Chapter 8

She had just explained the pros and cons to him, and he seemed to be a clear-headed adult. Considering that she was the only person who knew his secret and could help him, it was unlikely that he’d entertain any wild ideas. Human needs come in layers, and his immediate concern was survival.

“Alright, let’s leave it at that for now. You can stay here,” Ruan Qing said, glancing around the room. “Uh… I only have one bedroom, so you’ll have to sleep on the sofa for now. Oh, this is the sofa.” She patted the couch to show him.

Ruan Qing’s apartment had two rooms, but one was her study and workspace, leaving only one bedroom. “You’ll just have to make do for now,” she said, “I’ll think of a better solution later.”

“I’m already deeply grateful just to have a place to stay,” Nian Qi responded sincerely, his attitude completely proper. He looked around and then asked, “Has Miss Ruan’s family already retired for the night?”

He deliberately asked this because Ruan Qing had mentioned earlier that she only had one bedroom, and from the moment he entered the house, Nian Qi was aware that besides the two of them, there was no one else in the apartment. If there had been anyone else, he would have sensed even the slightest presence unless they were a master at concealing their breath. This left him somewhat puzzled—how could a young woman live alone? And she had mentioned she was unmarried. Hence, the question.

Ruan Qing, a fan of ancient romance novels, immediately understood what this ancient man was thinking. No matter how calm he seemed, there were still some limits to his perspective due to the era he came from! Ruan Qing raised a finger and declared, “Lesson one about the world a thousand years into the future—”

“First, there’s no emperor in this world.”

“Second, there are no servants. Everyone is equal. If you need someone to work for you, you can hire them, but you can’t buy or sell people. Human trafficking is a crime.”

“Third, men and women are equal. There’s no polygamy—only one husband and one wife. Men and women receive the same education, study the same subjects, and work to earn their own money.”

Ruan Qing finally felt a bit of modern superiority as she continued, “And because of the third point, I, as an adult woman who has received higher education and has a job, can earn money to support myself. That’s why I live independently, neither relying on my father nor a husband.”

As expected, this barrage of new concepts stunned Nian Qi. The young man, who had remained calm even after realizing he had traveled through time, now wore a thoroughly confused expression.

“No emperor? How can there be no emperor?”

Ruan Qing had anticipated this exact question! She knew any person from the past would inevitably ask such a profound question. What, no emperor—will you not survive?

She flashed a mysterious smile. “That’s a complicated issue. I have a work meeting early tomorrow morning, so I need to get up early. It’s already too late tonight. I’ll explain it to you tomorrow.”

Standing up, she added, “Come with me. Freshen up a bit before you sleep.”

Nian Qi was covered in sweat, blood, and dirt. The nurse had only cleaned the area around his wound, so the rest of him was still quite grimy.

Ruan Qing led him to the bathroom. “This is the bathroom. It’s where you wash your face, brush your teeth, take a bath, and… relieve yourself.”

Nian Qi glanced around the small but spotless room. Though it was a place for relieving oneself, there wasn’t the slightest odor. He was about to ask where the water tank and basin were, thinking he’d have to fetch water to wash his face, when Ruan Qing reached out and turned on the faucet.

Water gushed out instantly.

“This is called water tap,” Ruan Qing explained. “You just turn the tap, and water flows out by itself.”

Nian Qi stared at the clean, flowing water for a long time.

“A thousand years,” he murmured.

“Yes,” Ruan Qing replied softly, turning off the faucet. “A thousand years.”