Ark Simulator, Aren't I Intangible? Chapter 310

The two quietly shared their dessert, exchanging a few words occasionally. The sunlight shone on them, as if casting a gentle filter over the moment.

until--

The coffee shop door opened again, and the wind chimes tinkled sweetly.

Warfarin, a lollipop dangling from his lips, stood smiling in the doorway, "Oh, what a coincidence!"

Nightingale froze instantly, while Su Rui looked at her expressionlessly. "... You were following us?"

Warfarin waved her hand, then pulled out a chair and sat down familiarly. "Don't be so wary, I'm just here to buy a coffee." She rested her chin on her hand, her gaze sweeping between the two of them. "But... hot cocoa with double cream? Su Rui, didn't you used to only drink black coffee?"

Su Rui remained calm. "Nightingale chose it."

Warfarin gave a meaningful "Oh," his gaze lingering on Nightingale's reddened earlobes. "It seems that after materialization, some people's influence has increased."

Nightingale lowered her head and gulped down her coffee, pretending not to hear.

Su Rui glanced at Warfarin: "Something wrong?"

Warfarin chuckled and leaned in, "Actually, Kal'tsit asked me to remind you—" she lowered her voice, "Remember to button up your uniform collars for your next date."

Nightingale choked on her coffee and coughed violently. Su Rui immediately reached out and patted her back, while giving Warfarin a cold glare.

Warfarin raised her hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, I'm leaving, I'm leaving~" She stood up, and before leaving, she turned back to add, "By the way, although the surveillance didn't capture anything, Kal'tsit's intuition... you know what I mean."

She waved goodbye and left, leaving Nightingale slumped on the table, burying her face in her arms and whimpering, "... It's over, all of Rhodes Island knows."

Su Rui looked at her flushed ears and reached out to ruffle her hair. "It's okay."

The Nightingale looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. "How can it be alright!"

Su Rui calmly took a sip of hot cocoa. "Anyway, I was always yours to begin with."

The Nightingale froze, then her entire face flushed red.

The sunlight still gently enveloped them, and the aroma of coffee filled the air. Su Rui's lips curved into a slight smile, while Nightingale lowered her head and secretly, tightly grasped his hand.

The smell of disinfectant filled the Medical Department. Nightingale tiptoed as she organized the top-tier medicine cabinet, the hem of her white coat swaying gently with her movements. Her fingers deftly moved among the glass bottles, neatly categorizing and placing the various medicines.

"Place the adrenaline in the third slot on the left." Shining calm voice came from behind.

Nightingale paused, then broke into a bright smile. "I know, it's been reorganized according to emergency use frequency." She turned to show Shining the neatly arranged cabinet. "This will save at least 3.7 seconds of medication retrieval time in an emergency."

Shining raised an eyebrow slightly, her silvery-white eyelashes almost translucent under the light. She took a few steps forward, her grey-purple eyes sweeping over the neatly arranged medicine bottles, a barely perceptible smile appearing at the corner of her lips, "Very professional."

This is their new way of getting along—the former researcher and the researched have now become medical partners working together. Nightingale has even started helping Shining organize the mountain of research data, while Shining will leave her a warm cup of honey milk when she's on night shift.

"Dr. Shining," Nightingale suddenly lowered her voice, her golden eyes flashing with a cunning light, "May I see your latest paper on suppressing Originium Arts?"

Shining's fingers, which were recording medical records, paused slightly. "Why are you suddenly interested in this?"

Nightingale's fingertips unconsciously circled her staff. "Su Rui said my Mental Barrier can..." She suddenly realized she'd let something slip and quickly corrected herself, "I meant, I think this research direction is very valuable!"

The lights in the Medical Department flickered suddenly, and one of the surveillance cameras subtly shifted its angle. Nightingale's ears immediately turned pink—she knew who was behind this.

Shining's gaze flickered for a moment between Nightingale and the unusual camera, before she finally sighed softly, "The file is in filing cabinet D-37." She paused, then added, "Don't let Kal'tsit find out."

Nightingale's eyes lit up instantly. Just as she was about to thank her, she suddenly felt something invisible gently encircle her waist. Her breath caught in her throat, and she almost cried out in surprise.

"Thank you, Dr. Shining!" She bowed hastily, taking the opportunity to break free from the invisible embrace and run towards the archives as if fleeing.

Volume 12, page 686 is mine.

Shining watched her hurried retreating figure, shook her head, and continued writing the medical record. But upon closer inspection, one would notice that her handwriting was a bit more sloppy than Ping's—as if she was also suppressing some emotion.

In the archives, Nightingale had just closed the door when she was pulled into a warm embrace.

"Su Rui!" she protested in a low voice, but couldn't hide the excitement in her tone, "This is the work area!"

