Ark Simulator: Don't I Lack a Physical Body?

Su Rui didn't even look up. "Survival skills."

"Then why..." Jessica jumped off the counter and hugged him from behind, "Only made this for me?"

Su Rui paused. He turned around, his hands still covered in flour. "Jessica."

"Um?"

You're playing with fire.

Jessica looked up at his serious expression, then suddenly smiled. She tiptoed and gently touched Su Rui's lips. "I know."

The kiss was like flipping a switch. Su Rui scooped her up and placed her on the counter, his hands bracing on either side of her. The white powder from the flour clung to his black shirt, creating a striking contrast.

"Aren't you afraid?" he asked in a low voice, much hoarseer than usual.

Jessica wrapped her arms around his neck, laughing like a cat that had just stolen some cream, "Will you scare me?"

Su Rui didn't answer. He lowered his head and kissed her. The kiss was much gentler than Jessica had imagined, yet it carried an unyielding firmness. She could taste the faint flavor of red wine on his lips, along with the sweet scent of flour.

Volume 14, Chapter 778: I Don't Want to Move

"Su Rui ~" Jessica leaned against the back of the sofa, her blue hair slipping down her shoulders like melting honey, "I want to eat Syracuse pasta."

Without looking up, Su Rui, who was organizing gun parts, said, "Have the hotel send some."

"No!" Jessica ran over barefoot, squatted down beside him, and tugged at his sleeve. "The hotel's cooking is too salty, and..." She leaned close to his ear, her breath brushing against his earlobe, "I want to eat what you make."

Su Rui paused, and a screw fell onto the carpet. Jessica took the opportunity to rest her chin on his shoulder, blinking at him. "The pasta was burnt last time, you have to make it up to me this time."

Su Rui finally turned her head, their noses almost touching.

Jessica took advantage of the situation and wrapped her arms around his neck. "We can do it together. I'll help you out."

Su Rui's gaze lingered on her face for a few seconds, then she suddenly reached out and pinched the tip of her nose. "Put your slippers on first."

Jessica cheered and jumped up, but stepped on the hem of her nightgown in her haste. Su Rui caught her quickly, wrapped her arms around Jessica's waist, and spun her around to steady them both.

"Stupid," he muttered, but didn't let go immediately.

Jessica seized the opportunity to kiss him on the cheek. "This is the advance payment!" After saying that, she skipped away to put on her slippers, leaving Su Rui ears were slightly red, standing there.

The aroma of olive oil soon filled the kitchen. Jessica sat on the counter, swinging her legs, watching Su Rui skillfully prepare the ingredients. His movements as he chopped onions were clean and efficient, the blade striking the cutting board with a rhythmic sound.

"Do you need my help?" Jessica asked, feigning ignorance.

Su Rui handed her a clove of garlic. "Peel this."

Jessica took the garlic clove, but deliberately tried to peel it with her fingernail for a long time without success. Su Rui sighed, took the garlic clove back, and gently tapped it with the back of a knife; the whole garlic clove popped out.

"Magic!" Jessica clapped exaggeratedly, "One more time?"

Su Rui raised an eyebrow, then suddenly reached out and smeared some onion juice on the tip of Jessica's nose. Jessica gasped, her eyes immediately welling up with tears—this time it wasn't an act.

"Su Rui!" She jumped off the counter to grab him, but he used a long-handled spoon to keep his forehead at a distance.

"Go wash your face." He smiled slightly. "Little crybaby."

Jessica stormed off to the bathroom, but suddenly turned back at the corner and grabbed Su Rui from behind, hugging her around the waist. "Gotcha!"

Su Rui almost dropped the wooden spatula into the pot. He turned around helplessly and found that Jessica still had tear stains on her face, and her nose was red, like a wronged little animal.

"... Go sit down." His voice softened involuntarily.

"No," Jessica buried her face in his back, "I want to learn to cook."

Su Rui was silent for a moment, then suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulled her to his front, and wrapped her arms around her from behind. "Watch carefully."

Jessica froze—the position was even more intimate than during shooting lessons. Su Rui's chest was pressed against her back, his hands covering hers as she stirred the ingredients in the pan. She could clearly feel the rise and fall of his chest with each breath, and smell the faint scent of cedar on his body.

"The heat control," Su Rui's voice rang in her ear, her warm breath brushing against her earlobe, "It should be flipped like this."

Jessica suddenly stopped moving. She stared at their intertwined hands; Su Rui's knuckles were distinct and a size larger than hers, and he was now guiding Jessica's wrist in a smooth, stirring motion.

"Have you learned it?" Su Rui asked.

Jessica shook her head honestly. "No, you need to teach me again."

Su Rui chuckled softly, but didn't expose her. He continued to hold her hand and stir-fry, occasionally adjusting the heat. Jessica leaned against him, suddenly wishing this pot of sauce would never be finished.

As the kitchen began to fill with the rich aroma of braised meat in red wine, Jessica was already dozing off, leaning on Su Rui's shoulder. She vaguely felt someone gently lift her up, followed by the soft touch of the sofa.

