Ark Simulator, Aren't I Incorporeal?

The Nightingale's breath hitched.

Su Rui frowned slightly in his sleep, but quickly relaxed, even unconsciously snuggling closer to Shining, as if he had found a more comfortable position. His head rested on Shining's shoulder, his black hair intertwining with her silver-white hair, creating a striking contrast under the light.

Shining's movements were practiced and steady, as if she had done this many times before. She adjusted her posture to make sure Su Rui wouldn't slip, then looked at Nightingale: "I'll take him back to his room."

Nightingale opened her mouth, as if to say, "I'll do it," but seeing Shining's calm eyes, she swallowed her words.

(... she was just helping out.)

She nodded, trying to make her voice sound natural, "Thank you."

Shining nodded slightly, then turned and left with Su Rui in her arms. Her back was tall and elegant, and even with an adult man in her arms, her steps remained steady. Su Rui appeared exceptionally quiet in her arms, even somewhat docile, like a precious jewel being carefully protected.

Nightingale watched their departing figures, her fingertips unconsciously tightening around the tablet in her hand.

(He's clearly my lover...)

This thought made her feel a pang of sadness, but she quickly suppressed it with reason.

(The Shining was just helping out; she's not...)

What is it anyway?

Even the Nightingale couldn't explain it.

Half an hour later, Nightingale finally finished her work. She rubbed her sore neck, turned off the desk lamp, and got up to walk towards the dormitory area.

The hallway was dimly lit and quiet, and her footsteps were so light they were almost inaudible. When she pushed open the door to her and Su Rui's bedroom, the scene before her made her pause slightly.

Shining was standing by the bed, bending down to gently place Su Rui on it. Her movements were careful; she even pulled the blanket up for him. Su Rui turned over in his sleep, unconsciously grabbing Shining's wrist before she could pull it back, and mumbled something indistinctly.

Shining paused, but did not immediately pull her hand away. Instead, she let him hold it, and gently brushed the stray hairs from his forehead with her other hand.

"Go to sleep." Her voice was very soft, almost like a sigh.

The Nightingale stood at the doorway, suddenly feeling a tightness in her throat.

(... They seemed very close.)

Shining seemed to sense her gaze, straightened up, and turned to look at the doorway. For a fleeting moment their eyes met, Nightingale instinctively looked away, like a child who had done something wrong.

"He's sleeping soundly." Shining walked towards her, her voice still calm. "System maintenance consumed too much energy."

Nightingale nodded, forcing a smile, "Yes, he's been very tired lately."

Shining glanced at her, his grey-purple eyes seemingly able to read her thoughts, but in the end he said nothing, only gently patting her shoulder. "You should get some rest too."

Then, she walked past the Nightingale and left the room.

The moment the door closed, Nightingale let out a long sigh of relief and sat down by the bed. Su Rui was still fast asleep, breathing evenly, with even a faint smile on her lips, as if she were having a sweet dream.

Nightingale reached out and poked his cheek, complaining softly, "Sleeping so soundly... you didn't even know you were being carried back in a princess carry."

Su Rui frowned in his dream, then suddenly reached out and pulled her precisely into his arms. Nightingale was caught off guard and fell onto him, her cheek pressed against his chest, where she could clearly hear his heartbeat.

"Su Rui! You're pretending to be asleep?!" She struggled to lift her head, only to meet his still-closed eyes.

(... Is he really still sleeping?)

Nightingale stared at him suspiciously for a few seconds, then finally gave up and let him hold her. Her face was pressed against his chest, and she could smell the faint scent of electronic components on him, mixed with a hint of... disinfectant?

(It's the scent of Shining.)

This realization stirred a subtle emotion within her.

(He's clearly my lover, but he smells like someone else...)

She knew it was childish of her to think this way, but she just couldn't control herself.

The next morning, when Su Rui woke up, he found Nightingale putting on her uniform with her back to him. She was putting on her uniform with more effort than usual, and she even buttoned it up tightly, not even leaving the top button unbuttoned.

"Good morning." He lazily propped himself up, his voice still sleepy.

The Nightingale, without turning her head, replied, "Good morning."

Su Rui raised an eyebrow, keenly sensing the odd tone in her voice. He got out of bed, walked behind her, put his arm around her waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Nightingale's body stiffened slightly, but she quickly relaxed and muttered softly, "It's nothing."

Su Rui chuckled softly, gently pinching her waist with his fingers. "Miss Nightingale, do you know that your ears turn red when you lie?"

The Nightingale immediately covered her ears, glaring at him with embarrassment and anger. "I didn't!"

Su Rui laughed so hard her shoulders trembled slightly. Suddenly, she leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Are you... jealous?"

Nightingale's ears burned instantly. She whirled around and pushed him away. "Who, who's jealous! I just felt... I felt..."

"What do you think?"

Nightingale bit her lower lip, and after a long while whispered, "I feel like Shining has brought you back... far too many times."

Su Rui blinked, then suddenly looked enlightened. "Oh—so that's why."

Nightingale playfully punched him. "Don't laugh!"

Su Rui grabbed her wrist, pulled her into her arms, and pressed her forehead against hers. "Nightingale, do you know why Shining did this?"

Nightingale turned her face away. "Because she thinks you're too tired."

"No," Su Rui whispered, "Because she wants to be good to you."

The Nightingale paused, then looked up at him.

Su Rui's eyes were gentle. "She cares about me because I live in your Mental Landscape, because... I'm your 'tenant'." He paused, "She's trying to make up for the past in her own way."

The Nightingale's eyelashes trembled slightly, and a bittersweet warmth welled up in her chest.

