "Then why don't you shout for help?"

Su Rui chuckled softly, "I'm afraid if we attract the patrol, things will be even more difficult for you to handle."

"Smart." She lightly scratched his palm with her fingertip, as if rewarding him or provoking him, and then pulled him into a dessert shop hidden behind a flower stand. The doorbell rang, and on the counter, in a glass case, were puddings covered in caramel, with cream piled up like small snow mountains.

The proprietress peeked out from the kitchen, her apron covered in flour. "Oh, Officer Chen, brought your boyfriend today?" Wait, you've only been here a few days! How did she find out so much? Did she check your household registration?

Su Rui looked her up and down with some doubt, but the person in front of her was a middle-aged woman... which seemed quite reasonable.

Chen Hui-chieh replied without changing her expression, "Yes, he likes sweets."

Su Rui raised an eyebrow at her as she shoved a spoonful of tiramisu into his mouth for a taste. When her fingertips brushed against his lips, she deliberately lingered for half a second longer. The bitterness of the coffee powder and the richness of the mascarpone melted on his tongue. Just as he was about to comment, she pulled him into a corner booth.

"Open your mouth." Chen Hui-chieh forked a piece of honey-covered waffle and handed it to her, the golden syrup dripping down the fork and onto the back of her hand. Su Rui bent down to take it, his tongue inadvertently brushing against her skin, tasting a hint of sea saltiness in the sweetness—the sweat from when she was running with him earlier.

Chen Hui-chieh's breath hitched, and she suddenly turned the fork around and put it in her mouth. "... Take it yourself."

Su Rui smiled and pulled out a tissue to wipe his hands. Suddenly, the sound of a steam organ drifted in from outside the window. Chen Hui-chieh's eyes lit up, and she pulled him into the crowd in the square. A street performer was manipulating a two-meter-tall mechanical puppet to dance the tango. Amidst the clicking of gears meshing, she suddenly turned and put her arm around Su Rui's shoulder. "Can you dance?"

"There are twelve dance steps in the database," he said, gently supporting her waist, "But we haven't tried them yet after they were materialized."

"Let's try it now." Chen Hui-chieh led him into the dance floor, the tassel of Chixiao's sword brushing against Su Rui's hand, tickling him like some kind of hint. Their steps unexpectedly matched, until Su Rui stepped into a puddle and stumbled. Chen Hui-chieh immediately wrapped her arms around his waist—a position that brought their noses almost touching, their breaths mingling and blending into the cheerful melody of the organ.

"Inspector Chen," Su Rui asked in a low voice, "Is this also part of the plan?"

"It was a spur-of-the-moment decision." She released him, but hooked her little finger around his and pulled him towards the fountain. "But here's the important part."

The aroma of fried food wafted from the stalls under the colorful sunshade. Chen Hui-chieh ordered a chili crab cake. The freshly fried pastry cracked open, and the scalding hot filling dripped onto her fingertips. Su Rui instinctively grabbed her wrist and licked away the drop of chili oil. Chen Hui-chieh jerked her hand away, her ears turning bright red. "... You did that on purpose?"

"Data analysis shows this is the most efficient method." Su Rui looked innocent, but smiled and handed her a glass of lemonade as Su Rui glared at her. "Besides, you could have easily dodged it."

Chen Hui-chieh snatched the glass and took a big gulp, the coolness of the ice cubes unable to quell the heat on her face. She retaliated by sprinkling chili powder all over the next crab cake. "Eat."

Su Rui bit down without changing her expression, a fine sheen of sweat beading on her neck as her Adam's apple bobbed. Chen Hui-chieh watched the bead of sweat slide into her collar, then suddenly leaned closer and wiped it away with her thumb. "... pretending to be strong."

When they shared a smoothie, Su Rui's straw had a lipstick stain on it. Chen Hui-chieh pretended not to notice, but when he changed the straw, she lightly kicked his shin. "You don't like me?"

"I was afraid you'd mind," he said with a smile, turning the straw around. "Want to try some?"