Nian Qi’s eyes were bright and sharp as he looked back at Ruan Qing.
Since she had exposed his lie about amnesia and specifically brought him to this quiet, deserted corner to tell him these things, she certainly wasn’t speaking without purpose.
“Then what should I do?” he asked humbly. “Please enlighten me.”
“You can’t be discovered by the police,” Ruan Qing said. “As for why, that’s a long story. I’ll explain in detail after we leave here. For now, we need to resolve this amnesia issue first. I’ve thought about it, and there’s no other way. You’ll just have to go tell the doctor yourself that your mind is clear and you’ve remembered everything. Do you think that’ll work?”
Nian Qi readily agreed. “I’ll listen to you.”
Ruan Qing wiggled her toes uncomfortably and said, “Also, your way of speaking, your choice of words and phrasing—you have to change that.”
“Yes, I’ve already noticed,” Nian Qi replied. “Whenever I speak, people always laugh. I just haven’t been able to figure out why they’re laughing. I thought it was because of my accent, but it doesn’t seem that way.”
“They’re laughing at your word choices,” Ruan Qing said after a moment’s thought. “Try… not being so polite. Leave out all the words you consider formal or courteous, like ‘dare I ask,’ ‘please enlighten me,’ and all those humble or respectful terms—‘this humble one,’ ‘young lady,’ and so on.”
Nian Qi raised an eyebrow. “Is the speech here so blunt and unrefined?”
Ruan Qing choked back a response.
But upon reflection, it was true.
“You’re not wrong to think of it that way. It’s just plain speech,” she said. “Using ‘you’ and ‘I’ is enough when addressing each other. The ones in white coats are doctors, also called physicians. The ones in pink short sleeves are nurses. When you talk to them later, leave out all the humble and respectful terms. Just speak plainly.”
Nian Qi agreed without hesitation. “Understood.”
His cooperation made Ruan Qing breathe a huge sigh of relief.
She said, “I still don’t know what to call you. My name is Ruan Qing.”
“This hum—” Nian Qi instinctively started to say “this humble one,” but caught himself mid-sentence. “My name is Zhao Si.”
Zhao Si.
Ruan Qing: “”
Why not just call yourself Nicholas?
Ruan Qing was speechless. “Even if it’s a fake name, couldn’t you come up with something more believable?”
This time, Nian Qi finally showed a hint of surprise.
He paused and asked, “Young la… how did you know this isn’t my real name?”
Zhao Si was actually a name he often used when traveling outside. It was plain and unremarkable, easily blending into the crowd, effectively helping him hide among people in his daily life.
“Because…” Ruan Qing said, “no one here uses birth order or numbers as names. Things like Zhu Ba Ba or similar have long been out of use. That doesn’t even count as a proper name. So it sounds fake right away.”
She wasn’t telling the whole truth.
A bloody knife, a person with injuries, dressed in Nightwalker’s Garb and wearing a mask—if it were her, she’d also be highly likely to give a fake name.
Besides, Zhao was the first surname in the Hundred Family Surnames, giving the impression of being randomly chosen. She guessed there was a high probability it was a fake name.
And she was right.
Nian Qi let out a sigh and said, “My apologies. I didn’t mean to deceive you. I often use this name when traveling, so it can’t exactly be called a fake name.”
From the very beginning, from the moment she hid that knife, Ruan Qing had mentally prepared herself for many possibilities and had a very high tolerance for the person in front of her.
But hearing his explanation still made her feel a little better.
She nodded. "So, can you tell me your real name?"
Ruan Qing felt that building trust should start with exchanging names.
Nian Qi was silent for a moment before saying, "Nian Qi."
"Huh?" Ruan Qing didn’t understand.
Nian Qi repeated, "Nian Qi. Nian, as in twenty."
Now Ruan Qing understood. "So, it’s twenty-seven?"
Nian Qi nodded. "Yes, twenty-seven."
Ruan Qing had many speculations about Nian Qi, and this name faintly suggested that her guesses might be quite accurate.
She nodded.
Nian Qi called out, "Miss Ruan."
Ruan Qing swiftly raised a finger and shook it. "Here, we usually address someone as 'Miss X.' Using the word 'girl' would make people laugh."
Nian Qi had already experienced this firsthand and immediately adapted to local customs, correcting himself. "Miss Ruan, I haven’t yet thanked you for saving me."
He even raised his hands in a fist-and-palm salute, very much in the style of the martial world.
