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

Is it because she finds it troublesome? Or is she indifferent? Or... is there even a tiny bit of non-opposition? She couldn't tell. Su Rui's emotions were sometimes like a deep pool, calm on the surface, but difficult to fathom on the inside.

However, he didn't object or urge her to leave, which was enough for Lemuen. She leaned back against him, resting her head on his shoulder, watching him play the game on the screen, watching the changing lights and shadows.

The room was quiet, with only the soft hum of the terminal and their steady breathing. After a while, Su Rui seemed to have cleared a small level and put the terminal down for the time being. He turned his head and looked at Lemuen, who was leaning almost half her body against him, and suddenly reached out and pinched her cheek.

"Since we're going to be staying a few more days," he said in a flat tone, "Don't go to that dusty archives tomorrow."

Lemuen paused for a moment. "Then where to?" Su Rui's lips curled into a slightly mischievous smile, "Let's find somewhere to stretch our muscles. There should be a training ground here, right? We've been cooped up all day, we need to move around."

So that's what he was thinking. Lemuen chuckled. She couldn't expect any romantic suggestions from this young master. However, going to the training grounds with him seemed like a good idea. At least she could watch him display his amazing skills.

"Okay." She agreed with a smile, "I know where it is, I'll take you there tomorrow." "Okay." Su Rui was satisfied, picked up the terminal again, and continued his gaming career. Lemuen leaned against him, feeling his steady heartbeat and familiar body temperature, and the slight unease she felt because of hiding her secret disappeared.

Whether the reason was official business or personal, being able to spend a few more leisurely days with him here (or perhaps "something to fight" for Su Rui) was the best arrangement. Outside the window, the lights of the Mobile City were like a flowing galaxy, carrying them on their way to an unknown but also hopeful tomorrow.

The morning light was softer than yesterday, casting a narrow, warm band of light across the carpet in the room through the gap in the not-quite-closed curtains. Fine dust particles floated in the air, dancing silently in the beam of light.

Su Rui's biological clock woke him precisely at his usual time. The moment his consciousness returned, the first thing he felt was the warmth and softness in his arms and the slight weight on his arm. Lemuen was still fast asleep in his arms, her back to him, her soft hair slightly disheveled and spread across the pillow and his arm, exuding a faint, reassuring fragrance. Her breathing was steady and long, clearly still immersed in sleep.

Su Rui didn't move immediately. He closed his eyes, savoring the tranquility and closeness of waking up. Lemuen's body heat wafted through the thin nightgown, like a small heater. He instinctively tightened his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

This subtle movement seemed to startle her. Lemuen uttered a muffled murmur, like a disturbed kitten, and stirred gently in his arms before slowly opening her eyes. Her lake-blue eyes, still hazy with sleep, adjusted to the light and reflected Su Rui Ruijin's face so close to hers.

"Good morning..." Her voice was heavy with sleepiness, so soft and sweet that it was almost unbelievable. She subconsciously snuggled closer into his arms, seeking warmth.

"Good morning." Su Rui's voice was lower and hoarse than usual. He lowered his head and gently rubbed his chin against the top of her head.

The two nestled together quietly for a while longer, neither speaking, simply appreciating each other's presence and the tranquility of the morning.

Until Lemuen seemed to be fully awake. She yawned softly and then tried to turn to face Su Rui. Su Rui loosened her arms to allow her to turn around.

"What do you want to eat this morning?" Lemuen looked up at him, her eyes glistening with the moisture and amusement of just waking up. "I'll go prepare it."

Upon hearing this, Su Rui's brows furrowed instinctively. "You're going?" His gaze swept over the wheelchair parked in the corner of the room, his tone clearly disapproving. "It's inconvenient. Order delivery."

He knew that Lemuen's leg injury required her to use a wheelchair, and although she always acted as if it didn't bother her, he always remembered this and would subconsciously avoid any situation that might tire or inconvenience her.

Lemuen shook her head, a slightly smug smile on her face. "It's okay. Actually... I can stand up and walk around for a short time. The doctor said that appropriate, non-weight-bearing activities are good for recovery, it's just that I can't stand or walk for long periods." She pointed to Su Rui's slightly furrowed brow. "So, preparing breakfast is no problem. I'm tired of eating delivered meals all the time."

Su Rui grabbed her fidgety fingers, his eyes still filled with doubt. It wasn't that he didn't believe her, it was just... "Are you sure everything's okay?" he asked again, his tone serious.