Su Rui hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. "So?" His breath brushed against her ear. "You were adorable when you mentioned me earlier."

Ye Yan's face flushed red. "You... you were watching on the security camera!"

"This isn't peeping." And I don't need surveillance to peep, Su Rui chuckled, toying with a strand of her blonde hair. "This is called making good use of resources." He pointed to the corner camera. "And I adjusted the angle."

Nightingale wanted to retort, but was suddenly turned to face him. Su Rui's amber eyes shone brightly in the dimly lit archives, like amber filled with starlight. His fingertips gently caressed her cheek, carrying the warmth of a physical object.

"Missing me?" he asked softly, his voice carrying the magnetic resonance unique to Electronic Ghost.

Nightingale's heart skipped a beat. Even after being materialized for so long, she still felt as nervous as when they first met whenever she was close to Su Rui.

"No, no, I didn't." She turned her face away, but couldn't hide the upturned corners of her mouth. "We just saw each other this morning."

Su Rui raised an eyebrow. "Then why have you been sneaking peeks at my workstation?"

"I'm looking at the monitor screen!"

"Oh?" Su Rui leaned closer. "Then why did someone immediately become distracted when I left to check the equipment?"

Nightingale was speechless, then finally punched his chest in frustration. "You Data Ghost, you're too cunning!"

Su Rui laughed and pulled her even tighter. Nightingale initially struggled a few times, but quickly gave up and buried her face in his neck. He had a faint smell of electronic components mixed with the smell of disinfectant from the Medical Department, which inexplicably made her feel at ease.

"... Actually, I've been thinking about it a little bit," she admitted sullenly.

Su Rui's heart monitor suddenly beeped softly—a sign of his emotional fluctuation. He lowered his head and kissed Nightingale's hair. "Me too."

Outside the archives, Shining stood at the corner, clutching a stack of documents. She had come to retrieve a report, but stopped after hearing the commotion inside. Through the crack in the door, she saw Nightingale being held in Su Rui's arms, the two whispering like any ordinary couple.

(Really...)

She shook her head, turned to leave, but bumped into Nearl, who was delivering coffee.

"Dr. Shining?" Nearl looked at her questioningly. "Weren't you going to retrieve some information?"

Shining remained expressionless. "I suddenly remembered something more urgent." She took the coffee. "Thank you."

Nearl's gaze passed over her, landing on the half-open door to the archives room, and then he showed a look of sudden realization. "Ah, Nightingale and Su Rui are inside?"

Shining took a sip of her coffee but didn't answer.

Nearl smiled knowingly. "Youth is wonderful." She patted Shining on the shoulder. "Speaking of which, you and Nightingale have been working together very well lately."

Shining's gaze softened slightly. "She's a good student."

"It's not just students, is it?" Nearl said meaningfully. "I remember you used to be Nightingale's assistant. It seems she's not so hostile towards you anymore?"

Indeed, ever since Nightingale displayed her astonishing medical talent, their relationship gradually evolved from a simple master-disciple dynamic into a collaborative partnership. Sometimes Shining would perform the surgery, with Nightingale assisting; other times, Nightingale would handle the Originium Arts healing, while Shining offered advice.

"It's simply a matter of each using their strengths," Shining said calmly, though a hint of pride lingered in his voice.

Nearl smiled meaningfully, "You've changed a lot, Shining."

Shining didn't refute. She looked down at the swirling coffee in her cup, her thoughts drifting back to that night that changed everything—when she discovered another being resided in Nightingale's mind, when she realized her research might destroy a pure soul...

The door to the archives suddenly opened, Nightingale walked out, her face flushed, followed by Su Rui, who couldn't help but smile. Upon seeing the two people at the door, Nightingale froze on the spot, like a startled fawn.

"Dr. Shining! Miss Nearl!" Her voice rose an octave.

Su Rui remained calm and composed, even straightening Nightingale's wrinkled collar. "Did you find the data?"

Nightingale glared at him fiercely, then frantically held up a stack of documents. "Found it! Found it!"

Nearl couldn't help but chuckle, "It seems to be a very 'in-depth' study."

Nightingale's face turned even redder, wishing she could disappear into the ground. Shining, seeing this, suddenly spoke up to defuse the situation:

"Nightingale, the patient in bed number 3 needs a dressing change."

"Ah! I'll go right now!" Nightingale exclaimed, feeling as if she had been granted a pardon. She grabbed the documents and ran off.

Su Rui nodded to the two and followed them at a leisurely pace. At the end of the corridor, Nightingale could still be heard muttering a complaint, "It's all your fault! Now the whole of Rhodes Island knows!"

After they had walked away, Nearl turned to Shining: "You've really changed a lot."

