Ark Simulator, Don't I Have No Physical Form?

"No way!" Hoshiguma's green hair exploded. "You said the same thing yesterday, and the result was—"

Her voice stopped abruptly. Su Rui suddenly tilted her head back and gently touched the corner of her lips.

"..." Hoshiguma's green eyes widened slightly.

Su Rui's silver hair fell down, obscuring her reddened earlobes. "... Compensation."

Hoshiguma's apple bobbed. Her arms suddenly tightened, pulling Su Rui back into her embrace. "... Cheating."

The kitchen lights were much brighter than the bedroom lights. Su Rui's silver hair was casually tied into a bun, the hair tie being a gift from Moe Moe Xiang, adorned with a small Bell that jingled softly with his movements. His fingertips danced across the countertop, silver dust holding the frying pan and ingredients, tracing smooth arcs in the air.

Hoshiguma leaned against the doorframe, her green hair still disheveled from just waking up. Her uniform jacket was casually draped over her shoulders, and her oni horns gleamed metallically under the kitchen light.

"The bacon is burnt," she suddenly said.

Su Rui's silver dust paused, and she quickly moved the frying pan away from the heat: [...] mistake.

Hoshiguma's green eyes narrowed slightly. "Distracted?"

Su Rui's eyelashes fluttered slightly. "... Thinking about something."

"What is it?" Hoshiguma walked up behind him, her green hair brushing against the back of his neck.

Su Rui's silver dust faltered for a moment, almost causing the fried egg to tip over into the pan: [You.]

A hint of amusement flashed in Hoshiguma's green eyes. "What's wrong with me?"

Su Rui's fingertips lightly touched the back of her hand: [The skirt.]

Last night, Hoshiguma stuffed that dark blue dress into the bottom of the closet, but Su Rui's silver dust remembered every detail of it—the pleats at the waist, the silver thread on the hem, and the slightly reddened tips of her ears when she wore it.

Hoshiguma's green hair stood on end. "Shut up."

Su Rui's lips curled up slightly. "... She didn't say."

"You can't even think about it." Hoshiguma pressed her thumb to his lips. "If you mention it again, I'll make you patrol in women's clothing."

Su Rui's silver hair drooped listlessly: [...] That's unfair.

The aroma of breakfast gradually filled the room. Hoshiguma's green hair shimmered with gold in the sunlight. She took a bite of her fried egg; the yolk was perfectly runny and the saltiness was just right.

"It's alright," she said with a forced assessment.

Su Rui's silver dust drew a smiley face in the air: [Like it?]

Hoshiguma's green eyes swept over. "So-so."

Su Rui tapped her fingertip lightly on the edge of her plate: [I finished it all.]

Hoshiguma's green hair stood on end. "Shut up and eat!"

Light footsteps echoed down the hallway. Moe Moe Xiang girl with pink twin tails peeked through the crack in the door. "Ghost Sister! Mr. Su Rui! Good morning!"

She held a delicate lunchbox in her hands. "I made cookies! Low-sugar ones!"

Hoshiguma's green eyes narrowed slightly. "Who are you trying to bribe this time?"

Volume 16, page 923 is not a bribe.

"It's not a bribe!" Moe Moe Xiang walked in, her cheeks puffed out. "It's a thank you!" Her eyes sparkled. "Mr. Su Rui helped me set up the live streaming equipment yesterday!"

Su Rui gently accepted the lunchbox with her silver dust: [Thank you.]

Hoshiguma's green hair trailed down and brushed against his wrist. "The Medical Department approved it?"

"Of course!" Moe Moe Xiang hurriedly pulled out a piece of paper, "It's signed by Dr. Warfarin!"

Hoshiguma glanced at the note, her green eyes narrowing slightly. "Imitating handwriting?"

Moe Moe Xiang's face instantly turned deathly pale. "I... I didn't..."

Su Rui's Silver Dust subtly tugged at Hoshiguma's sleeve: [Never mind.]

Hoshiguma stared at Moe Moe Xiang with her green eyes for three seconds, then suddenly reached out. "Give it to me."

Moe Moe Xiang nervously handed over the lunchbox. Hoshiguma opened the lid; inside were adorable animal-shaped cookies, each engraved with a tiny letter—"S" and "X".

