Volume One: Another World Chapter One: Activating the System in the Restroom

"Hmm... hiss!" Li Yu held the paper in his hand, took a deep breath, and gathered his energy in his abdomen.

"Hey man, did you burn your mouth or something?"

A sudden bang on the partition startled Li Yu. More importantly, the feeling he had just managed to conjure up evaporated instantly.

"You're the one who burned his mouth. Don't you know to blow on your food first?" Li Yu raised an eyebrow and retorted irritably.

...

For a moment, the public restroom was deathly silent. After a long pause, sounds of exertion came from the next stall, the unmistakable noises of someone finishing up. Then the partition was knocked again. "Enough with the jokes, man. I’m out of paper here, can you spare some?"

Though each stall was separated into a small cubicle, a ten-centimeter gap remained at the bottom—clearly designed for just such emergencies, so people could help each other out if needed.

"Man, you’ve got quite the lifeline," Li Yu remarked, eyeing the hand reaching out from below. Still, he placed his roll of toilet paper into the outstretched palm.

"Thanks, bro," the hand withdrew, the sound of rustling following, "Of course. Good men die young, troublemakers live forever, right?"

That was a tough one to respond to.

Li Yu's brow furrowed—not because he couldn’t recapture that satisfying feeling, but because the sound of water came from next door.

"Hey, what about my paper?" Li Yu shouted.

Thud.

The sound of running water faded, mixed with the click of the stall door closing.

"Hey! Don't go, man! You forgot to give my paper back!" Li Yu called out in alarm as footsteps retreated. He knew then—some people, once gone, never return.

"Don’t let me find you!" Li Yu muttered through gritted teeth.

The men’s and women’s restrooms here were positioned at diagonal corners. Although a dividing wall had been installed, his stall sat just within the line of sight. That was why Li Yu didn’t dare step out to intercept the thief.

Propping his chin on one hand, Li Yu had intended to wait for a kindred spirit, then start a conversation with, "Hey man, that paper smells great, what brand is it? Let me see," to acquire the necessary supplies.

But the once-bustling restroom suddenly seemed deserted—no one came in at all.

"This won’t stop me. I’ll just order delivery." Li Yu pulled out his phone. "Find the cheapest place and order—note: Emergency, please send more toilet paper."

Just as he was about to pay, the screen went dark.

A notification chimed: [Low battery. Shutting down.]

Damn!

Li Yu let out a wail of despair. He was one digit away from entering his payment password, but the screen had already gone cold and black.

"Damn it." Li Yu shoved his phone back into his pocket, frustration gnawing at him. After a long hesitation, his gaze drifted toward the trash bin in the corner.

"One plants the tree, another enjoys the shade," he muttered. "Here’s hoping someone before me was generous."

[Ding. System activated. Please remain calm and wait thirty seconds.]

An electronic voice sounded. Li Yu’s outstretched hand froze; he quickly looked around. "Who’s there?"

Could it be that guy from before returning for a prank?

He peered under the partition in both directions—no one in either stall.

In a squat-style toilet like this, there was no way someone could hide their feet like in the movies, perched atop a seat.

"No one?" Li Yu muttered, his body tensing as he sprang up and scanned both sides.

No one at all... Then what was that?

Before he could puzzle it out, the electronic voice sounded again.

[System fully activated. First-time user reward unlocked. Scanning host’s needs.]

This time, Li Yu realized the voice was ringing in his mind.

He frowned. A system? Was he the protagonist now? Was he about to become the man who saves the world? So it takes a crisis to unlock the cheat code, just like in the novels.

"I wonder what kind of system this is?" Li Yu was excited—system novels were all the rage lately.

After a short wait, the electronic voice returned.

[Ding. Host’s greatest immediate need identified. Congratulations! You have received one roll of toilet paper.]

Li Yu stared blankly at the roll that materialized in his hand. He couldn’t tell the brand, but the paper was gleaming white, triple-ply, and surely soft beyond compare.

But...

Why did he have no ambition beyond that of a salted fish? Why, in this once-in-a-lifetime moment of free bounty, did he only ask for toilet paper? Not immortality, not invincibility—just toilet paper?

How lamentable!

Choking back the urge to throw it away, Li Yu wiped his tears and put it to use.

There was no roughness—only the sensation of being gently caressed.

Of course, anything the system produced was bound to be top quality!

Li Yu sighed in admiration, then asked in his mind, "System, are you there? What can you do?"

[The system has two functions: daily check-in (once per day), and sign-in at designated locations for specific rewards.]

Sounds just like a game, Li Yu mused.

Many mobile games have weekly check-ins and daily login bonuses, while sign-ins are like event missions—reach a goal and you get rarer prizes.

As he pondered, the system spoke again.

[Host, you forgot to flush.]

...

Li Yu glanced back, then sheepishly pushed open the unlocked door and hit the flush button.

"System, you don’t need to mention little things like that in the future."

[Daily reminders disabled for host.] The electronic voice was mechanical and cold.

Li Yu nodded in satisfaction. That was better—forgetting to flush was a tiny mistake. Next time he’d dare—no, there wouldn’t be a next time. He’d only forgotten because he was so deep in thought.

The electronic voice returned.

[Ding. Sign-in location refreshed: Place of birth, third restroom stall!]

Li Yu, already outside, turned and walked back, only to find the wooden door stuck fast—he couldn’t budge it.

"Stuck?" As he puzzled over it, a gruff voice inside called out, "What’s your problem? All the other stalls are empty and you have to pick mine?"

"Uh..." Li Yu scratched his head. He remembered a burly guy with a northeastern accent had entered just as he left. What were the odds—he chose the very stall Li Yu needed.

So Li Yu waited at the door for half an hour before the man finally emerged.

"Must have been constipated!" Li Yu grumbled as he entered, only to wrinkle his nose at the overwhelming stench.

"Sign in," he muttered, holding his nose.

[Ding. Congratulations, host. Sign-in successful. This sign-in triggered a newcomer’s lucky critical hit: you have received a nine-star rare reward—Right of Entry to Another World!]

"System, can I change my birthplace? I’d rather it be my home." Li Yu gagged and hurried out, retching.

[...]

"Don’t go silent on me. You set my birthplace as the restroom—if other systems heard, wouldn’t they die laughing?" Li Yu snapped.

[Birthplace changed.]

Satisfied, Li Yu took a long, deep breath of fresh air outside. "System, can you explain what the Right of Entry to Another World is?"