Ark Simulator, Aren't I Supposed to Be Intangible?

"Su Rui..."

Bai Xue's voice made him freeze. He slowly turned around, his amber eyes filled with panic. "Bai Xue? What happened to you...?"

"The mission is over." Bai Xue's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable chill. "I've come to take you home."

Her gaze fell on the choker, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the silver bell. Su Rui subconsciously tried to untie it, but was stopped by a hand with black nail polish.

Lappland leaned against the doorframe, her yukata collar wide open, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin. Her red eyes gleamed in the night, a satisfied smile playing on her lips, "Leaving so soon? We haven't finished drinking yet."

The silver bells on the Bai Xue suddenly stopped vibrating.

"Really?" she asked calmly. "Then may I join?"

Lappland's smile froze for a moment, then widened even more. "Of course, it's more lively with more people."

She turned and walked into the store, the hem of her yukata swaying gently with her steps. Bai Xue, seeing Su Rui's stiff expression, suddenly reached out and untied her choker.

"It's dirty," she said softly, tossing it into a roadside trash can.

Su Rui's tail carefully wrapped around her wrist. "I didn't..."

"I know," Bai Xue interrupted him, "Let's go."

She strode resolutely toward the izakaya, the silver bells around her neck jingling crisply. Watching her retreating figure, Su Rui suddenly realized—this war had only just begun.

In a corner of the izakaya, three people sat around a low table, the atmosphere eerily suffocating.

"Try this." Lappland pushed a piece of sushi covered in wasabi in front of Su Rui. "Your favorite."

Bai Xue picked up a piece of salmon at the same time. "His stomach hasn't been feeling well lately, so he can't eat spicy food."

The two pairs of chopsticks were locked in a stalemate in mid-air, and Su Rui's tail was pressed tightly against the floor, not daring to move.

"You know him so well?" Lappland's red eyes narrowed slightly. "Did you know that when he's drunk, he'll cling to people and act all cute?"

Bai Xue's chopsticks snapped in her palm with a "crack": "Really? Did he tell you that he only likes me to hug him from behind when he sleeps?"

Lappland's smile froze on her face.

Su Rui's ears were completely flat against the back of his head, and the fur on his tail stood on end. He silently picked up his glass and drank it all in one gulp, hoping the alcohol would help him escape this terrible situation.

"Speaking of which," Lappland suddenly leaned closer to Su Rui, her yukata collar barely concealing her figure, "You haven't done what you promised me yet."

Bai Xue's silver bells began to vibrate again. "What is it?"

"It's a secret~" Lappland winked playfully, "Right, Su Rui?"

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

Bai Xue suddenly stood up, grabbed Su Rui by the collar, and kissed her in Lappland's astonished gaze. The kiss was deep and heavy, filled with an undeniable possessiveness, and it didn't end until Su Rui's ear tips were red and bleeding.

"It tastes good." Bai Xue licked her lips, looking at Lappland defiantly. "Thank you for the treat."

The rainy season in Lungmen always comes suddenly.

Bai Xue stood by the window of the Lungmen Guard Department's archives, watching the rain trickle down the glass and form small puddles on the windowsill. Her fingertips unconsciously caressed the silver bell around her neck, Bell tinkling faintly in the damp air, like some kind of silent call.

"Sir Bai Xue."

Aju's voice came from behind, and Bai Xue snapped back to reality, her fingertips slipping from the Bell: "What's wrong?"

"Here's the patrol report you requested." Aju handed over a document, her gaze lingering for a moment on Bai Xue's neck. "Um... Mr. Su just called and said he's waiting for you at the training ground."

Bai Xue's ears burned slightly. "I understand."

She closed the file and strode towards the door, only to bump into a "wall" at the corner—or rather, into a minty embrace.

What's the rush?

Lappland's voice came from above, carrying a familiar mockery. She was wearing the Lungmen Guard Department uniform today, which was unusual for her, but her long SilverAsh hair was still loosely tied up, with a few strands falling beside her face, making her red eyes look even more eerie.

Bai Xue took a half step back, looking at her warily. "What is it?"

"Can't I contact you if there's nothing wrong?" Lappland tilted her head, toying with her badge on her chest. "I'm a special advisor, after all."

Her uniform collar was open, revealing a small bite mark on her collarbone—fresh and still red. Bai Xue's gaze lingered there for a second before shifting away. "I'm busy."