"Really~" Lemuen nodded vigorously, trying to make it more convincing, "Besides, the kitchen here is very small, and I can't move around much in my wheelchair. Please let me move around a bit, okay?" She started to use a coquettish tone.

Looking into her expectant eyes, Su Rui remained silent for a few seconds. He truly didn't want her to take any unnecessary risks, but seeing her so insistent, and seemingly genuinely confident...

"...Whatever you want." He finally relented, but immediately added a condition, his tone resolute and leaving no room for negotiation. "No sweet, cloying things. It has to be savory, with meat."

This was his bottom line. He didn't want to be bombarded with sugar first thing in the morning.

Volume 17, Chapter 987: Still Not Suitable for Walking

Seeing that Su Rui had agreed, Lemuen immediately beamed and quickly kissed him on the lips as a reward: "I know! It'll be salty and have meat in it! I guarantee it will suit Young Master Su Rui's taste!"

After saying that, she carefully supported herself with her arms and tried to sit up. Su Rui's eyes followed her closely, his arm loosely around her back, as if ready to support her at any moment.

Lemuen moved very carefully. She first moved slowly to the edge of the bed, then used her hands to support herself on the edge of the bed and tentatively put her feet on the carpet. Her left leg seemed to be a little weak, so she relied mainly on the strength of her right leg and arms to slowly and somewhat unsteadily stand up.

After straightening up, she breathed a slight sigh of relief and turned to give Su Rui, who looked nervous, a smile that said, "See? I told you there wouldn't be a problem."

Su Rui watched as she regained her footing before she relaxed her tense nerves slightly, but her gaze remained fixed on her.

Lemuen, supporting herself on the furniture, slowly made her way towards the small kitchen. Her steps were indeed unsteady, even somewhat faltering, but each step was firm. Su Rui leaned against the headboard, silently watching her back, not uttering a sound to disturb her, but his tightly pursed lips and focused gaze betrayed the turmoil within him.

Soon, slight noises came from the small kitchen: the sound of the refrigerator door opening and closing, the clinking of dishes, and the sound of running water. Su Rui could almost picture her carefully preparing breakfast, leaning against the counter.

The process was not fast; in fact, it could be described as somewhat slow. But unusually, Su Rui did not show any impatience. He simply waited quietly, occasionally letting out soft gasps as Lemuen tried to maintain her balance.

After a while, Lemuen's voice came from the kitchen, carrying a hint of relief as if she had completed her task. "Su Rui, can you come and help me carry this?"

Su Rui immediately got up and walked to the kitchen door in a few steps.

On the small countertop sat two simple white porcelain plates. Each plate held two slices of perfectly toasted bread with slightly charred edges, topped with fragrant fried bacon and tender scrambled eggs. A few fresh lettuce leaves and tomato slices were also placed beside them. It looked simple, yet it was incredibly appetizing, especially for Su Rui, who craved savory food.

Lemuen was leaning against the counter, a fine layer of sweat on her forehead, but a satisfied smile on her face, "How is it? Looks pretty good, right?"

Su Rui's gaze swept quickly over the breakfast, then landed on her sweaty forehead and cheeks slightly flushed from exertion. He stepped forward, not to take the plates first, but to reach out and gently wipe the sweat from her forehead with his fingertips.

His movements weren't exactly gentle, even a bit clumsy, but Lemuen was slightly taken aback by his subconscious action, and then a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

"Hmm," Su Rui simply replied, then picked up the two plates. "Go sit down."

He carried the breakfast to the small table and put it down, then came back and, without saying a word, picked Lemuen up in his arms.

"Ah!" Lemuen gasped softly, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. "I... I can walk by myself..."

"Too slow," Su Rui replied succinctly, steadily carrying her to the dining table, placing her in a chair, and then sitting down opposite her.

The breakfast tasted delicious. The toast was crispy, the bacon was savory, and the scrambled eggs were cooked to perfection. Most importantly, it was prepared for him personally by Lemuen, despite her own inconvenience.

Su Rui ate quickly, but finished every bite. Although he didn't say anything to praise her, her focused attitude towards eating was the best affirmation.

Lemuen ate her portion in small bites, watching him eat with relish, and felt sweeter than if she had eaten honey. The morning sunlight filled the small dining room and also shone on the two people sitting opposite each other.

This morning felt especially warm and special because of a simple, homemade breakfast.

