My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Luo Ning hugged his backpack and sat on the passenger seat, his fingers wringing nervously.

"Ready?" Qin Weizhe asked.

"Ah…yes! Of course I am ready!" He answered loudly. Too loud in fact. It was obvious how the more he tried to hide something, the messier it got. Luo Ning closed his eyes in exasperation.

As he expected, the man beside him chuckled. "Don't be so nervous. I won't eat you."

I won't eat you… Luo Ning chewed on the words, flabbergasted. Qin Weizhe also realized how ambiguous he sounded, especially after the two men had entangled intimately just a few hours ago. He averted his gaze, cleared his throat and started the car.

The street outside was desolate with only a few cars driving sliding leisurely along the road. The autumn weather was chilling but inside the car, the heater was actively sending waves of warm air, making the atmosphere seem even more tranquil and calm. Luo Ning glanced at his watch, yawning. It was already 2 am. In fact, he had gotten used to pulling all nighters. If he didn't drink so much and if…he didn't experience that make out session, maybe he wouldn't be as exhausted as now.

He was fighting to keep his eyelids open when a soft sensation touched his head. It was Qin Weizhe's palm. The man held the steering wheel steadily in one hand and patted him with another, his eyes didn't stray from the road. "Just sleep if you're drowsy. We still have quite a long way to go."

"No…" Luo Ning murmured. "I can still hold on…" However it wasn't even one minute yet when his head tilted sideways and rhythmic, deep breathing was heard.

Qin Weizhe retracted his arm and gave him a glance, chuckling.

Luo Ning didn't know how long it had been when he felt a soft sensation grazed across his lips. His eyelashes fluttered and he drowsily opened his eyes to find the car already stopped albeit the heater was still on.

"Awake?" Qin Weizhe's voice rang out. Amidst the quiet darkness, he sounded deeper and lower than usual.

"En…" Luo Ning rubbed his eyes and yawned. He stretched habitually, the movement lifted his shirt, showing a glimpse of thin and delicate waist. "Sorry, it seems like I really fell asleep." He rubbed his face to brush the haze of drowsiness away and recalled the softness on his lips he felt just now.

No way…right? Luo Ning pressed his lips together. You dumbo, are you too immersed in the memory that you even brought it into dream?! Stop! Stop hallucinating about it! He berated himself inwardly and decided to throw the matter to the back of his mind.

He looked around to see the car parked in a patio where pots of flowers were planted. There was even a swing under the tree. "Have we arrived?"

"Yes." Qin Weizhe pinched his cheek. "You are sleeping so well that you didn't rouse even after I called you for more than five minutes."

"S—Sorry!" Luo Ning blushed, ashamed. The ride was just too steady and comfortable. Furthermore, he was surrounded by Qin Weizhe's scent, making him subconsciously lower his guard.

They got out of the car one after another. Luo Ning hugged the backpack in his arms as he scanned the surroundings in curiosity. Qin Weizhe's house was unexpectedly homely and full of warmth. It's mainly painted in white, grey and black, designed in modern style with clean lines and minimalistic features. Warm, yellow light illuminated the foyer and only then did Luo Ning recall that Qin Weizhe already had a housemate.

He started to get nervous again. "Um…the other person in the house, how should I address them?"

Qin Weizhe contemplated for a moment. "…Lucy. You can call her Lucy."

The English pronunciation stunned Luo Ning. He had imagined a gentle, scholarly gentleman or a cheerful, muscular guy...yet it turned out to be a woman instead? Moreover, she was a foreigner?!

Qin Weizhe stepped forward and inputted the passcode. "It's 729137. You should remember it well."

"Ah…" Luo Ning was too dumbfounded to react. A foreigner woman was staying with Qin Weizhe? What…What was their relationship? Ordinary housemates? Lovers? Of course, if a single man and woman were staying together, how could they only be ordinary housemates? A twinge of pain drilled into Luo Ning's heart, making him suffocate. He suddenly didn't want to follow the man any further.

As if with that, he could fool himself that after Qin Weizhe kissed him, he ought to…have some feelings for Luo Ning. Right?

