Ark Simulator, Don't I Have No Physical Form?

Jessica shook her head, then remembered that the other person couldn't see her. "[It's just... I dreamt about some things...]"

She curled up in the velvet comforter, suddenly wondering—if Su Rui had a physical form, would she be gently stroking her hair right now, just like in her dream?

The thought made her cheeks burn.

[Mr. Su Rui...] Her voice was muffled by the blankets, [You said... you might materialize in the future?]

"Theoretically, yes." Su Rui's voice was tinged with laughter. "What, are you already starting to dislike me as a tenant?"

[No, that's not it!] Jessica sat up abruptly. [I wanted to... want...]

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled shadows on her face. The words "I really want to see you" stuck in her throat, unable to be uttered.

"Okay, go to sleep," Su Rui said softly. "Aren't we going to the new dessert shop tomorrow?"

Jessica obediently lay back down, but secretly hugged her pillow even tighter. She suddenly realized a terrible truth—

He seemed unable to imagine life without Su Rui's company.

***

Two weeks later, in the evening, Jessica stood on the villa's terrace. The setting sun painted the clouds a brilliant orange-red, and she held freshly baked scones in her hands.

"I tried baking today..." she said nervously, "It probably wasn't very successful..."

"Let me try some?" Su Rui's voice was tinged with laughter.

Jessica nodded and closed her eyes. The familiar lightness returned, and she "saw" her fingers breaking apart the still-steaming scones.

"Mmm...!" Su Rui exclaimed in surprise, "This texture..."

"Is it too dry?" Jessica asked nervously.

"No..." Su Rui's voice trembled slightly, "It's exactly the same as the first time Nightingale did it..."

Jessica froze. Through the shared view, she saw her hands trembling slightly.

"[Mr. Su Rui...]" she called softly, unsure of what to say next.

Morning light streamed in through the gaps in the curtains. Jessica rubbed her eyes and groggily sat up.

Good morning, Su Rui.

Her voice was very soft, as if she were tentatively stepping on thin ice, afraid that the address would break some delicate balance.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, Su Rui was clearly stunned for a moment.

"... Um?"

Jessica's ears immediately perked up, and her tail curled nervously around the corner of the blanket: [Um... can I call you that?]

Su Rui paused for two seconds, then chuckled softly, "Of course."

His voice was softer than usual, like the gentle ripples spreading across a lake warmed by the sun.

Jessica's cheeks flushed slightly, but she tried to appear nonchalant. "[So... Su Rui, what would you like for breakfast today?]"

Jessica.

[Um?]

Your ears are red.

[Ugh...!]

She abruptly covered her ears, shrinking into the blankets like a frightened cat. Su Rui's laughter echoed in her Sea of Consciousness, warm yet helpless.

At the breakfast table, Jessica carefully cut bacon, the clinking of her knife and fork making a particularly crisp sound.

[Su Rui...]

"Um?"

[... fine.]

She simply wanted to call his name.

Su Rui seemed to sense her thoughts, her voice tinged with amusement. "What, getting addicted to calling me that?"

Jessica nearly dropped her fork on the plate: [No, no, that's not true!]

But the tip of her tail wagged happily, betraying her mood.

On the training field, Jessica set up her gun and aimed at the target in the distance.

[Su Rui, is this angle okay?]

"Move a little more to the left."

[so?]

"Yes, perfect."

Bang--!

Ten rings.

Jessica lowered her weapon, a smile unconsciously spreading across her face: [Su Rui, I did it!]

"You did it yourself," Su Rui said approvingly. "I was just reminding you."

But she knew that without him, she couldn't have made such rapid progress.

Thank you, Su Rui.

This time, she didn't add "Mr."

In the villa at night, Jessica soaked in the bathtub, the warm water soothing her tired body.

[Su Rui...]

"What's wrong?"

[... nothing.]

She just suddenly realized that if Su Rui had a physical form, she would be sitting on a chair by the bathtub right now, perhaps turning her face away helplessly and saying, "Don't soak for too long."

The thought made her heart skip a beat.

Jessica.

[Um?]

The water is getting cold.

[Ah...!]

She then realized she had been soaking for a long time, her skin was slightly wrinkled. When she hurriedly got up, the splashing water wet the floor.

