Rule-based Creepypasta: My Family is Not Normal

[Welcome to the world of Rule Horror. Please stay alert at all times while you're here.]

[Your success or failure will directly impact your country.]

[If you die or get contaminated in the Rule Horror world, corresponding horrors will descend upon your country.]

Zhou Bai opened his eyes and found himself standing in a room. Suddenly, a flood of memories surged into his mind.

In this parallel world invaded by the bizarre, each country randomly selects a "Chosen One" to enter the world of horror tales. The chosen person bears the fate of their country, and their every move is live-streamed for the global audience to watch.

Unfortunately, Zhou Bai had become this chosen person.

—"Is this really our Great Xia's Chosen One? He looks alright, but doesn't seem very smart."

—"I can't believe all our fates are now in his hands."

—"I hope Zhou Bai can live up to expectations."

—"Everyone, stay calm. Our Great Xia is prosperous; we'll be fine."

At this moment, Zhou Bai noticed a notebook in his hand. He opened it and read its contents.

[Home is your warm harbor, but you must follow the rules to create a happy and harmonious family atmosphere.]

[Rule A]

[1. You live with your wife and parents, but remember, there are only three people in your home.]

[2. Maintain a good relationship with your wife.]

[3. You can trust your wife unless she removes her red hairpin.]

[4. You now sleep in the study. After midnight, lock the study door and do not open it for anyone.]

[5. You and your wife have no children. If you hear a baby crying at night, ignore it.]

[6. You have a black dog. If it turns white, throw it off the balcony.]

[7. Never share a room with your wife.]

Zhou Bai, who had been single for 22 years, was now suddenly thrust into the role of a husband. It was indeed challenging. He frowned at the rules in the notebook. There were only seven rules, clearly incomplete. But even these seven rules were enough to send chills down his spine.

In the living room, two elderly people with white hair, presumably his parents, were watching TV. From the bathroom in his room, he could hear the sound of running water. Through the frosted glass door, he could see the silhouette of a woman showering, likely his wife. Including Zhou Bai, there were four people in total.

Rule number one: [There are only three people in your home]. Who were his real family members, and who was the "it"?

Zhou Bai fell into deep thought. As soon as the rules were announced, analysis teams from various countries began discussing these rules.

"It's just the beginning, and there's too little information."

"We can see that rules two and three have some contradictions."

"With just these seven rules, it's hard to tell what's real."

"Each country has three hint opportunities. Let's hope Zhou Bai can hold on until we can provide him with information."

"So far, he seems relatively calm. Some Chosen Ones from other countries have already broken down just by seeing the rules."

In the live stream, a seductive female voice came from the bathroom.

"Honey, can you bring me my nightgown?"

The audience, thinking along with Zhou Bai, felt a chill run down their spines upon hearing this voice.

—"It's not good to agree to requests without understanding the household situation first, right?"

—"But we need to maintain a good relationship with the wife. Refusing might be bad."

—"But rule three says you can trust your wife. This is contradictory."

—"And we don't know if the wife is wearing the red hairpin. There's a risk."

—"What will Zhou Bai choose? I'm so worried."

In the Iron Tower Country's live stream, the romantic Charles felt there was no reason to refuse his wife's request.

"Oh, beautiful lady. Charles is at your service."

He immediately picked up the nightgown and walked towards the bathroom. A delicate hand with red-painted nails reached out from the bathroom. Charles, seeing the hand, began to fantasize. He placed the nightgown in the hand, but the hand grabbed him back.

"Oh, beautiful lady. Aren't you being too forward?"

Then he felt a tremendous force pulling him into the bathroom. With a "click," the entire bathroom turned blood red. The Iron Tower Country's live stream went dark.

—"Damn it, that idiot Charles."

—"At a time like this, all he thinks about is women."

—"It's over. Horrors are going to descend on the Iron Tower Country."

Other countries' Chosen Ones were not as easily swayed by beauty. For instance, the Chosen Ones from the Kimchi Country and the Ah San Country immediately refused their wives' requests and survived. However, they didn't know that after their refusals, their wives' expressions turned strange.

Some Chosen Ones were still stalling for time, not agreeing or refusing their wives' requests. Zhou Bai was among them. He stood still because a mechanical voice sounded in his mind.

[System activated]

[Each time you obtain a rule, you get one chance to identify a false rule.]

[Rule A, third rule, is false.]

Zhou Bai looked at the notebook. The third rule read: [You can trust your wife unless she removes her red hairpin]. Could it be that the wife was not trustworthy?

In the bathroom, the wife's voice grew anxious and slightly annoyed as she waited for Zhou Bai's response.

"Honey, honey, are you out there? Please help me."

Zhou Bai's mind raced, and sweat appeared on his forehead. Should he refuse her? Something still felt off. Then, his gaze fell on a photo on the bedside table. In the photo, his wife wore a red hairpin and had an indescribably eerie expression. His heart skipped a beat, and he quickly looked at other photos. After seeing his wife's expression in the other photos, a hypothesis formed in his mind.

Time was running out for Zhou Bai to act. He picked up the nightgown and walked towards the bathroom.

Great Xia's audience grew anxious watching Zhou Bai's actions. Charles from the Iron Tower Country had just died after agreeing to his wife's request. Was Great Xia about to face the same fate?

Great Xia's experts watched Zhou Bai nervously. If necessary, they might have to use one of their hint opportunities.

But Zhou Bai, standing at the bathroom door, did not hand the nightgown to his wife. Instead, he opened the bathroom door directly. What was he planning to do?