His gesture was so natural and fluid, clearly something he had done countless times in his life. In that moment, Ruan Qing no longer had any doubts, knowing her speculations were likely correct.
Suppressing her inner excitement, she extended the same finger and gently pressed down Nian Qi’s fists. "Don’t use this kind of salute in the future. People here don’t practice such courtesies."
Heeding advice ensures a full belly. Nian Qi immediately withdrew his hands. "Alright."
Ruan Qing had initially been worried that he might be shocked or alarmed by his surroundings, drawing suspicion. Now, she felt much more at ease.
This person was very receptive to advice. Speaking with someone like him felt refreshing.
But it was clear he wasn’t a fool either.
After expressing his gratitude, Nian Qi began asking questions. "Miss Ruan, what exactly is this place?"
"This place?" Ruan Qing said. "This is a hospital, a place for treating illnesses and saving lives."
Nian Qi fell silent for a moment.
He rephrased his question. "I mean, what region is this? I was clearly on a mountain outside Jiangcheng, no more than a few dozen miles from the city. How did you transport me from Jiangcheng to here?"
This was something Nian Qi couldn’t wrap his head around.
He had also examined his injuries. As the doctor in the white coat had said, aside from some cuts from swords and blades, he only had a few bruises from bumps and falls. There were basically no serious injuries.
Although he had briefly lost consciousness, injuries of this severity wouldn’t keep him unconscious for long. How could Ruan Qing have brought him to such a strange place in such a short time?
Could she be some kind of mystical person, capable of flying through the sky or burrowing through the earth?
The large board he had seen in the hallway earlier indeed displayed things that were beyond belief.
Could this place be some kind of training ground for extraordinary individuals, like those described in storybooks?
Ruan Qing’s expression, however, was quite peculiar.
She asked, "Which Jiangcheng are you talking about?"
Jiangcheng was no small place—it was a bustling, prosperous city. How could she not have heard of it? Nian Qi briefly described Jiangcheng—its geographical location, customs, local specialties, and so on.
Ruan Qing’s expression grew even more peculiar.
She said, "This matter is truly a bit complicated. Explaining it clearly to you might take some time. Let’s deal with the immediate matters first, and I’ll explain it to you slowly later, alright?"
The last three words carried a hint of coaxing, as if speaking to a child.
Though inexplicable, her patience and gentleness were palpable. Faintly, there was also a trace of… sympathy?
Since things had come to this point, Nian Qi didn’t hide anything and asked directly, “Miss Ruan, when you found me, did you see anyone else?”
“No, only you.” Ruan Qing hesitated for a moment, then looked up. “I think you don’t need to worry about that. No matter who was chasing… you, I think they probably… won’t be able to catch up anymore.”
She couldn’t explain it to him in detail right now and wasn’t sure if he’d understand it this way.
Nian Qi’s sharp eyes stared at her for a moment before he nodded. “Then should we go find a doctor now?”
He seemed like someone with strong adaptability and acceptance.
Ruan Qing said, “Let’s get our stories straight first.”
“You need a name. There’s no surname ‘Nian’ among the hundred surnames. And if you say you remember, I’m afraid they’ll ask you to register your ID…” How to solve this problem? She bit her thumb and suddenly looked up. “How about this? Since you like using the surname Zhao, you can be called Zhao Hao, with ‘Hao’ as in ‘Haotian.’ Hmm… do you know how to write this character?”
“Yes. I can read.” Nian Qi nodded. In fact, he had seen many characters earlier in the emergency room and in this outpatient hall. They were indeed Central Plains characters, yet they seemed both familiar and strange. Some he didn’t recognize at all, while others he recognized but with many strokes missing.
The missing strokes were so numerous it was bewildering. Did this place have so many taboos to avoid?
It was good that he could read. Someone who could read was far better than a complete illiterate.
After aligning their stories, Ruan Qing told him, “If they ask for an ID number, don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it.”
Nian Qi asked, “Is this number unique to each person? And can officials look it up?”
Ruan Qing said, “Yes.”
Nian Qi asked, “Then the number I’ll use is…”
“It’s ‘Zhao Hao’s.’ We’ll borrow his ID number for now.” Ruan Qing coughed under Nian Qi’s probing gaze and said, “He’s, well, someone I know. Anyway, if we need to register, we’ll use his identity for now.”
Nian Qi fell silent for a moment before asking, “Miss Ruan, why are you helping me to this extent?”
