Ark Simulator, Aren't I Bodiless?

Su Rui snorted, not answering, but instead using her arms to lift her from the wheelchair, sitting herself on the sofa and letting her sit sideways on her lap, encircling her in her arms. It was a posture full of possessiveness and dependence.

Lemuen leaned comfortably against his chest, listening to his heartbeat gradually calming down, her fingers unconsciously tracing circles on his chest. "Tomorrow," she whispered, with a hint of coaxing and planning for the future, "How about we go to town together? If we're not in a hurry to go back, we can take our time to explore the area. Maybe we'll find some interesting little shops, or... find something to do to pass the time?"

She tried to transform the negative feelings of being "forced to stay" into a positive experience of "exploring the unknown." She knew that Su Rui liked novelty and challenges, even in a place he didn't think highly of.

Su Rui rested his chin on her head and remained silent for a few seconds upon hearing this. He wasn't particularly interested in "exploring the city" itself, but the suggestion of "finding something to kill time" seemed to have slightly appealed to him. Rather than idly waiting for a week, he might as well find some fun.

"... Whatever you want." He finally responded with a muffled reply, which was considered an agreement to tomorrow's arrangements. Rather than wallowing in frustration, it was better to actively find something to do, which suited his personality.

Sensing that his emotions had further eased, Lemuen felt relieved. She adjusted her position to make herself more comfortable in his arms, then let out a small yawn. After a series of kisses and emotional fluctuations, drowsiness gradually crept in.

"I'm sleepy," she said softly, her voice heavy with sleepiness.

Su Rui didn't speak, but tightened his arms around her and adjusted his position so that she could completely nestle in his arms. He pulled over a thin blanket folded beside them and covered them both.

Lemuen closed her eyes, feeling the warmth and steady heartbeat from his chest. The unique, cool scent of him, tinged with a hint of gunpowder (probably from cleaning up the Originium Slug that afternoon), filled her with peace. Like a cat that had found its home, she quickly drifted off to sleep in his reassuring embrace.

Volume 17, Chapter 999: Tomorrow Will Still Be Noisy

Su Rui looked down at Lemuen in his arms, whose breathing had quickly become even and deep. Her long eyelashes cast soft shadows under her eyelids, and her sleeping face was serene and beautiful. The last bit of anxiety he had felt due to the change in plans finally subsided completely.

He turned off the living room lights, leaving only a faint glow from a distant floor lamp. In the darkness, he didn't fall asleep immediately, but simply held her quietly, listening to her soft breathing and feeling the warmth and tranquility that belonged only to him.

Outside the window, the Mobile City continues its journey through the night, emitting an eternal, low rumble. But within this small space, there is only the warmth of our intertwined bodies and our steady breathing.

Tomorrow might still be in this "noisy and chaotic" place, but as long as she's by his side, it doesn't seem so unbearable. In fact, he even has a faint glimmer of hope for the "things that can pass the time" she mentioned.

He lowered his head and placed a light, feather-like kiss on her hair, then closed his eyes as well.

The morning light was softer than usual, casting a hazy warmth into the room through the off-white curtains. Su Rui's biological clock remained precise, his consciousness returning before his body was fully awake. The first thing he felt was the soft, delicate touch in his arms, and the warm, sweet-smelling breath that was evenly sprayed on the nape of his neck.

Lemuen remained asleep in his arms, like a defenseless cub, curled up against his chest, one hand unconsciously clutching the front of his pajamas. Her sleeping face was serene, her long, curled eyelashes like two small fans, casting soft shadows beneath her eyes.

Su Rui didn't move immediately, not even opening his eyes. He simply remained in that position, quietly savoring the morning tranquility and the feeling of being close. However, unlike the contentment and languor he felt upon waking on other days, today a subtle, elusive... melancholy inexplicably welled up within him.

This feeling was unfamiliar, like a drop of ink silently falling into clear water, slowly spreading, not intense, but undeniably changing the water's color. He frowned slightly, trying to discern the source of this emotion.

Was it because of this Mobile City he didn't like? Or because he was forced to extend his stay? It seems to be a bit of both, but not just those.

