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

On the television screen, the city defense forces' clearing operation was nearing its end. The open flames on the main streets were extinguished, the smoke gradually dissipated, and only some cleanup work remained in an orderly manner. The sirens were also becoming sparse, indicating that this sudden riot was about to come to a complete close.

The night in Siesta has returned to a tranquility dominated by the sound of the waves.

Suri seemed to finally feel completely relieved (or rather, finally felt that the noise was tolerable). He adjusted to a more comfortable position in Remi's arms, his breathing became even and long, and this time he was truly asleep.

Remien looked down at his peaceful sleeping face, his long silver eyelashes casting soft shadows beneath his eyelids, and his tightly pursed lips softening. Her heart was filled with an indescribable happiness and peace. This seemingly aloof and trouble-averse boy always protected her and fulfilled even her smallest wishes in his most awkward and dishonest ways.

She gently pulled over a thin blanket and covered them both, then closed her eyes, feeling the steady heartbeat and gradually even breathing of the person in her arms.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water, and all was quiet. Only the ripples in the pool water still gently swayed, reflecting the starry sky and the lovers who nestled together, protecting each other in the turbulent night. For Remien, the storms of the outside world had subsided, and the harbor in her heart was forever calm because of him.

The first rays of morning sunlight, like the gentlest fingers, softly parted the thin mist on the Siesta horizon, scattering golden light across the sea and sneaking into the bedroom through the gaps in the slightly open curtains. Remian slowly awoke, enveloped in a warm and comforting embrace.

The moment she regained consciousness, the first thing she felt was the soft touch of the bed beneath her and the warmth of the light down comforter covering her. She stirred slightly and realized she was comfortably lying on the large bed in the bedroom, not in the wheelchair where they had snuggled together on the terrace the night before. She paused for a moment, then realized—Suri must have carried her back to bed after she fell asleep.

This realization warmed her heart. She turned her head to look at the other side of the bed. Sure enough, Su Rui wasn't beside her. She wasn't surprised; Su Rui had always been a light sleeper and liked to wake up early.

The bedroom was quiet, save for the faint sound of waves crashing outside the window and the cries of early-rising seagulls. A faint, crisp scent, characteristic of Su Rui, filled the air, along with a… barely audible hum of electronic devices?

Remien propped herself up on her arms and sat up slightly, her eyes scanning the room. Soon, she spotted Suri on the armchair by the window.

He sat with his back to the bed, facing the sunlit sea outside the window. His posture was somewhat casual, one leg bent and resting on the edge of the sofa, the other casually stretched out on the floor. He wore a simple white cotton T-shirt and lounge shorts, his silver hair gleaming softly in the sunlight, slightly disheveled, carrying the languid feeling of just waking up. He held a portable terminal in his hand, the screen lit up, displaying some images. The terminal was connected to headphones, so the sound wasn't playing out.

He was watching intently, the lines of his profile clear and delicate in the morning light. His long, silver eyelashes drooped, obscuring the emotions in his eyes, only his tightly pursed lips revealing a thoughtful expression. The sunlight outlined a fuzzy golden ring around him, making him appear less cold and hard than usual, and more like a youthful calm.

Remien gently lifted the covers, not wanting to disturb him, and simply leaned quietly against the headboard, watching his focused profile. Her heart was filled with the unique tranquility and contentment of waking up in the morning. It felt so good to wake up like this in the sunlight and see him the first thing she saw.

She was curious about what Suri was looking at. Was it follow-up reports on last night's riots? Or was she dealing with official business from Laterano? She pushed her wheelchair and quietly slid to the sofa, getting closer to it.

When her gaze fell on the terminal screen, she couldn't help but pause slightly in surprise.

What was playing on the screen was not a news program or a document report, but a series of edited, high-definition combat videos! Judging from the perspective and content, it was live footage of the firefight between the Siesta City Defense Force and those rioters last night! Some footage came from an aerial view, some from the perspective of street corner surveillance cameras, and there were even a few extremely tricky moving images that seemed to have been filmed from the rioters' side or rear or from inside their bunkers!

