Ark Simulator: Didn't I Have No Physical Form?

"Don't be sad." Su Rui's voice was lower than usual, carrying a gentleness he himself didn't realize, almost like a sigh. He looked at Ensia Silverash's blue eyes, which widened instantly at his touch, filled with disbelief and... a hint of dependence, and awkwardly organized his words, "Your sister... she loves you very much. That's enough."

His words were simple, even somewhat dry, lacking in flowery language. But his desire to comfort her, and the gentle, warm touch of his fingertips, were more powerful than any words.

Ensia Silverash stared blankly at Su Rui, at his dark eyes, still cool but now brimming with genuine, gentle light, and felt the unfamiliar yet warm touch on the top of her head and her ears. That touch was unlike her sister's occasional gentle hugs, nor like her brother's occasional awkward pats on the head (when she was very young). It was a touch... more direct, warmer, carrying an indescribable sense of security and acceptance.

It was as if a taut string had finally been plucked by this sudden, gentle touch.

Ensia Silverash's lips trembled slightly. Tears, which had been welling up in her eyes for so long, a mixture of grievance, sadness, longing for her sister, and complex emotions for her brother, finally burst forth like a river bursting its banks. Large teardrops rolled down her fair cheeks, landing on the white postcard on her lap, leaving a small, dark, damp stain.

She made no sound, only wept silently, her shoulders trembling violently from suppressed sobs. It was a silent catharsis, a release of emotions that had been building up for too long and had finally found a safe outlet.

And Su Rui's soothing hand, gently stroking her hair and ears, seemed to be the only piece of driftwood she could grasp at that moment. In the instant her vision blurred with tears, Ensia Silverash seemed to see her sister's shadow in those gentle black eyes, and that familiar, all-encompassing tenderness.

Almost unconsciously, she leaned forward slightly, then, like a fledgling seeking shelter, buried herself entirely in Su Rui's arms. Her cheek pressed tightly against Su Rui's specially made loungewear, which carried the crisp scent of the Holy Mountain and a faint fragrance of herbs. Her hands gripped Su Rui's collar tightly, as if she wanted to convey all her grievances, sadness, and longing to the person who gave her warmth and comfort through this embrace.

"Waaah... Sister... I miss you so much..." Ensia Silverash finally made a sound, a suppressed sob with a heavy nasal tone, like the whimper of a small animal. Her tears instantly soaked the fabric of Su Rui's clothes, the warm dampness seeping through the thin fabric onto Su Rui's skin.

Su Rui's body stiffened again the moment Ensia Silverash threw herself into his arms. He instinctively wanted to push her away, but the soft, petite body trembling slightly from crying in his arms, and the small hands gripping his clothes tightly as if grasping at a lifeline, made his movement freeze in mid-air.

He could feel Ensia Silverash's tears, hear her suppressed, heartbreaking sobs, and sense her complete trust and dependence. This embrace was devoid of any romantic undertones; it was purely a longing for family and a search for warmth.

Su Rui's hand, frozen in mid-air, ultimately did not push Ensia Silverash away. Instead, hesitantly, with an even more clumsy tenderness, slowly landed on Ensia Silverash's back, which was trembling slightly from crying. He gently patted her back, one stroke at a time, his movements somewhat awkward, but exceptionally patient.

"Mmm..." Su Rui responded softly, it was unclear whether he was responding to her "missing her sister" or comforting her. He paused, looking at the silvery-white, fluffy head in his arms, and the soft ears trembling slightly from crying, and added softly, as if stating a fact, or perhaps justifying himself:

Volume 18, Chapter 1211: Cry, Cry

"She... misses you too. The usual Ensia Silverash... wouldn't be like this. Just cry it out, let it all out... and she'll be fine."

His voice was soft, carrying a strange, comforting power. It was as if he were saying that such vulnerability and weeping were permissible, normal, and a necessary part of the healing process.

The sobs in her arms seemed to grow even more unrestrained with his clumsy yet gentle comforting words. Ensia Silverash no longer suppressed herself; she buried her face deeper into Su Rui's embrace, as if trying to let all her grievances and longing flow out through her tears. Her body trembled slightly from crying, but the hand gripping Su Rui's clothes gradually loosened its grip, as if it had found a safe harbor where it could finally relax and vent.

