Ark Simulator, Aren't I Without a Physical Body?

Those three simple words softened Bai Xue's heart. She remembered that this evening, the lady had specially asked the kitchen to prepare her favorite cherry blossom cakes, and had even instructed that extra honey be added.

"Actually..." Bai Xue buried her face in her arms, her voice muffled, "I'm very happy too."

A night breeze blew, ruffling her loose hair. In the moonlight, the tips of the girl's ears were slightly red.

The next morning, Bai Xue was organizing documents when she suddenly noticed an exquisite lacquer box on her desk. The lid was painted with a butterfly in outstretched wings in gold powder, shimmering in the sunlight.

"This is..."

"Open it and take a look." Lady Wenyue appeared at the door at some point, gently waving a folding fan in her hand.

Bai Xue carefully lifted the lid of the box, inside which were neatly arranged various hair accessories—pale yellow silk flowers, silver butterfly hairpins, and even a few silver tassels to match her Bell.

"Madam! This is far too precious..."

"Consider it a celebration," Lady Wenyue, lightly tapping her forehead with her folding fan. "A celebration that a shy little friend has finally agreed to share their little secret."

Bai Xue's face flushed red to her ears. She lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the lacquer box, when she heard a soft laugh from her Sea of Consciousness.

[Perfect for you.]

Sunlight streamed into the tea room, illuminating the young girl's flushed cheeks and the glittering ornaments in the lacquer box. Lady Wenyue stood at the intersection of light and shadow, her smile behind the folding fan gentle and knowing.

Volume 15, Chapter 819: I Can Do Many Things

The morning light, like melting honey, slowly seeped into the tea room, spreading a layer of golden gauze across the tatami mats. Bai Xue knelt before the low table, the lacquer box in front of her open, inside which lay the Silver Butterfly Hairpin given to her by Lady Wenyue. Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the paper door, landing precisely on the openwork pattern of the butterfly wings, casting dappled light on the floor, as if a real butterfly were fluttering and dancing in the tea room.

"This angle..."

Bai Xue carefully picked up the hairpin, and immediately felt the coolness of the metal on her fingertips. She held it up in front of the bronze mirror a few times, and the silver light traced flowing paths in the mirror with her movements. The hairpin was heavier than she had imagined, and the workmanship of the wings was extremely exquisite. Each feather was engraved with fine patterns that refracted a rainbow of light in the sunlight.

"Does the right side look better?" She held the hairpin to her right temple, tilting her head to examine the effect in the mirror.

[Left side.] Su Rui's voice suddenly exploded in my mind, carrying an undeniable air of willfulness, [The complete wing pattern can be seen on the left side.]

Bai Xue's wrist paused, and the silver butterfly swayed in the air. "But the right side is more convenient for movement..."

[You said yesterday that the curve of the right bun suited you better!] A rustling sound, like someone searching through drawers, echoed in my Sea of Consciousness, as if someone was looking for evidence. [The data is all recorded in --]

"That's data you analyzed yourself!" Bai Xue couldn't help but raise her voice, then lower it again, "Besides, we're clearly discussing whether it looks good or not..."

In the bronze mirror, she saw her brows furrowing unconsciously. These childish arguments happened almost every day. Ever since she stopped deliberately hiding Su Rui's presence, this willful "cohabitant" had become increasingly unrestrained.

"I don't care!" Su Rui's voice suddenly rose an octave, "I want the left!"

Bai Xue took a deep breath, feeling a throbbing pain in her temples. She forcefully thrust the hairpin to the right—

"Click".

The faint cracking sound froze her in place. A strand of jet-black hair drifted down, and a silver butterfly clung crookedly to her hair bun, looking like a broken-winged insect.

"Ha!" Su Rui exclaimed gloatingly. "What did I tell you?"

"It's all your fault!" Bai Xue gritted her teeth and pulled out the hairpin, looking at the broken end with heartache. This was a gift from Madam just yesterday...

The Sea of Consciousness suddenly fell silent, followed by a rustling sound, like small animals digging a hole. After a moment, Su Rui's voice became unusually gentle: [Actually... it can be fixed with some resin glue.]