Suri seemed to be watching and analyzing the videos repeatedly. His fingers would occasionally swipe across the screen, pausing, zooming in, slowing down, or switching to a different angle. His eyes were focused and sharp, like the most sophisticated scanner, capturing every detail in the footage—the tactical movements, firepower, and movement routes of the city defense soldiers; the weapons, equipment, personnel distribution, and reaction speed of the rioters; even the street environment and the use of cover.

Volume 17, page 1057 is merely a pastime.

He observed very carefully, his brows furrowing and relaxing intermittently, and occasionally he would lightly tap a spot on the screen with his fingertip, as if marking something. His expression didn't seem like he was watching a spectacle unrelated to him; it was more like an experienced commander reviewing a battle, or a meticulous instructor evaluating a trainee's performance.

Remien looked at his serious expression and understood. He was analyzing last night's battle. Was it because he had anonymously provided intelligence, and she wanted to see the effect? ​​Or… was this just a habit? An instinctive assessment of potential threats to the surrounding environment? Or simply… a pastime to pass the time?

She didn't disturb him, but quietly stayed to the side, watching his focused profile. Sunlight streamed through the window, dancing on his long eyelashes and casting small shadows on his straight nose. This Suri, devoid of her usual aloofness and impatience, exuded a unique charm, a charm born from focused intellectual activity.

After a long while, Su Rui seemed to have watched a key battle scene several times before slowly exhaling and taking off his headphones. He rubbed his slightly sore temples, leaned back on the sofa, and showed a look on his face that was... a mixture of boredom and disgust?

“Full of flaws.” He muttered under his breath, his tone filled with undisguised contempt. “Slow to react, clumsy in coordination, how many opportunities were wasted.” He clearly had a very low opinion of the Siesta City Defense Forces’ performance in actual combat.

Only then did he seem to notice the movement around him, turn his head, and meet Remy's smiling gaze.

"Awake?" His voice was still slightly hoarse from just waking up, and his tone was calm and natural, as if he wasn't the one who had just given such sharp commentary on the battle.

"Yes." Remien nodded with a smile, pushing her wheelchair closer to him. "Watching last night's recording?"

Su Rui hummed in agreement, casually setting the terminal aside, seemingly having lost interest in its contents. "Just browsing," he said nonchalantly, as if it were merely an insignificant entertainment video.

"What did you see?" Remy asked curiously.

Su Rui curled his lip, his face showing that "unbearable" look of disgust again: "A bunch of rabble against a bunch of... poorly trained rookies." He paused, then added, his tone carrying a hint of condescension: "If it weren't for my intelligence, they would have spent at least an extra hour or two, and the casualty figures would have doubled."

Although he spoke casually, the information revealed in his words subtly moved Remian. It turned out he had not only read the report but also precisely assessed the changes in the battle situation and potential casualties before and after intelligence intervention. This insight and computational ability were truly astonishing.

"So... you're confirming that you've been helpful?" Remyn teased him deliberately, a sly glint in her lake-blue eyes.

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Su Rui immediately bristled, his ears turning slightly red. He turned his face away and denied it firmly: "Who confirmed it! I was just... bored anyway!" He would never admit that he cared a little about the effect of that anonymous intelligence!

Seeing his awkward expression, Remy couldn't help but chuckle. She reached out and gently took his hand, saying softly, "Alright, alright, I was just bored. But... thank you, Suri. Because of you, many people might have avoided getting hurt."

Su Rui snorted but didn't say anything, though she didn't shake off her hand, letting her hold it. Sunlight streamed through the window, warmly illuminating their clasped hands.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Remian changed the subject, no longer teasing him. "Should I make it? Or should we eat out?"

