Ark Simulator, Aren't I Non-Corporeal?

(Is she... concerned about me?)

This realization made her heart race slightly. The Shining of the past would only touch her with cold instruments, record her data, and adjust her parameters. But now, her fingertips were warm, and her eyes even held a hint of something almost imperceptible...tenderness?

The Nightingale lowered its head and whispered, "Yes, I'll wear it properly."

Shining withdrew her hand, turned, and walked towards the lab table, the hem of her white lab coat tracing a clean arc. Nightingale watched her retreating figure and suddenly felt a subtle warmth rise in her chest.

She's changed.

Su Rui's voice echoed in her mind, Nightingale trembled slightly before smiling softly.

"Um."

"Don't you hate this?"

The Nightingale gently shook her head, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the hair clip.

"I don't dislike it... I'm just a little uncomfortable with it."

She used to fear the Shining, and even resent her. But now, that cold, researcher-like image is gradually blurring, replaced by a "mentor" who will leave her warm milk, teach her sewing techniques, and even... give her hair clips.

(Perhaps, and a little like... her mother?)

The thought made her ears burn, and she quickly shook her head to dismiss it.

A few days later, in the Medical Department's break room, Nightingale was hunched over her desk organizing medical records, while Su Rui leaned lazily against the back of the chair next to her, idly twirling the ends of her hair with her fingertips.

"Stop it..." Nightingale protested softly, but couldn't hide the smile on her lips.

Su Rui raised an eyebrow, leaned down and whispered in her ear, "So where do you want me to cause trouble?"

Nightingale's face flushed red, and she frantically pushed him away. "Su Rui! This is the work area!"

Su Rui chuckled, about to tease her a few more times, when the door to the lounge was suddenly pushed open.

Shining stood in the doorway, holding two cups of hot drinks. Her gaze swept between the two people, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on her lips, "Excuse me?"

Nightingale sat bolt upright, her ears burning red. "N-no!"

Su Rui remained calm and composed, even casually accepting the hot cocoa that Shining offered. "Thank you."

Shining nodded slightly and placed another glass of honey milk in front of Nightingale: "Don't overwork yourself."

Nightingale stared down at the glass of milk, her fingertips unconsciously circling the rim.

(She remembers I like to drink this...)

Shining didn't leave immediately. Instead, she sat down in the chair opposite Su Rui, her grey-purple eyes staring directly at him. "Su Rui, is your physical condition most stable right now?"

Su Rui paused for a moment, then chuckled, "It's very stable, thank you for your concern."

Shining nodded, reached into his pocket, took out a small data chip, and pushed it in front of him. "This is the latest Originium Arts Compatibility Optimization Protocol, which should reduce your energy fluctuations."

Su Rui raised an eyebrow and took the chip. "Did you research this specifically?" Although I don't need it at all, thank you anyway.

"Just something I did casually," Shining said casually, but couldn't hide the probing in her tone. "After all, you're Nightingale's 'tenant' now, so it's better to be more stable."

The Nightingale blinked, looking at the two of them with a somewhat blank expression.

(What are they saying?)

Su Rui held the chip in her hand, her amber eyes narrowing slightly. "Dr. Shining, you wouldn't be... worried about me, would you?"

Shining remained unfazed. "Just making sure my 'work' isn't disturbed."

Nightingale suddenly felt a subtle pang of sadness in her chest.

(Is she... also concerned about Su Rui?)

This realization made her unconsciously clench the medical record in her hand. She should be happy; Shining had accepted Su Rui and was even willing to research the adaptation protocol for him. But...

Why do I feel a little down?

Volume 12, Chapter 688 Shining, what are you doing?

Su Rui seemed to sense her emotions, and her virtual finger quietly hooked around her fingertip, gently pinching it.

Are you jealous?

The Nightingale immediately shook her head, but muttered to herself:

"No way!"

Shining's gaze lingered between the two for a moment before she suddenly stood up. "I still have medical records to process."

She turned to leave, but paused slightly at the door, glancing back at Nightingale: "Remember to come to the lab tonight; we need your assistance with the new Mental Barrier test."

Nightingale nodded. "Okay."

After the door closed, Su Rui suddenly chuckled softly.

"What are you laughing at!" Nightingale glared at him, embarrassed and annoyed.

Su Rui leaned closer, her forehead touching hers. "Miss Nightingale, your expression just now was like that of a child whose candy had been taken away."

Ye Yan turned her face away angrily. "I just... I just didn't expect her to care about you so much."

Su Rui pinched her cheek. "She doesn't care about me."

"Who is that for?"

"To you," Su Rui's voice softened, "She cares about me because I live in your Mental Landscape, because... I am your 'tenant'."

The Nightingale paused, her heart skipping a beat.

(... is that so?)

She looked down at the honey milk in her hand, the warmth seeping through the cup to her palm, just like the unintentional touch Shining had just given her.

That night, the laboratory lights were cold and quiet. Nightingale lay on the test bench, her eyes closed, waiting for Shining to debug the equipment.

"Relax," Shining's voice came from above her head, his fingers gently stroking her temples. "This is just a basic scan, it won't hurt."

