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

"However," she changed the subject, her tone carrying a hint of playful criticism, "Next time when giving candy to children, could you perhaps... improve the way you do it?"

Su Rui finally lowered his eyelids, his obsidian eyes filled with a hint of confusion and impatience at being disturbed, as he glanced at her. "What method?" In his view, giving away the candy and blocking the source of the trouble was enough; what "method" was needed?

Lemuen raised her hand, gesturing a gentle, outstretched motion, and patiently explained, "You see, the way you just shoved the candy in front of them like that, while it had an immediate effect and the children were happy, it just felt... a bit too stiff, like feeding pigeons." She couldn't help but chuckle. "Besides, what if the ground isn't clean? It's not good if the candy wrappers get dusty."

Seeing Su Rui's slightly furrowed brow, she continued to gently guide him, as if teaching a gifted but socially awkward child the simplest social etiquette. "Next time, try bending down or squatting down, looking them in the eye, and then gently and directly placing the candy in their little hands. That will seem friendlier and more respectful. The children will think that this seemingly tough older brother is actually a kind person."

The scene she described was vivid, with a almost fairytale-like warmth. However, for Su Rui, this scene seemed exceptionally... unfamiliar and awkward. Bending down? Squatting down? Looking straight ahead? And gently placing the candy in his hand? This series of actions flashed through his mind, immediately arousing a strong sense of repulsion. This was too troublesome! Too... cheesy! When had he, Su Rui, ever needed to do such things to please a little kid? Giving him candy was already an unprecedented act of kindness!

"Trouble." He didn't even hesitate, throwing out the two words bluntly, his tone harsh and leaving no room for argument. He even found Lemuen's suggestion a bit absurd. Why should he show "friendliness" and "respect" to a bunch of noisy kids who had almost caused trouble?

Lemuen had anticipated his reaction. Undeterred, she turned her wheelchair around to face him more directly, stopping him from moving forward. She tilted her head back, her lake-blue eyes wide open, filled with an innocent, pleading light, like some furry little animal that was impossible to refuse.

"But...would that really be better?" she pleaded softly, her voice sweet enough to drip honey. "Just for me, okay? I want to see Su Rui a little gentler." She reached out and gently took his hand, which was resting on the armrest of his wheelchair. Her fingertips traced circles on the back of his hand with a coquettish, irresistible intimacy. "Besides, think about it, if you did that, the children would definitely like you more. They might even look at you with sparkling eyes and say, 'Thank you, big brother!' Wouldn't that be much cuter than the way you are now, as if you're being reluctant?"

The word "cute" coming from Lemuen's mouth, used on Su Rui, sent shivers down his spine. He jerked his hand back, the blush spreading from his ears to his cheeks, his tone even more nasty. "Who wants them to like it! Who wants cuteness! Disgusting!"

However, Lemuen was not deterred by his harsh attitude. She knew his weakness. She stopped speaking, but looked at him with her seemingly expressive eyes, unblinking, filled with expectation and a touch of grievance. That gaze was like the most supple thread, slowly wrapping around him, softening his hard shell. A silent contest filled the air, one side a stubborn fortress, the other a gentle stream.

Volume 17, Chapter 1004: Just agree.

Su Rui felt extremely uncomfortable under her gaze. He wanted to look away, but it was as if something invisible was holding his eyes. He could clearly see his own reflection in her eyes, and that... pure expectation that he couldn't bring himself to completely reject. He hated this feeling of being manipulated, but he hated seeing her disappointed expression even more.

After a moment of internal struggle, a crack finally appeared in that solid fortress. He clicked his tongue in extreme frustration, his gaze darting to the mottled wall beside him. In a voice strained with resentment and awkwardness, almost forced out between his teeth, he quickly muttered:

"... Okay, I know... you're so long-winded."

The voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's buzz, so indistinct it was almost inaudible, but Lemuen caught the meaning perfectly—he had compromised.

Instantly, a radiant smile, like sunlight breaking through the clouds, illuminated Lemuen's entire face. She took advantage of the situation, grabbing his hand again and shaking it happily. "Really? You said yes? Su Rui's the best!"