Suri thought for a moment. The commotion from last night had just subsided, and things might still be a bit chaotic outside. He didn't want to deal with it. So he said, "...Just make something simple at home." He paused, then added, "...Not too sweet."

Remien smiled and nodded: "Okay~ Then I'll fry you some eggs and bacon? And heat up some milk?"

"Okay," Su Rui responded, which was taken as agreement.

Remien pushed her wheelchair toward the kitchen. Before leaving, she glanced back at the terminal Suri had casually placed on the sofa; the screen was still frozen on a paused frame of a battle scene. A slight thought struck her. Suri… perhaps he wasn't as indifferent to everything as he appeared. Was he simply observing, assessing, and… protecting the tranquility he cherished in his own way?

That morning, watching his profile as he intently analyzed the video, sensing the thoughtfulness beneath his awkwardness, Remian felt she understood him a little better. This understanding made the love in her heart, like the sunlight outside the window, grow even warmer and brighter.

A moment later, Remien returned to the bedroom with the prepared breakfast, pushing her wheelchair. On the plate were two simple breakfasts: perfectly fried sunny-side-up eggs, slightly charred bacon, golden-brown toast, and two steaming glasses of milk. The aroma of the food instantly dispelled the last trace of morning chill from the room, bringing a warm and comforting atmosphere.

Su Rui remained seated on the armchair by the window, the morning light bathing him in a soft golden glow. He no longer looked at his terminal, but instead tilted his head slightly, gazing at the shimmering sea outside the window, his eyes somewhat vacant, as if lost in thought, or perhaps simply daydreaming. His silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, his long eyelashes drooping, obscuring the emotions in his eyes, making him appear less sharp than usual, and more serene and… subtly languid.

Remien placed the plate on the small round table next to the sofa and softly called out, "Suri, breakfast is ready."

Hearing the sound, Su Rui turned his head, his gaze shifting from the window to the plate. He showed no expression, simply giving a soft "hmm," and picked up his glass of milk, taking a small sip. The warm, fragrant liquid slid down his throat, causing him to squint slightly, a barely perceptible hint of satisfaction appearing on his face.

Remien picked up her milk and sipped it, her gaze fixed on Su Rui's face. Watching him quietly drink, she recalled his focused analysis of the battle video earlier, and then his anonymous intelligence-sending actions last night, a soft smile welled up inside her. She put down her cup, leaned forward slightly, and, a mischievous glint in her lake-blue eyes, softly asked in a teasing tone:

"Suri~ I saw you watching so intently just now... Didn't you always say you didn't want to interfere in other people's affairs because you found it troublesome? Why are you so concerned about the 'professional competence' of the Siesta City Defense Force?" She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, with a hint of teasing.

Volume 17, Chapter 1058: You're right, but...

Suri paused almost imperceptibly in the hand holding the cup. He raised his eyelids, his dark eyes sweeping over Remienne, meeting her smiling, all-seeing gaze. He didn't answer immediately, but simply took another sip of milk expressionlessly, then placed the cup back on the table.

Remien didn't press him, but simply smiled and waited for his answer. She knew Suri would definitely make up an excuse, and it would certainly be the kind of awkward yet endearing one.

Sure enough, Suri was silent for a few seconds, as if he was organizing his thoughts, or perhaps thinking of a convincing reason. Then, he reached out, not to take the food, but... very naturally, gently rubbed his fingertips against Remian's warm, soft cheek, which was almost touching his own as he leaned in.

His fingertips carried a slight morning coolness, their touch gentle, like a feather brushing against her skin. This sudden, intimate gesture startled Remian, and a faint blush involuntarily rose to her cheeks.

After a brief pause, Su Rui withdrew his hand, picked up his fork again, forked a piece of bacon, and put it in his mouth, chewing slowly and deliberately. His gaze returned to the sea outside the window, his tone flat, with a matter-of-fact, even slightly disdainful air, as if stating a perfectly simple fact:

"If this isn't resolved quickly, our travel plans will be affected."

