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

The gray-haired police officer waved casually and turned to disappear into the night. Bai Xue watched her retreating figure and suddenly felt that Chen Huijie looked much gentler than usual.

"Su Rui," she asked softly, "You and Inspector Chen...?"

"She saved me when I was little," Su Rui replied briefly, tightening her tail. "I'll tell you later."

Bai Xue, understanding the situation, didn't press further, but instead waved the concert ticket in her hand. "Then this..."

Su Rui's ears perked up with delight. "Want to go?"

"Of course!" Bai Xue's eyes sparkled. "They say this concert features the best violinist from Lungmen!"

The handsome boy's tail wrapped around her wrist, and with a gentle pull, he drew her into his arms. "Okay."

His lips brushed against her earlobe, his voice as soft as a feather. "Whatever you say."

The dim lights of the night market cast long shadows of the two figures embracing. At the alleyway not far away, Chen Huijie withdrew her gaze, a satisfied smile on her lips, and turned to truly disappear into the night.

Bai Xue noticed that ever since she met Chen Huijie at the night market, Su Rui seemed to be more sensitive to her subtle actions.

Sunlight streamed into the room through the gaps in the curtains. Bai Xue groggily opened her eyes and found that Su Rui was already awake, leaning against the headboard reading a book. The morning light outlined the delicate profile of his face, his silvery eyelashes casting a small shadow under his eyes, and the silver bell around his neck swaying slightly with his breath.

--so cute.

Bai Xue quietly reached out and gently poked his cheek with her fingertips.

Su Rui's ears twitched immediately, but his eyes remained fixed on the pages, pretending not to notice her movement. Bai Xue grew bolder and pinched the tip of his ear again; the downy hair there was even softer than his cheek, like the finest silk.

"Stop fooling around."

Su Rui finally spoke, his voice hoarse from the morning, but his eyes remained fixed on the book. Bai Xue mischievously leaned closer and gently blew a breath into his ear—

"Smack!"

The fluffy tail lashed across the back of her hand without mercy, the force not heavy, but enough to express its displeasure. Bai Xue withdrew her hand, looking aggrieved, but saw that Su Rui's ear tips were already red enough to bleed, and the tip of her tail was still wagging restlessly.

"You're such a cheapskate," she muttered, snuggling closer to him. "You won't even let me pinch you."

Su Rui finally put down her book, her amber eyes glancing sideways at her. "You pinched me seventeen times yesterday."

"You actually counted?!" Bai Xue's eyes widened, then she pounced on her with a grin, "Then let's do it again to make it a round number!"

The moment her fingers touched his cheek, Su Rui over and pinned her down. Her silvery-white hair fell down, carrying a faint minty scent, enveloping her in a private space.

"Eighteen times," his voice was low and husky, his tail sweeping dangerously across her ankle, "There will be a price to pay."

Bai Xue's heart raced instantly, her cheeks burning. "W-what price...?"

Su Rui didn't answer, but instead leaned down and gently bit her lips. The bite wasn't hard, but it was enough to send shivers down her spine. His tail had somehow wrapped around her wrist, gently caressing the sensitive skin on the inside, sending a slight shiver through her.

"Wait..." Bai Xue's voice was incredibly soft, "Didn't we agree to go today... um..."

Bai Xue was about to protest, Su Rui swiftly grabbed a honey pancake and precisely stuffed it into her mouth. The sweet honey instantly melted on her tongue, and the perfectly crisp texture of the pancake made her chew involuntarily. Su Rui rested her chin on one hand, her amber eyes gleaming mischievously as she watched Bai Xue puff out her cheeks like a sulking hamster.

"Eat slowly," he said, pushing the warm milk tea towards her and lightly tapping the rim of the cup with his fingertip. "This is the eighteenth one, I promised to return it to you." Bai Xue's eyes widened as she tried to speak, but her mouth was full of pancakes, and she could only let out muffled sobs. Su Rui laughed so hard her shoulders shook, and while she was busy getting the milk tea, he placed a piece of pudding drizzled with caramel on the plate in front of her.

Bai Xue blushed and glared at him. "You're cheating!"

Su Rui's tail wagged happily, and its ears perked up smugly. "Any objections?"

The afternoon sun shone brightly on the shopping street. Bai Xue linked arms with Su Rui as they strolled between the shops. Su Rui had put her scarf back on to cover her ears, but her tail still peeked out from under her trench coat, swaying gently with her steps.

"Su Rui, look at this!" Bai Xue suddenly grabbed him and pointed to the window of a jewelry store.

A pair of silver earrings, shaped like delicate little Bell, were displayed in the shop window, somewhat similar to the silver bells around Su Rui's neck.

"It suits you perfectly," Bai Xue said, her eyes sparkling. "Want to give it a try?"

Su Rui's ears twitched under her scarf, but her tail stood erect and wary. "... No."

"Just try it!" Bai Xue pulled him into the store. "I promise I won't pinch your ears!"

This promise was clearly unconvincing, because as soon as they entered the store, her fingers couldn't help but brush against the tip of his ear, which was faintly visible beneath his scarf. Su Rui immediately flicked her tail, a few times harder than he had that morning.

