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

"What...is this?" Jian's voice, low and husky with a hint of just waking up (?), rang very close to his ear. Her tone seemed to carry pure curiosity, as if she were truly just an ordinary (?) observer interested in something unfamiliar.

Su Rui: "..." He opened his mouth, wanting to tell her to move away, but the words caught in his throat, making the request seem utterly ridiculous and powerless in this position. In the end, he just stiffly squeezed out a few words:

"...Games. For killing time."

“Game?” Jian seemed to ponder the word for a moment, then her gaze returned to the screen. At that moment, Su Rui’s pixelated character was cautiously exploring a new room filled with traps.

"This... you, little man?" Jian asked again, his tone still calm, but with a hint of inquiry.

"...I guess so," Su Rui replied vaguely, her fingers continuing to slide across the screen, trying to use her actions to mask her inner turmoil.

"What...is it doing? Fighting those...monsters?" Jian seemed to know nothing about the game mechanics, but his question was very direct.

“…Hmm. Clear the levels, find the treasure.” Su Rui said succinctly, not wanting to explain further. He couldn't wait for this woman to lose interest, or… let him go.

However, Jian didn't seem to have lost interest. She stopped talking and simply pressed her cheek against Suri's (Suri could feel her temperature gradually rising?), watching intently as Suri controlled the pixelated figure to adventure through the perilous dungeon.

Su Rui felt extremely uncomfortable under her gaze, and his actions became increasingly clumsy. His pixelated character took several more hits, and his health was critically low. He was getting annoyed and wanted to turn off the terminal, but then he felt that doing so would only make him appear more "guilty."

And so, the two of them stood in this extremely strange, intimate, and awkward position—Su Rui was tightly embraced from behind by Jian, Jian's cheek pressed against his cheek, the two of them "looking" at the terminal screen in Su Rui's hand—in this secluded corner piled with withered branches and fallen leaves, for who knows how long.

Only the sound effects of the pixelated characters running and fighting in the game, and the intertwined, gradually calming breathing of the two characters, create an absurd and... indescribable scene in the cold wind.

Suri's heart was filled with immense helplessness and... a strange sense of resignation that even he himself hadn't noticed. Fine... let her watch. As long as she doesn't do anything reckless... this... seems... bearable?

At least, it was much "gentler" than being pinned against the wall and kissed, or... dragged into a room for "interrogation"? Suri thought somewhat resignedly, controlling the pixelated figure as it slowly advanced deeper into the dungeon.

Against the backdrop of a dark corner and howling snowstorm, the pale blue terminal screen flickered with a faint but persistent light. The pixelated character from *Abyss Scar*, controlled by Su Rui (Snow Leopard version), had just narrowly defeated the boss guarding this level, looting a pile of glittering gold. Su Rui's tense nerves relaxed slightly with the pixelated effect of the boss crashing to the ground.

However, this relaxation lasted for less than a second. Because the warm, firm body behind him, and the clear, distinct breath and warmth of another person emanating from his cheek, constantly reminded him that he was being tightly "imprisoned" from behind by a blond goat with off-the-charts combat skills and bizarre behavior, in an extremely intimate and possessive manner, and was being "supervised" while playing games.

This experience was utterly absurd and made me extremely uncomfortable.

Volume 18, Chapter 1203, provides no information about SilverAsh.

Su Rui's patience finally ran out during this long and awkward "game sharing" session, which felt like a public execution. He controlled the pixelated character, hastily picked up the loot from the ground, and then, without hesitation, exited the game as quickly as possible, turned off the terminal screen, and stuffed it back into the pocket in his arms that seemed to connect to another dimension and isolate everything.

As the screen's light went out, the corner dimmed considerably, leaving only the bleak afternoon sunlight filtering through the bare branches. The disappearance of the game's sound effects left only the sounds of the wind, the rustling of snowflakes hitting the leaves, and... the intertwined breaths of the two people, unusually clear in the silence.

Suri took a deep breath, the cold, dry air filling his lungs and slightly clearing his mind, which had become somewhat drowsy from maintaining a stiff posture for so long and being under intense mental stress (despite ostensibly playing a game). He tried again, struggling forcefully, attempting to break free from the iron-clad arm of the mace.

"Is that enough?" Su Rui's voice was hoarse, filled with a suppressed emotion, a mixture of exhaustion, impatience, and shame. He didn't turn around, but coldly said, his tone leaving no room for argument, "Let me go. I have other things to do."

