My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

The streetlamps along the narrow street could only illuminate the area a few meters around. Jia Ming'en, with hands inside the pocket, walked leisurely down the street, a plastic bag hung on his wrist. His feature was obscured by the darkness, unable to be seen clearly.

Night descended and only a few people remained hanging around—the so-called gangsters and tyrants parading around the streets—who gave him some inquiring and intimidating glances when he walked past. But upon seeing his face, they all retreated and didn't dare to make a squeak.

Sounds of televisions, faint chatter and laughter drifted into his ears, yet his expression remained unchanged. It was both nonchalant and indifferent.

He turned in a corner toward a small, old apartment building that only consisted of five floors. Only the window on the first and second floor was on, the rest of them looked uninhabited. There wasn't even any elevator so he had to climb the stairs every time he returned here. What choice did he have left? If he didn't escape here, sooner or later, those people would buzz around him again.

He had told them countless times that he had no intention of inheriting the family business, yet they all remained persistent. It was so annoying.

Jia Ming'en halted in his tracks with one foot already on the first step of stairs. "Who's there?"

There was no answer for a moment. Only the cold gust of wind breezed by, merging with his cold and aloof temperament. 

Jia Ming'en waited patiently until the end, a person stepped out from the darkness and let his features be illuminated by the streetlamp. A very elegant, sophisticated man with gold rimmed glasses. His hair was slightly long, tied behind his neck with not even a single strand out of the place.

Everyone's mood would lighten upon seeing such a handsome man, but Jia Ming'en's expression turned ugly in an instant. "Why are you here?"

"Just running some errands and dropping by on the way. Don't worry." Si Zhening answered with a light tone, a polite smile hung on his lips. "No one knows this address except for me and the boss."

Jia Ming'en was finally willing to turn toward him, his tone reluctant. "My dad told you to come here?"

"Yes." Si Zhening glanced down at his wristwatch. "It's already 8 pm, don't wander around casually. The people here aren't very good."

Jia Ming'en scoffed as if he had heard the best joke in the world. "You should say it to everyone beside me."

Si Zhening didn't care about the sarcasm in his voice and continued, "Stay here for a while. It isn't safe in the Capital nowadays."

Hearing the seriousness in his tone, Jia Ming'en furrowed his brows. "What problem did you all cause again?"

Of course, Si Zhening didn't have any intention to divulge it. He had always been the firmest secret keeper, that's why Jia Renyu was willing to trust him when it came to his son's safety. "Nothing for you to worry about. You should just study earnestly and get some perfect scores to make Boss happy." Si Zhening paused and contemplated for a while before deciding to give a warning, his eyes subtly glancing at the other man's left eye. "Be careful with the police. Don't let them find you. You know how ruthless they can be."

Jia Ming'en sneered, too lazy to even say anything to him.

"That's all I've got to say." Si Zhening nodded and waved casually. "I will come to you again if there's any further development." He pointed at the plastic bag in Jia Ming'en's hands. "And don't keep on eating instant lunchboxes from the convenience store. What use is the money in your card if you don't spend it at all?"

Jia Ming'en shrugged. "Just let them rot then."

Si Zhening smiled as if he didn't hear anything and turned to walk away.

Jia Ming'en stared into Si Zhening's back until the man exited the street and got into a black, inconspicuous car. Only after that did he turn away and climb the stairs to his room on the fifth floor. The light bulbs above his head flickered intermittently, highlighting the difference between both eyes; one was deeper than the night, while the other was glossier amidst the dark, almost like a clear glass. It was quite a bizarre sight.

In the end, Jia Ming'en couldn't resist kicking the metal fence on the balcony, causing the railing to creak dangerously. His eyes flashed with dangerous lights yet hidden beneath the frozen frost was deep sadness and indignation. 

He used to trail behind that person when he was young, calling him 'brother' and treating him as a role model. In the end, it was this 'brother' who lied to him the most. 

The emotions in his eyes were quickly veiled until not a trace was left. A cold, furious smile appeared on his face. "Do you think I am still a ten years old brat that's so easy to dupe? Dream on!"

***

After Jia Ming'en left, Shi Nian wasted no time to ride the elevator to the nineteenth floor and pressed on Jiang Jinyan's doorbell, anxious. Her fingers wrung together impatiently, ears pricking up to hear the slightest bit of sound inside.

Yet, after a minute, there was still no answer.

No, not even a hint of movement could be heard. If Jia Ming'en didn't confirm that he had just brought Jiang Jinyan home, Shi Nian would have thought that there was nobody inside. 

How was he? Was he asleep already? Wait...what would she do if Jiang Jinyan fainted inside without anybody knowing?!

All sorts of scenarios played inside Shi Nian's mind, almost driving her insane.

After pressing the doorbell a few more times, finally, the door creaked open, albeit only a bit. Shi Nian's eyes lit up. However, instead of Jiang Jinyan, a ball of fluffy grey shot passed the door and jumped onto her, mewling in grievance. "Mew mew mew!!"

Shi Nian caught the kitten in her arms, rubbing its chin in comfort. "What's wrong?" She asked softly. "Where's your owner?"

She peeked into the door and saw Jiang Jinyan leaning on the hallway, his eyes pressed shut, frowning with his breaths uneven. No color could be seen from his face and lips, his whole person looked sickly and pallid. His hair was dampened with sweat, looking as if he was enduring some kind of great discomfort.

Hearing the sound from the door, he forcefully peeled open his eyes. "You…what are you doing here?" He asked with a raspy voice.

Not even a second later, his legs staggered and his whole body tilted.

Shi Nian instantly put the kitten down and rushed to support him, distressed. "Are you okay?!"

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A/N: ooooh, what's Si Zhening's relationship with Jia Ming'en? Now, you know who the boss is hehe