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

The man with the crossbow froze abruptly. He looked down in disbelief at the bullet hole that had suddenly appeared in his chest, rapidly spreading dark red blood. Then, the fierce light in his eyes was quickly replaced by blankness and deathly stillness. His body swayed, and he fell backward with a thud to the ground. The crossbow also fell onto the polished marble floor with a crisp thud.

The coffee shop was deathly silent. Only the sporadic sounds of fighting and shouting from the street outside the window continued, but they seemed to be quickly subsiding.

Immediately afterwards, several figures dressed in dark gray uniforms, well-equipped, and moving swiftly and professionally rushed in from the doorway, spreading out in tactical formation to control the entrance and all directions of the coffee shop. Their uniform armbands bore a clear Blacksteel logo— Blacksteel Worldwide.

The leader was a woman who appeared to be around thirty years old, with a stern face and short, neat black hair. She held a sleek submachine gun in her hand, wisps of gunpowder still curling from the muzzle. Her sharp gaze quickly swept across the shop, and after spotting the man with the crossbow lying on the ground and the panicked customers, she reported concisely into her earpiece, "Oak Coffee Shop, Sector C, threat cleared. One intruder killed. Hostage safe."

Her gaze lingered for a fleeting moment as it swept over Su Rui and Eyjafjalla. Su Rui's striking beauty and unusually calm demeanor, along with Eyjafjalla's still-shaken yet clung-to -Su Rui appearance, clearly caught her attention. However, her professional instincts compelled her to quickly avert her gaze and gesture to her team behind her. "Check the store's security, reassure the hostages. What's the situation outside?"

"Team B reports: The street conflict is under control. Four gangsters have been subdued, and two are at large and being pursued. Preliminary assessment indicates it was a brawl between two local small gangs over a dispute over addictive drug trafficking, involving crossbows and homemade explosives. No civilians have been seriously injured," the report came clearly through the earpiece.

The female manager of Blacksteel Worldwide nodded almost imperceptibly, put away her submachine gun, and addressed the still-frightened customers in the store in a calm and clear tone. "Gentlemen, you have been frightened. We are Blacksteel Worldwide's security contractor, responsible for emergency response in this area. The threat has been eliminated. Please remain inside the store and do not go out for the time being. Our team will ensure your safety and assist the police in their follow-up work. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused."

Her voice was steady and strong, carrying a reassuring professionalism. The customers in the coffee shop, including the elderly couple and the young man in the corner, visibly breathed a sigh of relief. Although their faces were still pale, they were at least no longer as terrified as before.

Eyjafjalla let out a long sigh of relief, her tense body relaxing as she realized her back was soaked with cold sweat. She instinctively looked at Su Rui, only to see that Su Rui (in his lamb form) had somehow turned his gaze away from the window and was now calmly watching the crossbowman who had been shot dead, and the crossbow lying nearby. His face remained expressionless, as if the harrowing scene just moments before was merely an insignificant interlude.

He even had the time, in his calm and even tone, to speak to the still-shocked Eyjafjalla, his longest statement of the afternoon since "orange juice, room temperature":

"Columbia civilian weapons control regulations strictly regulate standard firearms, but there are loopholes in the regulation of 'non-standard' or 'civilian' dangerous goods such as crossbows, bows and arrows, and raw materials for explosives. In non-core security areas, these weapons are highly mobile and inexpensive, becoming common tools in conflicts. Rapid reaction forces of private military contractors like Blacksteel Worldwide are an important supplementary force for maintaining surface order in such areas, but their service coverage and response efficiency are directly correlated with the region's ability to pay."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Blacksteel team members who were examining the bodies and comforting the guests, finally settling on Eyjafjalla's pink eyes, still tinged with fear, and calmly concluded:

Therefore, high-end venues are not absolutely safe. They simply transfer some of the risk to monetary costs.

Eyjafjalla stared blankly at Su Rui, then at the corpse on the ground that the Blacksteel team had quickly covered with a tarpaulin, and at the chaotic street outside the window that was gradually being brought under control. The expensive Geisha coffee in her hand had long since gone cold, and its aroma had dissipated.

