Ark Simulator: Didn't I Not Have a Physical Body?

Bai Xue blinked in surprise. "When did you become interested in watching the sunset?"

Su Rui put away the map, the silver bell swaying gently around her neck. "Because someone once said," he mimicked Bai Xue's tone, "'When you have a physical form, we'll go see it together.'"

A memory suddenly flooded her mind—it was a casual promise made on a sleepless night when Su Rui was still residing in her Sea of Consciousness. Bai Xue's eyes welled up slightly, and she nodded vigorously.

"Then what are we waiting for?" She jumped up and grabbed Su Rui's hand. "Let's go watch the sunset!"

As the sun set, their shadows stretched long, nestled close together. Not far behind them, an elderly man in a straw hat sat at the entrance of a dessert shop, smiling as he took a bite of a honey cake.

Lady Wenyue's bodyguards are also diligently protecting this sweet holiday today.

Volume 15, Chapter 830: Eat More

The setting sun bathed the stone-paved streets of Lungmen in gold, and Bai Xue, hand in hand with Su Rui, strolled through the bustling night market. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, the aroma of food, and the glow of lanterns intertwined to create a lively scene.

"Su Rui, try this!" Bai Xue picked up a skewer of candied hawthorns from the stall. The bright red hawthorns were coated with a glistening sugar coating and glittered under the light.

Su Rui's ears perked up immediately, and his tail swayed gently behind him. He took the candied hawthorn, carefully took a bite, and the crisp sound of the sugar coating crackling accompanied the sweet and sour taste of the hawthorn spreading in his mouth. His eyes widened slightly, as if he had discovered some incredible delicacy.

"Is it delicious?" Bai Xue asked with a smile.

Su Rui nodded, took another bite, and the sugar crumbs stuck to the corners of his mouth, making him look strangely childish. Bai Xue couldn't help but reach out to wipe them off for him, and when her fingertips touched his soft lips, both of them paused for a moment.

"... and more," Su Rui suddenly said.

"Um?"

"Buy another one." He wrapped his tail around her wrist and gently shook it. "This one tastes different."

Bai Xue paused for a moment, then burst out laughing, "You wouldn't happen to have your eye on the candied hawthorns, would you?"

Su Rui turned her face away, her ear tips slightly red, but her tail still stubbornly clung to her wrist. Bai Xue shook her head helplessly, turned around and bought two more skewers, one plain and one filled with red bean paste.

Here you go, you glutton!

Su Rui took the candied hawthorn, his eyes lighting up. He took a bite of the red bean paste one, squinting his eyes in satisfaction, his tail wagging happily. Bai Xue's heart melted at the sight of him.

"You're so perceptive," she couldn't help but tease, "You can be bribed with just a string of candied hawthorns."

Su Rui gave a soft hum, but didn't argue. She simply held another string of candied hawthorns to her lips. "You have some too."

Bai Xue took a bite from his hand, the sweet and sour taste bursting on her tongue. The lights of the night market reflected on Su Rui's silver hair, giving him a warm glow, and the silver bell around his neck swayed gently with his movements, making a soft sound.

Deep in the night market, a long queue had formed in front of a stall selling glutinous rice balls. Bai Xue was about to walk around it, but Su Rui grabbed her arm.

"Queue up," he said simply, his eyes fixed on the plump, white glutinous rice balls on the stall.

"You don't want to eat this too, do you?" Bai Xue's eyes widened. "We've already had candied hawthorn, grilled squid, fried milk, and--"

"Red bean filling." Su Rui interrupted her, pointing with the tip of her tail to the sign that read "Special Red Bean Glutinous Rice Balls," her eyes filled with an unyielding insistence.

Bai Xue sighed, "Are you really a sniper? Why are you so obsessed with sweets...?"

Despite her complaints, she obediently joined the queue. Su Rui stood behind her, its tail quietly wrapping around her waist, its chin resting on her head, looking rather lazy.

"It's so heavy," Bai Xue poked his arm, "Are you a cat?"

