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

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

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

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

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

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

She didn't make a sound, only cried silently, her shoulders trembling violently from suppressed sobs. It was a silent catharsis, a release that had been building up for too long and had finally found a safe outlet.

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

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

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

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

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

Suri's hand, frozen in mid-air, ultimately didn't push Enxia away. Instead, hesitantly, with an even more clumsy gentleness, slowly landed on Enxia's back, which was trembling slightly from crying. He gently patted her back, one stroke at a time, his movements somewhat awkward, but exceptionally patient.

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

Volume 18, Chapter 1211: Cry, Cry

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

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

The sobs in her arms seemed to grow even more unrestrained with his clumsy yet gentle comforting words. Enxia no longer suppressed herself; she buried her face deeper into Suri's embrace, as if trying to release all her grievances and longing through her tears. Her body trembled slightly from crying, but the grip on Suri's clothes loosened, as if she had found a safe haven where she could finally let loose and vent.

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

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

Time flowed slowly in the warm air, in the silent growth of plants, and in Enshia's gradually calming sobs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible, leaving only a faint, tearful trailing tone and the tips of her ears, which trembled uncontrollably with extreme shame and were so red they looked like they were about to burst into flames.

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

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

“…It’s alright.” Suri’s voice carried a gentle smile that even he himself didn’t realize. He patted Encia’s back lightly, indicating that she could get up. “It’s just a piece of clothing. Are you… feeling better?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He slightly raised his head, his gaze returning to the sky beyond the glass dome. In his heart, however, he couldn't help but think of Enya, far away on the sacred mountain. What would her expression be if she knew that her sister had cried in his arms because of his (though mainly because of her) clumsy attempt at comforting her, and was now too ashamed to look up…

Perhaps... there will be a little jealousy, but more than that, there should be heartache and relief, right? After all, the fact that Ensia can vent her emotions so unreservedly at least shows that she feels safe and accepted here.

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

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

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

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

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

Suri (Snow Leopard version) held Encia in his arms, feeling her breathing gradually calm down, from her initial silent crying to her soft sobs, and now... to her gradually steady breathing. Her soft and petite body gradually relaxed under his pats, which were sometimes clumsy but sometimes patient. It stopped trembling slightly from crying and stopped stiff and tense from extreme embarrassment.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She... fell asleep.

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

only……

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

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

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

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

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

This is troublesome.

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

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

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

Suri was caught in a dilemma. He held the sleeping Enxia as if she were a fragile and clingy treasure, unsure whether to move or not. The warmth of the greenhouse now seemed to carry a hint of anxiety.

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

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

There was no sound, as if the person who opened the door knew exactly how to control the force and angle of the door.

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

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

mace.

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

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

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

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

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

He glanced at Enshia, who was sleeping soundly in his arms, unconsciously nuzzling his chest and purring contentedly, then at Jian, who stood like a guardian spirit at the door, seemingly unwilling to leave. After a moment's thought, he helplessly mouthed to Jian:

"Can you do me a favor?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Su Rui felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, especially when he thought about the "forceful kiss" she had given him outside the door earlier, and his ears began to burn again. He looked away from the mace, gesturing with his eyes for her to hurry up and help.

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

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

The next second, under the gaze of Suri's suddenly wide, incredulous black eyes, Jian used the ease and posture of lifting a bag of flour to lift Suri, who was holding Ensia, horizontally from that rattan chair!

Princess hug.

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

Suri: "!!!"

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

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

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

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

Suri's lips trembled. He wanted to yell and struggle, but Encia in his arms made him hesitate. He was afraid that if he made any big movements, he would really wake her up. Besides, Jian held her very firmly, his arms like the strongest steel hoops, making it impossible for him to struggle.

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

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

"Isn't this fine?"

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

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

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

But... this isn't the kind of help he wanted at all! This is simply... this is...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Inside the Shivaish Manor, the corridors were carpeted with thick, soft, dark carpets, and the walls were adorned with classical oil paintings depicting snow-capped mountains and hunting scenes. Wall lamps cast a warm, soft glow. Jian, carrying Suri (and Enshia clinging to him), moved silently and steadily through the corridors, like a ghost traversing his own territory.