"Busy going to see Su Rui?" Lappland chuckled. "Coincidentally, I just came from the training ground."

Her fingertips traced her collarbone, then she pressed meaningfully on the bite mark. "He was in good form today, hitting the bullseye every time."

Bai Xue's silver bells suddenly vibrated, their crisp sound particularly jarring in the corridor. She turned to leave, but Lappland grabbed her wrist.

"Don't rush," Lappland's red eyes narrowed slightly, "I have a suggestion."

She pulled a ticket from her pocket—a VIP pass for Lungmen Water Park, printed with shiny gold lettering.

"Team building tomorrow, Mr. Chen asked me to make the arrangements." She waved the ticket. "Three people, how about that?"

Bai Xue stared at the ticket, then suddenly realized something. "You did it on purpose."

"Who knows?" Lappland slipped the ticket into her uniform pocket, her fingertips lightly brushing against her waist. "He'll definitely come, anyway."

As she turned to leave, a gentle breeze stirred the hem of her uniform, carrying a faint scent of mint. Bai Xue stood there, listening to the fading sound of the silver bells, and suddenly felt a strange sensation, as if she were being watched by a wild beast.

Volume 15, Chapter 853: Mutual Cooperation

In the archery area of the training ground, Su Rui was staring blankly at the bullseye.

His ears twitched slightly, catching the approaching footsteps in the distance—two, one light and quick, the other steady. The former was Bai Xue, the latter...

"Su Rui!"

Bai Xue's voice brought him back to his senses. She trotted over, her hair still damp with raindrops, glistening in the sunlight. Su Rui's tail wagged involuntarily, and he was about to reach out to catch her when he caught a glimpse of Lappland slowly approaching from behind.

His movements froze in mid-air.

"What's wrong?" Bai Xue tilted her head to look at him. "Are you unhappy to see me?"

"... No." Su Rui withdrew her hand, her tail gently wrapping around her wrist. "I just didn't expect you to come."

"Lappland said you two made plans." Bai Xue pulled the water park ticket from her pocket. "Team building tomorrow?"

Su Rui's ears perked up instantly. "I didn't..."

"Oh dear, I forgot to tell you," Lappland interjected at the opportune moment, a sly glint in her red eyes, "It was arranged by Inspector Chen at the last minute."

She didn't bring her twin swords today; instead, she carried a training wooden bow, looking completely harmless. Su Rui stared at her for two seconds, then suddenly reached out and took the tickets from Bai Xue's hand. "I'm not going."

"Why?" Bai Xue asked.

"... afraid of water."

The excuse was so flimsy that even he himself didn't believe it. Lappland chuckled, "Liar. Back in Syracuse, you could swim across Crescent Lake."

Her fingertips traced Su Rui's arm, gently running over the taut muscles. "Or... are you afraid of me?"

Su Rui's tail suddenly bristled. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Then it's settled," Bai Xue said suddenly, her voice light but somewhat unnatural. "See you at the water park tomorrow morning at nine."

She turned and walked towards the bow and arrow rack, her back as straight as a young poplar tree. Su Rui and Lappland stood there, the air thick with an invisible tension.

"You did it on purpose," Su Rui said in a low voice.

Lappland's red eyes narrowed slightly. "Who knows?" Her fingertips brushed against his wrist. "Maybe I just want to see you in a swimsuit."

Su Rui's ear tips turned red instantly.

The water park was bustling with people the following day.

Bai Xue stood at the locker room door, nervously tugging at the hem of her swimsuit. She had chosen a conservative one-piece swimsuit; the sky-blue fabric made her skin appear even whiter. She had replaced the silver bell around her neck with a waterproof necklace, but she still unconsciously touched that spot.

"Have you been waiting long?"

Su Rui's voice came from behind, and Bai Xue's breath hitched the moment she turned around—he was wearing a simple black swim trunk, his upper body completely naked, his silver hair still dripping with water, shimmering in the sunlight. What was even more eye-catching was the red mole on his side, like a drop of blood in the snow, so vivid it was dazzling.

"I just... I just arrived," Bai Xue stammered, unsure where to look.

Su Rui's tail gently wrapped around her wrist. "Where's Lappland?"

She said she'd be later...

Before she finished speaking, a familiar scent of mint wafted over. Lappland walked in with languid steps, her red eyes like two burning flames in the sunlight. She wore an extremely daring bikini, her long SilverAsh hair tied in a high ponytail, revealing her entire smooth back—and that striking white wolf tattoo.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Her gaze was fixed on Su Rui, her tongue lightly licking the corner of her lips. "How's the water temperature?"