Just then, Lemuen in his arms seemed to sense his awakening, or perhaps the unconscious tension in his muscles. She uttered a muffled murmur, like a lazy cat, and gently rubbed against him before slowly opening her eyes.

Her lake-blue eyes, initially shrouded in a hazy sleepiness, resembled a lake veiled in a thin mist. But as her gaze focused and she saw Su Rui standing right in front of her, and the rare, wistful expression on his face, the mist instantly vanished, replaced by clear curiosity.

She stretched out her slender fingers, still warm from just waking up, and gently pinched Su Rui's cheek. Her voice was soft and slightly nasal. "Hmm? What's wrong? You've been frowning so early in the morning, like a little old man."

Her touch and words interrupted Su Rui's thoughts. He opened his eyes and met her smiling, inquisitive gaze. The inexplicable melancholy he felt was now clearer, thanks to her touch.

He grabbed her mischievous fingers, holding them in his palm, his voice slightly hoarse from just waking up and containing an undisguised... bored?

"Nothing." He initially denied it instinctively, but seeing Lemuen's "I don't believe you" expression, he paused, then muttered somewhat reluctantly, "It's just that... it's a bit too quiet here."

"Quiet?" Lemuen blinked, somewhat puzzled. She could still clearly hear the low rumble of the Mobile City running outside the window, and the faint sounds of the morning market starting in the distance. "It's alright, much quieter than the Holy City."

"It's not that kind of quiet," Su Rui explained somewhat impatiently, organizing his thoughts to express the subtle feeling. "It's...too peaceful. There aren't any damn bad guys to fight, and there's no decent trouble to deal with."

He pursed his lips, his face revealing genuine regret and boredom. "Clearing out those Originium Slug yesterday wasn't even a warm-up. Things have been arranged for that bookworm Kong Gou, and I guess what's next is just routine training, utterly boring."

The more he talked, the more he realized it made sense, and he found the source of his melancholy. "The management here is bad, but it's so bad... mediocre. They can't even find a decent villain or challenge; it's really boring."

I see.

After hearing Lemuen was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but burst out laughing. Her shoulders trembled slightly as she laughed, and she snuggled into Su Rui's arms.

"Haha... Young Master Su Rui... You, you feel... lonely because there are no fights to fight, no bad guys to deal with?" She laughed until tears almost came to her eyes. This reason was just too "Su Rui"! Others want a peaceful and tranquil life, but he, on the contrary, felt melancholy and bored because it was too peaceful!

Su Rui was somewhat embarrassed and angry at her laughter, his ears turning slightly red. He glared at her irritably and said, "What are you laughing at! What's so funny!" He tried to straighten up, but Lemuen's unrestrained laughter made it impossible for him to maintain his anger.

"Okay, okay, I won't laugh anymore." Lemuen finally managed to stop laughing, wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, but the corners of her mouth were still turned up high. She reached out and hugged Su Rui's neck, leaned closer to him, and said in a laughing voice, "So my young master Su Rui is a troublemaker who can't stand not causing trouble and fighting every day?"

"Who caused the trouble!" Su Rui retorted, but his tone was clearly lacking in confidence. He did... enjoy the thrill and sense of control that came with solving problems (usually through force or unconventional means). A mundane life was indeed lacking in fun for him.

"Yes, yes, you're not causing trouble, you're 'upholding justice'," Lemuen readily changed her tune, her tone full of teasing affection. "However, just because there aren't any bad guys to fight doesn't mean there's nothing to do."

She gently tapped his chest with her finger. "Didn't we agree yesterday that we'd go to town today and find something to do to pass the time? Maybe we'll find something more interesting than fighting?"

Her bright, lake-blue eyes sparkled with encouragement and anticipation. "For example... shall we go see if there are any impressive gunsmiths? Or maybe look for a hidden fighting training ground? Or perhaps we could go to the market and hunt down some odd and unusual gadgets? There's bound to be something that keeps you entertained."

Volume 17, Chapter 1000 is somewhat appealing.

Listening to her words, Su Rui still wore a skeptical expression, as if asking, "What could it possibly mean?" but her eyes flickered slightly. A gunsmith's workshop? A combat training ground? This sounded... a little more appealing than aimlessly wandering around.

