Chapter 2

Chapter 2

002

Uncontrolled Scent.

Stunned, Chu Li watched as the woman supported Chu Heyang and left.

He simply couldn't comprehend the logic of 'a shoulder touch requires a hospital visit.' After much pondering, he could only attribute it to this world's peculiar 'customs.'

Now that it seemed only the three of them were in the house, the room fell silent after Chu Heyang and the woman left.

With the house empty, Chu Li also felt relieved. He stepped out of the room, curious to see what his 'home' looked like.

Exiting the room, a round-headed robot butler approached him, asking with a monotonous electronic voice, "Master, do you need any assistance?"

Chu Li found its green eyes unsettling, so he instructed it to move aside.

This artificial intelligence was much more obedient than the so-called 'artificial idiots' on Earth. It obediently walked to a corner, crouched down silently, and entered standby mode.

This house wasn't large, consisting of three bedrooms and a living room, yet it was filled with furniture that Chu Li had never seen before. The technological advancement in this world seemed to have surpassed Earth by leaps and bounds. After taking a stroll around the place, Chu Li switched on the projector in the center of the living room. The white wall transformed into a "television" with picture quality comparable to 4K.

The channel he happened to tune into was broadcasting the news. Behind the attractive female host was an expanse of stars. With a slightly hurried tone, she said, "Yesterday, the expeditionary force returned to port. In response to their victory on the new star M1456, the head of the expedition's external affairs department did not provide any explanation. Journalists have requested an interview with Admiral Jing Bai, the commander of the expeditionary force, but the request has not been approved by the expedition's external office..."

"It is understood that since news of Admiral Jing Bai's severe injury emerged on the 15th of last month, he has not made any public appearances..."

Although the news content seemed quite serious, Chu Li didn't think it was relevant to his life, so he changed channels.

The other channel was airing a drama, and surprisingly, the two main characters were both women. Chu Li stood there watching for a while. When one of the women took off her skirt, and the other exclaimed in a blissful daze, "My dear, you're so big," Chu Li turned off the TV in confusion.

What was going on? Was the societal norm here so open-minded?

With his shattered worldview in hand, Chu Li continued to search around the house.

Finally, he found the family's household registration book in a drawer of the television cabinet.

It turned out that the woman who had helped Chu Heyang leave earlier was their mother, Zhu Wei.

Chu Li was the older brother, aged 22, while Chu Heyang was the younger brother, a year younger than him. Apart from them, they also had a father named Chu Deyue.

What perplexed Chu Li was that behind each person's gender was an English word.

His and Chu Heyang's read "Omega," while Chu Deyue's and Zhu Wei's said "Beta."

What could this mean? Was it suggesting that he and Chu Heyang were still underage, whereas Chu Deyue and Zhu Wei had already reached adulthood?

Chu Li examined the household registration book several times but failed to find a definition. He had no choice but to put it aside for now.

After wandering around the "home," he returned to his room, where the overturned glass still lay on the floor. Fortunately, the cup was of good quality and hadn't broken.

He supposed he would be staying in this house for a while, so he disliked the idea of a messy room. Heading to the bathroom, he fetched a mop and broom to clean up the spill.

Once finished, he was exhausted. After returning the cleaning tools to their original spots, he collapsed back into bed.

This time, he didn't forget to lock the door.

---

Chu Li woke up from the noise outside after an unknown period of sleep.

"No matter if he's unharmed, he has no right to touch my shoulder! Don't think I'm unaware of his intentions! He's just jealous of me! Unable to defeat me through legitimate means, he resorts to such despicable tactics. Waaa... Mom, what if my gland is really damaged by him? How will I ever get married in the future?!"

This was Chu Heyang's voice.

Lying in bed, Chu Li appeared utterly perplexed.

Wasn't Chu Heyang a boy? Why was he crying about not being able to marry? Was he still asleep, or was Chu Li the one who hadn't woken up?

Outside, Zhu Wei seemed to be offering some sort of comfort. Chu Heyang quietened down for a moment but soon started crying again.

Unable to sleep due to the noise, Chu Li climbed out of bed with a headache.

His throat was parched, his stomach empty, and there was an itch at the back of his neck. His body felt peculiar.

Grabbing the water glass on the table, Chu Li prepared to go pour himself a drink. Although he hadn't fully grasped this new world, he understood that he and Chu Heyang were both Zhu Wei and Chu Deyue's sons. Given their relationship... surely it wouldn't be too much to ask for a glass of water, would it?

Pushing open the door, Chu Li found the trio chatting animatedly outside fall instantly silent, all eyes turning toward him.

Chu Deyue had returned as well. A man of average build, with an ordinary appearance, his gaze towards Chu Li flickered with an odd light.

Chu Li: "..."

