3: Chapter 3 Congratulations, you have obtained the title: Self-Reliance

Gu Changming held the wooden stick, which was as thick as an arm, his fingertips feeling slightly chilled.

He looked at the horizontal bar's steel pipe in front of him, and a trace of struggle indeed flickered deep within his heart.

What if... this so-called hidden rule doesn't work?

What if this is just a trap by the system, designed specifically to deal with him since he traveled back?

Opening his mouth meant betting his life.

However, this hesitation did not last long.

Gu Changming slowly and deeply took a breath, then exhaled silently, suppressing all the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

Having a second chance at life, this was the only opportunity he could get to change the fate of humanity. If he didn't even have the courage to verify it, how could he talk about changing the final outcome?

He no longer hesitated and took a step forward, approaching the horizontal bar standing on the ground.

Then, his mouth opened slightly, and a clear sound came from his throat.

"Screw you."

It wasn't just random words.

If the rule was invalid, then these words would be his final 'kind' greeting to the person pulling the strings behind the scenes.

The moment the sound fell, a sudden change occurred!

The hairs all over Gu Changming's body seemed to stand on end. He could feel something invisible and cold suddenly locking onto him from the void.

Now!

In the next second, without even thinking, he used all his strength to smash the wooden stick in his hand fiercely against the nearby steel pipe of the horizontal bar!

Dong!

A loud, piercing sound of metal impacting metal suddenly exploded in the deathly silent park.

The moment the sound rang out, Gu Changming clearly felt that the 'things' locking onto him obviously paused for a moment, as if they were stunned.

Immediately after, they rapidly changed direction, swarming collectively toward the horizontal bar.

At the same time, Gu Changming's peripheral vision seemed to catch something.

In the dim light, the air seemed to distort for an instant. Several translucent, blurry-contoured shadows, like giant ghosts, flashed past and lunged at the horizontal bar.

Then, that sturdy steel pipe was struck as if by several invisible trucks hitting it from different directions simultaneously.

Boom!

A muffled explosion.

The horizontal bar instantly twisted and deformed, the steel wrung into a spiral shape by the immense force, completely turning into a pile of scrap metal.

Gu Changming stood in place, looking at the pile of scrap metal, his heart thumping wildly in his chest.

It worked. The hidden rule is real.

Almost at the same moment he confirmed this, a translucent blue panel silently emerged before his eyes, and the information updated accordingly.

[Successfully triggered and completed 'Sound Pressure Coverage' 1 time.]

[Congratulations, you have obtained the title: Self-Saver.]

He quickly suppressed the turbulence in his heart.

He didn't linger in place; a loud noise had just been made here, and it was hard to ensure it wouldn't attract the attention of nearby people.

If someone came over and saw him alive, it would be hard to say what might happen.

He turned around without hesitation, lightly tossed the wooden stick into the nearby grass, and left the small park with light and rapid steps.

The path back was still silent.

On the way home, Gu Changming's mind began to race again.

The validity of the hidden rule had been proven. This was undoubtedly a path to quickly accumulate an initial advantage, obtain higher ratings, and then get more points.

Even if he couldn't get an S-rank, getting an A-rank would be good too.

However, when the rule was triggered just now, the way those 'things' locked onto him and then instantly shifted targets due to a louder sound—their reaction speed and judgment of sound priority seemed to carry a certain quality that wasn't purely mechanical or rigid.

"It seems those things aren't that simple either, and the process of improving my rating won't necessarily be as smooth as this time," he thought to himself. "It's not suitable to test further today. I need to digest this and find a more remote, less noticeable place tomorrow."

While his thoughts surged, his footsteps didn't stop, and the familiar residential building was already in sight.

Taking the elevator upstairs, the cabin was so quiet he could hear his own breathing.

Ding—

The elevator reached his floor, and the doors slid open slowly.

Gu Changming stepped out, his gaze habitually sweeping toward his front door, and his footsteps suddenly halted.

A figure was standing at the door.

In the darkness, the silhouette was blurry, standing motionless in front of the security door.

Gu Changming's pupils suddenly constricted, his muscles tensing instantly as he entered a state of alert. He then lightened his steps and slowly approached.

The other party also seemed to notice the elevator's movement and his appearance; the figure moved and faced toward him.

By the thin moonlight seeping in from the hallway window, Gu Changming adjusted his angle and finally saw the person's appearance clearly.

It was a young woman, about twenty-something years old, with long hair cascading over her shoulders. She was slender, wearing a beige trench coat and jeans, dressed appropriately and quite beautiful.

As soon as he saw her, she also spotted him. Her eyes lit up, and like someone grabbing a lifeline, she walked over quickly—still not daring to make a sound, only waving her hand vigorously.

As she approached quickly, Gu Changming's brow furrowed slightly. When she reached a certain distance, he unhesitatingly took half a step back, his eyes scanning her up and down warily, silently questioning her intent.

Su Wan was stunned by Gu Changming's obvious defensive posture, and a trace of panic flashed across her face.

But soon, she seemed to remember the key point and hurriedly lowered her head, her hands rummaging through her small bag.

A few seconds later, she pulled out her phone, her fingers tapping rapidly on the screen.

After a moment, she seemed to have finished typing and held the bright phone screen toward Gu Changming.

Gu Changming's gaze fell on it, seeing a line of text on the screen:

[I'm so sorry, I'm your neighbor from upstairs. I don't have any food at home, and all the convenience stores are closed... Could I... borrow a little food from you? Just a little bit is fine!]

She was truly out of options; all the shops outside were closed. She didn't usually keep food at home. If this continued, she was afraid she might faint from hunger and then make a mistake and die.

She saw that Gu Changming just looked at the phone screen without immediately nodding or showing any reaction.

However, she didn't give up and lowered her head to type on the phone even faster.

Soon, she raised the phone screen again and held it before Gu Changming's eyes.

[I can give you money! I'll buy it at ten times the market price! Please, I'm really too hungry!]

Looking at the new text, Gu Changming looked up and scanned Su Wan carefully once more.

Based on his experience reading people from his previous life, the other party had no ill intent; she was simply hungry.

After confirming she was harmless, Gu Changming finally gave a nearly imperceptible nod.

A light of joy and excitement instantly erupted in Su Wan's eyes. She desperately covered her mouth to suppress the thanks that almost escaped her lips.

Then, she subconsciously lifted her foot to head back.

However, she saw Gu Changming turn around and walk toward the elevator doors beside them.

Su Wan was stunned. Standing outside the elevator, she looked at Gu Changming inside with wide eyes, her gaze conveying a question: Aren't we going to your house to get it?

Gu Changming stood inside the elevator and slightly tilted his chin toward Su Wan outside the door, signaling her to come in.

Although he judged her to be temporarily harmless, letting a stranger into his only residence during such a special time?

His caution was etched into his bones, so that was impossible.

Naturally, he would take her outside to find some food and be done with her.

Su Wan seemed a bit dazed, not fully understanding his intention, but looking at Gu Changming's indifferent gaze, she still subconsciously and with some confusion walked quickly into the elevator.

...

Well... she isn't the female lead; this book might not even have a female lead.