Looking at Lemuen's vibrant smile, the slight melancholy that had arisen from the "too much tranquility" in his heart seemed to be dispelled somewhat by her smile.

"Hmph, I hope so." He snorted, tacitly accepting the suggestion. Then, he pulled her back into his arms, rested his chin on the top of her head, and said in a muffled voice, "Sleep a little longer."

Since there's no intense "entertainment" to look forward to, enjoying this warm and tranquil embrace seems like a good choice. At least, it's much better than feeling melancholy alone.

Lemuen leaned against him obediently, feeling his heartbeat gradually return to normal, and a gentle smile curved her lips.

Her Su Rui is indeed a willful boy who never grows up and needs novelty and challenges to fill his life. But that's okay, she has enough patience and creativity to help him find their own fun in this seemingly peaceful city.

The morning light had not yet completely dispelled the chill of the night; only a pale white tinge appeared on the horizon. The massive metallic outline of the Mobile City, like a lurking beast, revealed its cold, hard lines in the hazy light. Su Rui pushed Lemuen's wheelchair, walking along the streets that were just beginning to awaken. The low rumble of the tracks rubbing against the earth below was the city's eternal heartbeat, but apart from that, an almost stagnant silence enveloped the surroundings, completely different from the vibrant yet subtly restless atmosphere that permeated Laterano Holy City from dawn.

The streets here are neatly planned, prioritizing functionality over aesthetics. Residential units constructed of metal sheets are stacked like building blocks, with small windows where the occasional early riser's shadow flickers briefly before disappearing again. The streets are clean but lack decoration, offering only essential signs and lighting. Pedestrians are beginning to appear sporadically, but most hurry along, heads down, their faces bearing the weariness of life's burdens or a numbness to their surroundings. Even when encountering acquaintances, they merely nod, exchange a few whispered words, and quickly part ways, as if speaking another word would be a waste of energy.

Su Rui's deep, sharp, obsidian-like eyes, with their usual critical eye and a hint of barely perceptible annoyance, casually swept over the scene. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, an indescribable, simmering boredom creeping over him. The air here seemed heavier, thicker than elsewhere. He thought of the Holy City, a place filled with contradictory tension even in the early morning—solemn hymns mingling with whispers from street corners, the echoing of ancient bells mingling with the faint rumbles of "progress" and "experiment" emanating from certain areas, forming a peculiar duet.

What Su Rui found most interesting (though he would never admit it) were the rigorously disciplined yet wildly untamed "demolition practices" in the Holy City. It was not ignorant destruction, but rather an almost obsessive pursuit and display of power, precision, and control by the Sankta. In those "Practice Zone" enclosed by numerous regulations and safety measures, young blood could boil.

He recalled seeing a young Sankta engineer, to test the effectiveness of his designed miniature directional explosive device, submit an application and safety plan long enough to fill a table, and then detonate it under the tense gaze of three senior executors. At that moment, the deafening roar wasn't chaotic, but rather possessed a strange rhythm; the blinding flashes, restrained by a specially designed shield, spread in precise geometric shapes like a tamed wild horse. The shockwave was guided in a harmless direction, and the flying debris was firmly captured by the force field. The air was filled with the peculiar smell of gunpowder and the tangible ozone produced by the interaction of Originium Arts. The other young enthusiasts watching held their breath, then erupted into heated discussions and professional analyses at the moment of success. That atmosphere, a mixture of extreme tension, intellectual excitement, and the intriguing challenge to "boundaries," was part of the unique vitality of the Holy City.

Su Rui himself had always disdained participating in those "official activities" that required layers of approval and had people interfering from the sidelines. He felt that they were too restrictive and not enjoyable enough. But subconsciously, he had to admit that the feeling of walking on the edge of the rules and using absolute strength and a calm mind to control destructive power was indeed much more exciting and... much more interesting than the stagnant "peace" before him.

