My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Jiang Jinyan tacitly ignored Qin Weizhe's aggrieved eyes and focused his gaze on the latter's neck. Brows frowning, he slowly said. "Seems like it. At that time, I only saw it for a split second so I can't be sure. But the scar line is similar, although this one is fainter and smoother."

Xu Binchen's fists clenched. "If he was really wearing human skin mask, then he could have passed right under my nose and I still wouldn't realize it."

Ru Meiqi nodded. "That's right." Then, she turned to the dazed Shi Nian and asked in concern. "What's wrong, Shi Nian? Are you okay?"

Shi Nian came back to her senses and shook her head.

"Don't worry." Ru Meiqi hugged her shoulder gently. "We are here. He will not be able to do anything to you."

Jiang Jinyan interjected. "Who is this person you're searching for, if I may ask?" He looked at the distracted Shi Nian and recalled how she huddled under his feet and cried so hard that her face was soaked in tears, tremblingly mouthed that she was scared. Jiang Jinyan's heartstring was tugged and he couldn't help asking. "Are you in trouble?"

Shi Nian blinked and looked at Ru Meiqi. Then, Ru Meiqi looked at Xu Binchen, Qin Weizhe followed suit. Four pairs of eyes converged onto the man who's clearly in a bad mood. "Sorry Mr. Jiang, it's confidential information. The less you know, the better."

Jiang Jinyan nodded and didn't ask anymore.

Shi Nian's sight fell onto him, seemingly wanting to say something but stopped in the end. It was only right that Jiang Jinyan wasn't included in this mess. This kind of matter…the further he stood, the better. Still, the feeling of hiding something from her general was really uncomfortable, like a fishbone stuck on her throat.

"Has it finished already?" Qin Weizhe's voice came out muffled. "Can I take it off?"

Amused, Ru Meiqi stepped forward and helped him take off the mask so that it wouldn't be torn. "This is crucial evidence. Keep it in the archive."

Qin Weizhe took in large gulps of air and nodded.

"Alright." Xu Binchen stood up. "Let me take you back."

It was the second time Jiang Jinyan and Shi Nian rode on Xu Binchen's car and the seating arrangements didn't change a bit. Jiang Jinyan was still as taciturn as ever, Xu Binchen's mind was troubled with something, leaving only Shi Nian who wanted to make some small talks to no avail.

The police were getting busier than ever, thus Xu Binchen just dropped them off and returned.

Jiang Jinyan and Shi Nian walked side by side into the elevator. He wanted to press on the nineteenth floor but Shi Nian held him back. [Have you eaten yet?]

It seemed like she had always asked him that every time they met.

"I have," he answered quietly and proceeded to press on his floor.

Liar, Shi Nian muttered inwardly.

She typed on her phone with her head lowered, silence hung between them. When the elevator stopped on the nineteenth floor, Jiang Jinyan bowed slightly, ready to say goodbye. "Then—"

He hadn't even finished his sentence when Shi Nian grabbed the hem of his shirt. This kind of act was quite familiar. Jiang Jinyan stopped in his tracks and saw the screen that Shi Nian showed him. It was a WeChat interface with her mother.

[You're back with your friend? Then ask him to come up and eat together!]

Under it, Shi Nian replied with an OK emoji.

Black lines filled Jiang Jinyan's forehead. "I have eaten."

Shi Nian shook her head and typed. [My mother wants to thank you for your help. Mr. Jiang Jinyan, please accept it, okay?] The golden eyes were filled with hope as they stared up at him.

Jiang Jinyan retracted his feet and sighed. "…fine."

Shi Nian beamed and brought Jiang Jinyan back to her house. Qiang Fei was already waiting for them, an apron tied on her body. "Niannian? Is everything okay with Detective Xu?"

Shi Nian nodded and gestured toward Jiang Jinyan who stood frozen in the hallway. "…Madam Shi."

Qiang Fei's eyes curved happily. "Is it Xiao[1] Jiang? Shi Nian has told me so much about you! Come in and sit. Oh, just call me auntie, no need to be so distant. Thank you for always taking care of Niannian, she's such a handful, isn't she?"

Throughout his life, Jiang Jinyan had never got into contact with any middle aged lady except for Auntie Yuan who took care of his mother. Even the notion of 'mother' only reminded him of the cold sanatorium and crazed pleading of Guan Xiaoxiao.

This kind of mother—who smiled happily, who cooked with an apron, who looked at him affectionately, who put food into his bowls—everything was so foreign and unfamiliar that he couldn't taste what was inside his mouth.

Only when he tasted the greasy sweetness of potato did he frown.

Qiang Fei asked enthusiastically. "Is it delicious?"

Jiang Jinyan didn't chew and directly swallowed. "It is."

"Then you should eat more."

"No." To prevent any more potato invasion in his bowl, Jiang Jinyan forced out a smile. "Let me get it myself. Thank you very much…auntie."

Shi Nian looked at his face half fearfully and half amused. Of course, she knew that Jiang Jinyan loathed everything that had to do with potatoes. She wanted to tell Qiang Fei, but it was too late. The daydreaming Jiang Jinyan didn't even see what he ate as he shoved it into his mouth.

As expected, he hadn't changed at all…

Shi Nian felt distressed seeing him only eat rice, thus she picked the vegetables, gathered the pieces of shrimp and meat together and offered it to his bowl. This kind of light dish, he liked it right?

Jiang Jinyan gave her a fleeting glance. But as he saw her act like nothing happened, he could only burrow his head into the bowl and silently ate the vegetables.

Shi Nian's lips silently curled up.

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[1] Xiao Jiang = Little Jiang hehe