After a simple breakfast, only a few crumbs remained on the plates and cups. The sunlight had become bright and vibrant, completely dispelling the morning haze. Su Rui deftly stacked the empty plates and carried them to the sink in the small kitchen. Although his movements were slightly stiff, it was clear he was trying not to leave a mess. Lemuen sat at the table, smiling as she watched this rare display of "domestic skill," while mentally planning her day.

"Alright," Su Rui said, rinsing his hands and wiping them casually with a towel before walking back to the living room. "Where to next? Your 'office'?" His tone carried a hint of eagerness to "get this mess over quickly," clearly still thinking about his plan to stretch his muscles at the training ground.

"Hmm," Lemuen nodded, pointing to her wheelchair, "I need to go to the temporary office first to handle some documents, organize and file yesterday's investigation results, and write some routine reports." A helpless expression of "heavy workload" appeared on her face, "It might take all morning."

Upon hearing this, Su Rui's brows immediately furrowed instinctively, displaying an innate aversion to words like "documents" and "reports." Pushing Lemuen's wheelchair out, he clicked his tongue impatiently, "Troublesome. What's so interesting about those things?"

The temporary office was in another building in the residential area, not far away. The room was small and simply furnished, with a large desk that, as Lemuen had expected, was piled high with documents and files that she needed to review and sign.

"See?" Lemuen slid her wheelchair behind the table, looked at the pile of documents, and sighed. "This is the workload for the next few hours."

Su Rui stood by the table, arms crossed, his critical gaze sweeping over the pile of papers, his disdain almost palpable. He hated this kind of tedious paperwork; in his view, it was a pure waste of time and life.

Lemuen had already picked up the top document, ready to get to work. Knowing Su Rui was impatient, she smiled at him, "If you're bored, you can go check out the training grounds first? I'll come find you when I'm done here."

She meant well, not wanting him to wait around.

However, Su Rui showed no sign of leaving. He stared at the pile of documents for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out, not to take one, but to snatch away the document that Lemuen had just opened.

"Hmm?" Lemuen looked up at him in confusion.

Su Rui didn't explain, but quickly scanned the contents of the document. His reading speed was astonishing; his eyes swept over the dense text and data like a scanner, and his fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the edge of the paper.

Volume 17, Chapter 988: Maintenance of Firearms

Lemuen was initially puzzled, but she quickly understood Su Rui's intention. He finished reading one document, then casually pulled a pen from the pen holder and, where a signature or annotation was required, hastily signed Lemuen's name—his imitation skills were exceptional, his handwriting remarkably similar to Lemuen's! Then, he neatly placed the completed document on the "processed" stack beside him and immediately picked up the next one.

His movements were fluid and seamless, as if complex data analyses, situation reports, and resource allocation requests were as clear and straightforward to him as simple addition and subtraction. He could not only quickly understand the core of a document, but also accurately grasp the key points and make the most efficient instructions. Occasionally, he would even write down more optimized suggestions or incisive questions in the Blank next to the document, his handwriting messy but hitting the nail on the head.

Lemuen started to say something, such as "this is against the rules" or "some details need to be carefully considered," but seeing Su Rui's focused and incredibly efficient demeanor, she swallowed her words.

She suddenly remembered that although Su Rui was arrogant and willful, his talent in areas requiring mental effort, especially those involving strategy, analysis, and judgment, was almost "unreasonable." These mountains of documents would be a heavy burden for many people, but for him, they might really be like a game that needed to be completed quickly.

Sure enough, in less than half an hour, the pile of documents that would have taken Lemuen a whole morning or even longer to process had visibly dwindled. When Su Rui was working on the last document, she even rearranged the order of several other files that were somewhat disorganized, making them look more organized.

As the last document was signed and neatly tucked into the "processed" folder, Su Rui tossed his pen onto the table with a crisp sound. He brushed non-existent dust off his hands, glanced at Lemuen beside him, who was staring in disbelief, and spoke calmly, as if he had merely completed a trivial task:

"It's over."

Lemuen blinked, glanced at the neatly stacked, processed documents on the table, then at Su Rui, who had a "So what?" look on her face, and for a moment she didn't know how to react.

That's... that's it?

She had originally planned to bury herself in a heavy workload all morning, but in the blink of an eye, Su Rui had perfectly resolved it with an almost overbearing efficiency. Moreover, looking at those instructions and suggestions, not only was the speed astonishing, but the quality was also ridiculously high, perhaps even better than if she had done it herself.