[Su Rui...]

"Um?"

[... Good night.]

Goodnight, Jessica.

Lying in bed, Jessica tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

[Su Rui...]

"Still not asleep?"

"Could you call my name one more time?"

Su Rui remained silent for a moment.

Jessica.

His voice was soft, yet it felt like a feather landing on her heart.

[Um...]

She closed her eyes contentedly, her tail curled around the pillow, and finally fell into a deep sleep.

Moonlight spilled onto the sheets, gently outlining her peaceful sleeping face. In her Sea of Consciousness, Su Rui quietly "watched" her, letting out a silent sigh.

Sweet dreams... Jessica.

"Jessica! Third moving target group, prepare!"

Liskarm's voice came from the other end of the training field, but Jessica didn't seem to hear it. She was holding the gun, a faint smile playing on her lips.

[Su Rui, the trajectory of that moving target was really weird, didn't it look like a drunken penguin?]

A soft chuckle echoed in her Sea of Consciousness: "Concentrate, Franka's glaring at you."

Volume 14, Chapter 756: Clues Discovered

Jessica then came to her senses and found Franka standing three meters to her right with her arms crossed, her signature fox-like eyes slightly narrowed.

"Our little Jessica seems unusually absent-minded today," Franka drawled, "Could it be that she's in love?"

Jessica's ears perked up instantly: [Oh no... what about Su Rui?!]

"Shoot first, then we can chat," Su Rui said helplessly.

Bang!

The bullet grazed the edge of the target, barely qualifying as a hit. As Liskarm approached, his tactical boots pounded the ground with a harsh rhythm.

"Jessica, your grades today are 15% lower than last week."

[It's all Franka's fault for suddenly speaking...] Jessica complained softly in her mind.

"You were the one who started daydreaming," Su Rui reminded her.

Franka suddenly leaned in, close enough to see Jessica's eyelashes tremble. "Starting half an hour ago, you've been grinning at the air every now and then..."

Her gaze swept over Jessica's reddened earlobes. "Could it be that you're... telepathically communicating with someone?"

Jessica nearly dropped the gun. The training ground lights suddenly became blinding, and sweat trickled down the back of her neck and into her uniform collar.

[Suri, Suri, Suri! Did she find out?!]

"Calm down," Su Rui's voice was like a refreshing spring, "She's just bluffing you."

Liskarm frowned, looking at Jessica who had suddenly frozen in place. "Are you feeling unwell?"

"Ah! No!" Jessica's voice was eight octaves higher than usual, "I was just... just..."

"Practicing Tactical Meditation!" she thought quickly. "Blacksteel's latest advocacy... that..."

Franka raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Which instructor taught me? I'd like to learn too!"

Jessica's tail fur stood on end. Just then, the alarm suddenly blared across the training ground.

"Attention all personnel, an emergency has occurred in Zone B..."

Liskarm immediately turned around. "Mission briefing will be delivered in three minutes! Jessica, stand by here!"

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Jessica let out a long sigh of relief, almost collapsing to the ground with weak legs.

[That scared me to death...]

"Now you know the consequences of chatting during training?" Su Rui's tone was tinged with helpless indulgence.

Jessica pouted, looking aggrieved: [But it's more fun talking to you...]

Unbeknownst to her, Franka, who was walking toward the armory, suddenly turned around and glanced thoughtfully at her as she muttered to herself.

The lights in the training field flashed amidst the sirens. Jessica stood there, watching Franka and Liskarm's retreating figures, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

[Phew... that was close...] She patted her chest, her tail wagging nervously.

Su Rui's voice echoed in her mind, tinged with a hint of helplessness. "[Jessica, concentrate better during next training session.]"

"I know..." she muttered softly, "But chatting with you is more interesting..."

Su Rui chuckled: [Franka has already noticed you. If this continues, she might become suspicious.]

Jessica's ears twitched: [Huh?! Really?]

[Hmm.] Su Rui's voice turned serious. [But they're dealing with the situation in Sector B now, so they won't be watching you for a while. Shall we have a few more rounds of shooting?]

Jessica nodded, raised the gun again, and locked her gaze on the moving target in the distance.