Shining gazed in the direction Nightingale had gone and softly hummed in agreement.

"No regrets?" Nearl asked.

Shining shook her head, a complex emotion flashing in her grey-purple eyes. "She deserves better..." She paused, "A better mentor than me."

Nearl seemed thoughtful. "But she chose you, didn't she? As her partner."

Shining was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "What do you think of Su Rui?"

"That Electronic Ghost?" Nearl laughed, blinking. "What, worried he'll steal your students?"

Shining didn't answer, but simply downed her coffee. But Nearl noticed that her gaze unconsciously followed the Nightingale's figure in the distance until it disappeared around the corner.

(Perhaps even she herself didn't realize that this concern had gone beyond the scope of a mentor's care for a student.)

Meanwhile, at the other end of the Medical Department, Nightingale was changing a patient's dressing with gentle and precise movements. Su Rui leaned against the wall, watching Nightingale's profile intently as she worked.

"Pay attention," Nightingale whispered, "Dr. Kal'tsit said that medical operators need to..."

"Focused, professional, and dedicated," Su Rui replied, without ever looking away, "But I was just admiring my girlfriend."

Nightingale's hand trembled, nearly spilling the potion. Her face flushed, she glared at him. "Who, who's your girlfriend!"

"Oh?" Su Rui raised an eyebrow. "Who was it that admitted to missing me in the archives just now?"

Nightingale was furious, but she turned her attention to her work, pretending not to hear. However, the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up, and even her movements while changing the dressing became a little lighter.

Volume 12, Chapter 687: The Nightingale is a Little Bit Sour

Su Rui looked at her, suddenly recalling the scene when she first materialized. Back then, Nightingale was trembling with fear, afraid that Shining would discover their secret and lock him back in the lab. But now...

(Now, she dares to mention me in front of Shining.)

This realization sent a subtle ripple through his core processor. He had once been a Data Ghost without a physical form, but now he stood there in reality, acknowledged, accepted, and even... loved.

"Nightingale," he suddenly said.

"Hmm?" Nightingale didn't even look up, focusing on adjusting the IV drip rate.

"Thanks."

The Nightingale turned her head in confusion, only to meet his unusually serious gaze. She instantly understood what he meant, and her golden eyes welled up with tears.

"Idiot," she whispered, but secretly hooked her little finger around his, "I should be thanking you."

Their fingertips intertwined tightly at an angle unseen by the patient, like a silent vow.

The Medical Department's lights gently enveloped them, and the sounds of Shining and Nearl conversing drifted from afar. Operators hurried past in the corridors. Everything seemed so ordinary, yet so precious.

The Nightingale thought, this is the life she has always longed for—a trustworthy mentor, a loving partner, and a place and value of her own. No longer an experiment, no longer a caged bird, but a true "Nightingale."

And all of this began with the Data Ghost that took up residence in her mind, and the Absolver who ultimately chose to let go.

(Thank you.)

She murmured to herself, her movements becoming increasingly gentle, as if she were handling some precious treasure.

Nightingale tiptoed to organize the medicine cabinet, her nimble fingers deftly sorting and arranging the medicine bottles. Her movements were gentle and precise, the cuffs of her white coat swaying slightly with each movement, revealing a glimpse of her slender wrist.

Shining stood not far behind her, his grey-purple eyes silently watching her.

(She's grown taller.)

The thought suddenly popped into Shining's mind. She remembered the first time she saw Nightingale, the girl curled up on the lab table, so thin she seemed like she would break at the slightest touch. But now, Nightingale's figure had relaxed, her long golden hair reaching her waist, shimmering like honey under the light.

(My... work.)

This name once carried only a cold, experimental meaning, but now it has inexplicably acquired a touch of tenderness and connection.

"Nightingale," Shining called softly.

Nightingale turned her head, her golden eyelashes trembling slightly. "Dr. Shining?"

"Here, take this." Shining took a small box out of her pocket and handed it over.

Nightingale took it with a puzzled look, and was slightly taken aback when she opened it—inside was a silver hair clip, simple in design, but engraved with intricate Originium patterns.

"This is..."

"A protective Originium Arts conductor." Shining's voice remained calm, yet warmer than usual. "It can stabilize your Mental Barrier and reduce the risk of backlash."

Nightingale's fingertips gently traced the hair clip, a subtle flicker of emotion crossing her eyes. She looked up at Shining, a smile unconsciously playing on her lips, "Thank you."

Shining nodded slightly, her gaze softening unconsciously. She reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of golden hair behind Nightingale's ear, her movements as delicate as if she were handling something fragile.

"Don't always wear your hair down; it'll get in the way when you're working."

The Nightingale paused, her ear tips turning slightly red.