Ark Simulator: Don't I Lack a Physical Form? Chapter 291

Chen Hui-chieh bit down on the straw directly where he had drunk from. The sweet and sour mango flavor mixed with the coolness of mint was as addictive as the sea breeze of Dossoles. The clock tower in the distance chimed the hour, and she suddenly stood up. "Time to go."

"Lin Yuhsia has come looking for us?"

"No," Chen Hui-chieh stuffed the last piece of fried banana into his mouth, her fingertips brushing against his lower lip, "I'll take you somewhere she'd never expect."

She led Su Rui into the underground market, where fluorescent jellyfish swam in the glass pipes overhead, casting a ghostly blue glow. A vending machine dispensed two cans of locally brewed coconut beer, Chen Hui-chieh pried open the caps with the hilt of her sword, the foam spilling out and wetting her fingers.

"Cheers." She nudged Su Rui's jar. "For what?"

Su Rui gazed at her profile, illuminated by the fluorescent light. "For..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Hui-chieh suddenly leaned in and kissed the corner of his lips, pulling away almost immediately. "For this."

The sweet aroma of coconut wine still lingered on her lips as Su Rui stared at her blankly. Chen Hui-chieh had already turned and walked towards the shooting game stall, her back as straight as ever, but her ears were so red they were almost bleeding.

"Boss!" she slammed down a coin, "The highest difficulty."

As the mechanical target moved rapidly, Chen Hui-chieh's bullets hit the bullseye every time. Su Rui stood behind her, smelling the citrus shampoo scent wafting from her hair—the same one she used in the hotel bathroom that morning.

"Your turn." She suddenly shoved the toy gun into his hands, wrapped her arms around him from behind, and adjusted her position, her chest pressed against his back. "Three points in a straight line."

Su Rui pulled the trigger, and the target fell to the ground. A pair of rough ceramic pendants fell from the prize rack. Chen Hui-chieh picked them up and looked at them—one was a grinning sun, and the other was a crescent moon.

"Naive," she said, but then stuffed the moon into Su Rui's pocket and hung the sun on her sword sheath.

As dusk settled, they sat atop containers at an abandoned dock, sharing the last skewer of grilled octopus. Waves crashed against rusty steel bars. Chen Hui-chieh, swinging her legs, suddenly asked, "The tangible touch... is it the same as I imagined?"

Su Rui gazed at the beam of lighthouse in the distance. "Even better."

"For example?"

"For example..." he turned to look at her, "I can feel the calluses on your palms now."

Chen Hui-chieh opened her palm, the calluses from years of wielding a sword gleaming pale in the moonlight. Su Rui's fingertips traced those lines before finally interlocking with hers.

Lin Yuhsia's faint voice could be heard in the distance. Chen Hui-chieh sighed and let go of her hand, "You found it so quickly."

As she stood up, Su Rui suddenly grabbed her. "Are you going to run away again tomorrow?"

Chen Hui-chieh turned around, the moonlight tracing the sharp lines of her jawline. "... It depends on your performance."

When Lin Yuhsia finally found the dock, she only saw two empty beer cans and a smiley face drawn with chili sauce on the container—the corner of the face still had the same lipstick mark as hers.

Volume 11, Chapter 643: There are so many of them!

The afternoon sun in Dossoles shone like melting gold, casting its light through the palm trees along the coastal promenade. Chen Hui-chieh was holding Su Rui's wrist, walking past a small stall selling handmade ice cream. She had just shoved a mint chocolate cone into Su Rui's hand, while she herself licked a waffle drenched in strawberry sauce, when she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her—

"Hey, isn't this Inspector Chen?"

Chen Hui-chieh's back tensed instantly.

She slowly turned around and saw Hoshiguma standing three meters away, one hand on her hip, the other holding a fluorescent pink shopping bag printed with "Dossoles's hottest volcano cocktail". She wasn't wearing her uniform today, but a loose Hawaiian shirt, the open collar revealing a black bikini underneath, her sunglasses pushed up to her head, and her green eyes gleaming mischievously.

What made Chen Hui-chieh's temples throb even more was that Swire was standing next to Hoshiguma, wearing a pale yellow high-waisted swimsuit, with a semi-transparent sun-protective scarf draped over her shoulders, and the tip of her golden tail swaying leisurely. She was also holding a drink with a small paper umbrella stuck in it, and a cherry hanging from the straw, swaying back and forth with Chen Huijie's surprised movements.

