Ark Simulator, Aren't I Supposed to Have No Physical Body? Chapter 33

Ren Dong, whose emotions had calmed somewhat, began softly telling her daughter in her arms about it:

"Little Suzuran, don't be afraid. Actually, it's time you knew about this."

"Mm."

"But promise me you won't tell Daddy that you know, okay?"

"I know. Daddy's kind of silly, so we shouldn't make him think about so much."

Suzuran nodded solemnly, making Ren Dong laugh despite herself.

Then, holding her daughter tighter, Ren Dong whispered into Suzuran's ear:

"Daddy might have to go traveling someday. He'll leave us, and it might take him a very long time to find his way back."

Suzuran's eyes immediately widened. She looked at Su Rui, who was still focused on his game, then back at Ren Dong. The little girl's ears twitched, and her blue eyes trembled faintly.

Ren Dong put a finger to her lips in a "shh" gesture, signaling Suzuran not to make a sound. The little girl immediately covered her mouth with both hands.

Yet her wide, startled eyes remained fixed on Ren Dong, full of confusion.

Ren Dong: What's Wrong with Being a Little Despicable for Su Rui?

After a moment, little Suzuran lowered her voice and asked:

"Can't we go traveling with Daddy?"

Ren Dong froze for a moment before realizing that, from her daughter's perspective, there were still some holes in her explanation.

But telling the little girl the full truth directly would be far too cruel.

So Ren Dong smiled and shook her head.

"We can't stop him. Besides, Daddy doesn't want to leave either, but when that time comes, he won't have any choice."

...Suzuran and Ren Dong secretly talked behind Su Rui for a long time, until Su Rui grew a little tired of gaming and turned to look at his wife and daughter.

"Ren Dong, little Suzuran? What are you talking about?"

"Daddy!"

Su Rui had just stood up and stretched when he saw a little golden furball charging toward him.

The soft little body slammed into his arms. Su Rui lost his balance and instinctively held the little fluffball tighter.

If Ren Dong hadn't hurried over and pulled him in time, Su Rui would have fallen straight to the floor with Suzuran in his arms.

"Alright, it's lunchtime. Let's go eat. I prepared the ingredients today—we're having Yan-style braised pork."

Ren Dong smiled as she announced lunch. Su Rui's eyes immediately lit up. He picked Suzuran up and let his daughter sit on his arm, then nodded.

"Sure, let's go."

Daddy got distracted again. He's so easy to fool.

Sitting on Su Rui's arm, Suzuran leaned over his shoulder and thought helplessly. Then she reached out to stroke the fluffy white fox ears on top of his head. Feeling them bounce and twitch now and then was quite fun.

I need to teach Daddy some common sense. Otherwise, if he goes traveling, those people with bad intentions will definitely trick him away.

Suzuran made up her mind. The little girl was very sensible. Since she couldn't stop Daddy from leaving, she had to make sure he stayed safe.

Thus, on the way to the dining room, Suzuran sat in Su Rui's arms and solemnly said:

"Daddy, there are lots of bad people in the outside world. It's not like the shrine where we live now. Outside, there are lots of people who want to trick you away!"

"Of course I know there are lots of bad people outside. I'm very smart."

Su Rui smiled amusingly and rubbed Suzuran's head, not taking the little girl's words seriously. He only assumed she'd read a similar story recently and had been reminded of it.

Texas also heard Suzuran's words, and the corners of her mouth curled upward.

"Little Suzuran is right. Su Rui, you really should be careful. Someone outside might try to kidnap and sell you."

"Me, kidnapped? I'd sell the traffickers instead."

Su Rui rolled his eyes disdainfully. Then he carried Suzuran over and sat across from Texas, his expression becoming slightly more serious.

"I know how all of you see me."

Su Rui's words instantly made Texas, Suzuran in his arms, and Ren Dong, who was about to start cooking, freeze. All three women looked at him instinctively, nervously waiting for what he would say next.

Does Su Rui know we've been communicating behind his back? Or about the agreement Ren Dong and I made to make a move on Su Rui?