He paused, seemingly feeling that the reason wasn't sufficient, and added, his tone tinged with impatience: "Do you want to spend the next few days listening to sirens and seeing the streets in ruins? Or do you want to be restricted in your movements due to martial law or security concerns?" He glanced at Remian, a hint of doubt flashing in his dark eyes: "Do you really want that?"

“Trouble,” he concluded, as if last night’s “meddling” was purely to avoid bigger trouble and to ensure their own comfort and convenience during their vacation, and had nothing to do with any compassion or sense of responsibility.

Remy was taken aback by his "righteous" explanation and his serious demeanor, which seemed to be purely for "selfish" reasons. Then she couldn't help but burst out laughing! Her shoulders trembled slightly as she laughed, and her lake-blue eyes curved into crescent moons.

"Oh, I see!" She deliberately dragged out her words, pretending to suddenly understand. "It's so that our 'travel plans' won't be affected! Suri, you're so thoughtful!" Her tone was full of teasing and doting.

Su Rui's ears turned slightly red from her laughter. He glared at her, somewhat embarrassed and angry, and said in a harsh voice, "What are you laughing at! Eat!" He lowered his head, forcefully forked the fried egg, and stuffed it into his mouth, as if he were sulking with the food.

But Remien saw through his awkward reaction and slightly reddened ears, realizing his true feelings hidden beneath the excuse of "avoiding trouble." He wasn't worried about the trip being disrupted; he clearly...he heard her worry from last night about "hoping it would end soon," and that's why he intervened! He didn't want her to worry, didn't want the chaos in this city to ruin her vacation! It's just that this proud guy stubbornly refused to admit it!

This realization made Remy's heart feel as sweet and soft as if it were soaking in warm honey. She stopped laughing, picked up her fork, and began to eat breakfast. But she couldn't stop smiling, and her gaze gently fell on Suri, looking at his slightly embarrassed profile as his thoughts were exposed, finding him incredibly adorable.

“Yes, you’re right.” Remi’an echoed him softly, “Luckily, the problem was resolved quickly, so we can go out and have fun today without worry. Thank you, Suri, for being so thoughtful.” This time, she didn’t tease him; her tone was sincere and gentle.

Suri slowed his chewing. He raised his eyelids, glanced quickly at Remien, met her gentle, smiling eyes, then quickly lowered his head again, mumbling a "hmm," the blush on his ears seeming to deepen. He didn't speak again, just silently ate his breakfast, but the low pressure emanating from him because of being "mocked" quietly dissipated.

The warm sunlight bathed the two of them, the only sounds in the room the soft clinking of cutlery and their steady breathing. A sea breeze, carrying a fresh, salty scent, drifted in through the cracks in the window. Last night's commotion seemed a distant memory; a new day began in tranquility and warmth.

Remy knew that Suri's seemingly cold and hard heart was actually softer than anyone else's. He was just not good at expressing himself, or rather, he carefully protected everything he cared about in an extremely awkward and proud way. And to be carefully protected by him in this way was the happiest thing in the world for her.

She quietly reached out and gently took Su Rui's hand, which was resting on her lap, under the table. Su Rui's fingers twitched slightly, but she didn't pull away; instead, she gently squeezed back. Although it was only a brief touch, it conveyed a silent warmth and tacit understanding.

This morning was made all the more beautiful by a simple breakfast, a playful remark, an awkward explanation, and a tacitly understood hand-holding. After a minor hiccup, our vacation at Siesta seems to be heading in a sweeter and more stable direction.

Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the two in a warm glow. The aroma of breakfast and the rich scent of milk filled the air. Suri and Remy quietly enjoyed their breakfast in a cozy and peaceful atmosphere. Although Suri's expression remained largely unchanged, his tense features softened considerably. He ate his fried egg in small bites, his movements unhurried and deliberate.

Just as he forked up the last piece of bacon, ready to put it in his mouth, an extremely strange feeling, like a cold electric current, instantly surged through his entire body!