Su Rui's Adam's apple bobbed. "... Not in the water yet."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Lappland grabbed his wrist. "I love that giant slide the most."

Bai Xue immediately grabbed Su Rui's other hand. "Let's go to the rafting river first."

The two women were pulling at each other, one on each side, with Su Rui standing in the middle, her tail stiff as a stick. The surrounding tourists were starting to stare, and one child even pointed at them and whispered to his mother, "Why does that guy have two girlfriends?"

Su Rui's ear tips were so red they looked like they could bleed.

"Shakes-paper-scissors to decide?" Lappland suggested, a mischievous glint in her red eyes.

Bai Xue bit her lip. "Okay."

The two simultaneously released Su Rui and stood facing each other. Lappland secretly made a hand gesture to Su Rui behind her back—a coded signal among Syracuse mercenaries, meaning "cooperate with me."

"Rock, Paper, Scissors--"

Lappland played paper, and Bai Xue played scissors.

"I won." Bai Xue breathed a sigh of relief and took Su Rui's hand. "Let's go."

Lappland shrugged, then suddenly leaned close to Su Rui's ear. "See you tonight."

Her lips almost touched his earlobe, her breath carrying the cool scent of mint. Su Rui's tail suddenly bristled, and before he could react, Bai Xue pulled him toward the drifting river.

Lappland stood still, her red eyes slightly narrowed. She reached out and stroked the white wolf tattoo on her back, a confident smile playing on her lips.

The river was calm, and colorful swimming rings carried tourists slowly forward. Bai Xue and Su Rui shared a two-person raft, her back pressed against his chest, and she could clearly feel his heartbeat.

"Su Rui," she suddenly spoke, her voice very soft, "Do you like her?"

The sound of the flowing water almost drowned out her question, but Su Rui's ears picked it up. His arms encircled her waist, his chin resting on the top of her head. "... I only like you."

Bai Xue turned around and looked directly into his eyes. "Then why...?"

Her question was interrupted by a sudden splash of water. Lappland had appeared on the nearby single-person boat at some point and was scooping water at them with her hands.

"Too slow!" she shouted, her red eyes sparkling in the sunlight. "This is more fun!"

She lunged forward and jumped into the two-person boat. The boat rocked violently and almost capsized. Bai Xue instinctively grabbed Su Rui's arm, but saw that Lappland had already taken the opportunity to squeeze between the two.

"It'll be warmer if we squeeze together," she said with a grin, her wet body pressed tightly against Su Rui.

Bai Xue's silver bell suddenly began to vibrate violently—even though it wasn't around her neck at all. She grabbed Su Rui's hand and pulled him towards her. "You go to the front."

A flicker of displeasure crossed Lappland's red eyes, but she quickly regained her smile, "Alright."

She turned and straddled Su Rui's lap, her wet, silver hair brushing against his cheek. "The view is better this way."

Su Rui's breathing became erratic instantly. Lappland's bikini barely covered anything, her soft breasts pressed tightly against his chest, the scent of mint mixed with moisture wafting towards him. His tail stood stiffly upright, and the tips of his ears were a deep, bright red.

Bai Xue's eyes reddened slightly. She suddenly reached out and pressed down on Lappland's shoulder with surprising force. "Get down."

Lappland raised an eyebrow. "Are you angry?"

"I said, get off."

The moment their eyes met, the small boat suddenly crashed into a rock around the corner. Amidst the violent rocking, Lappland deliberately leaned backward, pulling Su Rui down into the water with him.

"Su Rui!"

Bai Xue peered out in alarm, only to see the two of them already on the surface. Lappland's arms were wrapped around Su Rui's neck, her red lips almost touching his. "Want to try an underwater kiss?"

Volume 15, Chapter 854: The Dog Joke

Su Rui shoved her away abruptly and scrambled back onto the boat in a disheveled state. His silver hair clung wetly to his face, and his amber eyes gleamed with a complex light.

"Enough." His voice was low, yet carried an undeniable authority. "Stop doing this."

Lappland's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal. "Just kidding."

She nimbly flipped back into her single-person boat, her red eyes unfathomable in the sunlight. "See you next time."

After saying that, he rowed away in his boat, his back as straight as a drawn sword. Bai Xue looked at Su Rui's tear-streaked profile and suddenly reached out to touch his cheek.