Ark Simulator, Am I Not Without a Physical Form? Chapter 397

Her gaze passed over the Bai Xue and landed directly on the silver-haired boy behind her. Su Rui's ears perked up alertly, and its tail wrapped tightly around the Bai Xue's wrist, as if making a silent declaration.

Bai Xue stepped forward, standing between the two. "It's a day off today, want to go shopping together?"

Lappland raised an eyebrow. "A threesome?" She deliberately drew out the word, "How exciting."

"It's just a get-together with colleagues," Bai Xue replied with a forced smile. "After all, you're a 'special advisor' now."

Lappland's red eyes narrowed slightly, like a wolf eyeing its prey. She casually sheathed her longsword and approached with a languid gait. "Alright, I just happen to need a guide."

Her fingers naturally rested on Su Rui's shoulder, but Bai Xue slapped them away.

"Don't touch him."

Lappland laughed instead of getting angry, "So petty?" Her red eyes turned to Su Rui, "You weren't like this yesterday."

Su Rui's tail bristled even more. "... Shut up."

"That's really hurtful." Lappland exaggeratedly clutched her chest, then suddenly leaned close to Bai Xue's ear, "You know what? His ears twitch when he kisses."

Bai Xue clenched her fist tightly, her nails digging deep into her palm. She forced a smile, "Really? Then did you know that he bites people when he's angry...?"

Lappland's smile froze on her face.

The sunlight in the commercial street was more dazzling than that on the training field.

Bai Xue linked arms with Su Rui's left arm, Lappland draped her arm around Su Rui's right shoulder. The three of them walked side by side down the street, attracting countless stares. Su Rui's tail was stiff as a stick, and the tips of her ears were so red they looked like they could bleed.

"That dessert shop is good," Lappland suddenly pointed to the street corner. "Su Rui likes their mint cake."

Bai Xue's fingers tightened. "He knows I prefer chocolate."

"What a coincidence, I like chocolate too," Lappland said with a smile. "But Su Rui said it's too sweet, right?"

Su Rui's Adam's apple bobbed. "..."

"That clothing store up ahead is having a sale," Bai Xue suddenly said. "Su Rui bought me a dress last time."

A dangerous glint flashed in Lappland's red eyes. "Really? I do remember he preferred helping me pick out lingerie."

Su Rui coughed violently. "I didn't..."

"What's there to be shy about?" Lappland pinched his earlobe. "It's not like we haven't seen it before."

Bai Xue's silver bells suddenly began to shake violently. She grabbed Su Rui and pressed him against the dessert shop window. "Choose one."

The glass display case held a variety of exquisite cakes, mint green and chocolate brown arranged side by side. Su Rui's tail wagged uneasily, as if facing some life-or-death decision.

"I..."

"Mint is delicious." Lappland leaned in from behind, resting her chin on Su Rui's shoulder. "Right?"

Bai Xue sneered, "Last time he ate chocolate, he licked the plate clean."

The shop assistant stood awkwardly behind the counter. "What flavors would you three like?"

"Pack everything." Bai Xue slapped down a stack of Lungmen Dollars. "I want everything."

In a corner seat of the dessert shop, three people had more than a dozen cakes in front of them.

Lappland scooped a spoonful of mint cake and held it to Su Rui's lips. "Want to try some?"

At the same time, Bai Xue forked a piece of chocolate cake: "Ah--"

Su Rui's pupils dilated. His gaze darted back and forth between the two spoons, and the fur on his tail stood on end. Finally, he reached out and took Bai Xue's fork, but at the same time, he lowered his head and took Lappland's spoon into his mouth.

"Greedy." Lappland chuckled, her fingertips brushing against the corner of his lips.

Bai Xue suddenly stood up. "I'll go get the drinks."

She turned and walked towards the counter, the silver bells jingling around her neck. Lappland seized the opportunity to lean closer to Su Rui: "Your little girlfriend's angry."

"You did this on purpose," Su Rui said through gritted teeth.

"Jealous?" Lappland's red eyes gleamed with the smug light of a triumphant prank. "That's more interesting."

Her fingers traced Su Rui's Adam's apple, but were interrupted by a napkin suddenly thrown at her. Bai Xue stood by the table, holding three drinks. "Take your hand away."

Lappland reluctantly withdrew her hand. "The real culprit."

Bai Xue pushed the mint-flavored iced drink in front of Lappland: "Here you go."

Lappland frowned after taking a sip. "... Lemon?"

"Mint is sold out." Bai Xue smiled. "Would you like to make do?"