This time, his motivation wasn't just anger at being offended, but a clear purpose. The stack of postcards from Enya, filled with longing and anticipation, still lay quietly in his arms, warm and heavy. He couldn't, and shouldn't, be trapped in this dark corner by this inexplicable woman, wasting his time.

Perhaps it was because of the unprecedented, resolute coldness in Su Rui's tone, or perhaps it was because of the strength of his struggle, which carried an undeniable sense of urgency belonging to the mission, that caused his body to loosen almost imperceptibly... as the mace behind him, which had been holding him tightly like a sculpture, gripped him.

But they didn't let go immediately.

Su Rui could feel that Jian seemed to lift her face slightly from the crook of his neck. Her breath still sprayed onto his ear and the side of his neck, carrying a warm, unsettling scent.

"What is it?" Jian's voice rang out again, still deep and slightly hoarse, but the dreamlike confusion in it seemed to have faded somewhat, and he had regained some of the calmness and sharpness that belonged to a top warrior. "What is it?"

Suri gritted her teeth, deciding to stop beating around the bush. This woman seemed to only react to things that interested her; perhaps things concerning Enya and the Shivaesh family would make her seem "normal"?

“Enya…the Holy Maiden asked me to deliver a message to her sister Enshia.” Suri said as calmly and professionally as possible, trying to distance himself from personal feelings. “I need to go find Enshia now. So, please, let me go.”

He deliberately emphasized "Holy Maiden" and "her sister," hoping that this title would make this woman, who seemed a little "unclear" about "identity" and "relationship," realize the seriousness of the matter and... his current identity as an "envoy."

Sure enough, upon hearing the names "Enya" and "Enshia," Jian's body seemed to loosen a little. The arm across Su Rui's chest seemed to lessen its grip.

“…Encia?” Jian repeated the name, his tone devoid of emotion, as if merely confirming a fact. But Su Rui could sense that her gaze seemed to linger on his profile, carrying a scrutinizing and…inquiring quality?

"Hmm," Suri replied briefly, without saying anything more. He didn't know how much this woman knew about the Shivaesh family, and he didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble.

A brief silence. Only the wind howled.

Then, just when Su Rui thought that Jian would continue to ask about Encia, or fall into that inexplicable "memory" state again, Jian suddenly spoke up and asked a question that surprised Su Rui.

"No news for SilverAsh?" Mace's voice was calm and even, as if she were only asking about the weather.

Suri's body stiffened slightly again. SilverAsh? That cunning and calculating head of the Shiva'ash family, like a lone wolf in the snowy mountains? Why would Enya bring him a message? Given the complicated and distant attitude the two sisters had towards SilverAsh…

Almost instinctively, Suri shook her head. The movement was small, but very clear.

“No.” Suri’s voice also turned colder, carrying a hint of complex emotion towards SilverAsh that was barely perceptible. “Enya… seems to dislike her brother very much.”

He spoke these words directly, even with a touch of personal emotion. He could genuinely sense the undisguised distance, wariness, and even… a hidden, unacknowledged hurt in Enya's voice when she mentioned SilverAsh. This contrasted sharply with the concern and longing she showed when speaking of Enshia.

As soon as he finished speaking, Su Rui could clearly feel that Jian's body behind him seemed to have completely relaxed.

The arms that had been binding him like iron hoops finally, slowly, with a hint of something imperceptible... perhaps regret? Perhaps relief? Su Rui couldn't quite describe the feeling, but in any case, those arms released their shackles on him.

Fresh, cold air rushed into Su Rui's chest, instantly relieving the tightness in his lungs caused by the long embrace. Almost immediately, he took a step forward, creating distance between himself and the warm body behind him, then abruptly turned around to face Jian, his dark eyes filled with undisguised vigilance, anger, and... a hint of relief at finally being free.

Jian stood still, showing no excessive reaction to Su Rui's "escape." She merely tilted her head slightly, her eyes, like molten gold that seemed to burn with flames even in the dim light, quietly and with a strange focus, re-examining Su Rui. Her gaze was no longer filled with the predatory aggression and possessiveness of before, nor with the dreamlike confusion; instead... it carried a more clear light, as if assessing and confirming something.

