Ark Simulator, Aren't I Incorporeal?

Su Rui's silver hair shimmered like mercury in the darkness. A wisp of silver dust drifted from her sleeve, condensing into glowing words in the air between them: [Relevant Major].

Hoshiguma's green eyes narrowed slightly. "Speak human language."

Yin Chen rearranged the text: [Karma-Cleaving Hoshiguma.] and added a small shield pattern at the end.

Hoshiguma's lips twitched. "Just because of that?"

Su Rui's eyelashes trembled slightly in the shadows, a wisp of silver dust creeping up her shoulder armor. "[I've heard you can sever all karmic obstacles in the world.]" His silver hair swayed slightly. "[Aren't ghosts considered karmic obstacles too?]"

"..." Hoshiguma's green hair exploded, "Who gave you that mind-control potion?"

[Closure.] Yin Chen quickly created a chibi-style avatar of the red-haired Sarkaz, [She said you cleaved through the haunted mansion in Siesta with a single strike last time.]

Hoshiguma pressed her thumb to her temple. "That's remnants of Originium Arts!" Her green eyes narrowed dangerously, "So you dragged me out in the middle of the night..."

[Exploration.] Su Rui's silver dust drew a small ghostly pattern in the air, [and incidentally verify the rumors.]

Hoshiguma suddenly reached out and pinched his cheek. "Need a lesson?"

Su Rui's silver hair gleamed faintly in the darkness, a strand wrapped around her wrist: [It hurts.]

"Playing the victim won't work." Hoshiguma's green hair fluttered without wind, but she softened her grip. "Next time you believe Closure's nonsense, I'll stuff her mechanical earrings into your pillow."

A creaking sound suddenly came from the end of the corridor.

Both of them turned their gazes to the source of the sound—an abandoned old warehouse, the sign on the door blurred and illegible. An eerie blue light seeped from the crack in the door, accompanied by a buzzing sound similar to that of an old-fashioned projector.

Hoshiguma's Hannya Shield silently slid into her hand. "Stay close to me."

Su Rui's silver dust spread out like flowing water, forming a semi-transparent barrier around the two of them. His fingertips gently tugged at the hem of Hoshiguma's uniform, like a large, ever-present accessory.

The warehouse door slid open automatically the moment it was touched.

The room was filled with dusty, old-fashioned equipment, and a projector in the center was automatically playing a blurry video. The video showed Rhodes Island fifteen years ago, where a group of operators in old-fashioned uniforms were celebrating something. A red-haired woman standing next to the cake suddenly looked up, as if looking through time at the person outside the camera.

"It's her again..." Hoshiguma's green eyes locked onto the image, "That 'ghost' from last time."

Su Rui's silver dust seeped into the projector: [Someone is remotely controlling it.]

As soon as he finished speaking, all the displays suddenly lit up at the same time. Amidst the static on the screens, the same red-haired figure appeared, countless "shes" staring at the intruder from different angles.

[warn]

[Entry Prohibited]

The underground level has been sealed off.

A synthesized female voice came from all directions, carrying the distortion characteristic of old-fashioned cassette tapes.

Hoshiguma slammed her Hannya Shield down on the control panel: "Playing tricks!"

Amidst sparks, all the screens went out simultaneously. The warehouse fell into a deathly silence, broken only by the clicking sound of the projector's film spinning idly.

Su Rui's silver dust formed arrows in the darkness: [ventilation duct.]

Hoshiguma looked up following the direction and saw a flash of red light behind the ventilation net. Her green hair instantly exploded, and the Hannya Shield flew from her hand—

"Clang!"

The metal mesh was blasted away, and the miniature projection device hidden inside fell out. It was a modified Originium Arts recorder, playing a preset video on a loop.

"That's it?" Hoshiguma flipped the device with her toe. "The so-called 'ghost'?"

Su Rui crouched down, and silver dust seeped into the machine: [Fingerprints were present.]

Hoshiguma's green eyes narrowed slightly. "Who did this?"

Silver dust condensed in the air into a magnifying glass pattern, focusing on a Ceobe: [Closure].

"..."

Hoshiguma's green hair bristled like a hedgehog's quills as she turned and rushed towards the door. Su Rui's silver hair quickly wrapped around her wrist. "[Wait.]"

"Wait my ass!" Hoshiguma's demon horns gleamed coldly in the darkness. "I'm going to twist that red-haired guy's head off right now!"

Su Rui's silver dust formed a wall of light before her: [She didn't do it on purpose.] New text quickly appeared: [This is equipment from the archaeological team; it was originally going to be sent to the museum.]

Hoshiguma's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "So?"

[A prank.] Yin Chen drew a picture of Closure tongue. [She bets you'll find out within three days.]

"..."

Hoshiguma's green hair slowly fell down. She suddenly reached out and grabbed Su Rui's collar. "You knew all along?"

Su Rui's silver hair swayed innocently: [Just cracked the log.]