"..." Hoshiguma's green hair swayed slightly. "Next time you forge a signature, I'll punish you by making you copy the <Originium Safety Code> three hundred times."

Moe Moe Xiang like she'd been granted a pardon. "Yes!" She turned and ran off, "Enjoy your meal!"

Su Rui held up a cookie with her silver dust: [Want to try some?]

Hoshiguma's green eyes swept over the "S": "... Not bad."

The training room was empty in the morning. Su Rui's silver hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, and his fingertips lightly traced the training equipment, leaving shimmering streaks of light in the air.

Hoshiguma's green hair was soaked with sweat and clung to her neck. She twirled her Hannya Shield in a beautiful arc in her hand and slammed it heavily onto the training dummy, the sound of metal clashing echoing in the empty room.

"Tired?" She turned to look at Su Rui.

Su Rui's silver dust formed words in the air: [Looking at you.]

Hoshiguma's green eyes narrowed slightly. "Slacking off?"

Su Rui's fingertips gently touched her shoulder blade: [Here. The muscles are tense.]

Hoshiguma's green hair drooped down. "... Occupational hazard."

Su Rui's silver dust gently touched her shoulders, beginning to massage her stiff muscles. His technique was professional, and the temperature of the silver dust was just right, causing Hoshiguma to relax unconsciously.

"... Where did you learn that?" Her voice carried an unusual languidness.

Su Rui's silver hair fell down her side: [Medical Department.]

"Warfarin?"

[Aye.]

Hoshiguma's green eyes opened slightly. "When did you become so familiar with the Medical Department?"

Su Rui's eyelashes trembled slightly: [...] Help me adjust the equipment.

Hoshiguma's green hair stood on end. "Staying up all night again?"

Su Rui's silver dust shrank back slightly: [...] once.

Hoshiguma pressed her thumb against his forehead. "No touching any equipment tonight."

Su Rui's silver hair drooped listlessly: [...] Oh.

The sunroom was quiet and warm in the afternoon. Su Rui's silver hair spread out on the recliner like a melting Milky Way. His fingertips lightly tapped the armrest, and silver dust drew complex trajectories in the air, seemingly simulating some kind of Originium Arts.

Hoshiguma's green hair fell over her shoulders, and she held a tactics manual in her hand, but her gaze remained fixed on Su Rui. Her green eyes reflected the sunlight, like pools of water deep in the forest.

"What are you thinking about?" she suddenly asked.

Su Rui's silver dust paused for a moment: [Protective Device.]

"Didn't you say we weren't allowed to touch each other tonight?"

[This is just a simulation.]

Hoshiguma's green hair fell down and brushed against his cheek. "Even simulation won't work."

Su Rui's eyelashes trembled slightly. "... Domineering."

A hint of amusement flashed in Hoshiguma's green eyes. "Say it again?"

Su Rui's silver hair brushed against her wrist: [...] It's nothing.

The dormitory was bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun in the evening. Su Rui's silver hair flowed like honey in the warm light as he gently touched the small potted plant on the windowsill with his fingertips—a gift from Blue Poison, said to purify the air.

Hoshiguma's green hair was still damp; she had just finished showering, and the water droplets from her hair left dark stains on her uniform. Her green eyes swept over Su Rui's back, and she suddenly spoke, "Come here."

Su Rui's silver hair swayed slightly as she turned to walk towards her: [What's wrong?]

Hoshiguma rubbed her thumb against the corner of his eye. "You have dark circles."

Su Rui's eyelashes drooped. "... Not obvious."

"Obviously," Hoshiguma's green hair stood on end, "I have to go to bed early tonight."

Su Rui's silver dust gently entwined around her fingertips: [Together?]

Hoshiguma's green eyes softened slightly. "... Hmm."

The kitchen was filled with the aroma of bacon frying in the early morning, the fat sizzling softly in the pan. Su Rui's silver hair was tinged with a pale gold by the morning light, the ends swaying gently with his movements. His fingertips moved nimbly across the countertop, silver dust holding a whisk and spice jar, tracing smooth arcs in the air.

The kitchen door was gently pushed open, and Chen's blue hair shimmered with a deep-sea-like luster in the morning light. She carried a paper bag, her Chixiao Sword slung diagonally at her waist, and the cuffs of her uniform were still damp with morning dew.

