Chapter 13 The Paradox Rule

Staring at the taskbar, Ji Linmo nodded without hesitation.
“Leave it to me.”

“Then I’ll trouble you, Mr. Ji.”

Nie Xiaolan handed a letter to Ji Linmo.
“All the instructions about my child’s care are written in the letter. Please read it carefully, Mr. Ji.”

After finishing her words, Nie Xiaolan gently patted Nie Haohao’s head, opened the door, and left.

Almost the moment Nie Xiaolan departed, Ji Linmo rushed to the bathroom, bent over the sink, and forced himself to vomit, expelling the soup he had mistakenly swallowed.

Sweat trickled down Ji Linmo’s cheeks.

When he drank the soup earlier, he had deliberately held a mouthful of steamed bun, then poured the rib soup onto the bun to soak it up.

Then, as he ladled the next spoonful, he quietly spat out the bun, hiding it beneath the winter melon.

But was the soup really poisoned?

He glanced at his reflection in the mirror, frowning slightly, then looked at the green plant beside the sink.

With a splash, he scooped up some rib soup from the table and poured it onto the plant’s leaves.

Instantly, the plant shriveled as if shocked, its leaves curling rapidly and wisps of black smoke rising.

The soup was poisoned—and the toxicity was considerable.

Ji Linmo’s eyes darkened; he thought of the parrot in the living room.

If it hadn’t warned him, he might have carelessly drunk the soup.

After rinsing his mouth thoroughly, Ji Linmo returned to the living room.

Nie Haohao was sprawled on the floor, playing with his toys.

“Caw! Run! Run!”

The moment Ji Linmo’s gaze brushed past the parrot, it lifted its head and squawked loudly.

“Caw! Trap! Run! Run!”

Watching the parrot, Ji Linmo saw worry and sorrow in its tiny, beady eyes—almost like a human’s gaze.

He withdrew his eyes and walked over, pretending nothing was amiss.

—This parrot was definitely raised by someone.

From its glossy, well-kept feathers, it was clear it was cared for.

Was it Nie Xiaolan or Nie Haohao?

No, it couldn’t be them. In this world of horror, rules counterbalance each other.

Since Nie Xiaolan had established the rule that there was no parrot in the house, she certainly didn’t care for it.

Unless... unless there was actually another resident in this house?

“Haohau, besides you and your mom, is there anyone else living here?”

Nie Haohao shook his head, looking puzzled. “No, it’s always just me and Mom. No one else.”

“Haohau, do you usually sleep with your mom at night?”

“I’m a man! Of course I sleep in my own little room! I don’t sleep with Mom.”

Ji Linmo’s eyes grew darker.

With just a few words, he deduced that there was likely someone else in Nie Xiaolan’s room, someone who had always secretly looked after the parrot.

But guest rules forbade him from entering the bedroom. For now, he couldn’t contact this person.

“Let’s check the letter first. That’s the most important thing.”

Ji Linmo rubbed his brow and opened the scented envelope.

A neat sheet of writing paper fell out.

[Words for Mr. Ji]
[1. Please ensure Nie Haohao watches TV only after 1 p.m., and only on children’s cartoon channels.]
[2. Nie Haohao is forbidden from watching TV outside the designated hours.]
[3. Nie Haohao’s lunchtime is 11:30 a.m. Lunch is prepared in the fridge. Please make sure Nie Haohao finishes all the carrots.]
[4. Nie Haohao loves to play in the elevator. When he’s in the elevator, do not disturb him.]
[Warm reminder: Haohao is an impatient child. Please do not make him wait for anything.]

This was troublesome.

Ji Linmo studied these rules, his brow deeply furrowed.

Because the rules before him were paradoxical!

Paradoxical rules are ones that directly contradict each other.

And at this moment, the rules for caring for Nie Haohao directly conflicted with the guest guideline: “Please agree to all of Nie Haohao’s requests.”

If he must fulfill Nie Haohao’s requests, then he can’t refuse if the boy doesn’t want to eat carrots or wants to watch TV outside the set hours.

“Uncle, what are you thinking about?”

Nie Haohao came over, clutching his toy.

Now, his eyes no longer bled, and he looked just like any ordinary seven-year-old boy—delicate and even a bit cute.

“Nothing, Haohao.”

Ji Linmo crouched down to meet Nie Haohao’s gaze.

“I was thinking about the video tape just now. Could you tell me more about the rest of the footage you filmed?”

But Nie Haohao turned his head away, showing a displeased expression.

“No, I want to watch TV now. Big brother, turn on the TV for me.”

Ji Linmo’s expression remained calm.

Here it comes! Nie Haohao, as expected, didn’t play by the rules.

“Big brother! Hurry up and turn on the TV! Why are you dawdling?”

Just a few seconds of hesitation, and Nie Haohao became angry.

He glared fiercely at Ji Linmo, bloody tears dripping from his eyes.

“Big brother, don’t you want Haohao to watch TV?”

With that, Nie Haohao opened his gaping maw, revealing sharp white teeth.

His long, crimson tongue, wet and slick, slid from his mouth, reaching toward Ji Linmo’s cheek.

Cold, slippery saliva smeared the man’s handsome face, stretching into a silvery strand.

Anyone else would likely be panic-stricken by now.

Paradoxical rules are a death curse for countless players.

No matter what you do, you’ll break one rule and die.

Unless...

Ji Linmo’s lips curled. He already had an idea.

“All right. But, Haohao, do you want to eat snacks while you watch TV?”

“Big brother will go downstairs to buy snacks for you, and we need to take the elevator!”

The moment he heard about buying snacks and riding the elevator, Nie Haohao dashed out the door.

“Great! I’ll press the button for the first floor!”

In the blink of an eye, Nie Haohao vanished, disappearing as if into thin air.

“Big brother, hurry up!”

At the elevator door not far away, the boy poked his head out, grinning.

That’s right—Ghost Boy Nie Haohao was the evil spirit in charge of collecting elevator fares.

Besides the house, the elevator was his territory.

But the guest rules only applied to the house.

Once inside the elevator, he was just another passenger!

“Haohao, big brother wants to discuss something with you.”

Ji Linmo narrowed his eyes, lips curling into a smile.

“Let’s not watch TV for now. How about we play a game together?”

“No! I just want to watch TV!”

Nie Haohao shouted.

“But, if you win the game, big brother will give you snacks every day. How about that?”