Su Rui became even more irritated by her shaking, and flung her hand away, saying in a harsh voice, "Are you coming or not? It'll be dark soon if you don't come now!" But the way he pushed the wheelchair forward was much more steady than before, and the anxiety of wanting to escape had dissipated by most of it.

Lemuen leaned back in her chair, completely satisfied, unable to suppress the smile on her lips. Looking at Su Rui's back, which, though still expressionless, revealed a hint of helpless indulgence, she felt a warm, comforting feeling, as if a jar of honey had been spilled.

She knew that getting someone like Su Rui to learn to "gently offer sweets" was almost an impossible task; his arrogance and aversion to trouble were ingrained in his genes. But it was precisely this seemingly unreasonable request, and his eventual awkward compromise, that made it all the more precious. It proved that, in front of her, his unyielding principles could bend for her.

This small victory made her feel happier and more at ease than any sweet words. And she also looked forward to the day when she might actually see her awkward young master Su Rui, with his hands that were used to holding guns and stained with gunpowder, carefully placing a piece of candy into the tender palm of a child. Just imagining that scene was enough to make her smile all day long.

Sunlight streamed down on the two, casting long, intertwined shadows. The previous incident was over, and the promise of the future (though awkward) had been made. The journey through this Mobile City seemed less tedious and unbearable because of these subtle interactions that belonged only to them.

After leaving the alley, Su Rui pushed Lemuen along as they continued their patrol of the somewhat dull neighborhood. He deliberately quickened his pace, seemingly wanting to leave the "disgraceful" experience behind as soon as possible. Lemuen, on the other hand, wore a faint smile, enjoying the street scenes along the way, occasionally making a comment on the insignificant architectural styles.

Just as they were about to cross an intersection connecting to a small public green space (which was really just a few patches of barely green lawn and some rudimentary exercise equipment), a clear, bell-like laugh caught their attention. On the lawn not far away, five or six children, perhaps only five or six years old, were chasing and playing around a worn-out ball. Their little faces were rosy, their eyes bright and sparkling, full of innocent joy, a stark contrast to the overall oppressive atmosphere of the city.

Lemuen's eyes lit up instantly. She gently patted the back of Su Rui's hand, signaling him to stop. Su Rui clicked his tongue impatiently, but still stopped the wheelchair as instructed.

"Look, Su Rui," Lemuen's voice carried a hint of encouragement and expectation as she pointed to the group of children playing. "How adorable. You should still have some candy in your pocket, right?" She winked, her lake-blue eyes sparkling with mischief, as if reminding him of the "promise" she had made not long ago.

Su Rui's body stiffened visibly. He looked in the direction Lemuen pointed, his brows immediately furrowing into a deep frown. In his eyes, those little ones were nothing more than a noisy, uncontrollable source of trouble, always ready to cry. He subconsciously touched his pocket; there were indeed a few candies left over from the last "emergency" incident. But he didn't want to go over there at all! Just imagining having to rely on those energetic brats made his scalp tingle.

"No." He refused firmly, his tone as hard as a rock. "It's so noisy."

"Oh, just for a little while," Lemuen began her persuasive tactics, her voice soft and sweet, with a hint of coquetry, "Just think of it as... practicing a bit? Look how much fun they're having. Giving them a piece of candy will make them even happier. And..." she drawled, deliberately using a wistful tone, "I've never seen Su Rui gently hand out candy to kids before, it must be so cool!"

"Handsome? What's so handsome about him!" Su Rui's ears turned slightly red as he awkwardly retorted, but his tone was no longer as resolute as before. Lemuen's words, "especially handsome," were like a feather, gently scratching a corner deep within him that was unknown to others, perhaps even to himself, where he longed for recognition (even in such a small matter).

Lemuen noticed his hesitation and pressed her advantage, gently pushing his arm. "Go ahead, go ahead, just give it a try~ I'll be here watching you. I promise I won't laugh at you!"

Under Lemuen's relentless, gentle yet slightly "coercive" gaze, Su Rui was engaged in a fierce internal struggle. In the end, his damned, almost zero resistance to Lemuen, along with a tiny bit of something that could perhaps be called "curiosity," triumphed over his extreme reluctance and social anxiety.

