Ark Simulator, Am I Not Without a Physical Body? Chapter 475

Negotiations have been underway for some time. While the atmosphere isn't exactly tense, it's certainly not relaxed or pleasant either. Significant differences exist between the two sides on details of some key terms, particularly regarding the depth of intelligence sharing, the scope of authority for Laterano executors within Siesta, and the conditions for some technology transfers. Siesta clearly wants to maximize the protection of its sovereignty and interests, and its proposed conditions are relatively conservative, even somewhat demanding.

"... Regarding our personnel's authority to take preliminary action against specific threats within your city's borders, and their limited cross-border tracking authority when necessary, we believe these are fundamental guarantees for ensuring the effectiveness of our cooperation." Fiammetta's tone was calm, but her words were firm, her fingertips lightly tapping the documents on the table. "Last night's riots precisely demonstrate the necessity of establishing an efficient coordination mechanism. If there had been smoother intelligence channels and operational authorization at the time, the suppression of the incident and subsequent cleanup work could have been faster and more thorough, minimizing the impact on your city's normal order and the safety of its citizens."

Siesta's deputy mayor leaned back slightly, his hands clasped on the table, a formulaic smile on his face, "Ms. Fiammetta, we fully understand your concerns and appreciate Laterano's efforts in maintaining regional stability. However, your mention of 'priority rights' and 'cross-border tracking rights' involves our sovereignty and legal system, requiring very careful evaluation. We must ensure that any agreement does not harm Siesta's independence or the rights of its citizens. Moreover, last night's events were handled quite well by our city's City Defense Force and security forces, preventing any uncontrollable consequences, which proves our ability to handle such incidents." His words were subtly pointed, acknowledging Laterano's "good intentions" while subtly emphasizing Siesta's "capabilities," implying that the other party's demands were somewhat "overstepping their bounds."

Fiammetta's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. She knew the other party would create obstacles on this issue, but their seemingly polite yet unyielding attitude still made her feel somewhat uneasy. She was preparing to elaborate further, listing more examples of potential threats to exert pressure...

Just then, Mostima, who had been sitting quietly behind Fiammetta as if she were just an insignificant "accomplice," suddenly chuckled softly. The chuckle was particularly clear in the somewhat somber conference room, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

Mostima was wearing a slightly loose but well-made dark gray suit jacket today, over a simple white shirt. Her short, SilverAsh hair was casually draped over her shoulders, a departure from her usual mysterious and carefree style, giving her a more formal look. However, her lake-blue eyes still shone with an unfathomable light. She seemed uninterested in the negotiation itself, spending most of her time fiddling with her unmarked black phone, a half-smile playing on her lips.

At that moment, she looked up, meeting the puzzled gazes of the crowd, and gave a smile that was both innocent and sly. "Excuse me for interrupting." She waved her phone; the screen was lit, displaying what appeared to be some charts and data. "I just received some... um... quite interesting 'background information,' which might help us... more objectively assess the 'complexity' of the current situation?"

Volume 17, Chapter 1072: Wanting to Repay a Kindness

Fiammetta looked at her questioningly, her eyes asking a question. Mostima winked at her, then turned her phone screen toward the deputy mayor of Siesta, keeping a distance where the other person couldn't see the specific content, but could glimpse some complex data and maps.

"Mr. Deputy Mayor," Mostima's voice carried a languid yet undeniably confident tone, "You just mentioned that your city's City Defense Force 'handled things quite well.' Indeed, the overt clearing operation was highly efficient. However..." she drawled, her fingertips lightly swiping across the screen, "According to some... non-public information we've just obtained, it seems that several of the key figures involved in last night's riot have some... unclear financial dealings and personal relationships with a mid-level official of your city's Port Authority, and... a local subcontractor of ' Blacksteel Worldwide '? Moreover, a few hours before the riot, a batch of unregistered goods labeled 'industrial parts' entered the port's Warehouse No. 3, and their energy characteristics... seem to highly match the Originium Arts activation modules of some of the modified firearms used by the rioters last night?"