Volume 19, Chapter 1330: Rabbit Ears

Her carefully chosen "date" location, intended to avoid crowds, was ultimately disrupted by more direct violence. Meanwhile, Su Rui, even with crossbow bolts pointed at her and explosions imminent, calmly analyzed the loopholes in Columbia's arms control and the business model of private security companies.

At this moment, Eyjafjalla realized with absolute clarity that the world she had entered, Trimounts City, Columbia, was far more complex and... dangerous than she had imagined. And Su Rui, it seemed, had long since become accustomed to all of this.

Blacksteel Worldwide's intervention was like a highly efficient surgical operation, swiftly and professionally removing the "lesions" caused by gang fighting in Oak Coffee Shop and its surrounding neighborhood. The body was removed, the bloodstains were cleaned up, and the frightened customers were politely told they could leave after a brief inquiry and reassurance. Further matters would be handled by Blacksteel Worldwide in coordination with the local police. The entire process was calm and orderly, minimizing the aftermath of the chaos and any continued disturbance to the general public.

However, the sudden gunshot, the cold glint of the crossbow bolt grazing the glass, and the thug lying on the ground, quickly losing his life... these images still left a deep imprint on Eyjafjalla's mind. When she walked out of the coffee shop holding Su Rui's hand, her fingers were still a little cold, and her palms were damp with sweat. The lingering smell of gunpowder on the street, the faint stench of blood, and the faint sound of police sirens in the distance all reminded her of the unknown undercurrents lurking beneath the glamorous surface of Trimounts City.

Su Rui (in lamb form) remained almost indifferent to all of this. He took Eyjafjalla's cold hand in return and calmly led her through the street area temporarily controlled by the Blacksteel members, toward a relatively quiet street corner. His hand was as cool as ever, yet it strangely carried a calming power.

"She's alright," Su Rui said briefly, her gaze sweeping over Eyjafjalla's slightly pale face. "Her stress response is normal. She just needs some sugar and rest."

His words of comfort still carried Su Rui's characteristic, biologically-based, calm analysis, but to Eyjafjalla at this moment, they reassured her more than any gentle words. She knew that with Su Rui there, everything would truly be alright.

This unpleasant incident seemed to bring a somewhat hasty and alarming end to Eyjafjalla's meticulously planned "date" aimed at avoiding crowds. For the next few days, she obediently stayed home, either burying herself in her thick geological studies, or quietly staying beside Su Rui, watching him "work" (though she couldn't understand it), or sitting together in the villa's clean backyard, reading and enjoying the early summer afternoon breeze and sunshine. The thought of going out was temporarily suppressed by the lingering fear brought on by the chaos.

A few days later, one evening, the villa's doorbell rang again.

This wasn't a housekeeping service, nor was it an uninvited guest. Through the access control screen, Eyjafjalla saw a young, unfamiliar woman standing at the door.

She appeared to be in her early twenties, tall and well-proportioned, dressed in a simple yet elegant off-white knit sweater and light brown trousers, topped with a soft camel-colored cardigan. She exuded an intellectual and gentle aura. Most striking were her long, golden-green hair, a blend of flowing honey and Firstborn leaves, flowing smoothly over her shoulders and gleaming warmly in the evening light. Even more remarkable than her hair color were the pair of long, fluffy, light brown rabbit ears on her head, now slightly turned as if listening for any sounds from inside the doorway.

Cautus Cartesians.

Eyjafjalla was taken aback. The Cautus weren't particularly rare in Columbia, but it was uncommon to see someone like the woman outside the door, with such outstanding temperament and elegant, refined appearance. Especially her pair of flexible rabbit ears, which gave her a touch of liveliness amidst her gentleness.

"Excuse me... who are you looking for?" Eyjafjalla asked hesitantly into the intercom.

The woman from Cautus's outside seemed relieved, a polite but slightly apologetic smile appearing on her face. Her voice, gentle and pleasant, came through the intercom. "Good afternoon, sorry to bother you. I'm Dorothy, your neighbor at number 118. I just moved in a few days ago and thought I should say hello to my new neighbors. Is the house home?"

It turned out to be the new neighbor. Eyjafjalla felt a little relieved. Oak Street was full of detached villas, and although the neighbors weren't as close-knit as in apartment buildings, it was common for new neighbors to come over and say hello. She glanced at Su Rui, who was sitting on the living room sofa and seemed completely oblivious to the doorbell, hesitated for a moment, and then opened the door.