Volume 15, Chapter 851: Dogs Can't Eat Chocolate

Looking at the familiar chocolate milkshake in her glass, Su Rui suddenly realized something— Bai Xue remembered all his preferences, including his least favorite fruit, lemon.

Lappland's red eyes narrowed slightly. "Interesting."

She suddenly reached out and pressed down on the back of Su Rui's neck, kissing him to Bai Xue's astonishment. The scents of mint and lemon mingled on their lips and teeth, and Su Rui's ears perked up instantly, his tail freezing in mid-air.

As they parted, Lappland licked the corner of her lips with the tip of her tongue. "This tastes better."

Bai Xue's silver bells began to vibrate wildly.

The tension in front of the clothing store's fitting rooms was almost palpable.

"This one suits you." Bai Xue handed a high-necked dress to Su Rui. "Go try it on."

Lappland then handed her a backless mini-dress. "This one looks better."

Su Rui clutched two very different outfits, her tail wagging helplessly. "I..."

"Hurry up," Bai Xue pushed him towards the fitting room. "I'll wait and see."

Lappland leaned against the wall, applying her lipstick. "Don't keep me waiting too long."

The two girls' expressions changed instantly after the fitting room door closed.

"Stay away from him," Bai Xue whispered. "He's not your toy."

A dangerous glint flashed in Lappland's crimson eyes. "That's what I should be saying." Her fingertips traced the silver bell around Bai Xue's neck. "You think a single Bell can keep him in check?"

"At least he wouldn't wear this." Bai Xue pulled the black choker from her pocket. "It's really ugly."

Lappland suddenly laughed, "You look so cute when you're jealous." She leaned close to Bai Xue's ear, "I'll tell you a secret—he has a red mole on his side, and when he licks it, his tail will..."

The fitting room door suddenly opened, Su Rui walked out wearing the high-necked dress, her silver hair sticking up messily. "... It doesn't fit."

Lappland's laughter stopped abruptly.

Bai Xue proudly raised her chin. "I told you, he'd suit a high collar."

As the sun set, the three stood at a crossroads in the commercial street.

"See you tomorrow." Lappland winked at Su Rui. "The usual place."

Bai Xue grabbed Su Rui's hand. "He's not free tomorrow."

"Really?" Lappland's red eyes stared directly at Su Rui. "You're going to stand me up?"

Su Rui's tail clung tightly to Bai Xue's wrist, but her voice was firm. "... Mmm."

Lappland's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal. "What a pity." She suddenly leaned in and lightly pecked Su Rui's lips. "Then tonight's goodnight kiss will be given early."

Bai Xue's silver bells jingled wildly, but before she could react, Su Rui had already lowered his head and kissed her. The kiss was deep and heavy, filled with an undeniable possessiveness, and it only ended when Lappland's laughter rang out.

"Childish." Lappland waved her hand, turned, and walked towards the setting sun. "But... I like it better."

After her figure disappeared around the street corner, Bai Xue loosened her clenched fist—in her palm was the black choker, which had been squeezed out of shape.

Su Rui gently pried her fingers apart. "Don't hurt yourself."

"Who do you choose?" Bai Xue suddenly asked, her voice trembling without her even realizing it.

Su Rui's tail gently wrapped around her waist. "It's always only you."

As dusk fell, silver bells rang softly, like a silent promise. In the shadows of the distance, Lappland watched this scene in quiet contemplation.

"The game has only just begun..."

The morning dew had not yet dried, and the courtyard of the Wenyue Estate was filled with the scent of fresh grass. Bai Xue pushed open the gate of the dojo, her wooden clogs making a crisp sound on the wooden floor. Today, she had specially changed into a high-necked kimono, concealing the silver bell around her neck carefully—ever since Lappland kissed Su Rui in front of her, this Bell had become a sensitive object.

"You're here really early."

Lappland's voice came from behind, carrying the languidness unique to early morning. Bai Xue turned around abruptly and saw her leaning against the door frame, her long SilverAsh hair casually tied into a ponytail, wearing only a black sports vest that revealed the smooth muscle lines of her waist and abdomen.

"What are you doing here?" Bai Xue's fingers unconsciously tightened around the sword sheath.

"Morning practice, huh?" Lappland brandished her bamboo sword. "Inspector Chen said I can use the dojo."

Her red eyes looked like two drops of congealed blood in the morning light. Her gaze passed over the Bai Xue and looked behind her. "Oh? Where's the Bell?"