With each word Mostima spoke, the smile on Deputy Mayor Siesta's face stiffened further. When he heard keywords like "Port Authority," "Blacksteel Worldwide subcontractor," "unreported goods," and "matching energy signatures," fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead! This information was sensitive content that even their internal emergency investigation had not yet fully clarified! How could the people of Laterano know so much?! And why was it being thrown out at the negotiating table in such a seemingly casual manner?!

This hit them right where it hurts! If this information is true, it means that last night's riots were not simply "incited by external forces," but likely involved internal management loopholes in Siesta, or even... corruption! This is undoubtedly a heavy blow to Siesta, which is trying its best to maintain the city's safety and image and to occupy the moral high ground in negotiations!

"Ms. Mostima! Where... where did you get this information from?!" The deputy mayor's voice trembled slightly as he tried to remain calm.

Mostima gracefully put away her phone, shrugged, and maintained her enigmatic smile, "The source... is naturally reliable. After all, Laterano has always valued the 'internal health' of its partners. We believe the Siesta government has the capability and determination to thoroughly investigate this matter and eliminate the bad apples. The cooperation framework we proposed, including deeper intelligence sharing and collaborative investigation mechanisms, is precisely to help friendly cities like Siesta better prevent and respond to such complex threats of 'internal and external collusion,' don't you think?" Her words were understated, yet like the sharpest dagger, they struck at the heart of the matter. She didn't directly accuse them, but instead threw the question back at them, packaging Laterano's "harsh" conditions as a gesture of goodwill—"helping a friend solve internal problems."

A deathly silence fell over the meeting room. The Siesta representatives exchanged uneasy glances, their faces grim. Fiammetta stared at Mostima in shock, her mind reeling! This intelligence... she, as the negotiator, had never possessed such detailed and crucial information before! Where did Mostima obtain it?! Was she investigating this during her disappearance?

Taking advantage of the moment when the other side was in disarray, Mostima picked up the water glass beside her, took a slow sip, and glanced at the encrypted message notification she had just received but hadn't yet opened on her phone screen. The sender's identifier was an extremely subtle code, but she recognized the unique encryption style at a glance.

Su Rui.

The message, received shortly after the negotiations began, contained a concise summary of information and data analysis regarding potential management loopholes within Siesta and connections to last night's riots. It was brief, precise, and deadly—just like him.

Mostima's lips curled into an even more pronounced, genuinely pleased smile. Oh dear... Little Su... she's really been a huge help this time! She'd only been habitually gathering intelligence before negotiations, casually "borrowing" some special network access Su Rui might have to see if she could find anything useful, but she never expected... he'd actually deliver such a "gift"! The timing, content, and accuracy of this intelligence were practically tailor-made for her! It had instantly shifted the balance of power in Laterano's favor!

It seems... last night's "Time-Stop Kiss" and this morning's "breakfast reward" were quite effective! Mostima thought happily. Although she knew Su Rui's motivation for helping was probably to avoid trouble (after all, if the negotiations stalled, their vacation in Siesta wouldn't be peaceful), the result was that she and Fiammetta had genuinely done each other a great favor. This "gift" was truly substantial!

Afterwards... she'd better properly "thank" him. A sly glint flashed in Mostima's eyes as she began to plan various ways to "repay his kindness." For example... she could pick the most sensational of the "intimate" photos taken last night and anonymously send it to Lemuen? Or... she could find an opportunity to play some even more exciting "games" with him? Thinking of this, the smile on her face grew even brighter and... more dangerous.

Meanwhile, back in the villa, Su Rui Lemuen he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and sneezed. He frowned, looked around suspiciously, and finding nothing amiss, lowered his head again to continue reading. He was completely unaware that his casual "small help" was not only about to win Laterano a brilliant diplomatic victory, but had also lured him into an even more "enthusiastic"... "repayment" plan.