Su Rui didn't speak again, but quietly patted Ensia Silverash's back gently. His gaze went past Ensia Silverash's shoulder and landed on the winter afternoon sky outside the greenhouse's glass dome, where the sky was divided into squares of clear blue. A strange tranquility filled his heart.

He thought of Enya. He remembered the undisguised longing and tenderness in her eyes when she mentioned her sister. If Enya were here, seeing her sister crying like this, she would surely hold her tightly and comfort her with even gentler words. He couldn't replace Enya, but at least, at this moment, he could offer her a safe and comforting embrace.

Time flowed slowly in the warm air, in the silent growth of plants, and in Ensia Silverash's gradually subsiding sobs.

After an unknown amount of time, the sobbing in her arms gradually subsided, turning into occasional, soft sniffles. Ensia Silverash's body no longer trembled violently, only occasionally twitching slightly from the lingering effects of her emotions.

After the catharsis, what follows is an immense sense of shame.

Ensia Silverash seemed to finally snap out of her emotional turmoil and realize her current situation—she was sobbing uncontrollably in the arms of a man she wasn't particularly close to (although in her heart, Su Rui was already a very, very good person), soaking his clothes in the process...

A small, nasal, and embarrassed sob came from Su Rui's chest. Ensia Silverash's body stiffened instantly. Her hand, which was clutching Su Rui's clothes, loosened abruptly as if burned. But she didn't immediately pull away from Su Rui's embrace; instead, she buried her face even deeper, like an ostrich, revealing only a pair of furry, bright red ear tips.

Su Rui could clearly feel the girl's body temperature rising rapidly in his arms. The heat coming through her clothes even felt scalding to him.

"I'm... I'm sorry... Su Rui..." A muffled voice, thick with nasal tone and immense embarrassment, came from Su Rui's chest. Because his face was buried, it was somewhat indistinct. "I... I didn't mean to... I... I got your clothes all wet... Waaah..."

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible, leaving only a faint, tearful trailing tone and the tips of her ears, which trembled uncontrollably with extreme shame and were so red they seemed to be steaming.

Su Rui looked down at the golden head buried tightly in her arms, refusing to lift its head, and at the red, trembling ears that seemed to be silently telling how "ashamed" their owner was. The subtle tension and awkwardness that she felt from "comforting" him was suddenly replaced by a feeling that was almost helpless and funny.

The Ensia Silverash of this state is completely different from the sensible younger sister who was forcing a smile while suppressing her sadness, and the lively girl who cheered with joy at the news of her older sister even earlier. She seems more like an ordinary little girl who has done something wrong and is ashamed to face others.

"...It's alright." Su Rui's voice carried a gentle smile that even he himself didn't realize. He patted Ensia Silverash's back lightly, indicating that she could get up. "It's just a piece of clothing. Are you... feeling better?"

He tried to make his tone sound calm and ordinary, as if the embrace that had lasted for several minutes and was filled with tears and sobs was just an ordinary little thing.

But Ensia Silverash clearly didn't think so. She kept her face buried in her hands, refusing to look up, as if she was determined to stay in Su Rui's arms forever. Only her increasingly red ear tips and slightly trembling shoulders betrayed how embarrassed and ashamed she was.

"Mmm... much better..." A voice, barely audible, still came from Su Rui's chest, thick with nasal tone and lingering shyness, "Thank you, Su Rui... I... I'm not usually like this... really..."

She seemed eager to explain herself and prove she wasn't a crybaby. But her voice, still trembling with sobs, and her continued burying of her face in Su Rui's arms made her explanations seem utterly unconvincing.

Seeing her looking like she wanted to disappear into the ground, Su Rui felt even more amused. He thought for a moment, then decided not to urge her any further, nor to forcibly pull her out of his arms. He simply let her hide in his embrace like a shy little animal, calming her emotions and... that immense sense of shame.

The greenhouse fell silent again. This silence was different from before; it carried less heaviness and more... a faint awkwardness and a strange, warm tranquility. The sunlight still shone warmly on the two of them, and the fragrance of plants flowed quietly in the air.