"Good morning." Her voice was crisp and clear after her morning exercise. "I brought Siesta coffee beans."

Hoshiguma's green hair peeked out from behind the refrigerator door, a few drops of water clinging to her horns. "A rare guest indeed." Her green eyes swept over the paper bag in Chen's hand, "Finally decided to bring out your hidden stash?"

Chen's dragon tail swayed gently. "It's from the bet I lost to you last time." She placed the paper bag on the counter. "Where's the grinder?"

Su Rui pointed her silver dust to the lower shelf of the cupboard, a strand of silver hair quietly wrapping around Hoshiguma's wrist: [The bacon is almost ready.]

Hoshiguma's green eyes softened slightly. "Okay." She turned to Chen, "Take it yourself, it's in the second drawer on the left."

Chen bent down to take out the grinder, the dragon horn gleaming metallically in the morning light. "Do you usually cook around this time?"

"We'll see." Hoshiguma's green hair fell over his shoulder as he flicked open a coffee bean package with his thumb. "This guy wakes up more punctually than an alarm clock."

Su Rui's silver dust gently swept the packaging bag from her hand: [I'll take it.]

Chen tapped the grinder lightly with his fingertips. "Is he always like this?"

"What?" Hoshiguma's green eyes swept over.

"Get the job done." Chen tapped the ground with the tip of his dragon tail. "It happened again in the training room last time. I had just picked up the dumbbells when he used Silver Dust to carry them away."

Hoshiguma's lips curled up slightly. "I think you're too slow."

Chen's dragon horns glowed faintly. "Me? Slow down?"

"Compared to him, everyone is slower." Hoshiguma's green hair swept over Su Rui's retreating figure. "He uses silver dust for chopping vegetables, silver dust for stirring, and even silver dust for pouring water—"

Su Rui's ear tips turned slightly red, and Yin Chen quietly poked Hoshiguma's lower back.

"Look, you won't let me say it." Hoshiguma's green eyes gleamed with amusement. "Like a cat."

Chen's fingertips gently turned the grinder. "You..." Her voice hesitated unusually, "... intend to continue like this?"

"What?" Hoshiguma's green hair exploded. "Explain clearly."

"Partner," Chen said, his dragon eyes fixed on her, "Or something else?"

The kitchen suddenly fell silent, with only the sizzling of the bacon in the frying pan. Su Rui's silver hair fell down, covering half of her face, and her fingertips unconsciously traced the edge of the countertop.

Volume 16, Chapter 924: This is nonsense.

Hoshiguma's green eyes narrowed slightly. "What's it to you?"

Chen's dragon tail gently patted the ground. "The Jin'wei Bureau's year-end report needs to include the whereabouts of its personnel."

"Nonsense." Hoshiguma's green hair fluttered even without wind. "When did Old Wei ever care about this?"

Chen tapped her fingertips lightly on the coffee machine. "I want to know," she said softly, "As a friend."

The bacon in the frying pan suddenly crackled with a "pop." Su Rui's silver dust quickly stirred the food, cleverly breaking the silence. "[Almost done.]"

Hoshiguma's green eyes softened slightly. "... I need to take leave," she said suddenly.

Chen's dragon ears perked up. "Hmm?"

"I'd like to request a long leave." Hoshiguma's green hair fell down and brushed against Su Rui's shoulder. "Take him to the Eastern Kingdom."

Su Rui's silver hair suddenly stopped, and her amber eyes widened slightly: [... Really?]

"Tetsusai keeps urging us," Hoshiguma said, his thumb brushing against Hoshiguma's earlobe. "He said if you don't go back soon, the family's forge will rust."

Chen's coffee machine suddenly roared, drowning out Su Rui's faint reply. Her dragon tail curled slightly. "How long?"

"Half a month." Hoshiguma's green eyes swept over Su Rui's profile. "Extended depending on the situation."

Chen stirred his coffee gently with his fingertips. "Old Wei won't approve it."

"That's why I came to you." Hoshiguma's green hair stood on end. "Don't play dumb."

A hint of a smile flashed in Chen's dragon eyes, "Benefits?"

"There's plenty of coffee beans from Siesta," Hoshiguma, her green eyes narrowing. "Plus three cases of Chixiao's special conditioning oil."