Chapter 65

For women, anatomy doesn’t always mean that conventional methods are the best way to experience pleasure. Unfortunately, many men don’t realize this and focus too much on showcasing their own “endurance” and “stamina.” They see these measurements as the ultimate standards for bringing a woman fulfillment.

Ruan Qing felt deeply relaxed, like she was soaking in warm water. When Nian Qi finally pulled away from her lips, she opened her eyes and looked into his. She was a little dazed, reaching up to gently touch his smooth jaw, wanting to ask, “What’s going on?”—but she held back. She’d assumed that perhaps due to his past experiences, his physical ability might be limited, never expecting that his “endurance” was actually affected too. But nature compensates for losses, she thought. Although Nian Qi might lack a certain type of stamina, he was incredibly gentle, patient, and skillful in other ways.

There are so many ways to bring a woman to that peak—methods don’t always have to involve the usual approach, right? She had felt quite content just now. That kind of gradual, patient awakening of her body isn’t something every man can accomplish. Most men, even if they take their time with foreplay, do it only as a means to an end.

Ruan Qing thought to herself how there are so many specialized clinics for men now; whether the issue is infertility or something else, many things can be treated or improved through modern medicine. She returned his affection with a tender kiss, expressing her satisfaction and gratitude for the joy he had just brought her. This unspoken communication made her feel comfortable and genuinely happy. It was so much better than those clueless guys who constantly ask, “Are you feeling good?” or “Did you enjoy it?” Her kiss was gentle, soft, and affectionate, like a spring breeze, almost overwhelming Nian Qi with its warmth.

Thankfully, she snuggled into his arms, pulling his arm around her. “Let’s get some sleep; we have to deal with the registration tomorrow!” But with her warmth in his arms, he found it impossible to calm down. It was sweet, but also a little torturous.

Ruan Qing noticed something curious too. Given how little they were wearing in the summer heat, she could clearly feel Nian Qi’s… condition. But it didn’t seem to match any obvious desire—it was more subdued, more like a physical reaction he couldn’t control. Could this be something like early arousal? Maybe she should find an opportunity to have an open conversation with him about these things, or even do some “field research” herself to confirm the situation.

Nian Qi, nearly at his breaking point, forced himself to stay calm and said, “Can’t sleep? How about I massage some acupoints for relaxation?” Compared to physical performance, he knew that bringing joy came in many forms.

Ruan Qing agreed eagerly. “Sure!”

Nian Qi pressed several acupoints on her body. Ruan Qing closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again… only to realize it was suddenly morning. “What?!”

She blinked, bewildered. He had promised a soothing massage—was this more like a knockout-point technique? Yet, she felt completely rested and full of energy.

“You’re awake?” His voice came from behind her. Ruan Qing turned her head and saw Nian Qi flipping out of a wall-supported handstand, practicing some martial arts move as if training in two-finger strength techniques.

“Training every day, huh?” Ruan Qing yawned, rubbing her eyes.

“Yes. Skip one day, and skills start to decline,” he replied. “It’s my livelihood.”

Ruan Qing gently corrected him. “That was true before, but now you don’t need to rely on that for a living. Just treat it as fitness; you don’t have to push yourself like before.”

She suddenly remembered something and asked, “You didn’t sneak out in the middle of the night to scout around the rooftops, did you?”

“No,” Nian Qi quickly clarified, “ever since I learned about surveillance cameras, I haven’t done that again.”

Only then did Ruan Qing seem satisfied. “Good. This isn’t your era. No one’s out to hunt you down here, so just relax and live peacefully.”

Indeed, he was adjusting. In both recent stays at different county towns, and even in Lao Mei Valley Village, he hadn’t once thought about checking out escape routes in advance. Deep down, he knew and was beginning to accept that “this is a safe world” and that “he didn’t need to live on edge here.”

Ruan Qing lifted her arms.

Nian Qi: “?”

Ruan Qing: “Mmm!”

Nian Qi walked over and picked her up. She wrapped herself around him like a koala, lazily resting her head on his shoulder. “Take me to wash my face,” she murmured.

Maybe it was last night’s intimacy that had made her clingy? Nian Qi loved Ruan Qing being clingy. No, more precisely, he loved Ruan Qing being clingy with him. Having someone so close, wrapped around him like they couldn’t be separated, filled him with joy. Smiling, he carried her to the bathroom and set her on the sink counter before stepping out and closing the door.

As Ruan Qing began to wash up, she looked at herself in the mirror: still the same composed, capable woman she knew, in stark contrast to the cuddly, childlike side she’d just shown him. She was letting herself lean on him more, showing him how much she liked him, and signaling she was content. She didn’t want him feeling insecure over any shortcomings. Great job, Ruan Qing! She gave herself a proud thumbs-up in the mirror. Mature! Thoughtful! Confident!

When they were about to leave, Nian Qi went to put on a mask. Ruan Qing said, “You won’t need that anymore. From now on, you’re an official resident, with full rights.”

But Nian Qi still wanted to wear it. “I’m not used to showing my face.”

“So you never let people see you back then?” Ruan Qing asked.