Su Rui could feel the girl in his arms gradually relaxing, and her body temperature seemed to drop a little. But her bright red ears were still stubbornly exposed to the air, silently telling the story of her feelings at that moment.

He slightly raised his head, his gaze returning to the sky beyond the glass dome. His thoughts drifted to Enya, far away on the Holy Mountain. What would her expression be if she knew that her sister had cried in his arms because of his (though mainly because of her) clumsy attempt at comforting her, and was now too ashamed to look up...

Perhaps... there's a little jealousy, but more than that, there's probably heartache and relief, right? After all, the fact that Ensia Silverash can vent her emotions so freely at least shows that she feels safe and accepted here.

As for himself... Su Rui felt the soft, petite body in his arms and the warm dampness on the fabric of her clothes. The strange tranquility in his heart seemed to expand a little more.

It seems... occasionally being a "human body pillow" and "placebo" isn't so bad? At least, it's much better than being forcibly hugged by some blond goat or pinned against the wall for a kiss...

Volume 18, Chapter 1212: Don't wake the sleeping snow leopard.

The thought flashed through his mind, causing Su Rui's ears to feel almost imperceptibly hot again. He quickly shook his head, banishing this untimely and strangely contrasting thought from his mind.

The warm, humid air was filled with the fragrance of earth and plants, mixed with a relaxing, almost hypnotic tranquility. Sunlight streamed lazily through the huge glass dome, falling on the two people embracing, casting warm, overlapping patches of light on the ground.

Su Rui (Snow Leopard version) held Ensia Silverash in his arms, feeling her breathing gradually calm down, from her initial silent crying to her soft sobs, and now... to her increasingly steady breathing. Her soft, petite body gradually relaxed under his intermittent, awkward yet patient pats, no longer trembling slightly from crying, nor stiff and tense from extreme embarrassment.

She kept her face buried deep in his chest, refusing to look up, as if it were the safest haven in the world. But Su Rui could feel that her small hands, which had been clutching his clothes, had loosened their grip and were now just loosely resting on his chest. Her body was also completely relaxed, nestled in his arms, with a sense of complete trust and dependence.

Time seemed to lose its meaning in this small world enveloped in warmth and greenery. Su Rui remained motionless in this position, afraid of disturbing the girl in his arms who had just experienced an emotional storm and now seemed to have finally calmed down. His gaze fell on a cluster of small, unnamed pale purple flowers blooming brightly in the corner of the greenhouse, but his thoughts drifted away.

He thought of Enya. He remembered her curled up in his arms last night, sleeping peacefully. There seemed to be a strange resemblance between her and Ensia Silverash in his arms now. Both were so defenseless, so completely dependent. The bond of blood is truly wondrous.

He thought of that blonde goat again, and of her sudden, predatory kiss outside the door, and her inexplicable "interest." His ears seemed to burn again. He instinctively wanted to raise his hand to touch his lips, but then, realizing Ensia Silverash was in his arms, he stopped himself.

"Forget it, I don't want to think about that lunatic," Su Rui told herself. The most important thing right now was Ensia Silverash in her arms. She was exhausted from crying and needed to rest after venting her emotions. She couldn't just sit in the greenhouse chair all afternoon.

Just as Su Rui was pondering whether he should remind Ensia Silverash to go back to her room to rest, he suddenly felt that the girl in his arms was breathing more evenly and deeply. The little hand that had been resting on his clothes completely loosened its grip and fell limply to her side.

Su Rui lowered her head slightly, carefully turned her face to the side, and glanced at Ensia Silverash in her arms out of the corner of her eye.

The girl still had her face buried in his chest, her golden hair slightly disheveled. Her eyes were closed, and her long, still damp eyelashes, like two small fans, cast faint shadows on her fair cheeks. Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing shallow and steady, and her chest rose and fell gently and rhythmically with each breath.

She... fell asleep.

Su Rui was somewhat taken aback, but then felt it was only natural. After experiencing such intense emotional turmoil and having cried, it seemed... perfectly reasonable for her to fall asleep in this warm, comfortable, and fragrant greenhouse, where he, like a human-shaped pillow, provided her with a sense of security.

only...

