My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

"You can stay here." Jin Renguang said after helping Si Yusheng onto the bed. "There are frozen dishes in the refrigerator and the housekeeper will come once every two days. She's a mute old lady so she won't disturb you."

Si Yusheng nodded slowly. The previous thrilling escape still lingered vividly in his mind. Early in the morning, someone broke into his hospital room. He thought that Nan Cheng's people had come to kill him yet it turned out to be Jin Renguang. A fresh corpse was soon put into his place and he managed to sneak out of the hospital through the ambulance. 

Alas, even though today wasn't the day, sooner or later Nan Cheng would find him. Even more so after knowing that he was a ticking time bomb used by the police.

His fists clenched by his side. "Why…are you helping me?"

Jin Renguang pushed open the window and lit up a cigarette. "Don't you know why? I am not helping you. This is only a transaction. I need something from you and similarly, you can request something from me."

"Right…" Si Yusheng put on a wry smile, his gaze trailed over the space until it landed on the large photo frame hidden behind the table. The edge of it poke out and from his position, he could see it was a photo of a young woman in wedding dress. 

"You're actually married?" He asked out of surprise.

Jin Renguang frowned and followed Si Yusheng's line of sight, his face darkening. "Used to. Don't change the topic. I assured you that it's very safe here. Now you can talk. Who's the owner of Dreamscape Bar?"

The gaze Jin Renguang directed him was brooding and heavy, it was quite suffocating. Still, Si Yusheng stood his ground. "I have told the fatty disguised as Director Wang that I won't tell you unless you give the word to protect my family."

"Alright, then." Jin Renguang flicked the cigarette, its ashes fell on the windowsill. "Who's your family? Based on our investigation, your parents and sister had died. Or are you actually married and have a secret child?"

At his question, Si Yusheng fell silent. After an unknown amount of time, he gave a long sigh, exhaustion and depression evident between his brows. He looked nothing like the previous Manager Si who wore a suit with an elegant smile on his face. 

"First, let me ask you a question." He stated. "Regarding what Mr. Xu said that the police got a tip related to the serial killer, can you tell me more about it?"

"Right, Xu Binchen told me that you're unusually concerned about it." Jin Renguang gave a smile that didn't look like a smile, his eyes were razor sharp. "It's simple. We got a tip from the higher ups that Dreamscape Bar had something to do with the serial killer and we infiltrated the place. Just like that."

To his surprise, Si Yusheng let out a bitter scoff. "Dreamscape Bar is related to the serial killer? Yeah, that's right." He lifted his eyes to meet Jin Renguang, wavering. "Mr. Jin, what if I told you that the enemy you're looking for is out of your reach? Can you sacrifice your job or even your life to apprehend him?"

Jin Renguang stared at him, calculating. His deep, masculine voice spoke out slowly, every single word stirred Si Yusheng's heart. "In my line of work, we have always prepared ourselves for the worst. I hope it can satisfy your doubt."

Si Yusheng slowly let out a sigh of relief and nodded. "I have a younger brother who isn't registered in the household registry. My family—no, to be exact, it's my sister who adopted him. I think you can guess who he is."

Jin Renguang couldn't resist biting the cigarette. His voice came out muffled. "Si Zhening?"

"Bingo." Si Yusheng chuckled bitterly. "Since my sister's death, he has changed completely. Even now, I don't know where he is or how he's doing. That kid—he has never cared for anyone other than Qingzhao. But I'm sure, as soon as he heard what happened to me, he will act." A layer of tears formed in his eyes and his voice was raspy with pleading. "Please protect him and also…my nephew Nan Xukun. Protect them from that vile, repulsive man—Nan Cheng!"

"Nan Cheng…?" Jin Renguang was genuinely stunned. "He's the owner of Dreamscape Bar?" The one who was always interviewed in the national news channel for being a philanthropist, the founder of Henan Foundation that had sponsored countless poor kids who were unable to go to school? That Nan Cheng? "He's the one who wants you dead?"

"That's right! He's the one behind the human trafficking and drug distribution!" Once Si Yusheng started to talk, he couldn't contain it anymore; the hatred, pain and agony burst forth like a tsunami. "He's also the one who killed my sister. It's all Nan Cheng—that obnoxious bastard! You're all fooled by his appearance, he's the most ruthless man I've ever known. If you told me that he's the serial killer, then I will not doubt it a bit!"

Si Yusheng's eyes were full of blazing hatred as he snarled. "Do you want to know who was the one who filed the anonymous report about the killing done by the mafia? It's me! They're killed by Nan Cheng and he paid them to bury the corpse for him!"

***

Jiang Jinyan helped Shi Nian sit on the couch and crouched down. His eyes were gentle as they peered up at her. "Are you feeling better?" He brushed her bangs and proceeded to cup her face gently, his thumb rubbing her soft and smooth cheek.

Shi Nian replied with a hum and pulled him up. "Sit here. Don't put a strain on your leg."