However, Luo Ning's plans to escape came to naught as Qin Weizhe didn't give him time to react. The door swung open and warm lights poured in from inside. Qin Weizhe sported a surprised expression before gentleness took over his eyes. "Lucy, sorry. Have you been waiting for me? Why don't you go to sleep first?"

Luo Ning closed his eyes and braced himself. So be it. If…If he already had a lover, then Luo Ning would sincerely congratulate them!

"Woof!"

"Good girl, good girl." He chuckled. "Don't jump on me. See, we have a guest."

Luo Ning: ".....?"

"Eh…?" He snapped his eyes open and saw a large golden retriever with tongue out and wagging tail pouncing on Qin Weizhe with much enthusiasm. His whole person was stunned silly as if lightning had just struck his head.

Seeing him standing all frozen, Qin Weizhe was suddenly reminded of something. "It can't be? Are you scared of dogs? Don't worry, Lucy is a good girl. She is very sensible and quiet. See?" Qin Weizhe hugged Lucy from behind and waved her paw. "Hello~" He even pinched his voice higher.

"Woof!" Lucy echoed, panting happily.

The combination of handsome man and adorable dog was too much for Luo Ning to bear. He clutched his chest, feeling as if arrows were stabbing there. "Ugh…hello. Sorry, I was just a bit surprised. You never said that Lucy is a dog, Detective Qin…" He couldn't help but grumble.

Qin Weizhe blinked and gave an innocent smile. "Maybe I forgot about it?"

Can you even forget about this kind of thing?! Luo Ning groaned inwardly.

Lucy sniffed the stranger carefully and gave a soft 'woof' when she smelled a trace of her owner on him. Her tail wagged more excitedly. Luo Ning finally recovered from his shock and bubbles of exhilaration coursed through his veins. When Lucy came over and poked her damp snout on his palm, Luo Ning scratched her behind the ear and hugged her, squealing. "Aiyah, hello, I am Luo Ning. You're so adorable! How can you be so adorable?!"

"Woof!" Lucy barked and licked Luo Ning's chin, making the man giggle in joy.

"Detective Qin, look! She just answered me!" Luo Ning buried his head on the fluffy fur and rubbed a few times. "Ah you're so soft and fragrant! Beautiful! You're so cute! Detective Qin, why haven't you told anyone that you have a dog? How old is Lucy? No, hahaha don't lick me, it's ticklish!"

Luo Ning turned his head at the same time when a flash of light shone on him a few times. He squinted his eyes and saw Qin Weizhe locked his phone and pocketed it. Luo Ning blinked, bewildered.

Qin Weizhe walked toward them and patted Luo Ning and Lucy's head, his smile exceedingly gentle. "Alright, let's go inside now."

"Woof!"

"Alright!"

The human and dog sported the same bright eyes and silly expression. Qin Weizhe couldn't help but laughed, amused. The sun would rise in just a few more hours so Qin Weizhe decided to leave the house tour for another day and directly brought Luo Ning to a guest room. "You can stay here. The bathroom is inside and you can find the towel, toothbrush and soap in the cabinet." Pausing briefly, he added with a gentle smile. "Sleep well, it's been a long day."

"Thank you very much, Detective Qin!" Luo Ning bowed deeply.

Qin Weizhe waved casually and walked toward the room adjacent to Luo Ning's, Lucy followed behind his steps and slipped in before the door fully closed.

The corner of Luo Ning's lips curled upward. He closed the door behind him and yawned. The curtain was fully drawn, blocking out the light from streetlamp outside. There was a large bed in the middle of the room radiating the smell of detergent and sunshine. Luo Ning opened another door inside the room and found the bathroom. He didn't hesitate to jump in and wash himself clean.

Ten minutes later, he was already lying on the bed, face buried into the pillow.

…it was the same scent he sensed from Qin Weizhe, minus the man's cologne.

Luo Ning's heart raced faster. He thought that he wouldn't be able to sleep soundly, either plagued by the nightmare of the corpse in the wall or the dreamy and intimate entanglement with Qin Weizhe. However, surrounded by the man's comforting scent, it took no time at all for Luo Ning to doze off, his whole body relaxed fully.

In the end, he didn't dream of anything at all.

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A/N: two men and a dog. I think they can just get married directly (≧∀≦) perfect!