Bai Xue's ears instantly burned. "None of your business."

Lappland chuckled softly and approached with cat-like steps. She carried a faint scent of mint, mixed with the smell of sweat from her morning workout, which was strangely aggressive.

"Hiding it won't help." Her fingertips lightly traced her neck. "He bit me here yesterday, really hard."

Bai Xue's pupils suddenly contracted. "You..."

"Just kidding," Lappland suddenly burst out laughing, "But your expression just now was really funny."

She walked past Bai Xue toward the sword rack, her back as straight as a drawn sword. Bai Xue stared at the bruise on her waist—it was from the day before yesterday in the shopping street, when Su Rui was pushed into the fitting room by her and accidentally bumped into it.

"He won't be coming to the dojo today," Bai Xue said coldly. "He has a mission."

"I know," Lappland said without turning her head, selecting a bamboo sword, "That's why I invited him out for drinks tonight."

The bamboo swords clattered against the shelf. Bai Xue's breath hitched, but she forced herself to calm down. "He won't go."

As Su Rui pushed open the door of the izakaya, the rich aroma of grilled fish wafted out. His ears perked up alertly, trying to pick out a specific frequency from the noisy chatter—the absence of Bai Xue's silvery bells relieved him.

"This way."

In a corner booth, Lappland was raising her glass to him. She was wearing a dark blue yukata today, her silver hair loosely draped over her shoulders, gleaming softly in the dim light. The table was already set with snacks to accompany the drinks, the most eye-catching being the plate of mints in the center—a specialty of Syracuse, sold only by one shop in the entire Lungmen.

"Three minutes late." Lappland swirled his glass. "A penalty drink."

Su Rui flicked her tail gently and sat down opposite her. "Where's Bai Xue?"

"What, thinking about your girlfriend on a date?" Lappland's red eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the candlelight. "Don't worry, she doesn't know."

She pushed a glass of sake towards him, a faint lipstick mark on the rim. Su Rui stared at the mark for two seconds, then took it and drank it all in one gulp. The burning sensation in his throat from the alcohol made him frown, and his earlobes twitched slightly.

"You can't hold your liquor, yet you're still trying to be tough." Lappland chuckled, pouring him another glass. "Last time in Syracuse, you were knocked out after just two glasses."

Su Rui's tail slapped against the tatami mat. "... Don't bring up the past."

"Why?" Lappland suddenly leaned closer, her yukata collar slightly open, revealing a thin scar on her collarbone. "This is a memory we share."

Her fingertips traced the scar. "Remember? You stitched it up for me."

Su Rui's breath hitched for a moment. It was a rainy night three years ago in Syracuse, when Lappland, to cover his retreat, lured away the Texas family's pursuers alone. By the time he found her, the wound was already deep enough to expose the bone.

Volume 15, Chapter 852: Some things are worthwhile.

"... You asked for it."

"Yes," Lappland withdrew her hand, her smile tinged with nostalgia, "It was worth it for you."

She suddenly stood up, stepped over the low table, and sat down next to Su Rui. The hem of her bathrobe opened, revealing her slender legs. Su Rui's tail instantly straightened, and she subconsciously moved to the side, but she grabbed her wrist.

"What are you hiding from?" Lappland's red eyes stared directly at him. "Back in the underground bar in Syracuse, you once held me and slept all night."

Her body heat emanated through the thin bathrobe, carrying a faint scent of mint. Su Rui's ears twitched involuntarily, her Adam's apple bobbing. "... That's because you were injured and had a fever."

"An excuse." Lappland chuckled, her fingertips tracing his earlobe. "You clearly like me."

Su Rui suddenly stood up, her tail sweeping over the wine glasses on the table. The amber liquid spread across the tatami mat, much like the rain in Syracuse that year.

I'm leaving.

Lappland casually wiped the spilled wine from her hands. "Afraid Bai Xue will find out?" Her red eyes narrowed slightly. "Or are you afraid you won't be able to control yourself?"

Bai Xue stood outside the izakaya, the silver bell in her hand vibrating wildly, but it couldn't drown out the laughter coming from inside.

She was supposed to be on patrol, but somehow, her feet led her here. The dim light from the wooden lattice window cast the silhouettes of two people onto the window paper—one tall figure was close to the other, so close they were almost one.

The silver bell became burning hot in her palm. Bai Xue turned to leave, but heard a "clatter" sound.

The door was suddenly pulled open, and Su Rui strode out, her silver hair sticking up in a messy manner, and the tips of her ears so red they looked like they could bleed.