Forbidden Rules: Paradox of the Rules

[System + No Female Lead + Livestreaming + Mystery + Not Invincible + No Golden Finger + No Dumbing Down]

A sharp crack rang out, and the elevator lurched to a stop. The crimson indicator overhead displayed a number that absolutely should not have been there:

4!

Zhang Tao sucked in a breath, eyes wide. “F-Fourth floor? There isn’t even a fourth-floor button, Chief!” He stared at the panel, then at the indicator, as if he’d seen a ghost.

Shen Ci’an’s pupils contracted. His heart pounded like a war drum. Rule Two (the elevator only stops on odd-numbered floors) and Rule Four (even-numbered floors do not exist) had both been flagrantly violated! A point of conflict between the rules!

[The comments exploded:

“WTF??? Fourth floor?!”

“There really isn’t a button for it! Is this paranormal?!”

“Special effects! It has to be a livestream effect! Captain Shen’s team is awesome!”

“I’ve got goosebumps! Zhang Tao looks like he’s about to wet himself!”

“Captain Shen’s expression… terrifying!”]

[Warning! Rule conflict! Abnormal spatial folding detected! The logical foundation of Rule Four is under attack!] For the first time, the System’s electronic voice sounded agitated.

The brass lattice doors slid apart with an ominous slowness, creaking as they went.

Beyond them lay an unnaturally clean corridor, so quiet it was suffocating. Pallid lights, snow-white walls, gleaming beige tiles. Everything looked unnaturally new and eerily empty.

At the far end of the corridor, a door stood out like congealed blood, embedded there without warning. Its number was painfully clear in the cold light:

404.

“Residents on even-numbered floors… don’t exist?” Shen Ci’an repeated the rule under his breath, his voice cold as ice.