Looking at Ensia Silverash's unguarded sleeping face, Su Rui felt a surge of helpless tenderness wash over her once more. Asleep, Ensia Silverash shed the composed demeanor and slightly precocious melancholy she usually maintained, befitting her status as a "Miss SilverAsh Family." She had also shed the vulnerability and embarrassment she displayed while crying, appearing exceptionally serene, obedient, and even possessing a childlike innocence. Traces of undried tears still clung to her cheeks, shimmering in the sunlight filtering through the glass, making one's heart soften involuntarily.

We can't let her sleep here. Although the greenhouse is warm, it's not a place to sleep, and the chairs aren't comfortable. It would be troublesome if she caught a cold.

Su Rui decided to take Ensia Silverash back to her bedroom to rest. He tried, very slowly and gently, to move his slightly numb arm, trying to adjust his position and pick Ensia Silverash up.

However, the moment he moved, Ensia Silverash, even in her sleep, seemed to sense the movement of the "source of warmth." Instinctively, like a small animal seeking heat, she let out a dissatisfied, sleepy nasal sound. Then, her arms unconsciously tightened around Su Rui's waist, and she snuggled deeper and more contentedly into his embrace, mumbling something indistinctly, something like "Sister... don't go..." in her sleep.

Su Rui: "..." He looked down at Ensia Silverash, who was fast asleep, clinging to him like a koala, and froze completely.

This is troublesome.

Ensia Silverash held on tightly. Although it wasn't a conscious effort, the unconscious, reassuring embrace in her sleep made it even harder to break free. Su Rui tried several times to loosen her arms slightly or adjust her position without waking her, but all attempts failed. The slightest pressure would cause Ensia Silverash to whimper in her sleep and hug him even tighter, as if afraid he would run away.

Su Rui dared not make any more sudden movements. He was afraid of really waking Ensia Silverash up. She had just cried and finally fallen asleep, and needed to rest and recover. It would definitely not be good for her to be woken up.

But... should he just keep holding her like this, sitting on the chair in the greenhouse until she wakes up naturally? Aside from the possibility of his arms and legs going numb, this isn't a long-term solution. Besides, if Ensia Silverash catches a cold while sleeping here, or if a passing servant sees her, it won't be easy to explain.

Su Rui was caught in a dilemma. He held the sleeping Ensia Silverash as if she were a fragile and clingy treasure, unsure whether to move or not. The warmth of the greenhouse seemed to carry a hint of anxiety at this moment.

Just as Su Rui frowned, contemplating whether to harden her heart and wake Ensia Silverash, or risk trying a more subtle (but likely unsuccessful) method to "unload" her without waking her—

The heavy glass door of the greenhouse, inlaid with copper ornaments, was silently pushed open from the outside.

No sound was made, as if the person opening the door knew exactly how to control the force and angle of the door.

Volume 18, Chapter 1213: I Don't Want to See You

A slightly chilly gust of air, carrying the scent of snow and ice from outside, instantly rushed into the warm greenhouse, bringing a touch of coolness, but also... a figure that Su Rui least wanted to see at that moment.

Mace.

She seemed to have never left, waiting outside the door. At this moment, she appeared silently at the door like a ghost, her golden ponytail swaying slightly in the cold wind. Her molten gold eyes calmly swept over the two people embracing (at least from Jian's perspective, they were "embracing") in the greenhouse, finally settling on Su Rui's somewhat "awkward" posture, unable to move because she was holding Ensia Silverash.

The moment the door was pushed open, Su Rui jerked his head up, his gaze sharp as lightning, shooting towards the doorway. When he saw it was Jian, his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, a flicker of wariness and impatience crossing his eyes. Why is it her again? Has she not left yet?

But at this moment, Su Rui's "predicament" prevented him from showing the same clear rejection and hostility towards this woman as before. Holding Ensia Silverash, he was like a sculpture "sealed" in the chair, seemingly unable to do anything but express his dissatisfaction with his eyes.

Jian's gaze lingered for a few seconds on Su Rui and Ensia Silverash, who was fast asleep in his arms. Her face remained expressionless, but Su Rui keenly caught a fleeting, extremely faint, and indescribable emotion deep within her usually calm, even somewhat indifferent, golden eyes. The emotion was too fleeting for Su Rui to discern; it seemed to be... understanding? Or perhaps something else entirely.

