My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Jin Renguang almost died of anger.

"I can kill some more?" He walked across the room back and forth. Turning to the other man, he added with his voice rising, "If worse comes to worst, I can just quit being a police officer?"

Xu Binchen stood ramrod straight, hands clasped behind his back in attention. His whole posture looked like a well behaved, obedient student that was ready to receive punishment–

—Well behaved his ass. 

There wasn't even an ounce of guilt or repentance on his face! 

Jin Renguang's fingers twitched, itching to pummel this arrogant brat down to the ground. "Answer me!"

Xu Binchen's pupils which were looking straight moved sideways, his tone contained no fluctuations whatsoever. "We have already caught the culprit."

Veins popped out on Jin Renguang's forehead. "So does that give you the right to launch the helicopter and kill anyone as you please?!"

Xu Binchen hesitated, then he 'kindly' reminded his Captain. "The helicopter is my own property and the one I've killed is Dong Jingcuo, the number five on the list of criminal wanted by the police."

Jin Renguang laughed angrily. "Of course I know that. Otherwise, do you think you can still stand here and talk to me?!"

Xu Binchen returned a loud reply. "Thank you Captain for your generosity!"

"Generosity?" Jin Renguang gnashed his teeth. "Xu Binchen, you do know that I have done a lot to accept you into my team, right? You have neither experience nor a clear background and everything about you is shrouded in a mystery. If it's not me who's the Captain, do you think you will be able to stay in the Police Bureau?"

"I know." Xu Binchen's cold face finally rippled. He had concealed his identity to remain as an ordinary 'Xu Binchen' and Captain Jin had given him a pass even though the police ought to investigate each of the rookie's background thoroughly. He had never forgotten about that. Even now, no one in the SCI squad ever questioned his background and they only knew that Xu Binchen was some rich second generation young master. "Thank you, Captain. I won't do it again next time."

Look! Look at that innocent face and sincere tone! There's still a fucking next time?!

Jin Renguang's chest stifled with anger that had nowhere to vent. In the end, he averted his gaze away. Out of sight, out of mind. "Where the hell is Tang Wei?! How long does he need to take just to clarify those people's identity?!"

The poor Tang Wei came in the nick of time. He knocked on the door and opened it only to find Jin Renguang's dark face. "Captain! I...um…" His tone weakened in an instant. "Captain, we have finished compiling their identity."

He gingerly offered the report with both hands like presenting a gift to the Emperor. Jin Renguang snatched it and flipped the report in irritation.

Tang Wei reported, "We have caught twelve people in total; one is the receptionist lady, six are the cleaning janitors, two are maintenance staff." 

"Now the other three; first, Sui Chenyou, our prime suspect. Second, Lang Xi, his right hand man. 29 years old. Male and single. Has eight criminal records in the span of five years due to extortion, gambling, infiltration of legitimate business and loan sharking."

Jin Renguang paused and gave him a glance. "And the last one?"

"The last one…" Tang Wei pointed at the formal photo of a twenty something man with small eyes, big nose and slightly crooked lips. Just in a glance, they could see his hunched back and the gloominess radiating from him. "Ming Sen. 23 years old. Undergraduate of Medical University. In his last year, he interned in a hospital in City S and did a malpractice. The victim is an eighteen years old girl who crashed her car on the toll road. He should have received the verdict of five years in jail but he escaped. It isn't until now that we find out he has been hiding under the mafia."

"Captain…" Tang Wei said carefully. "This time, we have harvested quite a lot of criminals. Most importantly, we have got Sui Chenyou in our hands—"

"Alright, I know what you want to say." Jin Renguang didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He waved in dismissal. "Go, go! Summon everyone to the meeting room in five minutes! We are going to screw those nutjobs up!"

Tang Wei and Xu Binchen saluted. "Aye aye Captain!"

"Xu Binchen." Jin Renguang suddenly called after they had reached the door.

"Is there anything else, Captain?"

"The boy in the hospital–the one surnamed Jiang, how is he?"

Something in Xu Binchen's eyes flashed. He dropped his eyes and answered quietly. "Just regained consciousness a few hours ago."

"I see…" Jin Renguang fell silent for a while and sighed. "Alright, I know. You can go."

Xu Binchen bowed politely and proceeded to walk out of the room.

The two men exited one after another and closed the door behind them. Only then did Tang Wei let out a relieved sigh and wiped his sweaty forehead. "Big brother, I know we are in a hurry." He gave a smile that's worse than crying. "But can you not provoke Captain? You know he's been moody nowadays."

Xu Binchen didn't stop and left only two words. "No time."

Tang Wei looked at his back, baffled. No time? No time for what? Although this case was related to the mafia which was suspected of sheltering the serial killer, it wasn't that urgent either to the point of reaping lives, okay?!

***

Carrying with him the chilly air of mid autumn, Xu Binchen slid the door open after receiving an answer inside. 

The window in the room overlooked the high buildings and downcast sky. It was clearly still noon yet the sun looked as if it was going to set soon. Just looking at it could make people feel melancholy and gloomy.

Jiang Jinyan was leaning on the bed, still connected with IV drips. Upon seeing Xu Binchen, he greeted with a small nod. The bruises on his eyes and the corner of his lips were blue and purple which appeared a bit terrifying. Still, instead of ugly, it added a resemblance of wild charm to his delicate features. Unfortunately, the man's complexion was haggard and if one looked closer, they might see his eyelids which were slightly swollen.

He had a thick blanket covering his body from the waist down, making him look cold and distant.

"Thank you for coming, Detective Xu. Actually, there's no need to go out of your way to visit me. It's too bothersome."

"Don't waste your breath, kiddo." His occupational disease kicked in and Xu Binchen walked around the room to inspect whether there was any listening bug or hidden camera. Of course, there wasn't but it didn't hurt to be careful. "I am not just coming to visit you."

The corner of Jiang Jinyan's mouth twitched and he replied dryly, "...So what are you coming for?"

Instead of answering, Xu Binchen asked. "Shi Nian was here, wasn't she?"

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A/N: oooh, Xu Binchen knows (/ε＼*)