My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

"What is this?" Jiang Jinyan massaged his brows as he looked at the weird combination that gathered in his living room. 

Shi Nian, Xu Binchen, Wang Chengbing and Jia Ming'en.

"I have one condition." Jia Ming'en said on the phone last time. "If you want to talk face to face, then it can only be done in Jiang Jinyan's house. You know who he is, right?"

And thus, one evening, Jiang Jinyan found his house swarmed with some unwanted guests, interrupting his precious time alone with Shi Nian.

"My apologies, Mr. Jiang. Please understand that this is an emergency." Xu Binchen frowned. "I have no idea that you two know each other."

"Wait, wait!" Wang Chengbing chimed in as he seized the bespectacled teenager in front of him up and down. "You're really Jia Renyu's son? How can we know that it's not merely a trap?"

One couldn't blame him for doubting Jia Ming'en's words. Afterall, who could have guessed that the young master of mafia lineage lived such a humble life, was a high achiever and a Student Council President at that?! Shouldn't he be going around fighting left and right with a gun holstered on his waist? What was up with this good child vibe?!

Jia Ming'en scoffed and slurped down the fruit juice Shi Nian had made earlier. "And who are you? I don't remember ever making any appointments with someone other than Detective Xu. If you don't trust me, then you're welcome to walk out through the door anytime." After saying that, he even made a gesture toward the front door.

"You–!" Wang Chengbing's eyes widened, nostrils flaring. "Who said that I don't trust you?!"

Jia Ming'en shrugged nonchalantly.

"How do you know that the police have been searching for you?" Xu Binchen brought the topic back.

Jia Ming'en gave a disdainful look. "Sui Chenyou. Does it ring a bell?" Seeing Wang Chengbing exclaim in a sharp 'ah', he sneered. "He has been going around and spreading the news that the police threatened him to search for Jia Renyu's son, that fucking idiot. Thanks to him, I have wonderful days of getting rid of some annoying pests."

Xu Binchen cursed under his breath. 

The situation turned stagnant for a moment then simultaneously, all eyes turned to Jiang Jinyan who was sitting on the couch with a frown. "What?" He commented, displeased. "Shall I give you some room inside my own house?"

"Yes please–"

"No."

Xu Binchen and Jia Ming'en said in unison. 

The latter turned to Jiang Jinyan and said seriously. "Don't. In case he throws some threatening remarks to me, I need you as a witness."

Xu Binchen sneered. "Me? Threatening you? Brat, do you want to try?"

Wang Chengbing pulled up his sleeve and showed his fist. "Want to see a real threat?!"

Jiang Jinyan gave a huge sigh and raised one hand. The chaos died down in an instant. "Haa...this is going to drive me crazy." He raked his fingers through his hair and could barely stand his irritation only with Shi Nian stroking his back. "Fine, speak all you want and scram." 

Xu Binchen looked at the two's natural intimacy and suddenly asked. "Are you two dating?"

Jiang Jinyan felt Shi Nian's movement pause and he deliberately held the girl's hand and lifted their intertwined fingers as well as flashing the red string bracelet on his wrist. "Yes, we are." The gaze he directed toward Xu Binchen was brooding and taunting, as if asking "Do you have something to say about it?"

Shi Nian groaned inwardly and face palmed. Here it was, Jiang Jinyan's vinegar pot overturned without any warning again. She had no idea why he was so wary of Xu Binchen no matter how many times she explained that there's nothing between them. Well, that kind of mindless jealousy was kind of adorable though.

Suddenly Shi Nian recalled, in one instance a few months ago, she had promised Xu Binchen not to fall in love early and here she was, sitting in front of him and holding hands with Jiang Jinyan. Shi Nian's heart skipped a beat. She didn't like to break promises and thus felt slightly guilty. "My mother knows about it, Binchen gege." She mumbled in defense.

Originally, Shi Nian thought that she would get another long lecture but unexpectedly Xu Binchen let her go just like that with a scoff. The man turned his gaze toward Jiang Jinyan and said, "If Shi Nian is your girlfriend, then you might want to hear our conversation. After all, this matter is related to her."

Shi Nian looked at them back and forth, confused.

Xu Binchen didn't beat around the bush again and proceeded with the questioning. "Mr. Jia, I thank you on behalf of the police for your presence here. Let me emphasize once again that we have no intention of using you as a means of exchange for a transaction with your father. On the other hand, what we want is just some information and if you can provide it for us, then we will certainly reward you immensely."

Jia Ming'en nodded nonchalantly. "What kind of information?"

Xu Binchen pulled out a transparent zipper bag from his bag and put it on the table. Inside it was a wrinkly, synthetic human skin mask. "This is a product that your father's company has been producing, correct?"

"Oh?" Jia Ming'en took it and inspected it under the light with interest. "Where did you get this?"

"From your response, I assume that it's a yes. A few months ago, a man with this mask came to the hospital and almost inflicted harm upon the police's important witness. We have reasons to suspect that he's the serial killer we have been chasing for more than a year." Xu Binchen leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. "Mr. Jia Ming'en, allow me to request bluntly. Give us the list of the customers who have purchased this product. That's all."

Jia Ming'en's expression didn't change at all but Xu Binchen noticed the minute details such as how his pupils dilated and his movement paused for a split second. No matter how he tried to hide it, he was obviously quite shaken up. 

Some guesses popped up in Xu Binchen's mind. Did he possibly know something?

"Please be aware that we have no intention to cross the mafia. But…" Cold glints flashed in Xu Binchen's eyes. "If we found that the mafia is indeed sheltering the serial killer, then it's another matter altogether."

Jiang Jinyan squeezed Shi Nian's sweaty palm and couldn't help adding. "President Jia, regarding this matter, I will appreciate it very much...if you are willing to help."

Jia Ming'en's eyes trailed from Xu Binchen's measuring gaze toward Shi Nian's pale face and finally landed on Jiang Jinyan's tense figure. In the end, he lowered his eyes in order to hide the turbulence within. When he spoke in the next moment, his voice came out slightly hoarse. "I don't know if I can help but...I will give it a try."

Jiang Jinyan's expression eased. "Thank you very much…"

Jia Ming'en waved offhandedly. "If there's nothing else, then excuse me." He picked up his coat and left. Although his composed demeanor gave nothing away, they could somehow sense the tension and nervousness from his back.

Not long after, Wang Chengbing and Xu Binchen also left. They got into the car to return to the police station. 

"That kid…" Wang Chengbing broke the silence. "He knows something."

"Yes." Xu Binchen agreed.

"Is it okay to not put any tracking device on him?"

"It should be okay. We already know he's Jiang Jinyan's senior in the university so it will be easy to search for him." Xu Binchen tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and stared into his own reflection on the glass window. "I can't believe that the world is so small. By any chance, do you think another coincidence will pop up?"

"Like what?"

"Like…" Xu Binchen trailed off and shifted the gear stick. "The serial killer we have been chasing after, he might be someone we have crossed paths with before."

It was a ridiculous remark but somehow, Wang Chengbing couldn't bring himself to laugh. He couldn't help but imagine, how comical would it be if Xu Binchen's words were to come true?

"Anyway," Wang Chengbing's eyes curved and he smirked teasingly. "Are you okay leaving Shi Nian together with Jiang Jinyan? After all, she's your–"

"Shut your mouth!" Xu Binchen hissed and threw the tissue box to his head, eliciting a pained yelp that was mixed with laughter and schadenfreude.

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A/N: O-oh, what kind of information will Jia Ming'en give the police?