Su Rui didn't answer, but gently rubbed the top of her head, her breath carrying a faint sweet scent of candied hawthorn. Bai Xue's heart skipped a beat, and suddenly she didn't find queuing so boring anymore.

After queuing for nearly twenty minutes, they finally bought the legendary red bean glutinous rice balls. Su Rui couldn't wait to take a bite, and the soft, chewy outer skin and sweet red bean filling made him sigh with satisfaction.

"Is it really that delicious?" Bai Xue asked curiously.

Su Rui didn't answer, but instead held the glutinous rice ball in his hand to her mouth. Bai Xue took a small bite from his hand, and the fragrance of the glutinous rice and the smooth texture of the red beans were truly amazing.

"Is it delicious?" Su Rui wagged its tail proudly.

Bai Xue couldn't help but laugh, "Yes, yes, Lord Su Rui has the best taste."

As night deepened, the number of pedestrians on the street remained high. Bai Xue led Su Rui to a lantern stall, where all sorts of colorful lanterns hung on the shelves, including rabbits, goldfish, lotus flowers, and adorable cat designs.

"Want to buy one?" Bai Xue picked up a rabbit lamp, its warm yellow light reflecting on her face.

Su Rui glanced around, then suddenly pointed to a rather inconspicuous silver-white lantern in the corner. "That one."

The stall owner smiled and took it down, handing it to him. "Good eye, sir. This is a weasel lantern, a very rare style."

The lantern was exquisitely crafted, its silvery-white fur lifelike, and its round eyes adorned with amber-colored glass that shimmered under the light. Su Rui held the lantern handle, its tail wagging unconsciously, clearly pleased with its choice.

Seeing his expression, Bai Xue felt a tickle in her heart and couldn't help but reach out and rub his ear. "You're not choosing your own kind, are you?"

Su Rui's ears twitched, but she didn't flinch, only letting out a soft hum. "Prettier than the rabbit you chose."

"Yes, yes, yes," Bai Xue said with a smile as she paid. "Lord White Weasel is the most handsome."

They continued strolling with their lanterns, and Su Rui's weasel lantern stood out conspicuously in the night, attracting the attention of many passersby. Whenever someone glanced at it a few more times, its tail would involuntarily tighten, and it would move closer to Bai Xue.

"What, you don't like being seen?" Bai Xue asked softly.

"... I'm not used to it," Su Rui replied softly, her fingers secretly hooking the hem of her clothes.

Bai Xue's heart softened, and she took his hand. "Then let's go somewhere less crowded."

They walked slowly along the path by the river, the light of the lanterns casting swaying shadows on the stone pavement. A night breeze carried a faint fragrance of flowers.

"Tired?" Bai Xue noticed that Su Rui's pace had slowed down.

Su Rui shook his head, but couldn't hide the weariness on his face. Although he was in good spirits, his body had only recently materialized, and a whole day of playing had indeed exhausted him.

"Let's take a break," Bai Xue said, pulling him to sit on a bench by the river.

The night was quiet, and the distant hustle and bustle of the night market faded into the distance, with only the gentle sound of the river lapping against the bank. Su Rui leaned back on the bench, his tail loosely wrapped around Bai Xue's waist, a ferret lamp beside him casting a warm yellow light on his profile.

"Are you happy?" Bai Xue asked softly.

Su Rui was silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "Before..." His voice was very soft, "I could only watch."

Bai Xue was taken aback, then understood. When he was still a spirit, Su Rui could only see the world through her eyes; all the tastes and sensations were irrelevant to him.

"Things are different now," she said, taking his hand. "Whatever you want to eat, whatever you want to do, we can try it together."

Su Rui turned his head, his amber eyes looking especially gentle under the light. He softly hummed in agreement, his tail tightening slightly.

Bai Xue suddenly remembered something and took a small paper packet out of her bag. "I almost forgot, the dragon beard candy I just bought."

Su Rui's eyes immediately lit up.

"Open your mouth." Bai Xue picked up a piece of candy and held it to his lips.

Su Rui obediently opened her mouth, but just as the candy was about to enter her mouth, he suddenly grabbed her wrist and fed the candy to her instead.