"Hello, Miss Dorothy. My name is Eyjafjalla, please come in." Eyjafjalla stepped aside and said politely, while subconsciously glancing at her new neighbor. Upon closer inspection, Dorothy's features became clearer; her features were delicate, her skin fair, and her golden-green eyes were clear and gentle, making it easy to feel a sense of goodwill. However, those rabbit ears that twitched gently with her movements were truly hard to look away from.

"Thank you, Miss Eyjafjalla. I hope my visit has been uninvited and I haven't disturbed you." Dorothy walked in with a smile, her demeanor elegant and composed. Her gaze also politely swept over the entryway and living room, and when she saw Su Rui sitting in the living room, her warm, golden-green eyes rippled like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.

Surprise, amazement, and a hint of undisguised, purely visual appreciation.

Su Rui (in lamb form) had already raised his head when the door opened. His gaze calmly fell on the doorway, landing on Dorothy, or rather, precisely on the pair of fluffy rabbit ears on Dorothy's head that swayed naturally as she walked and spoke.

For the first time, his gaze showed a clear, persistent, and even slightly inquisitive "interest" in Eyjafjalla. Not in the person, but in those ears.

Dorothy clearly noticed Su Rui's undisguised gaze. Her smile faltered for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. She even raised her hand and gently touched one of her ears, explaining in a gentle tone, "Ah, this... is a racial trait. Cautus have rather sensitive ears, I apologize for the sight." Her attitude was poised and graceful, neither embarrassed by the gaze nor overly emphasizing it, demonstrating excellent manners.

However, Eyjafjalla's heart skipped a beat at Su Rui's focused gaze. Su Rui usually maintained a near-indifferent calm towards the people and things around him, rarely showing any clear interest in anything. But now, he was staring so intently at Dorothy's ear... Although she knew Su Rui's focus might be "academic," it was, after all, part of Dorothy's body! And Miss Dorothy... was indeed very beautiful, had a good temperament, and was her neighbor...

Volume 19, Chapter 1331: What do you think of her?

A subtle sense of crisis crept into Eyjafjalla's heart. She subconsciously took a small step forward, as if trying to block Su Rui's view with her body, although this action seemed somewhat futile in the spacious living room.

"Miss Dorothy, please have a seat. Would you like something to drink?" Eyjafjalla tried to make her voice sound natural, attempting to steer the conversation away from "ears."

"No need for that, I'll just sit for a bit and then leave." Dorothy smiled and sat down gracefully on the armchair. Her gaze returned to Su Rui, this time with more inquiry and curiosity. "And this is..."

"He is Su Rui," Eyjafjalla immediately replied, her tone carrying a subtle, assertive assertion of sovereignty.

"Hello, Mr. Su Rui." Dorothy nodded politely to Su Rui, her golden-green eyes still gleaming with amazement, but now filled with a pure appreciation for beauty, and a hint of curiosity about Su Rui's unusually calm, even somewhat inhuman, demeanor. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm currently pursuing Doctor Bioengineering at Trimounts University. My advisor's project is here, so I've temporarily rented the apartment next door and will likely be staying for a while. I hope this won't be a bother."

Trimounts University! Doctor in Bioengineering! Eyjafjalla's heart skipped a beat. Not only was she beautiful and had a great presence, but she was also a top student, and Doctor at that! These... her qualifications were just too good! Although Su Rui certainly didn't care about academic qualifications, but...

"Bioengineering." Su Rui (in sheep form) finally spoke, his gaze shifting from Dorothy's rabbit ears to her face. A slight flicker of data seemed to pass through his dark eyes. "Research direction?"

Dorothy seemed slightly taken aback by Su Rui's direct question, but her face quickly brightened with the radiance of a scholar discussing their field. "Currently, I'm mainly focused on optimizing the efficiency of cell differentiation and tissue regeneration under Originium Energy-directed induction, which spans both Originium Arts applications and basic life sciences. Speaking of which, Mr. Su Rui, are you also interested in this area?"

Her tone was natural, with the candor of academic exchange, but deep in her eyes, she still couldn't completely hide her interest in Su Rui as a "person." After all, Su Rui's appearance was simply too outstanding, and her calm, almost ethereal temperament was itself full of mystery and attraction.