She looked at Suri's cheeks, slightly flushed with anger and shame, her furry ears still perked up warily, their tips bright red, and her dark eyes, gleaming with a wary light at the prospect of regaining her freedom. The corners of her lips curved upwards in an almost imperceptible, extremely subtle arc, seemingly...with a hint of... satisfaction?

“No message to SilverAsh…” Jian repeated Su Rui’s words in a low voice, as if pondering their meaning. Then, she nodded, her movements swift and decisive. “Understood.”

Volume 18, Chapter 1204: I'll Take You There

Su Rui watched her warily, unsure what she meant by "understanding," or what she would do next. He subconsciously took a half-step back, his body tensing slightly, ready to react to her "crazy" behavior at any moment.

However, Jian did not pounce again, nor did she make any aggressive or "harassing" moves. She simply stood there, relaxed, her hands hanging casually at her sides, as if the aggressive woman who had just held Suri tightly in her arms was merely an illusion.

"Are you going to find Encia?" Jian spoke again, his tone returning to its usual calm, metallic quality.

“...Yes.” Su Rui replied briefly, his gaze still fixed on her, not daring to relax for a moment.

“I know where she is,” Jian said, his tone flat, as if stating a fact. “At this time, she should be in the greenhouse in the back garden, tending to her newly cultivated hardy flowers.”

Su Rui's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. She knew? How could she know so clearly? Could it be that she usually...

“I’ll take you there.” Before Su Rui could answer, Jian continued. This time, it wasn’t a question, but… a statement. Her tone carried an unquestionable, matter-of-fact air, as if her decision to lead the way was the most natural thing in the world.

Suri: "..."

He looked at Jian's face, which was sharply defined and exotically beautiful, as if sculpted by a knife and axe, in the dim light. He looked at her golden eyes, which had regained their calm but were still unfathomably deep, and alarm bells rang in his heart once again.

What is this woman up to now? She was clinging to him just a moment ago, and now she's offering to lead the way? This change in attitude is too fast! Could it be some new "scheme" that he can't understand?

Su Rui's vigilance instantly reached its peak. His first instinct was to refuse. He didn't want anything more to do with this dangerous woman, not even just to travel the same route.

“…No need. I can find it myself,” Su Rui said coldly, trying to bypass the mace and leave the corner from another direction.

However, the mace moved even faster than him.

She didn't even make any big movements; she simply turned slightly to the side, and once again precisely blocked Su Rui's path. Her movements were fluid and natural, as if they were just an unintentional shift, but Su Rui knew it was absolutely deliberate.

"The greenhouse area is currently undergoing renovations, with the addition of some new, non-public protective runes and warning barriers." Jian looked at Su Rui, his tone still calm, but the meaning behind his words made Su Rui's heart sink. "Without an inside guide or explicit permission from the triggerer, wandering around... will be very troublesome."

She paused, and a barely perceptible glint, like a "friendly reminder," flashed in her golden eyes. But no matter how Su Rui looked at it, the glint seemed more like a declaration that "you can't escape."

“Furthermore,” Jian added, his gaze sweeping meaningfully over Suri’s slightly “casual” home clothes—though specially made, they were clearly different from the uniforms of the servants or guards of the Shiva’s household—“If you walk around the manor like this… swaggering around like this, even if you can avoid the ordinary guards, it’s easy to attract unnecessary attention and… misunderstandings. SilverAsh hasn’t been in a good mood lately.”

Suri: "..." He fell silent. While Jian's words might have some ulterior motive, they... seemed not entirely unreasonable. His successful encounter with Encia last time had an element of luck, and perhaps SilverAsh's tacit approval. But now, he didn't want any unnecessary complications; he just wanted to complete Encia's request as quickly as possible and leave this dangerous place. Triggering an alarm by wandering around, or being mistaken for a suspect by SilverAsh's men, would indeed be very troublesome.

Moreover… Su Rui’s gaze almost imperceptibly swept over the smart, efficient uniform worn by Jian, clearly belonging to the high-ranking guards of the Shiva Ash family (or rather, SilverAsh’s private army). With her “leading” him, perhaps a lot of unnecessary checks and trouble could be avoided?

Seeing Su Rui remain silent, the almost imperceptible curve of Jian's lips seemed to deepen slightly. She didn't urge her any further, nor did she press closer; she simply stood there quietly, like a hunter patiently waiting for its prey to make a choice, her golden eyes calmly watching Su Rui.