"Ouch!" Bai Xue exaggeratedly rubbed her arm, but still smiled and asked the shop assistant to take out the pair of earrings.

The shop assistant, a friendly Feline girl, brightened up when she saw Su Rui: "This gentleman's hair color is so unique, it matches these earrings perfectly!"

Su Rui awkwardly turned his face away, his tail tightly wrapped around Bai Xue's wrist, as if seeking help. Bai Xue suppressed a laugh, took the earring, and held it up to his ear. "It really looks good."

"Would you like to try them on, sir?" the sales assistant asked expectantly.

Su Rui's ears were burning red beneath her scarf, and her tail throbbed uneasily on the ground. "No..."

"Just for a moment," Bai Xue whispered in his ear, "I'll buy you that limited edition honey cake after you try it."

Su Rui's ears perked up noticeably, and his tail wagged hesitantly. Honey cake was his newest favorite, and the limited edition from that shop required a two-hour wait to buy.

"... Five minutes." He finally conceded, his voice barely audible.

There's a dog in chapter 837 of volume 15, but it doesn't matter.

Bai Xue cheered and carefully helped him remove his scarf. Su Rui's silver hair was a little messy, and the tips of his ears trembled slightly with shyness, almost transparent in the sunlight. The shop assistant exclaimed in surprise, then tactfully stepped aside.

"Don't move," Bai Xue said softly, gently placing the earring on his earlobe.

The small silver Bell tinkled softly with his movements, complementing the silver bell around Su Rui's neck. Bai Xue held her breath, her fingertips unconsciously tracing his earlobe—

"Smack!"

The tail lashed mercilessly across her waist, and Su Rui's ear tips turned bright red. "You promised you wouldn't pinch them."

"I didn't pinch it!" Bai Xue protested, feeling wronged. "I just touched it!"

Su Rui gave a soft hum, but didn't take off his earrings. Instead, he turned to look at himself in the mirror. Bell streamed through the shop window, bathing him in a soft glow, making him look like an elf from a fairy tale.

"Is it pretty?" he asked softly, the tip of his tail subtly hooking around her finger.

Bai Xue's heart skipped a beat. "So beautiful I want to pinch it again."

"... Honey cake cancelled."

"I was wrong!"

As dusk fell, the two sat on a bench in Central Park, sharing the hard-earned honey cake. Su Rui had removed her earrings, but the silver bell around her neck still jingled softly with his movements.

"Open your mouth." Bai Xue scooped a spoonful of cake and held it to his lips.

Su Rui obediently opened his mouth, but the moment the cake touched his lips, Bai Xue sneakily attacked his ear. His tail snapped open, almost knocking over the cake box.

"Bai Xue!"

"The eighteenth time!" Bai Xue announced triumphantly, quickly leaping away to dodge his tail attack. "Today's quota is used up!"

Su Rui narrowed his eyes, suddenly put down the cake box, and pulled her back into his arms with lightning speed. His arms were firmly wrapped around her waist, and his tail was wrapped around her wrist, forming a perfect restraint.

"I told you," his breath brushed against her ear, his voice carrying a dangerous sweetness, "There will be a price to pay."

Bai Xue then realized she had gone too far playing with fire, but it was too late.

Su Rui's lips pressed down, carrying the sweet scent of honey cake, sealing all her protests in this twilight kiss. The distant chimes rang, startling a flock of white doves, but the two on the bench remained oblivious, immersed in this sweet punishment.

As dusk fell, the Lungmen Port District was bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, the roar of cranes mingling with the sound of waves crashing against the shore. Bai Xue, arm in arm with Su Rui, was excitedly describing the adorable trinkets they had seen on the shopping street that day. Su Rui's ears twitched slightly under her scarf, but her tail suddenly straightened and gently tugged at Bai Xue's wrist.

"What's wrong?" Bai Xue noticed his unusual behavior and followed his gaze.

At Pier 3 in the port area, several figures dressed in black trench coats were disembarking from a Syracuse cargo ship. They were low-key, yet their sharp aura was undeniable. The woman in the lead, with silver hair and red eyes, had two uniquely designed long knives at her waist. She was casually chewing gum, her gaze sweeping over her surroundings.

--Lappland.

Su Rui's tail tightened silently, and she pulled Bai Xue around, turning into a small alley.

"That is..." Bai Xue asked softly.

"The Syracuse mafia." Su Rui's voice was soft, yet unusually tense. "Don't make a sound."

His hand rested on the back of Bai Xue's neck, leading her into the shadows of the alley. Bai Xue could feel his muscles tense, his breathing extremely light, as if he had returned to the state of a sniper.

Footsteps and voices could be heard outside the alley; it was Lungmen dialect with a heavy Syracuse accent.

"The boss said the goods are in warehouse C," a gruff male voice said, "And must be picked up tonight."

"What's the rush?" Lappland replied lazily. "The customs officers in Lungmen are much more difficult to deal with than the police in Syracuse. It's safer to operate at night."

As the footsteps faded into the distance, Su Rui's tail relaxed slightly. He looked down at Bai Xue, his amber eyes appearing exceptionally deep in the shadows. "Let's take a detour."