The negotiations at the Siesta City Hall ultimately concluded in a delicate atmosphere favorable to Laterano. Faced with Mostima's incisive "internal intelligence," the deputy mayor of Siesta and his team were thrown into disarray, their previous composure and sense of superiority vanishing. They had to admit that there were indeed oversights and areas for improvement in the handling of the aftermath of last night's riots and the internal investigation. Laterano's "harsh" terms regarding deepening intelligence sharing and collaborative action mechanisms became difficult to refuse under the guise of "helping a friend solve internal problems and jointly maintaining regional stability."

After a series of urgent internal consultations and negotiations (mainly on some non-core details and specific implementation aspects), the two sides finally reached a preliminary memorandum of understanding on cooperation. Although a formal agreement still requires further detailed negotiations, the core framework has been basically established, and Laterano has achieved results far exceeding expectations.

Volume 17, page 1073 is favorable to us.

As Fiammetta signed her name on the memorandum, she was filled with incredible excitement and a sense of relief. The negotiations had gone far better than she had initially anticipated. She knew that the turning point was Mostima's bombshell announcement at the crucial moment.

Stepping out of the City Hall building, the afternoon sun was a bit dazzling. Fiammetta let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if most of the burden on her shoulders had been lifted. She turned to look at Mostima beside her, who still appeared calm and collected, as if she had just gone for afternoon tea. Her lake-blue eyes were filled with gratitude and admiration.

"Mostima! Thank you so much this time!" Fiammetta said sincerely, her voice filled with excitement. "If it weren't for that crucial intelligence you obtained, our negotiations would never have gone so smoothly! When...when did you find out about this? How come I had no idea?" She recalled Mostima's calm and collected demeanor at the negotiating table, her decisive strike still seeming somewhat unbelievable. This elusive and unpredictable messenger's energy and skill displayed at the crucial moment were truly astonishing.

Mostima was fiddling with her phone, seemingly checking some information. Hearing Fiammetta's words, she looked up, her short, SilverAsh hair gleaming coolly in the sunlight. A mysterious smile appeared on her face. She waved her hand dismissively, her tone light. "Oh, it's nothing! Just helping out. As for the source of the information..." She blinked, keeping it a secret, "It's a secret~ Anyway, as long as it's to our advantage~"

She didn't mention Su Rui's name. On one hand, she wasn't sure if Su Rui would let Fiammetta know that he had helped her (given his awkward personality, he probably wouldn't); on the other hand, maintaining a bit of mystery was in line with her usual style.

Seeing that she was unwilling to elaborate, Fiammetta wisely refrained from pressing for details. Everyone has their own channels and secrets, especially someone like Mostima. She simply thanked her again sincerely, "In any case, I really owe you a debt of gratitude this time! I will definitely speak to the Holy See on your behalf when we get back!"

"No need for praise~" Mostima grinned and put her arm around Fiammetta's shoulder, acting like they were best buddies. "But... we still need to express our gratitude~ You agree, right?" She changed the subject, her lake-blue eyes flashing with a cunning light, like a cat that had just stolen some fish.

"Of course!" Fiammetta nodded vigorously. "What kind of thank you do you want? As long as it's within my power, no problem!" She was a person who clearly distinguished between gratitude and resentment. Mostima had helped her so much this time, and she had to show her appreciation.

"Hmm..." Mostima pretended to think, tapping her chin with her finger, her gaze drifting towards the distant sea. A meaningful smile played on her lips. "As for a thank-you gift... I've already thought of one~ But, it's not something I'm asking you for~"

"Not to me?" Fiammetta paused, somewhat puzzled. "Then to whom?"

Mostima's smile grew even more mysterious. She leaned closer to Fiammetta, lowered her voice, and said in a mischievous yet excited tone, "It's... another 'hero'~"

"Another hero?" Fiammetta was even more confused. "Who else helped?" She thought carefully, and apart from Mostima, it seemed that no one else on the negotiation team had provided such crucial information.

"Of course there is~" Mostima smiled like a fox, hinting meaningfully, "Think about it, that intelligence...wasn't it a little too 'timely'? And...wasn't the content a little too 'precise'? It's like...someone specially 'tailor-made' for us?"