Finally, Suri sighed deeply in his heart, feeling helpless. He weighed the pros and cons and realized that accepting this "crazy" woman's "kindness" seemed to be the most efficient and least likely to cause complications right now. At least, it would allow him to see Ensia as soon as possible and deliver the postcard to her.

“…Lead the way.” Suri spat out the two words through gritted teeth, his tone icy, filled with reluctance and wariness. He was determined to get rid of Ensia as soon as he saw her, and never bother her again.

Jian nodded, seemingly satisfied with Su Rui's "pragmatism." She didn't say anything more, but simply turned around and strode off down a more secluded path, in a direction different from Su Rui's original plan.

Her steps were steady and swift, as if she knew every inch of the manor like the back of her hand. Suri hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted her teeth and followed, keeping a "safe" distance from her.

The two walked silently, one after the other, through the intricate network of snow-covered paths and corridors of the Shivaish Manor. Jian led the way, his golden ponytail swaying slightly in the cold wind, his back straight and sharp. Suri followed behind, her eyes scanning their surroundings warily, while also having to admit that with Jian leading the way, they had indeed avoided all the visible and hidden sentry posts, taking extremely concealed passages that seemed designed specifically for insiders.

The atmosphere was eerily silent. The only sounds were the soft crunching of their footsteps on the snow and the faint sounds of the manor's daily operations in the distance.

After walking for a while, they were about to pass through a bare viewing courtyard adorned only with a few ice sculptures. Ahead lay the greenhouse area covered by a huge glass dome, which Su Rui had visited before. Su Rui secretly breathed a sigh of relief, planning how to quickly hand over the situation to Encia when they met, and then immediately escape.

Just then, Jian, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped without warning.

Su Rui's heart tightened, and she immediately stopped, her body tensing slightly as she watched her back warily.

Jian slowly turned around, her golden eyes gleaming with an eerie light in the bleak winter afternoon sunlight. She looked at Su Rui, her gaze calm, yet seemingly able to pierce through to the heart.

How did she figure it out? (Volume 18, page 1205)

"You..." Jian spoke slowly, his voice low and deep, carrying a hint of probing, "You seem to care a lot about... Saintess Enya?"

Su Rui's heart skipped a beat!

Su Rui's (Snow Leopard version) heart skipped a beat at Jian's sudden, pointed question—"You seem to care a lot about...Saintess Enya?". He looked warily into Jian's molten gold eyes, which seemed to see right through people, trying to discern whether it was pure inquiry, hidden hostility, or...some other emotion he couldn't understand.

However, Jian's gaze remained calm and unwavering, like frozen golden amber, revealing nothing but a faint hint of inquiry. It was as if she had truly asked casually, as if inquiring about the weather.

But this calm only amplified the alarm bells in Su Rui's mind. This woman had been behaving strangely and unpredictably ever since they met. First, she inexplicably clung to him, saying she "remembered something," then she "supervised" his gaming, and now she was suddenly asking about his relationship with Enya... What was she trying to do?

Suri disliked being scrutinized and probed, especially when it involved Enya. Enya was his only warmth on this cold, snowy mountain, the most important person he was willing to protect with everything. He didn't want, and wouldn't allow, anyone, in any way, to spy on, speculate about, or... threaten the newly established, shy yet ecstatic intimacy between him and Enya.

“None of your business.” Suri’s voice was even colder than before, like the deepest, eternally frozen ice of Sherag. He no longer concealed his impatience and disgust; his dark eyes flashed with a clear, unapproachable warning. “Lead the way.”

He didn't want to say another word to this crazy woman. He just wanted to see Ensia as soon as possible, fulfill her request, and then leave this awful place immediately, without looking back, leaving behind this blonde goat who made him so uncomfortable.

Seemingly sensing the coldness and resistance in Su Rui's tone, Jian's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly... The expression vanished in a flash, as quick as an illusion. But Su Rui keenly caught it. It seemed... not to be hostility, nor to be annoyed by being offended, but more like... confusion? Or perhaps, a slight annoyance at having some kind of "plan" disrupted?

But Jian didn't press further. She simply gave Su Rui a deep look, and then slowly, extended her hand.

It wasn't an attack, nor was it a restraint. The hand, with its distinct knuckles and long, slender fingers, bore a thin, hard callus from years of wielding weapons and training. Her target was Suri's cheek.

