My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

Jiang Huocheng's head sobered up in an instant and he was caught at a loss for words.

…damn it, how he wished he could have slept longer.

He scanned Jiang Jinyan's furious eyes, covered in a luminous layer of tears, perplexed. How long had it been since they had looked each other in the eye? Six months? A year? Jiang Huocheng couldn't quite remember it.

His heart couldn't help but constrict painfully. He cleared his throat and averted his eyes away, yet it landed on Jiang Jinyan's bruised face and bandaged arm instead. Frowning, his voice turned deep in dissatisfaction. "You're fighting again? With your leg like this? Who did you fight with?"

Jiang Jinyan clenched his fists tight, his head hung low. If this was him before, he would have thought that Jiang Huocheng wasn't pleased with his behavior. No matter what Jiang Jinyan did, Jiang Huocheng would always have something to nitpick on. Anyway, he also had had enough of the man's cold behavior.

However, he recalled Doctor Walker's words. "Your father is such an awkward and shy man. He's the type who will silently do everything for you without you knowing."

Really? Was Jiang Huocheng really a person like that?

"…So what if you know whom I fought with?" he asked quietly.

"What?!" Jiang Huocheng couldn't believe his ears. He stared at his son, incredulous. Could someone tell him whether this person was really his son? Since when did he become so mild and docile? Jiang Huocheng almost choked on his breath as he replied, "What do you mean so what? Of course, father has to take care of the aftermath so that those people will not be able to find you again."

"You…" Jiang Jinyan's eyes rounded in disbelief. "Is that what you did to every single person before?"

Jiang Huocheng frowned. He would look imposing and pressuring if he wasn't clad in pajamas with his hair stuck out in all places. Sighing, he pinched his brows. "Who the hell told you about this place? What are you doing here anyway?"

"Father." Jiang Jinyan called out suddenly.

Jiang Huocheng swallowed the complaint in his belly back down. "…What?"

"You haven't answered my question yet. If I didn't come here, would you hide this matter from me forever?"

Jiang Huocheng raked his fingers across his hair. "It's not a big deal."

"Not a big deal?" Jiang Jinyan scoffed. "So, it will only be a big deal until I find your corpse?"

Jiang Huocheng frowned and berated, his voice louder. "Jinyan! Watch your language!"

"What happened here?" Doctor Walker and Si Zhening walked in upon hearing the ruckus. The former's eyes lit up. "Sir, you're awake?"

Jiang Huocheng's face was black. "Yes."

Doctor Walker halted in his steps and scratched his nose, laughing dryly. "Would you believe me if I said that I was just as shocked as you to find Young Master Jiang here?"

Jiang Huocheng took off the IV drip and heart rate device, shaking his head in exasperation. His frown got deeper and impatience was written across his face. "Where is Secretary Deng?"

"Here, sir!" Deng Chuqian rushed forward and bowed. "How do you feel, sir?"

"Same as usual. What's my schedule for today?"

"Jiang Huocheng!" Doctor Walker's face darkened in anger. "What do you mean by that? Do you want to get back to work again?"

Jiang Huocheng blatantly ignored Doctor Walker and gave Deng Chuqian a look, one that caused cold sweat to break out on his back. He hurriedly opened his notebook and scanned it. "Today…you only have a meeting with Director Chu regarding the land development in City H. But judging from your condition and Doctor Walker's suggestion, I have pushed it back to tomorrow so today you're totally free, Sir."

Jiang Huocheng pinched his brows. "Who gave you the right to decide what I am gonna do? Reschedule it. I have enough time for a small meeting after dinner."

"Sir..." Secretary Si stepped forward and tried to persuade him, "I think that's not a very nice decision—"

Jiang Huocheng ignored them and took the change of clothes from Deng Chuqian's hands, making Doctor Walker's face reddened in fury. "Jiang Huocheng, if you take one step out of this room, you're going to get it from me! Don't you see that your son is here—"

"Shut up!"

The whole room turned silent in an instant. Doctor Walker's movement of holding Jiang Huocheng back halted, so did Jiang Huocheng who had unbuttoned his pajamas and Deng Chuqian who was ready to receive the clothes.