Su Rui (in lamb form) didn't answer Dorothy's question directly. Instead, she shifted her gaze back to her rabbit ears and calmly asked, "In your research model, are the differences in the auditory system and motor nerves of the Cautus compared to ordinary people considered as variable parameters?"

Eyjafjalla: "..." She knew it! Su Rui's focus was always so "unique"!

Dorothy was visibly taken aback for a moment, but then chuckled, her furry ears twitching slightly with her laughter. "Mr. Su Rui's question is very... professional. Indeed, the differences in physiological structure between different races are fundamental variables that cannot be avoided in bioengineering research. The range of auditory frequencies, the precision of ear muscle control, and their correlation with nerve reaction speed in the Cautus race are all very interesting topics. However, my research currently focuses more on the cellular and molecular levels; macroscopic racial physiological differences are not yet considered as core variables. Mr. Su Rui seems to have a great understanding of racial physiology?"

"I have some knowledge of it." Su Rui (in lamb form) replied simply and calmly. He seemed to have only received an answer to an interesting question based on appearance, and then stopped exploring, returning to his almost "standby" calm state. His gaze turned to the deepening twilight outside the window, as if the brief conversation about racial physiology had never happened.

Seeing this, Dorothy wisely stopped the conversation. She was intelligent and perceptive; she could sense Su Rui's seemingly polite but actually distant attitude, as well as the subtle wariness and almost imperceptible... possessiveness in the eyes of the silver-haired girl beside her (Eyjafjalla).

She understood perfectly well, but didn't say anything. She was no stranger to the idea that striking looks and a unique charisma would attract attention and even cause minor trouble. She was only visiting out of politeness as a new neighbor, with no intention of developing a deeper relationship, especially since the other party was clearly a young "couple" (or at least appeared to be) in a close relationship, while her own demanding Doctor studies and research projects already occupied most of her energy.

So, Dorothy exchanged a few more pleasantries, inquiring about nearby amenities such as the nearest supermarket and pharmacy. Her manner was gentle and polite, leaving no room for criticism. Eyjafjalla gradually relaxed and answered her questions one by one. She could sense that although Dorothy's attention was occasionally drawn to Su Rui (which was hard to avoid), overall, the other woman's gaze was clear and restrained, and her words and actions were very measured, showing no inappropriate intentions or unpleasant enthusiasm.

About ten minutes later, Dorothy politely got up to say goodbye.

"I'm so sorry to bother you today. We'll be neighbors from now on, so please take good care of me." Dorothy stood at the door and said with a smile, her long golden-green hair gleaming softly under the porch light, and her rabbit ears tilting forward politely.

"You're too kind, Miss Dorothy. Please take good care of me as well," Eyjafjalla replied politely.

Dorothy glanced one last time at the quiet, seemingly isolated silver-haired boy in the living room, nodded to Eyjafjalla, turned and left, her figure quickly disappearing behind the courtyard gate of the neighboring villa, number 118.

Eyjafjalla closed the door, leaned against the cold door panel, and let out a sigh of relief. The brief meeting of just over ten minutes had felt more mentally taxing than reading a whole day.

She turned around and walked back to the living room. Su Rui (in sheep form) was still sitting on the sofa, his posture unchanged, as if the visit of his beautiful neighbor, who was elegant, knowledgeable, and had a pair of lively rabbit ears, was just an insignificant interlude. He didn't even look away from the window.

Eyjafjalla walked to Su Rui's side, but instead of leaning closer as usual, she stood in front of him, her pink eyes fixed on him, her tone carrying a hint of jealousy and interrogation that she herself didn't realize:

"Su Rui, what do you think of... Miss Dorothy?"

Su Rui (in lamb form) seemed to have just turned his attention away from the window, his dark eyes calmly looking at Eyjafjalla, seemingly puzzled as to why she had suddenly asked this. He thought for about a second, then gave a very "Su Rui- esque" assessment:

Volume 19, Chapter 1332: A Rare Case of Lying in Bed

"Cautus, Doctor candidate in Bioengineering at the Trimounts University. Auditory and motor systems may be superior to human benchmarks. No apparent threat has been identified. Social intentions are limited to routine neighborhood etiquette; no need for deeper interaction."