"You..." Lemuen opened her mouth, but ultimately let out a helpless chuckle, filled with sincere admiration and a complex feeling of being "crushed", "...You're just too amazing."

Su Rui accepted her praise without hesitation, raising her chin slightly. "This kind of trivial matter should be handled this way. Wasting time fussing over it is foolish."

He walked over to Lemuen and naturally pulled her, wheelchair and all, back a little, away from the table piled with documents, as if announcing the complete end of working hours.

"Now," he looked down at her, a glimmer of expectation in his lake-blue eyes, "Are you free?"

Lemuen looked at the now empty desk, then at the "hero" who had created so much free time for her, and her heart was filled with immense relief and joy. She had been worried that she would spend most of the day here and wouldn't be able to spend time with him.

"Yes! Absolutely!" She nodded vigorously with a smile, reached out and hugged his waist, pressing her face against his. "Su Rui, Young Master Su Rui! You've been a huge help!"

Su Rui snorted, but a slight upturn at the corner of his mouth revealed a hint of satisfaction. He enjoyed her dependence and gratitude.

"Shall we go to the training ground now?" Lemuen asked, looking up.

"No rush." Su Rui shook her head, her gaze falling on the maintenance kit next to her wheelchair. "You should maintain your gun first."

Lemuen paused for a moment. She did have plans to maintain her weapons, but that was usually something she did in her spare time after everything else was done.

Su Rui seemed to sense her confusion and explained calmly, with his characteristic awkward thoughtfulness. "Didn't you say before that the hammer of the gun had a slight sticking? Take advantage of this free time and fix it. I'm not going anywhere, I'm not going to run away from the training ground."

It turned out he remembered even a subtle feeling she had casually mentioned before. Lemuen's heart melted instantly. He wasn't just thinking about having fun himself; he had considered her needs and even gave her priority.

"Okay," she replied softly, releasing him and moving her wheelchair to a more spacious, better-lit area. She opened her maintenance kit, which contained a full range of professional tools, oils, and cleaning cloths.

Su Rui dragged a chair over and sat down not far from her, taking out his portable terminal again, seemingly intending to play games while keeping her company.

The office fell silent. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the slowly drifting dust particles in the air. On one side, Lemuen was focused and skilled as she disassembled, cleaned, oiled, and adjusted her beloved Guardian Gun, each step meticulous and imbued with a ritualistic beauty. On the other side, Su Rui was immersed in the battle in the virtual world, occasionally letting out a very soft click of her tongue, indicating either satisfaction or dissatisfaction.

They went about their own business without speaking, yet an indescribable harmony and tranquility filled the air. It was a companionship built on deep understanding and tacit agreement, requiring no words to express itself.

Lemuen carefully wiped the inside of the gun barrel, savoring the cool touch of the metal and the distinctive smell of engine oil. She would occasionally glance up at Su Rui beside her; his focused profile was particularly clear in the light.

She suddenly felt that this morning was exceptionally perfect because of Su Rui's "unreasonable" efficiency and the leisure she now had to calmly maintain her "weapons." The burden of work was easily lifted, leaving behind time spent side by side and the tranquility of each person's focused attention.

This is perhaps their most comfortable way of getting along. He helps her clear away troubles, she enjoys the leisure he creates, and then, together they head towards their next shared destination.

The last meticulously polished component was carefully repositioned by Lemuen. She gently pulled the hammer, and a crisp, clean click rang out, as smooth as the perfect note at the end of a musical movement. A satisfied smile curved her lips as she lovingly ran her fingertips over the cool metal surface of the gun before carefully placing it back into the maintenance box.

"All done." She breathed a sigh of relief and stretched her slightly stiff fingers and neck. The long period of focused maintenance had left her feeling a little tired, but the satisfaction of restoring the weapon to its best condition overshadowed everything else.

Volume 17, 989, perfect condition.

Almost the instant she finished speaking, Su Rui, who had been seemingly engrossed in the game on the sofa next to her, immediately looked up. It was as if he had been paying attention to her movements the whole time; the intense battle on the screen of his portable terminal froze for a moment before he casually turned it off.

"Finished?" He stood up, his movements swift and eager. The waiting time had clearly been long enough for him.

"Hmm, perfect condition." Lemuen smiled and patted the maintenance box lid, then maneuvered the wheelchair toward him. "Can we go to the training ground now?"

