Ark Simulator, Don't I Not Have a Physical Body?

Let's go home.

Su Rui nodded, her tail wrapping tightly around her wrist. As the two reached the shore, cheers erupted from the giant slide in the distance. Lappland stood at the highest point, her red eyes gazing at them from afar, a faint smile playing on her lips.

Dusk always arrives slowly in Lungmen. The setting sun hangs between the tall buildings, dyeing the entire city a warm orange-red. Su Rui sits on the edge of the tallest tower in Wenyue Estate, her legs dangling in the air, her tail gently patting the tiles. From here, one can overlook the entire Lower City —the winding canal, like a silver ribbon, weaves through the gray-brown buildings; in the distance, wisps of smoke rise from the cargo ships moored in the harbor, blending into the sunset.

The wooden stairs behind them creaked, and Bai Xue's head popped out from the top of the stairs, holding two steaming paper packages in her hands.

"Found you." Her cheeks were flushed red in the setting sun, and her hair still had flour clinging to it from the kitchen. "Aju just fried some tempura, eat it while it's hot."

Su Rui's ears twitched, and his tail coiled around her wrist, pulling her up. Bai Xue stumbled, almost dropping the paper package, but he caught her steadily.

"Be careful." His voice was soft, with a hint of helpless laughter.

"Who told you to choose such a dangerous place?" Bai Xue muttered, carefully sitting down next to him, her legs dangling in the air like his.

The height of three hundred meters made her heart race slightly, and her fingers unconsciously tightened their grip on Su Rui's clothes. Su Rui glanced at her, and her tail quietly wrapped around her waist, like an invisible seatbelt.

"Here you go." Bai Xue opened the paper package, and the golden-brown fried shrimp tempura emitted an enticing aroma. "Aju said this batch of shrimp is especially fresh."

Su Rui took one and took a bite. The crispy shell crackled between his teeth, and the sweet shrimp meat carried the salty aroma of the sea. His ears twitched happily, and the tip of his tail gently tapped the roof tiles—a familiar gesture to Bai Xue, a habitual action he made when eating delicious food.

"Is it delicious?" Bai Xue looked at him with a smile, and picked one up herself. "I secretly ate three in the kitchen just now, and Aju hit my hand with her chopsticks."

Sure enough, there was a faint red mark on the back of her left hand. Su Rui put down the tempura and gently traced the mark with her fingertips. "Silly."

"It hurts so much!" Bai Xue took the opportunity to whine, resting her head on his shoulder. "Su Rui needs to blow on it to make it feel better."

Su Rui's ears turned slightly red, but she still lowered her head and gently blew on the back of Bai Xue's hand. Bai Xue, taking advantage of the situation, stuffed her entire hand into his palm. "This side too."

"... greedy."

Even as he said this, his tail honestly wrapped around her wrist, his fingertips gently stroking the red mark. The setting sun cast long shadows of the two of them, merging them into one on the top of the tower.

Six chimes rang out from the distant clock tower, startling a flock of white doves. Watching the doves trace graceful arcs across the sky, Bai Xue suddenly asked, "Did you used to come here often?"

"Hmm." Su Rui's gaze followed the flock of pigeons. "Good visibility."

As a sniper, the high ground always brings a sense of security. He didn't say it aloud, but Bai Xue seemed to understand, and gently squeezed his fingers.

"Take me with you next time," she said, swinging her legs. "I can bring some snacks up, like today."

Su Rui's tail tightened. "Danger."

"With you here, there's no danger." Bai Xue looked up at him, her eyes like two bright amber beads in the setting sun. "Right?"

There was a speck of flour on her eyelashes, probably from when she'd been in the kitchen. Su Rui reached out and gently wiped it off; the touch reminded him of some furry little animal.

"Um."

This simple syllable made Bai Xue's smile even brighter. She suddenly pointed into the distance. "Look!"

The port lighthouse lit up, its white beams sweeping across the darkening sea. Then, the neon lights of Lungmen illuminated one after another, like a meticulously choreographed performance—first the colorful signs of the commercial district, then the outline lights of the bridge across the river, and finally the scattered window lights of the residential areas. In just a few minutes, the entire city transformed from the orange twilight into a dazzling night.

"So beautiful," Bai Xue exclaimed softly, unconsciously moving closer to Su Rui. "It's much better to see it from below."

A night breeze began to rise, carrying the chill of early autumn. Su Rui unbuttoned his coat and wrapped it around her, his tail encircling her shoulders like a scarf. Bai Xue seized the opportunity to snuggle into his arms and find a comfortable position to lean against him.

"Su Rui."

"Um?"

"I was terrified of heights when I was little," she said, her voice muffled by her coat. "When I was seven, I climbed a tree to Peach, but I couldn't get down and cried so hard the whole village could hear me."

Su Rui imagined the scene—little Bai Xue hugging the tree trunk and wailing, with a few peach leaves on her head—and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.

What happened next?