"Su Rui?!" Swire's eyes widened instantly, and she almost dropped her drink. "You're here too?!"

--It's over.

Chen Hui-chieh's fingertips unconsciously tightened around Su Rui's wrist. She had planned everything perfectly: before Lin Yuhsia caught up, she would take Su Rui to experience all the things couples do. They ate ice cream, held hands, and she had even secretly kissed him in the changing room cubicle just now—but now, it was all ruined.

"Ah, yes." Su Rui remained calm, even smiling and waving at them, "Long time no see."

Hoshiguma whistled and strode over, her shopping bags rustling as she moved. "Hey Chen, secretly taking Su Rui on a date?" She deliberately emphasized the word "date" and patted Chen Hui-chieh's shoulder.

Chen Hui-chieh's lips twitched. "... What's it to you?"

Swire was already close to Su Rui, her tail wagging happily. "How does it taste? Can you taste it?" She suddenly handed him the drink, "Try this, a special mango Mojito!"

Just as Su Rui was about to take the glass, Chen Hui-chieh grabbed it from her. "He's allergic to alcohol."

"Really?" Swire narrowed her eyes. "I seem to remember he drank three glasses during the last team building event—"

"New setting." Chen Hui-chieh lied without batting an eye, casually shoving the drink back into Swire's hand. "You guys do your thing, we're leaving."

She was about to pull Su Rui away when Hoshiguma stepped in front of her and blocked her way. The tall Oni Clan woman grinned, revealing sharp fangs. "Don't be so formal~" She suddenly put her arm around Su Rui's other shoulder, "Since we've run into each other, how about we take a stroll together?"

Su Rui was caught in the middle, with Hoshiguma's strong arm on his left shoulder and Chen Hui-chieh's increasingly tight grip on his right wrist. In front of him was Swire's eagerly offered drink straw. He blinked and suddenly sent a message to Lin Yuhsia via their telepathic link:

"Urgent SOS! Location: Booth 17 on the Seaside Promenade. Encountered Hoshiguma and Shi--"

Before he could finish sending the message, Swire suddenly tiptoed closer to his ear, clearly noticing that Su Rui was daydreaming. "Hey, secretly sending Lin Yuhsia your location?" Her breath carried the sweet scent of mango liqueur, "--She'll be here in at least twenty minutes."

Su Rui: "..."

Chen Hui-chieh finally lost her temper and slapped Hoshiguma's hand away. "What exactly do you want?"

"Relax, Chen," Hoshiguma said with a smile, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender. "It's just a quick chat." She suddenly pulled four tickets from her shopping bag as if by magic. "We just bought a combined ticket for the water park, wanna go together?"

Under the sunlight, the words "Couple's Slide" on the ticket gleamed.

Chen Hui-chieh stared at the line of words, then looked at Su Rui's profile, which was gilded by the sunlight, and suddenly took a deep breath. "... Okay."

In any case, Lin Yuhsia won't be able to get here anytime soon.

Meanwhile, at the seafood market three kilometers away.

Lin Yuhsia had just kicked a vendor who tried to trip her with an ice bucket into the fish tank when her terminal suddenly vibrated. She swiped the screen, and Su Rui's telepathic message popped up:

"... Swire put sunscreen on my back, Chen Hui-chieh looks like she's pulled out the Chixiao, Hoshiguma is laughing, help!"

Bonus live footage: Swire pouring a bottle of coconut oil onto Su Rui's back, Hoshiguma is recording with her phone, and Chen Hui-chieh's back is clearly on the verge of drawing her sword, with Chixiao's sword tassel trembling.

Lin Yuhsia snapped the crayfish in her hand with her fingernails, "... Chen Hui-chieh, you're dead."

Swire's golden tail drew a dazzling arc in the sunlight. She held a black card between her fingers and gently tapped the reservation desk at the seaside restaurant. "Top-floor outdoor seating, a spot with a view of the fireworks show."

The waiter glanced at the three slightly disheveled people behind her— Chen Hui-chieh's shirt collar still had sunscreen stains, Hoshiguma's shopping bag had half a coconut sticking out, and Su Rui had a sparkly little crocodile hair clip in her hair (obviously forced on by Swire at the souvenir shop)—and immediately put on a smile, "Of course, Miss Swire! We'll arrange it for you right away!"

"Wait." Swire suddenly turned around, her pearl-nailed fingers poking at Su Rui's chest. "Change your clothes first."

She magically pulled three beautifully packaged shirts from her handbag. "Versace's limited summer collection, I ordered them in your size."

