Ark Simulator, Aren't I Non-Corporeal?

Lemuen and Kong Gou instinctively looked at him.

Ignoring Kong Gou's gaze, which instantly tensed up again, Su Rui lazily stood up, stretched his neck (which had become stiff from sitting for so long), making a slight clicking sound. Then, with his characteristic, somewhat nonchalant yet undeniable gait, he walked to the round table.

He didn't even look at Lemuen, but instead reached out and casually tossed a thin, neatly bound document onto the table in front of Kong Gou with a light "thud".

"Take it." His voice remained flat, as if he were simply tossing away something insignificant.

Kong Gou was startled by this sudden action, his gaze falling on the document in front of him with suspicion. The cover of the document was Blank, but the edges of the paper were neat, indicating that it had just been printed and organized.

Lemuen leaned forward curiously as well.

Kong Gou hesitated for a moment, then reached for the document and carefully opened it. A clear and concise table and diagram came into view. The title read prominently: <Preliminary Survey, Statistics, and Risk Assessment of Abandoned Units in Warehouse Zone Three>.

She quickly scrolled down, her eyes widening.

The document not only lists the total number and approximate distribution of abandoned warehouses, but also uses concise symbols to indicate each warehouse's "structural stability assessment" (divided into three levels: "Stable," "reinforcement required," and "hazardous"), "signs of advanced biological activity" (divided into four levels from "none" to "highly active"), "usability assessment," and "recommended priority order."

Even more surprisingly, the document also included several sharpened photos of areas that appeared to have been taken from the air by a drone, with enlarged screenshots and simple arrow markings for key areas. While the photos weren't extremely clear, they were enough to make out piles of debris at some warehouse entrances, broken windows, and even faint, dark traces in one or two corners that matched the activity patterns of Originium Slug!

This... this is practically a professional-grade preliminary survey report! While not as detailed as an on-site investigation, it provides enough information to give one a macro-level and accurate understanding of the area!

"This... this is..." Kong Gou looked up, staring at Su Rui in disbelief, her voice stammering with shock. She had absolutely no idea when Su Rui had done all this! He had been playing games right next to her the whole time!

Lemuen quickly skimmed through the document's main contents, a hint of understanding and amazement flashing in her lake-blue eyes. She looked at Su Rui, a beautiful smile involuntarily curving her lips upwards.

Su Rui met her gaze, slightly raised his chin, and made almost no attempt to hide his smug "praise me" expression, although his tone remained as calm as if he were discussing the weather. "Since I had nothing better to do, I checked the city's public surveillance archives and the latest logistics drone patrol records, and did a preliminary screening."

Volume 17, page 995: A Brief Overview

Su Rui spoke casually, but Lemuen and Kong Gou both understood that this was far more than just a "casual task." To quickly extract useful information from massive amounts of surveillance footage and chaotic patrol data, and to perform such clear summarization, analysis, and risk assessment—that required astonishing information processing capabilities, logical thinking, and...efficiency!

Even while they were still discussing venue selection, he had already anticipated the specific difficulties they would encounter and silently prepared the key parts of the solution!

This document instantly transformed the daunting task of "blindly exploring an unknown and dangerous area" into an actionable plan of "targeted cleanup and modification of specific objectives according to a priority list." The workload remains significant, but with clear objectives, manageable risks, and greatly improved efficiency and success rate!

Kong Gou at the document in her hand, which seemed like a godsend, and then at Mr. Su Rui, who still maintained a nonchalant expression, Kong Gou was overwhelmed with shock. She had previously only perceived Su Rui as powerful, arrogant, and unapproachable, but now, for the first time, she directly experienced his extraordinary, almost "lower-dimensional" abilities. These abilities weren't just evident in combat and document processing; they even permeated seemingly trivial logistical planning!

She suddenly realized that her decision to accept this task might not have been wishful thinking after all. With Miss Lemuen's patient guidance, and with this... this seemingly omnipotent Mr. Su Rui (even if he only did it occasionally "casually") providing crucial support, she seemed to actually have a chance to accomplish this!

