INSIDER Chapter 154

7’s identity in the real world was erased by the “rules.”

Lu Chu had anticipated that, as someone within the game, he might not have an identity in the real world. However, what he didn’t expect was that 7 also had no identity.

He vividly remembered the day he found 7 in a narrow alley.

He helped wipe the blood off 7’s body, then held him in a corner, quietly waiting for 7 to regain consciousness. The occasional cold wind that blew through the alley was bone-chilling, so Lu Chu held 7 tightly, trying to transfer his warmth to him.

After squatting quietly for a while, Radish suddenly barked twice at Lu Chu and then ran out. Lu Chu knew Radish’s bark meant it was going to find help. He wanted to stop Radish because this place was so unfamiliar to them, and where could they find help? Moreover, even though 7 had no visible wounds, his body was covered in blood. Seeing such a condition would shock any ordinary person; they would likely call the police rather than help.

At that time, both he and 7 had no identities. One was not injured but covered in blood, and they might be mistaken for criminals.

However, Radish ran so fast that it was out of sight in no time, and Lu Chu couldn’t stop it.

Unexpectedly, Radish returned shortly, holding a flyer-like paper in its mouth.

Radish handed the paper to Lu Chu. When Lu Chu took it out, he found it was a “lost dog” flyer.

The flyer didn’t include a photo of the lost dog but described its general characteristics—a golden retriever, intelligent and fierce. It also roughly described the dog’s fur color and size. Finally, it mentioned that the beloved dog “Radish” was lost, and the owner was very anxious. If found, please contact the owner for a generous reward.

At the bottom, it listed the contact number and the contact person—Song Gui.

Lu Chu had no phone or money used in the real world, so he had to clean his clothes and ask someone on the street to borrow their phone to call Song Gui. Usually, people on the street wouldn’t lend their phones to strangers, but fortunately, Lu Chu looked gentle and decent, not like a bad person.

On the phone, Song Gui asked for the address, drove over, and picked up the two people and the dog.

“I’m really clever,” Song Gui said in the car. “If I had directly described your appearances in a missing persons flyer, people might have mistaken you two for wanted criminals. Instead, writing a ‘lost dog’ flyer is much safer and more reliable.”

He glanced at 7, who was covered in blood: “Luckily, you appeared in a secluded alley. Otherwise, Qi Li with all that blood might have ended up in a detention center.”

7 said, “Qi Xiuming.”

“Hmm?” Song Gui was puzzled.

Lu Chu explained, “Xiuming is his real name.”

Song Gui understood and didn’t ask further, just said, “I posted the lost dog flyer to find Lu Xiao Chu because as someone within the game, he probably had no real-world identity.”

Unexpectedly, Qi Li… Qi Xiuming was also here.

“In this world, I indeed have no identity. I suddenly appeared on the commercial street, and Xiuming was lying in that alley.” Lu Chu asked Song Gui, “How about you? Where did you appear after leaving the game?”

“In my own home,” Song Gui replied, “just like when I suddenly appeared before the ‘rules,’ time seemed not to have moved. The scene was the same when I disappeared and reappeared.”

Just as Lu Chu thought, players who escaped from the “rules” would return to the city they once lived in.

Song Gui didn’t drive away from the busy area but bought new clothes for the two of them in the mall and took them to a restaurant on the top floor for a meal.

Afterward, the three sat back in the car, and Song Gui asked, “Where to now?”

“No. 126, Nanhe Road,” 7 said in a deep voice.

Lu Chu turned to look at 7 and found that he seemed to be in less pain, probably because the pain in his body had gradually subsided.

“Nanhe Road? Let’s go.” With that, Song Gui drove towards Heda Street.

However, when they arrived, 7 looked at the street and fell into deep thought.

Song Gui rolled down the car window and looked out: “Is this your home?”

7 shook his head: “It was my company, but not anymore.”

Lu Chu was puzzled: “What do you mean?”

Song Gui raised an eyebrow: “Did someone acquire your company? But that doesn’t make sense. We should be the same; the time we entered the game and returned should be the same. No one had time to acquire your company unless…”

They soon found out the reason.

Just as 7 almost couldn’t escape the “rules” for Lu Chu, he managed to return to the real world after breaking free from the game. Although he shed the identity labeled as 7 and survived, there was almost no trace of his life in this world.

7 remembered his name and all his past in the real world, but no one in the real world remembered him.

This city was where 7 last lived before being pulled into the life-and-death game of the “rules.”

7 had his own home and company in the real world, but the company he remembered had become another building. As for his home, the apartment he bought in the complex was said to have been bought by a man named “Qi Xiuming,” but the neighbors, including the security and property managers, said they had never seen anyone living there.

Parking the car on the roadside, Song Gui sent a message, and half an hour later, he told Lu Chu and 7: “I just had someone check. There is indeed a person named ‘Qi Xiuming’ who bought an apartment here, but no one has ever seen him, even the sales office has no impression.”