Fiammetta wasn't stupid. Reminded by her words, and recalling Mostima's constant fiddling with her phone, as well as Su Rui's unfathomable technical skills and... extreme aversion to trouble (if negotiations stalled, their vacation in Siesta would definitely be ruined), a bold guess instantly surfaced in her mind!

"Could it be... Su Rui?!" Fiammetta exclaimed in a low voice, her crimson eyes filled with shock! Su Rui, who was indifferent to everything and wished to stay as far away from all trouble as possible, would actually help them in secret?! This was more unbelievable than the sun rising in the west!

"Bingo~ You got it right!" Mostima snapped her fingers, a look of approval on her face saying, "You finally got it." "Although Little Su's motive for helping... was probably to avoid our negotiations failing and causing endless trouble, thus affecting his peaceful vacation." She mimicked Su Rui's icy tone perfectly. "But anyway, the result is good~ We should remember this 'favor,' right?"

Fiammetta nodded blankly, still reeling from the shocking news that "Su Rui would actually help." That cold-faced devil... actually... had a "helpful" side? Although his motives might not be pure... it still struck her as utterly unbelievable!

"So..." Mostima spread her hands, a brighter, yet more "malicious" smile spreading across her face, "I've prepared a 'special' thank-you gift to personally 'deliver' to our young master Su Rui to express my sincere 'gratitude'."

Seeing Mostima's familiar smile—a mixture of excitement, cunning, and... a hint of danger— Fiammetta's alarm bells went off immediately! She knew Mostima too well! Whenever she showed that expression, it meant someone was about to be in big trouble! And that "someone" was almost certainly Su Rui!

"Wait...wait! Mostima!" Fiammetta quickly grabbed her arm, her face filled with anxiety. "What...what do you want to do? Su Rui ...he has a bad temper! Don't do anything rash! What if you anger him..." She couldn't even imagine what the consequences would be if Su Rui were provoked by Mostima's "special thank you gift"! It would be absolutely disastrous!

"Relax, relax~" Mostima patted the back of her hand, indicating that she should rest assured, but the light in her eyes became even more intense. "I know what I'm doing~ It's just a little... a small way of expressing affectionate 'thank you'~ I promise it won't be too much~" She said "not too much", but her tone and expression made it seem like she was about to pull off something big!

"A way to express affectionate gratitude?" Fiammetta frowned even more. "Like... giving him his favorite weapon parts? Or... helping him collect some rare gun maintenance tools? Or... treating him to a meal?" She tried to offer some "normal" and safe suggestions. After all, Su Rui's preferences were quite simple, and catering to her tastes was never a bad idea.

Volume 17, Chapter 1074: Secretly Replaced

Mostima, upon hearing this, seemed to find it amusing and couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head. "Fiammetta, you're so unoriginal! Gifts? Dinner? That's so boring! With an awkward guy like Little Su, you have to use something... special, something that will leave a 'deep impression' on him!"

She leaned close to Fiammetta's ear and whispered mysteriously, "For example... secretly revealing his date with Lemuen to a few 'enthusiastic' fans? Or... adding some 'special' seasoning to his usual coffee? Or... changing all his clothes into... maid outfits while he's taking a shower?"

Fiammetta: "!!!"

Her face turned deathly pale instantly! This... this wasn't gratitude?! This was blatant provocation! Given Su Rui's vengeful nature, if she knew Mostima had done this, she would have torn her to pieces! And Lemuen too...

"No! Absolutely not!" Fiammetta gripped Mostima's arm tightly, her voice filled with anger. "Mostima! Calm down! I'm begging you! Don't mess with Su Rui! We... we can thank him in other ways! Like... I'll pay for a generous gift he'll absolutely love! Or... or I'll convey your thanks to him! Don't go yourself!"

Seeing Fiammetta's terrified expression, Mostima finally burst into laughter, drawing stares from passersby. She laughed for a while before wiping away her tears and waving her hand, "Oh, Fiammetta, you're so cute! I was just kidding! Do I look like someone who doesn't know what's good for me?"

Fiammetta looked at her with suspicion, completely unsure of what to expect. Mostima's standards of "weight" were always unusual!

