Chapter 11

“I was just about to tell you about that,” Ruan Qing said, picking up the remote control from the coffee table and turning on the TV with a click. Nian Qi was startled and turned his head.

He had noticed this thing on the wall the previous night, but with all the revelations—discovering he had traveled a thousand years into the future and hearing shocking things like the absence of emperors and the practice of monogamy—everything else seemed minor.

“People can have this in their homes?” He observed the TV for a few seconds before asking, “It seems like something every household must have?”

“Pretty much,” Ruan Qing responded. “This is called a television. What you saw at the hospital is basically the same. The one at the hospital is free to watch, but it only plays advertisements or public service announcements. The one at home, you pay for, and there are tons of channels with all kinds of content. You can watch whatever you like.”

She explained, “I’ll be back by noon. In the meantime, I thought you could watch TV this morning.”

“This is the news channel. It broadcasts domestic and international news—like which countries are at war, which national leaders met with foreign dignitaries, where floods or fires are happening, or any major scientific breakthroughs.”

“This is the drama channel. It’s for storytelling, but the stories are acted out by real people, like the theatrical performances from your time. You see, there are modern stories as well as ancient ones, but most are made up and quite exaggerated. Just enjoy the stories and don’t take them as history.”

“This is the movie channel. It’s similar to dramas, but while dramas tell long stories over many episodes, movies tell short stories in one sitting.”

Ruan Qing suggested, “I recommend watching modern dramas. It’ll help you get used to how people live in this era and also teach you how we speak, including modern accents.”

“Oh, and it’s best to watch shows with subtitles, so you can listen while also recognizing the characters. The writing we use now is simplified from what you’re used to. It’s called simplified Chinese, and it’s much easier to learn than your traditional characters. You don’t even need to know how to write it—just being able to recognize it is enough.”

She then taught him how to use the remote, which was quite simple: power, menu, channel selection, and volume control. The remote had written labels, and after one quick explanation, Nian Qi understood.

Handing him the remote, she said, “You can watch for now.” Then she headed to her room, locked the door, and disappeared inside.

Nian Qi stayed in the living room, switching through the channels and glancing at each one. About ten minutes later, the bedroom door opened, and he looked over, his eyes lighting up. Ruan Qing had changed clothes and tidied her hair, and her light makeup gave her a bright, energetic look.

She glanced at the living room and smiled, seeing that Nian Qi was already quite comfortable with the TV. She grabbed some snacks from the dining cabinet and a can of soda from the fridge, placing them on the coffee table.

“Here’s some snacks and drinks. If it’s not enough, you can grab more from over there. Snacks are in that cabinet, and drinks are in the fridge—the one I just opened.”

She opened the cold can of soda in front of him. “Try this. It’s a drink that no one can resist during summer.”

Nian Qi took the can, sniffed it cautiously, and sipped. “Strange taste,” he commented, pausing to taste it on his tongue before taking another sip. “Although it tastes strange…”

“You’ll grow to love it,” Ruan Qing said. “There’s plenty in the fridge,help yourself once you finish this one.”

She went to the entryway to change her shoes. Nian Qi followed.

Ruan Qing slung a small crossbody bag over her shoulder, picked up her laptop bag, then thought for a moment and put it down. She kicked off her shoes and walked back inside, pointing to the kitchen.

“Don’t touch the stove. I’ll teach you how to use it later. For now, leave it alone.” She then pointed at the power outlets behind the TV. “These are electrical outlets. All the appliances—like the air conditioner, fridge, and TV—run on electricity. It’s the same kind of electricity as lightning during storms, and if you touch it, you could die instantly. I don’t have time to explain fully right now, but promise me you won’t touch it.”

Ruan Qing’s eyes were filled with concern, as if she were talking to a child. True, he lacked a thousand years of modern knowledge, but he wasn’t stupid.

Nian Qi reassured her, “I promise I won’t do anything but watch TV until you get back.”

Satisfied with his promise, Ruan Qing finally picked up her laptop bag and walked to the door, turning back repeatedly. Nian Qi, feeling exasperated, said, “Just go do your work, I’ll be fine.”

Ruan Qing stepped out the door and was about to close it when she poked her head back in. “Wait for me to come back, okay?”

Nian Qi looked up at the ceiling in the entryway and rubbed his forehead. Finally, the door closed, and Ruan Qing was gone.

With the room now quiet except for the sound of the TV, Nian Qi didn’t follow his promise right away. He had already spent an entire dawn watching the view outside the window, so there was no need to look again. But there were still many things waiting for him to explore.

He turned up the TV volume slightly and then opened the door to Ruan Qing’s bedroom.

He wasn’t there to snoop on a woman’s private space—he had no such lecherous inclinations. But due to his particular profession, whenever he stayed in a new place, it was essential to thoroughly understand the environment.

Ruan Qing’s room was simple, a bed, wardrobe, vanity table, chest of drawers, bedside table, and cushions and plush toys on the window seat, giving the room a cozy feel.

He opened the wardrobe and ran his hand along the inner walls, checking for hidden compartments or mechanisms. He opened all the drawers, ensuring everything stayed in its original position. He even checked under the bed.

It didn’t take long for him to find his knife—Ruan Qing had hidden it on top of the wardrobe, a place she would have had to stand on a chair and stretch to reach. For Nian Qi, it was just a quick jump.

He didn’t take the knife. From what he had observed since last night, including Ruan Qing and the people he encountered, no one seemed skilled in martial arts. There was no need for him to use it.

After ensuring everything was as he found it, he left her bedroom, closing the door behind him. He then inspected Ruan Qing’s study and the kitchen. He even opened all the cupboards, not overlooking the dining cabinet or the fridge. Finally, he knocked on all the walls, confirming that this house was just an ordinary residence with no hidden compartments or secret rooms.