"Thank you so much, Mr. Su Rui!" Kong Gou stood up excitedly, bowed deeply to Su Rui, his voice trembling slightly with emotion, "This document... it was a huge help! Really!"

Su Rui seemed somewhat uncomfortable with her earnest gratitude. He frowned slightly, turned his face away, and said in a curt tone, "Enough nonsense. Follow the priorities above and don't waste time."

Lemuen watched this scene, her smile growing even brighter. She reached out and gently took Su Rui's hand, which was hanging by his side, scratching his palm with her fingertips, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Amazing."

Su Rui's ears turned almost imperceptibly red. He snorted, neither shaking off her hand nor responding.

The heavy pressure was abruptly relieved by this unexpected "gift." Kong Gou sat back down in her chair, holding the document as if it were a precious treasure. The previous confusion and helplessness were replaced by a clear direction for action. Based on the assessment results in the document, she excitedly discussed the specific personnel allocation and cleanup plan with Lemuen.

"According to Mr. Su Rui's assessment, we can prioritize clearing these three warehouses marked as 'stable' and 'low signs of biological activity'!" Kong Gou pointed to the list on the document, his eyes shining. "This way, we can obtain a safe initial training area as quickly as possible!"

"That's right," Lemuen nodded in agreement, "And while we're clearing these warehouses, we can send people to strengthen monitoring of the 'dangerous' and 'highly active' areas to prevent accidents from happening during the clearing process."

Sunlight streamed through the window, warmly bathing the three of them. The atmosphere in the reading room completely changed, transforming from the previous somberness and uncertainty into a spirit of hope and proactive planning. And the turning point for all of this stemmed from the seemingly indifferent, yet actually all-knowing, arrogant young man by the window who had quietly paved the way for everything.

He may never admit that he was "helping," but in his unique way, he proved once again that his very existence was the strongest guarantee.

Su Rui's seemingly casually tossed-out warehouse survey document, yet one of immense weight, acted like a precise key, instantly breaking the deadlock. The mountain of practical difficulties was broken down into specific tasks that could be addressed step by step by this well-organized report with clear risk classifications. The tangled mess in Kong Gou's mind, caused by the unknown and the enormous workload, was neatly cut away.

She almost couldn't wait to open her precious notebook again, referring to Su Rui's documents, and quickly started to reorganize. Her eyes were no longer filled with confusion and anxiety, but with a clear focus and eagerness.

"That's great... That way, we won't be running around like headless chickens!" Kong Gou's voice rose slightly with excitement as she pointed to several warehouses marked "priority" on the document. "I can go find someone first! I know a few veteran employees in the warehouse management department who are very familiar with the structure of these old warehouses and are reliable! And... and that mover who helped me move the books last time, he's very strong and a very honest person..."

She began excitedly listing potential recruits, her mind becoming exceptionally clear and focused. With a clear goal and risk assessment, she felt much more confident in persuading others to join this "temporary job." After all, what she held in her hands was not a pipe dream, but a feasible action plan supported by ample data.

Lemuen smiled with satisfaction as she watched the enthusiasm that had instantly ignited within the Kong Gou. She knew that the most difficult first step had been taken. She didn't interfere too much with the Kong Gou's specific plans, but simply offered affirmation or pointed out details that needed attention when the organization put forward its ideas.

"Finding experienced employees familiar with the structure is a good idea; safety comes first." Lemuen nodded in agreement. "However, before the cleanup begins, make sure they also carefully read this risk assessment, especially the areas marked 'requires reinforcement' and 'dangerous'—they must be avoided."

"I understand!" Kong Gou nodded vigorously and quickly wrote it down.

"The movers need to be equipped with basic protective gear, even if it's just simple gloves and masks," Lemuen added. "The waste that is cleared out also needs to be properly disposed of and cannot be piled up randomly to avoid secondary pollution or safety hazards."

"Yes! This is very important! I will apply for the necessary supplies!" Kong Gou's thinking was further broadened, and he considered things more thoroughly.