Texas exchanged a nervous glance with Ren Dong, afraid that their plan to use Su Rui's guilt had already been uncovered by his Scanning Vision.

But Su Rui spoke about something else.

"Although I look like I'm easily distracted by you and don't care about a lot of things, that's because I trust you. I think you won't lie to me. I'm actually very cautious and won't trust strangers so easily, understand?"

Once Su Rui said that, Ren Dong and Texas both let out a sigh of relief. They exchanged a look and could both see the relief in each other's eyes, along with... a hint of guilt and shame.

Su Rui still seemed a little silly after saying that, and Ren Dong and Texas felt even guiltier about their previous plan.

After all, Su Rui really did seem somewhat silly. There was no need to use his guilt toward Ren Dong to keep him here...

Thinking that, Ren Dong and Texas even felt uneasy about their own actions. Making this silly guy feel guilty and heartbroken just to keep him here felt like something only terrible people would do.

But before the two of them could fully work up their emotions, Suzuran couldn't help laughing, breaking the somewhat heavy atmosphere.

Su Rui looked rather displeased at little Suzuran laughing in his arms and reached out to pinch his daughter's cheeks.

"What are you laughing at? Was I wrong?"

"Nothing. Daddy really is smart, but only when it comes to rational thinking."

Suzuran smiled and rubbed Su Rui's fluffy ears, soothing him as though he were a child.

"Daddy's the best and the smartest, okay?"

"Who comforts someone like that? Am I a child?"

Su Rui snorted, but he didn't pursue the matter any further. Instead, he put Suzuran in her own seat and let the little girl sit properly.

A hint of amusement flashed through Texas's eyes when she saw this. However, to avoid letting Su Rui catch her again, she tried hard to suppress her laughter and merely lowered her head as though something on the table was incredibly fascinating.

Still, Suzuran's praise had been sincere. With his Scanning Vision and exceptionally powerful electronic computing ability, Su Rui could almost instantly find the answer to any problem involving logical thought or mathematical calculations.

Thus, Su Rui usually taught little Suzuran's lessons. Even Ren Dong found some of the strange questions in the textbooks baffling, but Su Rui only needed one glance to know both the answer and how to solve them.

Soon, Ren Dong finished making lunch. Su Rui helped arrange the plates and utensils, and then the family of four gathered around to eat.

Actually, Su Rui felt that his big tail was fluffy, soft, and strong. It might have been useful for carrying plates.

He had even specifically suggested trying to place dishes on his tail and let him carry them all to the dining table by himself.

But Ren Dong rejected it without hesitation.

Ren Dong's reason was simple: if his tail got dirty, she or Texas would have to deal with it, which would be troublesome.

And what if Su Rui accidentally spilled lunch? Food couldn't be wasted.

Thus, under the guidance of Ren Dong, Texas, and even little Suzuran, Su Rui gave up on the idea.

Ren Dong's Gift

The farewell came suddenly one morning. After all, once the Upper System had removed the date of Su Rui's departure, it never displayed information about when he would leave again.

So when Su Rui woke up one morning and saw the conspicuous notice from the Upper System in his field of view—

[You have a little over ten minutes to say goodbye to your family.]

—he nearly cursed out loud.

"Does that old bastard just love pulling this kind of unpredictable nonsense..."

However, considering that Ren Dong was still sleeping beside him and little Suzuran was still in his arms, Su Rui restrained the urge to curse and muttered quietly.

Yet even that tiny bit of movement was enough to wake Ren Dong, who had become increasingly sensitive lately.

Su Rui had only muttered a few words under his breath, but Ren Dong's ears twitched and she immediately sat upright, staring directly at Su Rui.

"..." Su Rui looked at Ren Dong with his scarlet eyes. Seeing how nervous she was, he instinctively wanted to conceal the fact that he was about to leave.

But with no experience in such situations, Su Rui couldn't hide his emotions very well.

Besides, Ren Dong had already seen his expression.

"...Let's go outside and talk, okay?"

Ren Dong fell silent for a moment. She reached out and gently caressed Su Rui's cheek, gesturing toward the door. At the same time, she helped lift little Suzuran, who was still clinging to Su Rui's big tail, before Su Rui could move.

