My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Ru Meiqi returned to her apartment after a long, tiring day. She wasn't just a consultant for the SCI squad, but she also had to help other divisions—such as the Drug Enforcement Division, General Crime Division, Public Security etc—to perform analysis and psychology tests if necessary.

The intensity of work varied. Sometimes, they wouldn't have any cases for months so she had many leisure days. But for the past few months, the SCI, General Crime and Drug Enforcement had been working together to crack not only the serial murder case, but also the drugs distribution in Dreamscape Bar.

The most tiring thing of all was how she had to write reports after reports after every development to submit them to the higher ups. It was almost neverending.

Ru Meiqi herself had already forgotten Jin Renguang's words, thus when she entered her apartment and found a hazy silhouette sitting in her living room amidst the dark, Ru Meiqi's first reaction was to pull out the golf club beside the shoe cabinet and hold it with both hands. "Who is it?!" She barked out fiercely.

"Whoa." Came a familiar voice, one which made her relax but also itching to beat the other person up at the same time. "Easy, woman. It's me."

Jin Renguang turned the lights on and instantly, the bright light poured all across the room. Ru Meiqi saw that he was still wearing the same shirt he wore today, proof that the man had directly come here after work. The knowledge didn't make her feel any better, instead, she grew more irritated.

"What are you doing here? How did you get in?"

"Put down the golf club." Jin Renguang cleared his throat and continued in a softer tone. "Don't you remember? Last time, in the cemetery, I told you to wait for me."

"But you never said that you would directly trespass into my house!" Ru Meiqi exclaimed angrily and turned to change the passcode of her door. She had no idea how Jin Renguang found out about it, but either way, she did it out of irritation albeit she knew perfectly how a single door did nothing to hold him back.

"Don't bother." Jin Renguang took a step forward and admitted unabashedly. "I have copied your fingerprints."

Ru Meiqi turned to him in disbelief. "Jin Renguang, is that how you make use of your occupational skill?! I will report you to the police!"

"I am the police, remember?" he grinned teasingly.

Ru Meiqi: "…" Okay, she must be too tired to blurt out something so stupid like this.

She massaged her brows, gesturing outside. "Please make your way out. I'm not in the mood to bicker with you."

"Neither am I. Qiqi, I am serious when I say there's something I want to tell you." Jin Renguang's face was unprecedentedly solemn and Ru Meiqi had to admit that this kind of Jin Renguang made her slightly nervous. Well, not that she would admit it anyway.

"So?" She raised her brow defiantly, her voice cold and even. "Tell me. After that, you may go."

Jin Renguang snorted softly. Before Ru Meiqi could react, he strode forward in large steps, closed the door and pulled her in, barely using any strength. When she regained her senses, she was already sitting on the couch with a cup of steaming honey water in front of her.

Stunned, Ru Meiqi asked, "Where does this come from?"

Jin Renguang's voice came from behind. "I boiled water in your kitchen, bought a jar of honey downstairs. Don't you like to drink this?" A soft touch suddenly fell upon her shoulder, making her jolt in shock. "Shush, just relax." 

The man's fingers started to move. Pressing, kneading, rubbing, he gently massaged her shoulder with perfectly controlled strength. "You're too tense. Let me give you a short massage, okay? Anyway I have done it countless times before." He kneaded her nape, thumb stroking the tender side of her skin. It was so comfortable that Ru Meiqi had goosebumps all over her arms and she almost dozed off in an instant.

A distant memory surfaced in her mind. Back when she was still studying in university, her life was so hectic and her sleep schedule was turned upside down, even catching a few hours of sleep a day was already a luxury. Oftentimes, she would fall asleep when she waited for the noodle cup to finish cooking or when she was soaking in the bathtub. Even when she was eating, she would doze off randomly.

It was Jin Renguang who often visited her rented place, filling her refrigerator with groceries, lining up her shoes in the cabinet, cleaning her messy desk and even washing her clothes…

When she burned midnight oil, he would occasionally stay up with her and give her a shoulder massage. Every single time, Ru Meiqi would end up falling asleep on him and wake up only to find her assignments done.