The movements were slow, even tentative, almost "gentle," as if the person simply wanted to touch it and confirm something.

However, the moment her hand reached out, Su Rui suddenly took a half step back as if stung by a scorpion! At the same time, he raised his hand, his movements as fast as lightning, with undisguised disgust and resistance, and fiercely... slapped away the hand that was reaching out to him!

"Snapped!"

A crisp, moderate tapping sound rang out in the quiet courtyard, sounding particularly abrupt.

Su Rui's palm slammed firmly onto the back of Jian's hand. He could feel the smoothness of the skin on the other's hand, the hardness of the thin callus, and... a force not to be underestimated. But Jian didn't seem to resist, letting him slap his hand away.

After slapping her hand away, Su Rui immediately withdrew it, as if he had touched something dirty, even rubbing it against his clothes in disgust (though it was just a psychological effect). His dark eyes burned with icy rage as he glared at Jian, his voice sharp with extreme disgust and anger at being offended.

"Don't touch me!"

His reaction was intense and unequivocal. He'd had enough of this woman's groping! Last time it was his ear, his cheek, his lips, a restraint, a hug… and now she wanted to touch his face? Who did she think she was?!

The hand that had been slapped away from Su Rui's arm hovered in mid-air for a moment. Then, she slowly withdrew her hand. Her face remained expressionless, but her golden eyes seemed to have become even deeper because of Su Rui's fierce resistance, shimmering with a complex light that Su Rui could not understand.

She looked at Su Rui, who resembled a cat with its fur standing on end, full of alertness and hostility. She saw his dark eyes, brightened by anger and burning like flames, and the healthy blush on his face from the earlier slapping and agitation. Her gaze lingered on Su Rui's face for a long time.

Then she spoke again, her voice even lower than before, carrying a strange, almost factual certainty:

"You two... are very close."

This time, it's not a question. It's a certainty.

Su Rui's heart tightened again. He pursed his lips, neither denying nor admitting, but staring intently at the mace with his cold, hostile black eyes, as if to say: So what if it is? It's none of your business!

However, Jian didn't seem to need his answer. She continued speaking, her tone calm, yet containing a kind of all-knowing "understanding" that made Su Rui extremely uncomfortable:

"So intimate...that there's no distance between us?"

She deliberately emphasized the words "no distance," her gaze sweeping meaningfully over Su Rui's slightly open collar, still bearing traces of last night's madness (which Su Rui herself was unaware of), and her furry ears, which were still erect with red tips due to excitement and shame.

Su Rui's body stiffened instantly at the sight of those almost blatant, suggestive words and gaze! A tremendous sense of shame and the rage of being completely "seen through" surged into his brain like magma! His cheeks, uncontrollably, rapidly heated up again, becoming scalding hot! Even his neck was tinged with a thin layer of red.

That damned woman! How dare she! How did she know?! Could it be... that she figured it out? From that hug? Or from somewhere else?!

A profound sense of absurdity and an anger at the invasion of his privacy nearly drove Suri to madness. He glared at Jian, his eyes practically spitting fire. He wanted to retort, to shout, to tear this despicable woman who had spied on his and Enya's most intimate relationship to shreds with the most vicious words!

But in the end, Su Rui suppressed the surging anger and shame in his chest. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He knew that anger would only make this crazy woman more "smug" and "amusing." He couldn't let her succeed.

Volume 18, Chapter 1206: Are you jealous?

So, Su Rui neither denied nor explained. Instead, meeting Jian's all-seeing gaze, he slightly raised his chin, a cold and arrogant smile appearing on his face, almost provocative. He deliberately spoke clearly, slowly, with an unquestionable, assertive tone, enunciating each word as he spoke:

"That's right. Very close. So close that... there's no distance between us."

He stared intently into Jian's eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of surprise, jealousy, disdain, or... any emotion he could anticipate in her calm, mask-like face. He wanted to see her "plan" disrupted, to see her reveal a flaw because of her "frankness" and "provocation."

However, Jian's reaction once again surprised Su Rui.

Upon hearing Su Rui's almost "declarative" words, Jian's face did not show any of the emotional fluctuations Su Rui had expected. Instead, he slowly revealed a thoughtful expression that seemed to say, "Just as I thought," or "I expected this."