(... is that so?)

Su Rui lowered her head and kissed her forehead. "So, don't be jealous, okay?"

Nightingale pursed her lips, then finally nodded gently and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

(Okay, I'll reluctantly forgive you.)

A few days later, Nightingale returned to her dormitory after finishing her night shift. When she opened the door, she saw Shining placing the sleeping Su Rui on the bed.

This time, she didn't run away, but stood at the doorway, watching quietly.

Shining noticed her gaze, turned to look at her, and a questioning glint flashed in her grey-purple eyes.

The Nightingale entered the room and whispered, "Thank you."

Shining paused slightly, then shook her head. "No need."

Nightingale walked to the bedside, looked at Su Rui's sleeping face, and suddenly said, "He's very tired lately."

"Um."

"System maintenance costs are too high."

"I know."

After a brief silence, Nightingale looked up and gave Shining a faint smile, "Next time... shall we bring him back together?"

Shining gazed at her, his grey-purple eyes softening slightly.

"Good."

Volume 12, Chapter 690: Natural Coexistence

Rhodes Island's Medical Department was always bustling; the smell of disinfectant mingled with the hum of equipment, creating a unique atmosphere. Nightingale stood before the medicine cabinet, her fingertips gently manipulating the labels on the medicine bottles, arranging them neatly. Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, gleaming honey-like under the light, and her gaze occasionally drifted to the other side of the room—where Su Rui sat at her terminal, her fingers flying across the keyboard, her amber eyes fixed intently on the screen.

His black hair was somewhat disheveled, clearly messed up unconsciously, and his brows were slightly furrowed, indicating that he was focused on some complex system maintenance work.

The Nightingale's lips unconsciously curved into a smile.

(She looks so handsome when she's serious...)

She was about to walk over when she saw Shining approach Su Rui first.

Shining held a report in her hand, her grey-purple eyes scanning the screen before she reached out—

He pinched Su Rui's cheek.

"The data here is inaccurate." Her voice was calm, but her fingertips gently tugged at his cheek, as if punishing his carelessness.

Su Rui made a soft "uh" sound, but didn't move away, only mumbling a protest. "Be gentle... I'm still adjusting."

Shining released his grip and lightly tapped his forehead with her fingertip. "Recheck."

Su Rui rubbed her reddened face, sighed helplessly, but still obediently did as she was told.

The Nightingale stood not far away, quietly watching this scene.

(When did they become so close?)

Her fingertips unconsciously circled the staff, a subtle emotion rising within her, but she quickly suppressed it. She walked towards the two of them, stopping on the other side of Su Rui, and gently poked his other cheek.

"Pinch this side too, to balance it." Her voice carried a hint of teasing, but her eyes were soft.

Su Rui blinked, then laughed, reaching out to grab her wrist and pulling her closer. "Nightingale, are you taking this opportunity to get revenge?"

Nightingale smiled softly, letting him hold her hand, without objection.

Shining's gaze lingered briefly between the two before she turned away nonchalantly. "I'm going to prepare for the surgery."

Nightingale watched her retreating figure and suddenly spoke, "Dr. Shining."

Shining stopped and turned to look at her.

Nightingale hesitated for a moment, then simply smiled and asked, "... Do you need any help?"

Shining shook her head slightly. "No need, you can continue."

Her tone remained calm, but Nightingale inexplicably felt that her gaze seemed a little softer than usual.

A few days later, while Nightingale was organizing files, she accidentally came across a photo—taken during a team-building event for the Medical Department. In the photo, Su Rui was standing between her and Shining, and she was smiling as she put a cookie into his mouth, while Shining stood on the other side, pinching his earlobe with his fingers, as if reminding him of something.

(... So this kind of interaction has become so natural?)

Nightingale stared at the photo for a while, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips.

She used to feel a pang of jealousy when Shining and Su Rui were intimate, but now she finds herself used to it.

(Perhaps this is the unspoken understanding between them.)

She put the photo back where it belonged and continued working, but a warm feeling welled up inside her.

Late at night, Su Rui leaned against the headboard, watching Nightingale emerge from the bathroom, drying her wet hair. Her blonde hair shimmered under the light, and her eyes seemed unfocused, as if she were deep in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" He reached out and pulled her to his side, taking the towel to dry her hair.

Nightingale nestled in his arms, remained silent for a moment, and then whispered, "... You and Shining are very close."

Su Rui paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, "Jealous?"

Nightingale shook her head, her fingers unconsciously playing with the hem of his clothes. "No... it's just that I feel like you two have some kind of unspoken understanding... that I can't get in there."

Su Rui put down the towel, cupped her face in her hands, and looked at her earnestly. "Nightingale, do you know why?"

The Nightingale blinked, waiting for his explanation.

"Because Shining knows better than anyone how important I am to you." His voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness. "She pinches my cheek, reminds me to work, and even occasionally takes me to rest... all because she wants to make sure I can always be by your side."

The Nightingale's eyelashes trembled slightly, and a bittersweet warmth welled up in her chest.

(So that's how it is.)

Su Rui lowered her head and kissed her forehead. "So, don't overthink it, okay?"

The Nightingale nodded gently and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

(Well, this kind of tacit understanding seems pretty good.)

The Medical Department remained busy the next day.

Nightingale was preparing medicine when she suddenly heard Su Rui's voice from behind her. "Nightingale, take a look at these data."

She turned around, only to see that Shining had already walked up to him and pinched his earlobe. "Check it yourself."

Su Rui sighed helplessly, but still obediently lowered her head to check.