Strange Rules Talk

"Why me? Why me? I don't want to enter this bizarre world!"

"Mom, Dad, where are you? I'm so scared, wuwu..."

"Dammit, dammit! Out of all the people in the country, why was I chosen? When I bought lottery tickets, why wasn't I this lucky? Damn it!"

Sun Kai frowned as he watched the people around him shouting and crying. He was confused—where was this place?

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head, and memories that didn't belong to him flooded his mind.

"The Bizarre World? And chosen as a national representative?"

Through these memories, Sun Kai realized one thing: he had crossed over into a strange world where the Bizarre World existed, and he had become one of the selected national representatives for this cycle.

But being a national representative wasn't something to celebrate. These were individuals chosen by the Bizarre World to enter its realm and compete on behalf of their country. If they succeeded, both they and their nation would reap rewards. But if they failed, not only would they die, but the Bizarre World would also descend into reality!

Unbeknownst to them, the entire nation was watching their every move through a live broadcast.

"We're doomed. Right off the bat, it's a five-person difficulty level. Are we going to be wiped out completely?"

"Yeah, the records from the past mention that the easiest is a single-person difficulty, and the highest is a ten-person difficulty. Five-person difficulty is no joke." "Two elderly people, two men, and one woman—this combination doesn't seem promising."

"Are we, the Xia Nation, about to face another long, dark era?"

Sun Kai had no idea that his every word and action were being watched. His gaze swept across the room. They were in what appeared to be an ordinary three-bedroom apartment, and there were five of them in total.

The group was a mix of men and women, young and old.

The old man wore glasses and had a scholarly air about him, resembling a professor.

The old woman had a kind face, dressed simply, with a slightly hunched posture.

A woman who looked about the same age as Sun Kai was quite beautiful, though her makeup was smeared from crying.

The last one seemed to be a boy of about seventeen or eighteen, his face full of anger as he kicked the nearby couch, cursing nonstop.

Just then, a stream of information automatically appeared in their minds.

[Welcome to the Rules Bizarre World. Here, you must follow the rules. Do not attempt to violate them.]

[Whether true or false, they are all rules.]

[Please note that your final outcome will affect the nation you represent.]

Sun Kai waited for a moment, but there was no further information. It seemed the others were in the same situation.

"So, what should we do next?"

It was the old professor who spoke, appearing relatively calm compared to the others. "According to past records of the Bizarre World, what we need to do is complete the scenario of this particular Bizarre World," replied the plain-looking old woman.

Sun Kai raised an eyebrow. Past records?

He searched his memories and recalled that the Bizarre World appeared roughly every five hundred years, though how long it lasted was unknown.

"I don't want to complete any scenario. I just want to go home," the young woman sobbed, her tears streaking her face. Unfortunately, no one paid her any attention.

The boy curled his lip and snapped, "What's the point of crying? Do you think crying will get us out of here?"

"Stop wasting time and let's figure out how to finish this scenario. I don't want to die here!"

Though the boy's words were harsh, he wasn't wrong.

"I suggest we start by searching this house for clues," Sun Kai said.

The Bizarre World had thrown them here without any hints, which was the most frustrating part.

Sun Kai's suggestion was met with agreement, and everyone chose an area to search. Sun Kai headed for the master bedroom.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside. It was a typical couple's room, with a double bed in the center.

There was also a wardrobe and a computer desk. The computer monitor looked bulky, an older model.

But Sun Kai's gaze was immediately drawn to a wedding photo on the bedside table.

The man was dressed in a black suit, and the woman wore a white wedding gown. The two of them were smiling brightly.

What sent chills down his spine was that the man and woman in the photo were none other than himself and the young woman!

"What's going on? Why is there a wedding photo of me and that woman? We don't even know each other!"

Sun Kai leaned in closer, carefully examining the photo. He was certain the man was his exact likeness, and the woman matched the young woman outside.

He took a deep breath and decided to set the photo aside for now. He moved to the computer desk and tried to turn on the computer, but it didn't respond. It seemed to be broken.

"Huh? A diary?"

Sun Kai's eyes lit up as he noticed a small notebook placed beside the computer. He quickly picked it up and opened it.

[Rules Bizarre World: Playing House]

[A family must stay complete and harmonious. Not a single member can be missing.]

[Rules]

[1. You are a father. You must fulfill the role of a father. Remember, you are only a father.]

[2. Do not tell anyone your name.]

[3. There must be no conflict between husband and wife. You must sleep in the same bed, even if she is not your wife.]

[4. After turning off the lights, do not believe any sounds you hear.]

[5. Remember to send your son and daughter to school on time. Do not speak to the teacher.]

These were the only contents written in the notebook. Sun Kai memorized them all. According to the previous information, these rules must be followed, but it was also mentioned that some rules could be false.

Sun Kai had no way to verify the authenticity of these rules. If he failed, the price he might pay could be his life.

Meanwhile, in a highly secretive location in the Xia Nation, a group of people sat watching the live feed.

"They've already started encountering the rules. To think there are five rules right off the bat—immediately have the think tank analyze them and identify any issues. We only have three chances to remind them. We can't waste them!"

A middle-aged man spoke in a steady voice. He was Xia Changqing, the leader of the special task force assembled by the Xia Nation to support these national representatives.

"Understood. The first rule: the role of the father is crucial. In a family, the father's role is highly significant, which means the man playing the father cannot afford to make mistakes. To be safe, we should reserve at least one or two reminders for him."

"The second rule: names cannot be revealed to anyone. This suggests that names are extremely important, though it's unclear why there's such a restriction."

"The third rule is a bit strange. If she's not your wife, how can she be considered your wife? This rule might be false, but even if it is, part of it could still be true and must be followed. We'll need to monitor the situation closely at night and remind the father if necessary."

"The fourth rule…"

Each rule was analyzed in great detail. On their screens, they also had live feeds of the other participants. They had all found the rules they needed to follow.

But strangely, the number of rules the others had was not as many as Sun Kai's.

Just as Sun Kai was about to search elsewhere, he suddenly noticed a small line of text added beneath the second rule.

[A name is just a label. You can call yourself Zhang San or Li Si, as long as you don't reveal your real name.]

A look of surprise crossed Sun Kai's face. What was going on?

Was this a new rule?

But he clearly remembered that this line hadn't been there earlier.

"Was I just seeing things?"

Sun Kai shook his head and turned his attention back to the wedding photo. This time, he noticed something strange.

When he stood at the bedroom door, it felt like the two people in the photo were staring at him.

But even when he stood by the computer, he still felt their gaze fixed on him. This situation sent a chill down his spine.

He didn't linger any longer. Grabbing the diary, he walked out of the bedroom.

Outside, the two elderly people and the boy were already waiting in the living room, but the young woman was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is she?" Sun Kai asked.

"I remember she went to the bathroom," the boy said with a hint of disdain.

Sun Kai frowned. The bathroom wasn't large, so it shouldn't have taken her this long.

Just as he was about to go check on her, a sharp scream came from the bathroom.

Sun Kai reacted quickly, rushing over and yanking open the bathroom door. What he saw inside made his blood run cold.

The young woman was crouched in the corner, clutching her head. And sitting on the toilet not far away was a little girl who looked to be about ten years old.

The girl tilted her head and spoke in an innocent, childlike voice, "Mommy, what's wrong? Why are you scared of Xixi?"