"Later, my dad brought over a ladder." Bai Xue looked up at him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "But he was even more afraid of heights than I was. The ladder wobbled terribly, and we both fell into the haystack."

As she spoke, she gestured, her fingers drawing an exaggerated arc in the air. Su Rui's tail gently wrapped around her flailing wrist, preventing her from losing her balance.

Where are the Peach?

"They were all crushed." Bai Xue laughed heartily, "But my mother made jam from the rotten Peach, and it was the sweetest jar I've ever eaten."

Her laughter rang out crisply in the night breeze, like the melodious sound of a bell. Unconsciously, Su Rui tightened his arms, holding her even closer.

"And you?" Bai Xue suddenly asked, "Any funny stories from your childhood?"

Su Rui's tail paused for a moment. His childhood was far from "funny"; it was more about cold training grounds and bloody missions. But looking at Bai Xue's expectant eyes, he tried to dig out a relatively warm fragment from the depths of his memory.

"... When I was ten years old," he said softly, "I stole some honey from the kitchen."

"Wow!" Bai Xue's eyes lit up. "And then?"

"We've been found out." Su Rui's ears turned slightly red. "You've been punished by having to clean your weapons for a week."

Bai Xue blinked. "That's it?"

"Um."

"That's too light!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening dramatically. "My mother caught me stealing candy and punished me by making me copy the entire ' Compendium of Herbal Medicine '!"

Volume 15, Chapter 855: Strange Intruders

"I'll make you a honey cake next time," Bai Xue suddenly said, drawing circles on his palm with her fingers. "It's a recipe taught to me by Lady Wenyue, with added cinnamon powder; it smells especially wonderful."

Su Rui looked down at her. Her Bai Xue eyelashes, like two small fans in the moonlight, trembled gently with each blink. Her fingertips were warm and dry, and the touch of them against his palm reminded him of a wheat field under the sun.

"Good."

This simple promise made Bai Xue smile even more. She popped out from under her coat and excitedly pointed to the sky. "Look! The stars are out!"

The night sky over Lungmen is usually polluted by neon lights, making it a rare treat to see stars. But tonight, however, it is exceptionally clear, with a few stubborn stars piercing through the light pollution and twinkling against the night sky.

"What's the name of that brightest one?" Bai Xue asked, tilting her head back.

Su Rui looked in the direction she was pointing. "Sirius."

"Wow, you even know this!" Bai Xue looked at him with admiration. "Do you know any others?"

"The Big Dipper," Su Rui pointed north, "Over there, it's shaped like a spoon."

Bai Xue squinted for a long time, then suddenly slumped her shoulders in frustration. "I can't tell..."

Su Rui chuckled softly, took her finger, and slowly traced the outline of the Big Dipper in the air. "Here, connect them."

His palm enveloped hers, the warmth seeping through their skin. Bai Xue's ears flushed slightly, but her attention was quickly drawn to the starry sky. "It really is! It looks like a giant spoon!"

"Um."

What about the one next to the moon?

"Jupiter."

"Wow, that's amazing!" Bai Xue turned to look at him, her eyes sparkling. "When did you learn astronomy?"

Su Rui's tail swayed gently. "... The mission requires it."

Stargazing for directional accuracy is a must-learn skill for snipers. But here, these cold skills have become tools to amuse a lover, which isn't so bad.

Bai Xue suddenly remembered something and took out her phone from her pocket. "Let's take a picture!"

She stretched out her arm and pointed the camera at the two of them. On the screen, Su Rui's silver hair shone softly in the moonlight, and her amber eyes were slightly narrowed as she adjusted to the camera; Bai Xue smiled brightly, her eyes curving into crescents. The background was the myriad lights of Lungmen and the rare starry sky above.

"Three, two, one—Cheese!"

The moment the flash went off, Su Rui instinctively looked up to see faces, but Bai Xue cupped her cheeks and turned her back. "Don't dodge!"

The photo captures this moment— Su Rui's slightly helpless expression, Bai Xue's triumphant smile, and the dazzling night view behind them.

"Perfect!" Bai Xue checked the photo with satisfaction. "I'm going to set it as my lock screen wallpaper."

Su Rui's tail wrapped around her wrist. "... Don't tell anyone."

"Okay!" Bai Xue smiled and put away her phone. "It's only for me to see."

The night breeze grew cooler, and the boats on the canal lit up with colorful lights, like a string of flowing pearls. Bai Xue sneezed slightly and snuggled closer to Su Rui.

Is it cold?

"A little," she said, rubbing her nose, "But I'd like to stay a little longer."

Su Rui unbuttoned his coat and wrapped her up completely. Bai Xue nestled comfortably in his arms like a little animal, her cheek pressed against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat.

"Su Rui."

"Um?"

"Let's come here often from now on," she said sleepily, "With snacks and hot tea, and look at the stars."

Su Rui gently nuzzled the top of her head with her chin. "Okay."

"Can we come in winter?"

"Um."

"It's a deal then," Bai Xue's voice grew softer, "No going back on your word..."