The reading room transformed into a temporary, efficient project command center throughout the afternoon. Kong Gou was responsible for specific personnel liaison and task allocation; she even began to try drafting a simple work schedule. Meanwhile, Lemuen acted as an advisor and reviewer, ensuring that the overall direction was correct and that no details were overlooked.

However, in stark contrast to the busy Kong Gou, Su Rui has once again entered an "offline" state.

Volume 17, Chapter 996: Contains a built-in barrier

After throwing out that game-changing document, Su Rui seemed to have completed all the parts he was interested in (or rather, he had cleared away obstacles in advance because he was too lazy to endure the trouble), and he completely lost patience with the trivial details of the subsequent "specific execution".

He sat back down in the chair by the window, took out his portable terminal again, put on his headphones, and shut himself off from the outside world. Sunlight outlined the delicate contours of his face, his long, thick silver eyelashes drooped, and his gaze was fixed on the flickering screen. His fingers occasionally swiped or clicked rapidly, completely immersed in his virtual world.

He was like a beautiful young man sculpture with his own protective aura, completely out of place with the lively discussion around him.

This time, however, Kong Gou no longer felt tense or distracted by his presence. On the contrary, when she occasionally looked up from her complicated plans and saw Su Rui's completely indifferent expression, a strange sense of peace would rise within her.

She knew that this seemingly aloof Mr. Su Rui possessed an astonishing ability to turn the tide in an instant. He was like a reassuring presence; even if he did nothing but stand there, it was as if he were making an invisible promise: if things really got out of control, he would definitely have a way to resolve them. This realization greatly reduced the pressure on her shoulders, allowing her to try and organize more freely.

As for Lemuen, she focused most of her attention on Su Rui.

As she listened to Kong Gou's report and offered concise guidance, her gaze would involuntarily drift towards the quiet figure by the window. Looking at Su Rui's focused profile, absorbed in the game, a gentle smile would unconsciously appear on her lips.

She was all too familiar with his awkward attitude of "don't bother me with troublesome things, but I'll step in when it counts." At this moment, his willingness to stay in the room and endure what he considered "boring" conversation was itself a form of silent support.

Lemuen didn't participate in the discussion throughout. After explaining the main principles and points to note, she gave more of the reins to Kong Gou, letting her practice and explore on her own. She simply observed quietly from the sidelines, only occasionally pointing out the key points with a sentence or two when Kong Gou encountered difficulties.

Most of the time, she would quietly push her wheelchair to a spot closer to Su Rui, choosing an angle that allowed her to observe the workings of the Kong Gou while also clearly seeing Su Rui, and then... she would just stay there quietly.

Sometimes she would pick up a book she had casually taken from the bookshelf and flip through a few pages, but her gaze would always quickly return to Su Rui. Sometimes, she would just quietly watch him, watching the corners of his mouth turn up slightly when he won a game, or the brows furrow slightly when he made a mistake, and she felt that she could never get enough of looking at him.

She would even offer him a glass of warm water when he subconsciously relaxed his body and leaned back slightly after passing a particularly difficult level. Su Rui would usually take it without looking up, take a sip, and then casually put it back in her hand, the whole process as natural as breathing.

This tacit, unspoken interaction, observed by Kong Gou of envy and a strange warmth. She seemed to understand why someone as outstanding as Lemuen was with someone as unconventional as Mr. Su Rui. There was a deep connection between them that outsiders couldn't penetrate.

As the sun set, its orange-red light bathed the reading room. Kong Gou had finally drafted a preliminary action plan, including personnel, supplies, and a preliminary timetable. Although rough, the framework was in place. She let out a long sigh of relief, feeling an unprecedented sense of fulfillment.

"Miss Lemuen, Mr. Su Rui, thank you so much for today!" Kong Gou stood up and thanked the two of them again, especially in Su Rui's direction, even though he probably didn't hear him at all.

Lemuen smiled and encouraged, "You've done very well, Miss Kong Gou. Now, just boldly implement the plan. If you encounter any problems you can't solve, feel free to come to us."

Su Rui seemed finally disturbed by the commotion. He lazily took off one of his headphones, glanced at Kong Gou, and didn't say anything, but his eyes seemed to say, "Finally finished?"

