The original studio apartment was transformed into a luxuriously decorated three-bedroom apartment.
The curtains were drawn tight, and the lights were on, making it impossible to tell whether it was day or night. The clock on the wall showed 8:00 am.
A family portrait hung on the living room wall, the faces in the photo slashed with a knife.
On the sofa sat a middle-aged couple, engrossed in watching TV. The TV screen, however, displayed only static, nothing else.
On the balcony, an old woman sat in a wheelchair, eyes closed.
Su Qingyu suddenly appeared in the living room, with Shuangxi silently standing behind her.
A faded sticky note materialized in her hand.
[Welcome to Sweet Home, a happy family. To ensure that this ordinary life continues, please abide by the following rules and play the role of the daughter. If violated, you will bear the consequences.]
Sweet Home Rules (Part 1)
[1. Remember, you are Mom's good daughter. Mom loves you very much, and there's nothing wrong with love, even if the way it's expressed is a little off.]
[2. Dad works hard for this family, so don't refuse him. He's under a lot of pressure. If you must refuse, act spoiled and seek your mother's help.]
[3. You are a good girl, and good girls don't date.]
[4. No pets are allowed in the house. Mom hates pets, especially cats.]
[5. Grandma needs to rest, don't disturb her.]
[6. You need to take online classes in the study from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm and from 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm. Please keep quiet during class. The study doesn't exist outside these hours.]
[7. If you don't want to see them, you can go back to your bedroom and lock the door. They won't disturb you.]
[8. Little brother is very naughty. If he disturbs Grandma, remember to stop him.]
Shuangxi looked at the note and reminded her, "The rules are contaminated. Master, you must remain clear-headed. If you are severely contaminated, I can help you once."
Because there were people in the room, Su Qingyu didn't speak but just nodded.
At that moment, the middle-aged couple turned their heads in unison and looked at Su Qingyu.
Mom beckoned to her, "Honey, there's still sometime before your online class. Come watch TV with Mom."
Dad said nothing.
Judging from the surface meaning of the rules, it could be determined that Mom was less dangerous than Dad.
The sticky note said: Sweet Home Rules (Part 1), which meant there were more rules (Part 2).
Without knowing all the rules, she faced unknown dangers.
Mom and Dad could only see Su Qingyu as if they couldn't see Shuangxi.
Su Qingyu sat on the sofa and stared at the blank TV screen.
Seeing Su Qingyu sit down, Mom smiled, while Dad frowned.
The TV remained blank.
Dad's expression grew more and more irritable.
After half an hour, Su Qingyu stood up.
She said to her parents, "My online class starts in an hour. I want to go back to my room and review yesterday's lesson."
Dad's frown relaxed. "Children should study more and watch less TV when they have free time.
Children who don't study will never achieve anything!
If your grades are bad, you might as well give birth to a char siu bao (Cantonese BBQ pork bun)!"
He was exceptionally agitated when he mentioned char siu bao.
Mom added, "Don't study too hard. Study hard when it's time to study, and have fun when it's time to play."
Su Qingyu obediently replied, "You're right, Mom and Dad."
There were three bedrooms, one gray, one pink, and one blue.
The gray room was decorated with Dad and Mom's wedding photos.
The pink room had skateboards and basketballs.
The blue room was filled with dolls.
Mom and Dad suddenly stood up, ignoring the TV. They stood in the living room, blocking the way to the bedrooms, staring at Su Qingyu.
Dad's eyes were pitch black as he asked, "Daughter, why aren't you going to your room to study? Do you want to watch TV? Are you being disobedient? Did you lie to me just now about going to study?"
His voice got louder and louder.
Choosing the wrong bedroom would mean "not wanting to study" and "lying."
Su Qingyu didn't dare to act rashly. She motioned for Shuangxi to scout ahead.
Shuangxi went into the bedrooms one by one, searched around, and then came out.
"The blue room's closet is full of sportswear, there are sanitary napkins in the basket, and there are photos of a girl exercising on the bedside table. It should be the daughter's room.
The pink room is full of boys' clothes. There are notes and greeting cards from others asking the younger brother to pass them to his sister next to the doll. It should be the son's room.
The gray room is all adult clothes, it should be Mom and Dad's room."
As Shuangxi spoke, Mom and Dad's eyes were fixed on her.
They could see Shuangxi!
Su Qingyu decisively entered the blue room.
The angry voice outside quieted down.
Rule number seven.
[If you don't want to see them, you can go back to your bedroom and lock the door. They won't disturb you.]
Su Qingyu said to the outside, "Mom and Dad, I'm studying in my room. I'm closing the door."
Dad didn't say anything.
Mom nodded at her.
This rule was right. Su Qingyu locked the door.
Walking to the desk, she opened the books. They were filled with indecipherable scribbles.
She searched the room quietly for a while but found no other rules.
She needed to go to the study for online class at 9:30 am. There was only one alarm clock in the blue room, but the time on the alarm clock still showed 8:00 am.
When she had just entered the dungeon, the time in the living room was 8:00 am.
It was impossible that not even a minute had passed.
This time was wrong!
Su Qingyu felt a chill run down her spine.
If she went out to check the time now, Dad might misunderstand that she wanted to watch TV and get angry.
If she didn't go out to check the time and missed her 9:30 am online class, she would be breaking the rules.
Breaking the rules would result in contamination at best and death at worst.
Su Qingyu remembered Mom and Dad's gaze just now and asked, "Shuangxi, can Mom and Dad see you?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't they look at you when you first appeared?"
Shuangxi stood stiffly beside the desk, her ancient attire completely out of place in this room.
"I am not within their rules, nor am I connected to them. They noticed me because I helped Master."
"Will Mom and Dad attack you?"
"Within the rules, they will attack me if they deem it necessary."
Su Qingyu lowered her eyes in thought. She didn't burn many paper figures, and each paper figure should have a different function.
Shuangxi had already helped her once. If she was asked to check the time in the living room again, it was likely to attract Mom and Dad's attention again.
Su Qingyu didn't know what would happen then.
Shuangxi was very useful. It wasn't an emergency right now, so there was no need to sacrifice her.
Su Qingyu then remembered the offering cards.
She should have burned a paper Jiang Shi Dandun women's watch.
Offerings couldn't be contaminated, so the time on it must be accurate!