"Daddy~"

Still half-asleep, little Suzuran instinctively tried to hug Su Rui's big tail tighter.

Ren Dong stroked Suzuran's little head and softly comforted her by the ear. "Alright, little Liza. Go back to sleep. Daddy and I are going outside for a bit."

"Mmm~"

After responding sleepily, Suzuran released the little hands wrapped around Su Rui's tail. Ren Dong laid her to one side and tucked her in properly.

Then, with only an exchange of glances, Su Rui and Ren Dong knew what the other wanted to do. They got dressed and left the room.

Su Rui only threw on a coat. When he left, his current body would turn directly into particles of light, leaving nothing behind. Getting dressed was pointless anyway; he would become that data-like form from before once more.

"You're leaving?"

Ren Dong leaned against the hallway door, pulled Su Rui into her arms, and gently rubbed against the fluffy ears atop his head.

"That's right... The Upper System says I only have a little over ten minutes."

"Mm. Alright, don't be sad. A little over ten minutes really isn't enough time for us to climb the mountain one more time."

Though the atmosphere was rather sad, Ren Dong made a joke. But Su Rui wasn't in the mood to laugh. He simply responded with a quiet "Mm," then stayed silently in Ren Dong's arms.

"What's going on..." Texas in the next room also noticed the faint sounds Su Rui and Ren Dong were making outside and opened her door.

Then she saw Su Rui and Ren Dong embracing, surrounded by an air of sadness.

Texas immediately realized that the time Su Rui and Ren Dong had spoken of—when Su Rui would leave—had arrived.

Without saying anything, Texas silently approached and wrapped her arms around Su Rui, who was in Ren Dong's embrace.

Though Ren Dong's presence meant she couldn't have Su Rui all to herself, Su Rui's nine big tails behind him were enough to fill Texas's arms.

"..."

Ren Dong merely glanced at Texas. At a time like this, she had no mood to argue about who had spent more time with Su Rui.

After all, neither of them had much time left now.

But amid the final quiet atmosphere, Su Rui remembered something. He raised his head from Ren Dong's arms and softly said:

"By the way, Texas, you're not really used to living in the Eastern Kingdom, are you?"

"...You noticed."

Texas had no desire to deny it now. She only instinctively hugged the big tail in her arms tighter, unwilling to let Su Rui go.

"I mean, I prepared a new life for you. Sicilia has already agreed not to bother you, but her agreement doesn't mean those Syracuse Lineages will completely listen to her."

As Su Rui spoke casually, he sent some information to Texas's phone. Her phone rang with an incoming notification, and Texas's ears twitched.

But she didn't want to take out her phone and distract herself right now. She only wanted to stay with Su Rui and spend this final time with him properly.

Su Rui didn't mind and simply explained:

"I contacted Emperor. He's a penguin. Anyway, I made a deal with that guy to establish a company called Penguin Logistics in Lungmen. Life there will probably be more exciting, which shouldn't be a problem for you. Oh, and I own thirty-seven percent of Penguin Logistics's shares, but they're registered under your name, so you're a shareholder of Penguin Logistics."

"Mm."

Texas merely nodded and lowered her head, burying her cheek in Su Rui's big tail so he wouldn't see her expression.

Texas had stayed in the Eastern Kingdom because of Su Rui. After spending so much time together, Su Rui had already noticed that. She wasn't used to life here, but after being immersed in so many similar cultures, Yan, with its more relaxed atmosphere, should suit her better.

With that in mind, Su Rui raised his head again and turned his gaze to Ren Dong before him.

"Is there anything you want to say to me?"

Ren Dong lowered her head and rubbed her cheek against Su Rui's. There was no jealousy and no argument, because Su Rui would definitely have prepared a gift for her too.

"I... still don't really know which place you'd like."

Su Rui's tone was a little hesitant. "I've invested in quite a few companies online. Anyway, you can choose whatever country you want to live in. But I think you've probably gotten used to the Eastern Kingdom already, right?"

"Then what if Texas and I go to Lungmen in Yan together? We'll wait for you there, and Texas can help me take care of Liza too."