My Dearest General: It Has Always Been You

"You are…"

Lei Liqiu snapped out of her thoughts and stood up, bowing. "Good evening. My name is Lei Liqiu."

Shi Nian's pupils constricted as soon as she heard that name. The same face, same name… First it was her mother, sister Meiqi, Jia Ming'en and now, even sister Liqiu appeared. By now, Shi Nian had kinda gotten used to the fact that the people from her past life would intersect with her at some point, whether they were only passersby or important figures in her life. 

One aspect that remained the same was; they had no recollection of the past.

Shi Nian blinked and gave a huge, bright smile. "Hello, my name is Shi Nian. You're Xu Binchen gege's friend?"

Lei Liqiu was taken aback by the sudden question. "Ah, no. I am not…"

"Why are you such a busybody?" Xu Binchen grumbled, pulling Shi Nian's attention back to him. "Look at you, you're all sweaty and messy. Don't tell me you ran up the stairs? So eager to see me?"

Shi Nian glowered. What was wrong with him? Could he just speak proper human language? "You have no idea how worried I and my mother are. When Brother Wang told me you're in a coma, my heart almost stopped, you know? Ah right, Jinyan also sends his regards. He can't come with me because his leg hasn't healed yet. What's wrong with you two? He has just been discharged and now here you are."

A nurse knocked on the door. "Hello, did you just call for help?"

Shi Nian pointed at him. "Miss nurse, please help him reattach his IV drip."

Xu Binchen frowned, seemingly wanting to say something more but the nurse had caught sight of his shenanigans and exclaimed. "Aiyah, what have you done?!" He was then forced to listen to the nurse's angry complaints, helplessly watching as Shi Nian followed Lei Liqiu out.

"You don't have to send me off." Lei Liqiu smiled awkwardly. 

"It's okay. Xu Binchen gege's friend is also my friend." She grinned, exuberant. "How did the two of you meet? It must be hard for you, he's such a jerk sometimes, you know."

Somehow, Lei Liqiu just couldn't bring herself to dislike Shi Nian no matter how jealous she was. Chuckled, she said softly. "You two must be very close."

"Yep, he can be considered as my guardian. If you know him closer, you will find that he's actually a very kind person deep down."

Lei Liqiu lowered her head and nodded. How kind Mr. Xu was, actually she knew. He had always been polite, considerate and helpful. When Lei Liqiu was drugged by aphrodisiac, despite behaving in such an atrocious way, he stayed by her side and helped her to sober up. He kept his words and protected her. Being by his side always gave her an immense sense of security. Even when they were in a perilous state, Xu Binchen chose to prioritize her and helped her to wear the life jackets even though he himself hadn't worn it yet. 

Unbeknownst to her, in such a short span of time, Xu Binchen had given her so much.

Lei Liqiu clenched her fists. She wasn't willing to leave just like this, to back down without giving any fight. This was so not her. So what if he already had someone he liked? So what if he only treated her as part of his mission? 

This wasn't the end. It's only the beginning.

Lei Liqiu halted in his tracks, catching Shi Nian by surprise. "Is there something wrong?"

"Sorry." She turned around and bowed. "I still have something I need to talk to Mr. Xu about!" After leaving that sentence, she ran back to Xu Binchen's hospital room. Coincidentally, the nurse was on her way out, still grumbling incessantly on how problematic patient Xu Binchen was.

The man's face was black as he sat on the bed, frowning. Seeing Lei Liqiu, he furrowed his brows deeper. "What's wrong?"

Lei Liqiu took a deep breath. "Mr. Xu, can you please tell me your WeChat ID?"

Xu Binchen: "...huh?"

She stared straight into his eyes and enunciated each word clearly. This might be one of the instances where Lei Liqiu mustered her greatest courage. Her fingers were cold and trembled slightly. Still, her eyes were filled with determination. "After this, I might not have any chance to come into contact with you anymore and I don't want that to happen. Can we…start over as friends?"

Shi Nian stood outside the door, the corner of her lips curled into a smile. Sister Liqiu had always been a scaredy cat but on a few occasions, she would showcast unexpected might and bravery, one that had taken their enemies off guard countless times. 

When she did, it meant that her opponent should be prepared. Because she would always go for the kill.

***

"Is he okay?"

"Uh-huh." Shi Nian hung her coat on the hanger and walked into Jiang Jinyan's open arms. "He's still alive and kicking." 

His hug always felt so warm and pleasant. She buried her head into his shoulder and inhaled his cool and clean scent, laughing. 

Jiang Jinyan tucked her hair behind her ear. "What makes you so happy?"

"Hmm…" Thinking of Lei Liqiu and Xu Binchen, this unexpected pair, Shi Nian always got the urge to laugh. "Nothing. Just that…it seems something good will happen soon."

Jiang Jinyan only gave a vague hum.

Feeling weird, Shi Nian lifted her head and was surprised to see him sulking. "What's wrong?" She asked worriedly. "Did something happen? Are you hungry? Is your leg hurting again?"