Bai Xue narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You can fix it?"

"Of course!" Her tone immediately became smug again. "I can do a lot—"

Bai Xue interrupted, her fingers gently tracing the broken edge, "This was a gift from Madam..."

After a subtle silence, Su Rui's voice suddenly became very soft. "[... I'm sorry.]"

The apology came so suddenly that Bai Xue froze on the spot. Sunlight shone on the broken silver butterfly, and the reflected light danced on her face. She had never heard Su Rui apologize before. This usually willful and capricious consciousness was actually feeling guilty for breaking a hairpin?

"N-no, it's okay..." she stammered, feeling her cheeks inexplicably burning, "Anyway... it can still be fixed..."

[I'll teach you a more secure way to tie it.] Su Rui's voice regained its vitality, and she began to explain at length, [First, divide the hair into three sections, then use a special knot...]

Following the instructions, Bai Xue fiddled with her hair, but the more she tried, the more tangled it became. In the end, her hair bun was askew to one side, with a few stray strands sticking up unruly, looking like a ball of yarn that had been scratched by a cat.

"Like this?" she asked uncertainly, looking at herself in the bronze mirror.

The image in the mirror suddenly blurred for a moment— Su Rui had taken over her vision. The world in her eyes turned into a grid-like analytical diagram, with every strand of hair labeled with its angle and stress analysis.

[No!] Su Rui's voice trembled with anxiety, [The third strand should be underneath the second! Are you braiding a rope?]

"Then you do it!" Bai Xue slammed the comb on the table in anger.

The next second, her right hand suddenly rose uncontrollably, deftly weaving through her hair. Her fingers moved with astonishing speed, sometimes lightly twisting, sometimes entwining, as if playing some complex musical instrument. The silver butterfly was reattached, the broken part cleverly concealed with thin string, becoming a unique decoration instead.

"This is..." Bai Xue touched her newly styled hair in surprise, "Ninja Knot?"

[Improved version.] Su Rui proudly announced, [I added a few things to the basic knot--]

His words trailed off. Bai Xue suddenly realized something, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. "Oh? So you've also studied Ninja Knot?"

The Sea of Consciousness suddenly erupted into a cacophony of noises, a jumble of sounds like a box of metal parts being overturned. Bai Xue could even picture Su Rui frantically trying to close a certain interface.

"That's basic tactical knowledge!" His voice lacked confidence. "All users of ranged weapons must master rope skills for special situations—this is for combat."

"Really?" Bai Xue deliberately dragged out her words, "Then why were there cherry blossom patterns woven into the knot just now?"

The silver butterfly in the bronze mirror suddenly trembled, as if its secret had been revealed. Sunlight danced on its wings, illuminating the intricately designed patterns clearly—it was indeed the shape of a cherry blossom.

After a long silence, Su Rui's voice became very soft. "[... Would the lady like this design?]"

Bai Xue was stunned. Gazing at the exquisite hairstyle in the mirror, she suddenly understood what Su Rui's capricious and unreasonable behavior had been all about that morning. Those unreasonable demands, the sudden apology, and even that knotted rope with its hidden meaning...

"Yes, she will," she answered softly, her fingertips gently touching the silver butterfly. "She'll definitely like it."

The midday sun blazed down overhead, and the market was bustling with noise—the cries of vendors, the sounds of bargaining, and the laughter of children mingled together, creating a lively and noisy scene. Bai Xue stood at the market entrance, raising her hand to shield her eyes from the glaring sunlight. Her Silver Butterfly Hairpin swayed slightly in her hair, reflecting tiny specks of light.

"The lady said, 'Go check on the situation in the city...'" she muttered softly, her fingers unconsciously twirling the fabric of her sleeve. "What kind of mission is this...?"

Turn left and walk 30 meters; that's the grilled squid stand.

Su Rui's voice suddenly rang in her mind, carrying an undeniable certainty, as if this were some extremely important strategic objective.

"What?" Bai Xue was taken aback. "We're here on patrol, not to..."

[The charcoal fire is at the perfect temperature, the squid is incredibly fresh, and the seasoning ratio is exactly the secret recipe I learned.] He spoke a few beats faster than usual, as if he had discovered some incredible treasure. [Hurry up, we'll have to wait in line if we're late.]