Only then did he return to the sofa, sit down, and begin watching TV as promised. He sipped the cola again, still finding the taste odd.

But he couldn’t help but want to take another sip. After all, this cold drink was incredibly refreshing in the summer, bringing a sense of comfort.

Nian Qi watched each channel for a while. The television was a remarkable invention,it allowed a person to know everything happening in the world without even stepping outside. However, those “ancient” dramas were truly absurd. He saw a father and daughter meet and, to his shock, they opened their arms and tightly embraced each other, repeatedly calling each other “father” and “daughter.” What father would touch his adult daughter, let alone hug her so closely? It was an affront to propriety! Even for a play, it was over-the-top. The clothes they wore were also strange, with many awkward details that felt out of place.

Nian Qi switched the channel.

Before he realized it, he had finished an entire can of cola. There was plenty more in the fridge,he had seen it earlier. He glanced at the empty can, stood up, and grabbed another one. He wasn’t particularly surprised by the fridge. In his time, wealthy households had “ice cellars,” which, though not as advanced as this, served the same purpose. Whether people from his era or the future, everyone seemed to put great effort into enjoying food and drink.

Nian Qi liked these modern conveniences, such as the refrigerator, air conditioning, the TV that allowed him to know world events, and the phone that could transmit voices over great distances. He had always enjoyed life’s pleasures. His line of work was dangerous, living on the edge of life and death, so he had long learned to seize enjoyment whenever possible.

Watching TV, he discovered, paired perfectly with drinking cola,especially with a snack called “potato chips.”

As he finished his third can of cola and was about to grab a fourth, the sound of a key turning in the door interrupted him. It wasn’t quite noon yet—was she home early?

Nian Qi closed the fridge and leaned forward to look toward the entryway. “You’re back?”

The door opened, and standing there was not Ruan Qing, but a tall young man, roughly the same height as Nian Qi. The two stared at each other from across the entryway in silence for a few moments.

The boy reacted first, erupting in rage, “Who the hell are you?” He glanced at Nian Qi’s clothes and grew even angrier. “You’re wearing my clothes!” Then he looked down and exploded, “And my slippers too!” His slippers were part of a couple’s set with Ruan Qing’s!

“Damn it! And she calls me a cheater?!” he ranted furiously, “But Ruan Qing is doing the same thing to me!” Cursing loudly, he took a step forward and swung a punch. The way he raised his elbow and threw the punch showed he had some basic fighting skills.

Nian Qi raised an eyebrow. After spending six or seven hours in this world and encountering nearly a hundred people, he had finally met someone who knew a little martial arts. Unfortunately, it was very basic.

…

Ruan Qing’s meeting was unbearably dull. The weekly meeting was just an update on each person’s project progress. She had already finished her report and wasn’t interested in anyone else’s. While others presented, she opened her laptop and began working on her “Ancient People’s Modernization Learning Plan.”

First, the content of knowledge would be divided into three main categories, history, technology, and society. She needed to teach him how to recognize various everyday items and, at the very least, how to use a computer. He didn’t need to know much, but he had to learn how to search for things. That way, he could find answers to questions on his own in the future.

However, language was the foundation. Before formal learning could begin, he needed to master modern language. Ruan Qing thought about it, he had to learn pinyin. This would not only help him use a computer later on, but also correct his pronunciation. Right now, his speech had an accent—he sounded somewhat like a northerner, but not quite. It was likely due to the differences between ancient and modern pronunciation. First, she’d correct his pronunciation, and at the same time, he’d need to learn to recognize simplified characters. He didn’t need to write them—just be able to recognize them. It would be the opposite of what most people do (who learn to read traditional and write in simplified). Once he passed this hurdle, learning everything else would be easier.

She wasn’t trying to prepare him for an exam—just to understand the basics of modern life and avoid making dangerous mistakes, like touching electrical outlets.

After that, she wanted to introduce him to modern cuisine, take him to the movies to watch a real film, and visit amusement parks to ride roller coasters and drop towers. She wanted him to ride the high-speed train and experience the thrill of traveling a thousand miles in a day, and she wanted to take him on an airplane, soaring through the clouds.

In short, she wanted to revel in the superiority of being a modern person. Or rather, she wanted the satisfaction of impressing him! The very thought of him being amazed and awestruck by any of these experiences filled Ruan Qing with a sense of delight. It wasn’t quite the same as the satisfaction one gets from reading time-travel or agrarian development novels, but it was similar in nature—the joy of modernity outclassing the ancient world.

Financially, she could support him for a while—it wasn’t much trouble to set an extra place at the table. She had taken care of “puppy” boyfriends before, and taking care of an ancient man would be just as enjoyable, especially when he was both handsome and well-built. She certainly wouldn’t be losing out.

However, many things in her plan couldn’t be realized just yet, like the high-speed train or airplane. The problem of his “identity” loomed large—it was unavoidable.

Ruan Qing paused her typing and started gnawing on her knuckles. It was giving her a headache. In this era of second-generation ID cards, how could she resolve the issue of identity? Was he doomed to be undocumented forever?

As she racked her brain, her phone suddenly vibrated. Surprisingly, it was a call from Nian Qi. Ruan Qing was startled. He had been so calm and composed, as if nothing fazed him, even after traveling a thousand years into the future—why was he calling her now? She had told him to contact her only in case of an emergency.

Slipping out of the conference room, she hurried to an empty hallway and nervously answered the phone, “Hello? What’s wrong?”

“Huh?” Her voice shot up in surprise. “He says his name is Zhao Hao?”