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

Su Rui chuckled softly and took her hand, "Okay, together."

Volume 15, Chapter 847: Someone is looking for you.

On the way back to their room, Bai Xue felt like someone was watching them. But every time she turned around, the corridor was empty, with only the wind chimes swaying gently.

"What's wrong?" Su Rui asked.

"It's nothing..." Bai Xue shook her head, but subconsciously moved closer to him.

Su Rui seemed to sense her unease, wrapping its tail around her wrist. "Are you hungry?"

"A little."

Should I have Aju bring some snacks?

Bai Xue was about to nod when she suddenly remembered something. "Wait, wasn't Madam looking for me?"

Su Rui's expression froze for a moment. "... I forgot."

"Su Rui!"

"It's my fault." He apologized insincerely, but his tail nuzzled against her waist ingratiatingly. "Now?"

Bai Xue glared at him, but couldn't help laughing, "You really are..."

"Um?"

"... Never mind, let's go."

She took his hand and they intertwined their fingers. Su Rui's tail wagged happily, and the tips of her ears turned slightly red.

A faint fragrance filled Lady Wenyue's tea room. Seeing the two enter hand in hand, she smiled knowingly, "It seems I've disturbed you?"

"No, that's not true." Bai Xue hurriedly let go of Su Rui's hand, but he grabbed it back.

"I know I've disturbed you," Su Rui said frankly.

"Su Rui!"

Lady Wenyue laughed out loud, "Young people are so energetic."

She pushed a plate of pastries over, her gaze lingering on Bai Xue's neck for a second before casually looking away. "Has the Syracuse matter been resolved?"

"Hmm," Su Rui replied briefly.

What about Lappland?

Ignore her.

Lady Wenyue raised an eyebrow. "So confident?"

Su Rui didn't answer, but instead squeezed Bai Xue's fingers. Bai Xue understood and quickly changed the subject. "What does Madam want with us?"

Actually, I wanted to ask about your wedding plans.

"Pfft—!" Bai Xue spat out a mouthful of tea.

Su Rui calmly handed over the handkerchief. "Slow down."

"We... wedding?" Bai Xue stammered, her face flushed red.

Lady Wenyue looked at them with a smile, "Didn't Su Rui mention it to you? He came to ask me to choose a date last week."

Bai Xue suddenly turned to look at Su Rui. The latter rarely showed a hint of embarrassment, and his ears twitched slightly. "... I wanted to give you a surprise."

"You..." Bai Xue opened her mouth, but suddenly didn't know what to say.

Her heartbeat was so loud it seemed the entire tea room could hear it. Su Rui's fingers gently brushed across her palm, trembling almost imperceptibly.

"You don't want to?" he asked in a low voice.

"No!" Bai Xue hurriedly shook her head, "I just... it was too sudden..."

Lady Wenyue stood up at the opportune moment. "I'll go check if the pastries in the kitchen are ready."

The moment the door closed, Su Rui suddenly knelt on one knee. He took out a small box from his pocket, inside which was a silver ring with tiny Bell wrapped around its band.

"I was planning to wait until tonight..." his voice was a little hoarse, "But it seems I can't wait any longer."

Bai Xue's tears welled up instantly. She looked at the ring, then at Su Rui's reddened earlobes, and suddenly threw herself at him, hugging him tightly. "Idiot!"

Su Rui caught her steadily, her tail wrapping tightly around her waist. "So, you agree?"

"... Um."

He slipped the ring onto her ring finger, and the Bell jingled softly. Bai Xue looked down and suddenly noticed two small words engraved on the inside—

"Home"

Her tears fell even harder. Su Rui helplessly wiped them away and kissed her fingertips. "Don't cry."

"Can't I be happy?!"

"Okay." Su Rui chuckled, pulling her closer. "My mistake."

Outside the door, Lappland leaned against the wall, listening to the sounds inside. She glanced down at another document in her hand and sighed softly.

"It's really... in the way."

The name "Bai Xue" was clearly written on the document, followed by a long analysis report. She tore the document to shreds and casually threw it into the brazier in the corridor.

As she turned to leave, her silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, like a drawn sword.

The setting sun bathed the courtyard of Wenyue Estate in orange-red hues. Bai Xue sat on the edge of the corridor, swinging her legs as she watched Su Rui practice shuriken. The silver blade drew dazzling arcs in the air, and his tail swayed gently with his movements, casting a long, thin shadow on the wooden floor.

"Su Rui!" Bai Xue suddenly shouted, "Catch!"

She tossed an apple, and Su Rui caught it without turning his head, then with a flick of his wrist, sliced the fruit into eight neat wedges. Bai Xue clapped and laughed, about to run over, when she suddenly noticed that Su Rui's body had frozen—his ears were fully erect, and the fur on his tail was all bristling.

"How..."

Before she could finish speaking, a gust of wind swept in from behind. Bai Xue instinctively bent down, catching a glimpse of a SilverAsh shadow flash by out of the corner of her eye. The next second, Su Rui was no longer where she was.

"Su Rui?!"

The courtyard was empty, with only a few startled leaves slowly drifting down. Bai Xue's pupils suddenly contracted, and her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes—a faint scent of mint smoke lingered in the air.

... Lappland.

*

Su Rui felt dizzy. He felt a pair of arms tightly wrapped around his waist, and the wind was whistling in his ears. When his vision cleared again, he was standing on the top of the tallest tower in Wenyue Estate, with the setting sun behind him.

Surprised?

Lappland's voice was close at hand, carrying a familiar mockery. Her arms were still wrapped around his waist, her long, SilverAsh hair was ruffled by the wind, a few strands brushing against his cheek, carrying a faint scent of blood.

Su Rui's tail suddenly snapped open, "Let go!"