"Tsk..." A very soft, clearly impatient click of the tongue escaped Su Rui's throat, breaking the silence between the two. "This place is so quiet that even mice fighting is news." The sarcasm in his tone was almost tangible, even carrying a hint of... disappointment that he himself didn't realize. It was as if someone familiar with symphonies had suddenly been thrown into a well-soundproofed room, surrounded only by the sound of their own heartbeat, feeling an indescribable emptiness. He even felt that the Originium Slug he had cleared out of the alley yesterday, which only knew how to crawl on their instincts, were more "dynamic" than these methodical human residents whose faces were written with the word "survival"—at least they would still bar their fangs and try to resist.

Upon hearing this, Lemuen turned her head slightly. The morning light fell perfectly on her soft profile and the halo of light emanating from her face, bathing her in a warm glow. She looked at Su Rui, who was clearly bored but was deliberately putting on a disgusted expression, and couldn't help but smile. She knew him too well, like knowing a book whose cover was cold and hard, but whose pages were filled with complex emotions.

"The population structure here is already skewed towards stability and the middle-aged and elderly, with few new generations." Her voice was gentle and clear, like a babbling brook, patiently washing away Su Rui's restlessness. "Moreover, as you've seen, survival is the top priority here. Everyone is struggling for tomorrow's food, shelter, and energy rations. Parents don't have the extra energy to focus on their children's 'entertainment,' and the overall social atmosphere is more inclined towards 'safety' and 'stability,' even if this stability comes at the cost of vitality and creativity."

She paused, her gaze lingering on the distance with a hint of reminiscence, as if she could pierce through the steel walls to see the Holy City. Her tone became more rational. "Even in the Holy City, you know that those 'explosive arts' that are touted as something miraculous by the outside world are far from being mere playthings. Behind every seemingly dazzling explosion lies a mountain of application documents, meticulously calculated safety distances down to the millimeter, the constant vigilance of several experienced executors, and the participants' own ultimate mastery of Originium Arts and the performance of the equipment. It's a comprehensive test of rules, technology, and mental fortitude; it's a privilege, but even more so, a heavy responsibility. And here..."

It's already quite an achievement that nothing bad happened in Chapter 1001 of Volume 17.

Lemuen withdrew her gaze from the somber street scene before her, gently shaking her head with a hint of barely perceptible pity. "... The management here is already struggling to maintain basic operations; public safety resources are stretched thin. How could they possibly have the resources, ability, or willingness to support or even regulate such high-risk, high-cost 'exciting' activities? For them, 'avoiding incidents' is the greatest achievement. So, what you see... this somberness, in a way, is also a kind of helpless 'safety'."

Lemuen's analysis, like a precise scalpel, dissected the surface, revealing a vast chasm between this Mobile City and the Holy City —a chasm that extends beyond material boundaries to encompass cultural psychology and social structure. Here, the spirit of adventure is considered a luxury, even a synonym for danger; conformity and survival are the prevailing values.

Su Rui listened in silence, his sharply defined jawline tightening slightly. Lemuen's words were logically clear, and he couldn't refute them, but this did little to alleviate the restless, caged feeling he felt due to a lack of intense stimulation. He was like a snow leopard accustomed to roaming the vast grasslands, suddenly confined to a clean but cramped cage inhabited only by docile herbivores. He felt no interest in anything around him, his claws useless, and could only pace anxiously, yearning for something to break the suffocating calm, even if it meant a chaos that he would have to personally quell.

His gaze sharpened and became more discerning, sweeping over the monotonous, unoriginal shop signs, the basic public facilities that only met the bare minimum, and even the dust floating in the air, smelling of metal and engine oil, seemed a thousand times more tedious than the air in the Holy City, which was a mixture of floral scents, gunpowder smoke, and the aroma of ancient stone.

Lemuen took in all his subtle reactions—the slightly pursed lips, the unconscious flexion of his fingers, the colder-than-usual dark eyes. She knew that a simple "walk" was no longer enough to satisfy Su Rui's thirst for challenge and change. She had to find something that could truly capture his attention and keep him from feeling "bored," otherwise the young master's patience would soon run out, and he might even go out of his way to "create" some kind of fun, which would be difficult to handle.