Everything around us seemed to freeze in an instant!

Outside the window, a seagull, wings outstretched as if about to take flight, hovered in mid-air, every detail of its wings clearly visible, yet motionless. The folds of the curtains, billowing in the wind, were frozen at their fullest curve. The dust particles dancing in the air seemed to have been paused, frozen in the light. Even the steam rising from the plate seemed to solidify into twisted, unchanging white ribbons.

The whole world fell into an absolute, deathly stillness. The only sound seemed to be his own... the steady, powerful beating of his heart, and the faint echo of blood flowing through his veins.

Suri's fork-in-the-carrot with his fork abruptly stopped at his lips. His pupils contracted sharply, a piercing, hawk-like alertness flashing in his dark eyes! This wasn't an illusion! Time... had been stopped?!

Volume 17, Chapter 1059: Time Cannot Be Stopped

Almost instinctively, Su Rui's muscles tensed instantly, like a cheetah poised to pounce. His mental focus was intense, his senses spreading outwards like a spiderweb, trying to pinpoint the source of any anomaly or potential threat! He abruptly turned his head, his gaze like lightning, shooting towards the direction from which he sensed the most incongruity—

Right behind him on the sofa back, a figure had appeared out of nowhere!

Mostima!

She remained as relaxed and at ease as ever, dressed in a light linen dress, her short, silver-gray hair motionless in the still air. Her signature, enigmatic smile graced her face, and her lake-blue eyes were fixed on him, filled with…undisguised surprise and…intense interest?!

Their eyes met!

Suri's heart sank! It was her doing! Time stopped? This incredible thing, done by Mostima?! What is she trying to do?!

Mostima's surprise was equally evident. She seemed completely unprepared for Suri to retain consciousness and mobility even while time was stopped! Her gaze swept over Suri's hand still holding the fork, her slightly turned head, and her sharp, cold black eyes, as if examining an extremely interesting and rare specimen that exceeded her expectations.

“Oh my…” Mostima clicked her tongue softly, her voice exceptionally clear in the absolute silence, tinged with a playful smile. “How…surprising, little Suri. You’re…unaffected?” She took a step forward, her movement fluid and natural, as if the surrounding time-space freeze had no effect on her. She leaned closer to Suri, almost touching his face, scrutinizing his eyes as if confirming something.

Every muscle in Suri's body tensed! He wanted to retreat, to question, to retaliate! But in this bizarre, time-frozen realm, he felt as if he were stuck in sticky glue, every movement becoming incredibly difficult and sluggish, far less agile than usual. He could only stare intently at Mostima, who was so close, his dark eyes burning with icy rage and extreme vigilance, forcing out a few words through clenched teeth: "What... are you doing?!"

Mostima ignored his anger, instead smiling even more brightly at his reaction. She put her index finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, her eyes gleaming like a cat that had just stolen some cream: "Don't be nervous~ It's just a little... test? Or rather, a... reward?" Her voice was alluringly magnetic.

A reward? Suri's brows furrowed into a tight knot! He simply couldn't understand this crazy woman's thought process!

However, before he could react, Mostima suddenly leaned down and, to Suri's astonishment, gently but with an irresistible force, kissed his lips!

The touch was warm and soft, carrying her unique scent, a blend of dust and exotic spices. The kiss wasn't deep; it was more like a mischievous touch, possessive and deliberate, lasting… for how many seconds? In this timeless environment, Suri couldn't tell.

Suri's mind went blank! He hadn't expected Mostima to pull this stunt so suddenly! A strong sense of violation and absurd rage instantly overwhelmed his reason! He wanted to push her away, to tear this reckless woman to pieces! But his body felt as if it were bound by invisible shackles, his movements as slow as a movie in slow motion!

When the kiss ended, Mostima straightened up, licked her lips, and wore a satisfied smile, her eyes filled with triumphant pride and a deeper curiosity. She looked at Suri's expression, frozen in shock and anger, as if admiring a perfect work of art.

