Chapter 29

Ruan Qing took Nian Qi out for dinner, avoiding the small eateries around their complex. For one, he would need to take off his mask to eat, and Ruan Qing was worried about neighbors potentially recognizing him. Until they sorted out his identity, she wanted him to remain as inconspicuous as possible. Plus, Nian Qi had a natural talent for cooking—exposing him to diverse dishes would only deepen his culinary understanding. The area’s nearby spots mostly served quick, simple meals, so she ruled those out and drove straight to one of Jiangcheng’s trendiest restaurants, featured on local food lists.

A few days earlier, Nian Qi had prepared “boiled fish” (shuizhu yu) at home following an online recipe, and by home-cooking standards, it was impressive. However, he still hadn’t tasted a truly authentic version. So Ruan Qing took him to Jiangcheng’s most famous spot for shuizhu yu. And she didn’t stop there—she ordered spicy chicken, braised pork trotters, and, of course, the fish. This combination was a feast for anyone with a love of spicy food.

Nian Qi had been proud of his homemade version, but once he tasted the restaurant’s take, he was blown away. After savoring it, he admitted, “It’s tough. Reproducing this flavor at home would be almost impossible.”

The complexities of oil, spices, and high-heat cooking techniques used in the restaurant were nearly impossible to match in a home kitchen. Ruan Qing knew this—her goal had simply been to give him a taste of the real thing, broadening his culinary perspective.

As she ate, she looked at him over a slice of delicate fish and commented, “Your fish slices were actually thinner than these.” She could sense that ever since he’d been open about his past, he seemed more relaxed, as if he’d laid down a heavy burden. And in just a week, this man who had never tasted modern chili was now a full-blown spice lover, with a taste remarkably similar to hers, making him an ideal dining companion.

On the drive home, although Ruan Qing focused on the road, she noticed out of the corner of her eye that Nian Qi kept glancing at her legs. What was going on? Based on her week-long observation, he was a gentleman, or more accurately, a chivalrous man—not feigned politeness, but true restraint. Whenever she wore more revealing clothing, he actively directed his gaze elsewhere. This was one of the reasons Ruan Qing felt increasingly at ease living under the same roof with him.

But…wait. She suddenly realized that every time he looked at her legs, it was right after she either sped up or slowed down. And then it clicked!

Glancing at her rearview mirror, she signaled right, slowed, and pulled over.

Nian Qi looked at her in confusion as she parked by the roadside. Turning toward him with a steady gaze, she asked, “What are you doing?”

He blinked, then quickly defended himself as if realizing something, “You misunderstand—I didn’t mean anything improper…”

“I know.”

Ruan Qing said, “You’ve been watching how I brake and accelerate. Just so you know, the term ‘taking liberties’ is outdated—nowadays, we call that ‘being inappropriate.’”

Relieved she didn’t misunderstand, Nian Qi relaxed a little, but before he could explain further, Ruan Qing cut him off. “No,” she continued. “You want to drive, right? Not happening.”

She went on, “I know that watching me steer, press the gas, and brake probably makes it look easy. But this isn’t like driving a carriage with a whip and reins—this car has enough speed and force to crash right through a building. One wrong move, and lives are at stake.” Holding the wheel with a seriousness he hadn’t seen before, she wanted him to grasp the gravity of it all. He already had a record of sneaking around—pretending to be asleep, slipping out at night without telling her. She needed him to understand that driving wasn’t something to take lightly.

“If you want to drive, we’ll talk about it once your identity issue is resolved. I’ll sign you up for driving school as soon as possible. When you get a license, then you can drive. But listen, Nian Qi, if you ever take my car—or anyone else’s—without my knowledge, don’t blame me for being ruthless. I’ll hand you over to the authorities immediately! A time-traveler? They’ll lock you in a cage, or worse—study you.”

From the start, back in the hospital, Nian Qi had sensed that she was a headstrong woman. So he quickly dropped his gaze and admitted fault. “I see where I went wrong. I was thinking you shouldn’t always have to drive—it must be tiring. I thought if I learned, I could help out.”

She had to admit, that sounded nice. He certainly had more tact than young Zhao Hao, who was still stuck in his teenage phase. The charm of Nian Qi’s words almost swayed her for a moment, but she snapped out of it just in time. “Don’t try that on me,” she warned, giving him a hard look. “I can see through you. You might as well drop the act.”

Nian Qi regarded her with a hint of surprise, then let out a soft laugh, lowering his gaze briefly before looking up again with an entirely different expression. Gone were the polite smiles and easygoing demeanor he’d shown since they’d met; in their place was a look of experience—a depth only someone who’s been through the wringer could have. The life of a man who’d survived by the edge of a knife and the weight of his choices suddenly felt very real, almost tangible to her.