"Don't worry~" Mostima put away her joking expression, but the sly glint in her eyes didn't diminish at all. "My 'thank you' plan, although it might be a little... intimate, is guaranteed to be within safe limits, and... it will definitely be 'unforgettable' for him~" She deliberately emphasized the words "intimate" and "unforgettable," a confident smile curving her lips.

"Let's go~" She didn't give Fiammetta a chance to dissuade her, pulling the still worried Fiammetta along, humming a little tune happily, "Let's go back and see what our 'great hero' is up to~ and while we're at it... to implement my 'repayment plan'~"

Fiammetta was being dragged along, her heart pounding with anxiety. She could only silently pray that Mostima's supposed "affectionate thanks" wouldn't turn into a bloodbath! Meanwhile, Mostima, walking ahead, was already mentally picturing the myriad expressions that might appear on Su Rui's icy face when she received her "special thank-you gift"... Just thinking about it made her incredibly excited! This vacation was getting more and more interesting!

Mostima and Fiammetta returned to the secluded white villa along the seaside promenade, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. The relief of a successful negotiation and gratitude for Su Rui's "secret help" put Fiammetta in a good mood, but the thought of Mostima's "intimate thank-you plan" made her steps hesitant, her heart pounding with anxiety.

Pushing open the villa's door, a warm and tranquil atmosphere greeted me. The living room was quiet, save for the faint sound of waves crashing outside the window. The afterglow of the setting sun streamed through the French windows, casting long, warm shadows on the polished floor. Su Rui and Lemuen seemed to be absent from the living room.

"Where are they?" Fiammetta asked softly, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

Mostima listened intently, a knowing smile playing on her lips, and pointed towards the sliding glass doors leading to the private courtyard and pool at the back. "Look, it's outside."

Fiammetta looked in the direction she pointed. Through the clean glass door, she could see the azure private pool in the backyard shimmering in the sunset. On a lounge chair by the pool, Su Rui was reclining, casually wearing a loose white T-shirt and beach shorts, a book covering his face, seemingly taking a nap. His long legs were crossed, his posture languid and relaxed. Lemuen sat in a wheelchair beside him, covered with a thin blanket, also holding a book, quietly reading, occasionally glancing tenderly at Su Rui beside her. Sunlight bathed the two of them, creating a peaceful and beautiful scene.

Seeing this, Fiammetta felt a little more at ease. It seemed Su Rui was in a good mood, and the atmosphere was peaceful. This gave her a sliver of hope regarding Mostima's "dangerous" thank-you plan—perhaps she really was just joking?

However, Mostima's next words immediately shattered her illusions.

"Ah~ what a peaceful moment~" Mostima looked at the two people outside the window, her lake-blue eyes sparkling with excitement. She leaned close to Fiammetta's ear and whispered, her tone full of mischievous eagerness, "Fiammetta ~ look, what a rare opportunity~ the weather is so warm, the pool is so beautiful~ how about... we change into some 'eye-catching' clothes and give them a 'surprise,' just as... thank you for Little Su's 'great help,' how about it?" She deliberately emphasized "eye-catching" and "surprise," and winked ambiguously.

Fiammetta's heart skipped a beat! Her face flushed crimson in an instant! She instantly understood what Mostima meant by "intimate gratitude"! Wearing a swimsuit?! For Su Rui to see?! This... this is simply...!

"You... you're crazy?!" Fiammetta was both embarrassed and anxious, almost crying out. She grabbed Mostima's arm tightly, dragged her to a corner of the living room, and said in a low voice, both anxious and angry, "What kind of thanks is this?! This... this is simply... harassment! Su Rui will kill us!" She simply couldn't imagine what Suri's reaction would be if she and Mostima appeared in front of Su Rui in revealing swimsuits! He'd probably just pull out a gun and kick them out!

"Oh dear, don't be so nervous!" Mostima patted her hand with a grin, as if to say, "You're making a big fuss over nothing." "How is this harassment? This is a 'visual feast'! It's the highest form of gratitude! Look, Little Su has helped us so much, isn't it nice to let him have a good time and enjoy the 'beautiful scenery'?" She tilted her head and said in a seductive tone, "Besides, think about it, Su Rui's icy face, if he sees us... um... 'dressed up,' won't he make some interesting expressions? Maybe he'll blush? Don't you want to see?"