Just as she was rapidly searching her mind for anything else in the city that might pique Su Rui's interest, a discordant, slightly shrill commotion, mixed with the clanging of metal objects being kicked over and a few angry shouts, came from the side street ahead. The sound seemed to originate from a side alleyway off the main road, usually frequented by itinerant vendors and temporary workers. The atmosphere there was always more... "vibrant" and more chaotic than the orderly main streets.

Almost the instant the sound reached his ears, Su Rui's steps, pushing the wheelchair, paused almost imperceptibly. Then, a subtle change occurred within him. The languid, listless aura that had enveloped him vanished like a thin mist blown away by the wind. He didn't immediately quicken his pace, but his back seemed to straighten slightly. A sharp, hawk-like glint flashed in his usually half-closed, seemingly uninterested-in-everything black eyes; his pupils contracted slightly, as if he had instantly locked onto the prey's trail. A restrained yet unmistakable focus and... a subtle anticipation replaced his previous agitation.

Lemuen's heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, "It's here." This tedious patrol could not avoid the intervention of "unexpected" events. He just didn't know whether what had entered his field of vision this time would finally bring him some "fun," or would further confirm his assessment of the city as "utterly boring," making him even more impatient.

She gently patted the back of Su Rui's hand, which was resting on the armrest of his wheelchair, feeling the slight tension in the muscles beneath his skin. She looked up at him, giving him a smile that was both helpless and indulgent, and said softly, "It sounds like there's some noise up ahead. Shall we go check it out?"

Su Rui let out a very soft, ambiguous hum from his nose as a response. He didn't object; instead, he adjusted his direction, pushed the wheelchair, and walked slowly toward the alleyway from which the sound came. His steps, compared to his previous aimless wandering, now had a clearer sense of purpose.

Lemuen sighed inwardly. Well, since the peace was destined to be broken, at least she hoped this unexpected incident would act as a shot in the arm, temporarily dispelling the faint gloom that shrouded Su Rui's face due to her "too much calm," rather than catalyzing it into a real storm. She adjusted her breathing, preparing to deal with whatever might happen. This inspection seemed destined to end badly.

The morning patrol proceeded in a stagnant stillness, and Su Rui's patience was visibly wearing thin. Just as he was about to suggest that they should simply go back to sleep rather than waste time in this "ghost town," an unusual, childish yet slightly noisy commotion arose from a side road leading to the abandoned pipe area. The sounds included excited screams, chattering discussions, and... a dull thud like something hard striking a shell?

Su Rui's ears twitched almost imperceptibly, and his lazy, half-closed black eyes snapped open, his sharp, hawk-like gaze locking onto the source of the sound. Almost instinctively, a conditioned reflex honed from years in dangerous environments, his right hand slid with lightning speed to his waist—where his beautifully crafted, darkly patterned Rapid-Fire Gun pistol hung. The instant his fingertips touched the cold metal, his body leaned slightly forward, his center of gravity lowered, and he entered a state of readiness to respond to any sudden threat. The listless aura surrounding him vanished, replaced by a cold, poised alertness.

Lemuen also heard the commotion. Her reaction was much gentler Su Rui's, but her brows furrowed slightly. She gently pressed down on the back of Su Rui's hand, which was already resting on the gun handle, and whispered, "Don't rush, let's see what's going on." Her voice was reassuring, but also tinged with wariness. In this laxly managed city, any unusual sound was worth noting.

Su Rui snorted, neither withdrawing his hand nor immediately drawing his gun. He simply maintained a highly vigilant posture, pushing his wheelchair and silently and quickly approaching the fork in the road.

After turning the corner, the scene before them stunned them both.

Volume 17, Chapter 1002: The Children's Play

Contrary to expectations of conflict or dangerous creatures, at the end of a dead-end alley piled with scrap metal parts and broken pipes, four or five children, around ten years old and dressed in slightly worn clothes, were huddled in a circle. Their faces were flushed with a mixture of fear and excitement, and they held metal rods or wooden sticks of varying lengths, carefully poking at a dark red object in the corner, one after another.

It was a small Originium Slug. It seemed to be injured, with a noticeable crack in its carapace. It moved slowly and could only let out a weak, sharp hiss when disturbed by the children. It clumsily tried to shrink into a deeper corner, but its efforts were in vain because its escape route was blocked. The children were clearly both afraid of this ugly creature and stimulated by a childish courage to "conquer danger," so they were unwilling to let it go easily.