Hoshiguma whistled as she took the shirt, unfolding it to reveal a silk fabric covered in tropical flowers. "Wow, Missy really went all out!"

"Shut up, try yours on." Swire's ears turned slightly red as she handed Chen Hui-chieh another SilverAsh dress with a subtle pattern, and finally gave Su Rui a sea-blue silk dress with seashell buttons. "This color suits your eyes."

Just as Su Rui was about to thank her, Swire stood on tiptoe and began unbuttoning his collar, her citrus-scented hair brushing against his chin. "Don't move, your buttons are on wrong."

Chen Hui-chieh slapped her hand away. "He can put it on himself."

"Really?" Swire narrowed her emerald eyes. "Who left all those fingerprints on their back from applying sunscreen?"

Hoshiguma suddenly grabbed Chen Hui-chieh from behind. "Chen, calm down! There's no need for that."

Isn't it nice to see Su Rui wearing clothes that look glamorous but are actually quite revealing?

The champagne tower in the rooftop restaurant gleamed with an amber light in the twilight. Swire snapped his fingers, and a waiter immediately pushed over a trolley—oyster platters lined with ice and garnished with caviar, grilled lobster drizzled with gold leaf honey sauce, and even the accompanying bread was shaped like starfish.

"Try this." Swire scooped up a spoonful of steamed sea urchin with a shell spoon and held it directly to Su Rui's lips.

Volume 11, 644, Information and Communication

The moment the steamed egg custard slid into her mouth, Su Rui's eyelashes trembled. It was richer than described in the database, with a creamy texture that carried the sweetness of the sea and a hint of white truffle aroma.

"Is it good?" Swire asked, resting her chin on her hand, her toes brushing against his calf under the table.

Chen Hui-chieh suddenly stuck her fork into the steak between them. "He's allergic to seafood."

"Come on!" Swire on the table. "He ate three plates of sashimi by himself during the last team-building event!"

Taking the opportunity, Hoshiguma spread foie gras on Su Rui's bread. "Try this, it's amazing with fig jam."

Su Rui was like a display item being fed, taking bites of black truffle pasta from Swire on one side, a bite of Hoshiguma on the other, while also having to deal with Chen Hui-chieh suddenly shoving hangover soup into her mouth.

As the first firework exploded, Swire suddenly pulled Su Rui up. "Dance!"

Beneath the glass floor in the center of the restaurant, artificial waves rose and fell with the music. Su Rui was pulled into the dance floor, Swire's swimsuit jacket had somehow transformed into a sequined miniskirt, the fabric barely brushing against his palm as he turned.

"Little Tiger, are you cheating?" Hoshiguma squeezed closer to Chen Hui-chieh, her arm around his waist. "We agreed to take turns!"

"Who made a promise with you!" Swire hid Su Rui behind her back, but her tail wrapped around his wrist.

Chen Hui-chieh pulled out the Chixiao and slammed it into the dance floor floor. "The next song is mine."

The cold light reflected from the sword's blade startled the surrounding tourists, who quickly dispersed.

Swire was hanging on his back teaching him to swing a maracas, Hoshiguma was trying to put a straw bracelet on him, and Chen Hui-chieh's sword tip snapped off two of his shirt buttons.

When the dessert cart arrived, twelve empty plates were already piled up in front of Su Rui. Swire tapped her champagne glass. "The final touch~"

The waiter lifted the silver cover: next to the chocolate fountain stood a miniature Su Rui sugar figurine, even the blue highlights on its hair were replicated with edible gold powder.

"Eating 'yourself' counts as a successful contract," Swire, shoving a chocolate fork into his hand. "From now on, you'll go shopping with me three times a week."

Hoshiguma suddenly broke off the sugar figurine's arm. "Everyone gets a share!"

Chen Hui-chieh then used a fork to slice off "Su Rui's" head, and held it to his mouth with the tip of her sword. "Choose."

Three pairs of eyes gleamed in the candlelight. Su Rui sighed, then suddenly grabbed Swire's wrist and took a bite of the sugar figurine with the fork in her hand. She turned and sucked on the chocolate between Hoshiguma's fingers, finally bending down to snatch the "head" from the tip of Chen Hui-chieh's sword.

Anyone who didn't know better would think you were trying to kill me.

"I choose..." He licked the cocoa powder from the corner of his lips, "Delivery service."

In the moment the three were stunned, the restaurant window was suddenly shattered by a splash of chilled lemonade— Lin Yuhsia stood on the fire escape ladder, holding a dripping empty glass. "Having fun?"