Kong Gou wisely refrained from saying anything more, packed up his belongings, thanked them again, and left the reading room with great enthusiasm and preliminary plans.

Only Su Rui and Lemuen remained in the room.

Su Rui put down the terminal completely, stretched lazily, and his bones cracked. He turned to look at Lemuen, his brows furrowing unconsciously. "Starving. Can we go now?"

Lemuen smiled and pushed her wheelchair closer to him, reaching out to tidy his slightly disheveled silver hair. "Thank you for your hard work, Young Master Su Rui. We owe you a lot for that document today."

Su Rui snorted, seemingly unimpressed by such verbal praise, but neither did he deny it. He stood up, walked naturally behind her, and pushed her wheelchair.

"What would you like to eat?" he asked, his tone relaxed after finishing a troublesome task.

"Hmm... I'm a little tired today, how about we go back to my place for dinner? I'll have them deliver the food." Lemuen leaned back in her chair, feeling the steady support from behind, and her body and mind felt completely relaxed and peaceful.

With Su Rui's crucial help and Kong Gou's proactive actions, the security and reconstruction work on this relocated site has finally taken a solid first step. What makes her even happier is that no matter how much turmoil there is in the outside world, she can always have these peaceful moments alone with him.

Back at their temporary lodging, the familiar space, imbued with the presence of the two of them, completely shut out the hustle and bustle of the outside world. The warm yellow wall lamps automatically turned on, dispelling the twilight and creating a peaceful atmosphere of returning home.

Su Rui ushered Lemuen into the living room, then headed straight for the kitchen area, his movements slightly clumsy but purposeful as he began preparing a simple dinner—or rather, ordering delivery. His passion for cooking was practically zero, but he had an extremely high efficiency requirement for quickly satisfying his physical needs.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked without turning his head, his tone revealing the urgency of needing to replenish his energy after a busy day.

Lemuen wheelchair to the sofa, relaxed, and leaned back against the soft cushions. She watched Su Rui's slightly clumsy yet inexplicably earnest figure in the kitchen, a gentle smile playing on her lips. She loved seeing him like this, devoid of his usual sharpness and arrogance, replaced by a touch of everyday warmth and humanity.

Wasn't problem 997 in Volume 17 already solved?

"Keep it simple," she replied softly. "A roasted poultry set meal with a vegetable salad, no dressing. And a soda." She knew Su Rui preferred savory food, so she had specifically ordered a meal to suit his taste.

Su Rui quickly placed the order, then took two bottles of chilled soda water from the refrigerator, walked back and handed one to Lemuen, unscrewed the other for himself, tilted his head back and took a big gulp. The icy bubbles stimulated his throat, making him squint comfortably. He then threw himself onto the sofa next to Lemuen, his long legs casually stretched out, exuding a sense of relaxation after completing an important task.

"Almost done." He put down the soda bottle, letting out a satisfied sigh. He naturally reached out and put his arm around Lemuen's shoulder, pulling her closer to him. "The mess here is all sorted out, and the arrangements are all made. That bookworm seems to be of some use." His tone carried a sense of relief, as if the trouble was finally almost over, and even hinted at the possibility of heading home.

In his simple logic, the problem had a solution (sending away the mixed-race people and setting up security), and the executor had been found (Kong Gou), so their "mission" here seemed to be complete. In his view, the management problems of this Mobile City itself were the responsibility of the locals, and Laterano didn't need to overstep its bounds. He now preferred to return to a more familiar and comfortable environment, such as Laterano Holy City, or the more prosperous and well-equipped area where they usually resided.

Lemuen nestled in his arms, feeling the steady vibrations of his chest and the eagerness in his words to "finish work and go home," and couldn't help but chuckle softly. She turned her head and looked up at his sharply defined jawline, his lake-blue eyes sparkling with understanding and a hint of teasing.

"What? Is Young Master Su Rui tired of staying here? Missing home?" she asked deliberately in an exaggerated tone, playfully poking his side with her finger.