Nightingale gave a soft "hmm," but suddenly felt Shining's fingertips pause.

"Where's the hair clip?"

Nightingale opened her eyes, smiled a little embarrassedly, and said, "I forgot it in the dorm... I'll definitely wear it tomorrow."

Shining paused for a moment, then suddenly reached into the pocket of his white coat and took out another one—almost identical in design, only with slightly different patterns.

"Wear this first."

Nightingale paused slightly, letting Shining pin the hair clip to her temple. The coolness of the metal against her skin inexplicably warmed her.

"Thanks."

Shining didn't respond, but simply continued adjusting the equipment. Nightingale, gazing at her profile, suddenly whispered:

"Dr. Shining... why are you suddenly being so nice to me?"

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Shining's fingers hovered over the control panel, her grey-purple eyes slightly lowered. After a long while, she spoke softly:

You were once my experimental subject.

The Nightingale's heart sank slightly.

"But now..." Shining's voice was soft, yet each word was clear, "You are my most successful 'creation.' Just like I have a daughter."

The Nightingale opened her eyes wide, a bittersweet warmth rising in her chest.

(His most successful... work?)

This title once only represented cold, experimental value, but now, coming from Shining's mouth, it inexplicably carried a hint of... pride?

Shining didn't look at her again, but simply activated the scanner. Blue light slowly enveloped Nightingale's body, and data streams rapidly scrolled across the screen.

"Mental Barrier stable, Originium Arts compatibility excellent." Shining's voice was calm, yet contained a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction. "17% improvement over last time."

Nightingale pursed her lips, then suddenly mustered her courage. "Then... am I a student who satisfies you?"

Shining's fingers paused slightly, and his grey-purple eyes finally turned to her.

In the instant their eyes met, Nightingale seemed to see a subtle flicker of emotion in those perpetually calm eyes.

"Not just students."

The Shining's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.

The Nightingale's heart suddenly raced.

(What... is that?)

She didn't ask, and Shining didn't explain. But at that moment, the cold white light in the laboratory seemed to soften, like a thin veil gently enveloping the two of them.

A few days later, Nightingale and Su Rui walked side by side down a corridor in Rhodes Island, the silver hair clip at her temple shimmering slightly in the light.

"So," Su Rui suddenly spoke up, "You don't hate The Shining anymore?"

The Nightingale gently shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips, "I don't dislike it."

"You even kind of like it?"

The Nightingale's ear tips turned slightly red, but she did not deny it.

Su Rui chuckled softly, then suddenly leaned down and whispered in her ear, "If... she did something to me, would you be jealous?"

Nightingale suddenly turned her head and glared at him. "What did she do to you?!"

Su Rui laughed so hard her shoulders trembled slightly, "See, you really do it."

Ye Yan angrily punched him, but silently admitted to herself—yes, she would.

(He's clearly my 'tenant'...)

She found the idea childish, yet she couldn't control it.

Looking at her flushed earlobes, Su Rui suddenly became serious. "Nightingale."

"Um?"

"She's very important to you, isn't she?"

The Nightingale paused for a moment, then nodded gently.

"That's enough." Su Rui ruffled her hair. "As for me... she cares about me only because of you."

The Nightingale looked up at him, its golden eyes filled with starlight.

"Real?"

Su Rui chuckled softly, then lowered his head and kissed her forehead. "Really."

At the end of the corridor, Shining stood at the corner, holding a stack of documents, her grey-purple eyes silently watching the scene. A slight smile appeared on her lips, and then she turned and left, the hem of her white lab coat tracing a quiet arc.

In the dead of night on Rhodes Island, the lights in the Medical Department still shone brightly.

Nightingale was hunched over her desk, her fingertips swiping rapidly across the tablet screen, organizing the case files for tomorrow's surgery. Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, gleaming like honey under the lamplight, and her brows were slightly furrowed, clearly focused on her work.

On the sofa beside her, Su Rui curled up, his breathing even and deep. He had originally come to keep Nightingale company during her night shift, but several days of system maintenance had left him exhausted, and he had eventually fallen asleep while waiting. His black hair was disheveled and spread across his forehead, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyes, making him look soft and unguarded, a stark contrast to the usually composed and capable Data Ghost.

The Nightingale occasionally glanced up at him, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.

(Her sleeping posture is so cute...)

Just as she was about to reach out and brush the stray hairs from his forehead, the door to the medical room was gently pushed open.

Shining walked in, carrying a stack of freshly printed lab reports. Her gaze swept over the sleeping Su Rui, then turned to Nightingale, her voice low. "Not over yet?"

Nightingale shook her head and answered in a similarly soft voice, "Just a few more cases are needed."

Shining nodded, placed the report on the table, and then walked to the sofa. Her movements were so light that they made almost no sound, but Nightingale immediately sensed her intention, her fingers tightening slightly.

(What is she going to do?)

Shining knelt down in front of Su Rui, his grey-purple eyes silently gazing at him for a moment before extending his hand—

I gently picked him up.

Volume 12, Chapter 689: Sleep