Lu Chu: “…”

Suddenly, Song Gui remembered something and smiled mischievously, encouraging them: “The apartment complex uses fingerprint recognition to enter the room. Let’s give it a try.”

Lu Chu: “How do we get into the complex?”

Song Gui: “Face recognition.”

Lu Chu was puzzled: “Whose face?”

Song Gui put on sunglasses and smiled: “Mine. I have a friend with property there.”

With a “let’s try” attitude, the three entered the upscale complex.

To their surprise, 7’s fingerprint indeed opened the building.

Once inside, they found the apartment clearly lived in, with a cup of warm water on the table. Yet, the information Song Gui found indicated no one had ever been seen living here, even the security guards had no impression. Could “Qi Xiuming,” who bought this apartment, live here without paying utilities, buying groceries, or going to work, purely relying on photosynthesis?

Song Gui joked: “Are we trespassing?”

“No,” 7 said, “I poured that cup of water.”

After that, 7 looked around and continued, “Everything here is exactly as it was when I was pulled into the ‘game.'”

7 then found a drawer with various documents—all the ID photos were of 7.

Thus, they confirmed this was 7’s home.

7’s identity problem was easily solved. Since his fingerprint worked, and there was a person named “Qi Xiuming” in the world, with ID cards, property certificates, etc., in the apartment. Even if he was like an invisible man, unseen by anyone, they could just assume he was a recluse. However, his former company was no longer his, with no proof of existence.

As for Lu Chu’s identity, Song Gui used his connections to create one for him.

Later, Song Gui also used his connections to gradually find Yuan Kejie and the others.

.

Two months later.

After settling in the real world, Lu Chu found his life wasn’t as peaceful as it seemed. Occasionally, he would see things others couldn’t.

He told 7 about this, only to learn that 7 also had moments of glimpsing non-scientific entities—despite knowing 7’s real name, Lu Chu still habitually called him “7” when it was just the two of them.

This was very strange, and Lu Chu wondered if all those who escaped the “rules” could see paranormal phenomena, so he called Song Gui.

Song Gui sounded relaxed, not with the forced humor he used in the “game,” but genuinely at ease: “Hey, Lu Xiao Chu, what’s up? Need help?”

Lu Chu got straight to the point: “Song Gui, have you felt anything strange lately?”

“Strange? Like what?”

“Like seeing paranormal scenes.”

Song Gui stood up upon hearing this: “What? You can see them?”

“Yes, sometimes not very clear, sometimes very vivid.” Lu Chu added, “Xiuming can also see them, but less clearly than I do. I thought you all could see them too.”

Song Gui was silent for a moment, then said: “Let’s contact the others and see if this is an isolated case.”

“Alright, I’ll call Yuan Kejie. Luo Qi is with her. You contact Qian Zhen.” Song Gui agreed: “Okay, I’ll get back to you.”

They hung up.

Lu Chu texted 7, who was still at work: “Song Gui says he hasn’t experienced anything unusual and can’t see paranormal phenomena. I’ll call Yuan Kejie now.”

7 quickly replied: “Don’t worry too much. As long as you’re okay.”

Lu Chu smiled: “Alright.”

He then called Yuan Kejie.

“Hey! It’s me, Yuan Kejie. Wow, Lu Xiao Chu, you actually called me!” Yuan Kejie’s loud voice almost came through the phone.

Fortunately, Lu Chu had anticipated this and held the phone away. After a moment, he brought it back: “Is Luo Qi with you?”

She immediately replied: “Yes, why?”

“Have you experienced anything strange since returning to the real world, like suddenly becoming clairvoyant?”

“Eh—what? That’s amazing!” Yuan Kejie sounded excited. “I haven’t. Wait, I’ll ask Luo Qi. Luo Qi—”

Her voice became quieter as she asked Luo Qi if she had encountered any paranormal events. After a moment, Yuan Kejie’s voice returned: “Luo Qi hasn’t either. What about Song Gui?”

“I asked him, and he hasn’t experienced anything either. Qian Zhen is still checking.”

Yuan Kejie pondered for a moment and asked: “What about the boss? Can he see it?”

“Occasionally,” Lu Chu said, “but it’s more vague.”

“Could it be…” Yuan Kejie speculated, “that only you two experience this, just like only you two didn’t have identities in this world… You two are the chosen ones, my friend!”

Lu Chu ignored Yuan Kejie’s dramatic remark and pondered: “Maybe so.”

Yuan Kejie, after her excitement, sighed: “It’s a pity. The boss used to be a wealthy backer, but his identity was erased by the ‘rules.'”

Then she sighed again: “Well, people shouldn’t be greedy. Having Song Gui as a backer is enough for now. And I believe the boss will become wealthy again someday.”

Lu Chu: “…”