"Okay, okay." Jiang Jinyan relented and sat beside her. He pushed her head to lean onto his shoulder and kissed the crown of his head. "You still look a bit pale."

Shi Nian narrowed her eyes comfortably. Upon confessing everything she had buried deep inside her heart, Shi Nian finally found herself in peace. She didn't have to feel guilty or scared by herself anymore. She should have done this sooner. It turned out that everything wasn't as terrifying as she thought it would. 

On the other hand, Jiang Jinyan looked much more restless than her. He was constantly at edge and would randomly hug her close as if scared that she was going to disappear if he took his eyes off even for a second.

Just as the thought flashed through her mind, the man's arms wrapped around her tightly, his head dropping to her shoulder, sighing. 

Shi Nian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I've made you worry, have I?" She caressed his back in a soothing manner. "It's actually not that bad. I only needed to let it off my chest."

Jiang Jinyan nuzzled closer. "...Don't."

"What?"

He lifted his head and sought her eyes. "In front of me, you don't need to put on a strong front."

Shi Nian's smile faltered and the rims of her eyes reddened in an instant. She lowered her sight, eyelashes quivering. "Jinyan…" She mumbled. "Si Zhening, what kind of person do you think he is?"

Jiang Jinyan's eyes hardened. "Truth to be told, I'm not that close to him. In my eyes, he's nothing more than one of my father's secretaries. Don't be afraid, Shi Nian..." He murmured. "If he's truly guilty, he will definitely be charged for his crimes. I won't let him escape."

Shi Nian nodded quietly. 

Jiang Jinyan felt his heart ache at how dispirited she was. "Are you hungry? You haven't eaten anything for dinner, right? Look at your eyebags, it's so dark and heavy. Did you not sleep last night?"

Shi Nian hastily covered her eyes and peeked through the gaps of her fingers. "Is it ugly…?"

"Of course not." He chuckled. "How can my baby be ugly? She's the most adorable in the whole world."

Shi Nian harrumphed and turned her head away. "W—Who's your baby?!" Out of his sight, the corner of her lips curled into a slight smile. "Speaking of it, how could Ruo Tingran know that you're Uncle Jiang's son? You heard her, right? She asked you to forgive her. What was she talking about?"

Jiang Jinyan shrugged nonchalantly. "Who knows? Perhaps my father did something to her." Shi Nian fixed her stare at his face expressionlessly. Less than five seconds later, Jiang Jinyan surrendered. "Alright, alright, I will give him a call later. Satisfied?"

Shi Nian broke out into smiles and hooked her arms around his neck. Pulling him closer, she dropped a loud smacking kiss on his cheek. "You're the best!"

Jiang Jinyan couldn't suppress the grin. "Only my cheek? How about here?" he pointed at his lips.

Shi Nian pretended to ponder deeply. "Hmmm…ah!" She gasped in shock when Jiang Jinyan started to tickle her waist. "You're not fair! Stop! I will do it! I will do it…" She hastily yanked his face closer and dropped another loud smack on his lips. "Muah!"

She held his head back when he wanted to deepen the kiss, earning her Jiang Jinyan's confused look. 

"Jinyan…" Grinning, she drawled slowly. "I'm hungry." In a timely manner, her stomach growled in support.

Jiang Jinyan burst out laughing and mussed up her hair helplessly. Who told him to love this girl this much? "Okay, what does my baby want to eat? I will make it for you."

.

.

Mini theater:

As Shi Nian requested, after dinner, Jiang Jinyan gave his father a call. It was picked up right away.

Jiang Huocheng: "…Jinyan?"

Clearing his throat, Jiang Jinyan asked in a casual tone. "There's something I want to ask you. Did you do something to Ruo Tingran?"

With a blank look, Jiang Huocheng turned to his secretary—Deng Chuqian who whispered to him. "CEO Jiang, it's the Ruo Family's daughter, the one who hurt Young Master."

Jiang Huocheng seemed to remember it hazily. He answered in a cool and nonchalant tone. "Just the usual business. Nothing more."

"Oh." Jiang Jinyan fell silent. "Okay, I know. I'm only calling because of Shi Nian anyway." After that, he hung up on the phone.

"CEO Jiang?" Secretary Deng called out after seeing Jiang Huocheng frozen with the phone still on his ear even after the call was disconnected. 

Jiang Huocheng snapped out of his thoughts, put down his phone and returned to his work. Deng Chuqian didn't give it much thought and the two kept busy until Doctor Walker came to drag Jiang Huocheng away from the study room. 

"Ah, right." Doctor Walker asked. "Did something good happen today? A new negotiation came through? CEO Jiang is so happy that he brought out a bottle of limited edition red wine."

Deng Chuqian coughed out a laugh. "Nothing…" 

Just that, his precious son gave him a call.. Of course, Secretary Deng wouldn't say that. He ought to help his Boss keep his face, right?