This household gave him an incredibly odd sensation, as if Chu Heyang was the true family member and he was just an outsider.

Pausing slightly, Chu Li continued with his original plan and headed for the water dispenser nearby.

Pouring himself a glass of water, he didn't drink it immediately when Zhu Wei asked, "What kind of look were you giving your brother just now? Did you forget to take your medication today?"

"What?" The tone sounded like scolding, leaving Chu Li somewhat confused. "What medication?"

Zhu Wei was startled as well. "You didn't take your medicine?"

Chu Li became even more bewildered. "Why would I need to take medication?"

Zhu Wei paused, then suddenly smiled after a moment. "Oh, sorry, Mom was just worried about you. If you don't want to take it, then don't. By the way, Little Li, we're planning to stew some spare ribs tonight, but we're out of soy sauce. Could you help me buy a bottle? The supermarket is right downstairs – turn left when you exit the building."

As she spoke, she turned around to fetch a stack of money from a cabinet, walked over to Chu Li, and warmly stuffed the cash into his hands.

Her hands were much warmer than Chu Li's, and he wasn't used to being touched by others. After taking the money, he quickly withdrew his hand.

Zhu Wei didn't mind his gesture and still chuckled. "You can stroll around the supermarket. If you see anything you like, feel free to buy it. I usually pay more attention to Yang Yang, so I might have neglected you a bit. But Mom still loves you, don't hold it against me."

Chu Li frowned, feeling as if a weasel was paying a New Year's visit to a chicken.

Taking the money, he replied, "I'll get the soy sauce, I understand."

It was convenient for him to go out anyway, so he agreed.

"O-okay." Zhu Wei quickly glanced at the clock on the wall. "It's getting late, hurry up. You don't need to rush back. Take your time strolling in the supermarket."

"Mom..." Chu Heyang walked to Zhu Wei's side and tugged at her arm.

Zhu Wei swiftly shrugged him off and gave him a warning glare.

By then, Chu Li had already reached the door. He didn't notice the strange dynamic within the family— in his mind, it was just getting dark, and going downstairs to buy a bottle of soy sauce wouldn't lead to any trouble, would it?

Only after descending the stairs did Chu Li realize that the supermarket wasn't actually downstairs, as Zhu Wei had claimed. It was located across from their building, accessible only through a long, narrow, and dimly lit alleyway.

Unafraid of darkness or solitude, Chu Li strolled casually into the alley. However, upon entering, he realized there was another turn at the end, from which faint and uneven breaths could be heard.

When he was lying in his hospital bed before, he had heard about homeless people overseas who, without a home, would sleep in alleyways and gardens at night.

Perhaps this world was similar, with numerous vagrants wandering about at night. Chu Li wasn't particularly afraid, but an inexplicable chill ran down his spine, causing the back of his neck to tingle slightly. He didn't linger in the alley for long, quickly making his way out.

Exiting the alley, he found himself on a bustling and vibrant street lined with neon signs on either side. The road was crowded with pedestrians.

The architecture here seemed no different from what he remembered in his past life, except that the dazzling neon lights gave the entire street an ethereal quality.

What slightly puzzled Chu Li was that among the couples walking hand in hand, there were both male-female pairs and even two men of different heights, openly kissing as they strolled along.

He had no qualms about people's sexual orientations, but it seemed that in his previous life, society's acceptance hadn't been quite so high.

Maybe this place was more liberal?

It was the same with the TV dramas he had seen earlier.

With this small curiosity in mind, Chu Li entered a supermarket armed with his money.

The supermarket was deserted, with only the owner dozing behind the cashier's counter.

As Chu Li passed by, the owner suddenly snapped awake, his turbid eyes fixated on the nape of Chu Li's neck.

Moments later, the owner's eyes gleamed as he licked his lips—this Omega was on the cusp of his rut, exuding a mature and sweet scent of pheromones all over his body.

The owner was an Alpha, but he had married a Beta. Their married life was bland and devoid of passion.

He had heard that the pheromones between Alphas and Omegas were mutually attractive, and that couples usually had harmonious relationships after their union.

So this was the scent of pheromones, the owner thought greedily, inhaling deeply as the sweet aroma stirred deep desires within him.

This Omega on the verge of rutting wasn't wearing a collar. Wasn't this tantamount to undressing and provocatively inviting him?

Some Omegas were like that, seeking excitement. Since the other party seemed so 'generous', the owner saw no reason to hold back, ogling him even more hungrily.

Unaware of the peril he was in, Chu Li only felt a growing warmth at the nape of his neck, accompanied by some indescribable changes in his body.

How could this be? His new body might be young, but surely it shouldn't react just from seeing a bottle of soy sauce! Back when he was in his late teens, at the peak of his physical vitality, he had never experienced anything like this!

