Ark Simulator, Am I Not Without a Physical Body?

Su Rui's ears twitched. "... Hmm."

Bai Xue noticed Lappland's affectionate way of addressing Su Rui— "Bell"—which made her feel a slight pang of sadness. But she didn't show it, simply smiling politely, "What a coincidence, you're here to see the sea too?"

"Location scouting!" Nian interjected excitedly, putting his arm around Bai Xue's shoulder. "Our new film, <The Song of the Siren>, needs nighttime scenes at the docks, so I dragged Lappland along to scout locations."

She smelled of barbecue and beer, clearly having been at the dock for a long time. Lappland, on the other hand, was much quieter, simply standing to the side, toying with a silver coin between her fingers, glancing at Su Rui every now and then.

"Want to come along?" Nian pointed to a small stall not far away, "That grilled seafood there is amazing!"

Bai Xue hesitated as she looked at Su Rui. His expression remained indifferent, but his tail gently hooked her finger—a sign of agreement.

"Okay," Bai Xue nodded, "We haven't had dinner yet."

The seafood stall's plastic tables and chairs were simple but clean. Nian generously ordered a huge amount of grilled skewers and beer, while Lappland ordered a whiskey on the rocks. Su Rui sat next to Bai Xue, her tail quietly wrapping around her ankle under the chair, as if offering some kind of silent comfort.

"Try this!" Nian shoved a skewer of grilled prawns into Bai Xue's hand. "Special sauce, unique to Lungmen!"

The shrimp shells were roasted until crispy, and the sauce was sweet and spicy. Bai Xue took a bite, and her eyes lit up immediately. "Delicious!"

"Right?" Nian said smugly, shaking his beer bottle. "I come here often when I'm filming, the boss knows me."

She talked on and on about the idea for her new movie, with Lappland occasionally offering her testimony. Lappland, however, was distracted, tracing circles on the rim of her glass with her fingertips, her gaze drifting towards Su Rui every now and then.

"Bell," she suddenly said, "The mint in Syracuse is blooming."

Su Rui's ears twitched slightly. "... Really?"

"Hmm." Lappland's red eyes appeared particularly deep under the light. "It's a month earlier than usual."

She took a small cloth bag out of her pocket and pushed it in front of Su Rui: "This is for you."

The bag contained dried mint leaves, emitting a rich, refreshing aroma. Bai Xue recognized this mint—a specialty of Syracuse, more pungent and invigorating than the variety from Lungmen. Su Rui had mentioned it before; it was a herb he often used when he was a child.

"... Thank you." Su Rui didn't reach out to take it, but her tone softened.

Lappland smiled, then suddenly turned to Bai Xue: "Can you make peppermint tea?"

"I..." Bai Xue hesitated for a moment, "... not really."

"It's very simple." Lappland tapped her fingers lightly on the table. "Stew it in boiling water for three minutes, then add a spoonful of honey."

Her gaze was meaningful. "He likes sweet things."

These words were like a tiny thorn, gently pricking Bai Xue's heart. She knew Su Rui's tastes, but Lappland clearly knew more—the past she had never been a part of.

Volume 15, Chapter 868: A Warning!

Su Rui's tail suddenly tightened, and she gave Lappland a warning look. The latter shrugged, said nothing more, and took a sip of whiskey.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Nian quickly tried to smooth things over. "Oh dear, what are you talking about tea for! Little Bai Xue, try this grilled scallop!"

She diligently served food to everyone, and the conversation shifted to the movie's box office and audience feedback. Bai Xue gradually relaxed, and was even amused by Nian's exaggerated performance a few times. Su Rui remained silent, but her tail never left Bai Xue's wrist.

As night deepened, fewer and fewer tourists remained at the pier. Having finished his beer, he began to slur his words: "Do you know... the audience... which play did the audience like the most?"

"A fight scene in the bamboo forest?" Bai Xue guessed.

"Wrong!" Nian slammed his fist on the table, "It's the kissing scene! That kissing scene broke viewership records!"

Bai Xue's face flushed instantly, and Su Rui's tail bristled. Lappland's red eyes narrowed slightly, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the wine glass.

"I... I'll go buy a drink." Bai Xue hurriedly got up, trying to escape this awkward topic.

"I'll stay with you." Su Rui immediately stood up.

Nian grabbed him, saying, "Hey, hey, male lead, stay here! I have something important to say!"

She lowered her voice mysteriously. "The project for <Silver Moon Legend 2> has been approved! The investors specifically requested that you continue acting in it!"

Su Rui frowned. "... I'm not going."