Hoshiguma stared at him with her green eyes for three seconds, then suddenly let go of his hand as if deflated. "You two..." She pressed her thumb to her temple, "Go back to sleep."

Su Rui's silver dust subtly entwined around her fingertips: [Not looking for ghosts anymore?]

"Find my ass!" Hoshiguma dragged him outside. "Tomorrow I'll apply for a transfer order and send Closure to Siberia to dig potatoes!"

Su Rui's lips curled into a slight smile. His silver hair shimmered softly under the corridor lights, a strand gently hooking around Hoshiguma's little finger: [Karma-Cleaving Hoshiguma.]

Hoshiguma glanced at him sideways with her green eyes. "Hmm?"

[Even pranks can be thwarted.] Yin Chen formed clapping figures, [truly living up to his reputation.]

Hoshiguma suddenly turned around and pinned him against the wall. The demon horns in her green hair gleamed faintly. "Teasing me again?"

Su Rui's silver hair fell down, covering her reddened ear tips. "... I wouldn't dare."

This was the first time he had spoken directly that evening, his voice as soft as a feather.

Hoshiguma's green eyes softened slightly. She lowered her head and bit his earlobe. "Lying."

A "click" sounded from the end of the corridor— Moe Moe Xiang froze on the spot, phone in hand, her pink twin ponytails puffed up like dandelions. "I... I didn't see anything!"

Hoshiguma's Hannya Shield roared out, "Kid! Delete the photo!"

Moe Moe Xiang screamed and fled towards the elevator, Su Rui's silver dust quietly condensed into a cushion, catching the shield that was hurtling towards her. The silver-haired boy looked at Hoshiguma, his amber eyes like melting honey under the light:

"... go home?"

Hoshiguma's green hair flew as she ran, pulling him towards the elevator. "Smash that brat's phone first!"

Su Rui's silver hair cascaded down her back like a flowing galaxy. A wisp of silver dust quietly gathered from his fingertips, returning the hair clip Moe Moe Xiang had left behind to her pocket.

Sunlight streamed through the specially designed glass of Rhodes Island's rooftop greenhouse, casting dappled patterns of light onto the white wicker chair. Su Rui's silver hair was almost translucent in the afternoon light, the ends swaying gently with the airflow from the central air conditioning. In the bone china teacup before him, two dried rose petals floated on the pink tea—a limited-edition fruit and flower tea that Hoshiguma had brought back from Siesta; only three boxes existed on the entire Rhodes Island.

"Mr. Su Rui! Is this seat alright?"

Volume 16, page 918, adjustment ratio

Blue Poison's voice came from the other end of the greenhouse. Today, she had specially changed into a light purple dress, with a newly bought bow hair clip in her hair, and she was carrying a three-tiered tray full of desserts. The top tier was macarons shaped like miniature violins, the middle tier was matcha Mousse sprinkled with gold leaf, and the bottom tier was neatly arranged strawberry daifuku.

"I adjusted the sugar content," she said carefully, placing the tray on the tea table. "I reduced the sucrose content by 30%, as advised by the Medical Department."

Su Rui's fingertips lightly touched the rim of the teacup, and a wisp of silver dust drifted out, forming Victoria calligraphy in the air: [Thank you, very exquisite.]

"Actually, I also made a chocolate lava cake..." Blue Poison twisted her fingers sheepishly, "But Dr. Warfarin said it was too high in calories."

The greenhouse door opened again, Istina walked in carrying a stack of books, a brand-new pearl hair clip tucked into her fox ear. Her eyes lit up when she saw the refreshments. "Blue Poison! You didn't mistake salt for sugar this time, did you?"

"That happened three months ago!" Blue Poison stomped her foot angrily. "And I only made a mistake once!"

Su Rui's silver dust gently brushed over the top layer of macarons. "Want to try some?"

Istina leaned closer to examine it closely. "The design is so cute... wait, are there words engraved on the handguard of this violin?"

Blue Poison's face flushed instantly. "That... it's just..."

Istina picked up a macaron and examined it closely in the sunlight. "S... U... R..." Her eyes suddenly widened, "You engraved Mr. Su Rui's name on it?!"

"Because we happened to have the mold!" Blue Poison explained hastily, "And, and only the first letter was engraved!"

Su Rui's ears turned slightly red. Yin Chen quietly took the macaron and put it on his plate: [I will savor it.]

The greenhouse's automatic doors slid open again, Orchid walked in carrying a teapot. Her feather earrings shimmered in the sunlight, and she had changed her uniform jacket into a beige knitted cardigan. "Sorry I'm late, I was just helping Amiya organize some documents."

"Orchid!" Blue Poison rushed over as if she'd seen a savior. "Quickly try my newly made Mousse!"

Orchid smiled and put down the teapot. "So enthusiastic? Did you do something strange again...?" Her gaze fell on the macarons. "Oh?"

Istina grinned mischievously and held up another macaron. "Look, this one is engraved with an 'X'."

"Hoshiguma's 'X'?" Orchid's feather earring trembled slightly. "Blue Poison, you've got guts."