“I used to cover my face with soybean powder to give myself a dull, yellowish look,” he replied. “It made me look unwell, and I’d also make my eyebrows look sparse and unkempt. People wouldn’t give me a second glance. When I was out, I only showed my real face when absolutely necessary.”

He added, “Even recently, I’ve kept the scruffy beard—it’s good for hiding.”

Ruan Qing couldn’t help but smile with a touch of sympathy. “Fine, if it doesn’t bother you in this heat. But sooner or later, you’ll have to get used to walking under the sun with your face fully visible.”

Such a natural charmer shouldn’t hide away forever. Nian Qi was quiet for a moment, then he smiled. “When we’re back in the city, I won’t wear it. Here, I’m just worried about people taking pictures.”

“Alright, it’s a promise,” Ruan Qing said.

She brought Nian Qi to the county office, where they ran into the director they’d met the day before. The director looked at Nian Qi, stunned, then after a moment, hesitantly asked, “Little Nian?”

Nian Qi nodded. “It’s me.”

Yesterday, he’d looked like a ragged beggar in his Taoist robes. Today, his hair was pulled back in a half-ponytail, and he wore a fresh summer T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers. After shaving, his face looked smooth and boyish—just a clean, youthful guy. And handsome too, with Ruan Qing’s styling making him look like a TV heartthrob. With his half-ponytail and modern outfit, he seemed like one of those trendy influencers you’d see in short videos.

It seemed Ruan Aihua’s daughter had quite an eye for talent.

After some small talk, the director assigned an officer to help them. The officer led Ruan Qing and Nian Qi through the process of getting an ID card. Nian Qi’s fingerprints and facial information came up clean with no record, making him a blank slate in the system. They took his official ID photo and gathered basic information. Yesterday, Deputy County Head Xu had mentioned a “fast-track,” which Ruan Qing naively thought meant they’d get the ID card right away. Instead, it just meant a shorter review time within the county.

Once the officer finished collecting Nian Qi’s information, he went directly to the director for approval, submitted it to the next level, the municipal office, and included a special circumstance report from both the county bureau and the county government. At the county level, there was nothing left to do.

The officer explained, “If you want to speed things up, you’ll need to follow up with the city’s receiving office and municipal bureau.” Ruan Qing thanked him, said goodbye to the director, then pulled Nian Qi into the car. “Off to the city!”

It seemed they couldn’t avoid going there. As she drove, Ruan Qing made calls, starting with the city bureau to confirm the steps, and then to Daoist Master Qinghua.

“Come on over,” the master said. “The documents are signed and stamped—you just need to pick them up.”

After hanging up, Ruan Qing suddenly thought to ask, “How do you know all that Daoist stuff anyway?” She’d been nervous when Master Qinghua tested him, but Nian Qi had passed with flying colors.

“I once took on a job where the target was an old Daoist master. I spent an entire year undercover in his sect, waiting for him to come out of seclusion,” he replied.

“So you pretended to be a Daoist for a whole year?” Ruan Qing asked, surprised.

“Yep. I had to participate in morning and evening rituals daily,” he complained. “If he hadn’t come out when he did, I’d have ended up ordained!”

The sect was highly skilled, and the master’s secluded chamber was inside the mountain, secured with mechanisms and stone gates that could only be opened from within. Nian Qi had no choice but to wait patiently. It was a single job, but it paid extremely well—one of those “work once and live off it for three years” deals.

Ruan Qing clicked her tongue. “You know so many things.”

Nian Qi sighed a little. “Yes, but it’s all a random mix of skills, and none of them are useful for making a living here.”

“Oh, that? Don’t worry,” Ruan Qing reassured him. “Once you have your ID card, we’ll see if we can find you a job.”

She added, “And even if there’s nothing suitable, you don’t have to worry.” She steered with one hand, reaching over with her right to hold his hand. “I’ll support you.”

But Nian Qi didn’t want to rely on Ruan Qing. He changed the subject, asking, “Should we book a hotel when we reach the city?”

He didn’t ask directly, “Are we going to your place?” Instead, he was testing the waters. Ruan Qing hesitated too. Going all the way to the city without stopping by her home felt a bit wrong, but bringing Nian Qi back would be awkward with her parents, who would definitely start prying.

“We won’t book one just yet,” she said. “We’ll see how things go. I don’t know how long the process will take here. They don’t finalize ID cards here; the provincial capital does that. If there’s enough time, we’ll go straight there this afternoon.”

Though she’d made it clear they’d be traveling all over to get Nian Qi’s ID card, she hadn’t once mentioned, “Oh, my parents live here, we should go see them.” Nian Qi understood then that, while they’d grown physically close after last night, he was still far from being officially acknowledged in her life.

He remembered a line he’d once heard in a TV drama: “Dating is between two people; marriage is between two families.” He realized now that while he and Ruan Qing were in a relationship, she still saw it as only between the two of them. It felt discouraging. His position was only a little above Zhao Hao’s—the man her parents had adored and deemed ideal. Compared to him, Nian Qi still had a long way to go.