Eyjafjalla: "..." This answer was very Su Rui. Objective, calm, and comprehensive, and completely ignored all the "conventional" attractive points of Dorothy herself, such as her appearance, temperament, and knowledge, focusing only on racial characteristics, academic identity, and potential physiological differences, and finally summarizing it as "no threat" and "no need for in-depth interaction".

This instantly dissipated most of the slight jealousy and sense of crisis she felt, and she even felt like laughing. Sure enough, it was simply a pipe dream to expect Su Rui to evaluate a person, especially a man's "charm," from a "normal" perspective.

"And... what about her ears?" Eyjafjalla couldn't help but ask, recalling Su Rui's focused gaze earlier. "You seem... quite interested?"

Su Rui (in lamb form) nodded, her frankness bordering on the audacious. "Hmm. The Cautus race's overt racial traits, mobility, and sensitivity data are valuable. (Want to pet her.)"

As expected... Eyjafjalla was utterly speechless. Su Rui's focus was always on strange things. His observation of Dorothy's ears was probably like a biologist looking at a rare specimen or an engineer looking at a precision part—purely academic and functional observation.

The last knot in her heart was untied. Eyjafjalla breathed a sigh of relief, but then she remembered Dorothy's identity— Doctor from Trimounts University. She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Miss Dorothy is Doctor from Trimounts University... so could she know about Columbia University of Geology program? Or, will we run into each other often in the future?"

This was what she was truly worried about. Although Dorothy seemed like a very nice person and her feelings for Su Rui appeared to be purely admiration, they were, after all, neighbors and from the same university town. What if they ran into each other frequently in the future...?

"The main campus of Trimounts University and the Columbia University of Geology campus are 3.7 kilometers apart as the crow flies, and belong to different academic management systems. The probability of students and faculty interacting on a daily basis is less than 7%. Dorothy Heywood (note: the surname Dorothy mentioned in her self-introduction) studies bioengineering, which has no direct academic connection with the field of geology. Therefore, the probability of you interacting outside of specific social occasions or collaborative projects is extremely low." Su Rui (in lamb form) calmly presented the data analysis based on geographical location and academic discipline.

After hearing this, Eyjafjalla felt a huge weight lifted from her shoulders. They weren't from the same university, and their research areas were completely different—that was good. Although Miss Dorothy was her neighbor, as long as they didn't see each other often, there shouldn't be any problems.

She finally relaxed completely, walked over and sat down next to Su Rui, subconsciously snuggling into his arms and whispering, "It's good that they're not from the same university... Otherwise, what if she keeps coming to you to discuss 'racial physiology' or ' Originium cell differentiation'..."

Su Rui (in his lamb form) felt the girl's closeness in his arms and heard her muttering with a hint of relief. A barely perceptible data stream flickered in his dark eyes. He raised his hand and, as he had done many times before, somewhat awkwardly and gently patted Eyjafjalla's head in response.

Outside the window, dusk settled, and warm lights shone from the neighbor's house. A small, internal "alarm" triggered by the new neighbor's visit was quietly dispelled by Su Rui's overly rational (or rather, "unromantic") analysis. Life seemed to return to its peaceful routine, except that Eyjafjalla Eyjafjalla a subtle sense of relief towards her Doctor neighbor with his long, golden-green hair and beautiful rabbit ears—"It's so good that he's not from the same university, even though he's a very nice person."

The summer morning light always arrives uninvited, carrying a touch of impatient heat, filtering through the thin gauze curtains and casting dappled shadows on the Oak floor. Birds chirp among the sycamore branches outside the window, announcing the start of a new day.

Inside the master bedroom at 119 Oak Street, a languid tranquility still prevailed.

On the large, soft bed, Su Rui (in his lamb form), unusually, didn't get up before Eyjafjalla woke up, nor did he usually sit quietly by the window "processing information." He lay on his side by the window, his long silver hair scattered messily on the dark pillow, a few strands playfully clinging to his smooth forehead and cheeks. His usually calm and all-seeing black eyes were now closed, his long silver eyelashes casting a small fan-shaped shadow beneath his eyelids. One arm was casually draped at his side, his breathing even and long, as if he were still immersed in sleep.