"It tastes good~" she commented flippantly, then winked at Suri. "This is... a little reward for keeping the secret~ Little Suri, you have more secrets than I imagined~ How interesting!"

After speaking, she appeared as abruptly as she had arrived, her figure swaying slightly, like ink merging into water, instantly becoming blurred, and then completely disappearing into the still air.

The very next second after she disappeared—

"Wow—"

The cries of seagulls, the sound of waves crashing on the shore, the rustling of curtains, even the rising steam from the plates… all the frozen sounds and movements, as if a play button had been pressed, instantly returned to normal! Time began to flow again!

Suri remained frozen in place, head turned away, fork raised to his lips. The warm, soft touch and strange fragrance still lingered on his lips, reminding him that the absurd scene he had just witnessed was not an illusion! His face flushed red and then paled, his chest heaving violently, his dark eyes filled with unbelievable shock, overwhelming rage, and... a strange, inexplicable tremor that even he himself could not understand?

"Suri? What's wrong?" Remy's concerned voice came from beside her. In her view, Suri had simply stopped eating, turned her head to look behind the empty sofa, and her expression became extremely strange. The brief pause just now was, to her, completely irrelevant.

Suri snapped back to reality! He quickly suppressed all outward emotions, forcing himself to calm down. He couldn't let her know! Absolutely not! He took a deep breath, shoved the bacon he'd been holding into his mouth, and chewed mechanically, finding it tasteless. Then, he picked up the juice glass beside him, tilted his head back, and gulped it down. The icy liquid slid down his throat, seemingly extinguishing some of the inner turmoil and… that damned, lingering sensation!

After finishing his juice, he put down the glass, raised his hand, and roughly wiped his lips with his sleeve, as if trying to remove something unclean. A distinct blush uncontrollably spread across his cheeks, reaching his ears. Trying to remain calm, he turned his face away, looked out the window, and said in as indifferent a tone as possible, "...Nothing. I just choked a little."

His voice carried a barely perceptible hoarseness and tension.

Remien glanced at his slightly flushed cheeks and earlobes, and at his abrupt gesture of wiping his lips, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes. Choked? Wiping his mouth? Something felt... off. But she didn't detect any unusual energy fluctuations, simply assuming that Suri might be feeling unwell or in a sudden bad mood.

"Oh, then drink some water to help you relax," Remien suggested softly without giving it much thought.

Suri hummed in agreement and said nothing more. He picked up his fork again and silently ate the rest of his breakfast, but his mind was already far away. Mostima…time stopped…that kiss…her words about “secret” and “unaffected”…

Volume 17, Chapter 1060: What does she want to do?

What on earth is going on?! What is that crazy woman trying to do?! What did she discover?!

A barrage of questions and intense dissatisfaction surged through his mind like a tidal wave. He felt as if he were trapped in a vast fog woven by Mostima. What irritated him most was the discovery that, besides anger and disgust, he seemed to have experienced... a faint, forcibly ignored... physical reaction to that kiss? This made him feel even more ashamed and furious!

He forced himself to focus on the food in front of him and Remian beside him, trying to dispel the chaotic thoughts in his mind. But the lingering, eerie softness on his lips and Mostima's inquisitive and playful eyes were branded into his memory.

The latter half of breakfast ended in an atmosphere that appeared calm but was actually turbulent beneath. Suri struggled to maintain a facade of composure, but her heart was in turmoil. Mostima's sudden "visit" and that inexplicable kiss had undoubtedly cast an even more eerie and unpredictable shadow over this trip to Siesta. Suri knew that things... probably wouldn't end so simply. That troublesome woman definitely had more tricks up her sleeve.

