After two uneventful days, the group soon received an instance invitation from the system.
Who knew what had gotten into the system today? At seven in the morning, it blasted "The Hottest Folk Style" throughout the house. Fortunately, Ye Chu had already adjusted his sleep schedule and had woken up before seven.
After washing up, he stood before his wardrobe, choosing what to wear. Since he was about to enter another instance and had no idea what sort of environment awaited him, he picked a black shirt to be safe.
Black was slimming. Ye Chu was already lean, and the black shirt made his shoulders look narrower and his waist slimmer still. He tucked half the shirt into his waistband, showing off his long legs.
Once he was more or less ready, Ye Chu opened his door and headed downstairs for breakfast.
[You are the loveliest cloud on my horizon, let me keep you here with all my heart...]
Music from some unknown source rang throughout the little house. Even Pei Yanchuan and Wu You, who loved sleeping in, had been forced out of bed early, their faces full of resentment.
As he passed Pei Yanchuan's room, he could still hear him singing at full volume: "Stay right here!!"
The aroma of breakfast greeted Ye Chu as soon as he reached downstairs. He swallowed, sat down by the sofa, and helped arrange the bowls and chopsticks.
Lu Rui came out of the dining room carrying a pot of congee. Ye Chu hurried to take it from her. "Thanks for your hard work, Sister Lu."
"It's nothing. Are Little Pei and Youyou awake?" As Lu Rui spoke, she looked upstairs and happened to see Su Fengzi coming down with a yawn. "They're awake, they're awake. Little Pei's still singing in his room."
As if to prove him right, another burst of full-throated singing came from the nearby room: "Stay right here!"
Ye Chu was ladling congee from the pot when he saw Pei Yanchuan bouncing down the stairs. He wore a white hoodie, black sweatpants, and a headband, looking handsome and bright.
"We're entering an instance today. Are you sure you want to wear white?"
Pei Yanchuan glanced at the others gathered around the coffee table. They were all wearing dark clothes, making his white hoodie look completely out of place.
Pei Yanchuan puffed out his cheeks and sat beside Ye Chu. "Fine, I'll change into a black one after breakfast."
"The Hottest Folk Style" abruptly cut off, replaced by the system's cold voice:
[Players, you are about to enter the instance "Paradox Illusion." Please prepare yourselves.]
Everyone eating breakfast: ...
Pei Yanchuan hurriedly shoveled a few mouthfuls into his mouth. "I only just started eating! Let me have a couple more bites!"
Ye Chu set a cup of water beside him so he wouldn't choke.
[Instance loading progress: 1%...99%...] [Instance loading complete.]
A flash of white light swept across Ye Chu's vision, and he cursed inwardly. Last time it was a horrible smell, and now it's light pollution?! Can't they find a normal way to send us into an instance?!
When he opened his eyes again, he was in an unfamiliar place. The companions who had been beside him moments ago were nowhere to be found.
[Welcome, players, to the game "Illusion Paradox." The rules for this instance are as follows: In this instance, players must remain vigilant at all times. Discover paradoxes to break through illusions and return to reality. We emphasize again: players may stray into an illusion at any moment. Remain vigilant at all times. Remain vigilant at all times! Discover the ultimate paradox and break through the illusion to clear the game. Good luck, players. Remember our game's guiding principle: entertain yourselves to death!!!]
Ye Chu surveyed his surroundings, vaguely feeling that the room looked familiar. This...seems to be my bedroom?
He opened the bookcase and examined the specialist books inside. Yes, this was indeed his bookcase, and his room.
The audience outside the screen watched his movements, their comments flying past.
[Woohoo! Paradox Illusion! My favorite game!]
[Oh my god, why is this season nothing but intense stuff?]
[Ye Chu, handsome boy, I'm here! Slurp, slurp!!]
As Ye Chu pondered, a sudden buzzing filled his head. He blinked in discomfort.
He looked at the book in his hand. What...was I trying to do just now?
Someone knocked on his bedroom door, and his mother's gentle voice came from the other side. "Xingxing, are you up yet? Come out for breakfast."
Xingxing was his nickname. Ye Chu answered her and glanced at the alarm clock beside his bed. It was already eight. He had gotten up a little late today.
Rubbing his head, Ye Chu opened the door and stepped outside. His mother had an apron tied around her waist and held a spatula in one hand. "Why did you sleep in today? Were you up late last night?"
Ye Chu walked beside her to the dining table. The energy-saving light in the living room seemed unusually bright today, making his eyes hurt.
He pulled out a chair for his mother. "I stayed up late reading. I'll keep an eye on the time next time."
Ye Chu scooped up a spoonful of congee and looked at the rotating wall clock above the sofa, asking casually, "Where's Dad?"
His mother handed him a steamed bun. "Your dad's already gone to work. It's eight o'clock..."
Ye Chu had a vague feeling that something was wrong. Eight o'clock. No, that's wrong!
He looked up at the bulb overhead, which was giving off a harsh light, then glanced out the window. The sky was actually dark.
Ye Chu looked at the living room clock again. The hand on the wall clock was unmistakably pointing to three.
The light suddenly dimmed. The edges of the bulb, which had been dazzlingly bright just moments before, began to turn black.
His mother's face looked utterly unfamiliar in the darkness, and her voice was no longer gentle. It was hoarse and broken. "Why did you stop eating? Doesn't it taste good?"
Ye Chu looked at the steamed bun in his hand. It wasn't a bun at all, but a severed hand, blood still flowing from its wrist.
His stomach churned violently. He placed the severed hand back on the table, barely keeping his expression calm.
"Mom, my stomach feels a little upset. I'm going back to my room to rest." Ye Chu stood as he normally would and walked back to his room, one step at a time. He could feel a gaze fixed squarely on his back, but he didn't dare turn around.
Once he reached his room, he slammed the door shut and locked it.
Pounding came from the other side, along with his mother's...no, that monster's voice. "Xingxing, Xingxing, Xingxing..."
Ye Chu covered his ears, forcing himself not to listen to that ragged voice.
Paradox, paradox, paradox...
Leaning against the door, Ye Chu considered how to keep himself from getting trapped in an illusion again.
The sky beyond the curtains was dark-pure black, without a moon. Only a single star glittered in the night.
Ye Chu looked at that star. He stood, walked over to the windowsill, and reached out, wanting to pluck it from the sky.
As though the star knew his wish, it grew bigger and bigger in his eyes...
Smack-
Ye Chu slapped himself hard across the face. What was wrong with me just now? What happened?
He was standing at the windowsill, with one foot already outside. One more step and he would fall to his death.
Ye Chu hurriedly backed away two steps. This illusion...is terrifying.
He pulled the blanket over his head, refusing to look at the bright star in the night or listen to the piercing pounding at the door.
Without realizing it, Ye Chu fell asleep beneath the blanket.
Before you continue