"Triple the pay!" He held up three fingers. "All kissing scenes cut! Action scenes doubled!"

"I'm not going."

"Then what do you want?" Nian asked impatiently. "Name your price!"

Su Rui's gaze passed over her and landed on Bai Xue in front of the beverage stall not far away. Her figure appeared particularly slender under the lamplight, and her silver hair clip swayed gently with her movements.

"... she."

Nian paused for two seconds, then suddenly realized. "Oh! You want to bring Bai Xue along to act? No problem! She'll be the second female lead!"

"No." Su Rui flicked her tail irritably. "Only her."

Even Lappland looked up this time. He sobered up a bit. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not filming," Su Rui said, emphasizing each word. "I only want her."

The air seemed to freeze. A complex emotion flashed in Lappland's red eyes, but she quickly regained her composure. Nian, on the other hand, gaped, speechless for a long time.

"Wow..." she exclaimed dramatically, clutching her chest, "This is the most cheesy confession I've ever heard."

Su Rui's ears turned red, but her expression remained firm. Just then, Bai Xue returned with drinks, looking at the strange atmosphere between the three of them with a puzzled expression. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing!" Nian said with a grin, taking the Coke. "Your Su Rui just said something incredibly romantic!"

Bai Xue looked at Su Rui curiously, but the latter turned her face away, and the tip of her tail quietly wrapped around her finger.

Lappland suddenly stood up. "Let's go."

"Huh? So early?" Nian asked in surprise, "Didn't we agree to go see the lighthouse?"

"Some other time." Lappland walked towards the end of the dock without looking back, her figure appearing particularly lonely in the night.

Nian scratched his head, hurriedly stood up, and said, "I'll head out first then! You two keep your date!"

She jogged to catch up with Lappland, and the two quickly disappeared into the shadows of the shipping containers.

The sea breeze grew stronger, and the waves crashed against the rocks on the shore. Bai Xue and Su Rui sat side by side on the edge of the pier, with the bottomless sea beneath their feet.

"They're so strange," Bai Xue whispered, "Appearing suddenly and leaving just as suddenly."

Su Rui's tail gently wrapped around her waist. "... Mmm."

"The mint from Lappland..." Bai Xue hesitated for a moment, "Would you like some tea?"

Su Rui shook her head, took the small cloth bag out of her pocket, and casually tossed it into the sea. The mint leaves scattered in the air like a flock of green butterflies, eventually disappearing into the black waves.

"Hey!" Bai Xue grabbed his hand in surprise, "Isn't that...?"

"I don't need that." Su Rui grasped her fingers. "You're enough."

These words made Bai Xue's heart skip a beat. Looking at Su Rui's profile, so clearly visible in the moonlight, she suddenly leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "Say it again?"

Su Rui's ears turned red instantly. "... I won't say."

"Tell me!"

"... No."

Bai Xue playfully tickled his waist, a weakness she had recently discovered. Su Rui dodged abruptly, his tail bristling like a feather duster. "... Stop it."

"So, are you going to tell me or not?"

"..."

Su Rui suddenly turned around and pressed her against the wooden planks of the dock. His silver hair fell down, creating a small, private space between them.

"You're enough," he whispered, his breath brushing against her lips, "As long as it's Bai Xue."

They were so close they could count each other's eyelashes. Bai Xue's heart was pounding, and her fingers unconsciously tightened around his clothes.

"Me too..." she whispered, "As long as Su Rui."

The afternoon sun in Lungmen lazily spilled into the courtyard of Wenyue Estate. Bai Xue lay dozing on a low table in the corridor, still clutching half a strawberry daifuku in her hand. Su Rui sat beside her, her silver hair gleaming softly in the sunlight, her tail patting the floor idly.

"Su Rui..." Bai Xue groggily nuzzled his shoulder, "Could you get me some chilled plum juice..."

Su Rui's ears twitched, and she curled her tail to bring a small bowl from a short distance away to Bai Xue. Bai Xue closed her eyes, took a sip, and sighed contentedly, "Delicious..."

Her voice gradually faded, and her breathing became even and long. Su Rui looked down at Bai Xue's sleeping face, a slight smile playing on her lips. Her eyelashes cast small shadows on her cheeks, and a dab of strawberry jam clung to the corner of her mouth, making her look like a contented kitten.

A gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, bringing with it a faint scent of mint. Su Rui's ears perked up alertly, and his tail instantly tightened—he knew that smell all too well.

"Oh dear, asleep?"