Su Rui felt ticklish from her poke and instinctively flinched, then grabbed her mischievous finger and snorted, "It's noisy and chaotic here, and the food isn't good either. What's the point of staying here?" He listed the place's "crimes," his tone full of disdain. "We've finished our business, why aren't we leaving? Are we supposed to stay here and watch how they manage the city?"

Lemuen listened to his childish complaints, her smile deepened. She suddenly realized that Su Rui at that moment was just like those children brought out to play by their parents—before they came out, they longed to run away, finding the outside world novel and interesting; but after a few days outside and encountering some unpleasantness (such as the "noisy," "chaotic," or "unpalatable food"), they began to miss the comfort and peace of home, clamoring to go home as soon as possible.

This contrast, appearing in Su Rui usually acts mature, strong, and even somewhat cold, makes her all the more interesting and... adorable.

"But I think this place is quite interesting," Lemuen deliberately contradicted, her voice soft. "Look, we met interesting people, like Kong Gou. She actually has a lot of potential, doesn't she? We also solved some problems together, although the methods might have been a bit...unconventional." She was referring to Su Rui's efficient, almost brutal, problem-solving methods. "And the sunset here, viewed from above, is truly beautiful."

She tried to paint a positive picture, but Su Rui was clearly unmoved.

"Interesting?" Su Rui scoffed. "That bookworm isn't exactly stupid. Solving problems? That's their job. Sunset? Where can't you see it?" His rebuttal was crisp and clear, revealing his eagerness to return home.

The food delivery bell rang at just the right moment, interrupting their slightly joking argument. Su Rui got up to fetch the food, and the two enjoyed a simple dinner at the small coffee table in the living room.

During the meal, Su Rui continued to ramble on about the benefits of going back, "The training grounds in the Holy City have much better facilities... the barbecue restaurant I usually go to tastes more authentic than here... and the new batch of gun parts I ordered should arrive soon..."

Lemuen ate her salad in small bites, listening with a smile to his rare "nagging." She didn't directly object to his desire to go back, but waited until they had both finished eating before putting down her utensils, wiping her mouth with a napkin, and speaking in a more serious tone:

"I know you want to go back. However, I think we might need to observe for a few more days."

Su Rui paused in his drinking of soda water, put down the bottle, looked at her, and unconsciously frowned, clearly not satisfied with the suggestion.

Lemuen explained patiently, her tone gentle yet firm. "The team on the Kong Gou side has only just begun. Recruitment, training, site clearing... every step could present new challenges. We need to ensure she can truly assemble the team and get it operational at least enough to handle common threats like Originium Slug. Otherwise, we might leave and the situation could revert to its original state, or even cause new conflicts due to our intervention, which would be counterproductive."

She looked into Su Rui's eyes and continued, "Furthermore, the city's management needs time to stabilize after this turmoil. Our extended stay serves as a form of invisible supervision and support, letting them know that Laterano is paying attention and won't dare to slack off. It's a responsibility, Su Rui."

Her reasons were sufficient and reasonable, and were entirely professional judgments based on the overall situation and long-term perspective.

Su Rui listened without speaking immediately. He understood, of course, that Lemuen was right, but his desire to escape the "boring" and "uncomfortable" environment stubbornly resisted. He pursed his lips and asked in a muffled tone, "... How long should we observe?"

"It won't be long." Seeing his expression, Lemuen knew he was softening, so she immediately lowered her voice, her tone almost coaxing. "Maybe... another week? Once the Kong Gou's team is mostly formed and able to carry out patrol missions independently, we'll go back, okay?" She reached out and gently took his hand, which was resting on the coffee table. "Just think of it as staying with me for a few more days. It's not as good as the Holy City here, but it's just the two of us, isn't it?"

That last sentence, tinged with a hint of coquetry and suggestion, struck a soft spot in Su Rui's heart. He looked at their clasped hands, then at Lemuen's expectant and gentle smile. His impatience and eagerness to return home deflated like a punctured balloon.

In the end, he couldn't resist her.

Volume 17, Chapter 998, okay, but there are conditions.