"...troublemaker." He muttered under his breath, as if he were about to be executed, and released his grip on the wheelchair with extreme awkwardness. He took a deep breath, as if facing a thousand troops, and then walked towards the group of children with slightly stiff steps. Every step felt like walking on needles.

Lemuen watched his tense back and couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, her heart filled with anticipation and a little bit of the pleasure of a successful prank.

Su Rui stopped a few steps away from the children. The children noticed this big brother who had suddenly appeared, with silver-white hair, was very handsome but had a slightly fierce expression. They all stopped playing and looked at him with curiosity and a little fear.

The air seemed to freeze. Su Rui felt like he was standing there like an idiot, his hands in his pockets, clutching the few candies tightly, his palms even sweating slightly. He tried hard to recall the steps Lemuen had taught him: bend down? Look straight ahead? Gently place the candies in his palm? Each step made him feel incredibly embarrassed and ashamed.

Volume 17, Chapter 1005: An Unwilling Attempt

Reluctantly, Su Rui tried, extremely slowly, like a rusty robot, to bend down slightly. The movement made him extremely uncomfortable. He tried to force a so-called "friendly" smile, but his lips twitched, and the final result was more like an extremely awkward, distorted expression somewhere between "toothache" and "impatience."

However, Su Rui underestimated the destructive power of her face.

Although his smile was as stiff as a plaster statue, his exceptionally handsome appearance, cool and unique temperament, and the noble and mysterious air that he exuded unintentionally, which was out of place with his surroundings, had a fatal attraction for these naive children with simple aesthetic senses. He was like an ice prince who had stepped out of a fairy tale book, with a hint of danger, instantly capturing the hearts of all the little girls.

Just as Su Rui finally made up her mind, took a candy out of her pocket, and prepared to hand it over according to the "procedure" --

Wow! Big brother is so handsome!

"Like a prince made of snow!"

"Sugar! It's sugar!"

With a few excited screams, two little girls with pigtails and floral dresses, completely forgetting their fear, rushed over like two cannonballs! They didn't take the candy from Su Rui's hand, but instead hugged Su Rui's waist from either side! Another, smaller girl also ran over, stood on tiptoe, and tried her best to hug his neck!

Su Rui froze completely!

He hadn't expected things to turn out this way! He had envisioned himself calmly handing out candy, the children timidly accepting it, and then he making his escape. But now... what was going on?! One was hanging from his waist, another seemed to be clinging to his leg, and yet another was trying to climb on him! Warm little bodies pressed tightly against him, soft hair brushing against his arm, and babyish cheers exploded in his ears!

Every muscle in his body tensed, his arm froze in mid-air, his knuckles white from gripping the candy. He wanted to push them away, but was afraid of hurting these fragile little creatures if he didn't control his strength. An unprecedented feeling called "helplessness" swept over him like a tsunami. For the first time, a clear expression appeared on his usually icy face, a mixture of shock, panic, and extreme discomfort, and even... a suspicious blush?

"Get down!" he tried to command in his usual cold tone, but his voice sounded somewhat weak due to nervousness, and even trembled slightly.

The children, however, were completely unmoved. Instead, they hugged her even tighter and giggled even more, as if they were playing a fun game.

"Big brother smells nice!"

"Hug!"

Lemuen, who was standing not far away, had originally expected to see Su Rui's awkward yet trying-to-be-gentle and adorable appearance, but was now completely stunned by the "out-of-control" scene in front of her.

Seeing Su Rui being clung to by a group of little girls like a koala, and a rare, almost "pitiful" look of panic appearing on his handsome face, which was always full of arrogance and impatience, Lemuen couldn't help but chuckle, finding the scene both comical and... somewhat cute.

But as she laughed, a subtle yet undeniable pang of sadness began to quietly grow deep within her heart.

Watching those little girls cling to Su Rui without any restraint, their little hands tightly wrapped around his waist and neck, their little faces rubbing against the fabric of his expensive uniform, Lemuen suddenly felt... a little irritated.

That was her Su Rui.

Normally, even if she wanted a hug, it depended on whether the young master was in a good mood, and he would occasionally complain that she was "troublesome" or "hot". But now, he was being passively "occupied" by a group of unfamiliar little girls. Although he looked pained, he didn't actually push them away roughly (this was probably his last line of defense and his upbringing at work).