"How indifferent." Lappland released her grip, but stood blocking the only stairwell. "I specifically chose this romantic spot."

Her red eyes gleamed in the twilight, like two drops of congealed blood. Today, she wasn't wearing her Lungmen Guard Department uniform, but rather a black bodysuit, the twin swords at her waist gleaming coldly in the setting sun.

Su Rui's ears twitched alertly, catching any sounds around her. "What do you want?"

"Catching up, huh?" Lappland stepped forward, her boots clicking softly on the tiles. "Remember when we were interrupted last time?"

Her fingers traced the hollow of Su Rui's neck—the silver bell had been hidden away by Bai Xue. Lappland's red eyes narrowed slightly. "You gave her the token of your love?"

Su Rui slapped her hand away. "None of your business."

"That really hurts." Lappland exaggeratedly clutched her chest, but a smile played on her lips. "I came here specifically to see you."

"Have a finger in the pie."

"Ha!" she suddenly burst out laughing, "You didn't say that before."

Her movements were lightning fast; she grabbed Su Rui's wrist and pressed him against the tower's stone railing. They were so close they could count each other's eyelashes. Lappland's breath brushed against his lips, carrying a faint scent of alcohol. "Back in Syracuse, you clearly said..."

"Enough." Su Rui's voice was as cold as ice. "That's all in the past."

A dangerous glint flashed in Lappland's red eyes. "The past?" Her fingers traced the tip of his ear. "But your ears still remember me."

Volume 15, Chapter 848: Very Tempered

Su Rui's ear tips twitched sensitively, not out of shyness—it was the instinctive reaction of a wild beast when its territory is violated. His tail lashed out, striking Lappland's knee hard.

"Tsk." Lappland nimbly jumped back to avoid it. "His temper is getting worse and worse."

She suddenly pulled a small bottle from her pocket, filled with a dark red liquid. "Do you know what this is?"

Su Rui's pupils suddenly contracted. "... Blood Rose."

The most dangerous aphrodisiac in Syracuse; just one drop can render someone insane.

Lappland shook the bottle, leaving viscous streaks on the glass. "Guess who I'm planning to use it on?"

Su Rui's tail instantly stiffened, a murderous glint flashing in her eyes. "You dare..."

"What's the rush?" Lappland suddenly threw the bottle over the tower. "I wouldn't stoop to such despicable tactics."

The glass bottle arced through the air before plunging into the distant moat. She turned and leaned against the stone railing, her silver hair fluttering in the wind. "What I want is for you to be willing."

Su Rui's vigilance remained undiminished. "Impossible."

"Don't speak too definitively." Lappland's red eyes stared directly at him. "Do you know why I came to find you?"

"..."

"Because I like you." Her voice suddenly lowered, carrying an unusual seriousness, "I've liked you ever since Syracuse."

Su Rui's ears twitched slightly. "You're crazy."

"Perhaps," Lappland chuckled, "But I won't give up."

She stepped forward, her fingers gently tracing Su Rui's cheek. "How about spending one day a week with me?"

"Dream."

"Then don't blame me for bothering you and your little girlfriend every day." A sly glint flashed in Lappland's red eyes. "You know I can do it."

Su Rui's fist grazed Lappland's cheek and slammed against the stone railing, drawing blood from her knuckles instantly. Lappland didn't flinch; instead, her smile widened, "Are you angry?"

Her fingers traced the back of his bleeding hand, gently licking away the beads of blood. "That's more like you."

Su Rui jerked her hand back. "Madman."

"Likewise." Lappland took a few steps back, then suddenly leaped to the top of the tower. "Consider my proposal."

Her figure cast a long shadow in the setting sun, her silver hair like burning flames. "I'll be waiting for you at the same place tomorrow at this time."

Before she finished speaking, she had already disappeared into the twilight, leaving only a wisp of minty smoke drifting in the wind.

Su Rui slowly loosened his fist, and drops of blood dripped onto the tiles, like tiny red plum blossoms. He looked down at the courtyard— Bai Xue was anxiously looking around, the silver bell tightly clenched in her hand, gleaming faintly in the setting sun.

*

Bai Xue searched the entire Wenyue Estate and finally found bloodstains at the foot of the tower. Her heart almost stopped. She followed the bloodstains up the stairs and finally found Su Rui on the top floor.

"Su Rui!"

He stood with his back to her by the railing, his silver hair tinged gold by the setting sun, his tail drooping limply. Hearing her call, he slowly turned around, his left hand still stained with undried blood.

Bai Xue rushed over and grabbed his hand. "What happened? Lappland, she..."

"It's nothing," Su Rui said softly, her tail gently wrapping around her waist. "Just a scratch."

Bai Xue carefully examined his wound, her eyes reddening. "What did she do to you?"

"... It's nothing." Su Rui's gaze drifted into the distance. "Just catching up."

Bai Xue pursed her lips, then suddenly took out a silver bell from her pocket and tied it back around his neck. "You're not allowed to take it off anymore."

Her voice trembled with tears, and her fingers shook slightly. Su Rui's heart skipped a beat; she lowered her head and kissed the top of her head. "Okay."

"If she dares to come again..."

"I'll handle it," Su Rui interrupted her, her voice gentle yet firm. "Trust me."

Bai Xue looked up at him, the setting sun casting dappled golden light on his eyelashes. Suddenly, she stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips forcefully.

Su Rui paused for a moment, then tightened her arms, deepening the kiss. His tail wrapped tightly around her waist, as if trying to meld her into his very bones.

In the distance, Lappland stood on the wall of Wenyue Estate, silently watching this scene. Her red eyes were obscure in the twilight, and the dagger in her hand lightly grazed the brick wall, leaving a deep mark.