The sound of Nian came from the top of the wall, filled with undisguised excitement. Today she was wearing an exaggerated red cheongsam, her long SilverAsh hair tied into pigtails, and she was squatting on the top of the wall, winking at Su Rui.

Su Rui frowned. "... Go away."

"Don't be so cold~" The young girl jumped down from the wall, landing almost silently. "I'm here to deliver something good!"

She pulled a delicate wooden box from her bosom, engraved with Syracuse patterns. "Lappland brought this especially for you~"

Su Rui flicked her tail irritably. "No need."

"Really don't want them?" Nian mysteriously opened the box, revealing several glistening candies inside. "These are special Syracuse peppermints, with snow lotus honey added!"

The candies gleamed a pale green in the sunlight, looking quite tempting. But Su Rui's gaze traveled beyond the tree, landing in the shadows behind her— Lappland was leaning against a tree trunk, her red eyes gleaming in the darkness.

"Want to try some?" She walked closer slowly, picking up a piece of candy with her fingertips. "Sweeter than last time."

Su Rui's ear snapped back, "... Stay away."

Lappland didn't seem to mind, and instead moved even closer. "Afraid of waking your little girlfriend?"

Her breath carried the crisp scent of menthol, and her red eyes stared directly at Su Rui. Just as her fingers were about to touch the corner of Su Rui's lips—

Volume 15, Chapter 869: What are you doing?

"What are you doing?!"

Bai Xue's voice suddenly rang out. She had woken up at some point and was staring wide-eyed at the scene before her. The box was still open, Lappland's fingers were almost touching Su Rui's lips, and Su Rui's tail was already bristling like a feather duster.

The air froze for a second.

"Haha..." Nian chuckled dryly as he backed away, "We just came to deliver some candy..."

Lappland, however, remained calm and composed, casually popping the candy into her mouth. "A specialty of Syracuse."

Bai Xue's silver hair clip jingled as she jumped up like a puffed-up kitten. "Su Rui doesn't eat candy from strangers!"

"A stranger?" Lappland's red eyes narrowed slightly. "When we met, you were still playing in the mud."

These words completely ignited Bai Xue's anger. She grabbed a strawberry daifuku from the table and hurled it at Lappland —unfortunately, her aim was too poor, and it only hit Nian's shoulder.

"Wow!" Nian exclaimed dramatically, clutching his chest. "Murder of the director!"

"Get out!" Bai Xue's face flushed with anger. "You're not welcome here!"

Lappland chuckled softly, then suddenly reached out and ruffled Su Rui's silver hair. "See you next time, Bell."

This action completely enraged Bai Xue. She grabbed the fan beside her and chased after him, shouting, "Don't touch him!"

Seeing this, Nian immediately ran away, Lappland also turned and ran. The three girls chased each other in the courtyard, and the scene was quite chaotic for a while. Su Rui stood there, watching Bai Xue waving her fan and chasing after the two girls, and her tail slowly relaxed.

He glanced down at the half-bowl of plum juice remaining on the table and took a small sip. It was too sweet, but surprisingly delicious.

At the other end of the courtyard, Nian's cheongsam got caught in the bushes, and she was frantically trying to free herself. Lappland, on the other hand, nimbly climbed over the artificial hill, her red eyes gleaming with the smugness of a successful prank.

"Bai Xue! Let me explain!" Nian shouted as she struggled, "We really just came to deliver candy!"

"Liar!" Bai Xue caught up breathlessly, "You always do this!"

Lappland stood atop the artificial hill, looking down at her. "So nervous? Afraid he'll be snatched away?"

"No, that's not it!" Bai Xue's face turned even redder. "You guys are just too annoying!"

"Oh?" Lappland raised an eyebrow. "Then why do you always act like a cat with its fur standing on end whenever I come?"

The cheongsam, worn for years, finally broke free from the bushes, and she quickly hid behind Lappland: "That's right! We've known Su Rui for so many years, and this is how we've always gotten along!"

"No, that won't do!" Bai Xue waved her fan. "He's mine now!"

The words slipped out of her mouth, and even she was stunned. Lappland and Nian exchanged a glance and suddenly burst out laughing at the same time.

"You should have said so earlier!" Nian grinned and pulled a small bottle from her pocket. "Here, an apology gift!"

The bottle contained a pale pink liquid with a cloyingly sweet scent. Bai Xue looked at it warily. "What is this now?"

"A love potion!" Nian exaggeratedly announced, "Just one drop, and I guarantee Su Rui will be completely devoted to you!"

Lappland rolled her eyes. "It's strawberry syrup."