Su Rui didn't answer, but strode up behind her and naturally pushed the wheelchair. "Let's go."

The two left the temporary office. The afternoon sun was a bit glaring, but the temperature was pleasant. They walked along the relatively quiet internal passageway of the residential area towards the training ground. Neat residential units lined both sides of the passageway, with residents occasionally hurrying by; everything seemed orderly.

However, as they turned a corner at a relatively sparsely populated intersection leading to the warehouse area, a faint, unpleasant rustling sound reached their ears.

The sound came from a narrow alleyway next door, piled with discarded debris and broken pipes. The alley was dimly lit, and several dark red, rough-shelled figures could be vaguely seen slowly wriggling, rubbing against the metal walls and the ground, making that teeth-grinding sound.

They are Originium Slug. And there are more than just one or two; at a glance, there are at least seven or eight gathered there, seemingly munching on some waste organic matter. They are not large, but their carapaces are dark in color, indicating a certain level of activity.

Lemuen's brows furrowed immediately. The appearance of Originium Slug inside the Mobile City, especially near the residential areas, was definitely not a good sign. It indicated that there were significant oversights in the Mobile City's land maintenance and border defenses, allowing these potentially harmful creatures to easily infiltrate and even begin to form small-scale settlements.

"It seems the management here is even more lax than we imagined." Lemuen's voice carried a hint of seriousness. Allowing Originium Slug to proliferate unchecked not only threatens the safety of residents but also poses a risk of spreading Originium contamination.

Su Rui's reaction was more direct. He stopped and looked at the repulsive creatures in the alley, a flash of undisguised disgust and... aggression instantly appearing in his lake-blue eyes.

"Tsk, these disgusting things are everywhere." His impatience was obvious, but a cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth. For Su Rui, who had a slight obsession with cleanliness and hated trouble, these ugly, filthy, and threatening creatures were perfect "moving targets."

His original plan to go to the training ground to stretch his muscles was instantly replaced by a more "practical" goal right in front of him.

"Perfect." Su Rui released his hand from the wheelchair, took a step forward, and stood between Lemuen and the alley. With a flick of his wrist, a movement as fluid as breathing, he held the exquisitely designed Rapid-Fire Gun pistol with dark patterns inlaid on the barrel. The cold metallic texture of the gun gleamed in the sunlight, forming a stark contrast with the hunting excitement burning in his eyes.

"You wait here." He didn't even turn to look at Lemuen; his gaze was already fixed on his target deep in the alley, his voice carrying an air of commanding certainty. "It'll be over soon."

Before he finished speaking, he had already raised his gun, aimed, and pulled the trigger!

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A series of rapid, crisp gunshots suddenly shattered the silence of the alley, their speed astonishing, almost without pause! Su Rui's arm was as steady as a rock, each slight recoil precisely controlled by him, becoming the fine-tuning reference for the next shot. The bullets seemed to have eyes, accurately striking the writhing Originium Slug.

The first Originium Slug's head carapace shattered instantly, splattering dark fluid! The second was hit in a joint and went limp instantly! The third, the fourth... Su Rui's shooting wasn't blind spraying, but rather efficient pinpoint kills. He even used angles to allow a bullet to penetrate the relatively vulnerable side of an Originium Slug, and then, with its remaining force, hit the appendage of another one behind it!

Chaos erupted in the alley. The surviving Originium Slug, startled, let out sharp screechs and instinctively charged toward the source of the attack— Su Rui! Although they weren't moving very fast, the sight of several of them surging together, carrying a foul stench, was quite horrifying.

However, Su Rui stood still, barely moving. He merely adjusted the firing angle slightly, his face showing no tension, only a focused calm and... enjoyment? Enjoyment of this absolute control and efficient elimination process.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The gunfire continued rhythmically, like the knocking of death. Each bullet precisely robbed an ugly life. An Originium Slug tried to climb the wall to ambush from the side, but Su Rui, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, shot it down without even looking! Another one swelled up as if to spray acid, but the bullet preemptively struck its swollen gland, causing it to burst prematurely!

Lemuen sat in her wheelchair, quietly watching Su Rui's retreating figure. His shooting posture possessed an almost artistic beauty, a perfect combination of power, precision, and composure. The distinctive stench of gunpowder and Originium Slug fluids filled the air, but she didn't find it unpleasant; instead, she felt a strange sense of security.