She took a sip of the honey water to cover the aching throb in her heart and felt the warmth and sweetness travelling down her throat. Coupled with the skillful massage, it was akin to being serviced in a spa. It didn't take much time at all for Ru Meiqi's body to turn into mush, leaning onto Jin Renguang's wide and warm palm bonelessly.

Moreover, Jin Renguang knew every crook and corner of her acupuncture point, enabling him to offer the greatest satisfaction possible.

She struggled to keep her eyes open amidst the lulling comfort. "You…what do you want to say?" 

Her voice had already lost the previous defiance and formidable spirit. It was soft, weak and harmless, falling into Jin Renguang's ears akin to a kitten's retracted claws, very squishy and adorable.

Jin Renguang tacitly didn't speak for the next few moments and focused on loosening her tense nerves.

Ru Meiqi leaned on the couch, purring softly. "Yes, that…hmm, a bit to the left. Yes…that's the place..."

The woman's slender and fair nape was exposed in front of Jin Renguang's eyes. His honey colored palm contrasted against her tender and milky skin, forming an enticing sight, one that pulled on his heartstrings. She was so docile, so oblivious, letting him do whatever he pleased. The rhythmic pulse under his thumb did nothing to alleviate his quickening heartbeat. The man's eyes deepened and he couldn't help but lean forward…

"Ah!" Ru Meiqi jolted in pain. She turned around angrily. "What are you doing?! Do you want to snap my neck—" The words stopped at her throat when she discovered their abrupt closeness. Jin Renguang's face was so close, too close that she could see his growing stubble and the red veins in his eyes due to lack of sleep.

If Ru Meiqi still didn't know what was going on in this bastard's mind, then she would chop her neck off for him to play with! "You—" The drowsiness dissipated in an instant, replaced with wariness and alertness. "What are you trying to do—uhft!"

Jin Renguang pressed his palm on the back of her neck, pulling the woman closer as he leaned down and captured her lips. "This..." He breathed out huskily. "…is what I want to do."

Ru Meiqi almost choked on her breath. She pushed him and retreated a few steps, wiping her mouth. "Shameless!"

He gave a lopsided grin. "Haven't you known it since day one?"

Ru Meiqi almost laughed out of anger. Her eyes cooled down as she declared with a deadpan face. "Say whatever you want to say and get out of my house."

Inwardly, Ru Meiqi patted her back in encouragement. Good, she hadn't been affected much by his touchy feely inclination. Just like this, she had to be ruthless to both him and herself so as to help her to move on quicker.

"Qiqi…" Jin Renguang clenched his fists, mouth closing and opening repeatedly.

Was he…nervous? Someone like Jin Renguang could actually be nervous? No, it must be her who was too sleepy and tired.

Ru Meiqi turned her gaze toward the floor to ceiling window, preferring to admire the night scenery instead.

"I…I went to the cemetery," he started.

She snorted. "I know."

Jin Renguang took a deep breath. "I'm sorry." Ru Meiqi's head snapped toward him in bewilderment, and he braced himself to continue. "For all these years, I have always been hurting you. For that, I am sorry."

"I—"

"Listen to me first." He said with a firm tone that left no room for rebuttal. "I should have known that honesty and communication are the most important aspects to keep a relationship going. But with my stupid pride and dignity, I am unwilling to admit my mistakes to you because it's just too ridiculous and embarrassing…" Jin Renguang wiped his face roughly and only then did Ru Meiqi convince herself that he was indeed nervous.

Immensely.

And anxious too.

"Qiqi, are you willing to listen to me?" He lifted his head, eyes slightly reddened. "Everything that happened that year, I will tell you everything. Don't you want to know how Yan Jihuan and her baby died? Do you know that I hated her so much and the last sentence I said to her was that I wouldn't ever see her again even if she died?"

He pleaded, a slight tremble in his voice. "Please…Please listen to me. After that, you can decide how you want to deal with me and I swear I will not complain."

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A/N: Finally, Jin Renguang is willing to properly face his past! He and Ru Meiqi needed that honest and deep talk to clear all of the misunderstandings. They have missed each other for five years QAQ but what was Ru Meiqi's answer toward Qin Weizhe's confession? hehe, you will see later on...

My dearies~ we have 99 GT currently! You guys are awesome! One more and I will give a 5 chappie mass release! I guess I need to prepare from now....QAQ