The morning sunlight fell perfectly on half of his face, gilding his already perfect features with a soft golden edge. It made him look less aloof and cold than usual, and more like a rare, youthful purity and tranquility. His signature little ram's horns, curving backward, also looked as smooth and warm as jade in the morning light.

Eyjafjalla woke up first. She opened her eyes groggily, her pink eyes still a little blurry, and subconsciously snuggled closer to the warm (or more accurately, the consistently cool but reassuring) source beside her. Then, she noticed Su Rui's difference.

Su Rui is still asleep.

This realization instantly jolted Eyjafjalla mostly awake. In her memory, Su Rui's routine was almost rigidly regular, and her sleep time seemed to be much shorter than that of ordinary people. It was extremely rare for her to remain asleep after she woke up like this.

Was it because I stayed up too late "processing" those complex financial data yesterday? Or was it simply... because I wanted to stay in bed?

Eyjafjalla gently sat up, careful not to disturb the person beside her. She lay on the pillow, tilting her head, carefully, almost greedily, observing Su Rui's sleeping profile. Sunlight danced on his face, clearly revealing the fine, almost invisible downy hairs on his cheeks and his skin as smooth and delicate as the finest porcelain. His sleeping face was serene, his brow relaxed, his lips slightly pursed. Gone was the almost inhuman, absolute calm he possessed when awake; instead, it exuded a... strange vulnerability, or rather, an unguarded gentleness.

Eyjafjalla's heart was instantly filled with an incredibly tender emotion. She quietly and carefully reached out her finger, wanting to touch Su Rui's eyelashes, which appeared exceptionally long in the sunlight, but her fingertip stopped just before touching him, afraid of actually waking him.

Volume 19, Chapter 1333: Eyjafjalla still has some talent.

In the end, Eyjafjalla simply traced Su Rui's outline with her gaze again and again, deeply imprinting this rare, sleeping Su Rui in her mind. After a long while, she tiptoed and very slowly lifted a corner of the blanket, sliding off the bed as quietly as possible, her bare feet touching the cool floor.

Looking back at the still-sleeping Su Rui, Eyjafjalla couldn't help but smile, a gentle and satisfied expression spreading across her face. Su Rui can sleep in too... This realization made her feel that Su Rui seemed a little closer to that distant, mysterious, and omnipotent image, or rather, a little more "real."

She gently closed the door, went into the bathroom, and quickly and quietly finished washing up. After changing into a comfortable light-colored loungewear set, Eyjafjalla stood in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection with slightly flushed cheeks and bright eyes, and gently patted her face.

"Alright, Eyjafjalla, Su Rui's sleeping in, so you'll have to prepare breakfast!" She mentally cheered herself on. Since arriving in Trimounts, Su Rui had basically been "taking care" of all her meals, or ordering takeout; she had almost never cooked herself. Although back in Cumberland County, she only knew how to make the simplest, filling meals, the thought of preparing breakfast for Su Rui was still lazing in bed, filled her with a sweet sense of responsibility.

The kitchen was spacious and bright, fully equipped with brand-new, high-end brand-name utensils. Eyjafjalla opened the huge double-door refrigerator, inside which various ingredients were neatly categorized and stacked, mostly beautifully packaged imported foods that she didn't recognize, along with some fresh-looking and expensive fruits and vegetables. Su Rui seemed to have his own regular sources for these.

Eyjafjalla's gaze swept over the unfamiliar ingredients, finally settling on a bag of oatmeal, a carton of fresh milk, a basket of eggs, and a loaf of toast placed deep in the refrigerator. These looked rather "common," so they shouldn't be too difficult to prepare, right?

She decided to make a simple Western-style breakfast: fried eggs, toast, two cups of heated milk, and oatmeal. Sounds easy, doesn't it?

Without further ado, Eyjafjalla tied on her apron (a remnant from her previous housekeeping job) and first placed the toast slices into the very high-end-looking built-in oven. Based on her limited experience using ovens, which she remembered from her time in Cumberland, she set it to medium heat and a timer... Hmm, five minutes should be enough, right?

Then, she started preparing the fried eggs. She took two eggs from the refrigerator and gently tapped them on the edge of the counter—perhaps a little too hard, as the egg white and some shell fragments gushed out. Eyjafjalla hurriedly poured the egg white into the frying pan (she remembered that frying eggs required oil?), and quickly grabbed the oil bottle. She poured in a little too much oil, and the pan immediately sizzled and splattered, burning her with a soft cry as she quickly stepped back.