Feeling increasingly uneasy, Chu Li lost interest in meticulously selecting among the dozen soy sauce brands. He casually picked one up and headed to the checkout counter.

Placing the bottle on the counter, Chu Li looked up and found himself staring directly into the supermarket owner's eyes.

Eyes filled with desire, like those of a venomous snake, fixated on him, as if they could strip him naked on the spot!

Chu Li was startled.

Noticing that his gaze had been caught, the man didn't attempt to conceal it. Instead, he smiled at Chu Li and licked his lips again.

Chu Li's skin crawled at the man's actions, and he hurriedly lowered his head to avoid his gaze. "Just ring it up, please."

"The... sir, is this all you need? Our store has many more items that I believe would suit your taste. Would you like to take another look around?"

The owner, however, didn't proceed with the transaction. Instead, he leaned forward and asked Chu Li some irrelevant questions with a smile.

Chu Li immediately realized that the man was stalling for time!

Author's Note:

Title: Congratulations, Your Sanity Has Hit Zero (Infinity)

Gu Zhan was an ordinary man, unassuming, introverted, and even somewhat weak.

He was timid and cautious, with no grand ambitions; his only wish was to live a peaceful life until the end.

Unexpectedly, on his twenty-second birthday, he found himself trapped in an infinite game of life and death.

Sanity, also known as Sanity Points.

Exposure to horrifying and terrifying events would decrease one's Sanity Points. When it reached zero, a person would go mad, lose their rationality, and gradually become assimilated into the monsters within the game, devoid of sanity.

For the cautious and fearful Gu Zhan, this place was akin to doomsday. He cautiously mingled among the other players, avoiding anything that would decrease his Sanity Points.

His starting stats were low, and his Sanity Points dropped rapidly due to his timidity and caution. Everyone believed he wouldn't survive past three days. Yet, when those three days passed, Gu Zhan's Sanity Points hit zero—

The Pandora's Box was opened.

The once timid and cowardly Gu Zhan seemed like a different person. He became brazenly insane, with his combat power skyrocketing. Not only did he defeat all the terrifying bosses in the game, but he even dared to provoke them proactively.

He even reveled in this state of mind, losing himself in a frenzy beyond the reach of reason.

...

Welcome to the game.

Congratulations, your Sanity value has reached zero.

--

Beyond the Rules recently welcomed an incredibly adorable player, who, while roleplaying as a monster in the dungeon, drew a bustling crowd of NPC spectators around the live stream.

"He's so fair-skinned, and his figure is so delicate."

"The scent emanating from him is delightful, and his reactions when startled are adorably charming."

"So cute! I wish he would join our team..."

"I'm in love! I unilaterally declare him my 104th beloved spouse!"

Despite their concerted efforts, the player remained unassimilated.

Gradually, they realized that the terrifying Boss, whom even the monsters feared, seemed to be constantly lingering around this player.

"Sob, sob, he's so scary. I don't dare watch the live stream with him around."

"Why is he so close? Go away, don't touch my spouse... Sob, sob, he's staring at me! Is he going to kill me?"

"The terrifying Boss is too much, even that adorable player is crying."

...

Warning!! Warning!!

You have violated the rules of the game "Beyond the Rules." NPC harassment of cute players is strictly prohibited! Coercing players into intimate relationships beyond the scope of the game rules without their consent is forbidden!

Rules of the game "Beyond the Rules":

1. This game adheres to the principle of basic voluntariness. NPCs cannot force players to join the game. If discomfort arises, please exit the game promptly.

1. Death in-game corresponds to real-life death; please believe this rule.

2. The game rules are fair and impartial. All announced regulations are trustworthy, but players should carefully read them. Due to differences between the in-game and real-world environments, misunderstandings of the rules may arise between players and monsters.

3. Maintain rationality at all times.

4. Avoid making radical statements, as they may provoke retaliation from in-game monsters. They might appear in your fridge or sink in the dead of night, tormenting you with the sound of dripping water.

5. NPCs within the game are highly dedicated; players are expected to cooperate and immerse themselves in the experience.

6. Dungeons may be reused, so if you encounter regular players, remain calm and conceal your identity.

7. All monsters in dungeons are portrayed by NPCs. Do not doubt their commitment, and refrain from discussing personal matters while they are 'on duty' (likewise, NPCs are also advised not to initiate private conversations with players during gameplay hours!!).

8. Game streams are exclusive to monster characters. Feel free to scream when startled, knowing that your video will not be disseminated elsewhere.

Supplement 1: NPC harassment of adorable players is strictly prohibited.

Supplement 2: Prohibition on NPCs —

"The last page of the game rules was crossed out, with a note in red pen beside it that read, 'Not unwilling, he was delighted, so much so that he cried.'"

Game Rules: "?"