"Quick! Smash it on the head!" shouted one of the braver boys, but he didn't dare to actually bring down the iron pipe.

"Won't it bite?" Another little girl with pigtails asked, her voice trembling, as she hid behind her companion.

"What are you afraid of! It can't move anyway!"

Just as a child mustered his courage, raised the stick, and prepared to strike hard—

"Stop!"

A sharp, cold rebuke suddenly rang out, like a splash of ice water, instantly freezing the children in place. They turned around in terror, only to see two figures appear at the crossroads. The older sister pushing the wheelchair looked gentle, but the older brother beside her, with his silver hair and black eyes, was terrifying! His face was as cold as ice, his eyes sharp enough to pierce through anyone, and what made their hearts stop was—in one hand, he held a formidable-looking, gleaming gun! Although the muzzle was slightly lowered and not explicitly pointed at them, the invisible force of the gun made the children instantly stiffen. The "weapons" clattered to the ground, and the most timid girl even began to redden her eyes, on the verge of tears.

When Su Rui saw that it was just a group of children and a half-dead Originium Slug, his tense nerves instantly relaxed, replaced by a deep displeasure at being disturbed and witnessing such foolish behavior. His hand holding the gun fell to his side, but his expression remained cold and hard, clearly showing no liking for these "little troublemakers" and too lazy to pay attention to their frightened appearance.

Seeing this, Lemuen was both amused and annoyed. She quickly squeezed the back of Su Rui's hand, signaling him to tone down his aura that could scare a child, and then her face quickly lit up with her most skillful, extremely friendly, gentle smile. She maneuvered her wheelchair forward a few steps, shielding Su Rui slightly behind her.

"Don't be afraid, children, we're not bad people." Her voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, instantly easing the children's tense emotions. "This older brother is just... a little nervous, worried about danger, so he reacted a little quickly." She cleverly found an excuse for Su Rui's overreaction.

The children looked at her with suspicion and uncertainty, then stole glances at Su Rui, whose expression was still unfriendly. Their emotions calmed down a little, but they still didn't dare to move.

Lemuen's gaze swept past them, landing on the dying Originium Slug in the corner. Her tone became more serious, but still gentle. "However, your actions just now were extremely dangerous, you know that?"

She pointed to the Originium Slug: "Originium Slug may seem slow, but when startled or injured, they can spray irritating fluids or suddenly attack. Their carapace edges are also very sharp, easily cutting your hands. Moreover, nobody knows if they carry Oripathy. Getting injured and infected would be a very serious matter."

Seeing the children's expressions—a mixture of understanding and misunderstanding, but clearly indicating they were taking it all in—she continued, "In this situation, the correct thing to do is to immediately move away from it and then find an adult in uniform as soon as possible, such as the uncles or aunties from the Security Force, and tell them that Originium Slug has been found here, so they can handle it professionally. Instead of just standing here and playing with it, you won't protect yourself and might even let the Originium Slug run to a more dangerous place."

Her explanation was clear and concise, pointing out the danger while offering the correct solution. It didn't just reprimand, but rather carried a guiding and educational tone. The children looked at each other, their faces showing belated fear and shame.

"I'm sorry... we didn't know..." the boy with the iron pipe murmured softly.

"It's okay, it's good that you know now," Lemuen said with a smile, reassuring them. "Just remember next time, okay?"

Just then, Su Rui, who had been observing coldly, clicked his tongue in obvious impatience. Without even glancing at the group of children, he flicked his wrist, and the Rapid-Fire Gun was nowhere to be seen. Then, as if by magic, he pulled a small handful of hard candies wrapped in colored cellophane—candies that looked very expensive—from his uniform pocket (heaven knows why he would have that in his pocket).

Without even glancing at them, he casually placed the handful of candy beside the children, then turned and returned to Lemuen's side.

Colorful candies tumbled into the children's hands, but Su Rui didn't hand them out. Instead, she placed them on a small table nearby, where they stood out prominently.

The children were stunned. They looked at the candy next to them, then at the silver-haired older brother who still had a stern face, as if he had just done a small thing casually. They were completely confused.

