My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Early in the morning, Shi Nian drifted to the kitchen, her eyes still closed as she grabbed some drink. As usual, there was a note from Qiang Fei stuck on the refrigerator. [Mama has gone to work. There's congee in the pot. Share it with Detective Xu.]

Shi Nian opened the lid and the warm and delicious fragrance of meat congee spread through the air. Shi Nian's stomach gurgled and she took a small bowl for herself, wolfing it down in seconds like a hungry ghost. Only then did she feel more sober to discern her surroundings.

The curtain hadn't been drawn and faint streak of golden lights had started to break through the horizon. Shi Nian glanced toward the clock. Only 6.00 am. She yawned and went to freshen herself up. After that, she grabbed her phone and crossed the floor to Xu Binchen's door.

Since last night, the mother and daughter pair had been taking care of him. Xu Binchen suddenly got a high fever. Due to his large build, it was difficult enough for Shi Nian and Qiang Fei to move him into the room. When they wanted to bring him to the hospital, the man miraculously opened his eyes and rejected strongly even though he was already delirious back then.

Left with no choice, they could only let him rest in the house.

Shi Nian's face turned complicated as she recalled how shocked Qiang Fei was when the latter found her in Xu Binchen's embrace. Stinky uncle! Bad gege! How could he just hug someone casually like that? And his low, raspy voice…Shi Nian rubbed her ears. Somehow, she could still feel the tingling on her ears when Xu Binchen's hot breaths brushed across it.

En, she admitted that Xu Binchen gege wasn't just handsome, but his voice was pleasant too. Too bad that his personality was like that. Who knows, if he just fixed his sour face and learned to smile once in a while, maybe he wouldn't have to suffer alone without any girlfriends right now.

She opened the door and poked her head in. The state of the house was the same as yesterday. Cold, unfeeling and empty. Shi Nian widened the door and entered. The birds chirped and occasionally, the sound of cars passing by could be heard mixed with the barks of dogs from somewhere. She tiptoed to Xu Binchen's bedroom that was slightly ajar and caught sight of a lump above the huge, black bed.

Nice, he was still sleeping.

Shi Nian then made her way to the kitchen. Last night, she had known that Xu Binchen's kitchen didn't even have anything; not even sugar and salt, rice, frozen foods, there wasn't even any pans, pots, bowls or spoons! The space was completely empty and clean as if it hadn't been used before.

However, Qiang Fei had cooked ginger soup here thus Shi Nian could easily heat up the meat congee with the clean pot. However, Shi Nian had forgotten that this was the only pot and she couldn't even boil any water!

No, this wouldn't do.

Xu Binchen had taken good care of her family these past few months so the only thing she could do to repay him back was to fill his kitchen with basic necessities!

Taking advantage of the morning sun, Shi Nian went down to the 24 hour supermarket, intending to buy pots, sugar, salt, soy sauce, and many more. She recalled Xu Binchen's words that warned her not to show her face often in the front gate, thus she went around to the back gate that was connected with other apartments by winding alleys and water pipes.

Shi Nian greeted the receptionist lady and opened the back door. Cold wind slapped her face in an instant and she tightened her coat. She walked along the pipes, carefully evading the uneven bricks and small rocks. The fresh air made her take a deep breath and she smiled at the good weather.

Her eyes inadvertently glanced toward the side of the alley where it was connected with the back door of a two story house. The gate was slightly ajar and from there, Shi Nian could see empty food boxes, cans, empty mineral water bottles, and other miscellaneous trash that were thrown carelessly in the beautiful yard.

She halted in her tracks, strangeness filled her chest. As far as she could remember, Xu Binchen had once said that this side of the apartment didn't have that many residents because of the high price and the houses were also included. The whole row had been empty for years.

So…where did those things come from? It was as if...someone had been secretly living there.

Goosebumps rose along her arms and Shi Nian's head buzzed. She thought of the unsolved murder case, then the yellow police line around the garbage can. Could it be…?

Her foot subconsciously took a step forward yet all of a sudden, a strong force yanked her arm, causing her to lose her balance and tilt backward. Shi Nian couldn't react in time and the sky spun in front of her eyes. The next moment she regained her senses, her back bumped against the wall and she was faced with a pair of piercingly cold, sharp and slightly angry eyes.

Her eyes instantly lit up.

The man's face was so close that Shi Nian could see her reflection in his eyes. "Don't move."

Shi Nian's body instinctively froze in absolute obedience and she lifted her head to see Jiang Jinyan's sharp and neat jawline, sweat drifting down from it. The General's heavy aura shrouded her whole and her senses were filled with the sight of him.

It took a moment for her to realize that Jiang Jinyan was focused on something beyond the wall behind her.

Shi Nian tried to peek, but the man tightened her grab on her. His elbow braced against the wall. From behind, it looked like he was embracing her into his chest.

Jiang Jinyan returned his gaze to her and he put his finger on his lips. Shi Nian nodded in understanding. Only then did the man release her, yet their positions stayed the same. Shi Nian took a deep breath yet it only made her dizzier because of the masculine, clean and cool scent mixed with sweat that rushed to her nose.

Inwardly slapping herself, Shi Nian tried to focus and pricked up her ears.

Amidst the tranquil morning filled with chirping birds and rustling trees, a soft movement could be heard.

Shi Nian's head cooled down in an instant and her lips tightened. If she wasn't wrong, then the sound came from the house around the corner which Shi Nian had just seen. There was the rustle of plastic bags and the clacking sound of cans bumping against each other, then the slow creaking of heavy and rusty door opening…

It wasn't known when, but Jiang Jinyan had been pressing closer and closer onto her to the point where the line of his nape was right in front of her eyes. If Shi Nian moved even a bit, then her nose would have bumped into him.

"Shit," Jiang Jinyan cursed in a low voice.

Shi Nian froze in place because she heard the sound of footsteps that were getting closer to them!

Jiang Jinyan pulled her to the side. However, they couldn't hide. If that person walked forward, then they would be able to see her and Jiang Jinyan if they just turned their head!

In a split second decision, Jiang Jinyan moved so that his back faced that person then he commanded in a whisper which only both of them could hear. "Come closer...and hug me."

Shi Nian's eyes widened in shock and she snapped her head up to see Jiang Jinyan's eyes that were completely serious. Shi Nian instantly understood the severity of the situation. There wasn't any time to be flustered!

She trusted Jiang Jinyan with her whole heart. Even then, her arms trembled as they moved to hug the man's back. Jiang Jinyan's arm circled around her waist and brought her closer so that her body was flushed against him. His other arm reached out toward her nape, jet black hair spilled forth the gaps of his fingers as he exerted a bit of force to lift her head.

His head lowered all of a sudden at the same time as Shi Nian titled up.. Her golden pupils quivered as Jiang Jinyan's dense eyelashes and half lidded eyes filled her sight.