Ark Simulator, don't I have no physical form?

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

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

Remien raised her hand, making a gentle, outstretched gesture, and patiently explained, “You see, the way you just shoved the candy in front of them like that, although the effect was immediate and the children were happy, it just felt… a bit too stiff, like feeding pigeons.” She couldn’t help but chuckle. “Besides, what if the ground isn’t clean? It’s not good if the candy wrappers are covered in dust.”

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

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

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

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

“But…would that really be better?” she pleaded softly, her voice sweet enough to drip honey. “Just for me, okay? I want to see Suri a little gentler.” She reached out and gently took his hand, which was resting on the armrest of his wheelchair, her fingertips tracing circles on the back of his hand with a coquettish, irresistible intimacy. “Besides, think about it, if you did that, the children would definitely like you more. Maybe they’d look at you with sparkling eyes and say, ‘Thank you, big brother!’ Wouldn’t that be much cuter than the way you are now, as if you’re so unwilling?”

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

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

Volume 17, Chapter 1004: Just agree.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Remy leaned back in her chair, completely satisfied, unable to suppress the smile on her lips. Looking at Suri's back, which still held a stern face but revealed a hint of helpless indulgence, she felt a warm, comforting feeling, like a jar of honey had been spilled.

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

This small victory brought her more happiness and peace of mind than any sweet words. She also looked forward to the day when she might actually see her awkward young master, Su Rui, carefully placing a piece of candy into a child's tender palm with his hands, hands accustomed to holding guns and stained with the smoke of gunpowder. Just imagining that scene was enough to make her smile all day.

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

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

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

Remien's eyes lit up instantly. She gently patted Suri's hand, signaling him to stop. Suri clicked his tongue impatiently, but still stopped the wheelchair as instructed.

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

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

“No.” He refused firmly, his tone as hard as a rock. “It’s too noisy.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Volume 17, Chapter 1005: An Unwilling Attempt

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

However, Suri underestimated the lethality of her face.

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

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

Wow! Big brother is so handsome!

"Like a prince made of snow!"

"Sugar! It's sugar!"

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

Suri froze instantly!

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

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

"Get down!" he tried to command in his usual cold tone, but his voice sounded somewhat weak due to nervousness, and even carried a slight, imperceptible tremor.

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

"Big brother smells nice!"

"hug!"

Remy, who was standing not far away, had originally been looking forward to seeing Suri's awkward yet trying-to-be-gentle and cute appearance, but at this moment she was completely stunned by the "out-of-control" scene in front of her.

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

But as she laughed, a subtle yet undeniable sour feeling began to quietly grow deep within her heart.

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

That was her Suri.

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

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

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

"Children," Remian said with a gentle smile, but her voice held a subtle hint of authority, "Now that you've got your candy, shouldn't you thank your big brother and go back to playing ball? Hugging him all the time will tire him out."

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

Feeling as if granted a pardon, Suri seized the opportunity to send a strong distress signal to Remienne with her eyes.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"What's so cute about it!" Suri snapped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, abruptly pulling her hand back, turning around, pushing her wheelchair, and walking away so fast she almost flew, leaving behind only an angry and embarrassed back view.

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

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

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

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

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

“Miss Remy! Mr. Suri!” Kong Gou’s voice was filled with barely concealed excitement. “As planned, the recruitment and initial screening of the first batch of security team members have been completed! There are twenty of them in total, and they are currently undergoing basic training in the cleared Warehouse Area No. 3. If you two have some time, could you come over and take a look, and give us some guidance?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The three quickly arrived at Warehouse Area No. 3, located in the northwest corner of the city. The previously abandoned, desolate, and hazardous site had been greatly improved. Several of the most structurally sound warehouses had been cleared out to serve as temporary barracks and equipment storage. A relatively flat open space in front of the warehouses had been converted into a training ground; although rudimentary, it included a basic running track and firing area.

At this moment, twenty team members, dressed in uniformly issued, slightly rough but fully functional dark gray uniforms, stood in the center of the training field in a somewhat disorderly formation. They varied in age and race (primarily Sarkaz and Sarkaz hybrids, with a few from other races), their faces displaying the nervousness, curiosity, and a hint of effort to appear serious and attentive typical of new recruits. When they saw Kong Gou arrive with two extraordinary-looking "big shots," a slight commotion arose in the ranks. All eyes turned to them, especially when they fell upon the silver-haired, black-eyed, and cold-aura-filled Su Rui; many instinctively held their breath.

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

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

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

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

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

Remy quietly nudged Suri with her elbow, giving him a look that said, "Say something, be friendly."

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

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

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

She looked at Suri, gesturing for him to offer "friendly" guidance. Suri scoffed, clearly dismissing the concept of "teamwork," but under Remien's "gentle" gaze, he reluctantly walked to a demonstration area in front of the training field.

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

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

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

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

"Bang! Bang!"

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

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

The two team members lowered their heads in shame.

“The Sarkaz’s gun,” Suri’s voice was cold and hard, but he was getting to the heart of the matter, “isn’t a lone wolf’s toy. Aura resonance is fundamental, but teamwork is something you develop through practice.” He walked over to the two of them, his expression still blank, but his tone softened slightly (which, in Remian’s eyes, was a huge improvement), “Pay attention to each other’s breathing rhythm, anticipate your teammates’ firing intervals and coverage areas. When A fires on the left flank, B’s trajectory should be biased to the right, creating crossfire, instead of each firing at their own pace.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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