Su Rui immediately hid behind her, the little crocodile hair clip on her head falling to the ground with a thud. Swire's golden tail bristled, Hoshiguma raised her hands and took two steps back, while Chen Hui-chieh silently sheathed Chixiao.

"Put the bill in my name." Lin Yuhsia tossed a black card at him, grabbed Su Rui, and started to walk out. Suddenly, she turned back and added, "Including those twelve plates—are you feeding them to pigs?"

Su Rui's last encrypted communication came through the night breeze:

"But the chocolate candy man is really delicious."

The accompanying photo is a hastily taken picture of a dessert cart; the focus is blurry, but you can clearly see the silhouettes of three women in the background, blaming each other.

As the sun sank below the horizon, two intertwined figures were reflected in the floor-to-ceiling windows of the hotel suite. Lin Yuhsia straddled Su Rui's lap, her fingertips digging deep into his shoulders, as if trying to nail him into the sofa. Her lips were still slightly swollen, and she pressed her breath unevenly against his forehead, warning him fiercely, "Don't move."

Su Rui chuckled softly, her hand gently stroking her back. "You were the one who kissed me first."

"Shut up." Lin Yuhsia bit his lower lip, her canine teeth grinding against it lightly. "If you laugh again, I'll throw you out."

But her threat had no effect whatsoever—because three seconds later she kissed him again, her fingers threading through his hair, pressing him even deeper. Su Rui's breathing became disordered by her kiss, the skin beneath his palms burning hot, as if he wanted to vent all the pent-up frustration he had felt over the past two weeks from being "harassed" by Chen Hui-chieh, Swire, and Hoshiguma.

Only when both of them were panting did Lin Yuhsia step back slightly, tracing the line of his bitten red lips with her fingertips, her eyes dark and unfathomable. "... So annoying."

Su Rui raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

"Them." She snorted coldly, then suddenly ripped open his collar in a fit of rage, leaving a sharp teeth mark on his collarbone. "Chen Hui-chieh pretended to be drunk and leaned against you, Swire threw a black card at you, and Hoshiguma even dared to hug your waist in the pool—" She grew angrier as she spoke, and then she lowered her head and bit him again. "Do you think I'm dead?"

Su Rui gave a muffled groan, but indulgently wrapped her arms around her waist. "Jealous?"

"Who's jealous!" Lin Yuhsia suddenly looked up, her ears burning red. "I just—" She paused abruptly, turned her face away, and added sullenly, "... I just think they're too noisy."

Su Rui chuckled, his fingertips brushing against her burning earlobe. "Now? Quiet enough, isn't it?"

The sound of waves crashing outside the window was faint; only the mingling of breaths filled the room. Lin Yuhsia stared at him for a long time, then suddenly leaned back against his shoulder as if deflated, her voice muffled by the fabric of her clothes. "... Whatever."

"Um?"

"I said!" she suddenly looked up, gritting her teeth, "You can go find them!"

Su Rui was stunned.

Lin Yuhsia grew angrier as she spoke, grabbing his collar with her fingers. "So they won't snatch people from me like hungry wolves again! Pretending to bump into me today, bribing the waiter tomorrow, how annoying!" Her voice trailed off, almost becoming a mutter, "... Anyway, there's no way to stop them."

Su Rui blinked, then suddenly understood. He cupped her face in his hands, pressed his forehead against hers, and whispered, "Are you really willing to do that?"

Lin Yuhsia glared at him, her eyes reddening slightly. "You dare to push your luck?"

"How about this?" Su Rui suddenly lifted her up by her hips, turned her around, and pressed her into the fluffy blankets. Lin Yuhsia gasped in surprise, and before she could protest, he kissed her lips. This kiss was longer than any before, so tender that it almost made her heart tremble.

Only when their breathing became erratic did Su Rui step back slightly, her fingertips brushing against the corners of her reddened eyes. "I'll only go home with you."

Lin Yuhsia paused, then suddenly turned her face away. "... Whatever you want."

But her fingers secretly wrapped around his, gripping him tightly.

Ultimately, Lin Yuhsia was worried that if Su Rui was taken away, she wouldn't have a single bite to eat. After all, Chen and the others probably wouldn't give up, and sharing wouldn't leave Lin Yuhsia with nothing when Chen and the others tried to steal Su Rui again.

Therefore, in order to eat more, Lin Yuhsia had to compromise on her shoes.