Volume 15, Chapter 820: I Don't Want to Study

"Wait, I haven't --"

Her legs suddenly moved uncontrollably, her steps light and quick as she weaved through the crowded streets. The market floor was slippery, littered with spilled water and vegetable scraps, but Su Rui maneuvered her body with agility, nimbly avoiding all obstacles, and came to a precise stop in front of a steaming grilled squid stall.

The stall owner was an old man with a wrinkled face and a towel draped around his neck. He was pressing down on sizzling squid tentacles with a hot plate. Oil splattered everywhere, and the aroma was irresistible. The squid on the hot plate was slightly curled up, with golden-brown and crispy edges. The chili sauce brushed on top was bubbling up under the high temperature.

"Little girl, would you like a skewer?" the old man asked with a smile, his hands still busy as he added a few more pieces of fresh squid to the hot plate.

Just as Bai Xue was about to shake her head, her right hand automatically pulled out her wallet. "Two skewers, extra spicy."

Her voice was completely out of her control, and even her tone was more lively than usual.

"Alright!" The old man deftly flipped the squid, "[And the sauce too.]" Su Rui added.

"... Add another serving of special sauce." Bai Xue added helplessly, feeling like a puppet being manipulated.

The old man nodded with a smile, took out a small porcelain bowl from under his stall, and scooped a spoonful of amber-colored sauce onto the grilled squid. The sauce was thick and clear, mixed with chili flakes and minced garlic, and exuded a sweet and spicy aroma.

"Young lady, you have good taste," the old man said, handing her the grilled squid. "This sauce is a family recipe passed down through generations."

Bai Xue took the bamboo skewer. The piping hot squid skewer was steaming, with oil dripping down the skewer. Bright red chili sauce and honey-colored sauce were mixed together, and a layer of white sesame seeds and bright green scallions were sprinkled on top. She stared at the skewer of sinful food, her throat involuntarily bobbing.

"This is too much..." she muttered, but couldn't help swallowing.

"Eat quickly," Su Rui urged. "The optimal eating temperature is 65℃, and it's perfect now."

Bai Xue hesitated for a moment, then finally took a cautious bite. The piping hot squid meat burst with sweet and savory juices on her tongue, its outer layer crispy and its inside chewy, the spiciness intense and lingering, making her eyes well up with tears. The sweetness of the honey perfectly balanced the spiciness, and the aroma of sesame seeds grew stronger as she chewed.

"It's so spicy..." She subconsciously fanned herself with one hand, but her other hand involuntarily took another bite.

A satisfied sigh echoed in my Sea of Consciousness, like that of a satiated cat.

[It's better than the one at the Blacksteel Cafeteria.] Su Rui's voice carried a hint of pride. [The sweet and spicy sauce was perfectly balanced, and the squid was cooked just right.]

Bai Xue gasped, her eyes reddening from the spiciness. "You... you controlled my body just for this?"

[By the way, I'm collecting data on Lungmen snacks.] He answered confidently, [Fifty meters ahead, that glutinous rice cake stall has perfectly cooked brown sugar.]

"Wait! I haven't --"

Her body had already automatically moved towards the next target.

An hour later, Bai Xue's hands were full of various snack bags—crispy fried milk in oil paper bags, the golden-yellow skin still steaming; soft and glutinous donkey rolls coated with thick soybean powder, carefully held in her palm; sugar-coated fritters drizzled with honey strung on bamboo skewers, crystal clear; and even a box of steaming, "strong" stinky tofu, which she carried with two fingers, keeping as far away from her body as possible.

"That's enough, that's enough..." She sat on a stone bench by the roadside, rubbing her bloated stomach. "I'll burst if I eat any more."

"[There's one last place.]" Su Rui's voice was unusually persistent. "[The ice jelly shop around the corner has twelve kinds of toppings; I have to try them all.]"

Bai Xue sighed deeply and looked up at the sky. The afternoon sun was so bright that she squinted, and the clouds drifted by slowly, as if mocking her absurd "mission."