This "differential treatment" (even if passive) stirred a subtle sense of imbalance in Lemuen's heart. It was as if her treasured possessions, which she would normally handle with utmost care, were suddenly being shamelessly surrounded and played with by a group of outsiders.

She gently bit her lower lip, pushed her wheelchair, and slowly moved into the center of that "chaos."

"Children," Lemuen, her smile still gentle, but with a hint of authority in her voice, "You've got your candy, shouldn't you thank your big brother and then go back to playing ball? Hugging him all this time will tire him out."

Her voice successfully drew the children's attention. They looked at Lemuen, then at the candy already stuffed into their hands (Su Rui quickly gave the candy to the child closest to him in the chaos), and seemed to think that what the pretty older sister said made sense.

Feeling as if granted a pardon, Su Rui seized the opportunity to send a strong distress signal to Lemuen with her eyes.

Lemuen gave him a reassuring look, then continued to gently guide the children to release Su Rui. The children, being simple-minded, were quickly distracted by the candy and their new playmate (Lemuen) and ran off happily.

Su Rui was finally free. He immediately took two steps back, as if he were trying to get away from some source of plague, and quickly straightened his wrinkled uniform. His face still showed signs of shock and flush.

Lemuen wheeled herself over to him, looked up at his unusually disheveled state, and couldn't hide the smile on her lips, but her tone carried a hint of sour teasing that even she herself didn't realize:

"It seems... Young Master Su Rui is quite popular with little girls? How does it feel to hold him? Isn't he soft and fragrant?"

Su Rui was brushing non-existent dust off her sleeves when she heard this. She froze, glared at her fiercely, and a blush instantly spread from her ears to her neck. Her tone was a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance:

"Shut up! It's all your fault!" He wanted to leave this planet immediately. "I'll never do anything so stupid again!"

Seeing his exasperated yet helpless expression, Lemuen's slight jealousy vanished instantly, replaced by overflowing tenderness and amusement. She reached out, gently took his hand, and tickled his palm with her fingertips.

"Alright, alright, it's my fault." She admitted with a smile, but her eyes were full of smugness. "But, our young master Su Rui was really cute just now."

"Cute... what's so cute about it!" Su Rui, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, abruptly pulled her hand back, turned around, pushed her wheelchair, and left, her steps so fast she almost flew, leaving only an angry and embarrassed back view.

Volume 17, Chapter 1006: These people are too lax.

Seeing his hasty escape, Lemuen finally couldn't help but burst into laughter, her clear laughter echoing across the empty green space.

Although this "practice" deviated completely from expectations and ended with someone's embarrassing escape, it undoubtedly added a colorful touch to this otherwise uneventful inspection trip.

Lemuen was once again certain that her Su Rui, whether cold and arrogant or occasionally clumsy and flustered, belonged only to her. This realization greatly improved her mood, and even the dull city seemed much more pleasing to the eye.

After a few peaceful days (which were "utterly boring" for Su Rui), the tranquility of their temporary residence was broken by slightly hurried footsteps. The visitor was Kong Gou. Compared to the timid and uneasy girl in the library a few days ago, she still looked tired, but her eyes were much brighter, radiating a sense of responsibility and the initial enthusiasm ignited by her success.

"Miss Lemuen! Mr. Su Rui!" Kong Gou's voice was filled with barely concealed excitement. "As planned, the recruitment and initial screening of the first batch of Security Force have been completed! There are twenty of them in total, and they are currently undergoing basic training in the cleared Warehouse Zone Three. If you two have some time, could you come over and take a look, and give us some guidance?"

Her words were filled with anticipation, but also tinged with a barely perceptible nervousness. This team was the culmination of her hard work, and she desperately wanted recognition, especially from Lemuen and the formidable yet unfathomably capable Mr. Su Rui.

Su Rui, who was idly flipping through a weapon encyclopedia on the sofa, didn't even bother to lift his eyelids when he heard this. He let out a very soft, ambiguous hum from his nose, clearly showing no interest in the utterly unchallenging and troublesome task of "guiding newbies."