Blue Poison buried her face in her hands. "I just think they're a good match..."

Su Rui's silver hair suddenly exploded, with a few strands sticking up unnaturally. He pretended to be focused on cutting the Mousse cake, but the silver dust floated randomly in the air, forming several meaningless geometric shapes.

"Speaking of Hoshiguma," Istina's fox ears twitched, "Wasn't she on vacation today?"

Orchid poured everyone a cup of black tea. "She went to Lungmen city to buy new shield maintenance oil."

"Why didn't Mr. Su Rui go with us?" Blue Poison asked curiously.

The silver-haired youth paused slightly, the silver fork in his hand swirling in his fingers. His silver dust slowly formed a reply: [You are prohibited from entering the hardware store.]

"Ah!" Istina suddenly remembered something, "Was it about magnetizing all the screws on the shelf last month?"

Su Rui's silver hair hung limply: [It's just an experiment.]

"I heard Commander Chen was so angry he tore down half the shelf," Orchid couldn't help but chuckle, "Because her Chixiao was also magnetized."

A burst of cheerful laughter suddenly rang out in the greenhouse. Su Rui's ears turned bright red, while Yin Chen quietly pushed the Mousse cake in front of him further away.

Before the laughter had even faded, the greenhouse glass door was suddenly flung open. Moe Moe Xiang rushed in, panting, the star hair clip in her pink pigtails askew. "N-nothing's wrong!"

"Speak slowly," Orchid quickly handed over a cup of tea, "What's wrong?"

Moe Moe Xiang, panting heavily, rested her hands on her knees. "Dr. Kal'tsit... is coming this way with the medical team!"

The tea party instantly descended into chaos. Blue Poison frantically hid the macarons in the lower tier of the tray; Istina quickly stuffed the half-eaten cake into the book she carried with her; while Orchid calmly took out a wet wipe and wiped away the scattered powdered sugar on the table.

Only Su Rui remained seated quietly, his silver hair gleaming softly in the sunlight. His fingertips lightly tapped the rim of his teacup, the silver dust forming the words: [Afternoon tea time is not against the rules.]

"But excessive sugar intake is against the rules!" Moe Moe Xiang exclaimed anxiously, "Dr. Warfarin just released a new regulation last week!"

The greenhouse door opened again, but this time it wasn't the medical team that appeared at the door. Hoshiguma's green hair shimmered with a dark green sheen in the backlight. She leaned against the door frame, carrying a paper bag with the hardware store's logo on it.

"Oh, quite lively?" Her green eyes swept over the crowd, who froze for a moment, before finally landing on Su Rui. "Holding another tea party behind my back?"

Blue Poison's hand trembled, and the macarons hidden at the bottom of the tray fell to the ground with a "plop." Hoshiguma's attention was immediately drawn to them. "What's this?"

Istina's fox ears were pressed tightly against the back of his head. "Um..."

Hoshiguma had already bent down to pick up the macarons. Her green eyes stared at the "S" engraved on one, then glanced at the remaining "X" on the tray, and a dangerous smile suddenly appeared on her lips, "Blue Poison."

"Yes, yes!" The girl with light purple hair stood ramrod straight.

"Too much sugar, isn't it?" Hoshiguma toyed with the macaron. "The Medical Department's new regulations..."

Su Rui suddenly stood up, her silver hair shimmering in the sunlight. He walked to Hoshiguma, gently took the macaron from her hand, and then—

In front of everyone, he put the half with the "S" engraved in it into his mouth and presented the half with the "X" to Hoshiguma's lips.

The entire greenhouse was completely silent.

Hoshiguma's green eyes widened slightly, and her ears turned red at a visible speed. As she opened her mouth to bite the half-macaron, her sharp canine teeth accidentally grazed Su Rui's fingertips.

"... Too sweet." She mumbled a complaint, but finished the macarons completely.

Istina's fox ears stood straight up; Blue Poison covered her burning cheeks; Orchid's feather earrings trembled unnaturally; and Moe Moe Xiang secretly pulled out her phone—

"You brat." Hoshiguma's Hannya Shield was already pressed against Moe Moe Xiang's forehead. "If you dare take a picture, I'll throw you to work with Closure on the drainpipe repair."

Moe Moe Xiang immediately shoved her phone into her uniform pocket. "I didn't see anything!"

Su Rui's silver dust quietly wrapped around Hoshiguma's wrist: [Going home?]

Hoshiguma's green eyes swept across the tea party area. "We'll settle the bill later." She picked up the hardware store bag and said, "Let's go."

The silver-haired boy obediently followed, turning back at the door to nod slightly to everyone. His silver dust formed the cursive word "thank you" in the air, and also drew a small teapot pattern.

The tea party only came back to life once the sound of their footsteps faded at the end of the corridor.

"My God..." Blue Poison slumped in his chair, "I almost suffocated just now..."

Volume 16, Chapter 919: Let's Eat Together

Istina opened the book and took out the hidden cake. "Hoshiguma didn't get angry?"