Every single question was returned with a shake of his head. Confused, Shi Nian offered him an inquiring look in which Jiang Jinyan replied with a tighter hug, almost smothering the breath out of her lungs. "...Jinyan?" 

Albeit surprised, she still hugged him back and caressed his hair in gentle strokes. One thing that Shi Nian discovered recently, Jiang Jinyan liked it very much when she massaged his scalp gently. He would make this soft purring sound from his throat, just like Little Apple did. It was illegally adorable.

This time also, Jiang Jinyan nuzzled his head closer to her palm, asking for more. Shi Nian hugged Kitty Jiang tighter and gave a helpless laugh. "How can I know what's wrong if you don't tell me, hmm?"

Jiang Jinyan mumbled with a sigh. "Don't get too close…"

"To whom?" She probed carefully. "Binchen gege?"

Jiang Jinyan didn't answer. It was practically a silent yes. Shi Nian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Don't tell me…are you jealous? Xu Binchen gege is just Xu Binchen gege, nothing more."

He grumbled under his breath. "It's because you don't know anything, dummy…"

"What did you say?"

Jiang Jinyan shook his head slowly. He loosened his embrace and scoffed. "I am not jealous."

"Oh?" Shi Nian raised her brows teasingly. "Are you sure?"

Jiang Jinyan attacked her soft cheeks with pinches, stretching her face to the side. "Huh? Is this still the girl who used to be afraid to approach me and could only stalk me secretly?"

Shi Nian flailed her limbs around and escaped from his vice claws, squealing. Rubbing her sore cheeks, she harrumphed and stuck out her tongue. "I am not afraid of you anymore! And how many times do I have to tell you that I haven't stalked you before, okay? Everything is just a coincidence!"

"Okay, okay." Jiang Jinyan pulled her closer and tickled her waist. "It sure is a coincidence."

"Ah, no…don't tickle me there! No, I give up! I give up, okay?!" Tears sprung out of Shi Nian's eyes from over laughing. In the end, she could only admit defeat and slumped onto Jiang Jinyan's side, boneless like a salted fish. Shi Nian gasped in huge gulps of air, face flushed with sweat. "You're such a meanie…"

Jiang Jinyan chuckled and nuzzled his chin on the crown of her head. "I can be even meaner. Do you regret being with me now?"

Shi Nian peered over, her golden eyes flickered in admonishment. "What kind of question is that? You know that I have never regretted anything when it comes to you…"

Jiang Jinyan's eyes softened. His heart turned into mush just like that. The two people's eyes met in midair and the air instantly turned ambiguous. Shi Nian blushed and averted her gaze but he didn't allow her any chance to escape as he cupped her cheek and leaned in for a kiss.

It was only a soft, gentle kiss. Simply rubbing and grazing each other's lips but the feeling it gave was magical, as if their soul merged together along with it. Shi Nian's heart thumped rapidly inside her chest yet at the same time, she felt so full and happy. She couldn't ask for anything more.

Jiang Jinyan laughed into her mouth. "We have kissed many times before. Why are you still so shy?"

Shi Nian hmphed bashfully. "T—This is not something that I can get used to just like that, okay?"

He gave another soft peck. "Then, what if I take things to the next level? Are you going to run away from me?"

Shi Nian almost choked on her breath, stuttered. "N—Next level?!"

Seeing the glints in Jiang Jinyan's eyes, Shi Nian grew even more flustered. "Y—You…You are…" Her mind went blank and it was as if all the air was sucked away from her, rendering her unable to breathe.

Jiang Jinyan burst out laughing all of a sudden, bending over with his shoulders quivering. 

Shi Nian's jaws dropped open, dumbfounded. Realization dawned on her in the next second and she hollered angrily. "You're such a bully! Jiang Jinyan, you're going to get it from me!"

Of course, she was all bark and no bite. How could she, when he showed such a bright, child-like smile with delight in his eyes? If it could make him laugh, Shi Nian didn't mind being teased everyday. 

In a timely manner, her phone vibrated inside her pocket, saving her from the mortification. She pulled it out to see a new message from a person she had never expected before. The light in her eyes dimmed and she stared at the screen blankly for a while.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Jinyan hugged her from behind, his chin on her shoulder. From his position, he could see her phone screen just fine. "Huh?"

Shi Nian tilted it to let him see better. "It's from Xiao Chun. Do you remember him? We met him once before. Nan Xukun."

[KUN]: Xiao Nian, how are you? I'm so sad because you never texted me. Speaking of it, next week is my mother's death anniversary. I recalled that you two used to be so close. If you'd like, do you want to visit her together?

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A/N: Jiang Jinyan's new rank unlocked: Octopus Jiang, Kitty Jiang (≧▽≦)

Alright, Lei Liqiu x Xu Binchen's story ends here.. The continuation will come after the main story is completed. I will write some side stories for them ^^