Volume 17, Chapter 1075: She didn't want to read it.

"I... I don't want to see!" Fiammetta's face turned as red as a boiled shrimp, and she shook her head repeatedly. "It's too... too embarrassing! And Lemuen is still here!" Dressed like that in front of Lemuen for Su Rui to see? This was simply an insult and a provocation to Lemuen! She couldn't do it!

"Relax, relax~ Lemuen won't mind~ She might even find it interesting!" Mostima waved her hand dismissively, continuing to tempt her, "Look, this is a private pool, wearing swimsuits is normal~ Just think of it as... normal pre-swim preparation? We just... happen to be dressed a little... um... pleasing to the eye~" As she spoke, she deliberately puffed out her chest, showing off her curvaceous figure.

"But...but..." Fiammetta's heart was pounding. Mostima's words seemed to have a magical power, making her feel incredibly ashamed and resistant, yet deep down, a faint...slight curiosity and...eagerness were also rising. Seeing the cracks appear on Su Rui's unchanging icy face? This temptation...seemed...a bit too strong? And, Mostima said seemed to make some sense? Wearing a swimsuit by a private pool...it didn't seem...completely inappropriate after all?

"No buts~" Mostima noticed her wavering and immediately pressed her advantage, putting her arm around her shoulder and saying in an encouraging tone, "Think about it, the negotiations went so smoothly thanks to Su Rui! We're just expressing our gratitude in this... um... 'light and cheerful' way~ It's not like we're losing anything~ Besides, it's just the two of us girls, what's wrong with wearing swimsuits? Be confident, Fiammetta! You have such a great figure, what are you afraid of?" As she spoke, she deliberately nudged Fiammetta lightly with her elbow.

Fiammetta was flustered by Mostima's words, her cheeks burning hot. She subconsciously looked down at herself. Normally, due to the needs of her missions, she always wore practical uniforms or casual clothes, and almost never wore... revealing swimwear. But as a healthy young woman, it would be a lie to say she had absolutely no confidence in her figure. After Mostima's compliment, the faint thought in her mind—the desire to try it—began to grow wildly like weeds!

"But... what should I wear?" she asked, almost involuntarily, in a voice barely audible. She immediately regretted it; wasn't that tantamount to agreeing?!

Mostima's eyes lit up; she knew she had a chance! She immediately pulled Fiammetta toward the guest room with a grin. "Don't worry~ I've got it covered! I have a few new outfits that I haven't even worn yet~ I guarantee they'll be amazing!" Her tone was as excited as if she were going to a grand party.

Half an hour later...

In the guest room's bathroom, Fiammetta looked at herself in the mirror, her cheeks flushed crimson! Mostima had chosen for her an... extremely daring bikini! The top was a bright red, thin-strapped design with an astonishingly deep V-neck that could barely contain her full breasts. The bottom was a high-waisted thong with sexy side ties that perfectly accentuated her slender waist and pert buttocks! Large expanses of snow-white skin were exposed to the air, filling her with waves of shame and... a strange, slightly... excitement!

"No, no! This... this is too revealing!" Fiammetta crossed her arms over her chest, trying to cover herself, her voice trembling with tears. She had never worn such... indecent clothes before!

"Where is she showing? She looks amazing!" Mostima's voice came from beside her. She had already changed into her swimsuit—a very revealing black strappy bikini with metal studs that perfectly showcased her sexy figure, and her short, SilverAsh hair added a touch of rebellious charm. She looked at Fiammetta, her eyes full of admiration. "Red suits your hair and skin tone so well! Be confident! Turn around so I can see!"

Fiammetta was half-pushed and half-forced to turn around. In the mirror, her skin was as white as snow, her figure curvaceous, and against the backdrop of bright red, she exuded a stunning feminine charm that was completely different from her usual heroic style. Even she herself was somewhat stunned.