"... noodles..." she mumbled indistinctly.

"Thirty more minutes," Su Rui's voice came from afar, seemingly tinged with laughter. "Go to sleep."

Jessica forced her eyelids open. "We want to... eat together..."

Half-asleep, she felt someone gently brush away the stray hairs from her forehead, followed by a soft touch on her brow. She tried to grasp something, but her fingers only touched air.

When Jessica woke up again, she was covered with a blanket. The restaurant lights were dimmed to a warm orange hue, and two exquisite Syracuse dishes were laid out on the table. The aroma of red wine stewed meat made her stomach rumble.

"Dinner is three hours and twenty-eight minutes late." Su Rui came out of the kitchen carrying dessert. "Would you like some?"

Jessica ran over barefoot, picked up a noodle with her bare hands, and tasted it. The rich meaty aroma exploded on her tongue, and she squinted her eyes happily. "Delicious!"

Su Rui frowned and grabbed her wrist. "Use a fork."

Jessica pulled him close, tilted her head back, and asked for a kiss, "Pay the balance first."

Su Rui's Adam's apple bobbed. He lowered his head to touch her lips, but pulled away when Jessica tried to deepen the kiss. "The noodles will get cold."

"Then let's heat it up again." Jessica persisted, tugging at his collar.

Suddenly, Su Rui lifted Jessica onto the dining table by supporting her hips with one hand. This unexpected action made Jessica gasp softly. She sat on the edge of the table with her legs dangling in the air and had to hold onto Su Rui's shoulders for balance.

"Eat first," Su Rui's voice was lower than usual, "And then..."

Jessica's face flushed instantly. She obediently picked up her fork, but as Su Rui turned around, she secretly hooked her toe around his trouser leg. "Where are you going?"

"Get a napkin." Su Rui looked at her helplessly, "Let go."

Jessica reluctantly let go, but her eyes followed him the whole time. When Su Rui returned, she suddenly noticed a bit of sauce on his shirt cuff.

"You ate it?" she asked in surprise.

Su Rui remained unfazed. "Taste it."

Jessica suddenly felt a warmth in her heart. She took Su Rui's hand and gently licked away the sauce residue from his fingertips. "It really was delicious."

Su Rui's pupils dilated slightly. He leaned forward, bracing himself on either side of the table, trapping Jessica between his arms. "Are you sure you want noodles?"

Jessica looked up to meet his gaze, a sly smile playing on her lips, "Not sure."

Moonlight streamed through the French windows, illuminating their intertwined figures. The Syracuse pasta on the table grew cold, but no one paid it any more attention. Jessica ran her fingers through Su Rui's dark hair, thinking that this was a thousand times more delicious than any Michelin-starred meal.

As the clock struck twelve, Jessica nestled in Su Rui's arms, her fingertips tracing circles on his chest. "Next time... teach me how to make desserts?"

Su Rui caught her mischievous fingers and kissed them on the lips. "Macarons take a lot of practice." Besides, Su Rui had never made them herself.

"That's perfect." Jessica looked up, her eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "We have plenty of time."

Volume 14, Chapter 779: Jessica is still sleeping.

The morning sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains into the corridor. Su Rui had just finished showering, his hair still dripping wet. When the doorbell rang, he was drying his hair with a towel, water droplets sliding down his neck and into his collar.

Through the monitor screen, he saw an unexpected visitor— Franka was making a face at the camera, while Liskarm behind her was adjusting his uniform collar with a helpless expression.

Su Rui pressed the open button, and the electronic lock made a slight "click" sound.

"Surprise~" Franka swept into the entryway like a gust of wind, her fiery red hair dazzling in the morning light. "I hope I didn't disturb your romantic time?"

Liskarm followed closely, clearing his throat. "We sent out the message in advance."

Su Rui took the folder from Liskarm, her fingertips leaving a small water stain on the paper. "Jessica is still sleeping."

"Wow~" Franka drawled meaningfully, deftly walking around Su Rui towards the living room, "Looks like last night was quite intense?"

Liskarm nudged her with his elbow. "Mind your manners."

The hum of the coffee machine drifted from the kitchen. Su Rui turned and walked towards the counter. "What would you like to drink?"

"Black coffee, please." Liskarm stood ramrod straight beside the sofa; her professional habits prevented her from lounging on it as casually as Franka.

Franka was curled up in the armchair like a cat, looking around the living room with great interest. "Your decorating style is really interesting—" she said, pointing to the abstract painting on the wall, "Could this be bloodstains from the last mission that splattered on my clothes?"

"It was drawn by Jessica." Su Rui came out carrying a coffee tray, the steam rising from the rim of the cup in the morning light.

As Liskarm took the coffee, he noticed the fresh scratches on Su Rui's wrist and immediately tactically looked away. Franka, however, stared at it without any attempt to hide it, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"So," Su Rui put down his teacup, his calm reflection shimmering in the water, "What mission?"