After breakfast, Suri spent longer than usual clearing the table. He stood by the sink, the water rushing, the cold water washing over his long fingers, trying to wash away the lingering, eerie softness and the peculiar scent of Mostima that clung to his lips. He pursed his lips, a suppressed rage and a sense of unease at being forcibly invaded swirling in the depths of his dark eyes. That madwoman! Time stop? A kiss? What was she trying to do?! A "secret"? What had she discovered? A series of questions coiled around his thoughts like venomous snakes, making him agitated. He shook his head violently, trying to shake off these chaotic thoughts along with the water droplets. Now was not the time to dwell on this; he couldn't let these emotions affect Remian.

“Suri, shall we go for a walk?” Remien’s gentle voice came from behind him, like a refreshing breeze, slightly dispelling the gloom in his heart. She pushed her wheelchair to the kitchen doorway, her lake-blue eyes filled with anticipation for a new day, as if the ups and downs of last night and this morning had never happened. “After all that commotion last night, I wonder how it is outside now? The air should be better, right?” She tilted her head slightly, sunlight streaming through the window onto her soft cheeks, carrying a pure, healing power.

Suri turned around, looking at her smiling face, and the turmoil of anger churning within him miraculously subsided somewhat. He nodded, his movements a little stiff, but his tone remained as steady as possible: "Mm." He needed fresh air, needed real, flowing images to cover up that absurd memory. He picked up the thin jacket (a simple dark gray hoodie) draped over the back of the chair, put it on deftly, zipped it up to his chest, and then walked behind Remien, grasping the wheelchair's handle. The familiar metallic feel of his palm brought back a sense of control.

Pushing the wheelchair out of the villa, they were immediately enveloped in warm, humid air, thick with the scent of the sea and sunshine. Unlike the slightly somber atmosphere indoors, the outdoor world was brimming with life. The tropical plants lining the private path were lush and green, glistening with morning dew. Birdsong was crisp and melodious, and the distant sound of waves lapping against the shore was timeless and soothing. Suri took a deep breath, trying to fill her lungs with this natural, unpolluted air.

As they walked along the tree-lined path toward the main seaside street, the sounds of people gradually became clearer and louder. When the wheelchair rolled over the last stretch of cobblestones and truly entered Siesta's most bustling seaside promenade, the scene before him caused Su Rui to pause almost imperceptibly. A fleeting hint of surprise flashed across his usually half-closed, seemingly uninterested black eyes.

The trail was packed with people, a bustling scene.

Tourists in brightly colored beach shorts and bikinis, wearing oversized sunglasses, surged like a tide; children, holding cotton candy or adorable balloons, darted and played among the crowd like happy little animals, their laughter like silver bells; street vendors hawked their wares energetically, the air filled with the sizzling aroma of grilled seafood, the sweet scent of tropical fruits, and the distinctive coconut fragrance of sunscreen; the outdoor seating areas of cafes and restaurants were already packed, with people leisurely sipping coffee, eating breakfast, chatting and laughing, enjoying the pleasant seaside morning light. Further out, on the golden sand, countless colorful parasols and deck chairs were scattered, people swimming, sunbathing, and playing beach volleyball creating a dynamic scene. Laughter, music, and the sound of the waves intertwined to form a lively symphony of vacation.

If it weren't for the faint scratches and scorch marks still remaining on some of the railings along the edge of the trail, and the damaged road surface and collapsed flower beds that were surrounded by bright yellow warning tape and where workers wearing hard hats and small, noisy machinery were busy repairing them, it would be hard to believe that just over ten hours ago, a gunfight, explosion, and riot had taken place here, filled with smoke and panic.

The city of Siesta, along with its residents and tourists, seemed to possess an almost tenacious vitality and a rapid healing ability. The trauma of last night was quickly concealed, the memory of terror deliberately forgotten, replaced by an intensified, almost carnival-like atmosphere of seizing the moment to enjoy the holiday. This almost absurd, stark contrast gave Suri a cold, ironic...amusing feeling? A barely perceptible, almost ethereal smile curved his lips, a condescending, detached observation of humanity's instinct for self-preservation and selective amnesia.