"Look! How beautiful!" Mostima snapped her fingers triumphantly. "Let's go! Let's give our 'hero' a 'thank you' gift!" Without another word, she picked up two thin bath towels, tossed one to Fiammetta, draped the other over herself, and then pulled Fiammetta, who was still having a final internal struggle, out of the guest room.

The living room was empty. The two tiptoed to the glass door leading to the backyard. Mostima made a "shh" gesture to Fiammetta, a mischievous and excited smile on her face, and then suddenly flung open the glass door!

"Surprise~~!" Mostima exclaimed cheerfully, throwing off the towel draped over her body!

Su Rui, who was taking a nap on the recliner, was startled by the sudden noise and movement, and the book covering his face slipped off. He frowned and opened his eyes with some displeasure—

When his gaze fell upon the two women at the doorway, barely clad in thin straps with large expanses of their snow-white skin exposed to the setting sun, especially when he saw Fiammetta's striking red bikini that accentuated her incredibly sexy figure, he froze instantly, as if struck by a high-voltage current!

Those always half-closed, indifferent black eyes suddenly widened! The pupils contracted violently! For the first time, his eternally unchanging icy expression showed a clear mix of shock, disbelief, and... a very rare, unexpected... panic?! His ears visibly flushed red!

Lemuen, sitting next to him, was also stunned by this sudden scene. She looked at Mostima, dressed in a daring swimsuit, and... Fiammetta, her cheeks flushed red, flustered and almost wanting to shrink into the ground. A hint of surprise flashed in her lake-blue eyes, then, as if she understood something, she couldn't help but chuckle, glancing mockingly at the petrified Su Rui beside her.

The atmosphere in the backyard instantly became extremely strange and... awkward.

Mostima, seeing Su Rui's utterly astonished expression and flushed ears, wore a radiant, triumphant smile. She swayed her hips, deliberately striking a seductive pose, and winked at Su Rui: "So~ Little Su ~ do you like our... 'special' thank-you gift?"

Su Rui: "..."

Volume 17, Chapter 1076: Trying to escape?

Su Rui opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but his throat seemed to be blocked, and he couldn't make a sound. His face turned red and white in turns. Finally, he abruptly turned his face away, grabbed the book that had slipped from his hand, and covered his face with it again, leaving only his bright red ears and taut jawline, revealing his extreme unease!

As for Fiammetta, the moment Su Rui looked over, she wished she could disappear on the spot! She was so ashamed that she trembled all over, grabbed a bath towel to wrap herself up, and turned to run back into the house!

Mostima's "affectionate gratitude" plan seems to have achieved unexpected "success"? However, the subsequent effects of this "gift" are likely to be quite... unpredictable.

The setting sun bathed the backyard of the pool in a warm orange glow, the shimmering water reflecting the evening sky. Yet, at this moment, the air in the backyard was filled with an eerie atmosphere that clashed with the tranquil beauty, a mixture of embarrassment, shame, shock, and... a subtle hint of jealousy.

Su Rui covered his face tightly with the book, as if the hardcover was an absolute barrier that could isolate him from all embarrassment. Every muscle in his body was tense, like a stone being heated over a fire, an unnatural red flush spreading from his ears to his neck. Mostima's "Surprise!" and "Did you like our gift?" echoed repeatedly in his mind like demonic whispers, bringing waves of intense shame and... a sense of offended anger! Those two women! Dressed like that! What are they trying to do?!

Fiammetta, standing at the door, was already so ashamed she wanted to disappear. She wrapped herself tightly in a towel, revealing only a pair of bloodshot eyes that screamed "I want to disappear right now," wishing she could dig a hole and crawl into it. Mostima's "thank you plan" was a complete disaster!

However, Mostima, the instigator of this "disaster," seemed completely oblivious to the eerie atmosphere, or rather, she was simply delighted. Seeing Su Rui's ostrich-like embarrassment, she not only didn't restrain herself, but intensified her antics! She grinned, swayed her hips, and strode towards Su Rui on the recliner.