Everyone turned to Jiang Jinyan who had just shouted. The man had a heavy frown on his face, irritation and annoyance exuded from his entire body. In a moment like this, he was really similar to Jiang Huocheng. So similar that everyone subconsciously froze to listen to him. "Secretary Deng, don't listen to my father's nonsense. Doctor Walker and Secretary Si…" He pointed toward the stunned man expressionlessly. "Tie him to the bed."

"O—Oh!" Doctor Walker was the one who recovered his senses first. He gave a wide smile and nodded. "Sure, Young Master Jiang. I will do that!"

Secretary Si bowed in compromise. "As you wish."

Jiang Huocheng's eyes widened in shock. "You…You—What do you want? Let me go—argh!"

A few minutes later, the noisy room calmed down and Doctor Walker had a satisfied and smug smile on his face. Jiang Huocheng sat on the bed, his hair in a mess as his wrists were tied to the bedpost. He gave Doctor Walker a glare which the latter pretended not to see.

"How is it, Young Master Jiang?" His eyes twinkled. "Are you satisfied?"

Jiang Jinyan silently nodded as he assessed Jiang Huocheng with the corner of his eyes. "If you may, I would like to talk to him alone, please."

"Yes, yes. Definitely! You guys can have a long, nice talk as long as you wish!" He patted Jiang Huocheng's shoulder in schadenfreude. "Give up, buddy. You should just surrender yourself. Isn't it nice to have a heart-to-heart talk?"

Jiang Huocheng scowled in response.

"Alright, don't be shy~" Doctor Walker waved cheerfully. "Please call me if you need anything. Adios!"

The door closed behind him, leaving the pair of father and son behind. Jiang Jinyan silently stared at Jiang Huocheng whose eyes were nailed outside the window. He sneered. "Until when do you plan on avoiding my gaze?"

Jiang Huocheng frowned but finally looked at him. "Is that how you talk to your father?"

"Is this how you act as a father? Keep mum and choose to turn a blind eye to everything?" Jiang Jinyan retorted.

The two glared at each other, seemingly returning to those years ago when they would argue even on a slightest disagreement. In the end, it was Jiang Huocheng who caved in. Maybe he was too tired already or maybe, his heart softened after seeing his son here. "…You hate me."

His son hated the sight of him that's why…he chose to avoid him so as to not add to the hurt they had both suffered. If that could make Jiang Jinyan feel better, then…

"Yes, I hate you." Jiang Jinyan admitted honestly, each word stabbing into Jiang Huocheng's heart even though he was the first one who brought it up. "I hate that you were always busy with work. I hate that mother and I had to beg like a dog just for a sliver of your attention. I hate that you could be so heartless as to leave the two of us behind."

Jiang Huocheng's pupils dilated, skeptical. "I am not—"

"At least, that's what I have always been thinking." Jiang Jinyan forced a smile, tears sliding down his cheek. "Am I wrong, father? Everyone around me has always said that you cherished mother and I the most. But why can't I feel it…?"

Jiang Huocheng choked on his breath, his heart squeezed in pain. Years of mingling in the cruel business world had hardened his expression thus he could only frowned harder and avoided Jiang Jinyan's piercing stare. Alas, his eyes fell on the photo frame on the nightstand instead. 

In it, they were so happy, so blissful, so harmonious…

How could everything turn out like today?

Tears blurred Jiang Huocheng's eyes but he forced himself to endure it.

"Tell me, father…" Jiang Jinyan hung his head low, tears dropping pitter patter onto the fabric of his pants. His fists clenched tight, trembling. "Tell me what you think! Why are you always disappointed in everything I do? Why did you choose your work over mother and I? Why do you always leave us alone? Why don't you come to mother's funeral? Why didn't you tell me that you are sick? Why did you brush me away everytime?!"

"Please tell me, father…" His voice barely ended in a whisper, quivering. "Tell me okay? This will be the last time I ever beg something from you…"

Jiang Huocheng covered his eyes with one palm, a teardrop slipping through. The man's lips were trembling as he whispered hoarsely. "Stop…you don't need to do this. Jinyan, stop speaking...it's my fault. Everything is father's fault. The world acknowledged me as a successful businessman but in truth...I am utterly a failure as a husband and father."

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A/N: Both of them are so similar yet so awkward with each other QAQ and yes, Jiang Jinyan need to get it off his chest!

Oftentimes, miscommunication is the source of all problems and also the thing I hate the most (´Д⊂ヽ