Su Rui didn't want to guess, nor did he have the inclination to. He just wanted to solve the problem at hand.

He glanced at Ensia Silverash, who was sleeping soundly in his arms, unconsciously nuzzling his chest and making contented murmurs, then at Jian, who stood like a guardian spirit at the door, seemingly unwilling to leave. After weighing his options, he finally sighed and silently mouthed to Jian:

"Can you do me a favor?"

His voice was extremely low, almost a whisper, as if afraid of waking the girl in his arms. At the same time, he slightly tilted his head towards Jian, gesturing for her to come closer.

Jian's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly. She seemed to find Su Rui's pleading posture... amusing? She remained standing there, not moving immediately, but quietly watching Su Rui with her golden eyes, as if waiting for him to explain further, or... appreciating his current "predicament".

Su Rui felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, and the awkwardness he felt from asking for help intensified. But he had no choice but to mouth the explanation again, silently and deliberately:

"She's asleep. I need to take her back to her bedroom. Could you... move her a little?"

He gestured for Jian to come over and help "unload" Ensia Silverash, who was clinging to him like a koala, or at least help him adjust his position so he could pick Ensia Silverash up.

Jian seemed to understand. Her golden eyes swept over Ensia Silverash, who was sleeping soundly in Su Rui's arms, and then looked at Su Rui's arm, which was stiff from maintaining one position for a long time. Then, she finally moved.

Without making a sound, she moved with silent and steady steps, like a top-notch stealth fighter, and quietly walked to the small round table where Su Rui and Ensia Silverash were sitting. Her gaze fell on Su Rui and Ensia Silverash's "closely connected" bodies, especially on Ensia Silverash's arms tightly wrapped around Su Rui's waist, and on her rosy cheeks buried against Su Rui's chest, lingering for a moment.

Su Rui felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, especially when he thought about the experience of being "forcefully kissed" by her outside the door earlier, and his ears began to burn again. He looked away from the mace, but used his eyes to signal her to hurry up and help.

The corners of Jian's mouth curved upwards almost imperceptibly, a subtle arc that seemed to convey a sense of "I knew it." But she didn't help "move" Ensia Silverash away as Su Rui had expected.

Instead, under Su Rui's somewhat bewildered gaze, Jian slightly bent over. Then, before Su Rui could react at all, she stretched out her strong, calloused arms—not to touch Ensia Silverash, but... directly and steadily, passing through Su Rui's knees and back!

The next second, under the sudden, wide-eyed disbelief in Su Rui's dark eyes, Jian, with the ease and grace of lifting a bag of flour, lifted Su Rui, who was holding Ensia Silverash, horizontally from the wicker chair...

Princess carry.

A standard, powerful, and... subtly suggestive princess carry.

Su Rui: "!!!"

In the instant his body suddenly lost its weight and was lifted up by an irresistible force, his mind went Blank once again! All thoughts, all reactions, were completely wiped out in that moment! He could only stiffly, like a puppet being manipulated, as Jian carried him and Ensia Silverash, who was in his arms, away from the chair!

Ensia Silverash, nestled in his arms, seemed startled by the sudden movement. She grumbled in her sleep, tightening her arms around Su Rui's waist, nuzzling her face against his chest, finding a more comfortable position, and then drifted back to sleep, showing no signs of waking up.

Su Rui froze completely. He lay in Jian's strong, powerful arms, feeling the undeniable strength and warmth emanating from through his clothes. The scent of Jian, a blend of sunlight, leather, and a hint of wildness, lingered around his nose once more. His cheeks flushed crimson at a visible speed! Even his ears and neck were tinged with a blush of shame and indignation!

That damn woman! What... what is she doing?! Wasn't she supposed to help "move" Ensia Silverash a little?! How... how did she... lift him up, "himself and his accessory"...?! What kind of helping is that?! This is simply... this is...

Su Rui's lips trembled. He wanted to shout angrily, wanted to struggle, but Ensia Silverash in his arms made him hesitate. He was afraid that if he made too much movement, he would really wake her up. Besides, he held her very firmly, her arms like the strongest steel hoops, making it impossible for him to struggle.