“Ah, ah, this way of speaking won’t do. Don’t use words like ‘why’ or ‘for what reason.’ Just say ‘why’ directly.” Ruan Qing raised her finger again.
“Understood. It’s hard to change all at once,” Nian Qi said. “Then, Miss Ruan, why?”
Ruan Qing replied, “Let’s deal with the immediate situation first. I’m afraid they might really call the police.”
Nian Qi didn’t drag it out either. “Alright, let’s deal with the immediate situation first.”
The two of them left the outpatient hall together and headed back toward the emergency room.
As they walked, Nian Qi suddenly asked, “Miss Ruan, where can I go after leaving here?”
Ruan Qing glanced back at him.
“You have no identity, no money. You can’t go anywhere. I’m not trying to scare you—I’ll explain it to you slowly once we’re outside.” She continued walking forward. “You can stay with me for now. I can take you in temporarily.”
Nian Qi had actually been waiting for Ruan Qing to say this and immediately confirmed it. “Alright, I’ll stay with Miss Ruan for now. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
“It’s fine.” Ruan Qing gave him a meaningful look. “Not everyone gets to encounter such a low-probability ‘trouble.’”
Nian Qi: “…?” He didn’t understand.
He added, “I have silver on me, but it seems gold and silver aren’t used here?”
He had tried to pay the medical fees with silver, but the doctor thought he had lost his mind.
"Gold and silver can be exchanged for money," Ruan Qing replied. "But we don't directly use gold and silver as currency here. Ahem, try to speak as little as possible later."
After a few more steps, they found the nurse's station. The nurse was still busy, barely able to keep her feet on the ground. Seeing the two of them return, she pointed to a room: "He's in that room."
Ruan Qing led Nian Qi inside and found the doctor. "Doctor, he's remembered now. It seems like he's fine."
Stress-induced amnesia is a somewhat mysterious condition.
Some people may recover quickly, while others may never remember—both are possible.
The doctor was quite pleased to hear this. He took out a flashlight again, pried open Nian Qi's eyes, and shone the light inside. Finding nothing wrong, he said, "Alright, you can go back now. Rest well, and if you experience nausea, vomiting, or dizziness, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Once you remember, go and complete the formalities."
As expected, it was necessary.
For emergency visits without an ID—such as when the patient is unconscious—a deposit is required first, and the final settlement is made after completing the formalities. In any case, the hospital still needs to keep a record.
At the window, Ruan Qing didn't let Nian Qi speak. She stepped forward and said, "He lost his ID. Can I provide his ID number?"
"Health insurance card? No. Hmm, it's fine. Paying out of pocket is fine."
Finally, she provided the ID number to complete the formalities and settled the medical fees.
Nian Qi remained quiet throughout, obediently following Ruan Qing's arrangements.
During this process, however, Ruan Qing took out her mobile phone. Nian Qi noticed she also had that strange square object and couldn't help but stare at it. Of course, he didn't understand the scanning and payment processes at all, finding them utterly bewildering.
After settling the bill, Ruan Qing said, "Follow me. My car is parked outside."
She led him out of the emergency entrance and away from the building. After walking a few steps, she felt something was off. Turning around, she saw Nian Qi hadn't followed.
He stood outside the building, looking up at it.
This hospital building had twelve floors.
Nian Qi stood there in the night, craning his neck, motionless as he gazed at the massive structure.
The streetlights cast his shadow long and slanting.
Ruan Qing didn't rush him.
After a while, he turned around.
His eyes gleamed faintly in the darkness as he looked into the distance.
Although this was the suburbs, it was an economic development zone. A cluster of office buildings stood in the distance, some twenty stories high, others thirty.
The emergency entrance faced the road. At this hour, there weren't many cars, but vehicles still passed by from time to time. A beam of light would flash by and then fade into the distance.
As those cars disappeared at the intersection, Nian Qi turned his gaze to Ruan Qing.
In truth, when he saw that strange panel in the hallway earlier, Nian Qi had already vaguely sensed that something was amiss.
Inside that panel, which resembled a standing screen, there were people, mountains, rivers, and many things he couldn't comprehend.
At the time, he told himself it might be some kind of illusion created by magic.
But now, the tall buildings and strange moving objects he had seen inside that panel were right before his eyes—not illusions, but real and tangible.
Nian Qi walked up to Ruan Qing, his voice slightly hoarse, and asked her, "Is this place… heaven? Or the mortal world?"
Ruan Qing had been waiting all night for this moment.