"Oh dear~ Little Su, don't be shy~" Her voice was sweet and seductive. She walked to the recliner and, quite naturally, leaned down, extending her nail-painted fingers to gently poke Su Rui's stiff arm muscles. "Look, Fiammetta mustered up so much courage to thank you~ Aren't you going to give me any reaction? It's so hurtful~"

Su Rui's body trembled violently! As if touched by a venomous snake, he almost reflexively pressed the book against his face even harder, letting out a muffled gurgling sound from deep in his throat, as if saying, "Get away!"

This scene unfolded entirely before the eyes of Lemuen was in her wheelchair.

At first, Lemuen was taken aback and amused when she saw Mostima and Fiammetta appear in such daring swimsuits. Especially when she saw Su Rui's unusually panicked and disheveled appearance, where she covered her face with a book, she couldn't help but laugh out loud, finding the scene both comical and... kind of cute? She knew Mostima was just fooling around, Fiammetta had been dragged into the water, and Su Rui's reaction was so innocent it was hard not to laugh.

However, when Mostima not only failed to stop there but instead went further and approached Su Rui, speaking in an intimate and provocative tone and even touching her inappropriately, the smile in Lemuen's lake-blue eyes gradually faded.

A subtle, tingling, needle-like sourness silently seeped into her heart.

Although she knew Mostima was most likely just playing a prank, and Su Rui was clearly resistant and disgusted, the sight of another woman (and the hot and audacious Mostima at that) approaching her Su Rui so closely, almost teasingly, while Su Rui, though resistant, didn't immediately react due to extreme embarrassment and (perhaps) some consideration for her companion, still made Lemuen feel a little uncomfortable.

That was her Su Rui. The Suri who only showed awkward tenderness in front of her, the Su Rui who only allowed her to get close and touch her. Now, however, someone else... even in a joking way... "shared" that intimacy?

The emotion came quickly, was faint, and even a little petty and inappropriate, but it was there. Lemuen gently bit her lower lip, pushed the armrest of her wheelchair, and slid towards the recliner.

"Mostima," Lemuen's voice was still gentle, but if you listened carefully, you could detect a subtle, protective distance. "Stop bothering Su Rui, he's not used to this." She slid to the other side of the chaise lounge, reached out, and gently took Su Rui's hand, which wasn't holding a book but was gripping the edge of the chaise lounge tightly, its knuckles white.

Her hand was slightly cool, and when it touched Su Rui's burning skin, Su Rui's body trembled almost imperceptibly. But he didn't pull away; instead, as if grasping a lifeline, he instinctively tightened his grip on her hand, so tight that it even caused Lemuen a slight pain. This subtle, dependent gesture instantly dissipated most of the bitterness in Lemuen, replacing it with a soft feeling of being needed.

"Oh dear~ Lemuen's jealous?" Mostima, ever as astute, immediately caught the subtle change in Lemuen's tone and actions. Far from backing down, she seemed to have discovered a new toy; her eyes lit up, and her smile grew even brighter and... well, she seemed to thrive on chaos! She straightened up and beckoned to Fiammetta, who was still wrapped in a towel like an ostrich. "Fiammetta! Come quick! Look, Lemuen's protecting her food! We have to stick together; we can't let her monopolize the 'most meritorious' Little Su!"

Fiammetta: "!!!" She almost fainted! Mostima was really trying to kill her! She shook her head frantically, wrapped herself even tighter in the towel, and wished she could just evaporate on the spot!

But Mostima gave her no chance to escape. She rushed over, grinning as she ripped off her towel, and dragged the half-hearted, humiliated Fiammetta to the lounge chair! In an instant, three women in revealing swimsuits, each with a different style, surrounded Su Rui, who was lying on the chair!

Lemuen held Su Rui's hand, her brows slightly furrowed as she watched Mostima's absurd antics. Mostima wore a "fun" expression, while Fiammetta looked utterly dejected. Surrounded in the center, Su Rui felt the sudden pressure of the various scents and body temperatures pressing in, and the several pairs of gazes fixed on him, each with its own meaning. He felt like he was suffocating!