Lemuen put down the report on the city's current supply flow that she was reviewing, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. She looked at Kong Gou and nodded approvingly, "Finished so quickly? Miss Kong Gou, you did a great job." Then, she turned her gaze to Su Rui, who seemed uninvolved, her voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable determination, "Su Rui, shall we go take a look? After all, we were the ones who proposed this, so we should keep an eye on the progress."

Su Rui lazily raised his eyes, his dark pupils filled with "trouble" and "reluctance." He was about to refuse when Lemuen preemptively walked to his side, leaned down, and whispered in his ear in a voice only the two of them could hear, a mixture of coaxing and a hint of cunning threat:

"Just go take a look~ Besides, maybe you'll discover some... issues worth your 'guidance'? It's more interesting than just sitting here daydreaming all day, right?" She paused, her voice softening slightly. "Also, later... try to be as friendly as possible, okay? Just to save me face?"

The word "friendly," when used to describe Lemuen, made Su Rui lips twitch. He glared at her, but seeing the earnest expectation in her eyes, he swallowed back the refusal that was on the tip of his tongue. He clicked his tongue impatiently, which was tantamount to acquiescing.

"Great!" Kong Gou didn't hear their whispers, but seeing that Su Rui didn't explicitly object, he was overjoyed.

The three quickly arrived at Warehouse Zone Three, located in the northwest corner of the city. The previously abandoned, desolate, and dangerous landscape had been greatly improved. Several of the most structurally stable warehouses had been cleared out to serve as temporary barracks and equipment storage. A relatively flat open space in front of the warehouses had been turned into a training ground. Although rudimentary, it had a basic running track and shooting area marked out.

At this moment, twenty team members, dressed in uniformly issued, slightly rough but fully functional dark gray uniforms, stood in the center of the training field in a somewhat disorderly formation. They were of varying ages and races (mostly Sarkaz and Sankta mixed-race, with a few from other races), their faces showing the nervousness and curiosity typical of new recruits, as well as a hint of trying to appear serious and attentive. When they saw Kong Gou arrive with two extraordinary "big shots," a slight commotion arose in the formation, and all eyes focused on them, especially on the silver-haired, black-eyed, and cold-aura-filled Su Rui. Many people subconsciously held their breath.

Kong Gou quickly stepped forward and briefly introduced Lemuen and Su Rui to the team members, explaining that they were there to inspect and provide guidance. Her tone was full of respect, which made the team members even more nervous.

Lemuen pushed her wheelchair to the front of the group, her usual warm and welcoming smile on her face. She offered words of encouragement and affirmation, praising everyone's courage and dedication, and emphasizing the importance of the Security Force for the city's safety. Her words effectively eased the tense atmosphere.

When it was Su Rui's turn, the atmosphere instantly froze again.

He stood expressionless to the side and behind Lemuen, his hands in his uniform pockets. His dark eyes scanned the faces of everyone in the group like a scanner, his gaze so sharp it seemed to pierce through skin and reach the depths of the soul, assessing each person's potential, flaws, and even... loyalty? He made no comment, no nod, and no smile. The oppressive aura emanating from him made the temperature in the entire training ground seem to drop several degrees.

The team members felt uneasy under his gaze and didn't dare to breathe. Kong Gou also nervously clenched his fingers.

Lemuen quietly nudged Su Rui with her elbow, giving him a look that said, "Say something, be friendly."

Su Rui reluctantly took half a step forward, his thin lips parted slightly, and the words he uttered were concise and chilling. "Too slow in lining up, unfocused eyes, weak posture. Useless."

"..." The entire training ground fell silent. The color drained from the faces of the team members instantly, their Kong Gou smiles froze on their faces, and they almost fainted on the spot.

Lemuen sighed inwardly; she knew this would happen. She quickly smoothed things over, smiling as she said to the team, "Mr. Su Rui has high standards, but it's for everyone's benefit. Strict standards are necessary to develop true skills." She steered the conversation back on track, "Today, we want to focus on everyone's basic firearms coordination. After all, future patrols and emergency responses will often require teamwork."