"Su Rui," she suddenly spoke, "Are you...?"

[Um?]

"... nothing."

She stood up, patted the sugar frosting and oil stains off her skirt, and carried her bags towards the ice jelly stall. A gentle breeze blew, and the silver butterfly hairpin in her hair fluttered lightly, reflecting dappled sunlight.

The owner of the ice jelly stall was a kind-looking middle-aged woman. The glass display case in front of her was filled with colorful toppings—hawthorn slices, raisins, crushed peanuts, fermented rice wine, red beans, taro balls...

"What flavor would you like, young lady?" the proprietress asked.

[All of Canada.]

"... all of them," Bai Xue repeated dryly.

The proprietress glanced at her in surprise, then smiled and began piling toppings into the bowl. A base of crystal-clear ice jelly was topped with layers of various ingredients, finally drizzled with a large spoonful of brown sugar syrup, and sprinkled with a handful of osmanthus flowers.

Bai Xue took the heavy bowl, the cool touch finally redeeming her tongue, which had been numb from the spiciness. She scooped a spoonful and put it in her mouth. The ice jelly melted in her mouth, the sweetness of brown sugar, the sourness of hawthorn, the aroma of peanuts, and the chewiness of taro balls intertwined in her mouth, refreshing and cool, instantly relieving the stimulation of all the spicy food.

"Is it good?" Su Rui asked, her voice filled with anticipation.

"... Um."

As she ate her ice jelly with her head down, she suddenly realized—although Su Rui couldn't taste it, he had been experiencing it all through her senses. His excitement, his persistence, his childlike capriciousness—all of it was simply to share these ordinary joys with her.

As the sun set, Bai Xue finally returned to Wenyue Estate. She stood in front of the gate, holding a half-finished cup of ice jelly in her hand. Her cheeks were slightly red from eating too much spicy food, and her lips were a little swollen.

Lady Wenyue was sitting in a wicker chair in the courtyard, sipping tea. Seeing her return, the corners of her lips curled into a slight smile, "How is the city?"

Bai Xue lowered her head, looking at the bags of food covering her hands, her ears burning. "... Very prosperous."

The lady covered her lips with her folding fan, a sly glint in her eyes. "It seems you've investigated quite thoroughly."

Bai Xue, thinking of Su Rui, had a new idea.

The last rays of the setting sun shone through the paper door, casting long, thin shadows on the floor of the dojo. Bai Xue knelt on the prayer mat, her hands supporting her weight, her body leaning forward, her forehead almost touching her knees. Her back was taut in a smooth arc, like a fully drawn bow, yet it possessed an incredible suppleness.

"Look," she turned her head and spoke to the empty dojo, "As long as you practice every day, you'll be able to do it very quickly."

[Not studying.]

Su Rui's voice was resolute, with a hint of gritted teeth.

Bai Xue couldn't help but laugh out loud, straightened up, and stretched her shoulders. "Why? Didn't you really want to materialize?"

[Physicalization and being folded in half are two different things!]

A chaotic commotion arose in her Sea of Consciousness, like a handsome young man angrily kicking over some virtual object. Bai Xue could even picture Su Rui crossing his arms, looking utterly resistant—if he had a physical form.

"It's not that exaggerated." She stood up and walked to the wooden box in the corner of the dojo. "Ninja jutsu emphasizes gradual progress; it doesn't start with..."

Volume 15, Chapter 821: You got yourself into trouble because of your reckless behavior, huh?

Bai Xue suddenly stopped, braced her hands on the edge of the box, twisted her waist, and slid into the cramped space that seemed impossible to fit an adult. Only her cunning eyes could be seen through the gaps in the wooden box, gleaming in the dim light.

"... It couldn't have been like this from the start." Her voice came out muffledly from inside the box.

"[You're cheating!]" Su Rui's voice rose eight octaves. "[How could a normal person do that?--]"

With a "whoosh," Bai Xue slid out of the box, her movements as light as a fish. She brushed non-existent dust off her kimono and proudly raised her chin. "This is the basic skill of a ninja."

Su Rui remained silent for a few seconds.

[... I'd rather remain a ghost.]