After the oil cooled slightly, she carefully cracked the second egg into the pan (this time, learning from her mistake, she was much gentler). Then, looking at the two sizzling eggs in the pan, she was somewhat bewildered. What to do next? Flip them? When to flip them? To what extent to fry them?

She vaguely remembered that fried eggs should be golden brown on both sides. So, she picked up a spatula and tried to flip the egg. The first egg, with her clumsy attempt, broke open, and the yolk spilled out. The second was slightly better, but still crooked in shape. Moreover, because the oil temperature seemed to be out of control, the edges of the egg quickly turned a suspiciously dark brown...

"Ding!" The oven timer went off.

Eyjafjalla quickly put down the spatula and ran to open the oven door. A rich aroma mixed with a burnt smell wafted out. The two slices of toast on the baking tray had their edges charred and the middle parts were a dark brown, clearly overbaked.

"Ah..." Eyjafjalla exclaimed in frustration, quickly removing the baking tray with oven mitts. Looking at the two burnt slices of toast, she felt like crying. The fried eggs seemed to be burnt too...

Finally, she hurriedly turned off the stove, put the two poorly presented fried eggs on a plate, poured two glasses of milk, and put them in the microwave to heat up. Looking at the plate of fried eggs with burnt edges and broken yolks on the counter, as well as the two pieces of dark toast, Eyjafjalla fell into deep thought.

This... seems quite different from the warm and wonderful breakfast I imagined.

But then there's oatmeal soaked in milk! That can't go wrong, right? She remembered that back in Cumberland, sometimes breakfast was just oatmeal with hot water or hot milk—very simple.

So Eyjafjalla found two clean bowls, scooped out an appropriate amount of oatmeal from the bag, then turned on the microwave, took out the heated milk, and carefully poured it into the bowls until the oatmeal was completely submerged in the warm milk.

Alright! Oatmeal soaked in milk, done! This is absolutely a foolproof option!

She looked at the two bowls of plain-looking but at least "normal" milk oatmeal, then at the disastrous plate of fried eggs and burnt toast next to them. After hesitating for a moment, she finally decided—it was best not to let Su Rui see those two "failures." She quickly dumped the fried eggs and toast into the kitchen trash can, destroying the evidence.

Just as she finished doing all this, washed her hands, and was about to wake Su Rui up, she heard very faint footsteps behind her.

Eyjafjalla turned around and saw Su Rui (in his sheep form) already standing in the kitchen doorway. He appeared to have washed up; his silver hair was smooth, and he had changed into a clean set of dark gray loungewear. His expression was as calm as ever. However, his black eyes were now calmly scanning the two steaming bowls of milk and oatmeal on the counter, before his gaze shifted almost imperceptibly for a fraction of a second to the nearby trash can, whose lid had not yet been closed.

In the trash can, the two charred slices of toast and the broken fried egg still emitted a faint burnt smell, silently telling the story of what had just happened.

Eyjafjalla's cheeks flushed instantly, as if she'd been caught red-handed doing something wrong. She stood awkwardly behind the counter, her pink eyes avoiding Su Rui's gaze, and stammered, "B-good morning, Su Rui... I... I made breakfast... oatmeal with milk... it's simple, but..."

Her voice trailed off, and her head drooped, almost burying itself in her apron. The carefully prepared surprise (or perhaps shock?) had turned into a major disaster, and the person involved had even witnessed the evidence of her failure, making her wish she could disappear into the ground.

Su Rui (in lamb form) shifted his gaze from the trash can back to the two bowls of milk and oatmeal, then glanced at Eyjafjalla's embarrassed expression, as if she wanted to disappear on the spot. In his calm, unwavering black eyes, there seemed to be extremely subtle data streams flashing, as if he were rapidly analyzing the situation before him: the target individual (Eyjafjalla) attempted to perform food preparation, and the output (milk-soaked oatmeal) conformed to the basic nutritional intake model. However, the process was accompanied by the generation and disposal of secondary byproducts (caramelized carbohydrates and denatured proteins), indicating that the individual's skill proficiency in this area was below the basic threshold.