"...Whatever you want." Su Rui turned her face away, her tone stiff, barely agreeing, but added, "A week at most."

Lemuen's face immediately lit up with a bright smile; she knew he had agreed. "Okay! Just one week!"

She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek as a reward.

Although Su Rui still wore a "what a hassle" expression, his ears were secretly turning red. He stood up and began to clean up the mess on the table, using his actions to hide his slight unease.

Lemuen watched his busy figure, her heart softening. Her Su Rui was sometimes like a willful and stubborn big child, needing to be patiently coaxed and guided. But no matter what, he would always choose to stay by her side and support what she believed was right.

This is perhaps their most unique way of getting along. And this Mobile City, which is still "noisy and chaotic" for the time being, has gained a touch of color worth cherishing because of this companionship.

Su Rui tossed the simple dinner plates into the sink with a somewhat rough clatter, marking the end of this hasty meal. The living room was filled with the lingering aroma of roasted meat and the refreshing scent of chilled soda water. Su Rui still carried a hint of annoyance at being "forced" to have more time, his entire being like a taut bow, radiating a low, unapproachable aura. He sank back into the sofa, picked up his laptop, and swiped rapidly across the screen, deliberately turning up the game sound effects, as if trying to use the intense battles of the virtual world to dilute the boredom of reality.

Lemuen took in his anxiety. She knew that for someone as free-spirited as Su Rui, who hated being tied down, being explicitly told that he needed to stay in a place he didn't like for a week was tantamount to a form of "imprisonment." His impatience wasn't directed at her, but at this feeling of losing control.

She didn't try to comfort or reason with him—that usually didn't work on Su Rui. She simply maneuvered her wheelchair quietly to his side.

The light and shadow on his face shifted rapidly on the terminal screen, reflecting his tightly pursed lips and slightly furrowed brows. Lemuen reached out, not to touch his terminal, but gently placed her hand on the back of his hand that was gripping it.

Su Rui paused for a moment, and the game sound effects stopped as well. He raised his eyes, his lake-blue pupils still carrying the lingering virtual killing intent and a hint of displeasure at being disturbed, as he looked at her.

Lemuen did not back down. Meeting his gaze, she smiled gently. Her smile was as gentle as a tranquil lake under the moonlight, carrying a strange, comforting power. She leaned slightly closer to him.

Without saying a word, she simply leaned forward and gently kissed his slightly pursed lips, which held a hint of stubbornness.

The kiss began gently and tentatively, like a butterfly flitting across a petal. She could feel the coolness of his lips and their initial stiffness. But she didn't rush; she patiently traced the shape of his lips with her own soft lips, her tongue occasionally playfully licking his tightly closed teeth, a silent invitation and comfort.

Su Rui's initial resistance gradually melted away like ice and snow under the sun under her gentle and persistent advances. He let out a very soft, almost sighing groan, his hand gripping the terminal loosened slightly, and his other hand instinctively rose to hold the back of her neck, deepening the kiss.

The game sound effects had long been forgotten, and the terminal screen had dimmed due to lack of operation. Only their increasingly heavy breathing filled the living room. Su Rui's kiss, which started as a passive acceptance, quickly turned into a forceful plunder and demand, with a venting urgency, as if she wanted to pour out all the frustration caused by the disruption of her plans through this kiss.

Lemuen obediently accepted his strength, even responding to it, guiding him slowly out of his agitation. Her fingers ran through his silver hair, gently massaging his scalp, like soothing a ruffled cat.

After an unknown amount of time, until both of them were slightly out of breath, Su Rui slowly released her. His gaze was no longer as sharp and tense as before; a layer of passionate mist veiled his lake-blue eyes, and the slight irritation seemed to have been temporarily dispelled by the long kiss. His forehead pressed against hers, their noses rubbing together, their hot breaths mingling.

"... Don't think that's all." His voice was hoarse from the passion, but his tone was still hard, though the hostility had lessened considerably.

Lemuen knew he was just being stubborn, and couldn't help but chuckle softly, her breath brushing against his sensitive earlobe. "Then... what else does Young Master Su Rui want?"