He could only stare stiffly, with an almost murderous gaze, at the sharp, defined jawline of the sword so close to his face, and at those golden eyes that were now slightly lowered, carrying a hint of mockery ( in Su Rui's opinion) and a sense of "of course."

Jian seemed completely unconcerned by Su Rui's humiliated and furious gaze. She even slightly adjusted her arm position, holding Su Rui and Ensia Silverash in his arms more securely. Then, she lowered her head, looking at Su Rui with her eyes, which were like molten gold and seemed capable of burning, and said calmly and matter-of-factly in a whisper that only the two of them could hear:

"Isn't this fine?"

Volume 18, Chapter 1214: This is utterly robber logic.

Jian's tone was so calm, as if he were simply stating, "The weather is nice today," but Su Rui detected in it an unquestionable, almost "robber-like" certainty.

Yes, that works. No need to move Ensia Silverash, no need to wake her, and he no longer needs to worry about how to unload. She simply moved him, the "base," along with the "hanging ornaments" on top, which is indeed the most "efficient" solution.

But... this is not the way he wanted help at all! This is simply... this is...

Su Rui was so angry that her chest heaved violently, but because she was holding Ensia Silverash in her arms, she dared not make any big movements. She could only stare at Jian with her eyes, expressing her extreme protest and the threat of "you're dead".

Jian seemed to sense the murderous intent in Su Rui's eyes, but she merely raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly, the playful glint in her golden eyes seeming to intensify. She stopped looking at Su Rui, instead turning around with him (and the others) in her arms, and strode towards the greenhouse door. Her steps remained steady and silent, as if carrying the weight of two people was no different from carrying two feathers.

Su Rui lay in Jian's arms, feeling an unprecedented (he had been held by Yela and Enya, but the feeling and posture were completely different!) embrace, full of power and absolute control. He inhaled the lingering scent, his cheeks burning. He lay stiffly, afraid to move, lest he wake Ensia Silverash in his arms, or that any movement would make this strange position even more... indescribable.

He could only stare intently at the woman's sharply defined jawline and neck with his fiery black eyes, mentally torturing her a thousand times over with the most vicious language.

However, Jian seemed completely oblivious to this. She simply carried Su Rui and Ensia Silverash steadily through the warm, humid greenhouse to the door. Before pushing open the heavy glass door, she seemed to remember something, and looked down at Su Rui again.

Su Rui immediately met her gaze, her eyes filled with undisguised, silent protest and a "you just wait" threat.

Seeing Su Rui's expression of shame and indignation, yet unable to speak out due to the presence of Ensia Silverash in her arms, only able to glare, the almost imperceptible curve of her lips seemed to widen slightly. But in the end, she said nothing, only gesturing towards the door with her eyes, and then, with her foot (moving with extreme agility and precision), she hooked the door open, carrying Su Rui and Ensia Silverash as if they were some rare treasure (?) or trophy (?), steadily and silently stepping out of the warm greenhouse and back into the cold and biting air of a winter afternoon in Kjerag.

A gust of cold wind seemed to cool Su Rui's burning cheeks slightly. But the absurdity and shame of being "forcibly transported" in his heart did not diminish in the slightest. He looked at Jian's golden ponytail swaying slightly in the cold wind, feeling the undeniable strength and warmth from the strong arms beneath him, and finally, he only let out a barely audible groan from his nose, full of dissatisfaction and frustration. Then, extremely unwillingly and softly... he pursed his lips and turned his face slightly towards Jian's chest, avoiding her golden eyes that seemed to see through everything.

Well... considering she was at least helping (albeit in a strange way) by taking Ensia Silverash back to her room... I'll let it go for now.

Su Rui tried to reassure himself in this way. But the persistent blush on his ears, caused by the close contact and strange posture, betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

Inside the Silverash Manor, the corridors were covered with thick, soft, dark carpets, and the walls on both sides were adorned with classical oil paintings depicting snow-capped mountains and hunting scenes. The wall lamps emitted a warm, soft glow. Jian, carrying Su Rui (and Ensia Silverash clinging to him), moved silently and steadily through the corridors, like a ghost traversing his own territory.