On the way back, Su Rui was clearly distracted. His ears twitched occasionally under his scarf, and his tail was taut, as if he were on guard. Bai Xue squeezed his fingers and asked softly, "Do you know that person?"

"Lappland," Su Rui replied curtly, "A member of the Syracuse 'family'."

He didn't explain much, but Bai Xue keenly sensed that Su Rui's attitude towards the silver-haired woman was complicated—not purely wary, but more like a tacit avoidance.

Should we inform the Lungmen Guard Department?

Su Rui shook her head, her tail gently encircling her waist. "She won't cause trouble in Lungmen."

His tone was confident, as if he knew Lappland's modus operandi inside and out. Bai Xue suddenly realized that there might be a past between Su Rui and this Syracuse mafia member that she was unaware of.

*

As night fell, the tea room in Wenyue Estate was brightly lit. Bai Xue knelt before the low table, watching Su Rui skillfully operate the terminal. Encrypted messages flashed across the screen—the hotel where Lappland was staying, the list of his entourage, and even their meeting point in Lungmen were all clearly visible.

"You knew they were coming all along?" Bai Xue asked in surprise.

Su Rui's ears twitched, and her tail gently patted the tatami mat. "Intelligence network."

He glossed over it, but Bai Xue knew that obtaining such detailed information meant it was far more than just an "intelligence network." Before becoming her "roommate," Su Rui clearly had a more complex background.

"So..." Bai Xue leaned closer, resting her chin on his shoulder, "You two are friends?"

Su Rui paused, her tail tip curling involuntarily. "... I guess so."

He pulled up a photo of Lappland standing at the bar of a tavern in Syracuse, raising a glass and giving the camera a defiant smile. In the corner of the photo, a hand wearing a black glove was visible—on that wrist was a copper bell similar in style to the silver bell around Su Rui's neck.

Bai Xue's eyes widened. "This is..."

"About three years ago," Su Rui said, turning off the screen, "It was a joint operation."

He didn't elaborate, but Bai Xue had already guessed the gist of it. Su Rui and Lappland might have once been comrades-in-arms, or perhaps adversaries with opposing stances. In any case, there was some unspoken understanding between them.

The next morning, Bai Xue lined up in front of a bakery on the shopping street, while Su Rui waited for her not far away. Sunlight shone on his silver hair, and the silver bell around his neck jingled softly in the breeze. He looked no different from any other handsome young man.

Suddenly, his ears perked up alertly, and his tail straightened. Following his gaze, Bai Xue saw Lappland leaning against a lamppost across the street, looking at them with a half-smile.

Volume 15, Chapter 838: The Silly Dog Arrives

Su Rui leaned forward slightly, as if ready to act at any moment, yet forced himself to relax. Lappland seemed to notice his reaction, a hint of amusement flashing in her red eyes. She made a gesture—a harmless signal commonly used among the Syracuse mafia.

Su Rui's tail swayed gently, returning the same simple gesture. The two completed a silent exchange across the street.

Lappland smiled, turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving only a wisp of silver hair shimmering in the sunlight.

"Su Rui?" Bai Xue walked over with a freshly baked croissant. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," he said, taking the bread and naturally wrapping his tail around her waist. "Let's go."

Bai Xue glanced thoughtfully in the direction Lappland had disappeared, then looked at Su Rui's calm profile, but ultimately asked nothing.

Night fell again, Su Rui stood on the roof of Wenyue Estate, gazing at the dazzling night view of Lungmen. His terminal received an encrypted message:

"Leaving the country tomorrow. Tell Su Rui that she needs to repay the favor she owes me. --L"

Su Rui's ears twitched, and his tail gently patted the roof tiles. He replied with a simple "OK," then deleted the message.

Familiar footsteps sounded behind me, and Bai Xue climbed onto the roof, carrying two cups of hot cocoa.

"What are you thinking about?" She handed him a glass and sat down beside him.

Su Rui took the cup, the warmth transferring to her fingertips. "The Siracusan are leaving tomorrow."

Bai Xue blinked. "Are you sure?"

"Hmm." He took a sip of hot cocoa, the sweet aroma spreading on his tongue. "They won't cause trouble in Lungmen."

His tone was so certain, as if he had already arranged everything. Bai Xue leaned on his shoulder, gazing towards the distant harbor. "Don't you want to see her?"

Su Rui's tail gently wrapped around her waist. "No need."

A night breeze swept by, carrying the salty tang of the harbor. The distant horns of cargo ships sounded, like a farewell. Su Rui looked down at Bai Xue in her arms and suddenly felt that the tranquility of this moment was more precious than the bloodshed of Syracuse.

"Let's go home," he said softly.

Bai Xue smiled and nodded, letting him lead her down from the rooftop.

The morning dew had not yet dissipated, and the courtyard of Wenyue Estate was shrouded in a hazy mist. Bai Xue was kneeling in the tea room arranging the tea set when she suddenly heard an unusual sound coming from the courtyard—it sounded like someone had nimbly climbed over the wall, and the sound of boots on the gravel path was faint.