"Huh?"

Before Bai Xue could react, Su Rui had already leaned down and gently kissed her lips. The sweet scent of dragon's beard candy spread between their lips and teeth, and his tongue swept across her lips, scooping away the sugar strands little by little.

"... Was it sweet?" he asked softly as they parted, his silver hair falling beside her face, carrying a faint fragrance.

Bai Xue's face turned as red as a ripe apple, and she stammered, "It's... it's so sweet..."

Su Rui chuckled softly, wagged his tail merrily, and then returned to his lazy posture, leaning back on the bench as if he hadn't been the one who had taken the initiative just moments before.

Bai Xue covered her face, her heart pounding. This person... could be as willful as a child, but when he flirted, he was deadly.

A gentle night breeze blew, and the soft glow of the weasel lanterns illuminated the two figures nestled together. The night market in the distance was still bustling, but the tranquility at this moment seemed to be the most precious gift of this holiday.

Volume 15, Chapter 831: What's this strange way of eating honey-baked pineapple?

At the end of the night market, a new open-air barbecue buffet had opened, its neon sign standing out prominently in the night. Bai Xue, holding Su Rui's hand, excitedly pointed to the long queue at the entrance. "I heard the beef here is freshly cut, and there's unlimited honey-grilled pineapple!"

Su Rui's silvery-white ears twitched, and her tail flicked gently behind her. "Are you sure you want to eat here?"

"Of course!" Bai Xue patted her chest. "I'm a ninja, after all. Barbecue and stuff..."

Her words trailed off as Su Rui suddenly reached out and brushed away the strands of dragon's beard candy that had somehow gotten on her cheek with his thumb. His fingertips were warm, and his movements were incredibly gentle; his amber eyes shimmered with a honey-like luster under the neon lights.

"There's sugar on my face," he explained casually, but couldn't hide the slight blush on his ear tips.

Bai Xue's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly turned her face away. "P-anyway, let's hurry up and get in line!"

Twenty minutes later, they finally got a table. The self-service area was overflowing with ingredients, from Wagyu beef to fresh seafood, as well as various seasonal vegetables and desserts. Bai Xue, carrying her plate, looked like a little mouse who had discovered a granary, piling her plate up like a small mountain with sparkling eyes.

"This one! And this one!" She picked up a thick slice of beef tongue. "Su Rui, look at this! Such beautiful marbling!"

Su Rui stood behind her, his tail gently wrapping around her waist in response. The plate in his hand, however, was surprisingly restrained—a few evenly sliced short ribs, a few large, deveined prawns, and a few square pieces of pineapple.

"You only took this little bit?" Bai Xue's eyes widened.

Su Rui's ears twitched slightly. "... I'm afraid you won't have enough to eat."

Back at the grill, Bai Xue realized the seriousness of the problem. The food she had piled on the charcoal grill soon began to smoke—the beef tongue was curled and blackened, the shiitake mushrooms were oozing suspicious juices, and even the rice cakes stubbornly stuck to the grill.

"Wait! Don't, don't flip it over--"

She frantically tried to salvage the situation, only to see Su Rui's slender fingers already holding a pair of clips, deftly flipping her "masterpiece" over one by one. His movements were as skilled as if he were disassembling a gun; the beef ribs sizzled enticingly on the wire mesh, their edges turning a perfect caramel brown.

"You..." Bai Xue's mouth dropped open, "You know how to barbecue?"

Su Rui didn't answer, but gently brushed her wrist with the tip of his tail, signaling her to give up the head chef's position. Bai Xue obediently stepped aside and watched him operate with effortless skill—the shrimp turned a beautiful orange-red color after being flipped three times on his fingertips, the pineapple slices were baked until the edges were slightly charred but not juicy, and even the rice cakes she had put on earlier were saved, and after being coated with soybean powder, they smelled delicious.

"Give."

Su Rui placed the first perfect short rib into her bowl, the juices pooling in the dish into a small amber-colored lake. Bai Xue took a bite, her eyes immediately narrowing into slits of happiness. "So delicious!"