Liskarm immediately got to work, taking out her tablet from her briefcase. "A new commission from Blacksteel Worldwide, a Class B security agreement." She pulled up a 3D architectural model. "Rhine Lab is transferring a batch of experimental Originium artifacts next week, requiring armed escort."

Franka suddenly peeked out from behind the sofa. "This is the reward~" She made an exaggerated gesture, "Enough for you to buy half a villa."

"To be precise, one-tenth of a villa," Liskarm corrected. This is the central city of Columbia.

Su Rui's gaze swept over the mission briefing. "High risk?"

"Intelligence indicates that several small groups are eyeing this shipment," Liskarm adjusted his glasses, "But for us, this should just be a warm-up."

Suddenly, the sound of clattering footsteps came from upstairs. Jessica appeared at the top of the stairs, rubbing her eyes. Her blonde hair was disheveled, and she was wearing a shirt that was clearly a size too big— Su Rui's.

"What's that loud noise..." she muttered, then suddenly froze, "Franka?!"

Franka whistled, "Good morning, little princess~" Her gaze darted back and forth between the hickeys on Jessica and the overly long hem of her shirt. "Looks like we've come at the wrong time?"

Jessica snapped back to reality, her face flushed, and turned to run back, but Liskarm called her back.

"Mission briefing." Liskarm held up his tablet. "You'd better listen to this too."

Ten minutes later, Jessica, having changed her clothes, sat cross-legged on the sofa, munching on the sandwich Su Rui handed her while browsing the mission details. Franka had somehow moved next to her and was playing with her blonde hair with her fingers.

"So it's next Wednesday?" Jessica slapped Franka's hand away. "We just finished our last job..."

Liskarm pulled up the route map. "The escort route passes through three high-risk areas, but Rhine Lab has provided the latest anti-sniper equipment." She zoomed in on a 3D projection of one of the blocks, "This is the most vulnerable to ambush."

Su Rui suddenly pointed to a crossroads. "Underground drainage system."

"That's right." Liskarm nodded. "According to intelligence, the Reunion Movement was here—"

"Stop, stop, stop!" Franka suddenly squeezed in. "Can you guys not be so serious when you're talking about work?" She magically pulled several tickets from her pocket. "Look! I got VIP boxes at the opera house tonight!"

Jessica's eyes lit up. "Carmen?"

"And it's the premiere!" Franka waved her ticket smugly. "Consider it a relaxing break before the mission? Liskarm's treating."

Liskarm frowned: "When did I—"

"It's settled then!" Franka jumped up to interrupt her, "Seven o'clock tonight, remember to dress nicely." She glanced meaningfully at the marks on Jessica, "High-necked."

Su Rui suddenly stood up. "I'll go prepare the materials." After saying that, she walked towards the study.

Franka watched his retreating figure, then leaned close to Jessica's ear and whispered, "Is he shy?"

Jessica smiled silently, biting into her sandwich. Sunlight streamed through the French windows onto the coffee table, casting a golden glow on the rim of the coffee cup. Liskarm was annotating something on his tablet, the lenses reflecting the blue light of the data stream.

The crystal chandeliers in the opera house illuminated the entire auditorium like a glittering galaxy. Jessica carefully stepped onto the red carpeted stairs, her fingers tightly gripping Su Rui's suit cuffs. Her high-necked velvet dress perfectly concealed all hints of intimacy, yet as she moved, a small patch of skin on the back of her neck would be faintly revealed.

"Our box is on the second floor, on the right." Liskarm checked the ticket stub; her black evening gown made her look much softer than usual. "Where's Franka?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a fiery red figure rushed down the spiral staircase. Franka's deep V-neck scarlet dress resembled a burning flame, drawing the attention of the surrounding guests.

"They're selling Carmen -themed cocktails!" She swirled the gradient-colored glass in her hand, the ice clinking. "I bought four—"

"Drinking alcohol is prohibited in the private rooms." Liskarm frowned.

Franka had nimbly slipped next to Jessica and handed her one of the glasses. "Try it? Tequila base with grenadine syrup..."

Suddenly, a slender hand snatched the wine glass away. Su Rui, expressionless, placed the glass on a passing waiter's tray. "She's allergic to alcohol."

Jessica blinked—she could easily outdrink three grown men. But when she saw Su Rui's slightly tense jawline, she immediately put on a regretful expression. "What a pity."

Franka narrowed her eyes, her gaze sweeping between the two of them, before a sly smile suddenly appeared on her face, "Oh dear~ so some people even care about the wine glasses?"

Liskarm interjected at the opportune moment. "The opening bell has rung."

The red curtain of the private room slowly opened like a stage curtain. Jessica sat in the seat closest to the railing, and the fabric of Su Rui's suit gently brushed against her arm as he sat down. In the instant the lights dimmed, she quietly slipped her fingers into his palm.

(The author is unfamiliar with opera; this section only provides a general overview of the process.)

Volume 14, Chapter 780: Absent-minded