After all, what adult would blindly obey someone else? Not even Zhao Hao, that fresh graduate she’d personally mentored, had shown loyalty. In the end, maybe she’d been too naive herself.

“Not entirely an act,” he replied with another laugh, though it was no longer the gentle one she’d grown used to. “When you’re a guest in someone’s home, you need to mind your manners.” His expression was bright, his eyes a bit mischievous, his tone half-serious, half-teasing. Though dressed in modern clothes, his long hair was pulled back in a ponytail. Next time, she thought, she’d have him wear a half-up style, with some loose strands draping over his shoulders. That would be exactly her style—hitting all her aesthetic buttons.

Ruan Qing cleared her throat loudly, snapping herself out of her thoughts. “Good, as long as you understand. After all, if you eat someone’s food…”

“…you follow their rules,” he finished with a smile.

He had long realized that Ruan Qing liked it when men listened to her. Yet Ruan Qing clarified, “It’s not exactly that. I’m not going to be demanding or bossy with you—we have no special relationship, just a temporary co-living arrangement. My requirements are very simple, just three words.” She pronounced each one with emphasis, “Obey the law.”

She’d mentioned this before, but after confirming his line of work back in his time, she felt compelled to stress it repeatedly. “Did you know that driving without a license is illegal here?” she asked. “If you’re caught, it’s fifteen days of detention! And if you accidentally kill someone while driving unlicensed, you’re looking at three years—three whole years—in prison!”

Ruan Qing raised three fingers close to his face to underscore her point. Nian Qi, with a sigh, gently pushed her hand away. “You can trust me—I won’t act recklessly.”

She eyed him skeptically, letting out a single, dismissive laugh. Feeling the need to change the topic, he suggested, “Not many cars out now, right? Should we head home early? I can still get a bit more reading done.”

Seeing through his diversion, Ruan Qing clicked her tongue and asked, “What are you reading now?”

“Eighth-grade physics,” he replied quickly.

“Still eighth-grade?” she frowned.

“The print is small, so it’s slow going,” he explained. “And I’ve been reading physics and chemistry together, just like you suggested.”

“Wherever you’re at, you can pause for today,” Ruan Qing decided as she put on her blinker and eased into the road. “Today’s a lesson on legal literacy.”

Better to be uneducated than ignorant of the law, she thought. Illiteracy is just personal trouble, but being lawless is trouble for society.

Once home, Nian Qi was forced to put his studies on hold, while Ruan Qing drilled him on legal knowledge: criminal law, traffic laws, and public order regulations. She wasn’t a legal expert herself, but she focused on common-sense rules—things that everyone knew but might be absent or different in his time.

The first and foremost rule: killing results in the death penalty. Death. Penalty. She repeated it so many times that Nian Qi couldn’t help but feel exasperated. “I know,” he said finally. “That’s the same everywhere. Back home, if you took a life, you’d have to pay with your own.”

“Not quite,” she countered, fixing him with a serious look. “Back in your world, your skills and courage might let you slip away. You’d put on dark clothes, cover your face, take a life, and then vanish without a trace.”

“But here, we have a surveillance network that’s everywhere, tracking everyone. Fingerprint comparisons reveal the killer’s identity instantly. If you come here with that old mindset, you’re bound to mess up.”

Finally, backed into a corner, Nian Qi swore an oath: “I will never take a life or harm anyone; I will be a law-abiding citizen.” To satisfy Ruan Qing, he had to invoke every curse imaginable—vowing a childless future, lightning strikes, and even being run over if he failed. He even called upon Guanyin and the Great Emperor Zhenwu as witnesses. Only then did Ruan Qing seem satisfied as she moved her mouse on the screen. “Alright, then. Next, let’s cover some other common public disturbances—fighting, indecency.”

“Voyeurism is also illegal. If you see anyone taking photos up a woman’s skirt on the bus, subway, or anywhere else, stop them immediately.”

“Human trafficking is a major crime. If you see anyone trying to abduct women or children, either intervene or call the police,” she continued. “And drinking and driving is illegal too. Drunk driving leads to a prison sentence. If you’ve had alcohol, you can pay for a designated driver service—it costs a hundred or two per trip.”

Nian Qi looked surprised. “That’s pretty lucrative, isn’t it?”

“It’s hard work, but you can earn a decent income,” Ruan Qing said. “I told you, as long as you work hard here, you won’t starve.”

Indeed, there were plenty of ways to make a living here—food delivery, driving services. Even if he couldn’t go back to his old profession, he wouldn’t be left entirely helpless.

Still, everything hinged on having a legitimate identity. Actually, lack of an identity mostly affected his earning potential, but more importantly, in a world filled with regulations, could he even marry without an identity?