Su Rui's tail wagged happily, but the tips of his ears turned slightly red from the praise. He lowered his head to continue turning the food, his silver hair swaying slightly in the heat of the grill, and the silver bell around his neck jingling softly with each movement.

"Did you used to cook often?" Bai Xue asked curiously, her mouth full of delicious roasted meat.

Su Rui paused for a moment. "... The mission requires it."

He didn't explain in detail, but Bai Xue suddenly understood—as a sniper, he might often need to lie in wait in the wild for long periods of time, and cooking and starting a fire were essential skills.

"From now on, the kitchen will be yours!" she said with a grin, deliberately poking his cheek with her sauce-covered fingertips.

Su Rui deftly tilted her head to avoid him, but her tail honestly coiled around her wrist. "Okay," he said softly, "But you have to do the dishes."

Bai Xue blinked, suddenly finding the deal incredibly worthwhile.

During the second round of food collection, Bai Xue learned her lesson and only took some easy-to-grill sausages and vegetables. Back at the grill, she confidently announced, "This time I'll do it!"

Su Rui raised an eyebrow, but still made way. Bai Xue took a deep breath and, mimicking his previous actions, carefully arranged the sausages neatly. However—

"Why are your sausages spinning!" She stared in disbelief at the sausages she had placed on the grill, which stubbornly stuck to the wire mesh, while Su Rui's sausages rolled evenly, their skins golden brown and slightly cracked.

Su Rui sighed, wrapped her arms around her from behind, and placed her hands over hers. "The temperature is off."

His chest pressed against her back, his breath brushing against her earlobe, carrying a faint minty scent. Bai Xue's wrist trembled slightly, almost causing her to drop the clip.

"That's how it should be."

Su Rui guided her hand, gently stirring the sausage. His fingertips were warm and dry, the calluses on his fingertips brushing against her skin, sending a slight shiver down her spine. Under his guidance, the sausage obediently rolled, releasing an enticing aroma.

"Do you understand?"

His voice was close to her ear, deep and gentle. Bai Xue's ears burned, and she stammered, "I understand..."

Su Rui chuckled softly, but didn't let go immediately. Instead, he continued grilling the entire plate of ingredients for her while still in that position. Bai Xue could clearly feel the vibrations in his chest, and the occasional brush of his tail against her waist. Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst out of her chest.

"Try it."

Su Rui finally stepped back and placed the grilled sausage near Bai Xue's mouth. Bai Xue obediently opened her mouth, but the moment she bit down, she was burned and stuck out her tongue. "It's so hot!"

"Idiot." Su Rui shook her head helplessly, but still considerately handed over a glass of chilled lemonade. "Blow on it before you eat it."

Bai Xue gulped down a mouthful of ice water, her eyes brimming with tears as she accused, "You did it on purpose!"

Su Rui remained noncommittal, only a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth and a cheerful wag of his tail. Under the lamplight, he seemed to be bathed in a soft glow, his silver hair and weasel ears standing out prominently in the night, the silver bell around his neck jingling softly with his movements, like a beautiful dream come true.

While Bai Xue was debating whether to choose ice cream or pudding in front of the dessert section, Su Rui returned with two plates of honey-roasted pineapple.

"Give."

He pushed one of the plates in front of her; the pineapple slices were drizzled with glistening honey and sprinkled with black sesame seeds. Bai Xue took a bite, and the sweet taste immediately blossomed on her tongue.

How did you know I wanted to eat this?

Su Rui's ears twitched. "You glanced at the dessert section three times, stopping on this twice."

Bai Xue was stunned—this kind of observational ability was indeed a sniper's instinct.

"Well..." She scooped up a spoonful of pineapple and held it to his lips, "I'll share half with you."

Su Rui hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head to accept the food. The sweet scent of honey lingered on his lips and teeth. His eyelashes drooped slightly, casting a small shadow under the light, making him look inexplicably docile.

Bai Xue suddenly realized that perhaps washing dishes wasn't such a bad thing after all.