Her breathing gradually evened out, her eyelashes casting small shadows in the moonlight. Su Rui gently adjusted her position to make her more comfortable. The neon lights in the distance were still flashing, but at this moment, his world consisted only of the warm weight in his arms.

A night breeze swept through the tower, carrying the crispness unique to early autumn. Looking at the distant horizon, Su Rui felt for the first time that the heights were no longer cold.

The noise at Lungmen Night Market gradually subsided, leaving only a few stalls still lit. Bai Xue and Su Rui strolled along the canal, holding takoyaki they had just bought. The night breeze, carrying moisture, brushed against their cheeks, offering the refreshing coolness unique to early autumn.

"Ah--" Bai Xue suddenly stood on tiptoe and held the takoyaki on the bamboo skewer to Su Rui's mouth, "Try this, it's wasabi flavored."

Su Rui lowered his head and took a bite. The spicy flavor exploded on his tongue, making his earlobes twitch slightly. Bai Xue looked at him with a grin, wiping away a bit of sauce from the corner of his mouth with her fingertips. "Is it good?"

"... Too spicy."

"Liar!" Bai Xue waved the remaining takoyaki. "Your ears are all perked up; you clearly like it."

Su Rui's tail gently wrapped around her wrist, a tacit agreement. The canal's surface reflected the lights on both banks, like a flowing galaxy. In the distance, a few soft metallic clanging sounds came, as if someone was hammering on sheet metal.

"Strange." Bai Xue turned to look at the source of the sound. "Is there still construction going on so late?"

Su Rui's ears perked up alertly. It wasn't the sound of construction—the rhythm was too regular, like the footsteps of some mechanical creature. His gaze swept across the dark alleyway, catching a fleeting glimpse of red light.

"The year is coming," he whispered.

Bai Xue blinked. "That movie actor?"

Before Su Rui could answer, the streetlights along the canal suddenly went out with a "click." Then came the second, the third... Darkness spread along the riverbank like a tide, leaving only the moonlight shining on the water, shimmering with an eerie silver light.

"What's going on..." Bai Xue instinctively grabbed Su Rui's arm.

The metallic scraping sound grew louder, mixed with the faint whirring of gears. Su Rui's tail tightened, shielding Bai Xue behind her. "Don't move."

In the darkness, a pair of glowing red dots slowly approached. It was a palm-sized metal fox, made entirely of bronze, with tiny rubies inlaid at its joints. It tilted its head, sizing up the two people, its tail composed of nine metal rings that made a crisp clanging sound with each movement.

"Wow!" Bai Xue's fear was instantly replaced by curiosity. "So cute!"

She crouched down, wanting to pat the little fox's head, but Su Rui grabbed her arm, saying, "Be careful."

As if confirming his fears, the metal fox suddenly opened its mouth and exhaled a puff of pale purple smoke. Su Rui quickly covered Bai Xue's mouth and nose, pulling her back several steps. The smoke condensed in the air to form several large characters:

[Filming for the new movie <Mechanical Fox Spirit> is underway! Stay tuned!]

Then, more metallic creatures emerged from the shadows—bronze sparrows circled overhead, tin frogs hopped across the road, and even a gleaming silver mechanical snake snaked down a lamppost. Each little animal had red eyes and a tiny "Year" stamp engraved on its back.

"I knew it," Su Rui sighed, "It's another one of Nian's pranks."

Bai Xue snapped out of her shock and couldn't resist poking the thickest tin frog. Suddenly, the frog's back opened, revealing a miniature poster with an exaggerated movie promotional image: a giant mechanical fox crouching atop the Lungmen Tower, laser beams shooting from its eyes.

Volume 15, Chapter 856: Bai Xue - A Terrible Film

"<Mechanical Fox Spirit>..." Bai Xue read the title aloud, "What kind of plot is this?"

"Terrible movie," Su Rui commented briefly, his tail warily swatting away the metal snake that tried to approach.

As they were talking, ripples suddenly appeared on the surface of the canal. A huge metal turtle shell emerged from the water, and sitting on it was a figure with his legs crossed—a woman wearing her signature red cheongsam, holding a megaphone, and whose sunglasses gleamed in the moonlight.

"Cut! Perfect!" she shouted at the air. "This take is good!"

The metal creatures immediately stopped moving and turned in unison towards Nian, like a well-trained army. Only then did Nian notice the two people on the shore, and he waved with a grin. "Hey! The extras have arrived just in time!"

"We are not..."

Before Bai Xue could finish speaking, Nian had already jumped off the turtle shell and was rushing over across the water—her boots seemed to have some kind of anti-gravity device installed, and every step she took stirred up tiny ripples on the water.

"Bai Xue! Little Su!" Nian put his arms around their shoulders. "Come and do a cameo in my new movie! The pay will be generous!"

She smelled of gunpowder and mints, her sunglasses slipped down to her nose, revealing her gleaming, vertical pupils. Su Rui's tail snapped open in a warning, "No."