She looked at Su Rui, gesturing for him to provide "friendly" guidance. Su Rui pursed his lips, clearly disdainful of the concept of "teamwork," but under Lemuen's "gentle" gaze, he still steeled himself and walked to an open area in front of the training field used for demonstrations.

"Two people, come out." He casually pointed to two Sankta players at the front of the line. The two men nervously stepped forward, their hands and feet moving in unison.

Volume 17, Chapter 1007: He's almost forgotten how to shoot.

Su Rui didn't even check what type of guns they were carrying (they were all standard Guardian Gun provided by Laterano), and directly ordered, "Assuming a swarm of fast-moving Originium Slug appears fifty meters ahead, fire simultaneously and eliminate them."

The two team members looked at each other, then simultaneously raised their guns, aimed, and pulled the triggers!

"Bang! Bang!"

After two gunshots rang out almost simultaneously, two bullet holes, far apart, appeared on the wooden target in the distance.

Su Rui frowned immediately and bluntly commented, "A waste of ammunition. The target areas overlap by less than 30%, rendering the fire coverage ineffective. Are you having a competition to see who can hit the wrong spot?"

The two team members lowered their heads in shame.

"The Sankta's gun," Su Rui's voice was cold and hard, but he was getting to the heart of the matter, "Isn't a lone wolf's toy. Halo Resonance is fundamental, but teamwork is something you develop." He walked over to the two, his expression still blank, but his tone softened slightly (which, in Lemuen's eyes, was a huge improvement), "Pay attention to each other's breathing rhythm, anticipate your teammates' firing intervals and coverage areas. When A fires on the left flank, B's trajectory should be biased to the right, creating crossfire, instead of each firing their own shot."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hand to illustrate the area of the intersecting bullet trajectories. "Let's do it again. This time, A fires 0.3 seconds first, covering the front part of a 60-degree fan-shaped area on the left; B follows, covering the rear part of the same area and extending 15 degrees to the right."

The two team members seemed to understand, but they still tried their best to follow the instructions. This time, although they were still a bit rusty, the distribution of the bullet impact points clearly showed signs of coordination, covering a larger area.

"Barely." Su Rui snorted, but didn't curse again. He turned to the other team members, "See? Teamwork isn't just about firing together. It's about calculation, it's about complementing each other. Next group!"

Under Lemuen's persistent, "friendly" encouragement (or rather, "coercion"), Su Rui actually patiently guided each group one by one. He abandoned all the fancy and complicated theories, focusing entirely on practical application, using the most direct, sharp, and incisive methods to point out the problems in each group's coordination: firing rhythm, angle selection, risk sharing, and even simple coordination while moving.

His instruction was extremely strict, demanding precision down to the second and degree. The team members were drenched in sweat and under immense pressure. But undeniably, under this high-pressure, no-nonsense guidance, these greenhorns' understanding of "teamwork" improved at a visible pace. They began to realize that the guns in their hands were no longer isolated weapons, but rather nodes in a comprehensive defense network.

Lemuen watched quietly, her heart filled with surprise and relief. She hadn't expected Su Rui to actually suppress his impatience to this extent. Although his "friendliness" was limited to not using foul language ("trash" was probably the most civilized criticism in his dictionary), his professional competence and teaching efficiency were truly astonishing.

The training lasted for more than an hour. When Su Rui finally announced, "That's it for today. Go back and figure it out on your own," all the team members, including Kong Gou, breathed a long sigh of relief as if they had received a pardon, while at the same time feeling a sense of accomplishment.

After the team members dispersed, Kong Gou excitedly ran over and thanked Su Rui and Lemuen repeatedly, "Thank you so much, Mr. Su Rui! Your guidance was so helpful! Everyone will definitely practice hard!"

Su Rui simply gave a faint "hmm," turned around, and left, as if staying even a second longer would be torture. He needed to leave this place filled with the atmosphere of a "rookie" immediately and breathe some "normal" air.

Lemuen smiled and offered a few words of encouragement to Kong Gou, then pushed her wheelchair to catch up with Su Rui.

After leaving the training ground and walking a distance, Lemuen looked at Su Rui's still cold and hard profile and couldn't help but chuckle. She reached out and took his arm. "You did very well today, Teacher Su Rui? Although you were still a bit fierce, at least you didn't make anyone cry."