Lemuen was also taken aback for a moment, then her eyes filled with a deep smile and tenderness. She understood, of course, that this was Su Rui's awkward way of "appeasing" and "hush money"—using candy to silence any possible crying, and... perhaps also a tiny, absolutely unacknowledged, sense of compensation for having frightened the child earlier?

"Your brother is giving you candy as a reward for realizing your mistake," Lemuen quickly said with a smile, trying to smooth things over. She added to the children, "Pick it up quickly, but remember to wash your hands when you get home before you eat it."

The children then realized what was happening, cheered with delight, and forgot their fear, scrambling to pick up the candy. Their little faces beamed with innocent smiles, and their earlier fright and tension were instantly replaced by sweet anticipation.

Lemuen gave Su Rui a look that was both approving and teasing, as if to say, "I didn't realize that young master Su Rui was quite good at coaxing children?"

Upon receiving her gaze, Su Rui immediately turned her face away awkwardly, a faint blush rising at the tips of her ears. She said in a low, stiff voice, "It's so noisy... Get out of here."

Lemuen smiled and shook her head, ceasing her teasing. She turned to the children and said gently, "Alright, you've got your candy. Now go home. Remember what your sister said: if you encounter Originium Slug in the future, stay away and report to an adult, okay?"

Volume 17, Chapter 1003 Lemuen's Scheme

"Got it! Thank you, sister! Thank you... brother!" the children responded in unison, clutching their candies tightly. Like a flock of happy little birds, they fluttered out of the alley and disappeared in an instant.

The alleyway fell silent again, with only the faint hissing of the Originium Slug in the corner remaining.

Su Rui didn't even glance at the insect. She pushed her wheelchair, turned around, and left, as if staying even a second longer would be torture.

Lemuen leaned back in her chair, feeling the steady push from behind her. Looking at Su Rui's "this is no place to stay" attitude, the smile on her lips lingered for a long time.

This unexpected incident, though initially tense, had a surprisingly heartwarming ending. She saw a rare, yet genuine, softness beneath Su Rui's cold exterior. This dull city seemed to gain a different kind of color because of these innocent children and someone's awkward kindness.

Of course, regarding the Originium Slug issue, she would have to remind the Kong Gou to strengthen patrols and public safety education in this area later. Lemuen silently made a mental note of this. But for now, she was more enjoying the subtle warmth that Su Rui unintentionally revealed despite her eagerness to leave the "crime scene." This patrol was finally not so boring.

The children, like sparrows startled yet drawn by honey, vanished in a flurry at the alley's entrance, leaving only a faint, sweet scent in the air, a mixture of dust and cheap candy flavoring, and the weak hiss of a lingering Originium Slug in the corner. The alley returned to its original silence, as if the small commotion had never happened.

Su Rui almost immediately turned around, pushing his wheelchair with swift, decisive movements, conveying a sense of relief that "the trouble is finally over," along with a slight regret for his somewhat "childish" act of giving away candy. He just wanted to leave this place, filled with childishness and the "evidence" of his impulsive actions, as quickly as possible. The metal floor beneath his feet echoed clearly, demonstrating his eagerness to return home.

Lemuen didn't urge him to speed up. She leaned comfortably against the back of her wheelchair, tilting her head slightly to look at Su Rui's sharply defined yet slightly taut profile. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the building, dancing on his silver-white hair and outlining his slightly reddened ears. A gentle yet mischievous smile played in her lake-blue eyes, like a cat that had discovered a secret.

"Young Master Su Rui," she began, her voice soft and gentle, with a deliberately drawn-out ending, like a feather lightly brushing against the heart, "Thank you for earlier..."

Su Rui didn't stop walking, only letting out a very soft, ambiguous hum from his nose as a response. He kept his eyes straight ahead, pretending to focus on the road conditions, but his slightly accelerated heartbeat and the persistent faint blush on his ears betrayed him.

Lemuen was already used to his cold reaction, and instead of being annoyed, her smile deepened. She reached out her slender fingers and gently tugged at the sleeve of the wheelchair he was pushing, forcing him to slow down a little.